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No.   1,266 


THE 

ill 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,    JULY     6,   1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


AN     INTERNATION.AL     STA.NDARD     OF 
NURSINQ     EDUCATION. 

As  the  date  of  the  meeting  of  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses  at  Cologne 
rapidly  approaches  it  becorries  apparent 
that  its  success  is  assured. 

The  International  Council  of  Nurses  is 
a  consultative  body,  and  in  accordance 
with  the  decision  of  the  Committee  on 
Nursing  Education  which  met  in  London 
in  July,  1909,  the  Hon.  Secretary,  Miss 
J..  C.van  Lanschot  Hubrecht,  of  Amsterdam, 
will  present  reports  on  Preliminary  Educa- 
tion of  Nurses  sent  in  by  the  various 
National  Councils.  That  from  the  United 
Kingdom  has  been  prepared  bv  Miss 
Margaret  Breav,  and  demonstrates  the 
unanimity  of  the  Matrons  of  the  hospitals 
where  such  courses  have  been  fairly  tested 
as  to  their  great  value  both  from  the  point 
of  view  of  the  pupils,  and  the  trainin^^ 
schools,  secondly  that  practically  the  same 
subjects  are  taught  in  all  the  schools, 
thirdiv  the  desirability  of  a  three  or  six 
months'  course  in  place  of  the  more  usual 
six  or  seven  weeks,  and  fourthly  the 
surprisingly  few  training  schools  which  have 
inaugurated  such  schools  since  it  is  now 
nearly  20  years  that  the  first  (in  connection 
with  the  Glasgow  Royal  Infirmary)  was 
founded,  and  from  the  first  proved  its  value. 
The  reasons  no  doubt  are  the  expense  of 
maintaining  these  schools,  that  of  the  one  in 
connection  with  the  London  Hospital  being 
estimated  at  £.1,200  per  annum,  and  the 
fact  that  in  the  smaller  hospitals  there  is  a 
difficulty  in  forming  a  class  sufficicntlv  large 
to  obtain  the  best  educational  results. 

The  alternative,  as  we  have  from  the  first 
pointed  out,  is  the  establishment  of  pre- 
liminary training  courses  in  connection  with 
educational  colleges  in  London  and  other 
large  centres,  and  until  this  is  achieved,  and 
the    cost   borne    bv   the    pupils    themselves, 


preliminary  training  of  probationers,  greatly 
as  it  is  to  be  desired,  is  unlikelv  to  become 
general.  Hospital  committees  hesitate  to 
expend  their  funds  on  schemes  of  a  purely 
educational  character  in  connection  with 
preliininary  training,  although,  no  doubt,  they 
obtain  a  financial  return  in  the  increased 
efficiency  of  their  nursing  departments. 
.  In  a  pamphlet  published  in  the  United 
States  bv  the  Bureau  of  Education,  bv  Miss 
M.  Adelaide  Nutting,  whose  services  to 
nursing  education  are  magnificent,  and  who 
will  be  one  of  the  most  illustrious  and 
welcome  visitors  at  the  forthcoming  Inter- 
national Congress  of  Nurses  at  Cologne, 
the  value  of  preliminary  courses  for  nurses 
is  emphasised. 

Miss  Nutting,  who  is  Director  of  the 
Department  of  Nursing  and  Health  at 
Teachers'  College,  Columbia  University, 
New  York,  shows  tha,t  the  result  of  the 
establishment  of  a  preliminary  course  at  the 
Johns  Hopkins  Hospital,  Baltimore,  was  to 
afford  great  encouragement  to  those  who 
had  urged  it  as  an  improvement  in  educa- 
tional methods.  The  general  principles 
underlying  this  plan  of  work  are  now 
approved  by  the  Education  Department  of 
the  State  of  New  York,  and  Schools  of 
Nursing,  to  be  registered  by  the  Regents, 
must  be  prepared  to  provide  for  their  pupils 
a  preliminarv  course  of  instruction  and  pro- 
bation of  not  less  than  four  months,  during 
which  term  the  pupils  receive  the  theoretical 
and  practical  instruction  necessarv  before 
undertaking  anv  actual  nursinsj  in  the  wards. 
Teachers'  College  has  for  the  last  two  years 
offered  an  eight  months'  course,  and  a 
number  of  hospitals  deduct  six  to  nine 
months  from  their  regular  course  in  recogni- 
tion of  such  preparation.  It  will  therefore 
be  of  extreme  interest  and  profit  to  the 
delegates  of  the  National  Councils  of  Nurses, 
and  others,  to  hear  from  Miss  Nutting  and 
other  American  Delegates  something  of  the 
practical  working  of  these  courses. 

A* 


Z\K  Bvitisb  journal  of  fl-lursino. 


July  6,   1 91 2 


GONORRHEA    OF    THE    EYE    FROM 
ACCIDENTAL  INFECTION. 


Some  very  enlightening  articles  have  recently 
appeared  in  the  Dietetic  and  Hygienic  Gazette 
on  Gonorrheal  Infection,  and,  writing  editori- 
ally in  last  month's  issue,  the  Gazette  says  : — 

Gonorrheal  infection  by  means  of  clothing 
or  otlier  contaminated  articles  is  regarded  by 
some  wise  people  as  cither  impossible  or  very 
unlikely.  But  evidence  is  accumulating  to  prove 
the  contrary,  and  those  who  are  uncharitable 
enough  now  to  maintain  that  there  is  only  one  way 
in  which  the  venereal  diseases  can  be  transmitted, 
\vi\\  be  obliged  to  modify  this  opinion  in  the  light 
of  many  recent  observations. 

A  case  that  has  been  decided  by  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Michigan,  reported  in  the  Journal  of  the 
American  Medical  Association,  is  of  special 
significance  to  nurses  and  physicians,  as  an 
illustration  of  the  constant  peril  of  infection  to 
which  these  professions  are  subjected — a  perU  far 
more  imminent  than  that  of  the  washerwoman  who 
was  the  \actim  in  this  case. 

Mrs.  S.,  the  plaintiff,  claimed  that,  while  doing  her 
family  washing,  with  a  washtub  and  washboard,  and 
while  washing  some  flannels,  some  water  from  the  tub 
was  accidentally  splashed  into  her  right  eye  ;  that  she 
rubbed  her  eye  at  the  time  ;  that  it  became  and  con- 
tinued painful,  and  that  it  became  much  inflamed  ; 
that  she  called  a  physician,  who  found  the  eye  badly 
inflamed,  and  ad%'ised  her  to  consult  a  specialist  ;  that 
one  took  charge  of  the  case,  and  very  soon  sent  her  to  a 
hospital,  where  she  remained  between  two  and  three 
weeks,  and  finally  suffered  the  total  loss  of  the  eye. 
The  physician  diagnosed  the  case  as  inflammation  of 
the  mucous  membrane  of  the  eye  caused  by  gonorrheal 
infection. 

The  woman  claimed  indemnity  for  the  loss  of 
her  eye,  and  her  claim  was  contested  by  the 
company  in  which  she  was  insured.  The  lower 
court  awarded  judgment  in  her  favour  and  was 
sustained  bv  the  Supreme  Court. 

This  judicial  decision  affirms  the  reality  of  a 
danger  that  has  long  been  recognized  by  all 
intelligent  people.  It  is  a  warning  which  we  will 
all  do  well  to  heed,  and  especially  those  of  us  who 
are  exposed  to  more  than  the  ordinary  amount  of 
indirect  infection. 

It  is  not  enough  for  the  nurse  to  say  that  if 
she  had  known  her  case  was  infected  with  venereal 
poison  she  would  have  taken  precautions  to  save 
herself  and  others  from  the  certain  consequences 
of  contagion.  It  is  not  her  business  primarily  to 
know  the  nature  of  the  disea.se  that  she  is  caring 
for — perhaps  no  one,  not  even  the  doctor,  recog- 
nizes it  at  first.  It  is  her  business,  primarily  and  all 
the  time,  to  realize  that  the  case  is  a  possible 
source  of  infection  ;  and  if  she  keeps  this  suspicion 
in  the  foreground  until  she  is  justified  in  abandoning 
it,  she  will  not  fail  to  practise  the  strictest  prophy- 
laxis until  all  danger  is  over,  if  such  a  time  ever 
comes.  The  physician  and  midwife  do  not  wait 
for  positive  evidence  before  treating  the  eyes  of 


the  newborn  for  the  prevention  of  a  possible 
gonorrheal  infection  ;  if  they  did  there  would  be 
many  more  blind  babies  than  there  are  to-dav. 


CLINICAL  NOTES  ON  SOME  COMMON 
AILMENTS. 

By  a.   Knyvett  Gordon,  M.B.  Cantab. 


INFLUENZA. 

Some  few  weeks  ago  I  was  asked  to  write 
a  few  notes  on  the  subject  of  influenza,  and  it 
was  pointed  out  to  me  then — the  suggestion, 
I  may  say,  came  from  a  nurse — that  influenza 
seemed  to  have  almost  every  .symptom  under 
the  sun,  so  that  it  was  often  difficult  to  see 
the  wood  for  the  trees.  Inasmuch  as  there  is 
at  first  sight  some  truth  in  this  remark,  I  have 
thought  it  advisable  to  give  a  short  sketch  of 
the  main  features  of  the  subject  in  this  series. 
The  details  can  easily  be  filled  in  from  any 
text  book  of  medicine. 

Now,  so  far  from  influenza  being,  as  it  was 
suggested,  a  heterogeneous  collection  of 
symptoms,  it  is  really  a  very  definite  disease 
indeed.  It  has  a  bacillus  all  to  itself,  which 
can  be  fairly  easily  found  in  the  vast  majority 
of  cases,  provided  that  it  be  looked  for  in  the 
proper  way,  and  it  also  has  a  claim  to  some 
antiquity,  epidemics  of  the  illness  having 
appeared  at  definite  times  and  with  the  same 
symptoms  in  various  parts  of  the  world  since 
the  fourteenth  century.  It  is  by  no  means  the 
modern  fashionable  innovation  that  some 
would  have  us  believe.  What  does  complicate 
matters,  however,  is  that  it  may  attack  almost 
any  organ  in  the  body,  so  that  unless  we  keep 
a  clear  idea  of  its  pathology  before  us  we  shall 
run  the  risk  of  becoming  somewhat  confused. 

Its  history  is  interesting.  In  the  year  1510 
we  have  a  very  clear  account  of  an  illness 
which  "  raged  all  over  Europe,  not  missing  a 
family  ai.d  scarce  a  person.  ...  A  grievous 
pain  of  the  head,  heaviness,  difficulty,  of  breath- 
ing, hoarseness,  loss  of  strength  and  appetite, 
restlessness,  watchings,  from  a  terrible  tearing 
cough.  ...  In  some  it  went  off  with  a  loose- 
ness, in  others  by  sweating.  .  .  .  Where  blood 
was  let,  the  disease  proved  malignant  and 
pestilential,  being  attended  with  a  violent,  cruel 
maFignity,  and  made  bad  work  "  (the  import- 
ance of  this  last  phrase  will  be  clearer  later  on). 
From  time  to  time  during  the  succeeding 
centuries  we  have  records  of  epidemics,  but 
nothing  of  any  interest  occurred  till  1889-go, 
when  the  disease  appeared  in  Bokhara,  in 
Central  Asia,    and   rapidly   spread   from   there 


July  6,    1912 


JIbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  THursiiiQ. 


over  almost  the  whole  globe.  Since  then,  as 
far  as  Britain  is  concerned,  it  has  practically 
come  to  stay. 

The  organism  to  which  the  disease  is  due 
is  a  very  small  bacillus  which  was  discovered 
by  Pfeiffer  of  Berlin  in  1892,  and  can  be  found 
in  the  sputum  in  the  early  stage  of  almost 
every  case,  though  it  is  sometimes  mixed  with 
other  germs. 

Inasmuch  as  these  infective  particles  are  very 
small  and  light,  the  disease  travels  through 
the  air  with  great  ease,  and,  in  fact,  is  one  of 
the  most  "  catching  "  illnesses  that  we  ki<)w. 
Generally,  however,  we  can  trace  infection 
from  one  case  to  another. 

After  an  incubation  period  of  two  days  only, 
it  attacks  suddenly,  so  that  the  affected  person 
is  stricken  down  very  rapidly.  He  has  a  violent 
headache — quite  different,  incidentally,  from 
the  dull  headache  of  typhoid  fever — with  in- 
tense pain  at  the  back  of  the  eyeballs,  spread- 
ing thence  to  the  neck  and  back.  His  tempera- 
ture is  high — 103  degrees  or  so — and  there  is 
intense  prostration,  so  that  the  patient  goes  to 
bed  at  once.  In  almost  every  case  there  is 
a  loathing  for  food,  and  the  sufferer  thinks  that 
he  is  very  ill  indeed.  He  has  a  constant, 
ineffectual  cough,  without  any  expectoration  to 
speak  of. 

Such  are  the  initial  symptoms  of  influenza, 
and  they  are  due  to  the  fact  that  the  organisms 
are  growing  and  multiplying  in  the  respiratory 
tract  {throat,  nose,  windpipe,  and  lungs)  and 
are  producing  toxins,  which  are  being  absorbed 
into  the  blood  and  carried  to  all  parts  of  the 
body.  It  is  intoxication,  in  fact,  but  more 
remains.  All  the  toxins  are  not  burnt  up  and 
destroyed  in  the  initial  fever,  but  some  remain 
in  the  system  and  produce  damaging  effects  on 
certain  organs,  so  that  when  the  general 
symptoms  which  have  been  described  pass 
away,  certain  complications  succeed  which 
really  constitute  the  serious  part  of  the  com- 
plaint. \'ery  few  people  indeed,  except 
amongst  the  aged,  infirm,  and  drunkards, 
succumb  straight  away  to  influenza,  but  very 
many  die  of  its  complications. 

Probably  the  best  explanation  of  these  is 
that  the  influenza  poison  attacks  nerves,  and  if 
we  bear  this  in  mind,  we  shall  see  how  the 
complications  come  about.  The  eff'ect  of  a 
poison  on  the  nerves  of  a  part  is  to  lower  the 
resistance  of  that  part.  So  we  can  have 
various  types  of  what  is  really  the  same 
disease. 

The  commonest  is  the  pulmonary  type,  when 
the  chief  effects  are  felt  in  the  lungs;  there 
is  at  first  violent  cough  without  much  expec- 


toration, which  ushers  in  an  attack  of  what 
is  apparently  an  ordinary  bronchitis,  and  the 
sputum,  at  first  thick  and  scanty,  becomes 
thinner  and  profuse  until  the  disease  begins  to 
clear  up,  when  it  gradually  diminishes,  leaving 
the  patient,  however,  with  a  great  tendency 
to  relapses.  Or  the  bronchitis  may  go  on  to 
a  broncho  pneumonia,  or  sometimes  a  lobar 
pneumonia,  but  as  a  rule  without  a  crisis  : 
generally  in  influenzal  pneumonias  there  is  a 
great  tendency  to  spreading,  so  that  one  part 
of  the  lung  is  attacked  as  soon  as  another  part 
clears  up.     There  is  also  great  prostration. 

Then  there  is  the  gastro-intestinal  type,  in 
which,  after  the  initial  symptoms,  vomiting 
sets  in,  which  may  be  accompanied  by  either 
constipation  or  diarrhoea,  but  almost  always 
by  some  abdominal  pain ;  the  loss  of  appetite 
is  complete  and  persistent,  and  the  tongue  is 
thickly  coated.  There  may  even  be  some  dis- 
tension of  the  abdomen ;  this  type  is  often 
mistaken  for  typhoid  fever.  Or  we  may  have 
the  febrile  type,  where  the  temperature  keeps 
high — sometimes  very  high — and  there  are  no 
accompanying  signs  except  the  pains  in  the 
head  and  limbs,  which  persist  for  four  or  five 
days  instead  of  subsiding.  One  hunts  in  all 
the  organs  for  physical  signs  of  disease,  but 
without  success ;  there  is  simply  an  excess  of 
general  poisoning. 

These  are  the  main  types,  but  one  has 
to  consider  in  addition  the  after-effects  which 
the  poison  may  have  on  various  organs.  Of 
these  the  most  important  .is  the  heart,  which 
may  be  attacked  in  two  ways.  Most  Commonly 
the  chief  effect  is  a  prolonged  weakness  of  the 
circulation,  the  pulse  being  of  very  low  tension, 
the  blood  stream,  that  is  to  say,  flowing  but 
feebly  in  the  vessels.  This  accounts  for  the 
prolonged  convalescence  which  is  so  charac- 
teristic of  the  disease.  The  patient  feels  no 
inclination  whatever  to  leave  his  bed,  and 
evinces  not  the  smallest  anxiety  to  have  any- 
thing to  do  with  his  work  or  profession.  As 
he  has  no  appetite,  and  often  no  sense  of  taste 
either,  it  is  difficult  to  feed  him  adequately. 

But  there  is  another  and  much  worse  effect 
than  this,  and  that  is  sudden  failure  of  the 
heart  from  paralysis  of  its  nerves  ;  the  left  side 
of  the  heart  gives  out  in  a  few  moments,  and 
instead  of  contracting  on  the  blood  it  contains, 
stretches  so  that  the  circulation  is  suddenly 
enfeebled  :  not  infrequently  sudden  death 
results. 

Then  we  have  effects  on  the  nervous  system 
itself,  and  these  may  be  principally  in  the 
nerves  going  to  various  parts,  or  mainly  in  the 
brain,  or  in  both.     Thus  there  may  be  intense 


Zbe  ffiritisb  3oiunal  of  IRuvsinti 


July  6,    Tgi2 


and  persistent  neuralgias  in  the  face  or  limbs, 
or  the  depression  which  characterises  almost 
every  attack  of  influenza  may  pass  on  into 
various  forms  of  mental  disturbance,  melan- 
cholia, hysteria,  and  the  like.  Or  we  may  get 
a  definite  inflammation  of  the  membranes 
covering-  the  brain — meningitis,  that  is  to  say. 
Long  persistent  deafness  from  paralysis  of  the 
auditory  nerve,  or  loss  of  smell  and  taste,  are 
not  very  uncommon  after-effects  of  influenza. 

The  treatment  of  influenza  does  not  only 
consist  in  the  administration  of  drugs,  though 
these  often  have  a  very  beneficial  eftect. 
Careful  nursing  is  very  essential  also,  but  is 
not  squght,  even  by  the  well-to-do,  nearly  as 
often  as  it  should  be,  chiefly  because  familiarity 
with  the  disease  has  bred  a  certain  amount  of 
contempt  in  the  minds  of  the  general  public. 
One  so  often  hears  the  expression  "  Only  an 
attack  of  influenza."  .\nd  yet  one  would 
think  that  1890  and  the  succeeding  three  years 
ought  to  have  taught  us  a  lesson  !  Most  of 
us  who  were  in  and  about  hospitals  in  those 
days  remember  how  the  worn-out  tramps 
staggered  into  the  casualty  rooms  with  tem- 
peratures of  103  and  double  pneumonia,  and 
how  time  after  time  it  was  impossible  to  take 
them  in  because  the  wards  were  full  already. 
And  then  the  crowds  of  weakly,  depressed 
people  in  the  out-patient  departments  taking 
tonics  by  the  bottle-full,  but  never  seeming  to 
pick  up  at  all  ! 

Generally,  the  general  public  doses  itself  for 
influenza  with  tablets  from  the  chemist — 
usually  the  wrong  ones — and  does  not  think 
nursing  necessary  unless  the  patient  has  pneu- 
monia. 

There  are  many  useful  drugs ;  but,  inasmuch 
as  their  actions  are  mostly  entirely  different 
from  each  other,  it  is  necessary  to  adapt  the 
treatment  to  the  patient  and  get  the  right  one. 
This  is  impossible  with  the  tablet  method,  it 
being  generally  a  case  of  "the  tablets  that 
did  my  aunt  so  much  good,"  but  which  mav 
be  altogether  wrong  for  the  nephew  ! 

In  the  acute  stage,  salicvlate  of  soda  and 
quinine  are  both  useful.  Quinine  is  best  if  the 
patient  can  take  it,  but  it  is  of  no  use  giving 
it  to  a  patient  with  a  much  disordered  diges- 
tion, for  instance.  If  a  patient  can  take 
quinine  from  the  first  he  usually  does  well,  but 
very  many  people  cannot.  The  laity  usuallv 
fly  to  antipyrin,  phenacetin,  or  aspirin,  all  of 
which  are  very  depressing,  and  usually  relieve 
the  headache  at  the  cost  of  an  extra  week  in 
bed  later  on.  Probably  the  most  valuable  drug 
after  the  acute  stage  has  passed — and  in 
severe  cases  before — is  strychnine  given  hypo- 
dermicallv. 


But  the  great  point  is  to  feed  the  patient, 
and  inasmuch  as  he  strongly  objects  to  being 
worried  with  food,  it  follows  that  he  must  be 
persuaded  by  careful  trained  nursing,  which 
often  has  to  include  a  good  deal  of  invalid 
cookery  and  rather  more  of  the  capacity  to 
suffer  fools  gladly  ! 

The  essential  is  never  to  overload  the 
stomach,  and  to  vary  the  food,  so  that  we  aim 
at  administering  very  light,  easil}'  digestible 
food  at  frequent  intervals.  Some  of  the 
numerous  varieties  of  concentrated  proteid  are 
useful,  as  they  can  often  be  added  to  a  little 
milk  or  beef  tea  without  altering  its  flavour. 
Some  of  them,  however,  taste  nasty  and  are 
therefore  inadmissible.  A  nurse  often  comes  in 
very  handy  in  persuading  the  patient  that  he 
has  to  stay  in  bed  w^hen  he  would  otherwise 
get  up  and  attempt  to  work.  The  only  real 
remedy  for  post-influenzal  depression  of  spirits 
is  bed  until  the  patient  has  an  appetite,  and 
then  overfeeding,  and  strychnine,  until  he 
becomes  cheerful  again. 

It  is  not  surprising  to'  read  that  bleeding 
proved  ineffectual  in  influenza  ! 

HOW  TO  CONDUCT  AN  INFANT 
CONSULTATION.^^ 


By  Eric  Pritchard,  M.D. 

I  have  been  asked  to  address  this  meeting 
and  describe  how,  in  my  opinion,  an  Infant 
Consultation  should  be  conducted.  In  view  of 
the  fact  that  some  of  the  best  practical  expo- 
nents of  the  work  are  present,  it  is  painfully 
borne  in  on  me  that  this  is  a  verv  invidious 
undertaking. 

For  the  last  15  years  or  more  a  number  of 
experiments  have  been  made,  generally  on  quite 
a  small  scale,  with  a  view  to  discovering  the 
most  practical  and  most  economical  method  of 
dealing  with  the  general  problems  of  infant 
mortality.  We  have  tried  the  principle  of 
"  Gouttes  du  I.ait,"  or  "Milk  Depots,"  a 
method  which  has  met  with  considerable  suc- 
cess in  France,  Belgium,  and  other  Continental 
countries.  But  this  method  has  not  proved  an 
unqualified  boon  in  England.  The  reasons  are 
obvious.  The  method  is  expensive,  it  cannot 
be  sufficiently  individual,  and  there  is  always 
the  eternal  problem  of  delivering  or  fetching 
the  milk.  Further,  it  is  a  method  which  has 
no  stimulating  influence  on  the  resourcefulness, 
intelligence,  or  self-respect  of  the  mothers,  but 
perhaps  its  weakest  feature  is  that  it  lays  itself 

Read  at  the  Health  Conference,  London.  June,  igi2." 


July  (J,    1 91 2 


Cbc  Bvitieb  3ounial  of  lluvsinG. 


open  to  the  charge  of  offering  a  premium  on 
artificial  feeding.  Then  we  have  the  experience 
of  the  Huddersfield  experiment,  a  system  of 
direct  encouragement,  one  might  almost  say 
of  bribery,  to  induce  mothers  to  take  a  keen  or 
even  a  selfish  interest  in  the  welfare  of  their 
babies.  Personally  I  have  great  belief  in  the 
efficacy  of  prizes,  and  the  stimulus  of  rivalry, 
as  a  means  of  inducing  mothers  to  do  their  best 
for  their  infants.  I  very  much  doubt  whether, 
in  my  initial  efforts  to  make  an  Infant  Consulta- 
tion a  working  success,  I  should  ever  kave 
accomplished  my  purpose  without  this  sordid 
appeal  to  self-interest.  This  system  of  bribery, 
combined  with  home  visitation,  has,  as  all  the 
world  knows,  proved  a  monumental  success  in 
Huddersfield.  But  as  a  system  it  has  not 
proved  generally  workable  in  the  same  way 
that  Infant  Consultations  have  done.  The  Con- 
sultation acts  as  a  material  focus  at  which  all 
interests  converge ;  it  is  to  the  health  worker 
an  ever-present  help  in  time  of  trouble,  espe- 
cially in  its  dealings  with  refractory  cases ;  it 
acts  as  a  centre  for  the  dissemination  of  know- 
ledge, not  only  to  the  mothers,  but  for  the 
health  workers  also.  The  Consultation  should 
be  quite  as  much  a  school  for  health  workers 
as  a  .school  for  mothers,  and  I  would  go  even 
further  and  claim  that  it  has  become  a  school 
for  doctors.  If  I  can  speak  from  my  own  ex- 
perience, I  should  say  that  an  Infant  Consulta- 
tion is  the  only  school  in  which  a  medical  man 
can  gain  experience  of  the  feeding  of  more  or 
less  normal  infants  on  a  sufficiently  large  scale 
to  make  him  familiar  with  all  the  emergencies 
and  difficulties  with  which  at  one  time  or 
another  he  is  certain  to  be  faced. 

Some  little  time  since  a  few  of  the  more 
energetic  workers  in  this  new  department  of 
medicine  banded  themselves  into  a  society  for 
the  exchange  of  experiences  and  the  dissemina- 
tion of  knowledge.  The  idea  was  that  a  central 
association  of  this  kind  might  serve  as  a  clear- 
ing-house of  statistical  records,  and  in  the  light 
of  its  collective  wisdom  help  in  the  formation  of 
new  societies  when  such  were  needed.  This 
association,  which  some  eighteen  months  ago 
was  a  very  modest  concern,  is  now  incorporated 
with  the  National  League  for  Physical  Educa- 
tion and  Improvement,  and  constitutes  one  of 
its  most  active  departments.  To  this  central 
society  are  now  affiliated  some  50  local  centres, 
while  a  very  large  number  of  other  societies, 
although  not  directly  affiliated,  regard  the 
central  society  in  loco  parentis,  and  appeal  to 
it  for  advice  and  instruction.  To  prove  that  the 
Infant  Consultation  fulfils  a  genuinely  useful 
function  as  an  instrument  for  combating  infant 
mortality,  I  mav  mention  that  between  the  time 


of  the  foundation  of  the  first  Infant  Consultation 
in  May,  igo6,  and  the  time  when  the  first  census 
of  such  institutions  was  taken — an  interval  of 
four  years — no  fewer  than  89  independent 
centres  were  established.  A  year  later  there 
were  no  fewer  than  115,  and  to-day  their 
number  totals  153,  exclusive  of  14  baby  clubs 
working  under  the  Woman's  National  Health 
Association  in  Ireland.  At  the  present  moment 
our  society  can  scarcely  keep  pace  with  the 
demands  that  are  made  upon  it  for  information 
and  assistance  in  the  formation  of  new  units. 

The  association  has  drawn  up  a  short  list  of 
cardinal  rules  or  principles,  which  it  earnestly 
commends  to  the  notice  of  all  conducting,  or 
proposing  to  conduct.  Infant  Consultations. 
These  have  such  a  direct  bearing  on  what  we 
conceive  to  be  the  best  lines  on  which  such 
undertakings  should  be  conducted  that  I  quote 
them  in  extenso  : — 

(i)  That  curative  medical  treatment,  as  apart 
from  advice  on  the  ordinary  care,  feeding,  &c., 
of  mothers  and  infants,  does  not  come  within 
the  scope  either  of  the  Consultations  or  of  the 
schools. 

(2)  That  Infant  Consultations  should  form  the 
basis  of  every  school  for  mothers,  and  should 
be  aimed  at  as  the  basis  of  all  infant  visiting 
and  similar  associations. 

(3)  That  all  Consultations  should  be  con- 
ducted by  properly  qualified  medical  practi- 
tioners. 

(4)  That  no  cases  should  be  brought  to  the 
Consultations  if  they  are  already  being  attended 
by  their  own  medical  attendant,  except  by 
desire  of  the  latter. 

(5)  That  the  indiscriminate  distribution  of 
printed  matter  giving  instructions  for  artificial 
feeding  is  not  to  be  recommended,  and  that 
this  form  of  advice  should  be  given  in  each 
individual  case  by  the  medical  officer  at  the 
Consultation. 

(6)  That  all  cases  should  be  investigated,  to 
ascertain  their  suitability  from  the  social  and 
economic  point  of  view  before  admission  to  the 
services  of  either  institution. 

Personally,  I  feel  very  strongly  that  the 
purely  medical  aspects  of  this  department  of 
paediatrics — I  mean  the  work  of  Infant  Con- 
sultations— should  attract  men  and  women  of 
high  standing  in  the  profession.  In  the  past 
there  has  been  a  tendency  to  regard  the  feeding 
of  infants  and  the  general  management  of  chil- 
dren as  work  which  was  not  worthy  of  the 
highest  medical  efforts.  In  Germany  this  con- 
ception has  long  since  been  dissipated,  and  now 
in    Berlin    and    other    large   cities    there   have 


Z\K  36ritisb  3ouvnal  of  muvsino 


]tdy  6,    191 2 


grown  up  new  schools  or  branches  of  medicine, 
which  are  concerned  with  the  speciaUty  of  the 
preventive  treatment  of  infants  and  children. 
Surely  this  is  a  very  much  higher  branch  of  the 
profession  than  that  which  is  merely  concerned 
with  the  cure  of  symptoms.  It  is  on  these 
grounds  that  any  debasement  of  the  Infant 
Consultation  to  the  level  of  mothers'  meetings, 
with  tea  for  the  mothers  and  a  weighing- 
machine  for  the  babies,  is  strongly  to  be  depre- 
cated. The  medical  inspection  of  school  chil- 
dren is,  to  my  mind,  entirely  comparable  to  the 
aims  and  objects  of  the  Infant  Consultations, 
and  I » should  very  much  like  to  see  the  two 
systems  linked  up'  and  made  into  one  compre- 
hensive whole,  with  continuity  of  aim  and  con- 
tinuity of  records.  The  school  clinic,  where  it 
exists,  is  obviously  the  place  at  which  an  Infant 
Consultation  should  be  held;  and  I  consider 
that  the  medical  men  or  women  who  conduct 
the' Consultations  should  be  paid  in  the  same 
way  that  is  usual  in  the  case  of  school  doctors. 
They  might  well  combine  the  two  functions. 

The  Infant  Consultations  have  now  passed 
out  of  the  experimental  stage,  and  can  be 
safely  taken  over  by  the  State  or  municipality. 
In  Berlin  the  municipality  contributes  nearly 
£^17,000  a  year  towards  the  upkeep  of  some 
77  centres  for  Infant  Consultations.  London 
would  lose  nothing  in  the  long  run  if  she  con- 
tributed ;^50,ooo  a  year  for  the  same  purpose. 

Until  there  is  a  general  municipalisation  of 
Infant  Consultations  it  is  advisable  for  many 
reasons  that  the  latter  should  continue,  as  they 
have  done  in  the  past,  to  confine  themselves  to 
the  instruction  of  mothers  and  the  general 
hygienic  management  of  the  infants  ;  difficulties 
at  once  crop  up  as  soon  as  any  definite  medical 
treatment  is  attempted ;  such  a  proceeding 
brings  the  Infant  Consultation  into  conflict 
with  the  interests  of  the  medical  practitioner. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  range  of  usefulness  of 
Infant  Consultations  is  at  once  restricted  if 
minor  symptoms  as  thrush  or  constipation 
cannot  be  treated  by  the  medical  officer  in 
charge ;  if  for  minor  symptoms  of  this  kind 
the  infant  is  referred  to  the  hospital,  dispen- 
sary, or  relieving  officer,  it  is  clear  that  com- 
plications must  frequently  arise.  For  this 
reason  I  think  there  will  be  a  gain  all  round 
when  Infant  Consultations  cease  to  be  run  on 
a  voluntary  basis,  and  are  connected  with 
school  clinics,  dispensaries,  or  maternity  hos- 
pitals, where  the  medical  treatment  of  the  ordi- 
nary ailments  of  infancy  can  be  treated  without 
restriction  or  without  giving  offence. 

(To  he  concluded.) 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 

DESCRIBE   THE    DIFFERENT    WAYS  IN  WHICH  DRUGS 
MAY  BE   INTRODL'CED  INTO  THE  SYSTEM? 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  Alice  Rhind,  West  Mayfield, 
Edinburgh,  for  her  paper  on  the  above  subject. 

PRIZE    PAPER. 

Drugs  may  be  introduced  into  the  system  by 
(i)  mouth,  (2)  rectum,  (3)  hypodermic  injec- 
tion, (4)  inhalation,  {5)  rubbing. 

1.  By  mouth.  In  giving  medicines  use  a 
measure  glass  or  spoon ;  shake  the  bottle ; 
pour  away  from  the  label ;  give  punctually ; 
replace  the  cork. 

Disagreeable  drugs  are  sometimes  given  in 
cachettes  of  rice  paper ;  moisten  in  water. 

2.  Rectum.  (a)  Suppositories  should  be 
greased  and  introduced  as  far  as  possible  into 
the  rectum.  They  are  only  efficacious  when 
the  lower  bowel  is  empty. 

(b)  Enemata.  Have  the  patient  on  the  left 
side  if  possible,  knees  well  drawn  up  ;  if  this  is 
impossible,  patient  must  be  on  back.  A 
Higginson  syringe  is  still  in  frequent  use  for 
enemas  for  evacuating  purposes,  but  for  small 
quantities  for  nutrient  and  other  purposes, 
such  as  for  controlling  hcemorrhage,  allaying 
thirst  (after  abdominal  section),  relieving  dis- 
tention, easing  pain,  allaying  diarrhoea  (as  in 
typhoid),  the  tube  and  funnel  apparatus  is  the 
best.  This  form  ought  also  to  be  used  in  con- 
tinuous and  gravitation  enemata,  as  it  is 
readily  controlled  and  the  flow  regulated. 

The  points  to  be  most  carefully  watched  for 
in  administering  enemata  are  (a)  that  the 
point  of  insertion  of  the  instrument  should  be 
well  lubricated  ;  (b)  that  the  bulk  has  been  cor- 
rectly measured ;  (c)  that  the  temperature  is 
correct  to  begin  with  (98  degrees  to  100  degrees 
Fahr.),  and  is  kept  correct  in  dealing  with 
larger  quantities.  This  is  best  managed  by 
having  at  hand  a  vessel  with  some  of  the  fluid 
at  a  much  higher  degree,  and  adding  a  small 
quantity  from  time  to  time.  A  thermometer 
ought  always  to  be  in  place  in  the  fluid  being 
injected,  and  consulted  frequently. 

(c)  There  is  a  small  vulcanite  syringe  speci- 
ally menufactured  for  glycerine,  and  it  ought, 
wlien  obtainable,  to  be"  used. 

3.  Hypodermic  Injection.  This  should  be 
done  with  aseptic  precautions.  See  that  the 
fluid  is  clear,  no  bubbles;  press  fluid  to  point 
of  needle  to  prevent  the  injection  of  air.  With- 
draw the  needle  a  little  before  injecting  fluid ; 
press  spot  with  finger  afterwards. 


July  6,    igi2 


Cbe  Kntitfb  3ournai  of  IRuretno 


4-  Inhalation.  Nitrite  of  amyl  capsules 
should  be  broken  in  little  pads  of  wool  to  pre- 
vent the  glass  fragments  becoming  scattered. 

There  are  many  varieties  of  insufflators  on 
the  market,  and  these  must  be  used  as  directed, 
according  to  their  construction. 

Liquid  inhalers  should  have  a  thick  towel 
pinned  tightly  round  them,  to  prevent  burning 
the  patient ;  and  they  should  never  be  more 
than  two-thirds  full. 

5.  Ungentum  hydrarg  is  sometimes  adnjinis- 
tered  by  rubbing.  The  parts  usually  selected 
are  the  axilte  and  groins,  a  different  area  being 
used  daily  in  rotation.  Previous  to  application 
the  part  should  be  shaved,  if  necessary,  and 
well  washed.  .\  good  plan  is  to  put  the  oint- 
ment on  a  warmed  bottle,  which  saves  the 
hands  from  coming  into  contact  with  the  drug. 

Cod  liver  oil,  olive  oil,  &c.,  are  sometimes 
rubbed  in,  in  cases  of  malnutrition  and  wasting. 

HONOURABLE    MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honour- 
able mention  : — Miss  S.  Simpson,  Miss  L. 
Nunnerley,  Miss  M.  Funchard,  Miss  L.  M. 
RidgeweU,  Miss  G.  Hind,  Miss  E.  F.  Stokes, 
Miss  J.  M.  Stevens,  Miss  E.  C.  O'Brien. 

Miss  J.  M.  Stevens  mentions  that  drugs  may 
be  introduced  into  the  system  cndermically  by 
means  of  dressings  applied  to  wounds  (well- 
known  instances  of  this  are  the  carbolic  acid, 
and  iodoform  poisoning  which  sometime  occur 
when  these  drugs  are  used  continuously). 

Miss  Stevens  also  refers  to  anti-toxins, 
which,  although  not  classed  as  drugs,  are  given 
hypodermically.  Before  an  injection  of  anti- 
toxic serum,  which  may  be  injected  deeply  into 
the  subcutaneous  tissues,  the  muscular  tissues 
intravenously,  or  into  the  nervous  tissues,  the 
skin  should  be  prepared  as  for  a  surgical 
operation,  a  compress  wrung  out  of  antiseptic 
lotion  being  applied  12  hours  beforehand  if 
possible. 

A  local  anaesthetic  may  be  used  for  intra- 
venous, intra-muscular,  or  spinal  injections, 
but  for  an  injection  into  the  cerebrum  a  general 
anaesthetic  is  given. 

All  punctures  must  be  sealed  with  sterile 
gauze  and  collodion. 

Miss  Xunnerley  states  that  when  the  patient 
is  unconscious  and  unable  to  swallow,  drugs 
may  be  given  in  the  form  of  a  nasal  feed. 
Mydriatics  and  myotics  may  be  applied  to  the 
eye  by  means  of  a  dropper,  the  throat  can  be 
painted  or  sprayed,  and  drugs  which  act  upon 
the  membrane  of  the  nose,  throat,  and  bron- 
chial tubes  can  be  added  to  boiling  water  and 
inhaled.  Drugs  can  be  passed  into  the  uterus 
and  vagina  by  means  of  douching,  and  for  local 


treatment  tampons  soaked  in  glycerites  of 
icthyol,  iodin,  &:c.,  are  used  ;  the  use  of  cotton- 
wool applicators  is  another  method. 

In  some  bladder  diseases  it  is  necessary  that 
drugs  should  be  introduced  into  that  organ. 
This  is  done  by  means  of  the  ordinary 
apparatus  for  washing  out  the  bladder,  and  a 
certain  quantity  allowed  to  remain.  The  pelvis 
of  the  kidney  can  also  be  reached  in  this 
manner,  by  means  of  a  proper  apparatus  for  the 
purpose,  and  a  urethral  catheter. 

QUESTION    FOR     NEXT     WEEK 

What  are  some  of  the  complications  to  be 
watched  for  during  pregnancy,  and  their 
causes?  Mention  methods  you  have  seen  used 
to  combat  them. 

NURSES'   REGISTRATION. 


Trained  nurses  have  to  thank  the  editor  of  the 
Standard  for  not  excluding  the  question  put  last 
week  by  Dr.  Chappie  to  the  Prime  Minister  on 
Xurses'  Registration,  and  onlv  printing  his  replv. 
This  reprehensible  method  of  boycott  was  adopted 
by  the  HoUand-Hamisworth  Anti-Registration 
Press  in  their  unfair  suppres.sion  of  the  demand 
upon  the  part  of  trained  nurses  that  the  public 
shall  be  protected  from  unqualified  persons 
posing  as  skilled  and  qualified  nurses — for  that 
is  what  Nurses'  Registration  means. 

The  Question. 
As  we  reported  last  week.  Dr.  Chappie  asked 
the  Prime  Minister  whether  his  attention  had  been 
called  to  the  fact  that  the  Nurses'  Registration 
BUI  was  now  supported  b>-  the  British  Medical 
Association,  the  Matrons'  Council  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  the  Royal  British  Nurses'  Association, 
the  Society  for  the  State  Registration  of  Trained 
Nurses,  the  Fever  Nurses'  Association,  the 
Scottish  Nurses'  Association,  the  Association  for 
the  promotion  of  Registration  of  Nurses  in  Scot- 
land, and  the  Irish  Nurses'  .-Vssociation,  and  that 
Acts  providing  for  the  State  registration  of  nurses 
had  been  passed  in  South  Africa,  in  Queensland,  in 
New  Zealand,  in  Ontario,  in  34  of  the  States  in 
the  American  Union,  in  Germany,  and  in  Belgium  ; 
and  whether,  in  view  of  the  necessitv  for  the 
protection  of  the  sick  from  unqualified  nursing 
which  assumes  to  be  qualified,  he  would  give 
facilities  for  the  passage  of  the  Bill  already  passed 
by  the  House  of  Lords  or  some  other. 

The  Reply. 

Mr.  Asquith  :  I  was  not  aware  of  all  the  facts 
cited  by  the  hon.  member,  but  in  any  case  I  fear 
I  cannot  give  facilities  for  the  passage  of  a  Bill  on 
this  subject. 

The  important  part  of  this  reply  is  not  that 
facilities  cannot  now  be  given—during  con- 
stitutional turmoil  and  revolution  constructive 
social  legislation  is  bound  to  be  crowded  out — 


Cbe  Biitisb  Journal  of  IRursliuj. 


July  6,    1 91 2 


but  that  although  on  various  occasions  official 
information  on  the  progress  of  the  movement 
has  been  sent  to  the  Treasury-,  it  has  not  ap- 
parentlv  reached  the  Prime  Minister. 

Our  dutv'  is  plain.  The  Central  Committee  for 
State  Registration  of  Xurses  must  now  take 
active  measures  to  instruct  the  Prime  Minister 
on  the  urgent  need  there  is  for  the  protection 
of  the  sick  in  the  United  Kingdom,  for  which 
trained  nurses  have  worked,  paid,  and  pleaded 
for  a  quarter  of  a  centur>-.  An  excellent  article 
from  the  logical  pen  of  Miss  M.  Breay  appeared 
in  the  Standard  on  Friday,  28th  ult.,  pointmg 
out  how,  in  spite  of  Mrs.  Humphry-  Ward's 
assertion  to  the  contrary,  legislation  demanded  by 
voteless  women  is  ignored. 


NURSES     AND     THE     NATIONAL 
INSURANCE    ACT. 


A     FEW     ITEMS. 

The  Insurance  Act  comes  into  force  on  the 
15th  of  July. 

Insurable  persons  have  till  the  15th  of 
October  next  to  choose  the  society  in  which  to 
insure,  so  no  need  to  rush  into  a  society  without 
consideration. 

As  small  societies,  which  can  be  self- 
managed  and  each  individual  considered,  are 
often  the  most  successful,  there  is  no  need 
for  trained  nurses  to  join  large  societies,  which 
they  cannot  possibly  control,  and  where  they 
will  be  treated  in  the  lump  with  untrained 
persons,  whose  special  needs  are  not  identical 
with  their  own. 

Co-operation  nurses  must  at  all  costs  avoid 
irritating-  private  patients  by  presenting  cards 
for  stamping  weekly,  otherwise  their  society 
will  suffer  loss  of  patronage,  and  work  will  be 
given  to  hospitals  and  institutions  who  employ 
nurses  on  a  small  salary,  and  who  have  to  insure 
the  staff  and  stamp  the  cards. 

The  Registered  Nurses'  Society  Committee 
hopes  to  adopt  a  system  to  help  the  nurses  on 
the  staff  to  avoid  appealing  to  patients  for  con- 
tributions as  employers.  Xo  one  appears  to 
know  who  is  the  employer  of  co-operative 
private  nurses  not  associated  or  organized  for 
profit.  The  following  letter  has  been  received 
from  the  Commissioners  (England)  by  the 
Secretary  of  the  Registered  Nurses'  Society  : — 
>L\DAM, — I  am  directed  by  the  National  Health 
Insurance  Commission  (England)  to  inform  you 
that  they  have  had  under  consideration  the 
position  of  nurses  under  the  National  Insurance 
Act,  and  particularly  the  question  as  to  who  wiU 
be  liable  to  pay  contribution  in  respect  of  nurses 
sent  out  by  an  institution  to  attend  cases  in  private 


houses.  They  consider  that  this  question  is  one- 
which  will  depend  on  the  degree  of  control  retained 
by  the  institution  under  whose  auspices  they 
work.  The  Commissioners  imderstand  that  in 
many  cases  the  nurse  is  amenable  to  control  by 
the  institution,  and  is  therefore  to  be  regarded 
as  in  their  employment.  In  cases,  however, 
where  the  institution  merely  acts  as  an  agency 
for  nurses,  without  any  disciplinan,-  powers,  the 
patient  is  to  be  regarded  as  the  employer,  as 
would  be  the  case  if  the  nurse  were  working 
entirely  on  her  own  account.  The  only  case  in 
which  a  nurse,  generally  speaking,  will  not  have 
to  be  insured  is  the  case  where  she  receives, 
patients  into  her  o^vn  home  for  treatment. 
I  ana,  madam. 

Your  obedient  servant, 

L.  G.   Brock. 

The  Metropolitan  Asylums  Board  at  their 
meeting  last  Saturday  decided  to  put  all  their 
employees  under  the  Insurance  Act.  The 
Finance  Committee  recommended  that  the 
Managers  should  apply  to  the  Insurance  Com- 
missioners for  a  certificate  of  exemption,  and 
Mr.  Jackson  Hunt  expressed  the  opinion  that 
the  adoption  of  the  recommendation  would- 
effect  a  saving  of  ;^2,400  a  year,  but  the  recom- 
mendation was  rejected. 


THE  LEAGUE  OF  ST.  BARTHOLOMEW'S 
HOSPITAL  NURSES. 


The  summer  General  Meeting  of  the  League  of 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  Nurses  was^ield  in  the 
Clinical  Lecture  Theatre  on  Saturday  last.  The 
President,  Miss  R.  Cox-Davies,  was  in  the  chair. 

The  first  report  presented  was  that  of  the- 
Treasurer,  Miss  ^^^litley,  who  reported  a  balance 
in  hand  at  the  close  of  the  financial  year  on  May 
gth,  of  £4"/  7s.  gd.,  and  in  the  reserve  fund  a 
balance  of  /51  12s.  3d. 

Mrs.  Lancelot  Andrews  then  presented  the 
General  Secretary's  report,  announcing  that  copies, 
of  tliree  resolutions  passed  at  the  lastmeeting  had 
been  sent  to  the  members  of  the  Cabinet,  the 
formation  of  the  Isla  Stewart  Memorial  Committee 
the  appointment  of  Miss  ^I.  E.  Hunter  as  a 
fraternal  delegate  to  the  International  Congress 
of  Nurses  at  Cologne,  and  the  work  done  by  Miss 
'M.  Sleigh  in  connection  with  League  Neivs. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  ^liss  Sleigh. 
The  President  announced  the  report  of  the 
scrutineers,  that  Miss  G.  R.  Hale,  Superintendent 
of  the  Nurses'  Home,  Miss  E.  J.  Car\-er  (Sister 
Rahere),  Miss  G.  Lardner  (Sister  Stanley),  and  Miss 
J.  Curtis  (late  Sister  Stanley)  had  been  appointed 
members  of  the  Executive  Committee  in  place  of 
the  four  retiring  members  to  whom  a  vote  of 
thanks  was  passed. 

The  report  of  the  Benevolent  Fund  showed  that 
£14  OS.  od.  had  been  granted  to  a  member,  and. 


July  6,    191 2 


Z\K  Brttisb  3oiirnaI  of  H-lurslno. 


that    there    was     a     balance     at    tlic    bank    of 
£34  2S.  gd. 

Miss  Waind  was  elected  a  Vice-President  in 
place  of  Mrs.  Walter  Spencer,  who  retired  in 
rotation.  The  President  spoke  warmly  of  Mrs. 
Spencer  as  a  "  strong  rock"  of  help  and  support 
during  her  term  of  office,  and  of  the  pleasure 
with  which  Miss  Waind  would  be  welcomed  as  her 
successor. 

Mrs.  Shuter,  Hon.  Secretary  to  the  Isla  Stewart 
Memorial  Committee,  reported  that  she  had 
received  to  date  over  £200.  £6^  i8s.  6d.  being 
annual  subscriptions.  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick^aid 
that  ;^20o  was  a  ver^-  satisfactory  nest-egg  to 
invest ;  she  pointed  out  that  it  included  a  number  of 
comparatively  large  donations,  but,  if  the  memorial 
was  to  be  that  of  the  League,  subscribers 
of  small  amounts  were  also  needed.  She  asked  for 
subscribers  of  is.,  2S.  6d.  and  5s.  This  was  endorsed 
by  the  President. 

Resolution. 
The  following  resolution  moved  by  Mrs.  Bedford 
Feuwick  and  seconded  by  Miss  Beatrice  Cutler 
was  carried  unanimously  : 

"  The  Members  of  the  League  of  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital  Nurses,  in  General  Meeting 
assembled,  protest  against  the  exclusion  of  the 
Trained  Nurses'  Organizations  from  direct 
representation  on  the  Ad\dsory  Committees  under 
the  National  Insurance  Act,  and  consider  tlois 
exclusion  the  more  unjust  as  every  other  class 
of  women  whose  interests  are  affected  by  the 
operation  of  the  Act  have  been  accorded  this 
privilege  by  the  Insurance  Commissioners, 
through  their  Professional  Organizations  or 
Trades'  Unions; 

"  This  Meeting  begs  respectfully  to  brmg  this 
grievance  to  the  personal  knowledge  of  the 
Chancellor  of  the  E.xcheqiicr,  in  the  hope  that 
he  \nll  at  once  direct  that  it  shall  be  remov-ed." 
It  was  agreed  that  the  Resolution  be  sent  to  the 
Prime  Minister,  the  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer 
and  Mr.  Masterman. 

On  the  proposition  of  Mrs.  Shuter,  seconded 
by  Mrs.  Sturdy,  it  was  agreed  that  a  course  of 
lectures  should  be  arranged  on  Child  Labour, 
Women  in  Sweated  Industries,  and  Eugenics,  the 
details  being  left  to  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. 

The  Social  Gathering  was  held  in  the  Great  Hall, 
where  a  sumptuous  tea  was  prettily  arranged. 
The  guests  were  received  by  Miss  Cutler,  Vice- 
President,  in  the  absence  of  the  President  owing 
to  family  bereavement,  for  whom  much  sympathy 
was  expressed.  Amongst  the  members  were  Miss 
Milne,  from  Philadelphia,  on  her  way  to  Cologne, 
and  Miss  Pritchard,  from  Calcutta,  Miss  Gretta 
Lyons,  a  member  of  the  Council  of  the  Royal 
Victorian  Trained  Nurses  Association,  was  warmly 
welcomed  as  a  guest  and  had  much  of  interest  to 
tell  of  nursing  matters  at  the  antipodes.  Mr. 
Algernon  Clarke's  quartette  played  charmingly 
during  .the  afternoon  and  added  greatly  to  the 
pleasure  of  this  annual  reunion  of  Barts.  nurses. 


APPOINTMENTS. 


MATRON. 

The  Royal  Infirmary  and  Children's  Hospital, 
Leicester. — Miss  Clara  E.  Vincent  has  been  ap- 
pointed Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Night- 
ingale School  of  St.  Thomas'  Hospital,  London, 
in  which  institution  she  has  held  the  position  of 
Night  Superintendent  from  1904-1905,  Sister  in 
medical  and  surgical  wards  from  1905-1908, 
Housekeeping  Sister  from  1908-10,  and  Assistant 
^latron  from  igio-ii. 

The  Isolation  Hospital,  Hinckley.^Miss  Florence 
Bellinger  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  St.  George's  Infirmary,  Fulham  Road, 
S.W.,  and  has  held  the  position  of  Matron  at 
the  Barnes  Isolation  Hospital,  and  has  been  Day 
Sister  and  Night  Superintendent  at  the  Enfield 
Isolation  Hospital,  and  has  done  temporary  dutv 
at  the  Borough  Hospital,  East  Ham,  taking 
complete  charge. 

The  Isolation  Hospital,  Newton-in-Makerfield. — 
Miss  E.  G.  E\'ans  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  General  Infirmary,  Leeds, 
and  has  held  the  position  of  Night  Superintendent 
at  the  Northern  Hospital  (M.A.B.),  London  N., 
Assistant  Matron  at  the  Taunton  and  Somerset 
Hospital,  Matron  at  the  Chorlcy  Joint  Hospital, 
and  Matron  at  the  Mastin  Moor  District  Hospital, 
Staveley 

NIGHT    SISTER. 

Union  Infirmary,  Wakefield. — Miss  G.  M.  Morgan 
has  been  appointed  Night  Sister.  She  was  trained 
at  the  Eversfield  Hospital,  St.  Leonards,  and  the 
Royal  Infirmary,  Bradford,  and  has  been  Charge 
Nurse  at  the  Fever  Hospital,  Bucknall,  Stoke-on- 
Trent,  and  has  also  had  experience  ^of  private 
nursing. 

SISTER. 

West  Suffolk  General  Hospital,  Bury  St.  Edmunds. — 

Miss  Grace  Warner  lias  been  appointed  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Borough  Hospital, 
Birkenhead,  where  she  has  also  held  the  position 
of  Sister.  She  has  also  held  the  position  of 
Night  Sister  at  the  Dorset  Countv  Hospital, 
and  of  Ward  and  Night  Sister  at  the  Staffordshire 
General    Infiniiarv,    Stafford. 

SUPERINTENDENT     NURSE. 

Chichester  Workhouse. — Miss  Ethel  Reeves  has 
been  appointed  Superintendent  Nurse.  She  at 
present  holds  the  position  of  Senior  Charge  Nurse 
and  Deputy  Superintendent  Nurse  at  the  East- 
bourne Workhouse. 

ASSISTANT     RELIEVING     OFFICER. 

Leicester  Corporation. — Miss  Fannv  Sprigg  has 
been  appointed  Assistant  Relieving  Officer  for 
Leicester.  She  was  trained  at  the  Crumpsall 
Infirmary,  Manchester,  and  the  Borough  Fever 
Hospital,  Leicester.  She  has  held  the  position  of 
Sister  at  Crumpsall  Infirmarv,  and  has  also  had 
experience  both  of  private  and  of  district  nursing. 
She  is  a  certified  midwife. 


Jibe  38i*(ti?b  3ouvnal  of  Bursino- 


July  6,    191: 


queen   victoria's  jubilee   institute. 

Inspector. 

Miss  Margaret  Hardman,  Superintendent  at 
Leicester,  is  appointed  "  Inspector  "  for  Queen 
Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute.  She  was  trained  at 
tlie  London  Hospital  and  at  the  Hackney  Children's 
Hospital,  received  midwifery  training  at  Gloucester 
and  District  training  at  Westminster.  She  has 
since  held  the  following  appointments  :  Queen's 
Kurse  at  Chatham,  Assistant  Superintendent  at 
Gloucester,  Superintendent  at  Darwen,  Super- 
intendent (temporary)  at  Hertfordshire  Training 
Home,  ^^'atford,  Superintendent  of  Leicester 
D.N..-\. 

Trtttisjeis  ami  Appointments. — Sarah  E.  Bailey 
is  appointed  to  Middlewich,  Miss  Catherine 
Higgmson  to  Bosham  and  Fishbourne,  Miss  Ellen 
Isherwood  to  Burscough  Bridge,  Miss  Mary  A. 
Moss  to  Sheffield. 


NURSING    ECHOES. 


PRESENTATION. 

A  handsome  silver  tea-ser\'ice  has  been  presented 
to  Miss  Hambrook,  district  nurse  in  South  Oxford, 
on  her  resignation  on  account  of  her  approaclring 
marriage.  The  presentation  was  made  in  the 
St.  Aldate  Rectory-  Room  by  the  Rector,  the 
Rev.  G.  Foster  Carter,  who  presided,  in  the 
presence  of  a  large  number  of  friends  and  well- 
wishers.  In  the  course  of  a  very  appreciative 
speech  the  Rector  hoped  that  Miss  Hambrook's 
successor  would  be  "  just  as  she  was." 


EXAMINATIONS. 

The  examinations  for  the  "  Brevet  "  have 
just  been  finished  at  the  Training  School  of  the 
Assistance  Publique  of  Paris,  at  the  SalpetriSre, 
and  fifty-three  pupils  successfully  passed  it.  The 
members  of  the  jury  who  do  not  belong  to  the 
school  have  declared  themselves  very  satisfied 
with  the  training,  and  have  addressed  their 
congratulations  to  the  new  matron.  Miss  Clement. 
Most  of  these  pupils  will  pass  three  months  in  the 
Hospital  St.  Jean  in  Brussels,  and  will  take  their 
positions  on  October  ist  in  the  Paris  Hospitals. 

Since  its  foundation  the  School  of  the  Salpetriere 
has  trained  249  pupils,  of  whom  41  to-day  arc 
chief  nurses,  and  two  have  the  direction  of  a 
department. 

• — • — • 

THE     PASSING     BELL. 

It  is  with  regret  we  record  the  death  of  Miss 
Maria  E.  Goff,  who  passed  away  on  June  igth 
after  nine  months  suffering  patiently  borne.  Sister 
Goff  was  trained  at  St.  Thomas'  Hospital,  and  for 
over  seventeen  years  was  Home  Sister  for  the 
private  staff  of  the  Royal  Sussex  County  Hospital, 
Brighton,  a  position  she  resigned  only  fifteen 
months  ago.  Her  nurses  and  all  who  came  in 
contact  with  her  will  always  remember  her  with 
respect  and  affection  for  her  kindness  and  great 
devotion  to  her  work.  She  was  personally  known 
to  the  late  Miss  Florence  Nightingale,  from  whom 
she  received  a  tribute  to  her  worth  and  skill. 


Miss  J.  C.  Child  has  arrived  from  Basulo- 
land  with  much  useful  information  concern- 
ing nursing-  in  South  Africa  for  the  benefit  of 
the  Cologne  Congress.  She  writes  from 
Brighton  : — "  I  must  tell  you  of  a  delightful 
surprise  I  had  on  arriving  in  Brighton  yester- 
day. Miss  K.  Scott,  matron  of  the  Royal 
Sussex  County  Hospital,  where  I  was  trained, 
was  At  Home  to  the  past  and  present  nurses, 
and  I  met  many  old  fellow-workers,  and  there 
were  present,  including  myself,  four  from 
.'\frica  !  These  social  gatherings  prove  how 
very  valuable  are  Leagues  of  Hospital  Nurses, 
both  socially  and  educationally,  and  ere  long  I 
hope  a  League  of  Royal  Sussex  County  Hos- 
pital Nurses  may  be  started.  Yesterday  we 
had  a  delightful  time — tea  and  games,  cricket 
on  the  tennis  court,  &c.  The  gathering  ended 
with  a  service  in  the  dear  old  chapel,  or  rather 
I  must  say  new  chapel,  for  since  my  time  it  has 
been  beautifully  repaired  and  decorated ;  there 
is  now  a  fine  organ,  and  the  choir  of  nurses  is 
fortunate  to  possess  some  lovely  voices,  includ- 
ing those  of  the  resident  doctors.  I  shall  carry 
back  to  Africa  a  delightful  memory  of  this 
happy  day." 


The  Founders'  Day  Garden  Party  was  held 
at  the  Lady  Margaret  Hospital,  Bromley,  on 
Saturday,  June  29th,  from  4  to  8  p.m.  The 
hostesses  were  Lady  Earnshaw  Cooper,  Lady 
Louisa  Fielding,  Lady  Muriel  Watkins,  and 
Mrs.  Douglas-Hamilton.  An  address  was 
given  by  Dr.  Josiah  Oldfield  on  "  Diet  and 
Health."  Nurses'  certificates  were  presented, 
and  a  chapel  window  unveiled  and  dedicated  bv 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Langford-James. 


A  probationer  nurse  at  the  Camberwell  In- 
firmary who  visited  a  ward  in  the  gymnastic 
costume  in  which  she  was  going  to  appear  at  a 
dance  got  up  by  the  third-year  nurses  has  had 
to  tender  her  resignation,  which  has  been 
accepted  by  the  Guardians  by  13  votes  to  7. 

The  circumstances  were  peculiarly  flagrant. 
One  might  suppose  that  the  nurse's  own  sense 
of  propriety  would  have  prevented  her  from 
entering  a  ward  in  such  a  costume,  and  the 
reason  alleged  that  she  had  promised  a  patient 
who  had  helped  her  to  make  the  costume  to 
see  her  in  it  is  no  excuse;  but  further,  on  her 
own  statement,  as  she  was  entering  the  ward 
she  "  ran  into  "  the  Superintendent  on  duty, 
who  ordered  her  out  of  the  ward,  and  specially 
directed  her  not  to  return.  Notwithstanding, 
she  again  returned  to  the  ward,  and  was  caught 


July  6,    1912 


Cbe  36viti5b  3ournal  of  IRiirsuuj. 


in  the  act  by  the  Superintendent,  and  rightly 
reported  for  insubordination.  Were  such  con- 
duct permitti'd,  there  would  be  ;in  end  to  all 
discipline  in  the  Infirmary. 


The  best  way  to  obtain  a  suitable  staff  of 
nurses  in  any  institution  is  for  the  matron  to 
select  the  probationers,  and  the  Committee  of 
Management  to  elect  them ;  too  many  cooks 
spoil  the  broth,  and  where  either  Boards  of 
Guardians  or  other  lay  authorities  set  abq^t 
interviewing  and  selecting  probationers,  there 
sure  enough  other  than  the  one  reason  of  suit- 
ability may  be  advanced.  The  Preston  Board 
of  Guardians  have  decided  that  its  Nursing 
Committee  shall  suggest  at  least  two  candidates 
for  each  vacancy,  so  that  it  may  select  them. 
"  Why  go  to  the  expense,"  pointed  out  Mr. 
King,  "  of  bringing  two  candidates  before  the 
Board  merely  that  members  may  look  at  their 
faces?  "  Why,  indeed,  waste  the  ratepavers' 
money?  If  the  matron  and  the  Xursing  Com- 
mittee cannot  select  the  probationers,  what  use 
are  they?  

We  are  sorry  to  note  that  there  has  been  such 
a  poor  response  to  the  appeal  for  funds  to  the 
citizens  of  Liverpool  in  aid  of  the  District  Xurs- 
ing Association,  the  annjjal  expenditure  of 
which  is  ;^6oo  per  annum  short  of  its  income. 
Surely  in  a  city  where  so  much  wealth  is  pro- 
duced it  is  a  great  reflection  upon  the  generositv 
of  those  who  acquire  it  that  this  great  work  is 
not  adequately  supported.  .\s  the  mother  city 
of  district  nursing,  Liverpool  owes  it  to  itself  to 
maintain  its  reputation  for  kindness  to  the  poor. 


The  Garde-Malade  Hospitaliere  issued  a 
special  number  last  month,  as  a  memorial  to 
its  founder  and  firm  friend  and  counsellor.  Dr. 
Lande,  including  an  excellent  inset  portrait 
of  this  distinguished  medical  man,  upon  whom 
the  highest  honours  in  France  were  conferred. 
The  nurses  who  mourn  him  have  rendered  him 
the  highest  homage  possible  in  demonstration 
of  their  gratitude  by  devoting  a  whole  num- 
ber of  their  journal  to  his  memorv.  His  name 
will  henceforth  be  inscribed  at  the  head  of  the 
journal,  in  order  that  future  generations  in  the 
hospital  world  may  remember  the  first  doctor 
in  France  who  officially  applied  the  principles 
of  Florence  Nightingale,  and  foresaw  the 
future  of  the  French  nurse.  Dr.  .Anna 
Hamilton,  in  a  most  sympathetic  article,  re- 
views the  life  and  distinguished  career  of  the 
deceased,  quoting  the  widespread  public  testi- 
mony to4iis  worth,  and  demonstrating  especi- 
ally his  services  to  the  cause  of  nursing  and 


his  influence  on  the  nursing  schools  of 
Bordeaux. 

Mile.  .A.  GaJlienne,  Cheftaine  in  the  Tondu 
Hospital,  writes  an  account  of  the  funeral, 
which  took  place  at  Bordeaux,  and  was,  by  the 
invitation  of  the  Mayor,  of  a  public  character, 
thousands  of  people  attending  to  pay  their  last 
tribute  of  respect.  .Miss  Gallienne  writes  : — 
"  On  the  22nd  of  April  we  learnt,  through  the 
daily  papers,  of  the  sudden  indisposition  of 
Dr.  Lande.  The  following  morning  we  saw 
him  once  more  in  Paris,  lying  in  the  little 
chapel  of  the  Maison  de  Sante  in  the  Rue 
Sergent-Hoff — he  had  scarcely  been  dead  for 
two  hours.  He  whom  we  had  known  active, 
indefatigable,  struggling  incessantly  for  the 
triumph  of  his  cherished  ideas,  was  there 
before  us,  perfectly  calm,  perfectly  insensible 
to  our  grief.  He  w^as  at  rest — it  remained  to 
us  to  take  up  the  task  where  he  has  laid  it 
down." 

One  point  Miss  Gallienne  notes — that  for  the 
first  time  the  pupils  of  the  Tondu  Hospital  w'ore 
their  outdoor  uniform  at  Dr.  Lande's  funeral. 
It  had  been  one  of  his  last  wishes  to  see  his 
pupils  in  this  uniform.  No  one  imagined  the 
sad  circumstances  under  which  they  would  first 
wear  it. 

"  When  the  body  of  Dr.  Lande  had  been 
lowered  near  to  that  of  his  father  in  the  family 
vault  the  crowd  slowly  dispersed.  Only  the 
nurses  remained  to  gather  once  more  around 
the  grave  of  him  who  was  to  them  as  a  father, 
and  their  best  defender.  -And  there  tftey  drew 
fresh  inspiration  and  took  new  courage  for  the 
work  to  come." 

The  orations  spoken  at  the  funeral  by  the 
Mayor  and  distinguished  public  men  in  Bor- 
deaux are  also  included  in  this  number. 
Could  Dr.  Lande  but  know,  he  would  he 
appreciative  of  the  work  .and  grateful  for  the 
affection  of  his  pupils. 


-A  correspondent  writes  : — 

"  We  had  a  notable  example  of  Bart's  esf>rit 
de  corps  in  Calcutta  recentlv  when  an  "  Old 
Bart's  "  dinner  was  given  at  the  Urited 
Service  Club.  It  was  by  no  means  the  first 
dinner  of  the  kind  in  Calcutta,  but  there 
was  a  new  departure  this  year  in  that  it  was  not 
confined  to  men  onlv,  their  wives  and  all  old 
Bart's  nurses  in  the  neighbourhood  being  also 
invited. 

There  were  twentv-two  people  at  the  dinner 
five  of  the  eight  ladies  present  being  old  Bart's 
nurses,  and  the  evening  was  a  great  success.  Love 
of  the  old  hospital  was  a  suflficiently  strong  bond 
to  turn  strangers  into  friends  and  to  make  it  a 
genial    re-union.     Taken    altogether    the    remini- 


Zbc  Britlsb  3ournaI  of  murelnci 


July  6,    1 91 2 


scences  of  those  present  covered  the  history  of  the 
hospital  pretty  well  from  the  seventies  to  within 
the  last  3-ear  or  two,  and  many  were  the  anecdotes 
told  of  "the  old  sisters — now,  alas  !  no  longer  a 
part  of  Bart's — and  many  were  the  "  Do  you 
remember's  ?  "  heard  around. 

"  The  chairman  was  the  Hon.  Surgeon -General 
Sir  C.  P.  Lukis,  K.C.S.I.,  and  in  proposing  the 
toast  of  the  old  hospital  he  touched  lightly  on  the 
fact  that  at  the  present  moment  nearly  every 
medical  post  of  any  importance  in  India  is  held 
by  an  old  Bart's  man,  adding  that  while  we  are 
all  proud  of  our  old  hospital,  he  thought  the 
hospital  had  no  cause  to  be  ashamed  of  her  sons 
in  India. 

"  We  all  cordially  endorsed  his  wish  that  this 
dinner  may  now  become  an  annual  function." 


REFLECTIONS. 


Nurses  have  many  titles,  but  Prairie  Nurses 
is  something  new,  and  the  new  development 
of  the  Railway  Mission  in  Canada  in  providing 
fpr  a  staff  of  nurses  has  been  possible  by  a 
grant  from  the  Archbishop's  Fund  of  ;^5oo. 

The  Colonial  Nursing  Association  are  supply- 
ing the  first  three  nurses,  and  they  sailed  on 
Friday  last  week  by  the  Empress  of  Ireland.  To 
anyone  who  knows  Western  Canada,  and  has 
experienced  the  hardships  incident  to  pioneer 
life  in  the  prairie,  this  scheme  will  at  once  com- 
mend itself.  It  will  certainly  strengthen  the 
work  of  the  Railway  Mission,  which  has  already 
become  very  popular  with  the  settlers. 

Besides  these  nurses,  two  other  ladies — Miss 
Pownoll-Wright  and  Miss  Mudge,  both  well- 
known  educationists — sailed  for  Regina  on 
Saturday  last.  They  are  to  work  in  connection 
with  the  Railway  Mission  also.  Their  special 
work  will  be  the  establishment  of  a  hostel  in 
Regina,  where  the  young  girl  teachers  who  are 
taking  their  courses  at  the  Normal  School  may 
live. 

THE  AMERICAN  NURSES'  ASSOCIATION. 

The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  American  Nurses' 
Association,  recently  held  at  Chicago,  was  im- 
mensely successful.  The  Secretary  writes  : — 
"  The  Chicago  Conference  was  all  so  big  and 
wonderful,  and  we  never  have  had  such  a  meet- 
ing. The  Visiting  Nurses'  Society  organised, 
and  it  was  great. ' ' 

The  Superintendents'  Society  has  now  affili- 
ated with  the  American  Nurses'  Association, 
so  that  matrons  and  nurses  form  one  national 
association — as  we  have  under  the  Constitution 
of  our  National  Council  of  Nurses — thus  the 
old  American  Federation  ceases  to  exist ;  but 
the  President,  Miss  Adelaide  Nutting,  has  been 
appointed  an  official  delegate  to  the  Inter- 
national Council  meeting  in  Cologne,  and  will 
be  welcomed  with  the  greatest  pleasure. 


FROM   A   BOARD    ROOM  MIRROR. 

During  the  visit  of  the  King  and  Queen  to  Wales,, 
they  inspected  the  Royal  Hamadryad  Seamen's 
Hospital,  at  Cardiff,  when  the  matron,  Miss  Davis, 
had  the  honour  of  being  presented  to  Their 
Majesties. 

At  the  visit  paid  to  the  King  Edward  VII. 
Hospital  at  Cardiff,  the  King  and  Queen  went 
through  the  wards  under  the  guidance  of  Miss 
Wilson,  the  matron.  They  talked  with  many  of 
the  patients  and  remarked  upon  the  brightness 
of  the  wards,  in  which  were  several  bouquets  that 
the  Queen  had  caused  to  be  sent  to  the  institution. 
Both  hospitals  were  en  fete. 


The  Royal  Infirmary,  Bristol,  which  the  King 
and  Queen  next  visited,  to  open  the  King  Edward 
VII.  Memorial,  was  founded  in  1735,  and  it  has 
dealt  with  2  J  million  patients  in  its  long  career. 
Amongst  the  senior  officials  presented  was  Miss 
Baillie,  the  matron,  and  the  nursing  staff  presented 
a  charming  appearance.  The  King  and  Queen 
expressed  admiration  of  the  arrangements  of  the 
hospital  and  nurses'  home. 


The  King,  patron  of  the  Seamen's  Hospital 
Society,  has  announced  his  intention  of  laying  the 
foundation-stone  of  the  new  wing  of  the  London 
School  of  Tropical  Medicine  on  the  occasion  of 
his  visit  to  the  branch  of  the  Dreadnought  Hospital, 
in  the  Albert  Dock,  on  July  17th. 


An  anonymous  gift  of  /2o,ooo  was  announced 
at  the  annual  prize  distribution  of  St.  Thomas's 
Hospital  Medical  School,  at  which  the  Lord  Mayor 
and  Lady  Mayoress  were  present. 


The  matron  of  St.  John's  Hospital,  Tvyickenham, 
has  instituted  a  million  farthing  scheme,  to  provide- 
a  convalescent  home  for  the  patients. 


The  President  and  Committee  of  the  Royal 
West  of  England  Sanatorium  at  Weston-super- 
Mare,  require  £700  to  rebuild  the  sea-water 
collecting  tank  and  for  fixing  a  new  Pulsometer 
boiler  to  pump  up  the  sea  water  for  the  baths. 

The  Committee  would  emphasize  the  great 
benefits  derived  from  the  baths  since  they  were 
opened  in  1889  in  almost  all  cases,  especially  gout, 
rheumatism  and  nerve  affections.  Over  7,000 
baths  were  given  to  the  patients  last  year. 

Under  the  very  able  superintendence  of  Miss 
Edith  Mawe  this  institution  enjoys  a  widespread 
popularity. 


The  Gas  Light  and  Coke  Company,  which  was 
incorporated  bv  Royal  Charter  on  April  30th, 
1812,  celebrated  its  centenary  vear  last  week,  and 
in  a  well-written  and  copiously  illustrated  book 
issued  by  the  company  the  history  of  this  vast 
undertaking  is  set  forth. 


July  6,    igi2 


Cbc  Bviti0b  3ouniaI  of  IRursino. 


13 


LORD   MAYOR    TRELOAR'S 

CRIPPLES'  HOSPITAL  AND  COLLEGE, 

ALTON,   HANTS. 


An  invitation  to  view  this  institution  means 
enjoyment,  education,  liberal  hospitality  and 
thankfulness.  Thankfulness  for  the  inspiration 
of  a  good  man,  who  conceived  the  idea  of  so 
beneficent  a  scheme,  and  who  has,  by  his  energy 
and  prodigality,  made  it  so  great  a  success. 
The  splendid  work  achieved  is  shown  by  the  fatct 
that  since  the  foundation  in  1908  no  less  than  495 
children  have 
been  d  i  s - 
charged  cured. 
It  is  claimed 
that  no  similar 
institution  in 
the  world  can 
claim,  as  this 
one  does,  90 
per  cent,  of 
cures.  Sir  Wil- 
liam Treloar, 
during  his 
year  of  office 
at  the  Mansion 
House,  made  a 
very  successful 
appeal  for  help 
to  found  a  hos- 
pital for  child- 
ren suffering 
from  the  sadly 
common  com- 
plaint known 
as  surgical 
tuberculosis. 
The  appeal  was 
made  at  the 
psychological 
moment,  for 
at  that  time 
the  Princess 
Louise  Hospi- 
tal, which  had  formerly  served  for  convalescent 
soldiers  after  the  Boer  War,  had  become 
vacant.  The  Government  made  a  present  of 
the  whole  estate,  consisting  of  68  acres,  with  its 
buildings  and  plant  to  Sir  William  and  his  co- 
trustees for  the  purpose  which  it  has  so  admirably 
served.  Tliis  group  of  bungalows  is  situated  in 
the  most  beautiful  country,  on  a  gently  sloping  liill 
facing  south. 

About  169  invited  guests '  boarded  a  special 
train  from  Waterloo  on  June  29th.  Upon  arrival 
we  formed  ourselves  into  small  parties  and  were 
"  personally  conducted  "  over  every  department 
of  this  institution  by  nurses  wearing  a  distinguish- 
ing mark  for  our  guidance.  Everything  we  saw 
was  deeply  interesting  and,  for  those  who  had  eyes 
to  see,  very  instructive.  The  wards  are  built  in 
two  groups  of  ten,  in  semi-circular  formation ;  each 


ward  is  a  separate  building,  connected  by  outside 
corridors.  The  spinal  cases  were  all  treated  with 
the  swing  "  back-door  "  splint,  which  provides 
twofold  extension  by  placing  the  head  and  legs 
lower  than  the  trunk.  The  treatment  for  surgical 
tuberculosis  is  necessarily  long  ;  the  average 
length  of  stay  at  this  hospital  is  405  days.  The 
injection  of  bismuth  into  the  spine  in  cases  of 
tubercular  sinus  is  largely  used  here. 

Sad  as  the  sight  is,  of  so  many  little  children 
strapped  down  upon  mechanical  beds  in  unnatural 
positions,  yet  the  compensating  factors  loom  so 
large,  showing  the  gain  all  on  their  side,  that 
there  is  not  much  room  left  for  sadness  of  thought 

when       o  n"e 


that 
every 


THE    OPEN    AIR   TREATMENT .  FOR    CRIPPLES, 
LORD    MAVOR    TRELOARS    CRIPPLES'    HOSPITAL.    ALTON.    HANTS 


realizes 
almost 

one  of  them 
is  on  the  high 
and  straight 
road  to  com- 
plete recovery. 
The  hospital, 
which  is  the 
largest  of  its 
kind  in  the 
1,'nited  King- 
dom, will  ac- 
commodate 
220  children, 
and  every  bed 
is  always  occu- 
pied.  The 
Matron  has 
under  her 
charge  a  staff 
of  about  sixty 
nurses  and  ten 
sisters. 

THE 
COLLEOE. 

Tliis  is  not 
the  least  im- 
portant part 
of  the  scheme. 
It  exists  for 
the  object  of  giving  industrial  training  to 
crippled  boys  between  the  ages  of  fourteen 
and  eighteen,  to  enable  them  to  earn  their 
own  Uving.  Accomfnodation  is  afforded  to 
sixty  boys,  who  arc  being  taught  leather  work, 
boot  making  and  tailoring — according  to  their 
inclination  and  ability.  They  do  not  leave  until 
they  have  become  proficient  in  their  trade  and 
able  to  earn  good  wages. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  features  of  the 
institution  is  the  "  Observation  W'ards."  Their 
purpose  is  best  described  by  quoting  the  words 
of  one  of  the  authorities  : — Here  patients  on 
admission  are  treated  in  quarantine  for  a  period 
of  at  least  one  fortnight;  each  patient  occupies  a 
separate  cubicle  ;  during  his  stay  in  this  cubicle 
he  is  gradually  acclimatized,  his  case  is  worked  up, 
notes  written  and  appropriate  splints  manufactured 


14 


<Ibe  36ritisb  3ournaI  of  IHursino. 


July  6,    191 2 


This  sj^stein  has  prevented  the  occurrence  of  any 
infectious  disease.  It  may  be  noted  that  such  a 
condition  as  a  cold  is  classed  as  infectious,  and 
children  suffering  from  colds  are  detained  in  the 
"  Observ-ation  Ward  "  until  the  cold  is  cured. 
One  side  of  each  cubicle  is  of  glass,  a  fact  which 
emphasizes  their  purpose  in  a  hteral  and  practical 
manner.       1*. 

After  we  had  completed  the  tour  of  the  settle- 
ment we  assembled  in  the  great  hall  and  watched  a 
musical  drill  by  the  senior  crippled  boys.  Several 
of  them  had  only  one  leg,  and  it  was  marvellous  to 
watch  thena  balancing  themselves  as  perfectly  as 
those  wdth  two. 

Sir  William  Treloar  then  gave  an  informal 
address,  showing  what  progress  had  been  made 
and  thanking  all  those  whose  services  had  con- 
tributed to  the  satisfactory'  maintenance  of  the 
work. 

The  Lady  ilayoress,  who  was  the  principal 
guest,  was  presented  with  the  badge  of  the  "  Queen 
Alexandra  League  "  and  asked  to  become  a  Vice- 
President,  for  which  she  returned  thanks  in  a 
few  well-chosen  words.  A  few  other  speeches 
followed.  Probably  the  Rev.  Dr.  Donaldson  from 
Cambridge  University  expressed  the  feeling  of  the 
meeting  when  he  said  that  his  pleasure  and 
surprise  at  all  he  had  seen  made  him  feel  like  the 
Queen  of  Sheba  ;  for  behold,  "  the  half  was  not 
told  liim  "  I 

The  object  of  the  League  is  principally  to  bring 
healthy  and  happy  boys  and  girls  into  practical 
S)-mpathy  with  the  little  sufferers.  Every  member 
pledges  himself  or  herself  to  collect  a  certain 
sum  of  money.  There  are  now  5.000  juvenile 
members,  besides  adults,  who  are  called  Associates 
of  the  League.  Many  of  the  cots  are  supported 
by  the  various  local  Associations. 

The  yearly  sum  of  ;£i5,ooo  is  required  to  maintain 
this  magnificent  and  beneficent  work,  which  is 
greatly  in  need  of  funds  ;  it  is  regrettable  to  learn 
that  there  was  a  balance  on  the  wrong  side  last 
year  to  the  tune  of  over  /5,ooo.  Here  is  one  of  the 
finest  opportunities  for  millionaires  !  I  trust  this 
will  meet  the  eyes  of  some  of  them  !  If  wishes  were 
deeds  one  may  be  quite  certain  that  the  Hospital 
and  College  would  have  received  endowment  in 
perpetuity-  by  Saturday's  honoured  guests. 

Beatrice  Kent. 

DR.     LAHMANN'S    COTTONWOOL 
UNDERWEAR. 

We  regret  that  by  a  printer's  error  a  wrong 
number  should  have  been  given  for  the  address  of 
the  Lahmann  Agency  in  High  Holbom  for  Dr. 
Lahmann's  Cottonwool  Underwear.  The  address 
is  245,  High  Holbom,  and  nurses  cannot  do  better 
than  go  to  see  these  delightful  undergarments 
there. 

This  Reform  Cottonwool  Underclothing  is  of 
vegetable  origin,  and  consequently  cannot  shrink 
or  become  felted  like  wool  or  flannel.  It  is  also 
moth  proof — an  ad\-antage  to  be  appreciated  in 
tropical  countries. 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


WOMEN. 

The  crowded  meeting  at  the  Church  House  last 
week,  over  which  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury 
presided,  to  celebrate  the  jubilee  of  the  revival 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Deaconesses  by  the  late 
Archbishop  Tait,  was  evidence  of  the  interest  in 
this  revival.  The  Archbishop  said  that  before  long 
there  must  now  be  one  service  for  the  ordination, 
or  setting  apart  of  women  for  the  Order,  something 
like  one  standard  of  qualification  for  the  women  to 
be  ordained,  and  unifoimity  of  rule  as  to  the  age 
at  which  women  are  to  be  set  apart  for  the  work. 
Provision  must  also  be  made  for  deaconesses  when 
their  working  days  are  ended. 

Deaconess  Knapp,  of  New  York,  spoke  of  the 
group  of  devoted  women  banded  together  as 
deaconesses  under  the  Bishop  of  ^laryland  in 
1855  ;  but,  on  examination  of  the  circumstances, 
the  Order  must  be  admitted  to  be  the  creation  of 
a  new  ideal  rather  than  the  re\-ival  of  an  ancient 
one. 

The  Dean  of  Wells  said  that  the  work  of  deacon- 
esses in  the  early  Church  was  universal  at  the  end 
of  the  second  centurv  ;  and  in  succeeding  centuries 
thev  played  an  important  part  in  Church  History 
in  the  East.  The  barbarian  invasion  sent  them  into 
seclusion,  and  after  the  eighth  century  the  Order 
died  out.  This  coincided  with  the  darkness  which 
fell  on  Church  and  world  alike. 


.\  meeting  is  to  be  held  in  the  Kensington  Town 
Hall  on  July  loth  at  8.15  p.m..  organised  by  the 
"  Pass  the  Bill  Committee  "  in  support  of  the 
Criminal  Law  .\mendment  (White  Slave  Traffic) 
Bill.  Adeline  Duchess  of  Bedford  will  preside, 
and  Mrs.  Philip  Snowden  will  be  amongst  the 
speakers.  The  more  determinedly  the  public 
demand  legislation  on  this  terrible  traffic  the  more 
hope  there  is  of  reform. 


The  National  Health  Insurance  Commission 
(England)  have  issued  a  circular  inviting  applica- 
tions from  women  for  the  posts  of  {a)  inspectors 
(salar\-,  ;£3oo  rising  to  /400)  ;  (6)  assistant 
inspector  (;^ioo  rising  to /300)  ;  [c)  health  insurance 
officer  (/80  rising  to  £'TjO).  Many  of  the  salaries  for 
men  are  much  higher. 

At  a  meeting  addressed  by  Mr.  Lloyd  George,  at 
Woodford,  last  Saturday,  it  was  announced  from 
the  platform  that  "  the  stewards  had  been  fully 
instructed."  This  threat  did  not,  however,  deter 
the  male  friends  of  votes  for  women  from  asking 
"  Wtiv  not  ?"  It  was  a  wise  pro\-ision  that  ambu- 
lance men  were  stationed  outside  the  marquee, 
as  the  "  instructions,"  apparently,  were  to  hurl  the 
questioners  outside  with  infuriated  violence. 
Resistance  produced  a  violent  uproar,  during 
which  chairs  were  upset,  umbrellas  smashed,  and 
ladies  lost  their  hats  :  and  more  than  one  man  was 
e.xhausted  and  bleeding,  when  liberated  by  .the 
stewards  "  with  instructions."    A  verv  scandalous 


July  6,    1 91 2 


Z\K  36ritisb  3ournal  of  HA  ursine; 


condition  of  affairs,  when  a  simple  question  at  a 
public  meeting,  may  not  be  asked  without  brutal 
assault.  It  is  high  time  these  assaults  were 
contested  in  a  court  of  law. 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


The  Irish  Women's  Franchise  League  have  sent 
a  letter  to  Mr.  Asquith  requesting  him  to  receive  a 
deputation  of  Irish  woman  suffragists  on  his  visit 
to  Dublin.  They  remind  him  that  when  he  spoke 
to  their  Irish  representatives  at  a  deputation  that 
he  received  in  London  in  November,  191 1,  he  said 
that  the  case  of  Irish  women  needed  special  con- 
sideration. They  ask  him,  therefore,  to  take  this 
opportunitv  of  hearing  Irish  women  in  the  capita' 
of  their  own  land  put  their  special  claim  before 
him  to  be  included  in  the  Home  Rule  Bill. 


Recognising  that  the  demand  for  trained  nursery 
nurses  is  largely  in  excess  of  the  supply,  the  Stock- 
bridge  Committee  of  the  Edinb^irgh  Day  Xurscries 
Association  have  recently  pm-chased  and  equipped 
a  house — 9,  St.  Bernard's  Crescent — as  a  training 
centre,  and  recently  a  meeting  of  those  interested 
in  the  project  was  held  at  the  house,  when  an 
explanation  of  the  scheme  was  given.  Dr. 
Dingwall  Fordyce,  who  occupied  the  chair,  said 
that  the  school  was  the  first  of  its  kind  in  Scotland. 


One  of  the  most  celebrated  women  in  Italj', 
says  the  Standard,  who  is  fighting  in  the  cause  of 
women's  independence  and  political  enfranchise- 
ment, is  Signora  Italia  Garibaldi,  granddaughter 
of  the  famous  patriot.  General  Giuseppe  Garibaldi. 
Signora  Garibaldi,  who  is  a  native  of  Rome, 
identified  herself  early  with  the  woman's  move- 
ment. As  a  member  of  the  Council  of  Italian 
Women,  she  made  a  thorough  investigation  into 
the  conditions  of  women's  labour,  and  found  them 
in  great  need  of  reform,  the  conditions  in  the  south 
being  particularly  unfavourable.  At  the  present 
time  she  is  lecturing  in  the  United  States  in  the 
interests  of  the  working  women  of  Italy. 

READ. 

"  The  Life  of  Cardinal  Newman.  By  Wilfrid 
Ward. 

"  The  Daughters  of  Ishmacl."  By  Reginald 
Wright  Kauffman. 

"  Padre  SjTiacio."     By  Owen  Wister. 

COMING     EVENTS. 

/j</y  5</;.  —  Association  for  Promoting  the 
Training  and  Supply  of  JMidwives.  Annual 
Gathering,  4,  Princes  Gardens,  S.W.,  3  p.m. 

July  8tli. — Irish  Nurses'  Association,  Lucan. 
Cyclists'  Meet,    Park  Gate,  4  p.m. 

July  loth. — Pass  the  Bill  Committee  (White 
Slave  TrafSc)  Meeting,  Kensington  Tovvn  Hall, 
8.15  p.m.     Admission  free. 

July  11th. — Guy's  Hospital,  S.E.  Garden  Party. 
3  pm. 

July  i6th. — The  Bishop  of  London  "  At  Home  " 
to  members  of  the  Nurses'  Missionary  League, 
Fulham  Palace,  3.30-6. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  tipon 
all  subjects  for  these  columns,  we  jtuish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


PRIVATE      NURSES      AND     THE     NATIONAL 
INSURANCE     BILL. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — I  note  that  the  Chancellor  con- 
siders us  all  actuated  by  political  bias  if  we 
venture  to  disapprove  of  the  effect  of  the  National 
Insurance  Act  upon  our  special  conditions.  It 
seems  to  me  it  would  be  very  extraordinary  if 
millions  of  workers,  especially  women  who  are 
governed  entirely  without  their  consent,  did  not 
criticise  a  measure  which  was  drawn  bv  men  for 
industrial  male  outside  workers,  and  compulsorily 
thrust  upon  professional  women  inside  workers, 
whose  conditions  and  intetests  cannot  be  compared. 
The  principle  of  National  Insurance  may  be  wise, 
but  the  flat  rate,  and  the  compulsion  for  all  on 
the  same  conditions,  whether  beneficial  or  not,  is 
both  unwise  and  unjust,  and  no  class  of  workers 
will  suffer  more  than  the  class  to  which  I  belong, 
the  private  co-operative  nurse.  Once  again  a  great 
nail  is  hammered  into  the  coffin  in  which  liberty 
to  work  without  paying  the  middleman  (the 
hospital  committee  or  proprietor)  must  ultimately 
be  buried. 

Under  the  Act  the  hospitals  and  institutions 
which  make  money  out  of  their  private  nursing 
staffs  arc  compelled  to  insure  their  servants — 
for  that  is  what  the  nurses  legally  are — and  it 
only- means  a  little  less  profit,  for  which^  I  have 
personally  no  regret ;  but  the  co-operative  nurse 
not  only  has  to  pay  her  threepence  tax,  but  of 
course  she  also  pays  through  the  committee  of 
management,  the  employer's  contribution  also  ; 
that  is  to  say,  if  she  hopes,  through  the  central 
of6.ce,  to  continue  to  get  work. 

In  the  present  temper  of  the  public,  is  it  pre- 
sumable that  they  will  get  nurses  from  a  co-opera- 
tion if  they  are  to  be  classed  as  employers  ? 
I  am  very  sure  they  will  not  be  worried  and 
bothered  over  insurance  cards  and  stamp  sticking, 
so  the  result  will  be  that  all  our  work  will  be  given 
to  hospital  committees  and  proprietors,  who  are 
compelled  to  stick  the  stamps  and  pay  for  the 
same  themselves,  of  course  out  of  the  profit 
made  on  the  nurses'  work.  If  we  are  to  continue 
to  get  any  work  at  all  we  must  by  some  means 
pay  (as  hospital  private  nurses  will  practically  do) 
our  own  double  insurance,  as  our  societies  are  not 
profit  making  businesses.  How  can  this  be  done  ? 
^that  is  the  question.  Hawk  round  a  threepenny 
card  like  a  "  char  "  I  will  not  !  1 

Yours  trulv,  ~^ 

A  Voteless''and  Helpess  Woman  Worker. 
(We  quite  agree  with  our  correspondent  that  the 
public  who  employ  private  nurses  will  not  pay  the 


i6 


Z\K  Britisb  3oiu*nal  of  muvsiuQ. 


July  6,   1 91 2 


insurance  tax,  and  to  avoid  doing  so  they  will  get 
nurses  through  a  middleman  who  is  compelled 
to  pay  it.  Thus  independent  professional  co-opera- 
tion will  die  out  and  a  private  nurse  must  either 
work  "  on  her  own  "  as  a  midwife  does,  and  be 
exempt,  or  pay  more  for  her  work.  It  just  comes 
to  that.  .     „ 

A  nurse  at  the  London  Hospital  practically 
pays  about  '\o  per  cent,  for  her  work,  and  the  7J 
computation  for  which  nurses  in  co-operation 
could  in  the  past  earn  a  fair  income,  will  have  to  be 
raised  now  that  the  Government  has  passed  two 
Insurance  Acts— the  Employers'  Liability  Act 
and  the  National  Insurance  Act— which  compels 
them  to  pay  for  both,  although  they  may  only 
draw  a  few  shillings  from  one  at  a  time  !  We  quite 
agree  that  patients  will  not  be  worried  stamp- 
sticking  for  private  nurses,  and  that  should  a 
society  arrange  for  its  nursing  staff  to  take  the 
threepenny  cards  with  them  that  society  will  soon 
lose  custom.  We  learn  that  many  large  business 
concerns  are  putting  on  one  per  cent,  on  the  cost 
of  all  goods,  and  in  consideration  of  the  fact  that 
insured  persons  will  have  to  pay  more  for  every- 
thing they  require,  sooner  or  later  the  public  will 
have  to  pav  more  for  its  nursing  as  it  will  have  to 
do  for  other  necessaries.  But  just  here  we  find  the 
tooth-print  of  injustice.  Trained  and  skilled  nurses, 
unhke  the  medical  profession,  midwives,  and 
pharmacists,  have  no  legal  status  (and  therefore  rto 
direct  representation  on  the  Advisory  Committees 
in  England  and  Ireland  under  the  Act)  ;  so  that  they 
can  be  under-sold,  as  they  are,  by  all  and  sundry 
who  put  on  a  cap  and  apron  and  pose  as  trained 
nurses.  They  are  therefore  unable  to  protect 
themselves.  Does  not  our  degrading  position  under 
the  Insurance  Act  drive  home  the  lesson  of  how 
helpless  a  wage  earner  is  without  a  vote  ?  How 
impossible  to  rise  out  of  the  slough  of  competition 
and  exploitation  without  Registration  and  legal 
status  ? 

Trained  nurses  not  only  add  greatly  to  the 
economic  stability  of  the  State,  but  enormously  to 
the  well-being  of  the  community.  What  does  the 
State  do  for  them  in  return.  Absolutely  nothing. 
And  why  not  ?  Because  men  hold  cheap — and 
legislators  in  contempt — unenfranchised  workers. 
And,  frankly,  what  is  the  position  of  the  un- 
enfranchised wage-earner  ?  Without  doubt,  the 
position  of  the  slave.  The  self-supporting,  either 
male  or  female,  must  have  political  power  to  be 
recognised  as  citizens — and  woe  betide  the  women 
who,  without  it,  depend  upon  their  own  exertions 
for  support :  sooner  or  later  in  the  economic 
struggle  their  class  gets  pushed  down  lower  and 
lower;  and  it  is  thus  we  manufacture  the  class 
whose'  bodies  are  their  only  asset.  Therefore  let 
us  fight  with  might  and  main  for  the  only  power— 
the  political  vote — by  which  we  can  save  our 
souls  from  the  pit. — Ed.) 

REPLIES     TO     CORRESPONDENTS. 

We  regret  that  wc  have  not  space  to  insert 
several    lengthy    letters    received    on    the    same 


subject.  The}-  contain  questions  :  (i)  If  I  evade 
the  law,  how  can  I  be  punished  ?  We  do  not 
think  the  Act  provides  for  your  punishment — if 
you  are  a  conscientious  resister  :  you  must  not  be 
merely  contumacious.  We  can't  explain  the 
difference. 

(2)  If  with  emoluments  I  earn  ^160  a  year  need 
I  insure  ?  No,  but  you  will  then  have  to  pay 
income  tax.  Where  insurance  tax  ends — income 
tax  begins. 

(3)  If  unmarried  women  insured  in  the  same 
society  have  illegitimate  children  is  it  true  I  have 
to  help  to  pay  the  maternity  benefit  ?  Yes — the 
maternity  benefit,  30s.  per  birth,  for  illegitimate 
children  must  all  be  paid  by  respectable  insured 
women.  There  is  no  provision  for  paternal  responsi- 
bility for  unmarried  fathers.  A  clause,  of  course, 
should  have  been  inserted  in  the  Act  making  it 
compulsory  upon  the  grant  of  an  affiliation  order 
that  the  maternity  benefit  should  be  refunded  by 
the  father's  society  to  the  society  in  which 
the  mother  of  his  child  is  insured.  This  is  one  of 
the  most  unjust  provisions  in  the  Act  and  is  one 
of  the  strongest  reasons  why  a  highly  moral  class 
like  trained  nurses  should  have  their  own  Approved 
Society. 

Miss  M.  Thompson. — Write  to  the  Hon. 
Secretary,  Trained  Women  Nurses'  Friendly 
Society,  431,  Oxford  Street,  W.,  for  a  proposal 
form. 

Miss  A.  Donald. — Nursing  in  Homes  in  British 
Columbia  differs  considerably  from  that  in  this 
country.  We  should  advise  you  to  write  in  the 
first  instance  to  the  Lady  Superintendent  of  the 
General  Hospital,  Vancouver,  asldng  her  for 
information  as  to  the  best  methods  of  getting  into 
touch  with  the  work  you  desire.  We  are  glad  to 
know  that  you  find  this  journal  helpful. 

Canadian  Born. — Write  to  Lady  Superintendent, 
General  Hospital,  Winnipeg,  Canada.  Conditions 
of  living  are  so  different,  we  feel  sure  you  are  wise 
to  wish  to  train  in  Canada,  if  you  intend  to  work 
there. 

OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS    FOR   JULY. 

July  i^th. — What  are  some  of  the  complications 
to  be  watched  for  during  pregnancy,  and  their 
causes  ?  Mention  methods  you  have  seen  used  to 
combat  them. 

July  20th. — How  should  a  specimen  of  urine 
be  prepared,  and  how  examined  ? 

July  zyth. — What  are  the  common  sources  of 
bacterial  infection  ? 


NOTICE. 


THE  TRAINED  NURSES'  FRIENDLY  SOCIETY. 

Miss  Mollett,  Hon.  Secretary,  will  be  at 
431,  Oxford  Street,  W.,  daily,  and  will  be 
pleased  to  give  all  information  possible  to  those 
desiring  to  join  a  Friendly  Society  of  profes- 
sional nurses. 


July  6,  1912  Zbc  British  3ournal  of  IRursino  Supplement. 

The   Midwife. 


17 


POST=GRADUATE      WEEK    AT    THE 
MATERNITY  NURSING  ASSOCIATION. 


The  first  Post-Graduate  course  held  by  the 
Maternity  Xursing  Association — whose  head- 
quarters are  at  63,  Myddleton  Square,  E.C., 
pro\-ed  a  distinct  success. 

The  Committee  of  that  Association  have  for  son^ 
years  past  felt  that  they  would  like  to  arrange  to 
have  past  nurses  back,  at  prescribed  intervals,  for 
a  few  days  at  least,  to  help  them  to  keep  in  touch 
with  the  latest  midwifery  methods,  which,  like 
all  other  scientific  subjects,  are  constantly  being 
improved  upon. 

Sfany  nurses  availed  themselves  of  the  kind 
invitation,  which  reached  them  in  plenty  of  time 
to  enable  them  to  arrange  for  their  holidays, 
or  leave  of  absence,  for  the  few  days  set  aside 
for  the  course. 

On  Monday,  June  24th,  the  nurses  were  received 
by  certain  members  of  the  committee  and  staff, 
and  after  tea  assembled  for  the  first  lecture,  which 
was  most  ably  given  by  Dr.  Bright  Bannistei, 
on  "  Haemorrhage." 

Each  morning  the  nurses  accompanied  the 
midwives  on  their  district  work,  and  so  were 
able  to  see  the  present  nurses  at  work  in  the 
patients'  homes.  They  were  also  allowed  to 
attend  a  case  with  a  midwife  if  they  chose. 

On  Tuesday  afternoon  there  was  a  lecture  given 
on  "  Sanitation  "  by  ^Irs.  Greenwood,  sanitary  in- 
spector for  Finsbur\-,  and  in  the  evening  an 
up-to-date  lecture  on  "  Infant  Feeding  "  by  Dr. 
Bannister  was  much  appreciated. 

Wednesday  was  the  great  day  of  the  week, 
although  there  were  no  lectures,  as  on  this  day 
the  annual  re-union  of  past  and  present  nurses 
was    held. 

The  "  At  Home  "  began  at  3  o'clock,  when 
nurses  who  had  been  scattered  to  all  parts  of  the 
country  met  and  joined  forces  again.  Man%- 
ladies  of  the  Committee  and  their  friends  were 
present  at  the  large  party  in  the  garden,  where 
tea  was  ser\-ed  at  4.30. 

.\t  5.30  e\eryone  assembled  at  All  Saints 
Mission,  where  a  special  service  was  held  by  the 
Kcv.  T.  Preedy.  The  little  church  was  well 
filled  with  happv  nurses  in  in-door  and  out-door 
uniforms,  who  were  reminded  of  the  high  calling 
of  their  work  and  the  good  they  could  do  wherever 
thev  went. 

On  Thursday,  after  the  morning  district  work 
and  an  early  lunch,  the.  visitors  were  taken  to 
Shakespeare  City  at  Earl's  Court,  which  outing 
far  excelled  their  expectations,  and  was  thoroughly 
appreciated. 

Home  again  on  top  of  a  'bus  to  the  last  of  the 
series  of  lectures  by  Dr.  Bannister.  This  time  on 
' '  Sepsis,"  when  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  given 


to  Miss  Blunt  (the  Hon.  Treasurer  and  Chairman), 
the  Committee,  the  Matron  and  staff,  and  Dr. 
Bannister  for  arranging  and  carrying  through  the 
programme  which  had  proved  so  cnjfi\  able  to  all. 

L.  S. 


THE    CENTRAL    .MIDWIVES'    BOARD. 


THE     REaULATIO.NS     aOVERM.NG     THE 
TRAINING     OF    MIDWIVES. 

The  Board  has  recently  had  under  consideration 
several  cases  of  the  improper  signing  of  the 
schedules  of  examination  candidates  by  those 
engaged  in  the  training  of  pupils.  The  necessity 
of  literal  compliance  with  the  rules  laid  down  by 
the  Board  for  regulating  the  training  of  pupil 
midwives  appears  to  be  imperfectly  appreciated 
by  some  of  those  to  whom  the  Board  has  accorded 
permission  to  carr\r  on  the  work  of  training.  The 
certificates  of  training  required  from  candidates 
for  examination  (Rules,  Schedule,  Forms  HI,  IV, 
and  V)  are  explicit  in  language  and  plain  in  inten- 
tion, and  afford  no  reasonable  ground  for  mis- 
apprehension of  their  effect. 

In  particular  the  Board  desires  to  emphasize 
some  points  which  have  been  disregarded  in  the 
signing  of  some  recent  certificates. 

(i)  Responsibilitv  for  the  truth  of  a  certificate 
attaches  to  the  signer  from  the  moment  of  signa- 
ture. To  certify  tliat  a  pupil  has  personally 
delivered  or  nursed  twenty  cases,  or  has  attended 
fifteen  lectures,  when  in  fact  she  has  not  done  so 
before  the  signing  of  the  certificate,  is  to  make  an 
untrue  statement,  and  none  the  less  so  though 
the  pupil  completes  her  cases  or  lectures  before 
the  dav  of  the  examination. 

(2)  "  Three  months  "  (Rule  C.  i  (3)  and  Schedule 
Form  V)  means  three  calendar  months,  and  not 
twelve  weeks,  or  any  other  period  of  time. 

(3)  The  minimum  number  of  fifteen  lectures  is  to 
be  spread  as  evenly  as  possible  over  the  minimum 
period  of  three  months.  Under  no  circumstances 
may  more  than  one  lecture  in  one  day  be  counted. 

(4)  Demonstrations — however  helpful  to  the 
pupil — are  not  to  be  counted  as  lectures. 

(5)  No  lecture  should '  be  for  a  shorter  period 
than  forty-five  minutes  at  the  least. 

(6)  It  is  highly  desirable  that  every  person 
responsible  for  the  training  of  pupils  should  see 
that  each  pupil  reads  over  and  understands, 
before  she  begins  her  training,  the  whole  of  the 
schedule  which  she  has  to  countersign  at  the  end 
of  her  training. 

As  the  training  of  examination  candidates  is 
subject  to  the  approval  of  the  Board,  it  is  hoped 
that  this  intimation  will  prove  suf&cient  to 
prevent  future  irregularities. 

G.  W.  DuxcAX, 

Secretary. 


i8 


(Tbc  Britisb  5ournaI  of  IHur^iiuj  Supplement,    juiy  e,  191: 


LIST     OF     SUCCESSFUL    CANDIDATES. 

At  the  Examination  of  the  Central  Midwives 
Board,  held  in  London,  on  June  nth,  556  candi- 
dates were  examined,  and  469  passed  the  examiners 
— the  percentage  of  failures  was  15.6. 

London. 

British  Lying-in  Hospital. — E.  F.  Dobson,  P.  B. 
Jones,  F.  Laishley,  E.  Taylor. 

City  of  London  Lying-in  Hospital. — M.  Cooke, 
I.  C.  Croll,  W.  L.  Everingham,  A.  E.  Lambert, 
B.  Roberts,  F.  A.  Taylor,  E.  E.  Walker. 

Clapham  Maternity  Hospital. — J.  M.  E.  Gribble, 
L.   O.   Hawkes,   G.   A.   C.  Minto,   H.   F.   Nichols, 

A.  C.  Taylor,  JL  Thompson. 

East  End  Mothers'  Home. — M.  R.  Boniface, 
E.  5.  jM.  Forrester,  E.  Frost,  ]M.  G.  Hume,  E.  M. 
^Matthews,  A.  B.  Sissons,  M.  K.  Wearing. 

General  Lying-in  Hospital. — M.  L.  Astorri, 
E.  M.  Campbell,  F.  Cresswell,  A.  E.  Edwards, 
M.  W.  Lapslev,  M.  M.  Linton,  M.  E.  Pike,  L. 
Randall,  E.  M.  Stead. 

Giiy's  Institution. — J.  Allen,  U.  Kinsman, 
-M.  :M.  Mullan,  L.  E.  Turner,  A.  M.  M.  WUlcox. 

Holborn  Union  Workhouse. — M.  K.  Bentham, 
H.  A.  Rutter. 

Kensington  Union  Infirmary. — E.  X.  Cannons. 

London  Hospital. — F.  M.  Allison,  D.  F.  Finch, 
M.  H.  Godwin.  M.  S.  Langford,  N.  R.  Montgomerie, 

B.  G.  Smith,  G.  Wiltshire. 

Middlesex  Hospital. — M.  K.  Brennan,  K.  A. 
Carter,  W.  M.  Reinold,  G.  Santler. 

Plaistow  Maternity  Charity. — C.  H.  Bacon, 
G.  L.  Barber.  J.  E.  Benbow,  M.  H.  Bve,  E.  H. 
Cunlifie,  E.  A.  Dale,  F.  A.  Gallop,  N.  Gillam, 
N.  Hines,  M.  A.  Home,  A.  B.  Horsman,  M.  A. 
James,  E.  M.  Lane,  J.  R.  Llovd,  E.  H.  ^laddem, 
I.  F.  Miller,  E.  L.  Phillips,  F.  M.  PhUlips,  F.  K.  B. 
Porteous,  E.  Porter,  A.  Pratt,  E.  Rayment, 
A.  B.  Raid,  H.  G.  Richards,  A.  M.  L.  Saunders, 
L.  G.  Stephens,  S.  Thomas,  M.  Wootton. 

Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital. — J.  D.  A.  Birch, 
M.  Coonev,  L.  A.  Cross,  K.  D.  Dawson,  E.  J. 
Drew,  F.'  R.  Dunbabin,  A.  E.  Freeth,  ^L  F. 
Irons.  S.  A.  ]Mullev,  A.  L.  Pritchard,  W.  M., 
Rovds.  M.  A.  Scott,"  G.  A.  Smith,  E.  B.  Tavlor. 
H.  G.  H.  Walker,  F.  M.  Whitehead,  E.  G.  Wilson. 

"  Regions  Beyond  "  Missionary  Union. — F.  R. 
Keeble,  D.  Saunders,  F.  Walmsley. 

St.  Marylebone  Infirmary. — F.  L.  Chapman, 
H.  D.  Clarke. 

Salvation  Army  Malernitv  Hospital. — W.  Crack- 
nell.  K.  Diegel,  F.  A.  Xicklen,  F.  E.  West. 

University  College  Hospital. — 

Woolmich  Home  for  Mothers  and  Babies. — E.  A. 
Kendon. 

Woolwich  Military  Families'  Hospital. — O.  >L  E. 
Howell. 

Provinces. 

Aldershot,  Louise  Margaret. — X.  Andrews,  J.  E. 
Hancock,  J.  H.  Matthew,  D.  Peirce,  G.  yi.  Penley. 

Birkenhead  Maternity  Hospital. — M.  J.  Booth, 
S.  Green,  J.  MacGregor.  F.  Mavson,  E.  S.  Pugh. 

Birmingham  Maternity  Hospital. — L.  N.  Ailing- 
ton.   V.   Austin,   O.   T.   Dietz,    E.   Doloughan,   L. 


Evres,  X.  W.  Horton,  M.  C.  Jordan.  D.  E.  Porter, 
E!  Price,  U.  E.  Roberts,  :M.  A.  Salisbury,  A. 
Saville,  M.  G.  Van  Wart. 

Birmingham  Workhouse  Infirmary. — M.  H. 
Andrews,  A.  Craig,  E.  Jennings.  A.  M.  Kearney. 

Blackburn  Union  Infirmary. — E.  Aspin,  M. 
Warren. 

Bradford  Union  Hospital. — E.  Breiman,  S. 
Da\-ison,  M.  E.  Middlebrook. 

Brighton  and  Hove  Hospital  for  Women. — M.  J. 
Hamilton,  E.  Lane,  D.  Lloyd,  E.  E.  Manser, 
H.  F.  G.  Piper,  D.  Storrs. 

Bristol  General  Hospital. — H.  R.  Dennis,  E.  M. 
Dunsford,  J.  G.  Jeffreys,  JI.  A.  Lepper,  E.  M. 
Luce,  A.  Morgan. 

Bristol  Royal  Hospital. — E.  Livingstone,  E.  D. 
Mann,  L.  Terry. 

Chatham  Military  Families'  Hospital. — L. 
Barrett. 

Cheltenham  District  Nursing  Association. — -S. 
Evans,  C.  Geoghegan.  J.  P.  Walker. 

Chester  Benevolent  Institution. — M.  Jones,  M. 
Partington,  I.  Phillips,  H.  Simpson. 

Croydon  Unicni  Infirmary. — 'M.  H.  Lockyear. 

Derby  :  Royal  Derby  Nursing  Association. — 
M.  E.  K.  Built,  E.  J.  Chipchase,  M.  Comer,  O. 
English,  M.  A.  Harrison,  M.  Henshaw,  T.  E.  King, 
I.  Wood. 

Devon  and  Cornwall  Training  School  for  Nurses. 
— S.  E.  Baldwin,  E.  L.  Finning,  M.  A.  G.  Saunders, 
L.  M.  Toms,  M.  Wood. 

Dewsbtiry  Union  Workhouse. — A.  Fisher.  E.  M. 
Shaw. 

Ecclesall  Bierlow  Union  Workhouse. — M.  Chis- 
holm,  B.  Gebhard.  E.  Harrison,  A.  Mappin,  H.Weir. 

Essex  County  Cottage  Nursing  Societv. — A.  F. 
Alder.  M.  L.  Bore.  ^f.  F.  Brown,  M.  Digbv,  E.  T. 
Hall,  S.  H.  Hulse,  A.  S.  Nash,  A.  M.  Readings, 
M.  E.  Smith. 

Gloucester  District  Nurses  Society. — L.  M.  Pamell, 
M.  E.  Richards,  E.  \MiaUey. 

Hull  Lying-in  Charity. — C.  S.  Clarke. 

Hull,  Sculcoates  Workhouse,  and  Hull  Lying-in 
Charity. — M.  Thomson. 

King's  Norton  Union  Infirmary. — A.  E.  Br\-atit, 

E.  J.  Field,  F.  R.  Parkes. 

Kingston  -  on  -  Thames  Union  Infirmary.  —  M. 
Wheeler. 

Leeds  Maternity  Hospital. — E.  Fawcett,  E.  M. 
Homeyer,  C.  Laidlaw,  A.  M.  Jlontgomery.  H.  E. 
F*ur\as. 

Leeds  Union  Infirmary. — L.  Cash,  A.  Hadfield. 

Leicester  Maternity  Hospital. — M.  E.  Allison. 
M.  A.  Richards. 

Leicester,  North  Evington  Infirmary. — A.  Long. 

Liverpool  Maternity  Hospital. — M.  Balbimie. 
M.  S.  Blair,  S.  G.  Broughton,  M.  Chambers,  L. 
Cl»k,  C.  Clarke.  M.  K.  Coad,  E.  A.  Dawson,  J.  M. 
H.  Emslej-,  G.  K.  GaUier,  D.  Harris,  L.  M.  Johnson, 

F.  L.  Leece,  W.  Lewis,  ^1.  Linaker,  I.  'Si.  Moore, 
F.  M.  G.  Partridge,  R.  H.  Puckering,  A.  I.  Shaw, 
E.  Thomley,  G.  Wolfson.  F.  R.  Dunbabiji. 

Liverpool  Workhouse  Hospital. — J.  Bemrose, 
J.  Dunsmore.  A.  H.  Maclaren.  C.  Pickles,  L.  5L 
Ruscoe,  E.  E.  Shorter. 


July  6,    191 2 


^bc  Britisb  3om*nal  of  IRursing  Supplement. 


10 


Manchester,  St.  Mary's  Hospitals. — E.  Bagule3^ 
H.  Betley,  A.  Boles,  J.M.  Clarke,  A.M.  H.  Green- 
halgh,  E.  Hancock,  H.  A.  Hassall,  F.  Hill,  B.  E. 
Hunt,  F.  Ishenvood,  G.  Lomas,  L.  M.  Miller, 
M.  A.  Morgan,  A.  C.  Muir,  F.  K.  Pinson,  E. 
Preston,  A.  M.  Smith,  A.  M.  Webb. 

Manchester,  Township  of  South  Manchester. — 
A.  M.  Brindle,  E.  Doming,  A.  Smith. 

Manchester  .Workhouse  Infirmary.— J^.  Ham- 
mond, L.  Jordan. 

Monmouthshire  Training  Centre. — A.  E.  Hamer, 
H.  Hiscott,  C.  J.  Landman,  E.  M.  Russell,  S. 
Saunders,  M.  A.  Smith,  E.  A.  Thomas,  A.  A. 
Watts.  ' 

Monmouthshire  Training  Centre  and  Newport 
Infirmary. — B.  Davies. 

Newcastle-on-Tyne  Maternity  Hospital. — I.  A.  E. 
Edger,  P.  G.  Gibson,  A.  R.  Haywood,  G.  Wilkinson, 
F.  S.  Wright. 

Kewcastle-on-Tyne  Union  Hospital. — E.  J. 
Traynor. 

North  Bierley  Union  Workhouse. — M.  A.  Close. 

Nottingham  Workhouse  Infirmary. — O.  M. 
Adams,  M.  A.  Barnes,  G.  E.  Rawlinson. 

Norwich  Maternity  Charity. — L.  M.  Betts,  M.  E. 
Larwood,  H.  H.  A.  Oakley,  E.  M.  Wilkins. 

Oldham  Union  Infirmary. — M.  Ashworth,  M. 
Scholes. 

Preston  Union  Workhouse. — M.  Benson,  I.  C. 
Shorrock,  M.  L.  Swallow. 

Rotherham  Union  Workhouse. — M.  A.  Gibson, 
M.  Ledger. 

Sheffield,  Jessop  Hospital. — E.  Eyre,  H.  Naylor, 
E.  Newlands,  E.  P.  Parker,  M.  Stubbs. 

Sheffield  Union  Hospital. — E.  Digbv,  A.  O. 
Peach,  E.  Isl.  Setchfield,  E.  M.  Terrj-. 

Shorncliffe,  Helena  Hospital. — M.  J.  Mof&tt. 

Stockport,  Stepping  Hill  Hospital. — B.  Lowe. 

Walton,  West  Derby  Union  Infirmary. — A.  G. 
Brooks,  A.  D'Arcy,  E.  A.  Draper. 

Walsall  Union  Workhouse. — E.  A.  Bourne,  H.  A. 
Danks,  S.  L.  Payne,  C.  L.  Shorters. 

Windsor,  H.R.H.  Princess  Christian's  Matei'nity 
Home. — ^L  X.  Travers. 

Wolverhampton.  Q.V.N.I.—L.  H.  Buck,  D.  J. 
Bull,  E.  Hodgkins,  A.  E.  Miller,  E.  Ogden. 

York  Maternity  Hospital. — B.  C.  Bale,  D.  F. 
Chapman,  A.  F.  Fawcett,  E.  Houseman. 

York    Union   Workhouse, — A.   R.   M.    Atkinson, 
E.  Coulston,  M.  S.  Nuttall. 
Wales. 

Cardiff,  O.WN.I. — E.  E.  Bounds,  E.  Greening, 
S.  Llewellyn,  C.  ^L  Matthyssens,  S.  J.  Roberton. 

Merthyr  Tydfil  General  Hospital. — N.  Woosnam. 
Scotland. 

Dundee  Maternity  Hospital. — M.  G.  Bruce,  E. 
Campbell,  J.  Gibson,  J.  G.  McKittrick,  M.  Sachs, 
^L  G.  Simpson,  J.  L.  Wilson. 

Edinburgh  Royal  Maternity  Hospital. — E.  C. 
Bu.xton,  M.  Macintyre,  J.  T.  Paterson,  J.  Stirling, 
J.  Sturrock,  W.  A.  Tolmie. 

Glasgow  Maternity  Hospital. — V.  M.  Achard, 
E.  Atkinson,  E.  T.  Borrie,  A.  Boswell,  J.  Brown, 
ISI.    D.     Biishfield,     L    Collie,     R.    Craw,    M.     E. 


Henderson,  M.  MacKinnon,  E.  L.  May,  L  S. 
Miller,  M.  M.  Miller,  D.  G.  Wilson,  M.  A.  Wray. 

Glasgow  Western  District  Hospital. — M.  K. 
Colquhoun. 

Ireland. 

Belfast  Union  Maternity  Hospital. — F.  J.  Boyle, 
K.  Brady,  C.  B.  Brennan,  E.  McVeigh,  E.  Paul, 
S.  E.  A.  Rusk. 

Dublin,  Rotunda  Hospital. — F.  Chamney,  F.  L. 
:McKee,  I.  M.  Sayce,  M.  Siddall,  E.  M.  Talbot, 
E.  M.  Thompson. 

Abroad. 

Bombay,  Bai  Motlibai  Hospital. — H.  Lamb. 

Private  Tuition  and  Institutions. 

Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital,  B.  AUsop  ;  Kings- 
wood  Nurses'  Home,  E.  G.  Baker,  C.  J.  Bran ; 
Worcester  County  Nursing  Association,  A.  Brown  ; 
A.  Close,  K.  Cox,  R.  Cresswell,  M.  A.  Stratton  ; 
Belfast  Union  Maternity  Hospital,  M.  Dodds  ; 
St.  Mary's  Hospitals,  Manchester,  E.  Eastham, 
M.  Evans,  A.  M.  Handley,  M.  j;  Lynch,  J.  Parnell, 
E.  Ponsonby,  M.  A.  Price,  M.  A.  Reeds,  M. 
Williams  ;  Salvation  Army  Maternity  Hospital, 
N.  C.  Fothergill ;  Cheltenham  District  Nursing 
.Association,  A.  F.  Griffin  ;  Bradford  Unio,i 
Hospital,  L.  Livermore,  M.  E.  Rodgers  ;  Fulbam 
Union  Infirmary,  A.  McMonagle  ;  Leeds  Maternity 
Hospital,  E.  L.  Ogilvie,  J.  Cumberbeach  ;  Birken- 
head Maternity  Hospital,  A.  Smith ;  'Norwich 
Maternity  Charity,  D.  E.  M.  A.  Stonehouse  ; 
University  College  Hospital,  E.  D.  Vicary  ;  East 
End  Mothers'  Home,  M.  E.  Walker  ;  Padd'nglon 
Workhouse  Infirmary,  E.  M.  Weir. 
Priv.\te  Tuition. 

E.  E.  Adamson,  E.  J.  Austin,  E.  Ayres,  M. 
Baddeley,  A.  E.  Bailey,  K.  E.  Baker,  E.  L. 
Batteson,  L.  E.  Bore,  L.  E.  A'.  Berry,  A.  Birkin, 
A.  J.    Blyton,    M.   G.  Braidwood,    E.    Briclgwood, 

E.  F.  C.  Brown,  I.  M.  Cathrew,  M.  Christie.  A.  M. 
Dean,  H.  Enright,  M.  J.  Fairley,  L.  G.  Franks, 
G.  GaUivan,  F.  Gardner,  E.  F.  Gore,  E.  C.  Graham, 
S.  I.  Green,  J.  A.  Hobbs,  E.  M.  Hobson,  M.  Hogg, 
I.  H.  G.  Jack,  G.  M.  James,  M.  Japp,  H.  E.  John- 
son, E.  Jones,  C.  E.  L.  Kelly,  M.  A.  Killacky,  A.  C. 
Ivirk,  F.  E.  Lambert,  E.  Lewington,  L.  L.  H. 
LjTich,  I.  C.  Macaskill.  M.  McConechv,  M.  M. 
Macdonald,  A.  M.  E.  McLardy,  H.  S.'  McLeay, 
S.  Morgan,  I.  Murray,  F.  W.  Nash,  M.  A.  Norton, 

F.  M.  Palmer,  J.  H.  M.  Park,  E.  H.  Paxton,  E. 
Porter,  M.  Ramsay,  \V..D.  Ramsey,  M.  M.  Reid, 
M.  A.  Richards,  I.  Richardson,  E.  A.  Roberts, 
K.  Shaw,  A.  Sidley,  E.  Silvester,  A.  L.  Sparrow, 
S.  A.  Symonds,  M.  Tavlor.  C.  C.  T>Tnms,  S.  A. 
Walker,  A.  E.  Williams,'  W.  M.  Wright,  C.  Young. 

FORTHCO;MINa     FI.XTURES. 

The  next  examination  of  the  C  entral  Midwives 
Board  will  be  held  in  London  on  August  ist,  191 2, 
the  Oral  Examination  following  a  few  days  later. 

The  Monthlx-  Meeting  of  the  Board  will  be  held 
on  July  25th. 

A  meeting  of  the  Board  to  deal  with  all  penal 
cases  then  read}-  for  hearing  will  be  held  on 
July  23rd. 


(Tbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRuvsino  Supplement.       juiy  e,  19.2 


THE    GENERAL    A^EDICAL  COUNCIL  ON 

THE    MIDWIFERY    TRAINING    OF 

STUDENTS  AND  MIDWIVES. 

Sir  Donald  MacAlister,  President  of  the  General 
Medical  Council,  has  communicated  with  Sir 
Robert  Morant,  Chairman  of  the  National  Health 
Insurance  Joint  Committee,  transmitting  to  him 
a  Memorandum,  prepared  by  its  National  Insur- 
ance Committee.  Sir  Donald  MacAlister  points  out 
that  the  Council  is  b\-  statute  entrusted  with  the 
duty  of  maintaining  the  standard  of  proficiency  in 
respect  of  midwifery  required  of  candidates  for 
medical  qualifications  :  and  it  is  advised  that  the 
regulations  for  the  administration  of  maternity 
benefit,  which  the  Insurance  Commissioners  are 
enfpowered  to  approve,  may  possibly  have  the 
effect  of  interfering  seriously  with  the  important 
functions  of  lying-in  hospitals  and  maternity 
institutions,  in  relation  to  the  promotion  of 
obstetrical  knowledge  and  skill.  The  Coun-cil's 
Committee,  however,  has  formed  the  opinion  that 
the  danger  may  in  great  measure  be  ob\'iated,  if 
»the  regulations  in  question  are  suitably  framed. 

The  Committee  state  their  reasons  for  believing 
that  under  the  Act  there  is  no  insuperable  obstacle 
to  the  admission  of  women  to  a  maternity  hospital 
without  loss  of  benefit. 

The  second  point  of  difficulty,  the  Committee 
states,  arises  in  connection  with  the  outdoor 
departments  of  maternity  institutions,  which 
enable  candidates  for  admission  to  the  Medical 
Register,  to  complete  their  obstetrical  training  by 
attending  some  or  all  of  the  twenty  cases  which 
the  regulations  of  the  General  Medical  Council 
require  ;  it  also  arises  in  connection  with  the 
training  of  midwives. 

We  may  point  out,  however,  that  difficulty  does 
not  arise  in  the  case  of  out-door  midwifery  pupils, 
who  attend  their  cases  accompanied  by  and  under 
the  supervision  of  a  certified  midwife  ;  and  this 
practice,  both  in  the  interests  of  the  patient  and  the 
pupils,  should  always  be  observed. 

THE     SALVATION     ARMY     MOTHERS' 
HOSPITAL. 

''  Princess  Louise  (Duclicss  of  Arg3ll),  on  July  4th, 
lays  the  foundation  stone  of  the  Mothers'  Hospital, 
Lower  Clapton  Road,  to  be  established  by  the 
Salvation  Army. 

The  site  is  about  three  acres  in  area,  with  a 
frontage  of  six  semi-detached  houses  which  are  to 
be  linked  together  in  a  fa9ade.  Behind  this,  four 
model  bimgalow  wards  are  being  erected,  each  to 
provide  accommodation  for  twelve  mothers.  At 
present,  it  is  proposed  to  use  one  bungalow  for 
unmarried  mothers,  another  for  special  cases, 
another  will  be  reser^•ed  exclusively  for  married 
women  ;  while  one  will,  it  is  hoped,  be  used  by 
Jewish  mothers.  In  addition  to  the  wards,  an 
Administration  Block  will  be  provided,  and  quarters 
for  the  staff.  Eventually  the  hospital  will  accom- 
modate 100  patients,  but  a  beginning  will  be  made 
with  half  that  number  :  /6o,ooo  is  estimated  as  the 


cost  of  the  entire  undertaking,  £26,000  of  which 
is  required  for  the  present  scheme,  towards  which 
Mrs.  Booth  has  received  /2o,ooo. 


THE  NATURAL  FEEDING  OF  INFANTS. 

Dr.  Harold  Scurfield,  Medical  Officer  of  Health 
for  Sheffield,  in  a  paper  on  "  The  Importance  of 
the  Natural  Feeding  of  Infants,"  said  the  medical 
profession  must  lay  it  down  that  it  was  a  crime  for 
any  woman,  be  she  princess  or  peasant,  who  was 
able  to  do  so,  to  refuse  to  feed  her  own  baby  ; 
and  so  expose  it  to  risks  of  digestive  disturbances, 
rickets,  tuberculosis,  and  premature  death  from 
diarrhoea.  At  medical  schools  teachers  were 
wanted  who  combined  the  experience  and  know- 
ledge of  the  doctor,  the  mother,  and  the  monthly 
nurse.  All  maternity  hospitals  did  not  sufficiently 
impress  on  their  students  the  importance  of  breast- 
feeding ;  and  nothing  was  said  in  the  Rules  of  the 
Central  Midwives'  Board  on  the  subject. 


ST.  MARY'S    HOSPITAL,   MANCHESTER. 

The  Lord  Mayor  of  ^Manchester,  JVIr.  S.  W.  Roysc, 
who  was  accompanied  by  the  Lady  Mayoress, 
presided  at  the  iVnnual  Meeting  of  the  friends  and 
supporters  of  St.  ]\Iary's  Hospital  last  week.  The 
report  of  the  Board  of  Management  showed  that 
the  number  of  patients  treated  during  the  year 
was  19,305,  an  increase  of  800  over  the  preceding 
year.  Twenty-one  students  resided  in  the  hospital, 
and  70  midwifery  nurses  were  trained.  It  is  satis- 
factory that  the  income  for  the  year  has  increased 
by  nearly  £^900,  chiefly  in  new  and  increased 
annual  subscriptions  ;  but  it  is  less  so  that  there 
is  a  deficit  of  over  ;^2,ooo. 

The  new  building  was  opened  on  xVpril  i8th, 
191  r,  in  accordance  with  the  terms  of  the  gift  of 
Mr.  Edward  Hopkinson,  and  other  generous 
donors,  by  the  opening  of  the  children's  ward 
(25  beds)  ;  and  the  transfer  of  the  gynaecological 
department  in  July,  accommodation  being  pro- 
vided for  85  patients.  At  the  Wliitworth  Street 
West  Hospital,  50  beds  are  now  used  for  maternity 
patients,  and  accommodation  provided  for  ii 
medical  students  and  28  midwifery  pupils.  It  is 
hoped  that  before  long  this  branch  may  be  fully 
developed,  and  the  number  of  beds  brought  up  to 
60  at  least. 


THE  NATIONAL  MATERNITY  HOSPITAL, 
DUBLIN. 

At  the  Annual  Meeting  of  Governors  of  the 
National  Maternity  Hospital,  liolles  Street,  Dublin, 
at  which  the  Master  of  the  Rolls  presided,  the 
Right  Hon.  M.  F.  Cox,  M.D.,  said  if  the  hospital's 
work  of  succour  were  not  done,  it  would  leave  an 
inferno  of  human  suffering.  In  consequence  of  the 
Insurance  Act,  its  resources  would  be  crippled  very 
seriously  ;  and  it  behoved  the  public  to  bear  in 
mind  that  women  must  not  be  left  to  suffer 
because  the  benefits  of  the  Act  did  not  apply  to 
hospitals. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.   1,267 


SATURDAY,    JULY     13,   1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


THE     INTERNATIONAL     EUGENICS 
CONORESS. 

There  are  no  classes  of  the  communitv  to 
whom  the  question  of  eugenics  is  of  greater 
interest  than  to  trained  nurses  and  inidwives  ; 
for  eugenics  is  tlie  study  of  agencies  under 
social  control  that  may  improve  or  impair 
the  racial  qualities  of  future  generations, 
either  physically  or  mentally  ;  and  nurses 
are  only  too  well  aware  of  the  need  for  the 
improvement  of  the  physical  conditions  of 
the  race,  with  its  predisposition  in  many 
instances  to  tuberculosis,  to  alcoholism,  its 
heritage  of  syphilis  with  all  its  terrible  and 
far  reaching  effects,  and  the  influence  of 
environment,  as  exemplified  in  the  stunted 
stature  and  impaired  constitutions  of  the 
slum  dwellers.  As  to  the  need  for  improve- 
ment of  mental  conditions,  they  know  that 
the  questions  of  the  feeble-minded,  whose 
powers  of  fecundity  are  in  excess  of  those 
of  the  normal  individual,  of  epilepsy,  and 
insanity  form  some  of  the  most  pressing 
problems  with  which  this  nation  is  con- 
fronted. 

As  a  new  social  consciousness  is  awakened 
in  nurses,  they  realize  that  a  most  important 
part  of  the  service  which  they  are  called 
upon  to  render  to  the  community  is  con- 
cerned with  the  prevention  of  disease  as 
vvell  as  with  the  care  of  the  sick,  but,  to 
render  such  service  effectively,  they  need 
instruction  and  information. 

The  first  International  Eugenics  Congress 
is  to  be  held  at  the  I'Jniversity  of  London 
from  July  24th  to  30th,  and  is  an  oppor- 
tunity of  whicii  all  who  can  should  avail 
themselves.  The  main  object  of  the 
Congress  is  to  bring  the  whole  subject  of 
racial  improvement  before  tlie  general 
public,  ana,  if  pf)ssible,  to  induce  it  to   take 


into  consideration  the  biological  question 
of  soundness  of  stock  in  all  matters  of 
social  reform. 

The  Congress  will  be  opened  in  the 
Great  Hall  of  the  University  of  London, 
Imperial  Institute  Road,  South  Kensington, 
by  the  President,  Major  Leonard  Darwin, 
at  ID  a.m.  on  the  morning  of  Thursday, 
July  25th,  and  on  the  previous  evening 
there  will  be  an  Inaugural  Banquet  at  the 
Hotel  Cecil,  when  speeches  will  be  made 
by  the  President,  the  Lord  Mayor  of 
London,  Mr.  A.  J.  Balfour  and  others, 
followed  by  a  Reception  of  Welcome  to  all 
members  and  associates  of  the  Congress. 
The  subjects  discussed  will  be  considered 
under  the  following  sections  :  Biology  and 
Eugenics,  Practical  Eugenics,  Education 
and  Eugenics,  Sociology  and  Eugenics, 
Medicine  and  Eugenics,  and  a  very  full 
programme,  embracing  papers  preseivled  by 
Eugenists  of  many  nationalities  has  been 
arranged.  The  Membership  fee  is  £'i,  and 
Associate  Membership  fee  los.,  application 
for  which  may  be  made  to  the  Secretary, 
Eugenics  Education  Society,  6,  York 
Buildings,  Adelphi,  W.C.  Associates  are 
entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  members 
except  that  they  have  no  vote,  and  will  not 
receive  the  Report  when  published. 

Tickets  for  the  banquet  can  be  obtained, 
price  7s..  6d.,  from  Mrs.  Alec  Tweedie, 
Hon.  Secretary,  Entertainments  Committee, 
30,  York  Terrace,  Harley  Street,  W.  The 
hospitality  arranged  includes  receptions 
by  the  Duchess  of  Marlborough,  the 
Lord  Mayor,  the  American  Ambassador 
and  Mrs.  Whitelaw  Reid,  and  tiie  President 
and  Mrs.  Leonard  Darwin. 

In  addition  to  the  Congress  there  will  be 
an  Exhibition  which  the  Committee  hope  to 
make  as  fully  representative  as  possible  of 
the  past  history  and  present  state  of  the 
sciences  of  Heredity  and  Eugenics.   . 

A* 


Z\K  Brttisb  3ounial  of  IRursino. 


July   13,   1912 


MEDICAL   MATTERS. 


THE     CLASSIFICATION     AND     PREVENTION 
OF    DEAFNESS. 

Dr.  Kerr  Love,  in  the  course  of  a  lecture  on 
the  above  subject,  given  at  the  Royal  Sanitary 
Institute,  under  the  auspices  of  the  National 
Bureau  for  Promoting-  the  General  Welfare  of 
the  Deaf,  pointed  out,  as  reported  in  the 
Lancet,  that  acquired  deaf-mutism  was  due 
chiefly  to  three  diseases — scarlet  fever,  measles, 
and  meningitis,  the  last  being  the  most  im- 
portant. Meningitis  also  caused  over  10,000 
deaths  annually  in  England ;  it  was  almost 
always  infectious,  and,  except  when  it  was 
epidemic,  and  was  called  spotted  fever,  it  was 
never  notified.  Dr.  Kerr  Love  pointed  out  that 
though  municipalities  spent  large  sums  of 
-money  in  isolating  and  treating  cases  of  scarlet 
fever  and  measles,  they  seldom  thought  it  worth 
w  hile  paying  for  special  skill  in  treating  the  ear 
complications  of  these  diseases  whilst  the  child 
was  in  hospital,  and  children  were  often  dis- 
missed with  discharging  ears,  which  were  in- 
fectious and  which  gave  rise  later  in  life  to  com- 
plications which  killed  them.  Referring  to  the 
medical  inspection  of  school  children,  the  lec- 
turer gave  it  as  his  belief  that  in  dealing  with 
ear  discharge  the  greatest  good  would  be  done 
by  having  aural  school  clinics  within  the  school 
and  under  the  supervision  of  specialists.  The 
present  system  of  taking  such  cases  to  hospital 
dispensaries  was  wasteful  of  the  time  of  the 
child,  w'asteful  of  the  time  of  the  mother  who 
had  to  leave  her  home,  and  the  results  were 
poor  because  the  visits  to  the  hospital  were 
irregular  and  the  treatment  badly  carried  out  at 
home  between  the  visits  to  the  hospital.  .Sum- 
ming up.  Dr.  Kerr  Love  indicated  the  imme- 
diate steps  to  be  taken  for  the  prevention  of 
acquired  deafness  to  be  :  (i)  The  management 
of  the  ear  complications  of  the  infectious  dis- 
eases by  otologists.  (2)  The  notification,  for  the 
purpose  of  study  and  treatment,  of  all  forms  of 
meningitis.  (3)  The  medical  inspection  and 
treatment  of  the  ear  diseases  of  school  children 
by  otologists. 

Passing  on  to  the  classification  of  deafness 
for  the  purposes  of  prevention,  the  lecturer 
divided  deafness  into  :  (i)  Cases  in  which  the 
deafness  is  undoubtedly  acquired  after  birth. 
(2)  Cases  of  sporadic  congenital  or  infantile 
deafness.  In  these  there  were  no  cases  of  deaf- 
ness either  in  the  direct  line  or  in  the  collateral 
branches  of  the  family.  (3)  Cases  of  true  here- 
ditary deafness.  These  were  all  congenital,  and 
the  deafness  was  present  in  other  branches  of 
the  family. 


HOW  TO  CONDUCT  AN  INFANT 
CONSULTATION.* 

By  Eric  Pritchard,  M.D. 
(Concluded  from  page  6.) 

1  now  propose  to  leave  the  general  considera- 
tion of  the  constitution  of  Infant  Consultations, 
and  to  confine  myself  for  the  time  that  remains 
at  my  disposal  to  the  consideration  of  certain 
practical  points  in  the  conduct  of  such  under- 
takings. Our  central  association  has  drawn  up 
a  leaflet  of  directions  for  the  help  of  those  who 
are  proposing  to  start  an  Infant  Consultation. 
In  this  we  anticipate  most  of  the  difficulties 
that  are  likely  to  arise.  We  give  instructions 
as  to  the  constitution  of  such  Consultations ; 
we  describe  the  duties  of  the  medical  officers, 
the  nurses,  health  workers,  and  others  who 
carry  out  the  various  offices  incidental  to  such 
undertakings.  We  also  give  directions  for  the 
furnishing  of  the  clinic,  and  for  the  practical 
duties  of  note-taking,  but  inasmuch  as  this 
valuable  information  can  be  obtained  for  a 
small  consideration  from  the  central  associa- 
tion, I  do  not  propose  to  interfere  with  this 
legitimate  source  of  revenue  by  giving  you 
gratuitous  information  on  these  points.  I 
would  particularly  draw  your  attention  to  the 
"  case  papers  "  which  have  been  drawn  up  by 
the  association.  The  manner  of  arrangement 
and  the  details  of  these  papers  represent  the 
result  of  much  patient  deliberation  and  collec- 
tive experience.  If  they  are  used  as  intended 
they  will  teach  both  health  visitors  and  medical 
officers  to  become  thorough  and  systematic  in 
their  methods,  and  will  afford  a  great  wealth 
of  statistical  material  which  it  will  be  one  of 
the  important  functions  of  the  central  associa- 
tion to  digest,  assimilate,  and  redistribute  for 
the  benefit  of  all.  It  is  greatly  to  be  hoped  that 
new  societies  will  work  on  these  uniform  lines, 
and  thus  promote  the  interests  of  the  common 
cause.  Moreover,  they  will  find  it  much  cheaper 
to  buy  stock  stationery  of  this  kind  than  to 
have  special  forms  printed  for  themselves..  The 
use  of  these  forms  does  not  exclude  individual 
centres  from  undertaking  special  lines  of  in- 
quiry and  research ;  indeed,  it  is  most  devoutly 
to  be  hoped  that  each  branch,  by  individual 
lines  of  research  work,  will  make  some  small 
contribution  to  the  solution  of  the  innumerable 
problems  that  wait  solution. 

In  my  opinion  it  is  the  first  duty  of  an  Infant 
Consultation  to  encourage  the  practice  and  to 
teach  the  best  principles  of  breast  feeding.  Far 
too  little  attention  is  paid  to  this  subject. 

The  popular  idea  is  that  breast  feeding  is  an 

*  Read  at  the  Health  Conference,  London.  June,  1912. 


July 


1912 


Cbe  ffivttlsb  3ournal  of  IRurstno. 


23 


automatic  method  of  nourishing  an  infant ;  all 
that  has  to  be  done  is  to  put  any  odd  scraps  of 
food  into  the  maternal  machine,  and  out  comes 
the  only  absolutely  perfect  food  for  infants  that 
has  yet  been  invented,  a  food  not  only  perfect 
in  quality,  but  also  perfectly  adjusted  in  quan- 
tity to  the  infant's  needs.  There  never  was  a 
greater  mistake,  and  it  is  only  those  who  have 
never  had  any  real  experience  of  the  manage- 
ment of  breast  feeding,  and  have  never  watched 
its  effects  carefully,  who  speak  in  this  way. 
After  many  years'  careful  study  of  the  twfe 
systems,  I  have  definitely  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  it  is  far  more  difficult  to  manage 
breast  feeding  than  it  is  to  manage  artificial 
feeding ;  but  the  things  in  this  world  which  are 
most  worth  getting  are  not  usually  most  easily 
attained.  Because  breast  feeding  is  difficult, 
and  in  the  end  gives  the  best  results,  surely 
that  is  why  we  should  put  all  our  energies 
into  its  management.  IBreast  feeding  is,  of 
course,  the  best  method,  but  I  repeat  it  is  the 
most  difficult  method.  I  cannot  place  statistics 
before  you,  but  I  am  sure  I  shall  not  over-state 
the  case  when  I  say  that  more  than  50  per  cent, 
of  all  infants  who  are  started  on  the  breast  are 
taken  off  it  before  the  fifth  month,  either  be- 
cause the  milk  entirely  fails  or  the  infant  does 
not  thrive,  and  this  is  due  to  mismanagement 
somewhere  or  somehow.  Infants  thus  seriously 
handicapped  at  the  start  of  life  are  necessarily 
referred  to  artificial  methods,  which,  however 
good  or  however  bad,  almost  invariably  get  the 
blame  for  the  unhappy  results.  Such  results 
can  largely  be  avoided  if  breast  feeding  is  con- 
ducted on  scientific  lines,  on  the  lines  that  can 
easily  be  followed  at  an  Infant  Consultation.  If 
a  breast-fed  infant  is  brought  to  us  at  an  Infant 
Consultation  because  of  wasting,  there  is  no 
need  to  wring  our  hands  and  despair,  and  resort 
to  artificial  feeding.  Each  case  should  be  re- 
garded in  the  light  of  an  interesting  problem  : 
Whv  is  it  wasting?  Is  it  fed  too  often?  Is  the 
food  insufficient  in  quantity  or  excessive,  or  is 
the  quality  bad?  Too  frequent  feeding  is  a 
most  prolific  source  of  trouble.  We  often  find 
that  with  a  gradual  extension  of  the  intervals 
of  feeding  the  child  improves  in  condition  with- 
out making  anv  other  material  change.  Insuffi- 
cient feeding  is  also  a  very  common  cause,  very 
much  more  frequent  tjian  excessive  feeding. 
Every  breast-fed  infant,  whether  it  is  doing 
well  or  badly,  should  be  given  a  test  feed — that 
is  to  say,  it  should  be  weighed  before  it  is  fed 
and  again  after  it  has  been  fed,  and  by  the 
difference  between  the  two  weighings  estimated 
in  this  way,  and  in  this  way  alone,  can  we 
become  acquainted  with  the  amount  of  milk  an 
infant  obtains  from  its  mother.      I   show  you 


here  certain  tables,  which  prove  that  the 
amount  of  breast  milk  which  infants  of  the 
class  who  attend  at  the  Consultations  in 
London  obtain  is  enormously  below  the  gener- 
ally accepted  standards.  These  tables  show 
why  the  nutrition  of  breast-fed  infants  is  often 
so  bad,  and  why  they  go  from  bad  to  worse 
when  they  are  referred  to  artificial  feeding 
which  is  based  on  the  ordinary  estimates  with 
regard  to  quantity.  One  of  the  great  essentials 
in  the  management  of  breast  feeding  is  to  know 
under  what  conditions  and  to  what  extent  the 
natural  supply  should  be  supplemented  by  arti- 
ficial feeding.  In  my  own  clinics  I  should  say 
that  more  than  80  per  cent,  of  breast-fed  infants 
receive  supplementary  feeds  before  they  are  five 
months  old.  I  would  particularly  commend  to 
your  notice  the  scales  shown  in  the  St.  Maryle- 
bone  Dispensary's  exhibit  in  the  hall.  These 
scales  are  particularly  designed  to  weigh  accu- 
rately to  one  drachm  avoirdupois,  or,  in  other 
words,  to  half  a  teaspoonful  of  milk — but  they 
are  not  so  delicate  as  to  make  it  a  tedious  or 
difficult  matter  for  unskilled  persons  to  use 
them. 

Xow  with  regard  to  the  quality  of  the  milk 
supplied  by  the  mother,  I  feel  tempted  to  speak 
at  great  length,  for  it  is  due  to  this  that  infants 
often  fail  to  thrive.  The  management  of  the 
health  of  the  mother  is  a  most  important  duty 
of  the  medical  officer,  and  a  most  difficult  one 
unless  he  or  she  sets  about  acquiring  the  neces- 
sary knowledge  with  system  and  determination. 
My  own  personal  experience  shows  that  con- 
stipation and  anajmia  on  the  part  of  the  mother 
are  prolific  sources  of  bad  milk  and  malnutri- 
tion in  the  infant. 

Xow  with  regard  to  the  artificial  feeding  of 
infants  brought  to  our  Consultations.  I  take 
it  that  one  of  the  most  important  functions  of 
such  institutions  is  to  treat  the  infant  individu- 
ally;  not  to  feed  it  by  rule,  by  formula,  custom 
or  weight,  but  to  feed  it  as  an  individual  with 
specific  requirements.  Infants  will  not  shape 
themselves  into  standard  moulds,  and  conse- 
quently cannot  be  fed  by  average  tables.  One 
of  the  objects  of  Infant  Consultations  is  to  give 
a  decent  and  respectable  quietus  to  leaflets  on 
infant  feeding,  for  under  cover  of  these  many  a 
conscientious  and  persevering  mother  unknow- 
ingly does  her  infant  to  death.  To  a  certain 
extent  I  believe  leaflets  on  infant  feeding  are 
necessary  evils,  but  they  are  evils  which  should 
be  reduced  to  a  minimum,  and  they  should  con- 
tradict one  another  as  little  as  possible.  Our 
association  has  been  at  considerable  trouble  to 
draw  up  a  leaflet  which  shall  offend  against  as 
few  of  the  cardinal  principles  of  feeding  as  pos- 
sible.     It  is  not  too  dogmatic,    and   in   cases 


24 


ebe  Bvitic^b  3oiirnal  ot  IHiu'simj. 


July 


191: 


where  there  are  no  Consultations  I  think  it  will 
be  of  real  use  to  mothers.  It  has  been  adopted 
by  all  the  medical  officers  of  health  in  the  Metro- 
politan area.  I  hope  that  all  societies  will  also 
adopt  this  k-aflet  to  the  exclusion  of  all  others. 

Now  a  few  words  with  regard  to  the  methods 
of  artificial  feeding.  Which  is  the  best?  Which 
is  the  one  we  are  to  recommend?  That  is  the 
very  question  we  want  to  be  able  to  answer, 
and  in  order  that  we  may  be  able  to  do  so  we 
want  statistics — accurate  unbiassed  statements 
with  respect  to  results  obtained. 

For  mv  part  I  greatly  favour  the  principles 
of  different  Consultations  adopting  different 
methods,  and  recording  their  results ;  and  it  is 
very  gratifying  to  know  that  while  Dr.  Carter, 
in  Kensington,  is  getting  splendid  results  with 
the  citrated  whole-milk  method,  Dr.  Naish  and 
others,  in  Sheffield,  are  doing  equally  good 
work  with  dried  milk.  I  am  myself  inclined  to 
Ihink  that  no  method,  no  quality  of  the  food, 
no  factor  in  the  environment,  no  anything,  can 
replace  the  personal  element,  the  individual  skill 
and  experience  of  the  physician,  and  the  single- 
hearted  patience  and  devotion  of  the  mother. 
In  my  own  Consultations,  which  largely  serve 
the  purpose  of  a  teaching  centre,  we  use  all 
methods  with  complete  impartiality,  and  if  the 
mothers  can  be  worked  up  to  a  sufficient  pitch 
of  enthusiasm — a  most  important  factor — we 
get  good  results  with  all  methods.  On  the 
whole,  I  think  we  get  the  best  results  with  a 
new  variety  of  dried  milk  which  we  have  been 
using  very  largely  during  the  last  15  months — 
with,  however,  this  special  "  proviso,"  that  we 
always  give  some  antiscorbutic  to  counteract 
the  inherent  disadvantages  of  a  dead  food, 
such  as  a  dried  milk  undoubtedly  is.  It  natur- 
ally becomes  a  very  important  consideration  to 
know  how  to  provide  milk  of  this  kind  without 
competing  with  local  trade,  or  rendering  the 
Consultation  too  much  of  a  relief  centre.  No 
doubt  the  best  way  is  to  arrange  with  local 
tradesmen  to  supply  the  required  variety  of  milk 
at  a  reasonable  price. 

Although  there  are  many  other  points  on 
which  I  should  like  to  touch,  and  which  are 
very  germane  to  the  matter  under  considera- 
tion, I  will  conclude  by  inviting  your  attention 
to  our  exhibit  in  the  hall  below,  where  most  of 
the  paraphernalia  requisite  for  conducting  an 
up-to-date  Consultation  are  displayed,  and 
would  make  a  final  appeal  to  all  those  who  are 
responsible  for  the  conduct  of  Infant  Consulta- 
tions to  make  the  standard  of  their  scientific 
aims  as  high  as  possible,  and  not  to  allow  these 
truly  useful  institutions  to  become  degraded  to 
the  level  of  weighing-stations  and  centres  for 
the  distribution  of  relief. 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPtTlTION. 

WHAT  ARE  SOME  OF  THE  COMPLICATIONS  TO  BE 

WATCHED  FOR  DURING  PREQNANCV.  AND  THEIR 

CAUSES?   MENTION  METHODS   YOU   HAVE   SEEN 

USED  TO  COMBAT  THEM. 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  Lucie  Maulton,  Nurses'  Home, 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  E.C.,  for  her 
paper  on  the  above  subject. 

PRIZE    PAPER. 

Some  of  the  complications  to  be  watched  for 
during  pregnancy  are  : — 

1.  Incarcerated  Retroverted  Gravid  Uterus, 

2.  Haemorrhage    occurring   early   in    Preg- 

nancy,  due   to  (a)   Threatened  or  (b) 
Inevitable  Abortion. 

3.  -Ante-partum    Hemorrhage,     Accidental 

Hemorrhage. 

4.  Placenta  Praevia,  Unavoidable  Haemorr- 

hage. 

5.  .Albuminuria,  Pyelonephritis,  Eclampsia. 

6.  Pernicious  A'omiting. 

7.  Nervous  Disorders — Hysteria,   Insanity,. 

Chorea. 

8.  \'aricose  \'eins,  Ha;morrhoids. 
g.   Intra-uterine  death  of  foetus. 

10.  Hydramnios. 

11.  Contracted  Pelvis. 

I.   Incarcerated  Retroverted  Gr.wid 

Uterus. 

Complication. — Retroverted    uterus    presses 

on  the  urethra,  and  causes  over-distension  of 

bladder,  which  prevents  uterus  from  rising  out 

of  pelvis. 

Method  of  Treatment. — Catheterisation 
four-hourly  :  if  this  is  not  effectual,  uterus  has 
to  be  replaced. 

2.   H.-emorrhage  die  TO  [a)  Threatened  or 
[b)  Inevitable  Abortion. 

Causes. — Disease  of  mother,  placenta, 
membranes  or  foetus  ;  shock,  blows  or  falls  ;  use 
of  certain  drugs. 

Method  of  Treatment. — (a)  Absolute  quiet 
and  rest  in  bed.  Light  diet.  (b)  Same  as 
above,  and  if  cervix  is  dilating  rupture  the 
membranes,  give  liquid  extract  of  ergot 
I  drachm  (under  medical  direction),  and  apply 
a  tight  binder. 

3.   .Ante-partum  H.emorrhage. 

Causes. — {a)  Injury  or  disease.  (b)  Acci- 
dental haemorrhage. 

Method  of  Treatment. — (a)  Absolute  rest  in 
bed.  Raise  foot  of  bed.  Apply  pressure  to 
bleeding  point  if  it  can  be  got  at,  or  plug.  If 
bleeding  continues  it  mav  have  to  be  sutured. 


July   13,    1912 


cl)c  Brltiyb  3ouinal  oX  HAiu-smG. 


(6)  Absolute  rest  in  bed,  if  haemorrhage  is 
severe,  empty  bladder  and  rectum,  and  plug 
vagina  by  the  Dublin  method.  If  haemorrhage 
still  persists  and  os  is  dilated,  Bi-polar  version 
may  be  done,  or  membranes  may  be  ruptured 
and  delivery  hastened. 

4.   Place.nta   Praevi.v,    Unavoid.vble 
H.4;morrhage. 
Cause. — Abnormally  situated  placenta. 
Method  of  Treatment. — Absolute  rest  in  bed. 
quiet.     Light  diet.     Raise  foot  of  bed.     If  os  is 
not  dilated,  plug  by  the  Dublin  method.     If  os 
is  dilated  and  membranes  arc  unruptured,  Bi- 
Polar  version  may  be  effected.     If  os  is  dilated 
and   membranes  have  ruptured,    insert  Cham- 
petier  de  Ribe's  bag. 

5.  (a)  Albu.miniria,  (b)  I'vei.oxephritis, 

(c)     liCLA.MPSIA. 

Causes. — (a)  Previous  kidney  disease, 
specific  fevers,  heart  disease,  eclampsia,  (b) 
Infection  of  pelvis  of  kidney  from  bladder  or 
uterus,      (c)  Toxaemia  of  pregnancy. 

Method  of  Treatment. — (a,  b)  Rest  in  bed. 
Light  diet,  no  meat,  plenty  of  fluids,  and 
urotropin.  (c)  As  above,  sedatives  given,  and 
to  eliminate  toxic  products,  croton  oil,  intra- 
venous injection  of  saline  and  sodium  acetate. 
\'enesection  is  done  sometimes.  During  a  fit, 
prevent  patient  from  hurting  herself,  keep 
head  turned  on  one  side.  If  condition  does  not 
improve,  uterus  has  to  be  emptied. 
6.   Perxiciols  Vomiting. 

Cause. — Toxaemia  of  pregnancy. 

Method  of  Treatment. — \'ery  light  digestible 
food.  Rectal  feeding.  If  vomiting  persists 
uterus  may  have  to  be  emptied. 

7.   Nervous  Disorders,,  (a)  Hysteria, 
(b)  I.NSAXiTV,  (c)  Chorea. 

Cause. — (a  and  b)  Emotional,  (c)  Rheumatic 
fever  or  previous  attacks  of  chorea. 

Method  of  Treatment.— .\hso\ute  quiet  and 
rest  in  bed  if  necessary.  Sedatives  given, 
uterus  emptied  if  condition  does  not  improve. 

8.  Varicose  \^eins,   H.^jmorrhoids. 
Cause. — Pressure. 

Method  of  Treatment. — Rest,  in  bed  if  neces- 
sary. For  haemorrhage,  local  pressure  and 
styptics. 

9.  Inira-Uterine  Death  of  Fcetus. 
Causes. — Disease    of    mother,    placenta    or 

fcEtus. 

Method  of  Treatment. — Uterus  has  to  be 
emptied  if  condition  of  mother  indicates  it. 

10.     HVDRAMNIOS. 

Cause. — Not  really  known  ;  probably  due  to 
disease  of  mother  or  foetus. 


Method  of  Treatment. — If  pressure  symp- 
toms are  very  severe,  membranes  may  have  to 
be  ruptured  high  up,  and  allow  the  liquor 
amnii  to  drain  away  slowly,  or  labour  may  have 
to  be  induced. 

II.  Contracted  Pelvis. 
Cause. — Rickets,  deformities. 
Method  of  Treatment. — Induction  of  prema- 
ture labour,  pubiotomy,  Caesarean  section. 

HONOURABLE    MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honour- 
able mention  : — Miss  M.  James,  Miss  Goodin, 
Miss  M.  Evans,  Miss  E.  C.  O'Brien. 

Miss  James  draws  attention  to  the  absolute 
suddenness  with  which  eclampsia  occurs,  and 
emphasises  the  necessity  for  testing  the  urine 
of  every  patient  before  delivery  in  order  that 
the  albumen  may  be  discovered  where  present 
and  the  necessary  treatment,  or  precautions,  be 
adopted.  This  should  be  a  routine  practice, 
and  never  omitted.     Its  importance  is  obvious. 

question   for    next    week 
How  should  a  specimen  of  urine  be  prepared, 
and  how  examined? 


NURSES     REGISTRATION    BILL. 


Many  nurses  are  still  very  ignorant  about  the 
provisions  of  the  Bill  now  before  Parliament, 
and  the  majority  look  at  the  question  from  a 
purely  personal  attitude.  Narrow,  yet  human. 
A  few  misconceptions  might  be  removed  if  they 
read  the  Bill,  (i)  It  provides  for  a  Three  Years' 
Term  of  Grace,  during  which  time  nurses  in 
practice  can  register  u'ithout  passing  an  exami- 
nation if  they  choose,  and  therefore  they  would 
only  have  to  pay  a  fee  for  registration,  and  not 
the  additional  fee  for  examination.  Parliament 
never  makes  an  Act  retrospective — and  thus 
protects  the  vested  interests  of  the  workers  for 
a  specified  time.  Nurses  should  procure  a  copy 
of  the  Bill,  price  2d.,  through  any  bookseller, 
or  from  Messrs.  Wyman,  Fetter  Lane,  London, 
E.C.,  and  study  its  simple  yet  far-reaching 
provisions. 

■    ♦    < 

A     VALUABLE     OFFICER. 

W'e  notified  last  week  that  the  structural 
improvements  at  the  Royal  West  of  England 
Sanatorium  this  spring  would  cost  ^"OO-  ^^  ^ 
now  have  pleasure  in  reporting  that  the  whole 
of  this  amount  has  been  collected  by  Miss 
Mawe,  the  Hon.  Lady  Superintendent.  This 
is  splendid.     Congratulations  to  all  concerned. 


26 


c;be  Britisb  3ouvnal  of  muraino. 


July   13,   1912- 


THE  INTERNATIONAL  COUNCIL 
NURSES  AT  COLOGNE. 


OF 


Onlv  three  weeks,  and  the  nurses  from  all 
parts  of  the  world  will  have  assembled  at 
Cologne  to  attend  the  meetings  of  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses,  and  to  take  part 
in  the  Congress  organised  by  the  German 
Nurses'  Association,  whose  President,  Sister 
Agnes  Karll,  has,  by  her  loyal  and  untiring 
work,  accomplished  splendid  results  for  the 
status  of  nurses  in  Germany  and,  incidentally, 
for  the  nurses  of  the  world.  Sister  Agnes  Karll 
has  been  one  of  the  great  bridge  builders  in 
the  international  nursing  movement,  and  as 
such  will  be  honoured  by  the  nurses  of  all 
nations  when  they  meet  as  her  guests  at 
Cologne.  Those  of  us  who  since  1899  have 
taken  part  in  the  consolidation  of  the  nursing 
profession,  alone  realise  what  superhuman 
devotion  has  been  expended  by  the  present 
President  of  the  International  Council  of 
Nurses. 

The  Program.me  of  the  International 
Meeting. 

The  Triennial  General  Assembly  of  the 
International  Council  of  Nurses,  over  which 
Sister  Karll  will  preside,  will  open  on  Monday, 
August  5th,  at  9.30  a.m.,  in  the  historic 
Giirzenich,  to  the  sound  of  the  magnificent 
organ.  The  Address  of  Welcome  will  be 
spoken  by  the  President,  to  be  followed  by  the 
Watchword  on  Aspiration  by  Mrs.  Bedford 
Fenwick.  The  Minutes  will  be  read  by  the 
Hon.  Secretary,  Miss  L.  L.  Dock,  and  the 
Financial  Report  will  be  presented  by  the  Hon. 
Treasurer,  Miss  M.  Breay.  The  Reports  from 
the  Federated  Councils  will  then  be  received, 
after  which  loyalty  and  gratitude  to  the  Presi- 
dent will  find  expression  in  recognition  of  her 
services  to  the  nursing  profession  at  large. 

The  Affiliation  of  National  Associations  will 
follow — (i)  The  Trained  Nurses'  Association 
of  India,  (2)  the  New  Zealand  Trained  Nurses' 
Association — when  the  British  National 
Anthem  will  be  played.  The  President  will 
speak  in  honour  of  the  dead — Isla  Stewart, 
Isabel  Hampton  Robb,  Jeanie  Kildare  Treacy, 
Louis  Lande — when  exquisite  solemn  music 
will  be  heard. 

The  election  of  Hon.  Officers  will  follow,  and 
Resolutions  in  support  of  the  Enfranchisement 
of  Women,  and  the  State  Registration  of 
Trained  Nurses  will  be  submitted. 

At  12.30  o'clock  there  will  be  an  interval  for 
luncheon,  and  at  2  p.m.  the  Council  will  re- 
assemble to  consider  the  Report  of  the  Inter- 


national Committee  on  Nursing  Education — (o) 
on  the  Preliminary  Training  of  Nurses,  to  be 
presented  by  Miss  J.  C.  van  Lanschot 
Hubrecht,  of  Holland,  in  which  Miss  Nutting, 
R.N.,  and  other  experts  \vill  take  part;  (b)  the 
Result  of  State  Registration  in  those  countrit.s- 
in  which  it  has  been  introduced.  On  both  of 
these  important  questions  there  will  be  a  dis- 
cussion. At  5  p.m.  the  members  of  the  Con- 
gress will  attend  the  Festival  given  in  their 
honour  by  the  Municipality  of  Cologne  in  the- 
Floral  Town  Gardens. 

Delegates  and  Guests. 
From  Great  Britain  more  than  a  hundred 
matrons  and  nurses  will  attend.  Our  founda- 
tion members  are  :  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick, 
Hon.  President  I.C.N.  ;  Miss  M.  Breay,  Hon. 
Treasurer  I.C.N.  ;  Miss  Mollett,  Councillor 
I.C.N.  And  Miss  Cutler,  Miss  Forrest,  Miss. 
Rogers,  and  Miss  Kelly  are  the  four  official  dele- 
gates of  the  National  Council  of  Nurses.  These 
delegates  from  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  have 
votes  in  the  International  Council  meetings. 

Representatives  and  Guests. 

Many  of  the  societies  which  compose  the- 
National  Council  of  Nurses  have  specially 
nominated  fraternal  delegates,  and  have  in- 
several  instances  paid  their  expenses.     . 

Mrs.  Fenwick  will  represent  the  Society  *^or 
State  Registration  of  Nurses ;  Miss  Mollett,. 
the  Matrons'  Council ;  Miss  M.  E.  Hunter, 
League  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  Nurses  ; 
Miss  Macfarlane,  General  Hospital,  Birming- 
ham, Nurses'  League ;  Miss  H.  L.  Pearse,  the 
School  Nurses'  League ;  Miss  M.  Burr,  St. 
John's  Home  Nurses'  League ;  Miss  Carsorr 
Rae,  the  Irish  Nurses'  Association;  and  as  we 
have  already  announced,  many  analogous 
societies  have  accepted  the  invitation  to  appoint 
representatives.  Vouchers  for  all  names  sent 
in  to  Miss  Cutler  will  be  sent  to  Berlin  this 
week  to  facilitate  arrangements  for  invitations., 
badges,  &c.  Miss  M.  Burr,  Miss  B.  Kent, 
Miss  Macvitie,  Miss  C.  Lee,  and  Miss  Cutler 
will  arrive  in  Cologne  in  time  to  help  with  the- 
Nursing  Exhibition. 


Sister  Agnes  Karll  writes  that  the  German- 
municipalities  "  have  come  nobly  to  the  front." 
Dortmund,  Rheydt,  Leitz,  and  Brandenburg, 
and  both  the  large  Berlin  Hospitals  :  Moabit 
and  Rudolph  Virchow,  are  sending  their 
matrons  and  a  head  nurse  to  the  Congress,  pay- 
ing their  expenses  very  liberally.  And  all  the 
French  railways  are  issuing  tickets  at  half- 
price. 


July   13,   191: 


Cbe  Bittisb  3ouniai  or  IRursing. 


THE  QUEEN'S  JUBILEE  INSTITUTE. 

THR      niNM:R. 

Organised  bv  the  Duke  and  Ulchess  of 
Portland. 

The  Dinner  organized  by  the  Duke  and 
Duchess  of  Portland  on  behalf  of  the  Queen 
Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute 
for  Nurses,  and  held  at  the 
Hotel  Cecil  on  July  3rd,  was 
a  verv  successful  and  well- 
attended  function.  Unfor- 
tunately recent  bereavement 
prevented  the  Duchess  of 
Portland  from  being  present 
to  receive  the  guests  with 
the  Duke,  but  this  office  was 
charmingly  discharged  by 
the  Countess  of  Minto — 
most  gracious  and  graceful 
of  hostesses,  who  also  pre- 
sided conjointly  with  the 
Duke  of  Portland  at  the 
high  table,  at  which 
Miss  Amy  Hughes,  General 
Superintendent,  and  Miss 
Lowe,  Secretary,  were 
allotted  seats.  A  number  of 
ladies  interested  in  the  work 
of  the  Institute  ably  acted  as 
hostesses  at  the  twenty-two 
tables  set  at  right  angles  to 
it.  We  could  have  wished 
that  some  of  the  Superinten- 
dents who,  with  a  number 
of  nurses,  were  occupying 
the  rdle  of  lookers-on  in  the 
gallery,  had  presided  at  the 
opposite  ends  of  the  tables, 
both  in  recognition  of  the 
great  services  which  they 
are  rendering  to  the  com- 
munity, and  because  they 
could,  during  dinner,  have 
interested  the  guests  in  the 
work  of  the  Institute  in 
which  they  are  engaged,  in 
a  way  in  which  only  those 
possessing  practical  experi- 
ence and  knowledge  can  do. 
We  throw  out  the  suggestion  to  the  organizers 
of  future  dinners. 

The  special  nature  of  the  function  was 
evident  in  the  menu,  which  included  amongst 
its  items  consommd  Reine  Alexandra,  crSme 
Institut  Victoria,  sclle  d'agneau  Florence 
Nightingale,  and  peche  Amy  Hughes,  a  com- 
pliment no  doubt  appreciated  by  the  Institute. 


run  COUiNTUSS  OF  AU.NTO, 


Message  fro.m  Queen  Alexandra. 

The  loyal  toasts  having  been  honoured,  the 
Chairman  read  the  following  telegram  from 
Queen  Alexandra,  Patron  of  the  Institute  : — 

Please    convey   to   yoi'r    party    assembled    to- 
night my  best  wishes  and  grateful  thanks  for  all 
your  kind  efforts  on   behalf  of  Queen  Victoria's 
Jubilee  Nurses,  whose  welfare 
and     prosperity   I     have     so 
much  at   heart. 

Proposing  the  toast  of 
the  evening,  "  Success  to 
Our  Cause,"  the  Duke 
of  Portland  expressed  his 
great  pleasure  at  seeing  so 
many  old  friends  of  the 
Institute  present,  and  also 
in  welcoming  many  new 
friends  who  were  absolutely 
necessary  to  its  welfare. 
Their  presence,  he  said, 
testified  to  the  importance 
of  the  work  which  the  Insti- 
tute undertakes  and  carries 
out,  and  to  their  realization 
of  the  fact  that  efficient 
nursing  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary and  essential  to  the 
sick  and  suffering.  What- 
ever our  .sphere  in  life,  one 
of  the  most  important  facts 
confronting  us  was  the 
presence  of  pain,  suffering, 
and  disease,  and  the  duty 
i>f  mercy,  and  the  ^allevia- 
tion of  suffering  among  the 
P')or  took  precedence  over 
most  other  duties. 

Queen  Victoria  had  many 
titles  to  remembrance,  and 
not  least  amongst  them  the 
large-hearted  benevolence 
which  inspired  her  to  allot 
the  women's  Jubilee  offer- 
ing to  a  purpose  calculated 
to  dp  the  greatest  good  to 
the  community  at  large  by 
the  foundation  of  the  Queen 
Xictoria's  Jubilee  Institute. 
Manifold  had  been  the 
blessings  to  the  sick  and  suffering  from  that 
noble,  generous,  and  unselfish  action. 

The  duties  of  a  nurse  were  concerned  with 
most  grave  and  serious  issues,  and  demanded 
not  merely  high  skill  and  a  knowledge  of  techni- 
calities, but  tenderness  and  disinterestedness. 
This  extremely  philanthropic  service  was 
supplied  by  Queen's   N'urses,   and  he  was  de- 


28 


ITbe  36r(ti0b  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


July 


1912 


lighted  to  see  so  many  present.  His  Grace 
said  he  was  sure  he  was  fulfilling  the  desire  of 
all  present  in  assuring  these  devoted  women 
that  both  they  and  the  country  in  general 
warmly  appreciated  their  earnest  and  self-sacri- 
ficing labours. 

The  Duke  then  appealed  for  funds  to  carry 
on  the  work,  and  in  this  connection  read  the 
following  letter  from  the  Right.  Honble.  A.  J. 
Balfour,"  M. P.  :— 

I  am  very  sorry  I  cannot  be  present  at  j^our 
great  banquet  in  aid  of  the  Queen's  nurses.  Next 
to  competent  medical  advice,  competent  nursing 
is  the  most  pressing  necessity  for  the  sick,  and 
anv  institution  which  brings  such  nursing  within 
reach  of  the  poor  does  something  material  to  dim- 
irish  human  suffering.  I  wish  you  all  success, 
and  beg  to  enclose  a  small  donation. 

The  Hon.  J.  L.  Griffiths,  Consul-General  of 
the  United  States  of  America,  supported  the 
resolution  in  a  sympathetic  speech,  and  said 
tTiat  there  was  no  stronger  tie  between  two 
countries  than  the  common  claim  on  their 
sympathy  and  help.  Xurses  therefore  helped 
to  abolish  discord,  for  nations  having  as  a 
mutual  aim  the  alleviation  of  suffering  were 
not  easily  separated  by  flamboyant  statements. 
There  was  no  more  useful  or  honourable  pro- 
fession than  that  of  the  trained  nurse.  She 
was  one  of  the  most  significant  economic 
factors  in  our  present-day  civilization  and  a 
transforming  influence  in  the  home ;  she  was  a 
powerful  factor  in  reducing  infantile  mortality, 
and  taught  young  mothers  how  to  rear  strong, 
healthy,  virile  bovs  and  girls. 

The  Hon.  Harry  Lawson,  M.P.,  also  sup- 
ported the  motion. 

.'\  cordial  vote  of  thanks  to  the  Chairman  and 
the  Hosts  and  Hostesses  was  then  proposed 
by  Viscount  Goschen,  Chairman  of  the  Council 
of  the  Institute,  who  referred  to  the  immense 
strides  made  bv  medicine  and  surgerv,  making 
it  incumbent  on  the  Nursing  Profession  to 
advance  and  make  themselves  more  efficient  in 
order  to  meet  their  greater  responsibilities. 

Mr.  Harold  Boulton,  Hon.  Treasurer,  and 
Mr.  D.  F.  Pennant,  Chairman  of  the  Executive 
Committee,  supported  the  motion. 

The  Duke  of  Portland,  responding,  an- 
nounced that  the  total  amount  of  contributions 
received  on  behalf  of  the  Institute  amounted  to 

;^2,929. 

During  dinner  the  music  was  supplied  by 
the  String  Band  of  the  City  of  London  Yeo- 
manry, under  the  direction  of  Bandmaster  J. 
NA'ilson,  bv  the  kind  permission  of  Lieut. -Col. 
G.  J.  Scott,  D.S.O.,  and  the  officers. 

M.  B. 


THE   TRAINED   WOMEN   NURSES' 
FRIENDLY   SOCIETY. 


During  the  past  week  lively  interest  has  been 
evinced  in  the  above  Society,  and  many  nurses 
have  informed  Miss  Mollett  that  they  intend  to 
join  as  soon  as  it  is  approved  by  the  Commis- 
sioners. Miss  Mollett  has  had  a  very  busy 
week,  and  has  every  hope  of  making  this 
self-governing  Society  of  professional  nurses 
satisfactory.  As  soon  as  the  many  applica- 
tions already  received  can  be  formally  accepted, 
a  meeting  will  be  held  for  the  election  of  officers 
and  committee  by  the  members.  The- Act  pro- 
vides for  self-government,  although  it  can  be 
evaded,  and  it  is  this  principle  of  manage- 
ment the  provisional  committee  are  determined 
to  emphasise.  Care  will  be  taken  that  the 
financial  help  shall  be  of  a  thoroughly  reliable 
and  disinterested  character. 

THE     APPROVAL    OF     SOCIETIES. 

We  have  received  the  following,  says  the 
Times,  from  the  National  Health  Insurance 
Commission  (England)  :  — 

The  Commissioners  desire  to  correct  a  mis- 
understanding which  appears  to  exist  in  many 
parts  of  the  country.  No  society  need  suffer  in 
membership  or  otherwise  by  reason  of  the  fact 
that  it  is  not  approved  by  July  15th.  A  society 
may  be  approved  at  any  time.  The  Commis- 
sioners are  daily  receiving  fresh  applications  for 
approval,  which  must  be  dealt  with  in  order, 
and  provided  a  contributor  has  a  society  to- 
which  he  can  hand  in  his  card  on  or  before 
October  15th,  he  will  not  suft'er  any  loss  or 
harm  by  the  fact  that  the  society  of  his  choice 
was  not  approved  on  July  isth. 


Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  all  nurses  wishing 
to  join  the  Trained  Women  Nurses'  Friendly 
Society  should  get  their  cards  from  the  Post 
Office  by  July  15th,  so  that  they  can  be  stamped 
and  in  order  by  the  time  (at  an  early  date,  we 
hope)  when  the  Society  is  approved.  Anyway,, 
no  need  to  rush  into  unsuitable  societies,  as 
October  15th  is  the  date  by  which  a  choice  must 
be  made. 

LEAGUE    NEWS. 


The  summer  meeting  of  the  Hcndon  Branch- 
of  the  Central  London  Sick  Asylum  Nurses' 
League  was  held  on  Thursday,  July  4th. 

The  members  of  this  League  are  fortunate  in. 
being  connected  with  an  institution  having  ex- 
tensive grounds,  and  the  month  being  July,  tea 
on  the  lawn   had  been  contemplated,   but  the- 


July   13,    1912 


TLbc  ©ritisb  3ournal  of  H-lur^tiuj. 


29 


weather  seemed  so  doubtful  that  tables  were  set 
indoors,  which  was  afterwards  a  matter  of 
regret,  for  just  when  tea  conimcnccd  there  was 
a  burst  of  sunshine  which  heralded  a  beautiful 
evening-.  However,  as  a  delicious  tea  had  been 
provided,  most  members  consoled  themselves, 
and  after  partaking  hastened  out  on  the  lawns 
to  indulge  their  several  inclinations  in  tennis, 
croquet,  and  bowls.  Nothing  in  the  w-ay  of 
formal  entertainment  was  attempted.  It  was 
just  a  summer  gathering,  and  is  there  not 
always  lots  to  talk  about  when  old  friends 
meet? 

From  as  far  apart  as  Scotland  and  Cornwall 
members  sent  messages  of  regret  that  they 
could  not  run  up  for  an  afternoon.  Not  nearly 
as  many  were  present  as  those  who  planned  the 
meeting  would  like  to  have  seen,  but  they  know 
how  many  are  the  difficulties  a  nurse  has  to 
surmount  before  she  can  leave  her  work  even 
for  a  League  meeting. 

K.  B. 


APPOINTMENTS. 


MATRON. 

Yorkshire  Home  for  lucurables,  Harrogate. — ^liss 
Mary  Bemrosu  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She 
was  trained  at  the  General  Infirmary,  Leeds,  and 
has  been  Matron  of  the  Newark  Hospital. 

The  Children's  Convalescent  and  Cripples'  Home, 
Henchurch. — Miss  Thirza  ^I.  Turner  has  been 
appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Brownlow  Hill  Infirmary,  Liverpool,  where  she 
subsequently  held  the  position  of  Charge  Nurse. 
She  has  also  been  Sister  in  the  Children's  Wards 
in  the  Birmingham  and  Midland  Eye  Infirmary' 
and  Assistant  Matron  for  the  last  eight  years  at 
the  Convalescent  Home,  Woodthorpe  Lodge, 
Sherwood,  Nottingham. 

ASSISTANT    MATRON. 

Crampsall  Infirmary,  .Manchester. — Miss  .\nnie 
Burgess  has  been  appointeil  Second  Assistant 
Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Crumpsall 
Infirmary,  where  she  has  held  the  position  of 
Ward  Sister.     She  is  also  a  certified  midwife. 

SISTER. 

Burgh  Hospital,  Falkirk. — Miss  Bessie  Mc.\llister 
has  been  appointed  Sister  and  Deputy  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Bolton  Infirmary  and 
Dispensary',  the  Royal  Victoria  Hospital  for 
Consumption,  Edinburgh,  and  the  City  Fever 
Hospital  in  the  same  city.  She  has  since  been 
Sister  at  the  City  Hospital,  Lodgcmoor,  Sheffield. 

West  Ham  and  Eastern  General  Hospital,  Stratford. 
— Miss  V.  Sykes  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She 
was  trained  at  the  Clayton  Hospital,  Wakefield. 

HEALTH     VISITOR. 

County  of  Berkshire.— Miss  Dwyer,  school  attend- 
ance officer,  .\shford,  a  trained  nurse,   has  been 


appointed  health  visitor  for  the  schools  in  the 
county  of  Berkshire.  The  services  of  a  lady  school 
attendance  officer  are  to  be  continued  at  Ashford. 
City  Union,  Birmingham. — Miss  Sherrington  has 
been  appointed  Health  N'isitor  under  the  Birming- 
ham City  Union.  She  was  formerly  nurse  at 
the  Culcheth  Cottage  Homes,  and  for  five  years 
deaconess  at  the  Congregational  Church,  Newton- 
le-Willows,  and  has  taken  a  verv  active  interest 
in  the  caii.sc  of  temperance.  She  will  commence 
her  new   duties  on   Jul\'   17th. 

QUEEN     ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL     MILITARY 
NURSING     SERVICE. 

Miss  Constance  W.  Mann  and  Miss  Gertrude 
D.  Morris,  Staff  Nurses,  resign  their  appointments. 

QUEEN    VICTORIA'S    JUBILEE    INSTITUTE. 

Tr.\N"SFERS    and    .\PP0I.\T.MENTS. 

Miss  Caroline  Sowden  is  appointed  to  Hebden 
Bridge,  as  Senior  Nurse  ;  Miss  Jane  Andrews,  to 
Pentre  Voelas  ;  Miss  Lizzie  Boyd,  to  Goole ; 
Miss  Bessie  Broad,  to  Liverpool  (North)  ;  Miss 
Sarah  Evans,  to  Baschurch  ;  Miss  Leontine  Kuficr, 
to  Huddersfield  ;  Miss  Jane  Walker,  to  Norton-in- 
the-Moors  ;  Miss  Elizabeth  Whalley,  to  .Higher 
Sutton. 


EXAMINATIONS. 


The  Examination  of  Nurses  at  the  Royal  Sussex 
County  Hospital,  Brighton,  in  medical  and  surgical 
nursing  has  lately  taken  place.  It  was  conducted 
by  .Mr.  Russell  Howard,  M.S.,  Surgeon  to  the 
London  Hospital,  and  Examiner  of  Nurses  to  the 
London  and  Westminster  Hospitals.  Out  of  four- 
teen nurses  who  were  examined  the  following 
thirteen  passed,  viz.  : — Misses  Livens,  Jeffrey, 
Linton,  Brownlow,  Chatfield,  Turner,  Lritchard, 
Mattox,  Green,  Maude,  Woodhams,  Pratt,  .Moore. 
The  excellence  of  the  training,  given  at  the  Royal 
Sussex  County  Hospital  is  widely  recogn^sed,  and 
the  result  of  the  present  examination  must  be 
gratifying  to  all  concerned. 

PRESENTATION. 

Miss  Lea,  who  has  resigned  the  Matronship  of 
the  Beaconsfield  Memorial  Hospital  at  High 
Wycombe,  has  been  presented  with  an  illuminated 
address  and  a  purse  of  gold. 

■    ♦    ■ 

BEQUEST    TO    A    NURSE. 

Mr.  .\rtluir  Bolden  Davison,  formerly  Registrar 
of  the  Chancerj'  Division  of  the  High  Court  of 
Justice  in  Ireland,  has  bequeathed  ;^20o  to  his 
nurse,  Thomas  Alexander,  if  in  his  service  at  the 
time  of  his  decease. 

THE     PASSING     BELL. 

We  regret  to  record  the  death  of  Mrs.  Hancock, 
the  first  certificated  nurse  to  take  up  duty  in  the 
Southend  district  over  twenty  years  ago,  where 
her  work  has  been  greatly  appreciated.  Mrs. 
Hancock  was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  William  Co.x, 
formerly  an  officer  in  the  Royal  Irish  Constabulary. 


36 


CTbc  Bittii?!)  3ournal  of  HAurstnc'. 


Jidy 


191; 


NURSING    ECHOES. 

The  Pxiucation  Committee  of  the  London 
Countv  Council,  in  connection  with  the  visit  of 
London  Elementary  School  Children  to  Paris 
at  Whitsuntide,  on  the  invitation  of  the  Paris 
Municipal  Council,  formally 
reported,  at  Tuesday's 
meeting  of  the  Council, 
that  two  teachers  from  each 
school,  eight  French-speak- 
ing teachers  to  act  as 
guides,  five  nurses,  two 
doctors,  and  fourteen  mem- 
bers of  the  organizing  staff 
accoTnpanied  the  children. 
They  stated  that  it  must  be 
obvious  that  so  large  an 
undertaking  could  not  have 
been  carried  out  but  for  the 
hearty  co-operation  of  all 
concerned  in  the  organiza- 
tion. To  all  (including  the 
doctors  and  nurses  who  kept 
the  children's  health  under 
close  and  constant  super- 
vision) the  highest  praise, 
they  stated,  is  due,  and 
thev  suggested  that,  to 
mark  the  Council's  appre- 
ciation of  the  personal  ser- 
vices and  sacrifice  of  time  on 
the  part  of  all  the  teachers 
concerned,  they  should  be 
granted  a  week's  leave  of 
absence  on  full  pay,  and 
stated  that  at  their  request 
the  Establishment  Com- 
mittee were  submitting  a 
similar  recommendation  in 
-  regard  to  the  doctors  and 
nurses  in  the  public  health 
department. 


and   nursing  associations  generally  as  to  how 
this  could  best  be  effected. 

Mr.  R.  B.  D.  Acland,  K.C.,  presided,  and 
those  present  included  Messrs.  R.  W.  Moffrey 
and  A.  Pinhorn  (Manchester  Unity  Friendly 
Society),    J.    N.    Lee    (Hearts    of    Oak    Benefit 


A  meeting  representative 
of  some  of  the  largest  ap- 
proved societies  under  the 
Insurance  Act  and  of  nurs- 
ing associations,  held  at  the 
offices  of  the  Queen  Vic- 
toria's Jubilee  Institute  for 
Nurses,  \'ictoria  Street,  S.W.,  resolved  "  That 
it  is  desirable  that  for  the  purposes  of  nursing 
under  the  National  Insurance  Act  there  should 
be  close  association  between  approved  societies 
and  duly  recognised  nursing  associations."  A 
small  committee  was  appointed  to  draw  up  a 
Scheme   for   submission   to   approved   societies 


•■  SISTER  J^SURQERY"    ON    DUTY. 

Society),  W.  A.  Vincent  (Ancient  Order  of 
Foresters),  R.  Thompson  (National  Deposit 
Friendly  Society),  W.  G.  Wright  (Rational 
Association  Friendlv  Society),  F.  Kingsley 
Wood,  L.C.C.,  Charles  Bathurst,  M.P.,  D.  f'. 
Pennant  (Hon.  Secretary,  Queen  Victoria's  In- 
stitute), Mrs.  Hobhouse  and  Miss  Puxley  (nurs- 


/((/)•   13,   I9I2 


Cbc  Bittisb  3ournal  of  IHursmg. 


31 


ing  associations  not  working  in  conniction  with 
the  Queen's  Institute),  Lady  Mabel  How^ard 
and  Lady  Mabelle  Egerton  (County  Nursing 
Associations),  Lady  St.  Davids  (South  Wales), 
and  Sir  Archibald  Williamson,  M.P.  (Liverpool 
District  N'ursing  Association). 


By  the  kindness  of  the  Editor  of  St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital  Journal,  we  are  able  to 
present  to  our  readers  the  accompanying  por- 
trait of  Miss  L  Armitage,  better  known  to 
Bart's  men  and  nurses  as  "  Sister  Surgery," 
whose  resignation  of  the  position  she  has  hgld 
with  distinction  for  so  many  years  we  recently 
reported.  The  above  journal  contains  this 
month  a  very  appreciative  note  of  Miss 
Armitage's  work,  her  "overt  and  dramatic 
feats  in  the  sphere  of  administration ;  her 
capacity  for  controlling  mobs ;  her  intuitions 
concerning  hospital  abusers  and  humbugs 
generally ;  her  whimsical  genius  for  dispensing 
court-martial  justice  to  delinquents  without 
hurting  their  feelings  ;  as,  for  instance,  by  sum- 
marily degrading  the  talkers  to  the  bottom  of 
the  queue  of  waiting  patients ;  of  many  minor 
triumphs  of  administrative  technique  which 
have  held  the  attention  of  the  most  casual 
observers  of  her  system  of  government."  Her 
biographer  writes  further  :  "I,  contemplating 
what  I  am  happy  to  think  is  now  a  long  friend- 
ship, find  myself  wondering  rather  at  the  in- 
grained fineness  of  a  character  which  has  sur- 
vived without  loss  so  close  an  acquaintance  with 
human  nature  in  its  least  appealing  phases, 
whether  represented  by  the  besotted  and  animal 
patient,  or  by  the  assertive  and  self-opinionated 
young  resident  of  two  hours'  standing — and 
most  of  us  have  been  that.  Yet  I  can  say  that 
neither  I  nor  anyone  I  know  of  has  ever  seen 
Sister  Surgery  put  out  of  temper,  though  good- 
ness knows  she  has  been  exposed  hourly  for 
years  to  circumstances  calculated  to  aggravate 

the  saintliest. "       

Miss  Macintyre,  the  Malron,  and  the  nurs- 
ing staff  of  the  Royal  Albert  Kdward  Infirmary, 
Wigan,  came  in  for  well-descrvcd  thanks  at  its 
recent  Annual  Meeting,  for  their  organization 
of  the  bazaar  for  furnishing  the  new  Nurses' 
Home,  the  result  of  which,  as  we  have  re- 
corded, was  to  raise  a  sum  of  about  ;£soo  for 
this  purpose.  Mr.  Mawson,  Chairman  of  the 
Board,  in  moving  the  adoption  of  the  report, 
said  the  bazaar  was  entirely  the  Matron's  idea, 
and  she  went  heart  and  soul  into  it.  The 
splendid  success  was  only  obtained  by  much 
•  iiard  work  and  anxiety  on  the  part  of  Miss 
Macintyre  and  Sister  Fletcher,  and  the  Board 
ow'ed  them  a  deep  debt  of  gratitude  for  all  their 


self-sacrifice  and  hard  work.  Had  Miss 
Macintyre  accepted  many  offers  of  help  from 
her  numerous  friends  the  bazaar  would  have 
been  on  much  larger  lines,  but  from  the  first  she 
refused  all  outside  aid,  and  the  work  was  all 
done  by  the  staff,  past  and  present.  Mr.  James 
Brown  moved  a  vote  of  thanks,  saying  that 
a  great  number  of  people  came  to  the  Infirmary 
for  the  bazaar,  and  he  believed  those  who 
visited  it  remained  its  friends  for  ever  after. 
The  Matron  had  assistance  from  nurses  who 
were  now  scattered  all  over  the  globe.  It 
showed  the  maintenance  of  an  excellent  feeling, 
and  the  Board  ought  to  emphasize  their  appre- 
ciation of  it.  The  Mayor  said  he  would  like  the 
privilege  of  seconding  the  motion,  which  was 
carried  with  applause. 


There  can  be  no  greater  mistake  than  to 
permit  sectarian  influence  within  our  hospitals, 
and  we  think  the  Board  of  Management  of  the 
Swansea  Hospital  are  quite  right  to  discourage 
it  by  adopting  the  minute  of  the  House  Com- 
mittee referring  to  the  circulation  of  a  petition 
amongst  the  nursing  staff  in  favour  of  the 
Establishment,  which  stated  that,  while  recog- 
nising the  right  of  the  staff  to  the  fullest 
freedom  of  opinion  in  religious  and  political 
matters,  it  had  given  instructions  that  in  future 
no  petition  having  to  do  with  controversial 
subjects  should  be  introduced  inside  the  hos- 
pital.   

Colonel  Morgan,  during  the  discussion,  drew 
attention  to  the  fact  that  in  the  recent^proces- 
sion  (the  Disestablishment  demonstration)  in 
the  town,  certain  nurses  in  uniform  took  part. 
None  of  the  hospital  nurses  were  there.  That 
is  entirely  another  question.  Outside  hospital 
walls,  when  off  duty,  the  right  of  the  nursing 
staff  to  take  part  in  any  procession,  social  or 
political,  which  they  choose,  should  be  recog- 
nised by  hospital  authorities. 


Lady  Gladstone's  scheme  for  the  organiza- 
tion of  an  order  of  Nursing  Sisters  and  the 
training  of  coloured  nurses  to  serve  their  own 
people,  as  a  memorial  to  the  late  King 
Edward  VII.  in  .Vfrica,  has  been  somewhat 
adversely  criticised,  and,  :is  in  .Australasia  with 
the  Bush  Nursing  Scheme,  has  not  been  en- 
thusiastically received  in  South  .Africa  as  a 
whole.  There  was  indeed  opposition  from  the 
first,  set  in  motion  by  no  inconsiderable  section 
of  the  population,  who  favoured  an  alternative 
scheme  for  the  establishment  of  sanatoria  for 
consumptive  patients.  Medical  opinion  was, 
and  is,  in  favour  of  the  sanatoria  nltorn.-itive. 


32 


Cbc  Bvttisb  3ouvnal  of  IFlursinci 


July    13,    1912 


One  great  objeetion  ti)  the  seheme  is  that  it 
will  deal  a  serious  blow  at  the  livelihood  now 
being  earned  by  a  highly  honourable  body  of 
women,  who,  after  obtaining  their  nursing  cer- 
tificates, have  put  in  a  long  course  of  practical 
hospital  training,  and  have  ventured  into 
private  life  as  private  nurses.  There  are  few 
large  hospitals  or  nursing  institutions  in  the 
country,  such  as  exist  in  Europe,  from  which 
trained  nurses  can  be  obtained  for  work  in 
private  residences,  and,  therefore,  the  private 
nursing  sisterhood  form  an  asset  of  consider- 
able value  in  every  large  community. 


Wben  it  is  considered  that  a  sum  of  ;£200 
represents  the  up-keep  and  equipment  of  a 
qualified  nurse  for  one  year,  it  may  easily  be 
imagined  how  great  would  be  the  sum  neces- 
sary to  maintain  and  equip  a  body  of  qualified 
nurses  numerous  enough  to  meet  the  require- 
ments of  such  a  vast  area  as  is  comprised 
within  the  South  African  frontiers. 


REFLECTIONS. 


FROM   A   BOARD    ROOM   MIRROR. 

An  old  lady  called  at  the  Middlesex  Hospital 
last  week  and  left  with  the  Secretary-Superintend- 
ent a  bag  containing  ;fioo,  as  a  donation  to  the 
general  fund  of  the  hospital,  explaining  that  over 
tifty  years  ago  she  had  been  brought  to  the 
hospital  for  surgical  treatment,  and  until  the 
present  time  had  not  been  in  a  position  to  show 
her  gratitude  in  a  practical  form. 


The  Natal   ll'itness.  which  presents  an  un- 
biassed British  point  of  view,  says  : — 

"  The  general  intention  of  the  scheme  being  to 
bring  skilled  nursing  within  the  reach  of  persons 
"  wholly  or  partially  unable  to  pay  for  it,"  it  is 
somewhat  surprising  to  find  that  according  to  the 
rules  the  matron  of  a  district  branch  of  the  Order 
is  empowered  to  decide  whether  full  fees  are  to 
be  charged,  or  whether  part  or  total  remissions 
are  to  be  made.  If  the  scheme  is  for  the  benefit 
of  the  poor  there  should  be  no  question  of  charging 
full  fees.  Those  able  to  afford  full  fees  can  obtain 
skilled  nursing  assistance  from  other  sources,  and 
so  long  as  these  ambiguous  rules  remain  in  the 
programme  the  bona  fides  of  the  Order  will  be 
looked  upon  with  considerable  suspicion  by  the 
public,  and  subscriptions  will  decrease.  Again, 
when  a  poor  patient  wishes  to  avail  himself  of  the 
services  of  the  Order,  he  becomes  entangled  in  the 
meshes  of  red-tape,  which  seem  to  be  inseparable 
from  any  English  organisation.  He  will  have  to 
get  a  medical  man  to  requisition  for  the  services 
of  a  nurse  or  nurses.  This  medical  certificate  has 
to  be  submitted  to  the  Central  Executive  ;  that 
body  then  issues  instructions  to  the  district  matron, 
who  decides  what  fees  shall  be  charged.  As  the 
Central  Executive  will  sit  either  at  Pretoria  or 
Capetown,  this  circumlocutionary  process  seems 
ridiculous.  This  executive  is  to  consist  of  a  chair- 
man, a  treasurer,  a  secretary,  members  representing 
each  Province,  a  medical  man  of  standing,  and  a 
member  nominated  by  the  Minister  for  Native 
Affairs.     Why  one  medical  man  only  ?  " 

And  why  no  nurse  at  all  may  be  asked? 
The  scheme  touches  the  economic  condition  of 
trained  nurses,  and  they  should  be  repre- 
sented. 


The  May  Bazaar,  opened  by  Queen  Amelie  of 
Portugal,  at  Chiswick,  on  behalf  of  the  West 
London  Hospital,  has  resulted  in  a  gain  of  /815, 
which  we  arc  pleased  to  know  is  to  be  applied  to  the 
provision  of  a  Nurses'  Home,  which  is  so  seriously 
needed.  Many  of  the  London  hospitals  are  far 
in  the  rear  in  providing  facilities  for  their  nursing 
staffs,  both  for  personal  comfort  and  education, 
when  compared  with  our  great  provincial  hospitals; 
and  as  no  hospital  which  fails  to  provide  a 
thoroughly  well  adapted  Nurses'  Home  can,  in 
these  days,  keep  in  the  running  as  a  first-class 
nursing  school,  great  injury  results  to  the 
institution  as  a  whole  from  such  culpable  neglect. 


Health  and  education  both  suffer  from  dis- 
organised nursing  and  domestic  arrangements, 
so  that  it  becomes  a  question  whether  hospital 
governors  who  cannot  or  do  not  provide  suitable 
Nurses'  Homes,  have  any  right  to  conduct  hospitals 
at  all.  The  days  of  emotion  and  muddledom  are 
passed,  and  in  the  conduct  of  public  institutions 
common  sense  and  business  management  are  now 
indispensable.  For  this  reason  we  regret  to  note 
that  there  is  no  reference  to  the  very  urgent 
necessity  for  a  safe  and  decent  Nurses'  Home  at 
St.    Bartholomew's    Hospital    in    the    Treasurer's, 

report  for  1912. 

The  famous  Buddhist  Emperor  of  India,  Asoka, 
whose  long  reign  from  264  to  227  B.C.  abounded 
in  many  good  works,  was  probably  the  earliest  to 
establish  an  hospital  for  the  treatment  of  animals, 
says  Our  Dumb  Animals.  Asoka  was  a  true 
humanitarian  as  well  as  a  most  powerful  sovereign, 
and,  although  ruling  a  vast  domain,  became 
deeply  impressed  by  the  horrors  of  warfare. 
He  gave  up  his  desire  for  conquest,  and  the  rock 
inscriptions,  wliich  are  still  extant,  record  such 
beneficent  edicts  of  his  as  the  counselling  of  plant- 
ing shade-trees,  the  digging  of  wells,  sending  out 
of  missionaries,  appointment  of  special  officers 
to  supervise  charities,  the  establishing  of  hospitals 
for  human-kind  and  animals.  It  is  of  interest 
to  know  that  the  last  remaining  of  Asoka's 
hospitals  was  devoted  to  animals.  It  covered 
twenty-five  acres,  and  was  divided  into  proper 
wards  and  courts  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
patients.  When  an  animal  was  sick  or  injured 
its  master  had  only  to  bring  it  to  the  hospital, 
where  it  was  cared  for  without  regard  to  the  caste 
of  its  owner,  and  found  an  asylum  in  old  age. 


jidy  13,  1912  ^be  Britisb  3ouvnaI  of  IHursino.  33 

PHYSICAL  EDUCATION.  SOCIAL     UNREST. 


Speaking  at  the  Bristol  Health  and  Nursing 
Conference,  Miss  Johnson,  of  the  Swedish  Institute 
on  Physical  Education,  said  it  was  impossible  to 
over-estimate  the  importance  of  the  subject  of 
physical  education.  But  what  did  pliysical 
education  mean  ?  To  those  who  did  not  under- 
stand it,  it  meant  development  of  the  muscular 
system,  but  to  those  who  did  understand  it  it 
meant  much  more.  It  comprised  the  whole  of 
mental  and  moral  education  also.  It  consisted  of 
an  intimate  knowledge  of  the  sciences  of  anatomy, 
physiology,  hygiene,  chemistry,  and  physics  ;  a 
serious  study  of  all  that  related  to  heredity  and 
environment,  and  the  latest  young  advent  into  the 
scientific  world,  the  science  of  eugenics.  It  gave  to 
the  character  discipline,  self-control,  accuracy, 
uprightness  in  figure  and  in  character,  truthfulness 
and  nobility  of  purpose,  steadfastness  and  per- 
severance, presence  of  mind  in  danger  and 
difi&culty ;  it  increased  brain  impressionability, 
sharpened  the  intelligence,  steadied  the  nerves, 
improved  the  health,  and  established  a  sound 
mind  in  a  sound  body.  The  student  of  physical 
education  must  acquire  a  considerable  knowledge 
of  all  physiological  functions  in  order  to  stimulate 
or  retard,  in  order  to  modify  or  to  accelerate,  in 
order  to  produce  any  desired  effect  by  carefully- 
selected  medico-manual  movements. 

She  could  only  point  out  to  them  in  the  time  at 
her  disposal  the  basis  of  the  foundations  of  her 
subject,  worked  out  by  the  steady  acquisition  of 
knowledge,  the  patient  gathering  in  of  the  results 
of  experiments  and  of  experience,  the  reverent 
following  out  of  education  and  discipline  and  law. 

She  desired  the  audience  to  notice  in  the  first 
li\nng  illustration  (a  wonderfully  perfect  Sailor's 
Hornpipe)  the  rapidity  of  movement  possible  to  a 
trained  co-ordination  of  brain,  nerves  and  muscles 
animated  by  the  suggestive  imaginings  of  the 
great  expanses  of  sea  and  sky,  the  breezes  and 
motion  of  the  ocean  expressed  by  the  navy  in  the 
hornpipe. 

Miss  Johnson  afterwards  showed  how  the  train- 
ing was  achieved  by  the  development  of  the 
muscle  groups  successively,  with  other  physio- 
logical considerations  regarding  the  respiratory 
and  circulatory  systems,  &c.  As  the  stage  was 
small  these  movements  were  shown  in  a  triangle 
by  three  illustrators,  a  marked  feature  being  the 
extraordinary  rapidity  with  which  they  replied 
to  unexpected  orders  from  Miss  Johnson. 

The  next  illustration  w'as  designed  to  show  that 
it  was  possible  to  develop  grace,  some  esthetic 
movements  being  beautifully  carried  out  by  Miss 
Johnson's  assistant,  to  musical  accompaniment,  to 
the  great  pleasure  of  her  audience. 

There  followed  some  cliarming,  bright,  dignified 
and  yet  sportive  old  Swedish  dances  in  the  correct 
costume,  as  seen  by  Miss  Johnson  in  the  pine 
forests  of  Sweden  on  Sunday  evenings,  to  quaint 
old  Swedish  airs. 


Life  is  a  riddle,  who  can  doubt  it  ? 

If  you  know  the  answer  you  needn't  shout  it. 

Many  have  answered  it  in  their  own   fashion 
long-  before  you  were  born. 

"  Ask  on,  thou  clothed  Eternity! 
Time  is  the  false  reply.  " 

Turn  a  few  pages  back  in  history,  wiseacre  of 
to-day,  and  read  the  views  and  dogmas  of  those 
who  were  fronted  with  the  same  unrest,  trouble, 
and  change  that  face  this  generation. 

Carlyle  is  not  read  as  much  as  he  used  to  be, 
but  in  a  volume  of  his  Miscellaneous  Essays  I 
came  the  other  day  upon  one  entitled  "  Signs 
of  the  Times  "  (1829),  that  might  easily  have 
been  written  by  a  sombre,  didactic,  and  self- 
opinionated  philosopher  of  to-day.  Except  that 
there  are  references  to  the  rumbling  of  the  last 
echoes  of  the  French  Revolution  instead  of  the 
dock  strike,  and  men's  minds  are  exercised  by 
the  repeal  of  the  Test  Acts  and  of  the  Catholic 
disabilities  instead  of  Home  Rule  and  the  Insur- 
ance Act  Carlyle  might  be  criticising  the  trend 
of  to-day's  life  and  thoughts.      He  says  : — 

"  Were  we  required  to  characterise  this  age 
of  ours  by  any  single  epithet,  we  should  be 
tempted  to  call  it,  not  an  Heroical,  Devotional, 
Philosophical,  or  Moral  Age,  but,  above  all 
others,  the  Mechanical  Age.  It  is  the  Age  of 
Machinery,  in  every  outward  and  inward  sense 
of  the  word  :  the  age  which,  .with  its  whole  un- 
divided might,  teaches  and  practises  the  great 
art  of  adapting  means  to  ends." 

With  the  space  at  his  command — and  the 
Edinburgh  Review  must  have  been  a  ponderous 
tome  in  those  days  to  grant  him  so  many 
columns — he  elaborates  his  argument,  enume- 
rates with  a  kind  of  awe  the,  to  us,  clumsy 
though  ingenious  first  efforts  at  controlling  the 
great  forces  which  have  by  now  been  so  effi- 
ciently yoked  for  our  service.  The  weaving- 
machine,  the  steamboat,  "  the  Birmingham 
Fire  King  has  visited  the  fabulous  East  "^the 
railway  ("  even  the  horse  has  been  stripped  of 
his  harness  ") — "  nay,  we  have  an  artist  that 
hatches  chickens  by  steam  ;  even  the  very  brood 
hen  is  to  be  superseded."  (I  must  own  that 
last  sentence  touched  me  personally  very 
nearly.) 

This  leads  him  on  to  the  change  in  our  social 
system — the  gathering  of  wealth  in  masses,  the 
altering  of  the  old  relations  between  rich  and 
poor — "  a  much  more  complex  and  important 
question  for  political  economists  than  any  they 
have  yet  engaged  with." 


34 


Z\)c  asritisb  Journal  of  mursino. 


July- 


191  2 


But  it  is  when  he  appHes  his  arg^uments  to 
the  mental,  moral,  anil  spiritual  phenomena 
around  him — when  he  is  most  really  Carlyle — 
that  he  might  as  well  be  lamenting  the  changes 
of  the  early  twentieth  instead  of  the  early  nine- 
teenth century.  "  Not  the  external  and  phy- 
sical alone  is  now  managed  by  machinery,  but 
the  internal  and  spiritual  also." 

"  Instruction,  that  mysterious  communing  of 
Wisdom  with  Ignorance,  is  no  longer  an  inde- 
finable tentative  process,  requiring  a  study  of 
individual  aptitudes,  .  .  .  but  a  secure,  univer- 
sal, straightforward  business,  to  be  conducted 
in  the  gross,  by  proper  mechanism,  with  such 
intellect  as  comes  to  hand." 

It  was  the  reawakening  of  the  art  of  com- 
bination, of  collectivism,  and  it  appeared  ter- 
rible, overwhelming  to  him — the  end  of  the  indi- 
vidual strong  man,  the  hero-worship  to  which 
he  was  so  devoted. 

.He  grieves  over  the  religious  machines,  as 
he  calls  the  Bible  Society  and  similar  in- 
stitutions— "  a  machine  for  converting  the 
heathen." 

No  one,  he  laments,  now  does  things  by  his 
own  strong  right  hand — "  hopes  to  accomplish 
the  poorest  enterprise  single-handed  and  with- 
out mechanical  aids."  He  views  with  suspicion 
all  Royal  Academies,  Royal  and  Imperial  Socie- 
ties, Scientific  Institutions,  and  so  forth — in 
short,  all  combinations  for  mutual  help  and 
advancement  and  collective  development.  Away 
with  them;  he  will  have  none  of  them.  "  Men 
are  grown  mechanical  in  head  and  heart,  as  well 
as  in  hand." 

He  frankly  laments  the  day  when  every  man 
swept,  or  did  not  sweep,  before  his  own  door- 
step, split  his  own  wood,  and  saved  his  own 
soul.  Government  he  deals  with  in  equally 
svi'eeping  terms.  "It  is  no  longer  the  moral, 
religious,  spiritual  condition  of  the  people  that 
is  our  concern,  but  their  physical,  practical, 
economical  condition,  as  regulated  by  public 
laws."  Government  ts  to  both  parties  a 
machine  :  "to  the  discontented,  a  taxing 
machine  ;  to  the  contented,  a  machine  for  secur- 
ing property.  Its  duties  and  faults  are  not 
those  of  a  father,  but  of  an  active  parish  con- 
stable." 

It  has  its  faults,  this  article  of  Carlyle's  :  it  Is 
a  bit  heavy  when  you  read  it  in  bulk ;  it  is 
didactic,  and  has  a  "  Sir  Oracle  "  ring  about  it ; 
but  it  is  very  sincere,  and  describes  most  accu- 
rately the  commencement  of  to-day's  life.  How 
truly  we  have  developed  along  the  lines  the  old 
philosopher  of  Chelsea  foresaw  :  how  every  one 
of  us  relinquishes  more  and  more  his  individual 
independence,  and  willingly  becomes  one  bolt. 


one  nut  or  screw  of  some  piece  of  machinery 
that  shall  further  the  interest  or  lessen  the  diffi- 
culties of  some  section  of  the  community. 
Interchange  of  ideas — the  broadening  of  in- 
terests— the  fact  that  human  entities  have 
learnt,  and  are  still  learning,  the  power  that  lies 
in  combination,  the  virtue  hidden  in  mutual  con- 
fidence that  collectively  a  body  of  men  and 
women  have  a  force  and  power  that  is  denied  to 
the  isolated  individual.  Carlyle  was  right  and 
he  was  wrong.  This  is  the  mechanical  age,  but 
the  age  of  higher  and  living  mechanism. 
Humanity  has  not  disdained  to  weld  itself  into 
a  machine— a  machine  that  runs  faultily  at 
present  and  perhaps  with  a  few  uncomfortable 
jerks,  but  that  has  for  its  aim  the  betterment 
and  easement  of  the  whole  race.  Whether  the 
wheels  and  cogs  will  ever  run  quite  smoothly 
who  knows?  but  the  spirit  that  sacrifices  its 
individual  perfection  for  the  sake  of  a  perfect 
whole  is  true  and  good  and  wise. 

M.   MOLLETT. 


Miss  J.  C.  Child  reminds  us  that  she  was 
trained  at  St.  Thomas'  Hospital,  London,  and 
not  at  the  Royal  Sussex  County  Hospital.  She 
was  a  Sister  at  the  latter  institution.  The 
mistake  occurred  in  transcribing  her  letter  of 
last  week. 

On  Thursday  in  last  w-eek,  members  of  the 
Ulster  Branch  of  the  Irish  Nurses'  Associa- 
tion drove  in  brakes  from  Belfast  to  Craig- 
darragh,  Helen's  Bay,  Co.  Down,  where  a 
picnic  tea  was  provided  by  the  Amusements 
Committee.  The  day  ^^■as  perfect,  and  the 
drive  and  picnic  voted  most  enjoyable. 


BOND'S    MARKING     INK. 


The  selection  of  a  good  marking  ink  which  will 
neitlier  bum  a  hole  in  linen  nor  wasla  out,  is  a 
matter  of  great  importance  to  the  thrifty  housewife. 
Those  wlio  purchase  John  Bond's  "  Crystal 
Palace  "  Marking  Ink  may  rest  content  tliat  they 
have  secured  a  marking  ink  which  is  most  satis- 
factory in  use,  and  wliicli  has  stood  the  test  of 
time.  In  addition  it  has  been  awarded  no  less 
tlian  forty-five  gold  medals  for  superiority,  and  is 
supphed  to  the  Royal  households.  Those  who 
have  once  used  it,  if  they  try  some  otlier  brand, 
as  a  rule  return  to  "  Bond's  "  with  even  greater 
satisfaction  than  before.  Enclosed  with  every 
6d.  and  is.  bottle  is  a  voucher  entitling  purchasers 
to  tlieir  name  (or  monogram)  rubber  stamp  witli 
a  pad  and  brush.  Purchasers  of  the  sliilling  size 
are  also  entitled  to  a  linen  stretcher  and  pen. 
John  Bond's  Marking  Ink  may  be  obtained  from 
all  stationers,  chemists  and  stores,  and  if  our 
readers  dq  not  already  use  it  we  advise  them  to 
begin  to  do  so. 


]uly 


n)i2 


Z\K  Bvitiab  3ounial  of  1Fliu'Ciint3 


35 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 

WOMEN. 

Tuesday,  July  23rd,  is  the  date  fixed  by  the 
■Women's  Local  Government  Society  for  holding 
an  American  Fair  (by  kind  permission  of  the 
Council  of  Bedford  College)  in  the  house  and 
grounds  of  South  Villa,  Regent's  Park,  N.W. 
An  American  Fair  is,  in  fact,  a  market  for  country 
produce  and  dainty  cakes  and  sweets,  which  are 
supplied  by  the  visitors  to  the  Fair,  who  are  also 
the  purchasers.  Here  are  to  be  found  the  freshet 
and  best  of  eggs,  poultry,  fruit,  vegetables, 
flowers  and  honey,  with  home-made  butter, 
cakes  and  sweets  :  truly  an  opportunity  not  to  be 
missed  by  the  dwellers  in  town  or  country'. 

This  particular  Fair  will  be  unique  in  that  it 
will  cater  not  only  for  the  more  delicate  of  our 
gastronomic  wants,  but  that  it  will  offer  an 
unparalleled  set  of  what  are  known,  in  such  a  con- 
nection, as  side  shows.  From  3.30  to  7  p.m. 
visitors  to  the  Fair,  who  may  or  may  not  have 
contributed  to  the  market,  will  find  ample  enter- 
tainment in  the  various  arrangements  that  are 
being  made  for  their  edification.  The  band  of 
the  Highbury  Industrial  School  will  play  in  the 
grounds.  The  small  payment  of  is.  will  admit 
to  the  Fair  and  entitle  the  visitor  to  tea  served 
in  the  garden  or  in  the  house.  Additional  small 
pa\-ments  will  admit  to  the  performances  of  the 
English  folk  dances  by  the  students  of  the  South 
Western  Polytechnic,  who  are  generously  giving 
their  ser\'ices,  to  concerts  by  the  choir  of  the 
London  College  for  Choristers,  to  witness  the  work 
of  a  Japanese  attist,  whose  pictures  will  be  on 
sale,  and  to  the  opportunity  of  securing  a  delightful 
silhouette  portrait  of  themselves. 

The  Executive  Committee  of  the  Women's 
Local  Government  Societj'  appeal  for  co-operation 
to  make  this  Fair  a  financial  success.  They  ask 
the  friends  and  supporters  of  the  Society  to.  give 
their  help  by  coming  to  the  Fair,  by  bringing  or 
sending  contributions  for  the  stalls  of  country 
produce  or  cakes,  or  bv  sending  special  donations 
to  the  funds  of  the  Society.  All  articles  for  the 
Fair  should  be  marked  with  the  selling  price  and, 
if  sent  by  post,  should  be  addressed  to  Lady 
Lockyer,  South  Villa,  Regent's  Park,  N.W.,  to 
be  delivered  on  the  morning  of  July  23rd. 


Ten  Suffrage  Societies  will  take  part  in  the 
Great  Demonstration  in  Hyde  Park  on 
Sunday,  July  14th,  at  3  p.m.,  organised  by  the 
Men's  Political  Union  for  Women's  Enfranchise- 
ment, in  honour  of  Mrs.  Pankhurst's  birthday. 
It  will  be  many  weeks  before  Mrs.  Pankhurst  will 
have  sufficiently  recovered  her  health  after  her 
protest  in  Holloway  to  take  an  active  part  in  the 
Suffrage  movement. 


his  candidature.  In  his  letter  of  resignation  Mr. 
I  larbcn  strongly  criticised  the  course  taken  by  the 
Prime  Minister  and  the  Government  with  regard 
to  the  treatment  of  the  women  suffragist  leaders 
and   statctl   that   his   withdrawal   was   a  protest. 


Many  who  were  unable  to  be  present  at  the 
Queen's  Hall  meeting  to  hear  Bishop  Gore's 
address  on  "  The  Religious  Aspect  of  the  Women's 
Movement,"  and  all  of  those  who  were,  will  be 
glad  to  know  that  the  Bishop's  speech  is  being 
published  in  pamphlet  form,  price  id.,  by  the 
Christian  Commonwealth,  Salisbury  Square, 
London. 


BOOK    OF    THE    WEEK. 


Mr.  H.  D.  Harben,  of  Newlands  Park,  Chalfont 
St.  Giles,  Bucks,  the  prospective  candidate  for 
the  Barnstaple  Division  of  Devon,  has  written  to 
the    Barnstaple    Liberal    Executive    withdrawing 


THE     SILENCE     BROKEN.* 

This  collection  of  short  stories  will  be  welcomed 
by  Mrs.  Baillie  Reynolds'  many  admirers.  There 
is  a  good  diversity  of  subjects,  and  the  scenes  are 
cast  in  many  different  lands. 

"  How  He  Refused  Her  "  is  a  bright  and  very 
amusing  little  sketch.  Alwyn,  proposing  to  Edna, 
casually  informs  her  that  "  My  girl  chucked  me 
at  the  end  of  last  season  ;  I  came  out  here  to  get 
over  it." 

Miss  Farmiloe's  cheeks  were  warm,  her  eyes  had 
an  angrj'  light.  "  I  think  you  ought  to  have  told 
me  that,"  she  said,  indignanth'. 

"  I  suppose  you  really  want  to  know  why  she 
gave  me  notice  ?  I  don't  mind  telling  you.  It  was 
because  I  wanted  too  many  evenings  out." 

"  What !"  said  the  girl,  too  surprised  to  be  polite. 

"  Yes  ;  it  was  a  theoiy  I  had,"  said  the  young 
man,  pensively.  "  I  wanted  to  .begin  as  I  meant  to 
go  on.  So  I  said  to  her  I  would  not  alwayS^be  in  her 
pocket,  and  that  I  did  not  intend  to  give  her  mor6 
than  one  present  a  week.  Well,  she  seemed  to 
think  it  all  right  at  first.  I  kept  my  tw-o  nights  a 
week  for  my  club,  just  as  I  intended  to  do  after 
marriage — those  evenings  were  my  own,  do  you 
see  ? 

"  Then  some  fooling  relations  of  hers  asked  us 
to  dine  on  one  of  my  nights  off.  It  was  wholly  for 
the  principle  of  the  thing  that  I  refused.  I  was 
contending,  you  see,  for  the  rights  and  liberties 
of  all  engaged  men.  She  could  not  see  it,  however." 

Lady  Anne  had  the  good  sense  to  make  it  up  with 
this  pleasant  young  man.  When  Alwyn  writes  to 
be  taken  back  into  favour,  he  ends  charac- 
teristically, "  If  you  w-ere  to  take  me  on  again^ 
I  should  still  insist  upon  my  evenings  out." 

We  consider  it  eminently  sensible  of  them  both 
that  they  come  to  see  eye  to  eye  on  this  matter. 

"  Sunrise  and  Snow-Peaks  "  tells  of  a  German 
Grand  Duke  married  to  Cecilia,  daughter  of  the 
Marquis  of  Alderstein.  ..  i-j»-,  (    > 

The  marriage  had  not  turned  out  altogether  a 
success,  as  the  first  child  was  a  daughter  instead  of 
the  much-wished-for  heir. 

•  By  Mrs.  Baillie  Reynolds,  Mills  &  Boon,  Ltd., 
London,  W.  ... 


36 


Cbc  Britisb  3oiu-naI  of  11-luri?tno. 


July 


igi2 


"  Cecilia  played  the  organ  as  Cecilias  should." 
And  in  this  way  becomes  intimate  with  Waldemar, 
who  is  also  a  musician.  Her  husband  spies  upon 
her,  unworthily,  only  to  learn  of  her  innocence 
and  complete  loyalty  to  himself. 

"  Charlotte  Yates,  Journalist,"  deals  with  a  girl 
who,  in  "  her  father's  palatial  country  house,  in 
Hampshire,  had  been  ven,-  scornful  of  the  life  of  a 
mere  Societv  girl,  and  had  longed  to  be  a  journalist, 
to  settle  down  with  a  tj'pewriter  close  to  the 
heart  of  things,  with  one  finger  on  the  beating 
pulse  of  the  age,  and  one  eye  on  the  main  chance. 
Her  first  engagement  is  to  report  a  bazaar,  patro- 
nised by  the  Duchess  of  Dulcombe,  where  she 
meets^  her  recreant  lover,  Ralph  Carey,  engaged 
on  the  same  errand. 

She  is  lost  on  her  return  across  the  moors,  and  is 
rescued  by  Ralph.  We  leave  them  standing 
together  in  a  world  that  held  only  their  two  selves. 

"  Let  us  get  married  immediately,  and  come 
back,  and  wander  about  in  the  rain  and  dark. 
I  never  enjoyed  an\'thing  so  much,"  said  Ralph, 
■n-ith  energy. 

So  we  imagine  that  there  was  nothing  left  to  be 
described. 

The  last  stor\-  of  a  haunted  room  is  ver\-  satis- 
factorilv  explained  ;  and  the  curtain  falls  on  the 
"  ghost  "  clasping  Rosalie's  hands  with  his  warm 
strong  ones. 

There  are  manv  other  entertaining  tales. 

H.  H. 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


COMINQ     EVENTS. 

Jtfly  nth. — Guy's  Hospital,  S.E.  Garden  Party 
3  P-m. 

Jtdy  i6th. — The  Bishop  of  London  "  At  Home  " 
to  members  of  the  Xurses'  Missionary  League, 
Fulhana  Palace,  3.30-6. 

July  22,rd. — Meeting  of  Central  ilidwives'  Board. 
Penal  Cases.     2  p.m. 

July  2yd. — \\"onien's  Local  Government 
Society".  American  Fair,  Bedford  College,  South 
Villa,  Regent's  Park.    3.30-7  p.m. 

July  2^th  to  3oih. — First  International 
Eugenics  Congress.  July  24//;  .^Reception  and 
Inaugural  Banquet,  Hotel  Cecil,  Strand,  7  p.m. 
July  25//1. — Opening  of  Congress,  Great  Hall, 
University'  of  London,  Imperial  Institute  Road, 
South  Kensington,  S.W.     10  a.m. 

July  2^th. — Monthly  ^Meeting  Central  Midwives' 
Board. 

August  1st. — Central  Midwives'  Board.  Exami- 
nation, London.  Oral  Examination  a  few  days 
later. 

August  ^rd  to  gth. — International  Council  of 
Nurses.  Triennial  Meeting.  Congress.  Exhibition, 
Cologne. 


WORDS     FOR     THE     WEEK. 

The  residue  of  life  is  short — 
Live  as  on  a  mountain. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  for  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  anv  way  hold- 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opitiions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


OUR     PRIZE    CO.MPETITION. 

To  the  Editor  o/The  British  Journal  of  Xursing. 
Dear  Madam, — IMany  thanks  for  cheque  for 
Prize  Competition,  which  I  was  surprised  and 
gratified  to  receive  this  morning.  Being  a  "  con- 
stant reader  "  of  your  paper,  I  was  all  the  more 
delighted  to  see  a  contribution  of  mv  own  in  it  ! 
Wishing  the  paper  ever\'  success  in  all  its  varied 
interests, 

I  am,  yours  sincerely, 

Alice  Rhixd. 
West  Ma\field, 

Edinburgh. 


The  Vision  of  the  Ideal  guards  monotony'  of 
work  from  becoming  monotony  of  life. 


THE   I.NSURANCE   ACT   A.ND   REGISTRATION 
OF   TRAINED    NURSES. 

To  the  Editor  0/ The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
ilAD.\ii, — ;Mr.  Asquith's  reply  in  the  House  of 
Commons  on  June  26th  to  a  question  bv  Dr. 
Chappie, pleading  pre\ious  ignorance  of  thefactthat 
the  Bill  "  to  regulate  the  qualifications  of  trained 
nurses  and  to  pro\ide  for  their  registration  "  is 
widely  supported  by  the  naedical  profession  and 
by  all  organised  bodies  of  trained  nurses  in  the 
L'nited  Kingdom,  deser\es  some  notice.  In  1909 
!Mr.  Asquith  received  a  deputation  composed  of 
representatives  of  the  medical  profession,  organisa- 
tions of  trained  nurses, and  members  of  Parliament, 
which  laid  before  him  the  urgent  need  for  a  State 
register.  In  1910,  1911  and  1912  Mr.  R.  C. 
Munro  Ferguson  introduced  a  Bill  which  had  the 
support  of  the  British  Medical  Association  and  all 
organisations  of  trained  nurses  in  Scotland, 
England,  and  Ireland.  The  anti-registration 
party — which  never  was  representative  of  either 
the  medical  profession  or  nurses — after  confused 
and  feeble  outbursts  on  the  part  of  t\vo  or  three 
of  its  leaders  has  lapsed  into  a  dormant,  or  it  mav 
be  an  extinct,  c  ndition. 

-  As  the  National  Insurance  Act  comes  Into  force 
immediately  this  seems  a  suitable  time  to  draw  the 
attention  of  the  public  to  the  grave  danger  to 
insured  persons  which  the  working  of  the  Act 
invoh-es  in  view  of  the  fact  that  State  regulation 
of  qualifications  and  a  register  are  vet  awanting. 
The  Act  provides  that  insured  persons  shall  be 
attended  by  "duly  qualified  medical  practitioners," 
and  also — in  the  case  of  matemitr\-  benefit — that 
the  mother  shall  decide  whether  she  shaU  be 
attended  by  "a  duly  qualified  medical  practi- 
tioner," or  by  "  a  duly  certified  midwife." 
Clause  21  provides  that  an  approved  societ\-  or 
insurance  committee  may  support  "  district 
nurses  "  and  "  appoint  nurses  for  the  purpose  of 
\isiting    insured    persons."     Much    was    done    h\ 


July   13,    1912 


Cbc  BvitU-'b  3ounuil  of  ■flluvetna 


37 


nurses  individually  and  through  their  organisa- 
tions, and  also  by  their  supporters  in  Parliament, 
to  have  this  clause  amended,  but  the  Bill  was 
rushed  through  to  the  imperious  liking  of  Mr. 
Lloyd  George.  The  term  "  trained  "  before 
"district"  nurses  and  "nurses"  would  have 
been  a  partial  guarantee  of  efficiency,  but  this  is 
awanting,  and  approved  societies  and  insurance 
committees  are  left  with  a  free  hand  to  do  what 
they  please  in  the  provision  of  nurses.  Further, 
approved  societies  and  insurance  con^mittees  will 
labour  under  disadvantages,  for  they  are  practic- 
ally left  without  any  means  of  finding  out  who  aje 
trained  nurses  and  who  are  "  quacks." 

The  best  that  can  be  done  now  is  to  push 
forward  the  Registration  Bill,  and  it  is  hoped  that 
the  public  in  their  own  interests,  and  in  the 
interests  of  justice  to  trained  nurses,  will  do  their 
best  to  remove  Parliamentary  Bill  "  blockers." 
Under  the  present  Government  the  naval  and 
military'  nursing  ser\uces  have  grown  largely,  and 
yet  this  same  Government  which  builds  a  house 
with  one' hand  knocks  it  down  with  the  other  by 
denying  facilities  for  the  legal  definition  of  the 
term  "  nurse."  If  the  present  position  were  not 
one  of  extreme  danger  it  would  be  ludicrous. 
Nurses'  organisations  are  doing  all  they  can,  and 
their  trusted  supporters  in  Parliament  are  doing 
all  they  can  ;  it  now  lies,  to  a  large  extent,  with 
the  country-  to  remove  obstacles  at  the  first 
opportunity. 

I  am,  &c. 

E.  A.  Stevenson, 
Hon.   Secretary    The    Scottish  Society    of 

Trained  Nurses  ; 
Vice-President,  The  Society'  for  the  State 

Registration  of  Trained  Nurses. 

[\Ve  endorse  the  argtiments  in  this  excellent 
letter,  but  are  the  "  Nurses'  Organisations  doing 
all  they  can  "  ?  We  verj'  much  doubt  it.  The 
members  individually  might  do  much  more — (i) 
Pay  their  subscriptions  punctualh-,  to  enable  the 
central  office  to  push  propaganda;'  (2)  each 
individual  might  use  her  personal  influence, 
"through  her  male  voting  relations  and  friends, 
with  the  members  of  their  constituencies  and  she 
also  might  urge  them  to  support  legislation  for 
Nurses'  Registration.  Great  pertinacity  upon 
the  part  of  each  member  of  every  socictv  is  what 
is  required.  Tliere  is  no  doubt  that  a  very  favourite 
policy  of  our  legislators  is  to  "  let  sleeping  dogs 
lie."  We  must  refuse  one.and  all  to  be  "  sleeping 
dogs." — Ed.] 


THE   MATERNITY    BENEFIT. 

To  tlie  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — I  notice  an  excellent  suggestion 
in  the  Journal  this  week,  that  under  the 
National  Insurance  Act  it  should  be  compulsory, 
in  the  case  of  maternity  benefit  to  unmarried 
women,    that    upon   the    grant    of    an    affiliation 


order  the  maternity  benefit  should  be  refunded 
by  the  father's  society  to  the  society  in  which  the 
mother  of  his  child  is  insured. 

Mav  I  also  point  out  that  the  Act  specially 
provides  that  "  in  deciding  whether  or  not  they 
shall  make  an  order  under  the  Bastardy  Laws 
Amendment  Act,  1872,  for  the  payment  of  the 
expenses  incidental  to  the  birth  of  a  child,  the 
justices  shall  not  take  into  consideration  the  fact 
that  the  mother  of  th;  child  is  entitled  to  receive 
maternity  benefit  under  the  National  Insurance 
Act." 

This  is  a  just  provision,  but  if  the  expenses  are 
provided  for  in  this  way,  why  should  the  mother 
also  draw  the  maternity  benefit,  wliich  will  largely 
be  a  charge  on  funds  subscribed  by  self-respecting, 
self-supporting  women  and  girls  ?  If  the  mother 
of  an  illegitimate  child  can  tap  both  these  sources 
of  revenue  it  appears  that  she  will  be  better  off 
than  many  married  women  when  her  baby  is  born, 
which  docs  not  seem  fair  or  just. 

Yours  faithfully. 

Certified  Midwife. 

REPLIES    TO     CORRESPONDENTS. 

Miss  Field,  Birmingham. — A  turpentine  enema 
in  this  country  is  usually  given  in  the  medium  of 
gruel.  Turpentine  is  incompatible  with  soap  and 
water,  and  should,  therefore,  never  be  given  with 
it.  An  American  method  is  to  add  turpentine  ,"ss  to 
the  stiffly-beaten  white  of  an  egg  together  with 
castor  oil  3SS,  the  whole  mbced  together  with  a  pint 
of  luke-warm  water.  Properly  blended  the  mixture 
should  make  an  emulsion  from  which  there  will  be 
no  irritation  of  the  rectum  and  anus. 

Country  Nurse,  Rutland. — Write  for  a  Proposal 
Form  for  membersliip  of  the'  Trained  ^Vomen 
Nurses'  Friendly  Society-,  to  the  Hon.  Secretary, 
431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W.  The  Society  is 
being  specially  organized  for  professional  nurses 
who  wish  to  control  their  own  financial  affjiirs. 

OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS    FOR   JULY. 

July  '20th. — How-  should  a  specimen  of  urine 
be  prepared,  and  how  examined  ? 

July  i^th. — What  are  the  common  sources  of 
bacterial  infection  ? 


NOTICE. 


THE  TRAINED  NURSES'  FRIENDLY  SOCIETY. 

Miss  Mollett,  Hon.  Secretary,  will  be  at 
431,  Oxford  Street,  VV.,  daily,  and  will  be 
pleased  to  give  all  information  possible  to  those 
desiring  to  join  a  Friendly  Society  of  profes- 
.•iianal  nurses. 


Our  readers  should  make  a  point  of  reading 
the  correspondence  in  the  Standard  (Woman's 
Platform)  on  the  subject  of  State  Registration 
of  Trained  Nurses  during  the  past  week,  and 
which  is  still  proceeding. 


38 


^be  Britisb  Journal  of  H^urtMiui  Supplement,  jmy  13,  rgi: 


THe   Midwife. 


PUERPERAL     INFECTION. 


Dr.  Furneaux  Jordan,  F.R.C.S.,  who  delivered 
the  Ingleby  Lecture  at  the  Birmingham  University 
(which  is  reported  in  full  in  the  British  Medical 
Journal)  on  "  Puerperal  Infection,  with  special 
reference  to  Vaccine  Treatment,"  spoke  in  part 
as  follows  : — 

Causation. 

wfien  we  think  of  the  usual  surroundings  of 
the  new-born  babe,  we  must  be  surprised  not  that 
there  is  so  much  puerperal  fever,  but  that  there 
is  not  a  good  deal  more.  In  direct  contact  with 
the  patient,  in  direct  contact  with  the  doctor's 
or  midwife's  hands,  in  direct  contact  with  any 
tear  or  wound  that  may  be  inflicted,  are,  in  most 
dl  the  working-class  houses,  blankets  or  sheets 
or  clothes  that,  even  if  not  describable  as  dirty, 
cannot  by  any  stretch  of  the  imagination  be 
called  surgicaliv  clean.  It  is  surely  legitimate 
to  ask  why  sterilised  towels  should  be  placed  all 
round  the  field  of  an  operation  and  not  around 
the  field  of  a  delivery,  the  latter  being  even  more 
exposed  to  the  risk  of  infection  than  the  former. 
We  take  infinite  pains  to  keep  from  an  operation 
wound  staphylococcus,  Bacilhis  coli,  Streptococcus 
pyogenes,  &c.  Do  we,  can  we  honestly  say  that 
we  do,  invariably  take  the  same  pains  to  keep 
them  from  a  cervical  or  perineal  tear  in  a  confine- 
ment ?  The  doctor  in  attendance  will  invariably 
tell  you  that  he  thoroughly  sterilised  his  hands, 
that  his  forceps  were  boiled,  also  any  sutures 
and  needles  that  he  used,  but  is  there  as  much 
attention  paid  to  cleansing  the  patient  as  there 
is  to  cleansing  the  doctor's  hands  ?  I  think  it 
may  truly  be  said  that  there  is  not,  and,  as  I  shall 
show  you  in  a  few  minutes,  it  is  here  that  the 
danger  lies.  Before  a  difficult  forceps  case  is 
finished,  the  hands  of  the  attendant  must  fre- 
quently come  into  contact  with  the  thighs,  vulva, 
and  abdomen  of  the  patient,  and  although  they 
may  be  thoroughly  sterilised  to  start  with,  it  is 
incredible  that  they  remain  so  to  the  very  end. 
If  we  hold  the  view  that  puerperal  fever  is  only 
taken  to  a  case  from  a  previous  one,  that  the 
causative  germ  comes  into  the  room  on  the 
attendant's  hands  or  instruments,  and  is  not 
present  on  or  in  the  patient,  then  the  ordinary 
method  of  procedure  would  be  sufficient  ;  but 
let  us  examine  this  causative  g'erm  for  a  few 
minutes. 

Dr.  Jordan  then  proceeded  to  show  that  the 
streptococcus  in  the  uterine  discharge  of  17  out 
of  21  cases  of  puerperal  fever  under  his  care  had 
been  proved  to  be  quite'  distinct  from  any  other, 
and  suggests  that  it  shall  be  called  streptococcus 
puerperalis.  He  believes  that  this  streptococcus 
is  present  in  the  contents  of  the  bowel,  and  that 
the   puerperal   woman   is   very   susceptible   to   its 


action.  Its  presence  in  the  bowel  will  explain 
everything,  including  those  cases  in  which  in 
spite  of  manv  precautions  fever  occurs. 

Treatment. 

Preventive. — There  can  be  little  doubt  as  to 
the  lines  that  should  be  followed  in  order  to  keep 
patients  free  from   puerperal   fever. 

In  the  cases  above  referred  to  the  Streptococcus 
puerperalis  was  associated  three  times  with  the 
Bacillus  coli,  the  Bacillus  coli  was  found  alone  in  one 
case,  a  profuse  growth  of  Bacillus  coli  with  a  few 
streptococci  occurred  in  another,  the  Staphylo- 
coccus aureus  in  yet  another,  and  lastly,  a  fine 
colonv  of  streptococci  vmlike  the  Streptococcus 
puerperalis  in  another.  Bearing  these  facts  in 
mind,  and  also  the  theory  that  the  Streptococcus 
puerperalis  is  present  in  the  bowel,  it  will  be 
recognised  by  all  that  absolute  surgical  cleanliness, 
not  only  of  hands  and  of  instruments,  is  essential, 
but  equally  essential  is  the  absolute  surgical 
cleanliness  of  the  patient's  skin.  The  whole  area 
of  the  field  of  delivery  should  be  thoroughly 
cleaned — the  thighs,  the  vulva,  and  the  abdomen 
— the  hair  should  be  clipped  quite  short,  and  if 
any  obstetric  operation  has  to  be  performed,  I 
think  it  would  be  better  to  shave  it  off. 

Since  at  the  beginning  of  labour  an  enema  is 
given  to  ensure  as  far  as  possible  that  the  rectum 
shall  be  enipty  during  the  delivery  of  the  baby, 
it  follows  that  the  neighbourhood  of  the  anus  has 
recently  been  infected  by  contact  with  the  contents 
of  the  bowel.  It  is  our  especial  duty  to  pay 
greater  attention  than  we  have  done  to  cleansing 
the  region  of  the  anus.  However  well  the  rectum 
is  emptied  it  usually  happens  that  more  or  less 
of  the  bowel  contents  are  expelled  in  the  last  part 
of  the  second  stage  of  labour.  It  is  wise  to  have 
a  bowl  of  solution  of  mercury  biniodide  (i  in  1,000) 
close  at  hand  with  some  biggish  pieces  of  absorbent 
wool  in  it,  and  as  any  faecal  matter  escapes  wipe, 
it  away  thoroughly  from  front  to  back  with  the 
solution  ;  thus  will  any  possible  infection  be 
carried  away  from  the  vaginal  opening.  Care 
should  be  taken  not  to  soil  one's  fingers  in  doing 
so — to  be  successful  in  this  the  pieces  of  wool 
should  be  of  large  size.  Always  wear  a  sterilised 
gown,  and  take  three  or  four  sterilised  towels  to 
place  under  the  patient  and  over  the  edges  of  the 
patient's  turned-up  clothes  and '  turned-down 
bedclothes.  If  there  is  a  nurse  in  charge  before- 
hand she  can  prepare  the  sterilised  towels  before 
the  stage  of  labour  at  which  thev  will  be  required 
is  reached.  We  must  cleanse  our  hands  before  we 
start  cleansing  the  patient,  and  after. cleaning  the 
patient  we  must  clean  our  own  hands  again,  and 
then  put  on  the  gown  and  place  our  towels  ready 
in  position.  Some  of  you  will  at  this  stage  put 
on  rubber  gloves  that  have  been  boiled,  others 
will  not.     If  a  man  has  absolute  faith  in  the  power 


July  13,  1912     ^bc  British  3oiinial  of  Bursino  Supplement. 


39 


he  has  of  sterilising  his  hands  he  may  or  may  not 
wear  gloves  ;  if  he  has  not  this  faith,  then  the 
wearing  of  gloves  or  not  will  make  no  difference  ; 
for  in  midwifery  work  above  all  other  it  frequently 
happens  that  a  hole  may  be  torn  in  the  glove,  and 
unless  the  hand  inside  it  is  absolutely  sterile  the 
glove  will  hav-c  been  useless. 

To  my  mind,  the  great  advantage  of  rubber 
gloves  in  surgical  work  is  that  you  can  by  their 
means  protect  your  hands  from  sources  of  in- 
fection. The  method  that  will  be  used  for  cleans- 
ing the  skin  of  the  patient  you  must  decide  for 
yourselves.  Personally  I  am  a  great  believer  fti 
thorough  scrubbing  with  a  sterilised  loofah  with 
soap  and  hot  water,  followed  bv  vigorous  'rubbing 
with  a  dry,  sterilised  towel,  then  a  thorough  rubbing 
with  methvlated  spirits,  to  be  followed  finally 
by  rubbing  with  a  solution  of  mercury  biniodide 
(i  in  500)  in  75  per  cent,  of  methvlated  spirits. 
I  think  I  am  right  in  saying  that  Mr.  Lcedham 
Green's  experiments  on  sterilising  the  hands 
have  shown  that  this  method  gives  the  best  results. 

After  what  I  have  said,  is  there  anything  else 
that  we  can  think  of  that  will  help  in  the  prevention 
of  jmcrperal  fever  ? 

1  do  not  think  it  is  a  dream  impossible  of  fulfil- 
ment that  every  woman  at  the  commencement 
of  labour  shall  have  an  injection  of  the  vaccine 
of  a  Streptococcus  puerperalis,  thus  rendering  her 
immune  beforehand  to  the  infection  by  this  germ. 
This,  at  any  rate,  would  render  her  immune  in 
70  or  80  per  cent,  of  the  cases.  Further  con- 
sideration even  might  lead  an  enthusiast  to  inject 
also  a  ^•accinc  prepared  from  the  Bacilhis  coll. 


THE  ASSOCIATION  FOR  PROMOTING  THE 
TRAINING  AND  SUPPLY  OF  MIDWIVES. 


Mrs.  Von  Glehn  presided  at  the  Annual  Meeting 
of  the  Association  for  Promoting  the  Training 
and  Supply  of  Midwives,  of  which  Queen  Alexandra 
is  Patron,  and  which  was  held  on  Friday,  July  5th, 
at  4,  Prince's  Gardens,  S.W.,  by  kind  invitation 
of  I,ady  Schwann,  when  a  short  address  was  given 
to  the  midwives  present  by  -Mrs.  Wallace  Bruce. 

The  feature  of  the  afternoon  was  the  presenta- 
tion of  Badges  to  the  midwives  who  have  earned 
them,  by  Lady  St.  Davids,  after  testimony  to 
the  \alue  of  their  work  had  been  read  by  Miss  Lucy 
Robinson,  sent  by  those  acquainted  with  it  in  the 
localities  in  which  they  are  engaged. 

Lady  St.  Davids  said  that  it  is  alwavs  delightful 
to  be  present  on  a  Prize  Day,  and  she  considered 
it  a  privilege  to  be  there  tliat  <la\'.  She  was  glad 
to  know  of  the  high  ideals  ujiheld  by  the  Associa- 
tion. In  such  work  midwives  needed  the  gift 
of  sympathy  which  enabled  them  to  feel  the  pain 
and  the  gladness  of  others.  The  best  characters 
were  hand  made,  head  made  and  heart  made, 
and  if  any  felt  they  had  not  attained  perfection 
in  all  those  respects  they  need  not  be  discouraged 
but  begin  that  day  to  work  towards  it.  Referring 
to  the  rural  districts  Lady  St.  Davids  said  she  had 


engaged  a  Queen's  Nurse  for  work  in  a  district 
in  which  she  was  interested,  and  the  nurse  told  her 
there  was  nothing  to  do.  She  told  her  to  enjoy 
herself.  Ten  days  later  a  babe  was  born  on  a  distant 
hill,  and  before  the  nurse  had  finished  her  attendance 
there  she  was  called  to  attend  a  case  of  triplets. 
She  then  said  she  could  not  stay  as  the  work  was 
too  hard.  Midwives  should  bathe  their  minds 
in  the  grandeur,  the  mysterj',  and  the  sacredness 
of  birth.  In  this  country  nearly  all  the  attention 
was  focussed  on  death.  Midwives,  those  social 
angels  of  mercy,  should  constantly  keep  before 
them  the  real  meaning  of  the  birth  of  a  babe. 
"  Upon  the  hour  when  I  was  born, 

God  said  :    'Another  man  shall  be  '  ; 
And  the  Great  Maker  did  not  scorn, 
Out  of  Himself  to  fashion  me." 
Midwives  and  nurses  knew  the  tragedy  as  well 
as    the    joy    underlying    the    mystery    of    birth. 
The  parents  might  not  have  been  good,  and  the 
babes   might   suffer  for  their  former  sin.      Lady 
St.  Davids  said  that  her  own  service  to  the  cause 
of   nursing   originated   in   her   sympathy   for   the 
blind    when   she   learnt   that   two   thirds   of   the 
cases  of  blindness  were  due  to  want  of  care.     It 
was    the    sacred    mission    of  .trained    women    to 
preserve  the  gift  of  sight  to  the  babes  in  their  charge. 
The  present  century  would  be  associated  with 
flying— flying  by  motor,   flying  through  the   air. 
Midwives    might   have    a    flight  all  their  own,    a 
flight  of  imagination  to   that   happier  time  when 
every  babe  should  come  into  a  heritage  of  health, 
hope  and  happiness. 

Lady  St.  Davids  then  proceeded  to  distribute 
the  Badges.  She  said  that  she  was  delighted  to 
find  amongst  the  recipients  two  nurses  working 
under  the  South  Wales  Nursing  Association  with 
which  she  is  connected. 

The  following  midwives,  the  majority  of  whom 
were  present,  and  warmly  applauded,  received 
their  Badges  : — 

Badges. 
Miss  Kathleen  Archer,  working  at  Leagrave, 
Luton  ;  Mrs.  Mary  Cargill,  at  Newcastle-on-Tyne  ; 
Miss  Nellie  Clewley,  at  Braywood  and  Windsor  ; 
Mrs.  Patience  Collinge,  at  Appleton,  Abingdon  ; 
Miss  Kate  Downes,  at  Luton  ;  Miss  Ethel  Elliott, 
at  Dumbleton,  near  Evesham  ;  Miss  Yerna  Jessop, 
at  Burton  Latimer,  Northants  ;  Miss  Bertha 
Johnson,  at  Towcester  ;'  Miss  Dorothy  Johnson, 
at  Stroud  ;  Miss  Mabel  Long,  at  South  Molton,. 
Devon  ;  Miss  Caroline  Field,  at  Aldingbourne, 
Sussex  ;  Mrs.  Marion  May,  at  Selworthy,  Somerset  ; 
Miss  Ethel  Nidd,  at  Grayshott  and  Shottermill  ; 
Miss  Lilian  Pegg,  at  Berriew,  Mon.  ;  Miss  Lilian 
Rumble,  at  Stanford-in-the-Vale,  Berks  ;  IMiss 
Esther  Savage,  at  St.  Albans  ;  Mrs.  Anne  Thomas, 
at  Bwlch,  Brecon  ;  Mrs.  Antonia  Westerman,  at 
New  Shildon,  Durham ;  Mrs.  Alice  Woodward, 
at  Cromer. 

Certificates. 
Certificates  were  also  returned  to  the  following 
District    Midwives,    who    have    worked    for    two 
years   since   their   training  : — Mrs.    Mabel   Allen, 


49 


^bc  Britisb  3ouvnal  of  IRurciino  Supplement. 


July 


191; 


working  at  Heacham,  Xorfolk ;  Mrs.  Frances 
Bracey,  in  Islington  ;  Miss  Priscilla  Cantrell,  at 
Horsham  ;  Miss  Rose  Gardner,  at  Tetbury,  Glos.  ; 
Miss  Ellen  Geering  ;  Miss  Margaret  Jones,  at 
Aberystwith  ;  Mrs.  Catherine  Macdonald,  in 
Marylcbone  ;  Mrs.  Amelia  Madgwick,  at  Midhurst  ; 
Mrs.  Martha  Masters,  at  Hanley  ;  Mrs.  Jane 
Murray,  at  Tidworth  ;  ISIrs.  Lucy  Noon,  at 
Leicester ;  Miss  Caroline  Stones,  at  Sneinton, 
Notts  ;   Mrs.  Florence  Walsh,  at  Bexhill-on-Sea. 

The  Insurance  Act. 

Miss  Dorothy  Hunter  then  gave  a  short  address 
on  the  Insurance  Act  as  it  affects  midwives  and 
nurses,  explaining  that  this  great,  complicated, 
because  much  misunderstood,  measure  came  into 
operation  for  better  for  worse — she  thought  much 
for  better — on  July  15th.  The  Act  touched 
midwives  and  nurses  both  professionally  and 
personally.  The  two  questions  for  them  to  ask 
themselves  were  :  (i)  Must  I  be  insured  ?  (2)  li 
I  need  not,  can  I  ? 

The  work  of  midwives,  she  reminded  her  hearers, 
was  carried  on  under  different  conditions.  Thev 
must  be  insured  if  thev  worked  for  an  employer, 
or  for  an  institution  which  sent  them  out  and 
through  whom  their  fees  were  paid.  An  indepen- 
dent midwife  working  on  her  own  account  need 
not  insure,  but  might  become  a  voluntary  contri- 
butor, in  which  case,  if  under  forty-five,  she  must 
pay  5d.  weekly,  and  more  if  over  that  age. 

If  at  any  time  such  a  midwife  took  a  case  as  a 
monthly  nurse  under  a  doctor  she  would  then 
have  to  be  insured. 

Miss  Hunter  advised  midwives  to  insure  through 
one  of  the  great  friendly  societies,  such  as  the 
Manchester  Unity  Independent  Order  of  Foresters, 
the  Hearts  of  Oak  Benefit  Society,  the  National 
Deposit  Friendly  Society,  or  the  Independent 
Order  of  Rechabites.  It  was  advisable  for  those 
who  were  total  abstainers  to  join  teniperance 
societies,  because  these  were  likely  to  have  big 
surpluses  when  the  three-yearly  valuation  took 
place,  which  must  be  used  for  additional  benefits. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  address  questions  were 
invited,  and  the  Chairman  inquired  whether  the 
maternity  benefit  would  be  paid  to  the  husband 
before  the  baby  was  born.  Miss  Hunter  replied 
that  the  benefit  to  the  husband  could  be  paid  by 
his  society  to  him  "  in  cash  or  otherwise."  Mrs. 
von  Glehn  said  she  asked  because  at  the  present 
time  husbands  are  sometimes  under  the  influence 
of  drink  when  the  services  of  the  midwife  become 
necessary.  What  would  happen  in  such  circum- 
stances if  the  Maternity  Benefit  had  been  paid  to 
them  ?  Miss  Hunter  pointed  out  that  the  Act 
imposed  penalties  for  misuse  of  the  benefit. 

Miss  Brea\-  inquired  why  a  midwife  must  be 
compulsorily  insured  if  she  took  a  case  as  a 
monthly  nurse  and  worked  under  a  doctor  ?  Was 
the  doctor  regarded  as  the  employer  ?  The 
patient,  and  not  the  doctor,  paid  her  fees. 

Miss  Hunter  replied  that  she  thought  the 
midwife  when  in  charge  of  a  case  was  regarded  as  an 
independent  professional  practitioner  like  a  doctor. 


Cordial  votes  of  thanks  were  then  accorded  to 
Lady  Schwann,  Lady  St.  Davids,  Mrs.  von  Glehn 
and  Miss  Hunter  on  the  motion  of  Mrs.  Ebden,^ 
seconded  by  Mrs.  Wallace  Bruce,  and  those 
present  then  adjourned  to  enjoy  some  delightful 
music  and  the  graceful  and  charming  hospitality 
of  their  hostess.  Lady  Schwann. 


THE     BABY     CLINIC. 

The  Baby  Clinic  at  12,  Telford  Road,  North 
Kensington,  founded  by  the  Women's  Labour 
League,  has  a  pathetic  interest  for,  and  a  special 
claim  on,  the  friends  of  the  late  Mrs.  Ramsay 
Macdonald.  It  was  originated  by  her  a  short 
time  before  her  death  as  a  memorial  to  her  dear 
friend  Mrs.  Middleton,  who  died  early  in  191 1. 
She  herself  died  before  it  was  actually  opened, 
and  the  executive  committee  then  decided  to 
carry  it  on  as  a  joint  memorial  to  Mrs.  Macdonald 
and  Mrs.  Middleton. 

It  is  situated  in  a  very  poor  part  of  Netting 
Hill,  and  is  open  twice  a  week  for  consultation 
and  treatment  by  Dr.  Anne  Kann  and  Dr.  Ethel 
Bentham.  and  is  also  open  evcrv"  day  for  dressings, 
syringings  and  fomentations  which  are  done  by 
the  nurse.  It  treats  children  up  to  five  years  old, 
and  is  providing  a  dentist  when  necessary.  The 
work  is  carried  on  by  voluntary  subscriptions  and 
no  charge  is  made  to  the  mothers. 

The  work  began  last  November  with  four 
patients,  and  now  as  many  as  50  are  seen  in  one 
afternoon.  The  mothers  are  encouraged  to  bring 
the  children  periodically  after  active  treatment 
has  stopped,  so  that  their  geieral  development 
may  be  watched  over  until  they  are  handed  over 
to  the  care  of  the  school  authorities,  thus  co%'ering 
a  period  very  little  provided  for,  yet  probably 
the  most  important  of  all.  It  is  sad  to  learn  that 
nearly  all  the  diseases  treated  are  those  of 
malnutrition,  the  need  of  neatly  all  the  children 
more  and  better  food. 

A  course  of  lectures  on  nursing,  clotliing  and 
simple  cookery  has  been  arranged  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Board  of  Education,  and  if  these 
prove  satisfactory  the  Board  will  give  ■  a  grant 
in  aid. 


INFANT     PROTECTION     VISITORS. 

The  Public  Control  Committee  of  the  London 
County  Council  report  that  there  are  now  under 
the  supervision  of  the  Council's  infant  protection 
visitors  2,770  houses  where  nurse  infants  are 
kept.  Thirty-two  infringements  of  the  Act 
have  been  reported,  in  respect  of  thirty-one  of 
which  written  cautions  have  been  sent  to  the 
'offenders  ;  while  in  the  remaining  case  legal 
proceedings  have  been  authorised.  In  five  cases, 
infants  were  removed,  under  section  5  of  the  Act, 
from  the  care  of  foster  mothers  to  workhouses, 
and  in  each  case  the  foster  mother  has  been 
informed  that  she  is  precluded  from  again  taking 
a  nurse  infant  without  a  written  sanction  of  the 
Council. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

I  mimsma  wec^^ 

EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,    JULY     20,   1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


THE    NURSE    GENERAL. 

One  of  the  characteristics  of  the  present 
century  is  the  desire  for  travel,  a  desire 
whicii  is  shared  to  the  full  by  nurses,  who 
find  opportunity  for  it  in  connection  with 
societies  formed  to  send  trained  nurses 
abroad,  and  in  response  to  the  needs  of 
our  Colonies  and  other  countries  where  the 
demand  is  still  in  excess  of  the  supply,  and 
where,  therefore,  it  may  be  supposed  that 
the  opportunities  are  greater  than  at  home, 
where  hundreds  of  applications  are  made 
wiien  a  desirable  post  is  advertised. 

But  nurses  who  contemplate  foreign  or 
colonial  service  must  remember  that  they 
live  at  present  in  the  most  comfortable 
country  in  the  world,  where  the  best  service 
is  obtainable,  and  that  life  in  a  well- 
appointed  Nurses'  Home,  with  its  comfort, 
clockwork  regularity,  and  sufficiencv  of 
service  is  not  good  preparation  for  roughing 
it  in  the  Colonies,  where  service  is  not  onlv 
expensive,  but  often  unattainable,  and 
where,  therefore,  the  nurse  has  not  only  to 
nurse  the  patient,  but  also  often  to  act  as 
general  servant  to  the  household. 

We  have  had  the  opportunity  of  verifying 
this  from  first-hand  information  obtained 
from  Colonial  nurses  visiting  this  country, 
and  the  May  issue  of  Unci,  the  journal  of  the 
Royal  Victorian  Trained  Nurses'  Association, 
tells  the  same  story.  Under  the  heading  of 
"  The  Nurse  General,"  a  correspondent 
writes  that  nurses  at  all  times  lead  the 
strenuous  life,  but  lately  it  is  more  than 
that,  and  that  a  new  word  will  have  to  be 
coined  to  fitlv  describe  it.  The  usual  thing 
now  when  a  nurse  arrives  at  her  destination 
is  to  fintl  that  in  addition  to  being  a  nurse, 
she  must  also  be  cook  and  housemaid. 
Some  people  quite  expect  the  nurse  to  do 


the  work  of  the  house,  others  apologize, 
and  plead  that  it  is  next  to  impossible  to 
get  help. 

Nursing  and  cooking,  it  is  pointed  out, 
are  a  bad  combination,  because  both  need 
time  and  care.  You  can't  rush  a  patient 
through,  and  you  can't  rush  cooking.  Try- 
ing to  combine  the  two,  and  hurrying  from 
one  thing  to  another,  you  do  nothing 
properly.  It  is  quite  as  much  a  sin  to 
waste  good  food  with  hurried  cooking  as  it 
is  to  destroy  the  peace  and  order  of  the 
sick  room.  The  writer  considers  the  cheer- 
ful and  placid  demeanour  of  the  nurse,  when 
trying  to  do  the  -work  of  two  women, 
answering  the  door,  seeing  to  the  callers, 
impossible  to  maintain.  Being  only  human, 
and  human  nature  being  what  it  is,  she 
cannot  help  getting  worried,  and  perhaps 
irritable  under  the  strain  of  it  all.  Her 
nerves  are  worn  to  breaking  point.  The 
"  Nurse  General  "  is  the  limit  of  htiman 
endurance.  Five  guineas  a  week  would 
not  pay  for  the  wear  and  tear  of  her  in 
Victoria  much  less  two  as  at  present. 

If  nurses  who  are  colonial  born  and  bred 
find  the  stress  of  the  conditions  of  private 
nursing  work  in  the  Colony  too  great  a 
strain,  it  is  certain  that  those  accustomed 
to  the  more  luxurious  conditions  of  life  at 
home,  will  find  them  much  more  trying. 
If  a  nurse  is  faced  with  the  conditions 
described,  she  will,  of  course,  feel  bound  to 
do  her  utmost  for  the  patient,  but  it  is  one 
thing  to  grapple  with  such  conditions  when 
thev  present  themselves,  and  another  to 
deliberatelv  emigrate  to  countries  where 
they  are  the  rule  rather  than  the  exception. 

The  advice  of  an  Australian  matron  who 
has  recently  visited  some  of  our  London 
hospitals  is,  "  I  do  not  advise  nurses  to 
come  out  to  our  Colonies  ;  I  do  not  think 
the  conditions  under  which  they  train  suit 
them  for  it  ";   and  we  endorse  her  judgment. 

A* 


42 


Z\K  Bvitieb  3oui*nal  of  IRuvslno. 


July   20,    191 2 


MEDICAL   MATTERS. 


INHERITED     AND     ACQUIRED 
SUSCEPTIBILITY     TO     TUBERCULOSIS. 

The  British  Journal  of  Tuberculosis  publishes 
in  the  current  issue  some  interesting  repre- 
sentative opinions  on  the  Interim  Report  cf 
the  Departmental  Committee  on  Tuberculosis. 
Concerning-  it  Dr.  C.  W.  Saleeby,  F.R.S.K., 
F.Z.S.,  writes  : — 

"  The  Interim  Report  seems  to  me  to  be 
admirable  so  far  as  it  goes.  It  need  not  be 
blamed  for  ignoring  the  only  line  of  criticism 
\vhich  interests  me  as  a  Eugenist — namely, 
the  argument  of  those  who  may,  with  con- 
venient ambiguity,  be  called  the  '  better 
dead  '  school,  and  who  invoke,  in  the  name  of 
divine  eugenics,  the  diabolic  aid  of  the  -slum 
and  the  public-house  to  effect  what  they  call 
'  natural  selection. '  The  slum  and  the 
public-house  are  not  natural.  Further,  I 
adhere  to  the  teaching  of  many  past  years 
that,  though  the  factor  of  susceptibility  to 
tuberculosis  is  doubtless  as  essential  as  that 
of  infection,  no  investigators,  least  of  all  the 
biometricians,  have  yet  even  begun  to  solve 
for  us  the  difficult  and  important  problem  of 
duly  appraising  two  distinct  things — genetic 
or  inherited  and  somatic  or  acquired  suscep- 
tibility to  the  infection.  I  even  deny  that  any 
real,  definite  evidence  of  the  importance  of 
the  genetic  factor  in  susceptibility  exists,  not- 
withstanding the  innumerable  calculations 
which  take  no  regard  of  infection  or  nurture. 
In  a  word,  though  I  have  preached  eugenics 
for  a  decade,  and  believe  it  to  be  the  cause  of 
causes,  I  do  not  yet  know  that  the  problem  of 
eradicating  tubercle  is  any  more  a  genetic- 
eugenic  problem  than  that  of  eradicating 
leprosv,  scarlet  fever,  or  perhaps  ringworm. 
This  attitude  of  suspended  judgment  niay  be 
modified  on  the  day  on  which  evidence  that 
discriminates  between  genetic  and  acquired 
susceptibility  is  laid  before  us.  That  day  is, 
I  fear,  remote,  as  we  still  wait  for  any  crucial 
work  on  the  distinction  between  susceptibility 
(of  whatever  origin)  :ind  infection  in  this 
disease. 

"  But  one  point  seems  clear,  to  which, 
perhaps,  the  Tuberculosis  Committee  may 
draw  attention  in  its  final  Report.  I  believe 
the  evidence  to  be  overwhelming  that  alco- 
holism increases,  or  produces,  susceptibility  to 
this  disease.  The  International  Congress  in 
Paris  a  few  years  ago  passed  a  unanimous 
resolution  to  the  effect  that  the  fight  against 
tuberculosis    must    everywhere    be    combined 


with  the  fight  against  alcoholism,  and  further 
formidable  evidence  was  adduced  at  the  Rome 
Congress.  To  say  nothing  of  the  average 
public-house  as  a  proven  plague-spot  in  this 
connection,  what  about  the  factor  of  the 
personal  habits  of  the  insured?  Or  do  we 
propose  to  abolish  tuberculosis  while  letting 
people  behave  as  they  like?  The  Insurance 
Committee  for  England  have  already  said  that 
the  insured,  when  ill,  are  not  to  do  anything 
liable  to  retard  their  recovery.  Is  it  proposed 
to  make  any  suggestions — very  politely  and 
deferentially,  of  course — to  the  insured  as  to 
their  habits  when  well?  I  suggest  that  the 
Tuberculosis  Committee  should  refer  to  this 
question  of  alcoholic  habits  as  '  making  the 
bed  for  tuberculosis,'  in  the  words  of  a  great 
French  physician,  lest  posterity  should  look 
back  upon  our  present  cowardice  and  stupidity, 
spending  the  national  money  like  water  in  a 
sieve,  with  incredulous  disdain." 


THE   PREVENTION   OF   DEAFNESS 
IN    CHILDREN.* 


By  Macleod  Ye.'Vrslev,  F.R.C.S. 
Senior  Surgeon   to    the   Royal   Ear   Hospital; 
Consulting   Aural   Surgeon    to    the   Royal 
School  for  Deaf  and   Dumb    Children   at 
Margate;  Otologist  to  the  London  County 
Council     Deaf    Schools;     Visiting    Aural 
Surgeon  to   the   Association  for  the   Oral 
Instruction  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  &c. 
There  are  two  great  classes  of  deaf  children 
— those  who  have  been  born  deaf  and   those 
whose   misfortune  it  is  to  become  deaf  after 
birth.     With  the  possibility  of  preventing  the 
occurrence  of  deaf  birth  I  do  not  propose  to 
deal;  it  is  largely  a  problem  in  eugenics,  and, 
whatever  the  future  may  hold  as  to  its  solution 
(and  I  must  confess  to  a  certain  hopefulness), 
it  scarcely   enters   into  the  realm   of  practical 
politics  at  the  present  time.     It  is  to  the  pre- 
vention of  acquired  deafness  that  I  intend  to 
devote  this  paper,  considering  first  its  causes, 
and  then  offering  certain  suggestions  as  to  the 
best  means  of  fighting  them. 

The  Causes  of  Acquired  De.'vfness. 
The  vast  majority  of  the  cases  of  acquired 
deafness  belong  to  three  groups  of  causes — 
the  infective  diseases,  meningitis,  and  primary 
ear  disease.  Examining  the  statistics  of  the 
London  County  Council  Deaf  Schools,  the 
Royal  School  for  Deaf  and  Dumb  Children  at 
Margate,  and  the  Fitzroy  Square  School,  to  all 

*  Read  at  the  Health  Conference,  London,   1912. 


July 


1912 


Cbc  361-tttsb  3ournal  of  IMurslno. 


43 


of  which  I  am  attached  as  otologist,  I  find  845 
cases  of  acquired  deafness,  of  which  the  causes 
were  definitely  ascertainable.  Of  these,  723,  or 
85.2  per  cent!,  come  under  these  three  groups, 
the  numbers  and  percentages  being  : — 

Infective  diseases...     343,  or  47.4  per  cent. 

Meningitis  ...      169,  or  23.5  per  cent. 

Primary  ear  disease     211,  or  29.  i  per  cent. 

723       100. o 

I   must  consider  these  three  groups  of  causes 

in  some  detail.  ' 

The  Infective  Diseases. 

The  infective  diseases  which  figure  in  these 
statistics  are  the  infectious  fevers,  epidemic 
cerebro-spinal  meningitis,  chicken-pox,  diph- 
theria, enteric  fever,  German  measles,  in- 
fluenza, measles,  mumps,  .scarlatina,  smallpox, 
typhus,  and  whooping  cough  ;  with  pneumonia, 
rheumatic  fever,  congenital  syphilis,  and  tuber- 
culosis. The  figures  shown  by  some  of  these 
teach  an  instructive  lesson.  The  bulk  of  the 
cases  owed  their  origin  to  scarlatina  and 
measles,  which  gave  127,  or  34.1  per  cent., 
and  98,  or  28.6  per  cent.,  respectively.  Typhus, 
epidemic  cerebro-spinal  meningitis,  and  small- 
pox only  3,  or  0.8  per  cent.,  2,  or  0.5  per  cent., 
and  I,  or  0.2  per  cent.  These  three  diseases 
are  all  well  controlled  by  modern  prevenlixe 
medicine,  so  that,  from  the  enormous  per- 
centages of  deaf  cases  caused  formerly  by  their 
ravages,  they  have  now  sunk  to  insignificant 
decimals.  Is  it  not  possible  that  a  future 
generation  may  be  able  similarly  to  point  to  a 
like  reduction  in  the  numbers  due  to  scarlatina, 
measles,  and  diphtheria?  At  present  the  last- 
named  disease  accounts  in  my  statistics  for  .13, 
or  3.7  per  cent.,  and  whooping  cough  for  15, 
or  4.3  per  cent. 

Pneumonia  claimed  23  cases,  or  6.7  per  cent., 
and  39,  or  1 1 . 3  per  cent. ,  were  due  to  congenital 
syphilis.  As  regards  tuberculosis,  only  two 
cases,  or  0.5  per  cent.,  could  be  definitely  traced 
to  that  condition.  One  of  these  was  deaf  after 
recovery  from  tuberculous  meningitis ;  the 
other,  after  tuberculous,  disease  of  the  middle 
ear.  It  must  be  remembered  that  it  is  not  com- 
pulsory for  deaf  children  to  come  to  school  until 
the  age  of  seven  years,  and  that  the  relatively 
small  percentage  of  cases  due  to  tuberculosis 
is  probably  due  to  the  fact  that  the  disease 
usuallv  kills  the  child  before  .school  age.  It  is 
probable,  however,  that  a  certain  number  of 
the  cases  of  chronic  middle-ear  suppuration 
was  due  originally  to  tubercle,  the  mixed  infec- 
tion which  supervenes  masking  the  primarv 
cause.     Tuberculosis  attacks  the  cars  of  a  con- 


siderable number  of  young  children,  and  the 
small  percentage  noted  must  not  be  taken, 
therefore,  as  a  criterion  of  the  importance  of  the 
disease. 

Meningitis. 
Under  the  heading  of  meningitis  are  included 
cases  definitely  certified  as  such,  together  with 
those  accounted  for  by  the  somewhat  vague 
terms  "fits,"  "convulsions,"  "brain  fever," 
"  inflammation  of  the  brain,"  and  "  congestion 
of  the  brain."  All  these  cases  showed  nerve 
deafness  of  a  severe  type.  In  some  the  men- 
ingitis followed  an  injury,  and  in  many  it  had 
left  some  mental  impairment  as  well  as  the  loss 
of  hearing. 

Primary  Ear  Disease. 
The  211  cases  of  acquired  deafness  due  to 
primary  ear  disease  are  divisible  into  two  main 
types  of  middle-ear  conditions — suppurative 
and  catarrhal.  Of  the  first  there  were  106,  or 
50.7  per  cent.  ;  of  the  second,  104,  or  49.2  per 
cent.  The  odd  case  was  an  instance  of  the  con- 
dition known  to  otologists  under  the  somewhat 
vague  nomenclature  of  "  otosclerosis,"  and 
may  be  ignored  in  this  discussion.  The  salient 
and  instructive  feature  of  the  suppurative  and 
catarrhal  cases  is  that  the  vast  majority  of  them 
were  primarily  due  to  nasal  causes — mostly 
adenoids — and  were,  therefore,  eminently  pre- 
ventible.  The  serious  nature  of  this  statement 
is  enhanced  by  the  fact  that  those  children  were 
all  suffering  from  deafness  of  a  degree  suffi- 
ciently advanced  to  necessitate  their  education 
in  special  schools.  The  matter  becomes  even 
more  serious  when  we  reflect  that  there  are 
numbers  of  children  being  taught  in  hearing 
schools  who  present  lesser  degrees  of  deafness 
from  similar  causes — that  is  to  say,  preventihle 
causes.  Many  of  these  children  are  doomed  to 
progress  in  later  life  to  a  degree  of  deafness 
that  must  seriously  interfere  with  their  career 
as  efficient  citizens.  This  can  he  prevented  by 
timely  treatment  in  childhood.  Therefore  the 
matter  is  an  urgent  one,  and  I  shall  return  to  it 
again  shortly.  School  medical  inspection  is 
getting  into  touch  with  tbese  children,  it  is  true, 
hut  school  medical  inspection  is  not  of  very  long 
standing  in  this  country,  and  has  scarcely  got 
into  its  swing. 

Types  of  Deafness  in  Infective  Diseases. 
Reverting  for  a  few  moments  to  the  first 
group  of  causes  it  will  be  well  to  consider  how 
the  deafness  arises  in  the  infective  diseases. 
These  cases  may  be  classified  into  three  groups 
— suppurative  and  catarrhal  middle-ear  disease 
and  internal  ear  or  nerve  deafness.  Most  of 
those  coming  under  the  first  two  heads  are  pre- 


tTbe  Bvitisb  3ournaI  ot  IRursino. 


Jiilv  20,    191; 


ventible  by  proper  care  of  the  nose  and  throat 
during  the  course  of  the  disease  or  by  prompt 
treatment  of  ear  compUcations  when  they  arise. 
Even  those  severe  types  of  suppuration  which 
sometimes  occur  in  scarlatina  and  diphtheria, 
in  which  the  temporal  bone  is  attacked  by  a 
suppurative  osteitis,  can  be  saved  as  regards 
the  hearing  by  timely  operation,  as  the  excel- 
lent work  done  by  Dr.  Knyvett  Gordon  demon- 
strates. On  the  question  of  the  third  class  of 
case — the  nerve  deafness  type — it ,  is  a  little 
difficult  to  speak  decisively.  Some  of  them, 
however,  could  be  saved  by  prompt  treatment. 
Many  ears  also  could  be  saved  that  are  attacked 
by  fuberculosis,  but  this  is  a  question  of  broader 
range,  and  I  do  not  propose  to  deal  with  it 
specially  here.  The  question  of  congenital 
syphilis,  in  which  the  deafness  is  of  internal 
ear  type,  is  another  question  of  wider  signifi- 
cance, with  which  it  is  not  possible  to  deal  in  a 
jjaper  like  this. 

The  Results  of  Deafness  in  Children. 
I  must  allude  briefly  to  the  results  of  deaf- 
ness in  children  from  the  educational  point  of 
view.  A  great  deal  has  been  written  upon  this 
matter  of  late  years,  and  the  question  is  a  very 
serious  and  important  one.  Whatever  may  be 
the  terrors  of  blindness  to  the  adult,  and  how- 
ever much  more  serious  the  affliction  of  loss  of 
sight  may  be  to  grown-up  persons  as  compared 
to  loss  of  hearing,  that  affliction  pales  when  it 
is  contrasted  with  deafness  in  the  child.  The 
blind  child  who  is  a  hearing  child  has  still  the 
ear,  the  most  important  educational  portal, 
open  to  him.  He  can  still  learn  to  speak,  and 
so  communicate  with  his  fellow-creatures  on  an 
equal  footing  as  regards  thought  processes. 
But  the  deaf  child  is  immeasurably  worse  off, 
for,  unless  he  is  taught  by  highly  specialised 
methods,  he  must  remain  dumb,  with  greatly 
limited  methods  of  thought.  Hence  the  pre- 
vention of  deafness  in  children  is  a  thing  of 
vast  importance  in  education.  But  the  preven- 
tion of  deafness  in  children  goes  much  further 
than  this.  A  long  study  of  deafness  in  adults 
proves  that  the  majority  of  its  causes  comes 
into  operation  in  childhood,  and  the  best  way 
of  preventing  deafness  in  the  prime  of  life  is  to 
have  a  practical  knowledge  of  ototogy  as  it 
relates  to  the  child,  and  to  forestall  adult  deaf- 
ness by  using  that  knowledge  to  the  best  advan- 
tage. Unrecog-nised  and  untreated  nasal  con- 
ditions, especially  adenoids,  in  the  child, 
although  thev  mav  not  result  in  ear  complica- 
tions at  that  period  of  life,  are  often  slowly  and 
silentlv,  but  as  surely,  working  towards  deaf- 
ness in  later  vears.  The  germ  of  adult  deaf- 
ness lies  hidden  in  such  conditions  ;  the  train  is 


laid,  and  the  explosion  is  only  a  matter  of  time. 
This,  then,  is  the  hour  for  prevention,  for-»- 
The  Moving  Finger  writes  ;  ajid,  having  writ, 
Moves  on  ;  nor  all  thy  Piety  nor  Wit, 

Shall  lure  it  back  to  cancel  half  a  Line, 
Nor  all  thy  Tears  wash  out  a  Word  of  it. 
Surely  the  proper  course  to  pursue  is  to  prevent 
the  finger  from  writing. 

(To  be  concluded.) 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 

HOW  SHOULD  A  SPECIMEN  OF  URINE  BE  PREPARED 
AND  HOW  EXAMINED? 

W'c  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  Grace  Nash,  North  Ormesby 
Hospital,  Middlesbrough,  Yorkshire,  for  her 
paper  on  the  above  subject. 

PRIZE    PAPER. 

How  TO  Prep.^re  a  Specimen  of  Urine. 

1.  In  preparing  a  specimen  of  urine  the 
nurse  must  see  that  the  vessel  into  which  the 
urine  is  passed  is  scrupulously  clean,  and  that 
the  urine  glass  in  which  it  is  to  be  saved  is  clean 
also.  In  women  a  "  catheter  specimen  "  is 
sometimes  ordered,  to  avoid  contamination 
with  discharge. 

2.  The  urine  glass  should  be  filled  to  within 
an  inch  or  so  of  the  top,  and  labelled  with  the 
name  of  the  patient,  and  ward,  and  the  date. 

3.  Notice  should  be  taken  as  to  whether  the 
specimen  is  clear  or  turbid. 

4.  A  plug  of  cotton  wool  must  be  placed  in 
the  mouth  of  the  urine  glass,  and  the  specimen 
should  be  kept  in  a  cool  place. 

How  TO  Examine  a  Specimen  of  Urine. 

1.  Describe  the  Specific  Gravity. — The 
specific  gravity  =  the  weight  of  a  body  com- 
pared with  another  which  is  assumed  as  the 
standard.  In  the  case  of  a  liquid  an  equal 
quantity  of  pure  water  at  60  degrees  Fahr.  is 
the  standard. 

To  describe  the  specific  gravity  a  urinometer 
is  used,  and  the  following  points,  should  be 
remembered  : — 

(a)  Not  to  take  the  specific  gravity  until  the 
specimen  has  cooled. 

(b)  Not  to  lift  the  urinometer  out  of  one 
specimen,  and  put  it  straightway  into  another, 
without  washing  it  first,  or  else  one  will  con- 
tarfiinate  the  other. 

(c)  The  urinometer  should  settle  quite  free  of 
the  sides  of  the  urine  glass. 

(d)  Read  the  number  from  below  the  surface. 

2.  Describe  the  Reaction. 

This  is  done  by  using  litmus  paper.  Urine  is 
usuallv  acid,  so  take  the  blue  litmus  paper  first. 


July  20,    i()i2 


<i\K  Biltitjl)  3oiunal  of  naiusuiG. 


45 


and  dip  it  into  the  urine.  11  it  turns  red  the 
urine  is  said  to  give  an  acid  reaction. 

If  it  does  not,  dip  the  red  litmus  paper  into 
the  urine ;  if  it  turns  blue,  then  the  urine  is 
said  to  give  an  alkaline  reaction. 

If  the  urine  gives  neither  reaction,  then  it  is 
said  to  give  a  neutral  reaction. 

3.  Describe  the  Appearance. 

4.  Describe  the  Odour. 

5.  Describe  the  Response  to  heat  and 
chemicals  by  using  certain  "  Tests." 

Test  for  Albu.vien. 

1.  Fill  a  test-tube  about  two-thirds  full  cff 
urine,  and  gentl\'  heat  the  upper  part  of  the 
urine.  If  a  turbid  urine  becomes  clear,  or 
clearer,  then  the  turbidity  was  due  to  urates. 

2.  Continue  heating  until  the  urine  boils.  If 
a  cloud  conies  it  is  cither  albumen  or  phos- 
phates ;  if  the  cloud  disappears  on  adding  acetic 
acid,  it  is  due  to  phosphates ;  if  it  still  remains 
albumen  is  present. 

Test  for  Sugar. 
Equal  parts  of  Fehlings  Solution  i.   and  11. 
Boil,  and  then  add  same  quantity  of  urine,  and 
if  sugar  is  present,  it  will  change  to  a  brick- 
red  colour. 

Test   for   Bile. 
Put  a  few  drops  of  urine  on  a  slab,  and  a 
few  drops  of  nitric  acid,  and  if  bile  is  present 
there  will  be  a  rainbow-like  play  of  colours. 
Test  for  Blood. 
Add   to  some   urine   a   fe\v   drops  of  Tinct. 
Guaiac.      Shake,   and  then  add  a  little  ozonic 
ether,  and  if  blood  is  present  there  will  be  a 
blue  ring  at  the  junction  of  ether  and  urine. 
Test  for  Pus. 
Urine  usually  alkaline  and  strong  smelling. 
Add  to  some  urine  an  equal  quantity  of  liquor 
potassae  (no  heating),  and  if  pus  is  present  it 
will  become  ropey  and  jelly-like. 

HONOURABLE     MliNTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honour- 
able mention  : — Miss  Grace  Campling,  Miss 
Maude  Cullen,  Miss  V.  James,  Miss  L. 
Xunnerley,  Miss  M.  Eaves,  Miss  A.  Rhind, 
Miss  M.  Dods,  Miss  S..  Simpson,  .Miss  L.  H. 
Buck. 

Miss  Campling  mentions  that  unless  the 
nurse  is  verv  careful,  minute  particles  from  the 
towel  w'ith  which  the  specimen  glass  is  dried 
adhere  to  it  and  cause  inconvenience  to  those 
examining  the  urine.  Also  that  if  soda  is  used 
to  cleanse  the  vessels  containing  the  urine  they 
must  be  thoroughly  rinsed,  otherwise  the  urine 
will  be  rendered  alkaline. 

Miss  M.  Eaves  points  out  the  necessity  for 
allowing   the   urine   to   stand   long   enough    to 


settle  any  deposits,  those  visible  to  the  naked 
eye  being  urates,  mucus,  pus,  uric  acid,  and 
sometimes  blood. 

-Miss  Alice  Rhind  remarks  that  when  the 
urine  is  required  to  be  tested  special  care  must 
be  taken  that  the  vessel  into  which  it  is  passed 
is  scrupulously  clean.  It  should  then  be  trans- 
ferred into  an  equally  clean  glass  of  some 
description ;  the  conical  specimen  glass  is  the 
best,  but,  when  that  is  unobtainable,  a  clean 
jam  pot,  or  even  a  small  flower  vase  is  sure  to 
b(;  at  hand  and  is  quite  satisfactory.  This 
should  have  a  paper  cover  placed  over  the  top, 
and  a  gummed  label  affixed  (stamp  paper  comes 
in  very  useful)  bearing  patient's  name,  number 
of  bed  if  in  a  hospital  ward,  the  date,  and  the 
hour  at  which  the  specimen  was  passed. 

QUESTION     FOR     NEXT     WtEK 

What  are  the  common  sources  of  bacterial 
infection? 

THE    FLORENCE   NIGHTINGALE 
FOUNDATION. 


Miss  Jane  A.  Delano,  R.X.,  Chairman  of  the 
National  Committee  on  the  Red  Cross  Nursing 
Service,  in  the  United  States,  reports  in  the 
American  Journal  of  Nursing  that,  the  Red 
Cross  Societies  of  the  world  have  agreed  to 
raise  a  fund  to  be  known  as  the  Florence 
Nightingale  Foundation.  A  special  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  make  recommenda- 
tions concerning  this  fund,  with  Sir  John 
Furley,  of  the  St.  John  Ambulance  .'\ssoqiation, 
as  chairman.  Miss  Boardman  and  .Miss  Delano 
were  asked  to  serve  on  this  committee.  It 
was  agreed  that  a  medal,  accompanied 
by  a  certificate  on  vellum,  to  be  called  the 
Florence  Nightingale  Medal,  should  be  insti- 
tuted, and  that  six  of  such  medals,  to  be  in- 
creased to  the  number  of  twelve  in  the  event  of 
a  great  war,  should  be  available  annually ;  that 
they  should  be  granted  only  to  trained  nurses 
who  may  have  especially  distinguished  them- 
selves by  great  and  exceptional  devotion  to  the 
sick  and  wounded  in  ■  peace  or  war.  No 
country  may  propose  more  than  one  candi- 
date for  this  medal  annually.  The  final 
award  is  made  by  the  International  Red  Cross 
Committee  at  Geneva.  The  awarding  of  these 
medals  to  nurses  will  be  akin  to  the  bestowal 
of  the  Victoria  Cross  to  British  soldiers  for 
'bravery  in  action,'  and  will  be  the  highest 
honour  which  can  be  paid  to  any  nurse. 

.A  most  fitting  memorial.  May  this  Night- 
ingale Medal  prove  ever  an  incentive  to  a 
higher  and  higher  standard  of  duty  among 
nurses. 


46 


Z\K  asiitisb  3ounial  of  mursino 


July  20,   igi2 


COLOGNE,    1912. 


Sister  Agnes  Karll  will  be  in  Cologne  from 
the  20lh  inst.,  and  all  communications  may  bfe 
sent  to  her  at  Bascler  Hof,  Hermannstrasse 
17-19,  Cologne.  All  vouchers  sent  to  the  Cen- 
tral Office  of  the  X.C.N,  have  been  forwarded 
to  her  at  Berlin,  and  she  writes  that  they  will 
be  most  helpful  in  arranging  tickets,  ribbons, 
badges,  invitations,  &c.,  for  the  forthcoming 
Congress. 

Distinguishing  Badges. 
Sister  Karll  has  arranged  for  the  following 
badges  and  ribbons  to  be  worn,   so  that  the 
nationality  and  societies  of  those  present  at  the 
Congress  can  be  readily  distinguished  : — 

Past  Presidents,  Councillors,  and  Official 
Delegates  I.C.N. — Enamel  Bar  (as  in  1909)  in 
blue  and  silver,  with  white  ribbon  and  blue 
inscription — ll'cltbitnd  der  Krankenpflegerin- 
'nen.  White  brassard,  with  name  of  country 
in  blue,  I.C.N,  in  gold.  Congress  rosette  in 
the  German  colours. 

Members  oj  the  International  Council  of 
Nurses  through  affiliated  National  Associa- 
tions, stick  as  the  National  Council  of  Nurses 
of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  {all  members  of 
the  16  constituent  societies). — White  brassard, 
with  name  of  country  in  blue,  I.C.N,  in  gold. 
Congress  rosette  in  the  German  colours. 

Nurses  who  are  not  members  of  the  I.C.N, 
through  7iational  affiliation. — White  brassard, 
with  name  of  country  in  blue  (omitting  I.C.N, 
in  gold),  and  the  Congress  rosette  in  the 
German  colours. 

Guests  who  are  not  nurses  will  have  the  Con- 
gress rosette  in  the  German  colours. 

Sister  Agnes  Karll  sends  a  long  list  of  the 
names  of  delegates  and  representatives  from 
many  countries  who  have  notified  that  they  will 
attend  the  Congress.  "  Belgium,"  she  writes, 
"  w'ill  send  the  most  fraternal  delegates, 
amongst  them  Dr.  Maurice  Peremans.  He  is 
sent  by  the  authorities  of  Anvers,  and  is  in 
charge  of  the  Stuyvenberg  Hospital — a  teacher 
at  the  nursing  school — his  wife  will  also 
attend."  We  remember  how  charming  were 
the  Belgians  who  came  to  London  in  1909, 
amongst  them  Madame  la  Comtesse  Jean  de 
Merode,  Mademoiselle  la  Comtesse  Albertine 
de  Villegas  de  Saint  Pierre,  and  Dr.  Van 
Swietan,  and  it  is  delightful  to  think  we  are 
to  meet  them  all  again. 


Professor  Von  Pirquet,  from  the  University 
Children's  Clinic  in  Vienna,  is  sending  the 
Charge  Nurse,  Sister  Hedwig'  Brezina,  and 
her  Assistant,  Sister  Poldi  Vogt.  In  accept- 
ing Sister  Karll's  invitation,  the  eminent  Pro- 
fessor informs  her  how  very  happy  he  is  to  do 
so,  and  he  thinks  it  "very  precious  that  his 
nurses  may  work  hand  in  hand  with  us,  and 
get  our  advice  in  all  the  important  nursing 
questions.  I  hope,"  adds  Sister  Karll,  "  this 
mav  mean  a  new  era  in  .'\ustrian  nursing." 


Miss  J.  C.  Win  Lanschot  Hubrecht  has  been 
elected  President  of  Nosokomos  (the  Dutch 
Nurses"    Association).      Congratulations  ! 


Miss  A.  Nutting,  Teachers'  College ;  Miss 
Anna  Maxwell,  Presbyterian  Hospital,  New 
York ;  Miss  Helen  Kelly,  County  Hospital, 
Wanwatosa,  Wisconsin,  are  three  of  the 
official  delegates  who  are  to  represent  the 
American  Nurses'  Association.  Owing  to  ill- 
ness we  fear  the  newly  elected  President,  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Sly,  will  be  unable  to  attend.  Miss 
L.  L.  Dock  is  now  in  Europe. 


Next  week  we  hope  to  publish  a  preliminary 
list  of  names  of  the  delegates  and  fraternal 
delegates  who  will  attend  the  Congress. 


The  best  news  of  all  is  that  at  last  we  shall 
have  fraternal  delegates  from  Austria,  as  little 
organization  has  been  possible  there  at  present. 


Miss  Mollett  has  extended  her  party  to  56, 
but  not  another  application  can  she  now  enter- 
tain. The  party  leaves  Charing  Cross  Station 
at  9  a.m.  on  Saturday,  August  3rd,  and  arrives 
late  at  night  at  Cologne.  Rooms  have  been 
secured  in  three  of  the  best  hotels — the  Disch, 
the  Nord,  and  the  Metropole.  Members  of  the 
party  have  been  invited  to  sup  at  2,  Portland 
Place  on  the  previous  evening,  Friday,  2nd,  by 
Mrs.  Walter  Spencer — a  delightful  way  of  be- 
coming known  to  one  another ;  and  Miss 
Mollett  invites  all  her  flock  to  be  at  the  station 
soon  after  8  a.m.,  so  that  there  will  be  no  hurry 
in  starting. 

Other  parties  and  individuals  are  going 
direct  from  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland  by 
the  most  convenient  routes.  Altogether  we 
hope  to  muster  100  matrons  and  nurses,  and  a 
few  of  their  friends. 

The  President  of  the  National  Council  of 
Nurses,  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  hopes  that 
matrons  and  nurses  attending  the  Congress 
will  wqar  the  Orders  and  distinguishing 
Badges  conferred  upon  them,  and  that  the 
Banners  of  the  associate  societies  will  be  borne 
in  the  Historic  Procession  at  the  Pageant  on 
August  4th  in  the  Gurzenich. 


July  20,    1912 


ai)e  aenttsij  sournai  of  iRursing. 


47 


REGISTRATION   AND   RECIPROCITY. 


There  arc  not  wanting-  signs  that  before 
long  our  great  Dominions — Australasia,  South 
Africa,  New  Zealand,  and  Canada — will  de- 
mand from  home  reciprocity  of  Registration 
for  nurses,  and  it  will  no  doubt  be  the  outside 
pressure  of  these  free  people  w  hich  will  compel 
our  reactionary  legislators  at  home  to  grant 
both  citizenship  and  legal  status  to  trained 
nurses.  We  have  been  reminded  of  this  demand 
upon  various  occasions  recently  in  conversing 
with  matrons  from  overseas  Dominions  on  their 
wav  to  the  Congress  at  Cologne,  all  of  whom 
complain  of  the  inferior  nurses  who  emigrate 
in  search  of  work,  and  who  expect,  upon  the 
production  of  untested  certificates  of  training, 
to  be  immediately  included  in  the  registered 
class  of  nurse  abroad.  Colonial  nurses  are  be- 
ginning to  realise  how  unfair  is  tliis  system  and 
to  protest  against  it. 

In  this  connection  The  Lady,  July  nth,  has 
a  most  enlightening  article  on  "  English  Nurses 
and  Canada,"  signed  Lally  Bernard.  The 
writer  criticises  a  statement  which  recently  ap- 
peared in  that  paper  "  that  doctors  simply  will 
not  employ  English  nurses  if  they  can  get 
Canadians."  "My  own  experience,"  she 
writes,  "  of  hospitals  and  illness  in  British 
Columbia^and  it  has,  unhappily,  been  an  ex- 
tensive one — is  that  there  is  a  fair  proportion 
of  women  born  in  the  United  Kingdom  as  com- 
pared with  Canadian-born  probationers  and 
nurses.  Canadians  are  usually  preferred  in 
surgical  cases,  as  their  training  includes  the 
dressing  of  such  cases,  which  in  this  country 
is  generally  the  work  of  the  hospital  doctors  or 
the  students.  This  may  give  some  colour  to  the 
statement.  But  as  far  as  I  can  ascertain — and 
I  have  looked  into  the  question  with  some  in- 
terest— the  real  difficulty  is  that  so  many  women 
arrive  in  Western  Canada  without  letters  of 
introduction  of  any  sort,  and  are  apparently  so 
unused  to  the  general  mode  of  life  in  this  half- 
developed  part  of  the  Empire  that  doctors  are 
inclined  to  give  a  preference  to  Canadian 
nurses,  who,  naturally,  are  more  adaptable  and 
ready  to  '  fit  into  '  Canadian  households." 
Registration  Long  Desired. 

"  When  the  long-desired  registration  of 
nurses  is  brought  about,  the  difficulties  which 
now  beset  the  English  hospital  nurse  in  Canada 
will  be  greatly  alleviated.  There  have  been 
many  cases  where  so-called  '  trained  nurses  ' 
came  out  to  Canada,  and  in  consequence  of  their 
obvious  lack  of  knowledge  and  their  exlremelv 
vague  credentials  have  brought  discredit  upon 
•*he  profession.     In  British  Columbia  there  is  a 


steady  agitation  to  procure  registration,  and 
until  there  is  a  definite  organisation  in  England 
which  will  prevent  misappropriation  of  nursing 
certificates  and  allow  rapid  means  of  identifica- 
tion, British  nurses  must  be  at  a  great  disad- 
vantage. But  I  would  like  to  testify  that  where 
a  trained  English  nurse  is  good,  she  is  not  only 
appreciated  by  doctors  and  hospital  authorities 
and  patients,  but  by  the  Canadian  nurses.  .  .  . 
Registration  is  a  crying  need  both  here  and  in 
Canada,  and  the  sooner  it  is  brought  about  the 
belter  it  will  be  for  both  patients  and  nurses 
within  the  British  Empire." 

During  the  past  fortnight  State  Registration 
has  been  briskly  discussed  in  the  "  Woman's 
Platform  "  of  the  Standard  and  in  the  Glasgow 
Herald,  and  we  feel  sure  Miss  Breav's  lucid 
contributions  to  it  will  be  very  useful  to  the 
public.  Of  course,  Mr.  Holland,  protagonist 
in  chief  of  "  anti's,"  trotted  out  his  time- 
worn  and  very  threadbare  arguments  against 
a  principle  which  has  been  accepted  by  nurse 
educationalists  all  over  the  world  where  high 
standards  of  women's  work  and  nursing  are 
extant.  The  reason  why  we  are  denied  legal 
status  in  this  country  is  because  men  hold  in 
contempt  the  work  we  are  doing  in  aid  of  the 
community  and  for  the  sick.  Every  day  we 
read  of  their  eulogistic  speeches  concerning  the 
"  skilled  "  work  of  the  semi-trained,  and  every 
day  our  trained  "  skill  "  is  utilised  throughout 
the  hospital  world,  by  hospital  governors  and 
Government  Departments.  But  ask  for  a  quid 
pro  quo,  and  what  is  the  reply?  A  confession 
of  supreme  ignorance  upon  the  part^of  our 
Ministers  concerning  the  insistent  demands 
f>f  trained  nurses  concerning  their  own  affairs. 
Trained  nurses  have  no  votes;  as  a  factor  in 
practical  politics  they  do  not  exist.  This  is  the 
fact  of  the  case  in  a  nutshell  ! 


NURSES'    SOCIAL   UNION. 

On  July  nth  a  garden  party  was  held  at 
.'\uhrey  House,  Kensington,  by  invitation  of 
Miss  Alexander,  when  about  80  members  of 
the  Nurses'  Social  Union  met  in  the  lovely  old 
garden  and  afterwards  watched  the  old  English 
folk  dances,  which  were  performed  on  the  lawn 
and  gave  much  pleasure. 

On  July  6th  three  carriages  met  a  number 
of  London  nurses  at  Richmond  Station  and 
took  them  for  a  drive  through  the  Park.  After 
tea  at  Miss  Murray's  house  a  Committee  was 
formed  and  a  Secretary  appointed  for  the 
Richmond  Branch.  Another  South  London 
Branch  is  in  process  of  formation. 


<Ibc  Britisb  Journal  of  IRursing. 


Jjily   20,    1 91 2 


AN  APPROVED   SOCIETY    FOR 
TRAINED   NURSES. 

We  have  pleasure  in  announcing  tliat  the 
Trained  Women  Nurses'  Friendly  Society  has 
been  approved  by  the  National  Insurance  Com- 
mission ;  thus  a  Society  for  trained,  profes- 
sional women  nurses  can  now  be  organized, 
which  'it  is  hoped  may  in  the  future  provide 
special  benefits  to  meet  the  special  require- 
ments of  trained  nurses. 

This  Society  will  have  the  one  great  advan- 
tage that  it  will  maintain  and  guard  the 
privacy,  as  far  as  possible,  of  all  matters  con- 
cerning the  health  and  family  history  of  the 
nurses  who  become  members,  as  such  matters 
will  come  before  and  be  discussed  only  by  the 
Committee  of  Management  to  be  elected  by  the 
members  themselves  at  a  meeting  convened  for 
Saturday,  July  27th,  at  5  p.m.,  at  the  Medical 
Society's  Rooms,  11,  Chandos  Street,  Caven- 
"tiish  Square,  London,  W.  Cards  are  being 
sent  out  daily  from  the  office  to  those  nurses 
who  have  applied  to  become  members  of  the 
Society.  All  information  can  be  obtained  from 
the  Hon.  Secretary,  T.W.N.F.S.,  431,  Oxford 
Street,  London,  W. 


THE   NURSES'    MISSIONARY    LEAGUE. 

A  very  delightful  afternoon  was  spent  by 
some  250  nurses  on  Tuesday,  at  the  Garden 
Party  kindly  given  by  the  Bishop  of  London 
to  members  of  the  Nurses'  Missionary  League 
and  their  friends.  Those  present  represented 
practically  every  large  hospital  in  London, 
while  some  came  from  missionary  training 
homes  and  hope  to  start  shortly  for  the  mission 
field,  and  others  were  home  on  furlough  from 
Africa,  India,  and  Syria.  The  beautiful  gar- 
dens of  Fulham  Palace,  with  their  spacious 
lawns  and  the  cool  shade  of  the  trees,  were 
thoroughly  enjoyed,  the  afternoon  being  excep- 
tionally sunny  and  fine.  After  tea,  and  seeing 
over  the  gardens,  the  party  assembled  for  the 
addresses.  The  Bishop  of  London  was,  un- 
fortunately, prevented  by  loss  of  voice  from 
making  a  long  speech,  but  he  most  cordiallv 
welcomed  all  present  as  nurses,  and  especialh- 
as  nurses  connected  in  some  way  with  mis- 
sionary work.  He  dwelt  upon  the  wonderful 
work  of  medical  missions  which  he  had  seen 
on  his  recent  tour  in  Egypt  and  the  Near  East, 
and  referred  to  the  tremendous  influence  which 
is  exerted  by  missionary  nurses  in  all  lands. 

An  address  was  then  given  by  Dr.  Arthur 
Lankester,  of  Peshawar,  N.  India,  who  de- 
scribed his  work  in  that  station,  which  stands 
at  the  entrance  to  the  Khyber  Pass,  on  the  wav 
to  the  great  land  of  Afghanistan,  which  is  stiil 


closed  to  missionary  work.  He  especially 
showed  how  medical  work  acts  as  a  pioneer 
agency,  finding  a  way  where  no  other  mis- 
sionaries can  go ;  and  he  emphasised  the  great 
need  for  more  nurses.  In  his  own  hospital  ot 
100  beds  there  is  now  no  European  nurse,  while 
nurses  are  urgently  needed  in  other  stations, 
and  especially  at  Nasik  and  Anand,  both  in 
West  India. 


WEDDING    BELLS. 


The  forthcoming  marriage,  to  take  place  next 
month,  is  annoimced  of  Miss  Mackenzie,  Matron 
of  the  Dunedin  Hospital,  New  Zealand,  and  the 
Re\'.  Mr.  Balfour,  minister  of  the  First  Church 
in  Dunedin,  one  of  the  leading  clergynaen  in  the 
Dominion,  and  a  cousin  of  the  late  Robert  Louis 
Ste\'enson.  Miss  Mackenzie  has  only  held  her 
post  for  a  year,  as  it  will  be  remembered  she  was 
selected,  after  training  and  experience  at  the 
Western  Infirmary,  Glasgow,  and  entered  upon 
her  duties  last  July.  From  New  Zealand  comes 
the  expression  of  opinion  that  "  Mr.  Balfour  has 
made  a  \'ery  wise  choice,  but  New  Zealand  loses- 
a  very  good  Matron."  In  wishing  Miss  Mackenzie 
a  very  happy  future,  we  feel  sure  her  professional 
knowledge  will  be  turned  to  useful  account  in 
the  country  of  her  adoption,  perhaps  in  a  wider 
sphere  than  within  hospital  walls. 

NORTHERN  POOR  LAW  CONFERENCE. 


NURSING    IN    THE    LARUER    WORKHOUSES. 

The  most  important  subject  discussed  at  the 
Northern  Poor  Law  Conference,  held  last  week 
at  Tyncmouth,  was  brought  forward  by  Dr. 
Whillis,  of  Newcastle,  on  the  training  of  Poor 
Law  nurses  and  the  need  for  standardisation  of 
examinations. 

Dr.  Whillis  said  it  was  most  important  that 
vacancies  for  probationer  nurses  should  be  filled 
by  the  most  suitable  candidates.  Outside 
'  influence  on  behalf  of  certain  candidates  was 
very  often  a  source  of  danger,  and  he  regretted 
to  say,  from  personal  experience,  that  the  filling 
of  appointments  by  influence  and  not  fitness 
was  the  cause  of  many  failures  amongst  the 
nurses,  and  caused  a  great  deal  of  anxiety  to 
superior  officers. 

All  appointments  of  sisters  and  charge  nurses 
should  be  made  by  Boards  of  Guardians  under 
the  guidance  of  the  medical  superintendent  and 
hospital  matron,  or  medical  officers  and  super- 
intendent nurses.  He  was  convinced,  however, 
that  a  better  selection  of  probationer  nurses 
wou'ld  be  made  by  the  medical  officer  and 
matron,  or  superintendent  nurse,  as  they  alone 
knew  the  details  of  the  work  and  what  was 
expected  ;  and  as  they  were  responsible  for  the 
training  of  such  probationers,  fitness  alone  would 
count. 

The  training  for  nurses  was  of  the  greatest 
importance,  and  a  great  responsibility  rested 
upon  those  entrusted  with  their  welfare. 


July   20,    191: 


Zfic  Britisb  3ournal  of  IMurslng. 


49 


An  Examining  Board  and  Standard 
Examination. 

As  examinations  for  nurses  vary  in  the  different 
training  schools,  certificates  of  training  must 
necessarily  vary  in  importance.  He  suggested 
that  the  various  unions  in  the  district  should 
combine  to  form  an  examining  board,  consisting 
of  medical  superintendents,  infirmary  matrons, 
and  other  persons  qualified  in  medicine  and 
nursing,  and  that  a  probationer  should  be 
required  to  pass  the  examinations  decided  upon 
by  tl'.e  board.  A  standard  examination  would 
ensure  an  efficient  course  of  training  by  acting 
as  a  stimulus  to  lecturers  and  pupils  alike. 

The  question  of  staffing  the  smaller  union 
hospitals  was  one  that  could  be  well  considered  if 
an  examination  board  were  organised.  It  would 
be  quite  possible  for  such  a  board  to  take  into 
consideration  the  question  of  some  interchange 
between  the  larger  and  smaller  unions.  A  smaller 
union  might  have  its  probationers  transferred 
to  the  larger  imions  to  complete  their  training,  and 
thus  obtain  their  certificates.  Well-equipped  and 
well  staffed  union  hospitals  offered  opportunities 
for  training  second  to  no  other  hospitals. 

Defrauding  the  Public. 
The  public,  the  doctor  said,  knew  a  nurse  only 
by  her  uniform,  and  were  not  sufiiciently  "  in  the 
know "  to  be  able  to  distinguish  between  the 
trained  and  untrained.  The  public  in  a  great 
measure  were  being  defrauded,  and  the  smaller 
unions,  that  appointed  probationers  without 
being  in  a  position  to  give  them  a  sufficient 
training,  were  aiding  in  the  deception  of  the  public 
by  turning  out  untrained  nurses 

Resolution. 

Mr.  J.  W.  Coulson,  Clerk  to  the  South  Shields 
Guardians,  moved  a  resolution  expressing  general 
approval  of  Dr.  WTiiilis's  proposals,  and  in^^ting 
the  Newcastle  Board  to  convene  a  conference  of 
representatives  of  those  Boards  in  the  district 
which  arc  now  training  probationers,  for  the 
purpose  of  gi\Tng  furtlier  consideration  to  the 
subject,  and  formulating  a  definite  scheme. 

The  motion  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Hoey,  Chair- 
man of  the  Sunderland  Guardians. 

In  discussing  the  resolution,  in  wliich  many 
took  part,  Mr.  C.  H.  Leach,  Darhngton,  said  it  was 
quite  obvious  tliat  some  probationer  nurses  had 
not  had  a  sufficiently  good  elementary  education 
to  enter  upon  the  work  at  all,  and  that  iu  mariy 
cases  the  deciding  factor  was  not  educational 
fitness,  but  whether  the  applicant  knew  a 
Guardian  or  could  bring  influence  to  bear  upon 
the   Guardians. 

If  a  higher  quaUty  of  officer  were  required — 
and  probably  in  no  department  was  it  needed 
more  than  in  nursing — it  would  have  to  be  paid 
for,  and  the  expenditure  would  be  justified.  The 
sick  poor  could  not  be  left  in  the  hands  of  persons 
,who  were  ill-equipped  for  the  duties  which  they 
had  undertaken. 


He  wished  that  the  Local  Government  Board 
would  absolutely  prohibit  certain  unions  from 
training  nurses.  Probationers  should  only  be 
engaged  in  hospitals  where  there  was  a  residential 
medical  officer.  He  had  a  great  deal  to  do,  he 
said,  with  inducing  the  Darlington  Guardians  to 
abandon  the  training  of  probationers,  on  the  ground 
that  it  was  not  fair  either  to  the  girls  or  to  the 
public  that  training  should  be  undertaken  with 
the  equipment  at  their  disposal. 

In  some  cases,  after  completing  their  pro- 
bationary service  nurses  had  had  to  go  into  a 
larger  infirmarj'  to  quahfj',  and  the  superintendent 
nurse  in  their  new  place  did  not  think  any  the  better 
of  them  because  of  their  training  at  Darlington. 

Mr.  J.  Davidson,  chairman,  and  Mr.  Walker, 
clerk  to  the  Newcastle  Guardians,  expressed 
\villingness  to  assist  the  proposed  conference  ; 
and  Xlr.  Coulson's  resolution  was  unanimously 
adopted. 


Everj'  effort  made  to  secure  a  central  standard 
examination  is  useful,  but  we  have  always 
deprecated  the  classification  of  Poor  Law  Nurses 
as  calculated  to  depreciate  their  status  in  the 
nursing  profession  as  a  whole. 

The  real  remedy  for  the  present  chaotic  educa- 
tional standards  is  the  establishment  by  Act  of 
Parliament  of  a  Central  Examining  and  Disciplin- 
ary Authority  to  organise  the  nursing  profession 
as  a  whole.  We  want  a  minimum  theoretical  and 
practical  standard  of  training  for  all  nurses,  a 
central  examination,  and  one  portal  to  the  nursing 
profession.  Above  this  standard  many  might 
add  to  their  qualifications,  but  \vithout  giving 
evidence  of  this  safe  minimum  of  knowledge  and 
skill  no  nurse  should  be  granted  the  title  of 
Registered  Nurse.  '  ^ 


KING'S   NURSES    IN    SOUTH   AFRICA. 


In  answer  to  questions  and  criticisms  addressed 
to  the  Committee  of  the  King  Edward  VII  .Memorial 
Scheme  for  the  establishment  of  King's  Nurses  in 
South  Africa,  it  has  supplied  the  Press  with  the 
following  jjarticulars  regarding  the  project.  In 
passing,  we  repeat  that  it  is  much  to  be  regretted 
that  no  trained  nurse  with  expert  experience 
has  been  given  a  seat  on  the  Committee,  especiallv 
as  a  medical  man  has  been  nominated  by  the 
committee  of  the  Medical  Congress  to  represent 
the  medical  faculty.  It  is  stated  that  the 
committee  is  now  engaged  in  working  out  details 
in  consultation  with  a\-ailable  experts  in  the 
medical  and   nursing    professions. 

The  Proposals. 
The  general  proposals  are  threefold  : — 
(i)  The  establishment  of  nursing  centres  where 
most  required  in  the  four  ProWnces  of  the  Union. 
By  the  end  of  the  year  the  committee  hope  to 
start  a  centre  of  not  less  than  three  nurses  in  each 
Province.  The  nurses  will  work  under  the  rules  and 
regulations    of    the    order    as    approved    by    the 


Cbe  3Bvit(sb  3ournal  of  murstno. 


July   20,    igi: 


medical  profession  and  nursing  authorities.  It  is 
intended  to  make  the  scheme  and  its  working 
thoroughly  South  African.  As  far  as  possible  the 
King's  nurses  should  have  full  experience  of  South 
African  conditions,  especially  in  district  nursing. 
They  must  be  thoroughly  trained  in  hospital 
work.  A  nurse  cannot  be  accepted  for  responsible 
duties  unless  she  has  reached  the  standard 
requisite  for  registration  in  any  part  of  the  Union. 
In  the  choice  of  centres  every  care  will  be  taken 
to  avoid  any  competition  or  conflict  with  existing 
nursing  associations  and  the  work  of  their  nursing 
staff.  The  Provincial  committees  which  are  now 
being  organised,  and,  in  fact,  are  in  existence,  will 
be  consulted  on  the  selection  of  localities  for  centres. 
,(2)  To  make  provision  for  the  services  of  a  King's 
nurse  in  districts  out  of  reach  of  the  centres  and 
of  existing  nursing  associations  when  the  local 
authority  expresses  a  desire  for  her  servHces,  and 
upon  terms  to  be  agreed  upon  according  to  the 
needs  and  circumstances  of  the  locality.  Expe- 
rience shows  that,  in  the  absence  of  widespread 
and  effective  organisation,  a  single  nurse  in  many 
districts  is  not  able  to  earn  her  living,  and,  though 
her  services  are  frequently  and  urgently  required, 
she  has  to  leave.  The  committee  hope  to  remedy 
this  serious  drawback. 

(3)  The  provision  of  nurses  for  the  needs  of 
the  native  and  coloured  population.  These  needs 
are  held  to  be  distinct  froni  those  of  Europeans, 
and  consequently  the  contributions  of  the  natives 
and  coloured  people  will  be  devoted  to  the  training 
of  native  and  coloured  nurses  at  Lovedale  or 
similar  institutions.  Organisation,  as  well  as  funds, 
will  be  held  distinct. 

The  executive  committee  are  fully  aware  of 
possible  dangers  in  certain  districts  to  nurses  if 
unaccompanied,  and  of  the  difficulties  and  cost 
arising  from  long  cross-country  distances.  Every 
precaution  will  be  taken,  based  on  the  experience 
of  the  nursing  institutions  at  Kimberley,  Capetown, 
and  elsewhere,  to  guard  effectually  against  danger. 

The  proposals  appear  fairly  reasonable,  but 
when  the  committee  adds  that  at  present  the 
general  plan  is  based  on  the  lines  already  adopted 
in  the  workingorganisations  in  the  United  Kingdom, 
Canada,  Australia  and  India,  and  approved  by  the 
medical  and  nursing  professions  in  these  countries, 
they  should  omit  the  United  Kingdom,  because 
for  a  vast  number  of  district  nurses — who  are  not 
Queen's  Nurses — the  standard  of  education  and 
remuneration  is  so  low — the  profession  of  nursing 
at  large,  which  has  no  legal  status,  is  never  con- 
sulted about  it — and  strongly  deprecates  its 
insufiiciencv.  By  the  aid  of  State  Registration 
of  nurses  in  the  South  African  States — a  one 
portal  system  can  be  easily  agreed  upon — and  the 
interests  of  trained  nurses  and  in  conseqiience 
those  of  the  sick,  can  be  wisely  protected.  We  are 
pleased  to  note  that  the  registration  standards 
at  present  in  force  in  the  Union  are  to  be  main- 
tained as  a  minimum.  To  be  fair  to  South  African 
nurses — those  nurses  wishing  to  be  King's 
Nurses  emigrating  from  hon;e  must  be  subjected 
to  the  same  examination  tests. 


NURSHS    AND    THE    NATIONAL 
INSURANCE  ACT, 


There  seems  still  to  be  great  confusion  in 
connection  with  the  carrying-  out  of  the  pro- 
visions of  the  National  Insurance  Act.  In 
reply  to  a  question  by  Mr.  Aubrey  Herbert  in 
the  House  of  Commons,  as  to  whether  district 
nursing  would  come  under  the  heading  of 
sickness  benefit,  medical  benefit,  or  whether  it 
would  be  considered  an  additional  benefit,  Mr. 
Masterman  replied  that  the  Commissioners 
had  not  yet  prescribed  on  which  specific  benefit 
or  benefits  any  grants  made  by  approved 
societies  or  Insurance  Committees  should  be 
treated  as  having  been  expended. 

As  to  the  condition  of  the  grants,  Mr. 
Masterman  said  that  under  Section  21  it  was 
lawful  for  an  approved  society  or  Insurance 
Committee  to  grant  subscriptions  or  donations 
in  support  of  district  nurses.  It  was  not  pos- 
sible at  present  to  make  any  statement  as  to 
what  use  thev  would  make  of  this  power. 


Miss  C.  C.  du  Sautoy,  County  Superin- 
tendent of  Nurses  for  Somerset,  has  been 
appointed  on  to  the  County  Insurance  Com- 
mittee.   •    ♦    ' 

PRIZES     FOR     NURSES. 

The  following  prizes  have  been  awarded  to  the 
nurses  by  the  chairman  of  the  Board  of  the  Jessop 
Hospital  for  Women,  Sheffield  : — Probationer 
Jessie  Lynam,  first  prize  senior  division  ;  Pro- 
bationer Beatrice  Clark,  second  prize  senior 
division  ;  Probationer  Effie  Carr,  first  prize  junior 
division. 

ROYAL     HONOURS     FOR     SERVICES 
AT     MESSINA. 

Nurse  Gerrie,  who  rendered  important  services 
at  Messina  during  the  earthquake  disaster  which 
took  place  on  December  28th,  1908,  has  been 
made  the  recipient  of  various  medals  and  diplomas 
in  recognition  of  her  work  on  that  occasion.  She 
has  been  in  America  for  rather  more  than  a  year, 
and  has  recently  been  to  her  home-  in  Aberdeen 
on  a  brief  holiday,  where  these  medals  have  been 
forwarded  to  her  on  her  arrival  from  Chicago. 
Two  medals  have  been  given  to  her  from  the  King 
of  Italy — one  accompanied  by  a  diploma  and 
presented  by  the  Italian  Minister  of  Foreign 
Affairs,  and  the  second  a  commemorative  medal 
which,  to  transcribe  the  text  of  the  message, 
"  His  Majesty  the  King  of  Italy  has  been  graciously 
pleased  to  confer  upon  you-  in  recognition  of 
services'  rendered  to  the  victims  of  the  earthquake 
in  Southern  Italy  of  December  28th,  1908."  The 
third  medal,  which  is  also  accompanied  by  a 
diploma,  is  from  the  Red  Cross  Society  of  Italv; 
and  is  presented  in  recognition  of  her  noble 
services  to  the  suffering  during  that  catastrophe 


July  20,    igi2 


Gbe  British  3ournal  of  IRursincj. 


APPOINTMENTS. 


MATRON. 

Stamford,  Rutland  and  General  In(irmar)',  Lin- 
colnshire.— Miss  Kuth  Jones  has  been  appointed 
Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  General  Ho.-pita', 
Birmingham,  where  she  held  the  position  of  Charge 
Nurse.  She  has  also  been  Night  Superintendent 
at  ihe  Children's  Hospital,  ISrighton,  Theatre 
Sister  at  the  Stroud  General  Hospital,  Sister  an(i 
Home  and  Housekeeping  Sister  at  the  Infirmary 
for  Children,  Liverpool,  and  Matron  of  the  Erith 
Cottage  Hospital,  Kent.  / 

The  Infectious  Hospital.  Tanfield,  —  Miss 
Margaret  L.  Campbell  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Greenock  Iniirmarj-,  and 
has  had  experience  in  private  nursing. 

The  Cottage  Hospital,  Carnarvon. — Miss  Phoebe 
Jones  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Royal  Infirmarj-,  Liverpool,  and 
has  had  exp)erience  in  infectious  nursing  at  the 
Gro\e  Hospital,   Tooting,   S.W. 

I  rechin  Infirmary. — Miss  E.  J.  Milne  has  been 
appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Royal 
Infirmary,  Glasgow,  and  the  Belvidere  Fever 
Hospital,  in  the  same  city,  and  has  also  had 
experience  in  private  nursing. 

ASSISTANT    MATRON. 

Edinburgh  District  Asylum,  Bangour  Village, 
West  Lothian. — Miss  J.  T.  Muir  has  been  appointed 
.\ssistant  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Royal 
Alexandra  Infirmary,  Paisley,  and  the  Belvidere 
Fever  Hospital,  Glasgow,  and  has  worked  as  a 
Queen's  Nurse  in  connection  with  the  Higgin- 
botham  Home,  Glasgow,  and  as  Day  and  Night 
Sister  at  the  Manchester  Royal  Eye  Hospital. 

SISTER. 

Montgomery       County       lnflrmar>',       Newtown.  — 

Miss  Ada  Golding  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She 
was  trained  at  the  General  Hospital,  Cheltenham, 
and  has  been  Sister  in  the  children's  and  private 
wards  at  the  Royal  Albert  Hospital  and  Eye 
Infirmary,  Devonport,  and  Theatre  and  Night 
Sister  at  the  General  Hospital,   Cheltenham. 

HEALTH     VISITOR. 

Croydon  Rural  District. — .Miss  Daisy  Crawford 
has  been  appointed  Health  Visitor.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Bermondsey  Infirmary  and  has  held 
the  position  of  Sister  at  the  North  Western 
Hospital,  Hampstead,  and  the  West  Ham  In- 
firmary-, Whipps  Cross,  Le>-tonstone.  She  holds  the 
certificate  of  the  Ro\-aI  Sanitary  Institute. 

QUEEN     ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL     MILITARY 
NURSING     SERVICE. 

Staff  Nurse  Miss  Mabel  L.  Cutfield  resigns  her 
appointment  (July  12th). 

QUEEN    VICTORIA'S    JUBILEE    INSTITUTE. 

Tr.\nsfers  and   ApI'OINT.ME.NTS. 
Miss   Bertha    Bennett    is    appointed    to    Gains- 
borough ;    Miss  Annie  Browne  to  Taunton  ;   ^liss 
Lydia  Parnell  to  Andover  ;   Miss  Margaret  Webber 
to  Bushey.  * 


RESIGNATIONS. 

The  resignation  of  Miss  Cameron,  who  has  been 
Secretary  of  the  Scottish  Branch  of  Queen 
Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute  for  Nurses  for  the  past 
ten  years,  is  felt  to  be  an  irreparable  loss  by  all 
those  who  have  been  associated  with  her  and 
realise  how  much  her  devotion  has  contributed 
to  the  success  of  district  nursing  in  Scotland. 
.Miss  Cameron  was  on  Friday,  July  12th,  presented 
with  a  handsome  bureau  and  despatch  case  from 
the  Scottish  Superintendents  and  the  Queen's 
Nurses,  and  expressed  her  greit  appreciation  of 
the  gifts  and  the  kindness  which  prompted  them. 

The  resignation  has  just  been  intimated  to  the 
managers  of  the  Aberdeen  Dispensary  of  Miss 
Lambert,  who  has  been  matron  of  that  institution 
for  a  number  of  years  past.  Miss  Lambert,  who 
is  a  native  of  Newcastle,  has  been  for  o\-er  fourteen 
years  in  Aberdeen,  and  is  well-known  among  the 
poor  people  of  the  city.  Previous  to  being 
appointed  Matron  of  the  .\berdeen  Dispensary, 
she  was  for  four  years  in  the  operation  department 
of  that  institution.  Her  kindly  manner,  and  her 
careful  attention  to  duty  at  all  times  have  been 
recognised  by  all  classes,  and  her  departure  will 
be  much'regretted,  especially  by  the  poor  of  the 
city. 


PRESENTATIONS. 

Miss  Broomhead,  of  Morley,  Leeds,  who  is 
retiring  from  parish  nursing  work,  was  recently 
presented  with  a  purse  containing  £9,  besides 
recei\ing  other  gifts,  from  parishioners  and  friends. 
Mrs.  GUes  Edmonds  kindly  gave  tea  to  the  sub- 
scribers at  Houghton  House,  after  which  this 
token  of  appreciation  was  presented  by  Mrs. 
Johnson,  on  behalf  of  the  donors.  Miss  Broom- 
head  expressed  her-  grateful  thanks  for  the  gifts, 
and  her  regret  at  se\-ering  her  connection  with 
her  old  friends.  All  good  wishes  follow  her  for 
her  future  welfare.  Mr.  F.  Stayt  also  showed  his 
interest  by  skilfully  illuminating  a  large  card  with 
the  list  of  donors,  suitably  framed,  which  accom- 
panied the  gift. 


Miss  OUve  Golding,  who  for  over  two  years  has 
been  parish  nurse  in  the  parish  of  St.  Mary  Red- 
chfi,  Bristol,  and  who  has  resigned  the  position 
on  account  of  her  approaching  marriage  with  the 
Rev.  S.  Elder,  of  the  Clerkenwell  Parish  Church, 
London,  has  been  presented  by  the  Vicar,  the 
Rev.  J.  N.  Bateman  Champain,  on  behalf  of  the 
subscribers  at  a  large  gathering,  w-ith  a  handsome 
leather  dressing-case.  In  expressing  his  regret 
that  the  parish  would  lose  so  capable  and  devoted 
a  nurse,  the  \'icar  said  he  was  glad  that,  in  her 
married  life,  she  would  be  brought  into  contact 
with  a  great  many  people  amongst  whom  she 
could  continue  her  good  work. 

The  Rev.  J.  F.  C.  Southam  said  that  \Uss 
Golding  had  paid  over  200  visits  weeklj-,  and 
when  large  numbers  had  been  stricken  with 
sickness  she  had  worked  heroically. 


abe  Britisb  3ournal  of  flurstna 


July  20,    igi2 


NURSING    FXHOES. 

By  the  invitation  of  Queen  Alexandra,  the 
annual  g-athering  of  Her  Majesty's  Auxiliary 
Committee  of  the  Queen  \'ictoria  Jubilee 
Institute  was  held  at  Marlborough  House  on 
Monday  at  4.30.  After  the  report  for  the  year 
had  been  read  by  Lady  Minto,  Queen 
Alexandra  addressed  a  welcome  to  the  mem- 
bers of  her  Committee,  thanked  them  for  their 
efforts  during  the  year,  congratulated  them  on 
keeping  up  their  numbers  and  their  organiza- 
tion, and  expressed  her  appreciation  of  the 
work  of  the  nurses  which  the  Committee 
existed  to  encourage.  In  conclusion,  she  asked 
the  members  of  the  Committee  to  take  tea  with 
her  in  the  gardens. 


The  Lord  Chancellor  and  Miss  Haldane  are 

"At   Home"    on   Thursday,    July    25th,    "to 

-meet    the    Matrons    of    the    Territorial    Force 

Xursing  Service  "  at  28,  Queen  .Anne's  Gate, 

S.W.  ^ 

-An  appeal  is  being  made  in  behalf  of  the 
work  now  being  done  by  Lady  Minto's  Indian 
Nursing  Association  in  providing  European 
trained  nurses  for  our  fellow-country  men  and 
women  in  Northern  India  and  Burma.  In  igo6 
only  two  small  associations  with  12  nurses 
existed — namely,  in  the  Punjab  and  "  Up 
Country,"  but  other  parts  of  Northern  India 
were  entirely  without  suitable  nurses.  There 
are  now  eight  centres  in  the  Punjab,  United 
Provinces,  Eastern  Bengal  and  Assam,  Raj- 
putana.  Central  Provinces,  Baluchistan, 
Burma,  and  Bengal,  with  five  lady  superinten- 
dents and  54  nurses.  The  scale  of  fees  for  the 
service  of  nurses  is  arranged  according  to 
income,  so  that  they  are  within  the  reach  of  all 
at  moderate  charges.  The  expansion  of  the 
work  is  necessitating  large  expenditure, 
especially  at  the  present  time,  as  many  of  the 
nurses  are  completing  their  term  of  Indian 
service  (five  years)  and  are  entitled  to  passages 
home,  while  others  have  to  be  sent  out  to  take 
their  place.  The  treasurer  is  Colonel  Sir 
William  Bisset,  of  91,  York  Street,  West- 
minster. 


The  recent  opening  of  the  Cottage  Hospital 
at  Haywards  Heath  by  Princess  Christian,  as 
a  memorial  to  King  Edward  VII.,  must  have 
been  a  happy  occasion  for  all  those  who  have 
worked  so  hard  to  erect  this  charming  little 
hospital ;  but  none  deserve  more  praise  than 
the  devoted  Matron,  Miss  Barrett,  who,  with 
Dr.  Wells,  conducted  the  Princess  over  the 
institution — for    the    day    a    bower    of    roses. 


sweet  peas,  and  beautiful  ferns — and  with 
whom  she  took  tea.  The  hospital  originally 
started  in  a  small  cottage,  Mrs.  Elliot  having 
left  £600  for  the  purpose,  and  Miss  Barrett 
has  been  Matron  all  the  time.  She  was  trained 
at  St.  Thomas'  Hospital,  and  a  neighbour 
writes  :  "  She  is  very  capable  and  much 
beloved."  The  new  hospital  contains  two 
wards  at  either  end  of  the  building — one  single 
and  one  double  bedded  ward — and  an  up-to- 
date  operating  theatre.  Collections  to  aid  the 
Hospital  funds  and  to  defray  the  day's  ex- 
penses were  made  by  Nurse  Sherlow  (Hay- 
wards  Heath),  Nurse  Jackman  (\\'ivelsfield). 
Nurse  Weatherley  (Wivelsfield),  and  Nurse 
Pearce  (Balcombe),  and  on  totalling  up  the 
proceeds  it  was  found  the  sum  of  £^8  12s.  4d. 
had  been  taken.       

Mr.  Alfred  Cochrane,  presiding  at  the 
meeting  of  the  Cathedral  Nursing  Society  at 
Newcastle-on-Tyne,  said  he  could,  in  the  most 
whole-hearted  way,  thank  the  Society,  on 
behalf  of  the  community,  for  the  good  and 
useful  work  it  did.  They  owed  a  deep  debt  of 
gratitude  to  Miss  Abraham  and  her  staff  of 
nurses,  and  to  Miss  Browne,  of  Westacres, 
the  Hon.  Secretary.  The  annual  report  states  : 
"This  has  been  in  every  way  a  very  satisfac- 
tory year  as  regards  our  Society,"  and  it  goes 
on  to  sav  that  22,285  visits  have  been  paid, 
and  1,952  cases  have  been  attended.  They 
have  had  their  full  complement  of  nurses,  all 
of  whom  have  been  hard  at  work.  Again  the 
Convalescent  Home  has  had  a  very  successful 
season,  113  patients,  in  all,  having  been 
received  there.        . 

By  the  kind  invitation  of  the  Hon.  Mrs. 
Stanley,  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Somerset 
Countv  Nursing  Association,  the  Hon.  Secre- 
tarv  and  Nurses  of  the  affiliated  .Associa- 
tions were  last  week  received  at  Quantock 
Lodge,  Bridgwater.  Mrs.  Stanley,  in  wel- 
coming her  guests,  said  that  on  the  last  occa- 
sion when  she  had  a  similar  party,  some  six 
years  ago,  there  were  under  40  nurses  working 
for  the  Association,  now  there  are  nearly  100. 
She  pointed  out  to  the  nurses  that,  though 
Committees  could  do  a  great  deal,  the  real 
success  of  the  great  work  in  which  they  were 
engaged  depended  upon  themselves.  About 
60  of  the  96  nurses  were  present,  and  after  tea 
a  photograph  was  taken,  and  then  various 
entertainments,  including  Morris  dancing, 
were  much  enjoyed,  as  was  the  beautiful  drive 
of  about  ID  miles  from  the  various  railway 
stations  to  the  Quantock  Hills.  Amongst 
those    present   were    Miss    Bridges,    Inspector 


July 


1912 


<L\K  IBvitieb  3ournaI  of  1l-luii5ino. 


53 


for  the  South-Western  Counties ;  Miss  du 
Sautoy,  County  Superintendent ;  and  Miss 
\orah  Fry,  Assistant  Hon.  Secretary. 


THE  QUY'S  HOSPITAL  GARDEN  PARTY. 


Mistakes  leading  to  friction  still  apparently 
take  place  at  the  Brownlow  Hill  Workhouse 
at  Liverpool,  owing  to  confusion  between  the 
titles  of  the  Matron  and  the  Lady  Superinten- 
dent. It  seems  a  nosegay  intended  for  the 
Superintendent  was  addressed  to  the  Matron, 
and  naturally  this  officer  retained  and  enjoyed 
the  flowers.  -A  distinct  nursing  title  should  be  / 
given  to  the  Superintendent,  who  is  responsible 
for  the  nursing  of  the  patients  and  supervision 
of  the  nursing  staff.  This  might  help  to  avoid 
mistakes,  which  evidently  are  not  conducive  to 
the  harmonious  w'orking  of  the  institution. 


The  Irish  Catholic  evinces,  we  think,  un- 
necessary anxiety  concerning  the  faith  of 
Queen's  nurses  and  Lady  Dudley  nurses  work- 
ing in  Ireland.  It  is  quite  natural  that  sick 
people  like  those  of. their  own  religious  faith  to 
attend  to  them — and  this  appears  to  be  the 
aim,  as  far  as  possible,  of  the  committees  of 
these  two  nursing  societies.  Indeed,  Miss 
Mynha  Bradshaw,  the  Secretary  of  the  Lady 
Dudley  Nursing  Scheme,  states  that  every 
nurse  working  under  the  scheme  is  a  Catholic, 
therefore  the  implied  charge  that  Protestant 
nurses  are  favoured  falls  to  the  ground,  as 
none  are  employed.  We  may  add  that  there 
is  no  sectarianism  or  nationality  in  true 
nursing  :  to  teach  the  beneficent  laws  of  health 
and  to  relieve  suffering — that  is  the  funda- 
mental tenet  of  our  professional  faith  ;  let  us 
cling  to  it,  whatever  our  religion  may  be.  No 
religion  is  of  much  account  which  is  not  broa-d 
based  on  tolerance  and  mercy. 

ANOTHER    SUICIDE. 

\n  inquest  was  held  last  week  at  Bournemouth 
into  the  death  of  a  probationer  nurse  at  the 
Bournemouth  Isolation  Hospital,  Boscombe.  Dr. 
Edwards,  Medical  Officer  of  Health,  who  is  also 
Medical  Superintendent  of  the  Hospital,  testified 
to  the  terrible  injuries  sustained  by  the  dccea.sed 
nurse,  whose  body  was  found  on  the  railway  line. 
In  rcplv  to  a  jurs-man  Dr.  Edwards  said  that  she 
had  given  satisfaction  in  the  execution  of  her 
duties  and  there  was  nothing  he  knew  of  to  cause 
her  distress.  The  probationer  who  shared  her 
room  said  she  was  worried  about  her  mother  and 
sister,  who  were  ill,  but  she  was  quite  happy  in 
her  work.  The  Matron,  Miss  J-  E.  Cook,  testified 
that  on  the  night  of  her  death  the  Night  Sister 
reported  that  the  nurse  was  not  in  bed.  As  it  was 
after  10  o'clock  she  became  alarmed  and  sent  the 
porter  to  look  for  her. 

The  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  suicide  whilst 
temporarily  insane. 


The  Annual  Garden  Party  at  Guy's  Hospital, 
on  the  invitation  of  the  Governors  and  Medical 
Staff,  is  always  a  most  enjoyable  event,  partici- 
pated in  by  many  hundreds  of  former  members 
of  the  medical  and  nursing  schools. 

This  year  the  day  (Thursday  in  last  week) 
was  superb,  and  the  Park  was  crowded  with 
ladies  in  summer  toilettes  and  men  in  bright 
academical  robes,  renewing  old  acquaintance 
and  enjoying  the  excellent  music.  The  bal- 
conies outside  the  wards  were  also  utilized  to 
their  fullest  extent,  by  patients  as  well  as  for 
tea  parties,  and  the  scene,  with  the  grey  walls 
of  this  fine  old  hospital  in  the  background,  was 
very  gay  and  animated. 

A  limited  number  gained  admission  to  the 
lecture  theatre  in  the  new  School  Buildings — 
crowded  to  the  utmost  capacity — where  the 
medals  and  prizes  were  distributed  to  suc- 
cessful students  by  the  Marquess  of  Salisbury, 
G.C.V.O. 

The  Treasurer,  Viscount  Goschen,  who  pre- 
sided, first  called  upon  the  Dean  to  present  the 
Annual  Report  of  the  Medical  and  Dental 
Schools.  The  statistics  showed  that,  in 
common  with  all  other  medical  schools,  the 
entry  of  medical  students  had  declined.  In 
igii  the  students  registered  in  the  General 
Medical  Council  only  numbered  1,232,  as  com- 
pared with  2,405  in  1901,  which  was  the  lowest 
record  since  1872.  It  was  attributed  to  the 
uncertainty  of  the  prospects  of  the  profession, 
which  deters  parents  from  putting  their  sons 
into  it. 

The  ceremony  of  the  prize  distribution  then 
took  place,  and  in  the  course  of  his  speech 
Lord  Salisbury  paid  a  high  tribute  to  the  nurses 
of  this  country.  He  was,  he  declared,  lost  in 
admiration  of  nurse.s — all  nurse.s — who,  he 
said,  were  alwavs  cheerful,  skilful,  and  indus- 
trious. In  private  practice  they  might  have  to 
deal  with  tiresome  and  rude  patients,  but  they 
must  never  resent  it,  but  loyally  do  their  best 
to  cure  them.  They  must  realize,  therefore, 
how  hard  and  devoted  was  the  life  of  nurses. 
Proceedmg  to  venture  on  a  word  of  criticism. 
Lord  Salisburv  suggested  whether  the  hospitals 
of  London  were  not  in  one  sense  too  generous. 
Considering  the  advantages  of  the  treatment 
conferred,  were  they  not  too  indiscriminate  in 
giving  them  for  nothing.  Many  people  availed 
themselves  of  their  services  in  serious  illness 
who  might  pay,  but  did  not  pay  for  anything. 
Was  that  prudent  or  fair?  Why  neglect  a 
source  of  revenue  which  seemed  so  obvious 
when  patients  could  and  so  ought  to  pay? 


54 


TIbe  36i*iti£ib  3oui'nal  of  IWursino. 


]„1y 


191: 


If  the  great  hospitals  laid  themselves  out  to 
provide  more  paid  accommodation  they  could 
provide  more  institutions,  not  only  for  the  quite 
poor,  but  for  the  quite  rich.  He  instanced  the 
treatment  of  the  Duchess  of  Connaught  re- 
cently in  a  Canadian  hospital,  and  asked  if  this 
was  possible  in  Canada  why  not  in  England  ? 
Manv  people  who  needed  operative  treatment 
had  not  houses  suitable  for  the  purpose.  The 
alternative  was  a  nursing  home.  There  were 
good  nursing  homes,  but  there  were  also  very 
bad  ones,  and  if  someone  turned  his  attention 
in  Parliament  to  the  inspection  and  registration 
of  nursing  homes  he  would  be  employing  his 
time  to  great  advantage.  He  had  heard  stories 
of  such  homes  as  would  make  one's  hair  turn. 
If  hospitals  made  provision  for  paying  patients 
there  would  be  an  end  of  nursing  homes. 

We  fear  that  the  noble  Marquess  does  not 
appreciate  the  economic  side  of  the  question. 
The  treatment  of  hospital  patients  is  limited  to 
the  few  members  of  the  medical  profession 
appointed  on  the  staffs  of  these  institutions, 
and  if  the  paying  patients  of  independent 
medical  practitioners  were  driven  into  hospitals 
when  seriously  ill,  they  would  be  starved  out  of 
existence. 

The  same  applies  to  trained  nurses,  who  find 
a  legitimate  means  of  livelihood  in  maintaining 
nursing  homes  for  the  reception  of  paying 
patients.  But  we  agree  most  sincerely  with 
Lord  Salisbury  in  believing  that  many  nursing 
homes  need  mending  or  ending.  The  present 
evils  arise  from  the  fact  that  many  of  these 
homes  are  not  managed  by  trained  nurses  at 
all,  but  are  commercial  speculations  run  by 
people  with  no  knowledge  of  nursing.  The 
remedv  is  to  be  found  first  in  the  legal  registra- 
tion of  trained  nurses,  and  the  recognition  only 
of  those  homes  which  are  superintended  and 
nursed  by  registered  nurses. 

After  a  cordial  vote  of  thanks  to  Lord  SalLs- 
burv.  moved  by  the  Senior  Surgeon,  Mr. 
Svmonds,  and  seconded  by  Dr.  Hale  White, 
Senior  Physician,  the  audience  dispersed,  ad- 
journing first  to  the  marquee  and  the  terrace, 
where  tea  was  served,  and  then  to  the  wards, 
which  were  all  in  festal  array,  the  light  depart- 
ment, the  dental  school  buildings  (which  during 
the  last  twelve  months  have  been  very  greatly 
enlarged),  the  Henriette  Raphael  Xurses' 
Home,  including  the  Preliminary  Training 
School,  the  Gordon  Museum,  with  its  unique 
collection  of  wax  models,  and  many  other  de- 
partments of  interest,  so  that  "  God  save  the 
King,"  the  signal  that  a  very  pleasant  after- 
noon had  come  to  an  end,  was  played  by  the 
band  nil  too  quickly. 


REFLECTIONS. 


FROM  A  BOARD  ROOM  MIRROR. 
Queen  Alexandra,  accompanied  by  Princess 
Victoria,  paid  a  visit  last  week  to  the  British  Home 
for  Incurables,  at  Streatham,  and  was  received 
by  Lord  Strathcona,  the  president,  and  members 
of  the  board  of  management.  Her  Majesty  made 
a  thorough  inspection,  conversing  with  practically 
every  inmate,  and  inspecting  the  work  on  the 
building  of  the  Queen  Alexandra  viang,  which  is 
being  erected  to  celebrate  the  jubilee  of  the  home. 


By  invitation  of  Mr.  H.  J.  Tennant,  M.P.,  and 
Mrs.  Tennant,  a  meeting  was  held  on  Monday  at 
33,  Bruton  Street,  W.,  in  aid  of  the  buUding  fund 
of  the  Nurses'  Home  at  the  Great  Northern 
Central  Hospital,  Holloway  Road,  N.  Mr.  Ten- 
nant, who  presided,  said  that  the  present  arrange- 
ments for  the  nurses  were  not  conducive  to  their 
comfort  or  their  health,  to  economy  or  to  efi&ciency. 
Dr.  Alexander  Morison,  senior  physician  to  the 
Hospital,  spoke  in  support  of  the  project,  and  Mr. 
Glenton  Kerr,  the  Secretan,-,  asked  for  /i2,ooo, 
toward  which  they  had  30  guineas. 


One  of  the  most  distressing  things  in  our  public 
hospital  wards  is  the  knowledge  of  the  approaching 
death  of  fellow  patients.  All  that  can  be  done  is 
to  place  screens  around  the  bed,  but  the  atmosphere 
of  approaching  dissolution  is  thus  demonstrated, 
and  is  most  painful  to  sick  people.  This  question 
was  recentlv  discussed  by  the  Academy  of  Medicine 
at  Paris,  when  the  follo\\-ing  resolution  was 
adopted  that  "  Measures  should  be  taken  so  that 
patients  should  not  be  treated  under  circumstances 
compelling  them  to  suffer  by  witnessing  the 
spectacle  of  sufferings  and  death,"  as  is  the  case 
in  wards  containing  fortv  beds  in  the  State 
hospitals  of  the   Assistance  Publique. 

It  was  stated  that  the  new  hospital  at  Lyons  is 
to  be  the  most  perfect  in  the  world,  and  amongst 
the  improvements  it  is  to  have  separate  rooms 
for  patients  who  are  in  a  hopeless  condition. 
Professor  Vidal,  in  reply  to  M.  Pinard,  who  deplored 
that  not  a  single  hospital  in  France  possessed  any 
accommodation  of  this  description,  protested  that 
his  own  clinic  in  the  Hopital  Cochin  pro\dded 
patients  with  the  last  consolation  of  passing  away 
in  separate  chambers  ;  but  he  stronglv  objected 
to  such  rooms  being  called  "  rooms  for  the  dying," 
since  those  who  were  transferred  thither  from  the 
wards  were  immediately  conscious  that  they  would 
never  leave  them.  The  real  need  for  such  special 
rooms  was  rather  in  the  interests  of  the  other 
patients  than  of  desperate  cases,  who  were  generally 
p'ast  caring  about  their  surroundings.  M. 
Mesureur,  chief  of  the  State  hospitals,  agreed  with 
Professor  Vidal. 


On  Thursday  in  last  week  Princess  Victoria  of 
Schleswig-Holstein,  who  has  alwavs  taken  a  great 
interest  in  the  work  of  the  Great  Northern  Central 
Hospixal,    paid    a   vdsit   to   the  institution  in  the 


July  20,    191: 


Z\K  JSritisb  3ournal  of  murijino 


HoUoway  Road,  lor  the  purpose  ol  receiving  the 
collections  made  by  the  members  of  the  League 
of  the  Roses  and  presenting  the  badges  to  the 
collectors.  The  collections  handed  to  the  Princess 
amounted  in  the  aggregate  to  /^52i  is.  iid.  (the 
central  div-ision  heading  the  list  with  ;£i96  12s.). 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  ceremony  Her  Highness 
inspected  three  of  the  wards.  Tea  was  served  in 
the  matron's  sitting-room. 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


The  Queen's  Hospital  for  Children,  Hackney 
Road,  has  received  a  cheque  for  /745  17s.  51!. 
from  Lady  Mildred  AUsopp  as  the  proceeds  of 
the  recent  concert  at  Grosvenor  House. 

NEW  SCHOOL  OF  iNLiRSlNG  AT  MILAN. 


We  are  indebted  to  Mnie.  R.  Perez,  of 
Pavia,  for  the  welcome  news  that  a  new- 
School  of  Nursing  has  recently  been  started  in 
Milan.  The  Scuola  Infermiere  "  Principessa 
Jolanda  "  is  attached  to  a  private  hospital,  and 
Mme.  Perez  writes  :  "  I  am  much  indebted  for 
the  organization  both  of  the  school  and  hos- 
pital to  the  matrons  of  English  hospitals,  and 
am  also  very  grateful  to  Thu  British  Joukn.ai- 
OF  Nursing,  of  which  I  am  a  constant  reader, 
for  the  perfect  knowledge  that  it  has  given  mc 
of  so  many  points  of  view  of  Ihe  nursing  ques- 
tion. 

"  I  know  that  our  efforts  will  meet  w  ith  your 
sympathy  and  encouragement,  and  am  very 
sorry  that,  owing  to  the  organization  of  this 
professional  school  in  Milan  and  a  class  which 
I  hold  daily  in  my  husband's  wards  in  Pavia, 
I  shall  not  be  able  to  go  to  the  Congress  at 
Cologne,  where  I  should  have  had  the  invalu- 
able chance  of  meeting  so  many  women  work- 
ing for  the  same  ideals. 

"  The  difficulties  of  combining  a  nursing 
school  with  our  hospitals  have  determined  us  to 
organize,  according  to  the  English  system,  a 
small  hospital  of  40  beds.  The  probationers,  to 
be  under  the  supervision  of  English  Sisters, 
will  be  trained  for  two  years,  and  in  their  third 
year  will  work  in  a  number  of  reformed  wards 
in  the  civil  hospitals,  where  the  system  must  be 
complete  and  where  the  administration  will  be 
separate  from  the  rest  of  the  hospital,  bv  which 
means  only  will  it  be  possible  to  demonstrate 
the  immense  benefit  for  patients  and  doctors  of 
the  trained  nurse." 

We  are  pleased  to  learn  from  Mme.  Perez 
that  although  she  cannot  be  with  us  at  Cologne, 
she  will  send  a  report  of  her  verv  valuable  work 
to  the  Congress.  Italy  will  be  well  represented, 
as  Miss  Baxter,  Matron  of  the  Ospedale  Gesii  e 
Maria  at  Naples,  and  Miss  Dorothy  Snell  and  a 
contingent  of  nurses  from  the  Scuola  Convitto, 
Regina  Elena,  at  Rome,  are  to  be  present. 


WOMAN     FOUNDS    FIRST    SCHOOL   OF 
EUGENICS. 

The     follow-ing    article,     contributed     by    Miss. 
Agnes  E.  Ryan  to  the  Woman's  Journal,  Boston, 
U.S.A.,  is  so  important  and  so  interesting  that  we 
print  it  in  exteuso. 

"  There's  a  new  hope  astir  in  the  nation.  Fear 
and  despair  in  regard  to  some  of  the  fundamental 
aspeots  of  life  will  give  place  to  the  new  School 
of  Eugenics  that  is  just  launched,  and  significant 
quickening  will  follow.  The  preliminary  an- 
nouncement is  published  this  week.  The  School 
of  Eugenics  opens  this  autumn.  Its  founder  and 
director  is  Dr.  Evangeline  Wilson  Young,  of  Boston. 
Its  purpose  is  to  meet  three  pressing  and  growing 
needs  in  every  community,  and  to  this  end  it  will 
be  divided  into  three  departments.  The  first  will 
consist  of  courses  of  lectures  and  instruction  to 
meet  the  needs  of  (a)  mothers  who  find  themselves 
unable  properly  to  instruct  their  children  in  the 
facts  of  sex  ;  (b)  teachers  who  are  unable  to  rheet 
the  school-room  problems  constantly  arising 
which  involve  moral  questions ;  and  (c)  all  social 
workers  who,  in  their  work  with  either  3'oung 
people  or  adults,  need  to  understand  more 
specifically  the  problems  which  centre  about  sex. 

"  The  second  department  will  be  a  normal 
course,  extending  from  October  to  March.  This 
department  is  planned  for  the  purpose  of  giving 
suitable  training  to  those  who  wish  to  equip 
themselves  to  give  instruction  iti  sex  education.  A 
staff  of  specialists,  who  are  dealing  at  first-hand 
with  social  problems  of  this  kind,  has  been  secured 
to  act  as  instructors  and  lecturers.  During  the 
year  opportunity  will  be  given  to,  hear  several  of 
the  leading  speakers  of  the  country  on  the  subject 
of  race  regeneration. 

"  The  third  department  of  the  new  school  will 
deal  with  extension  work  throughout  New  England. 
This  work  will  be  carried  on  by  the  faculty  of  the 
school,  who  will  give  lectures  on  all  pfiases  of 
eugenics  before  clubs  and  schools  and  various 
organisations. 

"  So  far  as  we  know,  this  is  the  first  School  of 
Eugenics  in  this  country.  There  are  many  indica- 
tions that  the  time  is  ripe  fqr  such  a  school.  In 
New  York,  Massachusetts,  and  a  few  other  States, 
the  demand  for  speakers  on  eugenics  has  greatly 
exceeded  the  supply.  At  the  Congress  of  Charities 
and  Corrections,  at  Cleveland,  June  7th-l9th,  no 
less  than  twelve  hours  were  given  to  this  subject. 
Addresses  were  made  by  clergymen,  teachers, 
physicians  and  social  workers.  Recently  the 
American  Federation  for  Sex  Hygiene  met  at 
Atlantic  City,  and  discussed  the  subject  very 
thoroughly.  There  is  now  scarcely  a  conference 
on  educational  or  social  work  that  does  not  give 
a  prominent  place  on  the  program  to  eugenics, 
while  three  years  ago  the  word  sex  was  not  tol- 
erated on  such  programs.  A  lecture  on  the  subject 
was  given  recently  at  the  Conference  of  Rural 
Social  Workers,  in  connection  with  the  Agricultural. 


56 


(Ibc  Britisb  3ounial  of  IRursinQ. 


July   20,    1 91 2 


College  Extension  work  at  Amherst.  On  July  .^ni, 
a  similar  lecture  will  be  gi\'en  before  the  American 
Institute  of  Instructors,  at  North  Conway,  N.H., 
at  its  eighty-first  annual  meeting,  when  the 
subject  of  eugenics  will  be  dealt  with  for  the  first 
time  in  the  history  of  the  institute. 

"  At  the  conference  in  Cleveland,  where  moral, 
sanitary,  and  economic  aspects  of  eugenics  were 
freely  considered,  certain  definite  conclusions 
resulted  : 

"  I.  That  we  should  denounce  the  false  and 
unscientific  tradition  of  the  necessity  of  vice. 

"2.  That  we  should  abolish  for  ever  the  unjust 
double  moral  standard  for  men  and  women. 

"  3.  That  we  should  repress  by  every  known 
means  the  commercialism  of  vice.  The  methods 
ac^vocated  for  children  and  adults  were  (a)  educa- 
tion ;  (6)  legislation.  These  sentiments  were 
repeated  and  enthusiastically  applauded  by  prac- 
tically every  speaker  at  the  conference.  No  other 
three  conclusions  could  have  better  paved  the  way 
for  the  School  of  Eugenics  ;  and  no  other  three 
conclusions  could,  in  my  judgment,  be  more  in  line 
with  the  A'otes  for  ^^■omen  movement. 

"  The  new  school  will  be  like  a  new  star  shining 
bright  and  clear  in  the  murky,  cloudy  sky  of  white 
slavery,  social  diseases  and  race  degeneracy.  It  is 
a  star  of  hope.  Think  of  it  !  A  school  whose  sole 
purpose  is  to  teach  how  the  race  may  be  well  born  ! 
Every  suffragist  will  hail  it  with  delight.  Every 
believer  in  Votes  for  Women  will  want  to  help  on 
the  new  project,  and  watch  its  development.  It  is 
advance  work,  and  out  of  it  is  coming  New 
Legislation.  The  School  of  Eugenics  is  one  of 
the  fair  young  daughters  of  the  feminist  move- 
ment. Watch  her.  She  will  make  this  a  new  world. 
She  will  yet  make  all  men  and  all  women  glad  they 
were  born." 


BOOK    OF    THE    WEEK. 


"THE     WOMAN     HUNTER."* 

This  ston,'  sets  out  to  tell  of  a  young  and  pam- 
pered girl  on  her  wedding  journey.  Though  she 
had  not  lacked  proposals,  she  had  elected  to  wed 
the  vicar  of  a  little  East-end  parish,  who  had 
succumbed  to  the  charm  of  her — perhaps  to  the 
flattering  hero-worship  of  her — in  violation  of  his 
pre-conceived  convictions  and  intentions.  Too 
straitened  in  means  to  afford  a  honeymoon,  he 
takes  her  direct  to  the  squalid  neighbourhood  that 
is  to  be  her  home,  and  on  the  journey  he  studies 
New  Theology.  This  is  only  a  foretaste  of  what  is 
to  come. 

Their  home-coming  was  cheery,  in  its  way. 

"  On  the  fire  a  baby  copper  kettle  boiled,  on  the 
square  little  table  a  white  cloth  with  a  crochet 
border  was  spread  with  a  big  loaf,  a  half-pound  pat 
of  butter  and  earthenware  teapot,  thick  platter 
cups,  a  dish  of  water-cress,  and  shrimps." 

"  It  was  all  so  sweet  and  quaint  and  simple 
that  she  sat  down  on  one  of  the  wicker-chairs,  and 

*  Arabella  Kenealy.    Stanley  Paul  &  Co.,  London. 


laughed  and  wept  into  the  lace  handkerchief 
she  had  not  considered  it  too  extravagant  to  use 
on  her  wedding  day." 

Alan  Hartland  was  really  the  most  impossible 
bridegroom  that  could  be  imagined.  Apparentlj-, 
no  sooner  had  his  marriage  vows  passed  his  lips, 
than  he  was  possessed  with  the  notion  of  having 
fallen  from  his  ideals.  He  proposes  to  dedicate  the 
week  of  their  bridal  happiness  to  God,  "  and  not 
a  single  kiss  will  I  permit  mvself."  At  the  end  of 
this  period  the  bride  is  smitten  with  scarlet  fever, 
and  on  her  convalescence  both  agree  that  the 
arrangement  shall  be  permanent. 

At  the  end  of  two  years  Nerissa  "  still  regarded 
her  husband  as  a  saint  and  something  of  a  hero, 
but  she  no  longer  loved  him.  She  had  become 
Hartland's  right  hand.  So  he  congratulated  him- 
self he  had,  by  the  grace  of  God,  converted  his 
back-sliding  into  a  blessing,  making  her  an  agent 
in  a  good  cause." 

Eventually,  he  retires  into  a  Trappist  monastery, 
and  she,  of  course,  meets  her  affinit}'  in  the  shape 
of  Otto  Bellairs. 

"  And  so  you  are  neither  wife  nor  widow. 
That  explains  you  where  I  found  you  inexplicable." 
He  seenaed  to  find  her  tragedy  of  Hartland  some- 
thing of  a  comedy — for  when,  brokenly,  she 
reached  the  climax,  briefly  describing  Hartland's 
retirement  into  a  monastery  and  final  abandon- 
ment of  her,  he  exclaimed  harshly — 

"  Oh,  good  Heavens  !  what  an  ass  I  what  a 
dashed,  dashed  prince  of  asses  !  " 

But  all  things  come  to  those  that  wait  ;  and,  in 
due  course,  Alan  is  obliging  enough  to  die,  and 
leave  the  course  of  true  love  free  to  Otto  and 
Nerissa. 

A  book  that  will  be  welcomed  for  the  holidays. 

H.  H.' 


COMING     EVENTS. 

July  22rd. — Meeting  of  Central  Midwives'  Board. 
Penal  Cases.     2   p.m. 

July  2^rd. — Women's  Local  Government 
Society.  American  Fair,  Bedford  College,  South 
Villa,  Regent's  Park.    3.30-7  p.m. 

July  24th  to  ^oth. — First  International 
Eugenics  Congress.  July  24th. — Reception  and 
Inaugural  Banquet,  Hotel  Cecil,  Strand,  7  p.m. 
July  2^th. — Opening  of  Congress,  Great  Hall, 
University  of  London,  Imperial  Institute  Road, 
South  Kensington,  S.W.     10  a.m.     . 

July  2^th. — Garden  Party  at  Kingston  Infirniar}-, 
by  invitation  of  the  Matron.     4-7  p.m. 

July  25/A. — ^Monthly  Meeting  Central  Midwives' 
Board. 

July  2yth. — Irish  Nurses'  Association.  Social 
gathering.  Killiney  Hill,  Victoria  Gate.  Cyclists' 
meet.   Park  Gate,  4  p.m. 

July  lyth. — Meeting  of  members  of  the  Trained 
Women  Nurses  Friendly  Society  (approved  by 
the  National  Insurance  Commissioners).  To  elect 
officers  and  to  pass  rules.  INIedical  Society's 
Rooms,  II,  Chandos  Street,  W.     g  p.m. 

August  yd  to  gth. — International  Council  of 
Nurses.  Triennial  Meeting.  Congress.  Exhibition, 
Cologne. 


July  20,    igi 


Cbc  36vitf>ob  3ournal  of  IRursina 


57 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  foy  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


OUR     PRIZE    COMPETITION. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dkar  Madam, — I  was  surprised  and  very 
delighted  to  find  I  had  got  the  prize  for  the 
Weekly  Competition  in  your  paper.  Thank  you 
very  much  for  the  cheque  just  received. 
Yours  sincerely, 

Lucie  Maulton. 
Nurses'  Home, 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  E.C. 


A     PRACTICAL    SUQOESTION. 

To  the  Editoy  of  T)iE  British  Journal  oe  Nursing. 
Dear  Madam, — As  a  member  of  the  nursing 
profession,  and  one  who  has  been  the  Matron  of 
a  Nursing  Home  for  over  thirteen  years,  and 
started  her  career  twentv-five  years  ago,  T  wish  to 
enter  a  most  emphatic  protest  against  the  state- 
ment made  by  Lord  Salisbury,  when  speaking  at 
the  Medical  School  of  Guj-'s  Hospital,  on  Thursday, 
in   last  week. 

It  seoms  to  me  that  the  time  has  arrived  when 
it  is  necessary  for  the  owners  of  the  nursing  homes 
in  this  country  to  associate  themselves  together 
for  mutual  protection.  The  object  would  be  that 
ever\'  nursing  home  throughout  the  Kingdom 
would  be  approached  by  the  representative  of  the 
association,  and  careful  enquiries  made  into  its 
methods  and  general  standing,  and  only  approved 
nursing  homes  of  good  repute  would  be  allowed 
to  become  members. 

The  association  should  publish  a  periodical 
and  a  list  of  the  members  at  regular  intervals. 
The  chief  object  of  the  association  would  be  to  show 
the  [lublic  what  nursing  homes  were  above  sus- 
picion in  every  way  ;  and  a  register  should  be 
kept  of  fees  charged,  &c.  The  association  could 
also  act  as  a  medium  through  which  changes  and 
sales  of  nursing  homes  could  be  conducted. 
Legal  and  accountancy  advice  would  be  given  to 
the  members,  at  low  figures.  All  advertising  to  be 
prohibited. 

I   should  be    glad    if    any    interested    in    this 
letter  of  mine  would  write  to  me,  and  give  me  their 
help  in  forming  an  Association  for  the  protection 
of  the  good  name  of  our  Nursing  Homes. 
Yours,   &c., 

I,   Nottingham  Place,        Lillie  M.  Stower. 
London,    VV. 

[As  a  step  towards  the  Registration  of  Nursing 
Homes,  we  heartily  support  Miss  Stower's  prac- 
tical suggestipn. — Ed.] 


THE     MATERNITY     BENEFIT. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dear  Madam, — 1  agree  with  your  correspondent 
that  it  is  hard  on  married  women,  and  on  those 
unmarried  women,  who  require  no  maternity 
benefit,  if  the  mothers  of  illegitimate  children  are 
to  come  on  insurance  societies  as  well  as  to  receive 
payment  for  the  expenses  incidental  to  the  birth 
of  their  children  under  the  bastardy  laws,  for  in 
that  case  the  unmarried  mothers  are  the  best 
off,  and  the  married  and  single  women  have  to 
pay  for  the  maternity  benefit  in  the  case  of 
,  illegitimate  births. 

I  may  further  point  out  that  it  has  been 
authoritatively  stated  that  domestic  servants  past 
the  age  of  child-bearing  may  not  exchange  this 
benefit  for  any  other,  such  as  increased  sickness, 
invalidity,  or  pension  benefit.  Certainly  funds 
must  be  found  now  to  finance  this  obnoxious  Act, 
but  why  should  the  women  always  pay,  pay,  pay 
so  heavily  ? 

Yours  faithfuUv, 

Trained  Nurse. 

REPLIES    TO     CORRESPONDENTS. 

Several  Nurses  "  on  their  own." — The  Insurance 
Commissioners  have  decreed  that  it  will  be 
necessary  for  nurses  working  on  their  own  account 
as  private  nurses  to  be  insured.  They  add  : — 
"  The  only  case  generally  in  which  a  nurse  will 
not  have  to  be  insured  is  the  case  where  she 
receives  patients  into  her  own  home  for  treat- 
ment." It  will  be  well,  if  possible,  to  present  the 
card  for  the  patient  to  stamp  at  opportune  times, 
although  as  the  contract  of  service  is  usually  a 
weekly  one,  the  stamps  must  be  cancelled 
weekly.  '  ^ 

Anxious,  London. — We  believe  the  point  is  still 
under  the  consideration  of  the  Insurance  Com- 
missioners, and  that  the  London  County  Council  is 
pressing  for  a  decision. 

OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS. 

For  July. 
July  2jth. — What  are  the  common  sources  of 
bacterial  infection  ? 

For  August. 
August  ^rd. — What  points  would  you  observe 
on  the  admission  of  a  new  patient  to  a  ward,  and 
why  ? 

NOTICE. 


THE  TRAINED  NURSES'  FRIENDLY  SOCIETY. 

Approved  by  the  Xational  I.nsurance 
Commissioners. 
Miss  Mollett,  Hon.  Secretary,  will  be  at 
431,  Oxford  Street,  W.,  daily,  and  will  be 
pleased  to  give  all  information  possible  to  those 
desirinj,'  to  join  a  Friendly  Society  of  profes- 
sional nurses. 


ss 


Cl\'  lOritiC'l:'  journal  of  inurvuui  SiHTlcincnt.  y-'y  ^o.  1912 


THe    Midwife. 


BEQl'EST   FOR   MATERNITY   NIRSING. 


Subject  l\^  his  wife's  liie  iuteivsl,  Mr.  Hemy 
Soxniu^uv  IVwer,  of  Weybvidgv,  for  thirtccii  \-ears 
chainxuvu  of  the  "Navv  League,  has  left  /io,ooo 
to  fonu  A  ■'  Women's  Aid  Fwud  "  txi  assist  piiegiiant 
juanieil  or  uuixianied  wxMuen  witli  medical  care 
and  uutsiivg  belfofe,  duriag,  and  afttr  confinemeut, 
so  as  to  ewsuii?^  as  far  as  may  be,  their  safe  delh-erj- 
isad  their  »iestx>ration  to  health  and  strength,  and 
f^  assist  tUem  aften\-ards  iii  the  rearing  of  their 
ofispring.  He  states : — "  1  am  sincere-W  desirous 
that  sdme  of  the  monev  I  may  leaxTe  behind  me 
should  do  women  svwve  little  gxwd,  and  if  it  suffices 
to  SvMue  extent  to  soothe  a  moral  i>ain  and  xlry  a 
few  bitter  tears,  the  money  will  not  have  been 
earoed  by  me  entirely  in  \-ain,  ...  I  am 
espeeiAlly  anxions  that  e:s:pecting  mothers  should 
ha\-e  skillcvi  CAie  in  the  ctiticAl  w-eefcs  which  precede 
cojifinement.  and  tliat  they  be  nursed  untQ  really 
statvsig  enough  to  resume  tiieir  a\x>cations."  The 
fund  is  to  Ix-  administered  by  >frs,  C-aroline  Huth, 
Mrs.  Margaret  Samson,  Mrs.  Editb.  Weathered, 
Mrs.  Soplria  .\lleu,  and  Mr.  Frederick  Monis, 
the  hon.  secretary  of  the  Mar\-leboae  Branch  of  the 
Charity-  Orgasrisation  Society. 

So  far  as  we  are  avraie  this  is  the  first  bequest 
of  ^e  kind  maiie  by  a  man. 

A    lV\B^    SHin\    AT   CLRRV    n\ALLHT, 


of  ti»e  Hatch  Beauchamp  Efetrkt  Xnisiag  Assoda- 
tkn,  Son>exset,  a  baby  show  vras  organised  by 
Miss  Cook,  a  Queen's  Xnise,  and  others  interested. 
About  toity  babies  of  ages  varying  f ronr  four  xrecks 
to  tvnMity-three  r.-.oni&  xrere  entered  foa-  it,  many 
of  them  having  been  "'  boraed  "  by  the  nurse, 
Mrs^  CfwssJey  opened  the  bazaar,  and  oEered  a 
prise  of  otK-  guiEea  for  the  baby  Judged  by  Miss 
du~  Sautoy.  the  Coanty  Sapeaintendent,  to  te  the 
best,  and  the  Hon  Secretary,  the  Hoo.  Mrs. 
Gose^L&ngton,  gax-e  another  30s.  in  jsijjes  for  the 
babies  x«^  obtaiacd  the  tmsst  vote*. 

MAORI    MRSE=M1DW1\TS. 


The  IVeparauesjt  of  HosstaJs  assd  Qiamabte 
Aid  at  Widliagtoa.  Xew  ZeaJLasd,  have  cs^^anized 
A  sys5es2i  of  B^isisg  foir  Maoris  by  Earopeas 
aad  Maori  nssses,  pie&s€s?oe  bai^  givea  ta 
MjHxis  -wrbo  haT«  shoura  their  aHiity  iar  siBTsssg, 
Ib  the  ev&Et  of  its  bei^  Tsecessary  ■so  arsosnt 
iw^  Essses    Scsr   t*>e   TsaTiv^s   <vf   snv  tvaracsrlar 

dsSSlict  it  xrC     !  -  '  ,     ;    that  CEK 

nsise  ^ia2  be  .-.  ;  -  a  sative, 

Ifee  jstsisss    .:.  -i  bv  laie 


Do(\irtinent,  and  are  under  the  control  of  tlie 
H<.%si'>ir.>l  Ho.\rd  of  the  District  to  which  they  are 
sent.  Ihoso  appointed  must  be  midwives as  well  as 
ntirses,  and  their  tiret  duty  will  be  to  attend  on  tlie 
natives,  but  they  will  bo  also  expected  to  attend 
on  Europeans  in  c.-vse  of  einergenc\-.  .Vmongst 
the  duties  enjoined  upon  them  are  to  advise 
expectins;  nati\ie  wMmeu.  imd.  where  possible,  to 
attend  tliem  in  their  confinements.  To  pay 
special  attention  to  the  feeding  of  native  children. 
and  to  advise  the  mothers  accordingly.  To  keep 
as  far  as  possible  a  record  of  the  births  and 
deaths  of  nati\-es  in  their  district.  They  are  also 
required  to  rejwrt  oa  the  s.\nitary-  condition  of  the 
kaingas,  and  the  j>re\~vlence  of  sickness  therein, 
and  to  p^iv  \isits  of  inspection  to  the  native 
schools,  their  reports  being  subsequently  trans- 
mitted to  the  Education  Department. 


THli 


^ROrEcTION   OF   .nATERMTV 
FRANCE. 


IN 


The  £«5/iV«avfK.!7:  :or  the  present  month  con- 
tains a  most  interesting  article,  o\-ex  the  signature 
"  Juliette  Heale,"  on  the  Protection  of  Maternity 
in  France,  in  which  the  wrirer  says : — 

"  How  best  to  deal  with  destitute  and  very  poor 
laoAeis  is  the  greatest  pioblem  of  modem  civili- 
saticm.  The  vn^aie  of  a  race  is  largely  raflnenoed 
by  its  tTearn>e»it  of  nnprotected  maternity,  not 
only  .  f  the  women  themiel\"es,  but  for 

their  itiiens  of  the  future,  whose  birch 

and:         -  '- .Ti.^:;  fue  prdaMeheljaessoess 

of  n~i.cui;-i.coi.  ■"  dessiiute,  a  vesy 

large  propoftiQEi  .  great  ccoamnnities 

hover   ever   on    1... .ir:d    of   destirutKHi, 

because,  being  the  osiy  servants  of  the  State 
whose  quite  T»>d*?r<e?5iahie  -wvsk  ctHuiaaiids  no 
pecuniary  :  "      "        have  to  look  cai^y  to 

oth^s  fcs"  :  s:ibs2isessce.  while  they 

loyally  pe—  r:=iary  dirdes.     Mtseovs-, 

siodiess  are  the  icerzialiy  Tcoooded '  <rf  the 
hEUiaa  army.  In  war,  the  vast  iaaJ<Kiiy  o£  ■«» 
soSdjeis  ooasae  owt  <fi  actkai  xsithoet  a  scratth ; 
but  a  jaosher  canijot  qui:  hs  battJefield  widsLwut 
a  w««atx!  -trhic*!  *e3T»«  ber  esseebkd  for  rsaay 
w^ej:-  '-  —  troi-i  the  csaseJess 

caae  -  -  ~-sr  Jife, 

'■V  _        .  -sre  are  toid,  is  very 

^boriy  t.i  '.;;;  „vcrJii.:ilivi  i:id  caiii^y  re-osgasased. 
Let  the  sataac  see  to  it  that  the  ciah-35  <e  the  desri- 
tste  aad  povesry-srscfasi  :nic-thsss  leesve  adeqiiare 
attjentioBi-  In  osr  prassat  caSoss  aegfect  of 
desGtnte  rDO'th'f^^^^^^d  tr^jzn  3  iia^>'»a3  tv^inr  of 
vjesr,    -w*    -        "        '  thrcS3r?ci  rr. 

Sves  oa  tr. .    ■  ,ir;d  -^  t";  : 

■dso^saads  -  -'       -riser:- s=rv-. 


July  20,  1912     ^be  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursina  Supplement. 


59 


assistance  is  at  best  a  som-  substitute  for  the 
honourable  extra  wage  which  the  coiiiinunit\- 
pays  for  the  work  of  all  men,  in  case  ofte  day  they 
may  have  a  family  to  support  ;  but.  at  present, 
the  Poor  Law  is  the  chief  widespread  aid  at  hand 
for  poor  British  mothers  in  their  months  of  help- 
lessness ;  and  it  should  be  made  as  efl&cacious  and 
as  little  galling  as  possible. 

"  While  Englishmen,  in  the  matemitj'  clauses 
of  the  Insurance  Bill,  have  just  commenced 
timidly  to  approach  this  %-ital  problem.  French- 
men— more  imaginative,  more  really  practical, 
more  far-sighted — have  been  at  work  for  years  on 
a  composite  scheme  for  the  protection  of  mater- 
nity. The  ever-dwindling  birth-rate  in  France 
has  made  it  most  urgent  to  save  as  far  as  possible 
the  new-bom  lives.  Possibly,  Englishmen  cannot 
forget  the  teeming  birth-rate  of  half-a-centniry 
ago  ;  but  ominous  signs  are  not  wanting  that  in  a 
generation  England  wiU  have  to  face  the  problem 
of  self-annihilation,  which  so  disturbs  patriotic 
Frenchmen  to-day. 

"  The  French  scheme  to  assist  maternity  con- 
sists of  a  series  of  '  Secours  '  (aids),  partly  muni- 
cipal, partly  private,  all  carefully  organised  and 
financed  to  work  together  smoothly.  The  %Tirious 
'  Secours,'  which  supplement  each  other,  and  do  not 
overlap,  are  ver\-  instructive  and  interesting, 
because  both  humanity  and  common  sense  rule 
in  their  administration.  They  are  broadly  di^ded 
into  three  series  :  (i)  Relief  for  self-supporting 
expectant  mothers  ;  this  is  really  an  excellent 
scheme  of  maternity  insurance.  (2)  Skilled  atten- 
dance for  any  necessitous  or  overburdened  woman 
(of  any  class)  at  the  time  of  her  child's  birth. 
(3)  Relief  for  the  poor  nursing  mother,  either 
free  or  in  the  nature  of  insurance.  Originally  all, 
or  nearly  all.  the  free  '  Secours  '  were  intended  for 
deserted  girl-mothers,  but  they  have  been  thrown 
open  to  equallv  necessitous  widows  and  deserted 
wives.  An  admirable  feature  of  relief  for  maternity- 
throughout  France  is  the  utter  absence  of  any 
inquisitorial  questions  as  to  antecedents.  The 
presence  or  absence  of  a  wedding-ring  is  ignored. 
'  Here  is  a  perishing  mother  to  be  succoured  ; 
here  is  her  endangered  offspring  to  be  preserved. 
Those  two  patent  facts  are  quite  sufficient. 

"  All  countries  supply  a  necessitous  mother  with 
more  or  less  adequate  assistance  in  her  time  of 
direst  need  ;  but  it  is  not  of  ntuch  national  advan- 
tage to  care  for  mother  and  infant  at  the  time  of 
birth,  if  the  woman  has  pre\-iouslv  been  exhausted 
by  starvation  and  ovei-work,  or  if  for  the  succeed- 
ing months  the  enfeebled  and  hampered  woman 
and  her  young  infant  are  left  alone  to  shift  as  best 
they  may.  In  Paris  and  the  provinces,  there  are 
many  institutions  which  invite  the  expectant 
mother  to  cease  work  for  from  four  to  eight  weeks 
before  her  confinement,  according  to  her  condition. 
In  Paris,  there  are  several  working-homes  ('Asiles- 
OuvToirs'),  like  that  of  the  Rue  Sainr  Jacques, 
also  maternal  refuges  attached  to  certain  private 
and  municipal  dispensaries  and  hospitals,  where 
women  can  be  received  for  rest  both  before  and 
after    confinement.       The    entertainment    in    the 


Asiles-Ou\Toirs  is  quite  free,  but  more  privacv  in 
some  places  can  be  secured  for  a  nominal  payment. 
It  is  astonishing  how  the  ph\-sique  of  a  star\-ing 
expectant  mother  improves  at  these  homes.  The 
Asiles-Ou\Toirs  provide  light  work  for  the  resting 
women,  who  receive  the  pay  they  have  earned 
when  they  leave  the  home. 

"  No  compulsion  is  used  to  bring  the  women  into 
resting-homes.  The  Frenchman,  with  his  real 
common  sense,  has  turned  ro  legislation  against 
the  expectant  mother,  such  as  exists  in  England, 
Switzerland,  Denmark  (Switzerland  only  imposes 
a  fortnight,  Denmark  a  week,  of  compulsory 
idleness  before  confinement).  He  considers  it  a 
barbarit\-  to  forbid  a  solitar\^  woman  to  work, 
until  the  State  sees  its  way  to  recompense  her  for 
weeks  of  enforced  idleness,  which,  possibly, 
mean  permanent  unemplojTnent  in  the  future. 

"  A  valuable  part  of  the  municipal  aid  to 
expectant  mothers  is  the  free  '  consultations,' 
which  advise  an  ignorant  working  girl  on  the 
management  of  her  health,  and  supply  her,  if 
necessary',  vdih  food,  medicines,  &c.  These  con- 
sultations are  well  patronised  by  factory  and  other 
work-girls  ;  and  can  be  attended  at  the  various 
hospitals,  dispensaries,  &c.  The  Assistance 
Puhlique  grants  yearly,  for  the  succour,  in  their 
own  homes,  of  very  poor  expectant  mothers 
(married  or  single)  a  sum  of  100,000  francs  (/4,ooo)." 

We  advise  our  rsaders  to  procure  and  read  in 
its  entiretv  this  most  interesting  article. 


INFANT    MORTALITY. 


The  public  work  of  Dr.  Helen  MacMurchy,  of 
Toronto,  Canada,  is  well-known  on  this  side  of 
the  Atlantic,  and  her  third  report,  on  infant 
mortality-,  addressed  to  the  Hon.  W.  J.  flanna 
Provincial  Secretan,-,  and  printed  by  order  of  the 
Legislative  Assemblv  of  Ontario,  will  be  received 
with  the  respect  it  deser\-es. 

Introducing  the  subject.  Dr.  MacMurchy  quoted 
the  opinion  of  some  of  the  great  daily  papers  in 
the  Dominion  of  Canada.  Thus  the  Ottawa  Free 
Press  says,  "  Governments  in  this  country  spend 
hundreds  of  thousands  to  teach  the  farmer  how 
to  raise  colts  and  calves  and  pigs.  Not  a  dollar 
is  spent  to  teach  the  mother  how  to  rear  her  young. 
The  light  seems  to  be  breaking,  however,  and  it 
is  to  be  hoped  that  the  Ontario  Government  will 
initiate  steps  to  carr\-  out  the  recommendations 
of  its  investigator,"  and  the  Peterborough  Ex- 
aminer says,  ■'  Herein  is  raised  a  more  important 
question  than  reciprocitv  or  tariffs.  These  ha.\^ 
to  do  with  our  pockets,  but  the  question  of 
marriage  of  the  fit  or  unfit  has  to  do  with  the 
qualitv  of  our  homes,  the  good  or  bad  qualit\-  of 
our  population." 

Do  People  Know  ? 

How  manv  of  the  citizens  of  Ontario  know, 
asks  Dr.  MacMurchy,  that  wc  buried  nineteen 
babies  under  one  year  old  even.-  day  in  Ontario 
in  1909,  or  6,932 — nearlv  7.000 — in  that  one  year. 


6o        Z\K  Briti5b  3ournal  of  IHursiiuj  Supplement.       juiy  20,  1912 


The  cost  of  burving  a  baby  is  about  50  dollars. 
It  cost  the  people  of  the  Pro\Tnce  of  Ontario  about 
350,000  dollars  to  bur\'  these  dead  babies.  It 
would  have  cost  much  less  than  that  to  keep 
them  alive,  and  half  of  them  could  easily  have 
been  kept  alive.  Dr.  Wodehouse,  the  Medical 
Health  Officer  of  Fort  William,  saved  42  babies 
for  194.98  dollars,  including  medicines  for  the 
poor,  nurses'  salary^  and  car  tickets.  This  is  less 
than  5  dollars  each.  But  babies'  funerals  cost 
50  dollars  each.  And  then  Fort  William  has  the 
42  babies.    Ontario  has  them  too. 

A  dead  babv  is  a  liability  till  its  funeral  is 
paid  ;  but  a  li\'ing  baby  is  an  asset  and  liable  to 
grow  into  a  good  Canadian. 

,  What  is  a  Canadian  Worth  ? 

And  what  sum  is  a  good  Canadian  worth  to 
the  countr\^  ?  \Miat  was  Sir  John  MacDonald 
worth,  or  Alexander  ^Mackenzie,  or  Laura  Secord, 
or  Lord  Strathcona  ?  And  it  is  not  only,  the 
dead  babies.  Such  a  death  is  merciful  compared 
with  the  life  of  the  poor  ^^ctims  of  various  ills 
that  our  ignorance  and  carelessness  condemn  our 
children  to  ! 

What  sort  of  Canadians  will  live  in  Canada  from 
1932  to  1982  ?  Those  that  are  now  cradled  in 
their  mothers'  arms — if  thev  are  not  clutched 
from  that  kind  embrace  by  disease  or  by  death  ? 

Social  Incompetence. 
Our  industries  are  impro\-ing,  our  commerce  is 
enlarging,  our  wealth  accumulates  ;  but  what  of 
the  art  of  living  itself  ?  Modem  industrial 
methods  have  changed  all  the  habits  and  the 
surroundings  of  by  far  the  majoritv  of  our  people. 
But,  though  this  happened  two  generations  ago, 
at  least  in  Canada,  we  have  never  vet  emancipated 
ourselves  from  the  social  ignorance  and  social 
incompetence  which  either  cannot  see  these 
changes  or  u-ill  not  do  an\-thing  about  them. 
Yet  social  action  is  the  onlv  possible  action. 
Indi\'idual  action  cannot  deal  with  such  a  situation. 
National  action.  Government  action,  collective 
action,  municipal  action,  not  indi\-idual  action 
can  save  the  babv. 

Provincial  and  IMunicipal  Action. 

The  province  and  the  city  must  secure  a  clean 
water  supply  and  a  clean  milk  supply.  One 
father  and  mother  cannot  establish  a  modem 
system  of  quick  sanitan,-  and  satisfactorv  garbage 
disposal.  "The  city  must  do  that.  One  citizen 
cannot  pay  for  pa\-ing  the  street  with  asphalt. 
The  city  can  do  that,  and  he  can  pay  his  share. 
One  citizen  cannot  compel  the  careless  or  covetous 
landlord  to  abolish  the  abominable  outside  pri\-\- 
and  avail  himself  of  the  cheap  water-carriage 
lavatory  that  the  excellent  system  of  sewers,  and 
water  supply  in  Toronto,  and  most  of  the  other 
cities  renders  available. 

We  have  quoted  Dr.  MacMurchy's  admirable 
report  at  some  length  because  these  questions 
intimately  concern  midwives  and  nurses  in  all 
countries.  Of  what  avail  the  skill  of  doctors, 
midwives  and  nurses  at  the  time  of  an  infant's 


birth  if  the  air  he  breathes  is  foul,  tainted, 
poisonous  ;  if  the  conditions  under  which  he  lives 
(if  he  survives,  probabh'  stimted  and  debilitated) 
conduce  to  \-ice  and  alcoholism  ?  It  is  not 
enough  that  we  fulfil  our  professional  obligations  ; 
we  have  also  ci\dc  and  communal  duties,  and  to 
discharge  them  we  need  the  lever  of  Parliamentarv 
franchise  in  order  to  press  for  reforms  never  easv 
to  attain,  not  because  they  are  not  necessarv, 
but  because  the  "  careless  and  covetous  "  cling  to 
their  vested  interests. 

The  Protection  of  Inf.\nt  Children. 

It  is  interesting  to  learn  that  during  the  past 
year  the  Ontario  Government  took  steps  to 
forbid  expressly  the  separation  of  anv  infant  from 
its  mother  before  such  infant  is  of  the  age  of 
nine  months  at  least. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  re\'ision  of  the  Act  to 
regulate  Maternity  Boarding  Houses  and  for  the 
Protection  of  Infant  Children,  now  proceeding  in 
Ontario,  may  do  something  to  lessen  infant 
mortality.  Certain  advertisements  now  appear- 
ing in  the  newspapers  should,  savs  Dr.  MacMurchv, 
be  disallowed.  To  attract  those  in  a  desperate 
position  by  advertising  that  infants  are  received 
for  adoption  often  means,  it  is  greatly  to  be 
feared,  that  these  same  helpless  infants  are  con- 
demned to  a  slow,  cruel  death  by  starvation. 
Starved,  because  the  wretched  places  often  do 
not  know  how  to  keep  a  child  alive,  even  if  they 
want  to,  not  to  mention  their  ignorance  of  the 
well-known  rules  of  hygiene  now  being  observed 
all  over  the  world. 

The  Illegitim.\te  Child. 

One  class  of  infants,  we  read,  adds  an  awful 
burden  to  the  infantile  mortality.  The  child  that 
has  no  father.  Repudiated  and  disowned  bv  the 
man  who  is  responsible  for  its  existence,  it  begins 
that  existence  under  a  handicap  so  over^vhelming 
that  it  is  next  to  unknown  for.  such  a  child  to 
obtain  a  footing  in  the  community.  Surely  the 
fact  that  such  a  child  is  disowned  should  justify 
the  community  in  going  one  step  further  and 
ordering  that  since  that  dishonourable  fact  is  the 
onlv  one  known  about  the  innocent  child,  the 
iniquity  and  desertion  of  the  father  should  entitle 
the  child  to  the  protection  of  the  State.  To 
"  rescue  "  the  woman  at  the  expense  of  the  child, 
or  with  little  thought  or  concern  for  the  poor 
child,  is  a  matter  of  doubtful  morality. 

Many  of  these  children  are  strong  and  healthy, 
but  their  death-rate  is  almost  twice  as  great  as 
the  death-rate  of  legitimate  children.  That  death 
is  often  simply  murder,  and  a  slow  and  cruel 
murder,  of  a  helpless  \"ictim.  It  is  time  we  faced 
aad  thought  out  this  matter  of  what  to  do  about 
the  illegitimate  child. 

How  many,  illegitimate  children  are  there  in 
that  ghastly  death-roll  of  1,727  in  Toronto  ?  We 
do  not  know.  We  have  no  inforniation  on  that 
point  in  the  Report  of  the  Registrar  General  for 
1909,  nor  anv  about  the  8,768  infants  who  died  in 
Ontario  ii  1909  under  one  year  old. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

:  MUHSIIKl  EIECOMB 

EDITED  BY  MRS  BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.    1,269 


SATURDAY,    JULY     27,   1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


THE     DISPLAY     OF    ORDINARY 
CONSIDERATION. 

"  The  world's  a  room  of  sickness,  where  each  heart 
Knows  its  own  anguish  and  unrest. 
The  truest  wisdom  there  and  noblest  art 
Is  his  who  skills  of  comfort  best." 

All  members  of  the  nursing  profession  who 
read  a  letter  from  an  ex-patient  in  the  Church 
Times  on  the  subject  of  the  personal  charac- 
teristics of  nurses  in  a  London  Hospital 
will  grieve  that  it  is  possible  for  such 
charges  to  be  brought  against  their  order. 
For  the  letter  is  written  soberly  and 
restrainedly,  but  it  is  evidently  the  opinion 
of  the  writer  that  the  ordinary  courtesies  of 
life  are  not  to  be  expected  of  hospital 
nurses  unless  they  are  inspired  by  the 
religious  motive. 

We  are  far  fr(jm  desiring  to  under-rate 
the  influence  of  Christianity  as  an  ennobling 
factor  in  character,  but,  in  the  name  of  our 
common  humanity,  we  must  claim  that  it 
often  exhibits  nobility,  unselfishness,  con- 
sideration, and  gentleness  of  a  high  order. 
Even  uncivilized  Africans,  usually  regarded 
as  barbarians,  lavish  the  greatest  kindness 
on  children,  not  necfessarilv  their  own  ;  the 
devotion  of  Indian  ayahs  to  their  charges  is 
well  known,  and  the  nursing  instinct  is  only 
the  mother  instinct  developed  in  another 
direction.  The  author  of  the  letter  referred 
to  writes  : — 

"  As  one  who  lias  recently  undergone  an 
operation  in  a  general  ward  of  a  London 
Hospital,  I  should  like  to  ask  whether  it  is 
impossible  tliat  the  earlier  spirit  which  pre- 
vailed in  hospitals  should  be  revived.  .  .  . 
In  my  own  case,  as  I  was  being  wheeled  to- 
wards the  lift  on  the  wav  to  the  ana.'sthetic 
room,  the  nurses  who  accompanied  me 
were  shrieking  with  laughter  at  some  foolish 
joke,  anil  tlie  whole  atmosphere  was  one  of 


callous  indifference  towards  the  mental  and 
physical  sufferings  of  the  patient.  One 
needs  to  have  been  through  an  operation 
oneself  before  one  can  realize  the  tremendous 
difference  it  would  make  to  feel  at  such  a 
moment  that  there  was  at  least  one  person 
who  was  touched  with  a  feeling  of  pity. 

"Similarly,  in  regard  to  the  daily  dress- 
ings, etc.,  after  an  operation,  I  do  not  plead 
for  an  exaggerated  show  of  sentiment,  on 
the  part  of  the  nurses,  which  would  be  out 
of  place,  but  merely  for  the  display  of 
ordinary  consideration  and  gentleness  in 
dealing  with  suffering  humanit}'  ;  and  this, 
I  venture  to  think,  is  not  what  one  usually 
finds  in  the  general  wards  of  a  large  hospital, 
if  my  own  experience,  and  what  I  have  heard 
from  others,  may  be  said  to  prove  anything. 
In  my  own  case,  out  of  the  dozen  nurses 
who  at  different  times  attended  me,  two 
only  showed  what  I  should  call  ordinary 
consideration  and  kindness,-  and  both  of 
these  I  afterwards  discovered,  were  truly 
religious  women.  Is  it  not  a  fact  that  with- 
out religion  the  ordinary  nurse  tends  to 
become  hardened,  and  so  to  regard  each 
patient  merely  as  a  '  case  '  and  nothing 
more  ? 

Once  again  we  say  no.  If  the  woman  is 
of  the  type  from  which  nurses  should  be 
selected,  it  would  be  quite  impossible  for 
her  to  behave  in  the  manner  described 
bv  the  correspondent,  .whether  professedly 
actuated  bv  religious  motives  or  no.  But 
the  truth  is  that  the  women  now  applying 
for  vacancies  in  hospitals  are,  as  a  whole, 
of  an  inferior  type  to  those  of  a  quarter  of 
a  century  ago,  and  this  condition  is  likely  to 
continue,  and  to  become  accentuated,  until 
nurses  have  some  professional  status,  the 
result  of  which  in  New  Zealand,  as  Dr. 
Chappie  has  shown,  has  been  to  attract  a 
better  class  of  women  to  the  profession  and 
to  raise  the  whole  standard  and  tone  of 
nurses  in  the  Dominion. 


Z\K  Britisb  3ournal  of  H^uvsino. 


July 


1912 


THE   PREVENTION   OF   DEAFNESS 
IN   CHILDREN.* 


By  Macleod  Yearsley,  F.R.C.S. 

Senior  Surgeon  to  the  Royal  Ear  Hospital; 
Consulting  Aural  Surgeon  to  the  Royal 
School  for  Deaf  and  Dumb  Children  at 
Margate;  Otologist  to  the  London  County 
Council  Deaf  Schools;  Visiting  Aural 
Surgeon  to  the  Association  for  the  Oral 
Instruction  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  &c. 

♦  (Concluded  from  page  44.) 
Suggested   Methods   of   Prevention. 

I  have  endeavoured  to  be  brief  in  setting 
before  you  the  factors  which,  under  present 
conditions,  make  for  deafness  in  children ;  it 
now  remains  to  offer  for  discussion,  with  equal 
"brevity,  suggestions  as  to  the  best  method  of 
meeting  those  factors  with  a  view  to  the 
prevention  of  the  deafness  likely  to  result  from 
them.  I  trust  that  those  who  speak  will 
amplifv  them  and  add  to  them. 

Better  Care  of  Ears. 

The  first  task  which  lies  before  us  is  to 
endeavour  to  ensure  a  better  care  of  the  ears 
in  infancy  and  childhood.  This  includes  the 
operation  of  all  measures  of  hygiene,  feeding, 
pure  milk,  fresh  air,  &c.,  that  tend  to  the 
better  care  of  infants  and  children  generallv 
and  to  the  prevention  of  those  diseases  which, 
as  we  have  seen,  lead  to  the  development  of 
affections  of  the  ear,  nose,  and  throat.  It  also 
includes  better  care  of  the  ears  when  diseased. 
The  work  of  Dr.  Knyvett  Gordon,  to  which 
allusion  has  already  been  made,  shows  how 
much  can  be  done  to  save  the  hearing  in  ears 
attacked  by  the  infectious  fevers,  and,  as  he 
recommends,  an  otologist  should  be  attached 
to  every  fever  hospital.  Were  this  done,  the 
percentage  of  serious  cases  of  deafness  and 
middle  ear  suppuration,  due  to  scarlatina, 
measles,  diphtheria,  and  allied  diseases  would 
very  soon  diminish. 

As  I  have  said,  school  medical  inspection  is 
getting  into  touch  with  those  children  whose 
ears  need  attention.  The  school  doctor  can 
indicate  them  as  requiring  treatment,  but 
there  his  function  ceases.  The  great  difficulty 
appears  to  me  to  lie  in  making  sure  that 
treatment  is  carried  out.  Granted  that  the 
child  has  been  ear-marked  for  treatment  by 
the  school  doctor  and  that  the  parents  have 
consented  thereto — 

*  Read  at  the  Health  Exhibition,  London,  1912. 


How  is  Treatment  to  be  Obt.-mned? 
If  parents  are  willing,  so  much  the  better ; 
for  those  who  are  not  willing,,  the  Children's 
Act  may  have  to  be  used  to  persuade  them, 
which  means,  sometimes,  loss  of  precious 
time.  But,  granting  that  the  child  is  to  have 
treatment,  how  is  it  to  be  obtained?  He  may 
be  taken  to  a  hospital  or  to  the  parent's  private 
practitioner,  and  it  may  be  assumed  that  he 
obtains  adequate  advice.  Here  comes  the 
difficulty  in  dealing  with  ear  cases — and 
especially  with  suppurative  ear  cases — how  is 
that  advice  to  be  put  into  practice?  An  opera- 
tion may  be  performed,  but  in  many  cases  its 
mere  performance  is  not  enough.  The  cause 
may  be  removed,  but  the  effect  has  to  be  dealt 
with.  Discharging  ears  need  appropriate 
treatment,  catarrhal  ears  require  inflation. 
The  former  must  have  constant  and  regular 
cleansing  if  they  are  to  be  relieved,  and  this 
cannot  be  done  properly  at  home.  Nor  can 
such  cases  be  dealt  with  efficiently  at  hospital 
or  by  the  private  doctor,  for  the  parent  can 
afford  neither  the  time  for  daily  visits  to  the 
one  nor  the  fees  for  them  to  the  other. 

The  Need  for  School  Clinics. 

These  cases  of  chronic  discharging  ears  are 
the  betes  noirs  alike  of  the  private  practitioner 
and  of  the  hospital  out-patient  clinic.  They 
should  be  treated  either  by  skilled  nurses, 
under  medical  direction  and  inspection,  who 
attend  certain  schools  or  centres  daih',  or  they 
must  be  arranged  for  at  a  school  clinic.  Per- 
sonally, I  am  of  opinion  that  the  school  clinic 
must  come,  because  it  is  the  only  really  prac- 
tical way  out  of  the  difficulty  of  dealing  with 
the  discharging  ears  of  school  children. 

But,  important  as  it  is  adequately  to  deal 
with  deafness  and  diseases  of  the  ear  in 
children  who  are  already  at  school,  we  must 
go  much  farther  than  this  if  we  wish  seriously 
to  endeavour  to  avert  the  heavy  affliction 
entailed  by  loss  of  hearing.  We  must  go  to 
the  infant  before  school  age.  I  have  pointed 
out  that  the  great  majority  of  the  primary  car 
diseases,  middle  ear  suppuration  and  catarrh, 
arise  from  nasal  causes,  chiefly  adenoids,  not 
including,  let  it  be  understood,  those  due  to 
the  infectious  fevers. 

Effects  of  .Adenoids. 
.Adenoids,  even  if  the  middle  ear  escapes 
implication  by  extension  or  infection,  even  if 
they  disappear  as  the  child  reaches  puberty, 
may  leave  behind  them  a  chronic  catarrh  of 
the  post-nasal  space  or  adhesions  about  the 
openings     of     the     Eustachian     tubes     which 


July 


191; 


ilbc  Buitisb  3ounial  of  H-lureiiiQ. 


63 


li;miper  the  normal  movements  of  those  open- 
ing's and  so  bring  about  a  progrcbsive  deafness 
in  later  life.  It  is,  therefore,  in  the  early  years 
of  the  child  that  we  niMSt  seek  to  prevent  deaf- 
ness. We  must  make  sure  that  the  child's 
post-nasal  space  is  kept  free  and  unaffected 
by  disease.  It  must  be  remembered  that  this 
space  behind  the  nose — the  nasopharynx — is 
the  anatomical  meeting-place  of  several  pas- 
sages. Into  it  open  the  Eustachian  tubes  lead- 
ing to  the  ear,  the  nasal  chambers,  the  cavity 
of  the  mouth,  the  food  and  air  passages,  so 
that  it  is  a  centre  from  which  or  to  which 
infection  can  spread. 

The  Treatment  of  Ade.\oids. 
.\denoids,  which  may  be  in  themselves  a 
very  fruitful  source  of  infection,  -must  there- 
fore be  treated  consistently  and  conscien- 
tiously. Not  only  must  they  be  removed  with 
care  and  thoroughness,  but  the  catarrhal 
troubles  which  they  leave  behind  must  also  be 
treated.  It  is  not  enough  to  remove  these 
growths  and  expect  everything  to  go  well,  but 
after-treatment  must  be  followed  out  to  relieve 
any  pharj-ngitis  or  rhinitis  that  remains. 
Everything  must  be  done  to  ensure  a  free  and 
healthy  airway  through  the  nose,  which  alone 
is  adapted  to  the  physiological  preparation  of 
the  air  in  respiration. 

Prevention  of  .Adenoids. 

But  again  we  must  go  farther ;  we  must  do 
our  best  to  prevent  the  occurrence  of  adenoids 
by  proper  hygiene  of  the  upper  air  passages, 
fresh  air,  proper  education  in  the  use  of  the 
pocket-handkerchief,  and  the  avoidance  of  con- 
ditions likely  to  lead  to  the  formation  of  the 
growths.  Most  people  now  know  something 
of  the  importance  of  respiratory  exercises  in 
the  development  of  nasal  breathing,  but  few 
realise  how  important  these  exercises  are  in 
infant  life.  It  is  in  the  very  young  child  that 
the  genesis  of  defective  respiration  must  be 
studied.  In  the  sucking  infant,  if  he  breathes 
only  by  the  mouth,  not  only  do  the  nasal 
cavities  not  develop,  but  they  may  even  retro- 
gress, and  the  child  who  does  not  uncon- 
sciously devote  several  hours  a  day  to  nasal 
respiratory  exercises  cannot  and  does  not 
profit  completely  by  the  advantages  of  a 
normal  nose. 

Dangers  of  Improper  .Artificial  Feeding. 

The  intensity  of  the  respiratory  exercises 
can  be  seen  by  those  who  will  watch  the  infant 
at  his  mother's-  breast.  In  the  normal  child, 
fed  naturally,  the  prolonged  current  of  air  that 


passes  through  the  nasal  cavities  during  the 
act  of  sucking  regulates  the  circulation  of 
blood  in  the  nose  and,  as  it  were,  cleans  the 
nasal  fossae.  In  the  child  fed  artificially, 
unless  precautions  are  taken  to  regulate  the 
sucking  and  the  proper  use  of  the  air,  dust 
and  microbes  of  all  kinds  will  stagnate  upon 
the  badly  irrigated  mucous  membranes, 
giving  rise  to  repeated  inflammations  of  the 
nasopharynx,  which  bring  about  disturbances 
irv  the  nutrition  of  the  tonsil  situated  in  that 
space  and  the  enlargement  of  which  gives  rise 
to  adenoids.  Hence,  in  badly  conducted  arti- 
ficial feeding  and  in  the  use  (or  rather,  abuse) 
of  the  pernicious  and  abominable  "com- 
forter," there  is  a  fruitful  factor  in  the  occur- 
rence of  adenoids.  Recently  Barraud,  of 
Lausanne,  has  pointed  out  that  a  great 
majority  of  adenoid  cases  occurs  amongst  the 
artificially  fed,  and  a  minimum  in  countries 
where  normal  maternal  feeding  is  most  com- 
mon. This  furnishes  one  reason  more — and  a 
very  strong  one — for  advising  all  mothers  to 
do  their  maternal  duty  and  become  complete 
mothers  whenever  it  lies  in  their  power  to  do 
so.  However  well  artificial  feeding  be  carried 
out,  it  can  never  be  considered  as  other  than 
a  makeshift.  It  has  been  asked  often  why 
adenoids  appear  to  be  more  common  than 
formerly,  and  why  they  are  more  often  found 
amongst  town  dwellers  and  in  manufacturing 
countries  than  in  agricultural  districts,  and  in 
.Anglo-Saxon  countries  than  in  Spam  and  Italy. 
You  have  just  heard  the  answer. 

Better  Edlcation  in  Prevention  of 
Deafness. 
Thanks  to  the  ceaseless  toil  of  those  who 
work  in  the  cause  of  scientific  research,  the 
past  decade  has  given  us  a  sound  knowledge 
of  the  conditions  which  lead  to  deafness  and 
diseases  of  the  ear  in  the  child  and  the  adult. 
How  are  we  to  disseminate  that  knowledge, 
acquired  by  much  hard  labour,  and  to  ensure 
that  it  may  lead  to  practical  results  and  so 
discharge  the  debt  of  gratitude  we  owe  to 
those  who  have  indicated  to  us  the  path  to  be 
followed?  We  can  do  this  by  educating 
teachers  and  mothers.  To  attain  this  end, 
however,  there  must  be  a  more  complete 
realisation  on  the  part  of  the  medical  profes- 
sion generally  of  the  importance  of  deafness 
and  of  the  vital  necessity  for  preventing  it  in 
childhood.  It  is  one  matter  to  knoiv  a  thing, 
it  is  quite  another  matter  to  realise  it.  The 
seed  must  be  planted  when  the  soil  is  best  fitted 
to  receive  it,  and  that  time  is  when  the  doctor 
is  a  student.     I  would  urge  the  importance  of 


64 


<L\K  36rltt£5l)  3ournal  of  IRursmo. 


July 


191 


teaching  the  broad  principles  of  otology, 
especially  as  they  affect  the  child,  to  every 
student  of  medicine,  making  a  sound,  practical 
knowledge  of  them  one  of  the  essentials  to 
qualification.  No  doubt  the  burden  of  an 
expanded  curriculum  is  already  heavy  for  the 
student,  but  my  suggestion  would  not  add 
ver\  much  to  it,  and  the  knowledge  would  be 
implanted  when  the  mind  is  fresh  and  eager. 
It  is  the  things  that  are  learned  during  our 
student  days  that  sink  deepest  and  become 
habits.  We  could  thus  ensure  that  the  general 
practitioner  would  be  in  a  better  position  early 
<o  recognise  the  threat  of  ear  disease  and  the 
necessity  for  the  prompt  calling  in  of  expert 
assistance.  Effective  prevention  can  only  be 
attained  by  anticipation,  which  means  cease- 
less vigilance  and  prompt  interference. 
Education  of  Teachers. 
The  elementary  school  teacher  possesses  no 
small  potentiality  for  helping  us  in  the  fight 
against  acquired  deafness.  Every  teacher  of 
school  children  can  help  the  parents  of  his 
charges  and  persuade  them  for  their  children's 
good.  Therefore  ever)'  teacher  should  be  to 
some  extent  a  physiologist.  We  could  place 
this  power  in  their  hands  by  giving  them  some 
knowledge  of  the  causes  which  lead  to  deaf- 
ness and  of  how  to  recognise  them.  This  is 
being  done  for  the  teachers  of  the  London 
County  Council  by  lectures  on  the  care  of  the 
•  ear,  nose  and  throat,  so  that  they  may  have 
the  opportunity  of  becoming  fully  alive  to  the 
opportunities  presented  to  them  for  the  prompt 
recognition  of  threatened  car  disease  during 
school  life. 

Education  of  Mothers. 
In  the  pre-scholastic  period  of  the  child  it  is 
the  mother  who  is  responsible  for  the  care  of 
her  children's  ears ;  when  the  child  goes  to 
school  that  responsibility  is  shared  by  the 
teacher.  Among  parents  there  is  much 
ignorance  and  superstition,  often  a  good  deal 
of  apathy  and  indolence,  to  be  met.  As  Bishop 
Boyd  Carpenter  has  recently  pointed  out,  it  is 
parental  ignorance  that  is  continually  barring 
the  way  to  our  efforts  for  the  good  of  the  child, 
the  child  who  is  to  follow  us  as  the  citizen  of 
the  future,  to  whom  we  have  to  entrust  the 
honour  of  keeping  unsullied  a  glorious  past. 
But,  in  many  cases,  ignorance  and  superstition 
can  be  dispelled  and  apathy  and  indolence  can 
be  overcome  by  the  education  of  the  mother. 
Every  good  mother  is  willing  and  wishful  to 
learn  what  is  best  for  her  child  if  she  is  onlv 
approached  in  the  right  way.  The  instinct  is 
there  ;  it  onlv  wants  a  little  guidance.     In  the 


Sixth  Annual  Report  of  the  Borough  of  St. 
Marylebone  Health  Society  it  is  noted  that  the 
number  of  cases  of  epidemic  diarrhoea  during 
the  exceptionally  hot  and  trying  summer  of 
1911  was  noticeably  small  and  the  death-rate 
from  that  disease  was  smaller  than  that  of  any 
other  Metropolitan  borough.  This  was  due 
largely  to  the  education  given  to  the  mothers 
by  the  Society,  a  teaching  which  was  appre- 
ciated and  welcomed  by  them.  If  a  result  so 
gratifying  can  be  attained  in  one  department, 
it  can  be  reached  in  another.  .Arrangements 
are  being  made  to  teach  the  mothers  of  St. 
Marylebone  the  elementary  principles  of  the 
care  of  children's  ears,  and  I  believe  that  this 
will  be  attended  with  a  like  success. 

The  Xaiidxal  Bureau. 
Among  the  many  bodies  that  exist  for  the 
dissemination  of  principles  of  hygiene  there 
has  recently  been  inaugurated  the  National 
Bureau  for  Promoting  the  General  Welfare  of 
the  Deaf.  If  that  Bureau,  which  has  just  com- 
pleted its  first  year  of  activity,  can  see  its  way 
to  help  in  the  prevention  of  deafness  as  well 
as  in  promoting  the  general  welfare  of  those 
already  deaf,  it  will  assist  in  a  grand  work  and 
will  have  a  ureat  and  useful  future. 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 

WHAT    ARE    THEl  COMMON    50LIRCES    OF    BACTERIAL 
INFECTION  ? 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  Alice  Rhind,  West  Mayfield, 
Edinburgh,  for  her  paper  on  the  above  subject. 

PRIZE     PAPER. 

A  knowledge  of  the  conditions  under  which 
bacteria  grow  and  flourish  will  materially  help 
us  in  realizing  the  chief  sources  of  danger. 

Bacteria  require — (i)  Moisture;  (2)  Food; 
(3)  Heat ;  (4)  Little  light — they  prefer  darkness. 

(i)  Moisture  is  necessary  to  bacteria,  as  to  all 
living  things. 

(2)  Food. — The  food  of  all  bacteria  that 
nurses  need  be  interested  in  is  dead  or  living 
organic  matter — i.e.,  material  of  animal  or 
vegetable  origin — a  minute  particle  of  which  is 
an  ample  supply  of  nourishment  for  millions  of 

'bacilli.  They  all  require  oxygen  :  the  aerobes 
grow  with  free  oxygen ;  anaerobes  get  it  by 
chemically  decomposing  substances  in  the 
medium  in  which  thev  grow.  It  is  to  anaerobes 
that  the  putrefaction  of  the  body  after  death  is 
due. 

(3)  Temperature. — According  to  Dr.  F.  W. 
-Andrewes,  bacteria  may  be  divided  into  three 


Juiy 


igi2 


Cbc  JBvitieb  Scurnal  of  fRursing. 


groups — one  which  flourish  in  a  temperature 
of  about  70  degrees  F.  ;  another  in  a  tempera- 
ture of  between  98  degrees  and  100  degrees  F. 
(the  ordinary  body  temperature  is  ideal  !) ;  and 
a  third  group  of  them  may  grow  at  a  tempera- 
ture as  high  as  160  degrees  F.  The  disease- 
producing  bacteria  belong  to  the  second  group 
mostly,  although  a  few  belong  to  the  first,  and 
to  the  third  Dr.  Andrewes  attaches  no  particu- 
lar importance. 

(4)  Light. — Most  bacteria  are  killed  by  pro- 
longed exposure  to  light,  and  fairly  soon  by 
exposure  to  sunlight. 

The  chief  sources  of  infection  naturally  are 
where  all  these  requirements  are  found  most 
abundantly. 

(i)  Water  and  soil  may  be  full  of  deadly  infec- 
fection.  Tetanus  bacilli  are  frequent  inhabitants 
of  the  soil. 

(2)  Food  is  a  great  carrier  of  infection  gener- 
ally, and  possibly  the  most  active  germ-carrier 
we  have  is  milk.  Scarlet  fever,  cholera, 
typhoid,  diphtheria,  for  instance,  may  be  freely 
bought  with  a  pint  of  milk  which  has  come  in 
contact  with  any  such  infection. 

(3)  Sewage  is  an  ideal  breeding-ground. 

(4)  "  The  animal  body  likewise  offers  admir- 
able facilities  for  their  multiplication,  and  apart 
from  any  invasion  of  the  living  tissues.  Our 
skins  are  covered  by  a  layer  of  dead  organic 
matter,  which  varies  in  thickness  according  to 
our  habits  of  personal  cleanliness,  but  is  never 
quite  absent  .  .  .  and  it  has  been  shown  that 
their  "  (bacteria)  "  numbers  abound  in  our 
underclothing  from  the  time  we  put  it  on  fresh 
from  the  wash  till  we  cast  it  off."  The  inner 
surface  of  the  body  "  is  even  more  favourable  to 
the  growth  of  bacteria,  owing  to  the  greater 
moisture  and  more  equable  temperature." 

.Any  of  these  sources  becoming  infected  with 
the  bacilli  of  any  particular  disease,  and  no  pre- 
ventive measures  being  taken  against  them,  a 
widespread  epidemic  may  arise.  Fortunately, 
the  mere  presence  of  bacteria  is  not  enough 
to  actually  cause  the  trouble.  There  is  against 
it  the  power  of  resistance  of  the  healthy  tissue; 
infection  is  largelv  a  question  of  the  suscepti- 
bility of  the  person  infected.  "  The  healthy 
person  living  in  healthy  conditions  is  less  sus- 
ceptible, and  the  unhealthy  person  living  in  un- 
healthy conditions  is  more  susceptible."  We 
can  check  the  growth  of  bacilli  to  a  very  large 
extent  by  thinking  more  about  health  : 
diminishing  overcrowding;  by  improving  venti- 
lation in  dwellings,  factories,  workshops,  and 
the  like,  and  admitting  sunlight — above  all, 
sunlight. 


\\  c-  m:ght  advantageously  remember  in  our 
grumbling  about  the  weather  that  rain  is  a 
factor  of  great  importance  in  carrying  bacteria 
to  the  ground  and  washing  them  away ;  snow^ 
is  even  more  effectual.  Bacteria  are  only  acci- 
dentally carried  by  the  air  and  wind ;  they 
cannot  grow  and  multiply  there. 

(In  writing  this  paper  reference  has  been 
made  to  "  Lessons  in  Disinfection  and 
Sterilization,"  bv  F.  W.  Andrewes,  M.A., 
M.D.  Oxon.,  F.R.C.P.  Lond.,  D.P.H.  Cantab. 
-A.  B.) 

HONOURABLE     MtNTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honour- 
able mention  :  Miss  F.  \\'aters,  Miss  G. 
Campling,  Miss  O'Brien,  Miss  Macfarlane, 
Miss  M.  Robinson,  Miss  L  James,  Miss 
Fanning,  Miss  E.  F.  Stokes. 

Miss  Waters  says  that  infection  is  due  to  the 
presence  of  bacteria  or  micro-organisms  in  the 
body,  which  grow  and  increase  in  suitable  soil, 
and  have  been  carried  there  by  the  lungs,  the 
alimentary  canal,  or  by  the  skin.  The  infection 
is  generally  carried  from  one  human  being  to 
another,  and  heat,  closed  rooms,  and  ill-health 
help  on  the  growth  of  the  germ.  It  may  be 
produced  by  contact  with  an  animal,  or  even 
be  derived  from  the  soU. 

Miss  Campling  mentions  as  common  sources 
of  infection  ashpits  (organic  refuse),  badly 
drained  soil,  baby  comforters,  bites  or  stings, 
crowded  and  ill-ventilated  rooms,-  sputa  of 
phthisical  patients,  cats,  contaminated  milk  or 
water,  dustcarts,  dust  and  dirt,  dirty  cooking 
utensils,  dirty  cisterns,  defective  drains,  de- 
cayed teeth,  flies,  imperfect  wells,  oysters, 
stagnant  pools,  and  tinned  foods ;  also  diph- 
theritic and  offensive  discharges,  soiled  dress- 
ings, dirty  hands,  instruments  and  dressings, 
and  infectious  diseases. 

A      NEW      REaULATION. 

-As  we  find  that  we  have  had  to  disqualifv 
several  excellent  papers  by  reason  of  their 
length,  we  propose  to  extend  the  limit  to  750 
words. 

QUESTION     FOR     NEXT     WEEK 

What  points  would  you  observe  on  the 
admission  of  a  new  patient  to  a  ward,  and 
why  ? 

Miss  \'.  James,  describing  the  preparation 
of  a  specimen  of  urine,  says  that  the  method 
of  taking  samples  depends  a  good  deal 
on  the  particular  thing  for  which  you  are 
examining.  If  for  reaction  the  sample  must 
be  quite  fresh,  if  for  specific  gravity  you  must 
have  a  mixture  of  the  urine  passed  in  the 
24  hours,  if  for  albumen  the  same. 


66 


Z\K  ffiritisb  3ournal  of  IHurslno 


July  27,    191 2 


COLOGNR,    1912. 


THE     EXHIBITION. 

Below  will  be  found  the  Preliminary  Pro- 
gramme of  the  International  Council  Meeting 
and  Congress,  which  opens  on  Monday, 
August  5th,  in  the  Giirzenich,  at  Cologne, 
previous  to  which  a  Nursing  and  Health 
Exhibition  will  be  opened  at  11.30  a.m.  on 
Saturday,  .August  3rd,  in  the  Marzellen 
Gymnasium,  in  which  our  National  Council 
will  take  part. 

RECEPTION     IN     THE     uiJRZENICH. 

The  German  women  think  that  the  Congress 
should  be  inaugurated  by  a  social  function,  so 
that  the  nurses  of  all  nations  can  become  known 
to  one  another.  This  is  a  happy  idea,  so  they 
have  arranged  a  social  function  on  Sunday 
evening,  August  4th,  and  a  delightful  reunion 
it  promises  to  be.  At  7  p.m.  there  will  be  a 
Reception  in  the  beautiful  Banquet  Hall  of  the 
Giirzenich,  at  which  there  will  be  an  Organ 
Recital,  to  be  followed  by  Addresses,  and  a 
Concert  by  the  world-famed  Cologne  "  Manner- 
chor  "  (Men's  Choral  Society).  There  will  be 
an  interval  for  refreshments,  and  then,  in  a 
series  of  Living  Pictures,  a  Pageant  of  German 
Nursing,  called  The  Triumph  of  Hygeia,  will 
be  presented.  This  Pageant  will  end  with  the 
group  "Modern  Nursing,"  in  which  nurse 
representatives  of  all  nations  will  appear  in 
uniform.  Miss  B.  Cutler,  our  Hon.  Secretary, 
will  appear  for  England ;  Miss  M.  Wright, 
Matron  of  Stobhill  Hospital,  a  member  of  the 
Matrons'  Council  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland, 
for  Scotland ;  and  Miss  B.  M.  Kelly,  Lad\ 
Superintendent,  Dr.  Steevens'  Hospital, 
Dublin,  and  Official  Delegate,  Irish  Nurses' 
Association,  for  Ireland. 

There  is  to  be  lovely  music,  and  none  pre- 
sent will  fail  to  appreciate  the  delightful  hos- 
pitality arranged  in  their  honour. 

Sister  Agnes  Karll  hopes,  if  convenient,  that 
nurse's  uniform  may  be  worn,  as  she  wishes 
the  public  to  realise  its  variety  and  charm. 

THE  INTERNATIONAL  COUNCIL  OF 
NURSES. 

[Founded  in  July,   1 899.) 


THIRD    TRIENNIAL    MEETING. 


PROGRAMME. 

Monday,  August  5T11. 

Morning    Session,     9.30    a.m.     to     12.30    p.m. 


The     Third     Triennial     Meeting  .  ard     General 
Assembly  of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses 


will    be   held    in   the    Giirzenich,    at   Cologne,    on 
Monday,  August  5th. 

Chairman :     Fraulein    Agnes    Karll,    R.N.,  President 
of  the   International  Council   of  Nurses. 

.\genda. 

1.  Call  to  Order. 

2.  Address  of  Welcome  :    The  President. 

3.  The  Watchword,  "  Aspiration":   Mrs.  Bedford 

Fcnwick,    Founder     of    the     International 
Council  of  Nurses. 

4.  Minutes     of     the     London     Meeting  :      Miss 

L.  L.  Dock,  R.N.,  Hon.  Secretary. 

5.  Report  of  the  Hon.  Secretary. 

6.  Report     of    the     Hon.     Treasurer,     Miss     JVL 

Breay. 

7.  International  Recognition  of  the  Services  to 

the   Nursing    Profession   of   the    President, 
Fraulein  Agnes  Karll. 

Invitation  to  Fraulein  Agnes  Karll  to 
accept  the  Honorary  Membership  of  the 
National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland ;  Mrs.  Bed- 
ford Fenwick,  President. 
Music — German  National  Anthem. 

8.  The    Affiliation    of    National    Associations    of 

Nurses  :    Welcome  by  The  President. 

[a)  The   Trained    Nurses'    Association   of 

India. 
(6)  The    New    Zealand    Traijicd    Nurses' 
Association. 
Presentation     of    the     Representatives     of 
incoming      .Associations  :       Mrs.      Klosz 
(India),  and  Miss   Jeannie  M.  Sutherland 
(New  Zealand). 
Music — The  British  National  Anthem. 
Q.   Speech     in     Honour     of     the     Dead  :      The 
President. 

Isla    Stewart,    Great    Britain  &    Ireland. 
Isabel    Hampton    Robb,    United    States 

of  America  and  Canada. 
Jeanie    Kildare   Treacy,  Ireland. 
Jane  Winifred  Thorpe,  India. 
Louis  Landc.  France. 
Music. 

10.  Election  of  Hon.  Officers. 

11.  Selection  of  Ne.xt  Meeting  Place. 

12.  Resolutions — 

[a)  On  the  Rights  of  Citizenship — Women's 

Suffrage. 

(b)  On  State  Registration  of  Nurses. 

13.  Welcome    of.  Members    of    Allied    Organisa- 

tions. 

Afternoon  Session,  2  to  4  p.m. 
I.  Report    of   the    International    Committee    on 
Nursing  Education. 

The  Preliminary  Education  of 
Nurses :  Presented  by  Miss  J.  C. 
van  Lanschot  Hubrecht,  •President 
Dutch  Nurses'  Association. 


July  27,    191: 


abe  Bittist)  3ournal  of  TRursino 


67 


2.  Organisation        and        Stale        Kcgistration  : 

(a)  England  :  Report  from  the  Society  for 

State  Registration  o£  Trained 
Nurses.     Miss  Christina  Forrest. 

(b)  United    States    America :     Miss    Char- 

lotte Ehrlicher,  late  Superinten- 
dent of  the  German  Hospital,  in 
Brooklyn,   U.S.A. 

(c)  Germany:    Sister  EmmaAmpt. 


5   p.m.    Festival    by    the     Municipality     of 
Cologne    in    the    Floral    Town    (iardens. 


THE    INTERNATIONAL    CONGRESS    OF 
NURSES    IN    THE    QURZENICH. 


PROGRAMME. 

Tuesday,  August  6th. 

Morning  Session. — 9  a.m.  to  12.30  p.m. 

President    of    Session  :   Miss  M.  A.  Nutting,  R.N., 

Director,  Department    of    Nursing    and    Health, 

Teachers'  College,  Columbia  Univcrsitv,  New  York, 

U.S.A. 

THE     OVERSTRAIN     OF     NURSES. 

Speakers  : 

Ikrr     Regierungs     and     Geheimcr     Medicinalrat 

Hecker,  Strasburg. 
Oberin  Mej'cr,  Dortmund. 
Miss  Margaret  Breay,  London. 
Sister  Spruijtenburg,  Amsterdam. 
Discussion. 


Afternoon  Session  :  2  to  4  [).m. 
President  of  Session  :    Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick. 


Speakers  : 
Miss    M.    Mollett,    England,    formerly    Matron    of 
the     Ro\al     South     Hants    and     Southampton 
Hospital.     (In  German.) 
Miss    Anna   Maxwell,    United    State    of    America, 
Superintendent    of    Nurses'     Training    School, 
Presbyterian  Hospital    New  York. 
Fraulein  Agnes  Karll,  Germany,  Berlin. 
Discussion. 


Speakers  : 
Sister    Lisbcth    Becker,    Evangelischer-Diakonic- 

Verein  Germany. 
Sister  Vcrwey-Mejan,  Holland. 
Mother  Mary  .\lbcns  Fogarty,   Ireland. 
Sister    Mary    Ignatius,    Mercy    Hospital,  Chicago. 


5  p.m.  Visit   to  the    Lindenburg;    Municipal 
Hospital. 


Evening  Session,   S.30  p.m. 
President     of     Session,     Fraulein     Hedwig     Busch, 
Hanover,       Women's        College,       Evangelical 
Women's  League  for  Social  Work. 


THE     SOCIAL     WORK     OF     THE     NURSE. 

Reports  by  Miss  M.  A.  Nutting  and  Miss  Wald, 

New  York.     Read  by 
Sister  Marie  Lustnauer,  Louisville  City  Hospital, 

Fraternal    Delegate   from    Kentucky. 
Speaker  :    Fraulein  Agnes  Karll. 


Wednesday,  August  7111. 
Morning  Session,  g  a.m.  to  12.30. 
President    of     Session :     Miss    Mary    A.    Sniveley, 
formerly   Lady   Superintendent   of   the  General 
Hospital,  Toronto,  Canada. 
/  Afternoon  .Session  :    2  to  .^. 

President  :   Fraulein  Agnes  Karll. 

THE     SOCIAL     WORK     OF     THE     NURSE. 
(Special  Branches.) 

1.  Miss  Beatrice  Kent,  London.     (In  German.) 

2.  Care    of    Orphans :     Sister   Martha   Oesterlen, 

Stuttgart. 

3.  The    Work   of    the    Police    Assistant :     Sister 

Henriette  Arendt,  Ascona. 

4.  Homes   for  Working  Women  :    Sister  Alyke  v; 

Tiimpling,  Davos. 
5  &  6.  The  Care  of  Babies  :    Sister  Else  Knoerich, 

and  Fraulein  W.  Schubert,  Darmstadt. 
7.  Welfare     Work     for     Consumptive     Patients  : 
Sister  Dorothea  Taubcrt,  Solingen. 
Sister  Tilanus,  Amsterdam. 
Sister  Maiken  Liitken,  Copenhagen. 
Sister  Emmy  Lindhagen,  Stockholm. 
Discussion. 


8.30  p.m.  Banquet  of  Delegates  and  Visitors 
in  the  Hotel  Disch. 


Thursd.w,   August    8tti.  ^ 

Excursion  to  Kaisersiverih. — Departure  9.30 
a.m.,  by  steamer.  Fare  :  dinner  on  board  and 
ticket  on  electric  car,  at  Dusseldorf,  5s.  From 
I  to  6  p.m.  :  Visit  to  the  Kaiserswerth  Deaconess 
House.  Afternoon  coffee.  Return  by  steamer  to 
Dusseldorf,  6  p.m.  Leave  Dusseldorf  for  Cologne 
bv  train,   8  p.m. 

Friday,   August  9th. 

Whole  day  Excursion  to  Bad  Neuenahr,  Ahr- 
wcilcr.  Departure  :  Central  Station,  g.30  a.m., 
on  the  invitation  of  Herr  von  Ehrenwall.  Luncheon  • 
11.30  a.m.,  as  guests  of  the  Kuryeraltung.  Visit  to 
Bad  Neuenahr.  Departure  for  Ahrweiler,  2.30  p.m. 
Visit  to  the  San.  Rat.  v.  Ehrcnwall's  Sanatorium 
for  Nervous  and  Mentally  Diseased  Patients. 
Afternoon  tea  in  the  Forest.  Return  to  Cologne, 
8  p.m.     Fare  4s. 

THE    BUREAU. 

There  will  be  a  Congress  Office  in  the  Gurzenich, 
at  which  visitors  should  at  once  call,  where 
tickets,  badges  and  information  can  be  obtained 
(from  ist  to  3rd  August,  applv  at  Quartermark- 
staal). 

TICKETS. 

The  price  of  tickets  will  be  as  follows  :  For 
Congress    and    E.xhibition    for    members    of    the 


68 


{L\K  BritiC'l)  3oiivnal  of  IRursliui. 


July 


1912 


I.C.N.,  and  for  all  nurses,  3s.  For  others,  5s. 
Dav  tickets  for  Congress,  each  session,  6d.  Exhi- 
bition, after  opening  day,  2id. 

Banquet    tickets,     los.    each,    including    wine. 

Excursion  to  Kaiserswerth,  5s. 

Excursion  to  Neuenalir  and  Ahrweiler,   4s. 

.\11  those  wishing  to  attend  these  functions 
should  procure  their  tickets  as  soon  after  arrival 
as  possible.  As  550  visitors  (exclusive  of  residents) 
have  already  notified  their  intention  of  attending 
the  Congress,  everything  should  be  done  promptly, 
so  as  to  facilitate  arrangements. 

BADGES      ANO      RIBBONS. 

Badges  and  ribbons  will  be  supplied  ;  the 
brassards  will  be  embroidered  with  the  name  of 
country.  In  our  case  Great  Britain  and  Ireland 
tvill  distinguish  members  of  our  National  Council 
with  I.C.N,  in  gold.  Those  nurses  who  in 
addition  wish  their  nationality  still  further  dis- 
tinguished can  wear  a  ribbon  with  the  words 
England,  Scotland,  or  Ireland  on  it,  but  must 
provide  these  badges  for  themselves.  There  is 
certain  to  be  "  Wearing  of  the  Green." 


OUR   CONGRESS   NUMBER. 


On  presentation  of  Congress  ticket  the  town 
permits  free  visits  to  the  museums.  Arrangements 
have  been  made  for  conducting  parties  over 
public  institutions,  hospitals,  and  places  of  interest, 
from  10  a.m.  to  5  p.m. 

Sister  Agnes  Karll  may  be  addressed  at  Baseler 
Hof,  Hermannstrasse,  17-19,  Cologne  ;  and  Miss 
L.  L.  Dock,  CO.  Thomas  Cook's  Tourist  Agency, 

Cologne.  

MEETING  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMAIITTEE. 

There  will  be  a  meeting  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  I.C.N. ,  held  at  the  Giirzenich 
on  the  morning  of  August  4,  to  consider  the 
Agenda  for  the  following  day. 

Owing  to  the  very  serious  illness  of  Dr.  Anna 
Hamilton,  of  Bordeaux,  and  the  sad  death  of 
Dr.  Lande,  we  fear  the  Bordeaux  Schools  will 
not  be  represented  at  the  Congress.  We  extend 
our  deepest  sympathy  to  those  who,  at  past 
meetings,  have  taken  a  leading  part  in  supporting 
their  proceedings.  The  Bordeaux  representatives 
will  be  greatly  missed  at  Cologne. 


A     POOR    TALE. 

This  week  we  have  been  preparing  a  Report 
from  Great  Britain  for  the  meeting  of  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses  at  Cologne.  Same 
old  story  in  so  far  as  nursing  status  is  con- 
cerned. As  in  London  1899,  Buffalo  1901, 
Berlin  1904,  Paris  1907,  London  1909^  so  will 
it  be  in  Cologne  191 2.  No  organization — 
no  educational  standards — no  economic  protec- 
tion— no  legal  status — no  nothing  !  !  ! 

Nothing  but  the  conscientious  conviction  that 
our  demands  are  just — devotion  to  duty — and 
determination  to  have  justice  for  the  sick  and 
our  noble  work  whatever  it  costs.  But  it's  a 
very  poor  tale  from  Florence  Nightingale's 
country. 


Next  week  we  shall  issue  a  Congress  Number 
of  this  Journal,  with  portraits  of  some  of  the 
principal  people  who  will  take  part  in  the 
deliberations  at  Cologne.  Amongst  them  a 
new  picture  of  Sister  Agnes  Karll,  to  whom 
will  be  oflered  the  Honorary  Membership  of  the 
National  Council  of  Nurses  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland  on  August  5th,  in  recognition  of 
her  splendid  work  for  the  organization  of 
Nursing  in  Germany  and  the  truly  international 
spirit  evinced  by  her  during  her  term  of  office 
as  President  of  the  International  Council  of 
Nurses.  Portraits  of  most  of  the  official 
German  delegates  will  appear,  and,  amongst 
others,  the  new  President  of  the  Canadian 
Nurses'  National  Association,  Miss  M.  Ard 
Mackenzie ;  the  Hon.  Vice-President  for  India, 
Miss  C.  R.  Mill ;  Miss  Hester  Maclean,  Presi- 
dent, and  Miss  J.  M.  Sutherland,  delegate,  of 
the  New  Zealand  Trained  Nurses'  Association. 
Extra  copies  of  the  Journal  should  be  ordered 
early  from  the  office,  431,  Oxford  Street, 
London,  W.,  and  taken  to  Cologne,  as  it  will 
contain  much  useful  information. 


AMERICAN  SUPERINTENDENTS  IN 
COUNCIL. 


In  the  report  of  the  Annual  Convention  of  the 
Superintendents'  Society  (now  the  National 
League  of  Nursing  Education  and  affiliated  to 
the  American  Nurses'  .Association)  reported  in 
the  American  Journal  of  Nursing,  we  find  many 
delightful  bits.  Discussing  "  How  can 
Training  Schools  best  Co-operate  with  Educa- 
tional Institutions?"  Miss  Knapp  said  : 
"  Affiliation  with  an  educational  institution 
gives  prestige." 

Miss  Bloomfield  said:  "There  is  surely 
more  impetus  and  inspiration  for  young  women 
in  being  connected  not  only  with  an  institution 
dealing  with  sorrow  and  suffering,  but  at  the 
same  time  one  teeming  with  wide-awake 
humanitv  and  throbbing  with  enthusiasm  and 
power." 

A  paper  by  Miss  Foley  on  "  What  can  Train- 
ing Schools  do  to  Meet  the  New  Demands  on 
Nursing?"  was  received  with  enthusiasm. 
'  Miss" Foley  said:  "Nurses'  training  makes 
them  more  than  skilled  workmen,  it  gives  them 
more  than  "a  trade  and  their  daily  bread;  it 
places  them  in  the  ranks  of  the  master  crafts- 
man who  creates  while  he  executes  :  and  grant- 
ing this,  may  not  the  school  that  gives  high 
ideals,    worthy    ambitions,    and    a    generous,. 


July  2j,    1912 


(Ibe  Brltlsb  Sournal  of  H-lur^inci. 


69 


carefully  planned  training-  to  its  pupils,  best 
prepare  them  for  success  in  meeting  the  new 
demands  upon  nursing?" 

Miss  Mclsaac's  account  of  nursing  condi- 
tions met  with  in  all  parts  of  the  country  was 
given  in  a  most  interesting  manner.     She  said  : 

"  Tliis  National  Society  of  ours  represents 
20,000  nurses ;  and  the  strength  of  opinion 
which  may  emanate  from  20,000  good  women 
working  together  for  a  common  good  is  not  to 
be  despised,  and  we  may  even  hope  that  in 
some  quarters  it  may  be  feared.  The  common 
good  for  which  we  strive  can  be  stated  in  six  ' 
words  :  better  schools,  better  nurses,  better 
service." 

Mr.  Gilbreth  said  :  "  I  have  always  thought 
of  a  hospital  as  a  Happiness  Factory." 

The  subject,  "The  Night  Staff  in  a  Hos- 
pital," was  prepared  by  Miss  Anna  C.  Jamme, 
who  said  :  "  It  seems  a  far  cry  from  the  '  Lady 
With  the  Lamp  '  making  her  nightly  rounds 
amongst  her  thousands  of  patients  in  the  miser- 
able barracks  to  our  clean,  cheerful,  comfort- 
able wards  of  to-day  :  yet  the  problem  of  the 
care  of  patients  is  ours  now,  as  it  was  hers 
then." 

In  the  paper,  "  The  Staff  Nurse  in  England," 
prepared  by  Miss  Gertrude  Cowlin  (St.  Bar- 
tholomew's Hospital)  and  read  by  Miss 
Krucger,  she  wrote  :  "I  believe  that  in  this 
country  the  paid  and  qualified  staff  nurse  as  we 
know  her  in  England,  does  not  exist  in  hospital 
administration,  and  although  America  has  a 
wealth  of  ideas  to  offer  us  in  respect  to 
organization,  yet  I  think  perhaps  it  will  be 
ready  to  acknowledge  how  valuable  in  the 
existent  scheme  of  things  in  England  is  the 
hospital  staff  nurse." 


APPOINTMENTS. 


NURSES    AND    THE    NATIONAL 
INSURANCE  ACT. 

Trained  Nurses  do  not  seem  to  object  less  to 
the  Insurance  Act  now  that  it  is  in  force. 
Private  nurses  dislike  it  most,  as  they  suffer 
the  loss  of  professional  prestige  by  its  enact- 
ment. The  fact  of  taking  the  card  to  private 
patients  weekly  will  be  most  invidious,  and 
many  private  nurses  working  on  their  own 
intend  if  possible  to  pay  the  whole  tax  of  26s. 
and  not  present  the  card.  Members  of  co-opera- 
tive associations  will  all  in  time  have  to  pay 
an  equivalent  of  the  whole,  as  the  clerical 
labour  may  require  an  extra  clerk.  In  time 
the  only  thing  to  do  is  to  revise  the  private 
nurse's  fee,  as  of  recent  years  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment have  put  additional  burdens  on  the  work 
of  trained  nijrses. 


MATRON. 

The  Royal  Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the  Chest, 
City  Road.  B.C.— .Miss  Mary  S.  Rundlc  has  been 
appointed  Matron.  She  \v;is  trained  at  J  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  London,  E.G.,  where 
she  subsequently  held  the  positions  of  Night 
Superintendent  and  Assistant  Housekeeper.  She 
has  also  been  Night  Sister,  Sister  Housekeeper, 
and  Acting  Assistant  Matron  at  the  Royal  Free 
Hospital,  Gray's  Inn  Road,  W.C.  Miss  Rundlc 
was  selected  by  the  League  of  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital  Nurses  to  hold  the  Isla  Stewart  Scholar- 
ship, at  the  Teachers'  College,  Columbia  University, 
New  York,  U.S..\.,  for  one  year,  and  therefore  has 
had  the  advantage  of  systematic  training  in  the 
duties  of  a  Matron. 

The  Hospital,  Ilkeston,  Yorkshire. — Miss  Eileen 
O' Gorman  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  General  Hospital,  Wolverhampton, 
and  has  held  the  position  of  Sister  at  the  Devon- 
shire Hospital,  Buxton,  and  the  General  Infirmary, 
Gloucester,  and  has  been  Night  Sister  at  the 
District  Infirmary,   Ashton-undcr-Lvne. 

The  Infectious  Diseases  Hospital,  Alcester. — Miss 
Bella  Mitchell  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She 
was  trained  at  King's  Cross  Hospital,  Dundee, 
and  since  1901  has  been  Senior  Charge  Nurse  and 
Deputy  Matron  at  the  Hospital,  Skym  Corner, 
Bromley  Common,  Kent. 

The  Infectious  Diseases  Hospital,  Bangor. — 
Miss  Nellie  Jones  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Lodge  Road  Fever  Hospital, 
Birmingham,  and  has  been  Assistant  Nurse  at 
the  City  Hospital  (North),  Liverpool. 

Poorhouse  and  Hospital,  Dumbarton.  —  Miss 
J.  L.  Turnbull  has  been  appointed  Matron.^  She 
was  trained  at  the  Barnhill  Hospital,  Glasgow, 
and  has  held  the  position  of  Charge  Nurse  at  the 
West  Hospital,  Aberdeen,  and  at  Stobhill  Hospital, 
Glasgow,  and  has  also  been  Assistant  Matron 
at  the  Oakbank  Hospital  in  the  same  city.  She 
is     a    certified    midwife. 

ASSISTANT    MATRON. 

Long  Grove  Asylum,  Epsom. — Miss  M.  M. 
Thorburn  has  been  appointed  Assistant  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Infirmary^  and  the 
City  Hospital,  Edinburgh,  and  has  been  Assistant 
Matron  at  the  Stirling  District  Asvluni,  Larbert, 
and  at  the  West  House,  Morningsidc,  Edinburgh. 

SISTER. 

Stirling  District  Asylum,  Larbert. — Miss  Eliza- 
beth Terris  Taylor  has  been  appointed  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Infirmarv.  Man- 
chester, and  has  been  Charge  Nurse  at  the  Simpson 
Memorial  Hospital,  Edinburgh,  and  Night  Sister 
at  Barrow-in-Furness  Hospital. 

CHARGE     NURSE. 

The  Workhouse  Hospital,  Chell,  near  Tunstall, 
Staffs. — Miss  Annie  Sidlcy  h;us  been  appointed 
Charge  Nurse.  She  was  trained  at  the  Wolstanton 
and  Burslcm  Union  Hospital,  and  has  been 
Charge  Nurse  at  the  Chesterfield  Union  Hospital. 


CTbe  36rttl6b  3ournal  of  IRurstno 


July   27,    1912 


The  Workhouse  Infirmary,  Newport,  Monmouth- 
shire.— Miss  Bessie  Louisa  Scotl  has  been  appointed 
Charge  Nurse.  She  was  trained  at  Shirley  Warren 
Infirmary,  Soutliampton,  where  she  has  been 
temporary  Ward  Sister  and  Maternity  Sister.  She 
has  also  been  Charge  Nurse  of  Women's,  Children's 
and  Maternity  Wards  at  Stevning  Union  Infirmary. 

Miss  Olive  Minnie  Adams  has  also  been  ap- 
pointed Charge  Nurse  in  the  same  institution. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Bagthorpe  Lnfirmar>-, 
Nottingham. 

QUEEN     ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL     MILITARY 
NURSING     SERVICE. 

Sister  Miss  Margaret  F.  Steele  resigns  her 
appointment.  Staff  Nurse  Miss  Isabella  McM. 
Beaton  and  Staff  Nurse  jMiss  C.  Sldnner  resign 
their  appointments. 

Miss  Agatha  M.  Phillips.  Staff  Nurse,  to  be 
Sister. 

queen  victoria's  jubilee  institute. 
Transfers  and  Appointments. 

Miss  Bacon  is  appointed  to  Leicester  as  Superin- 
fendent  ;  Miss  Hannah  Newton,  to  Gateshead,  as 
Senior  Nurse  ;  Catherine  Bamford,  to  Dewsbury  ; 
Miss  Vinnie  Clark,  to  Dewsbury  ;  Miss  Gertrude  E. 
Davdes,  to  Somercotes  ;  Bertha  Ffoulkes,  to 
Hampstead  ;  Miss  Mclvor,  to  Cardiff  ;  Miss  Ruby 
E.  Radbum,  to  Brixton  ;  Miss  Marion  E.  Rolls,  to 
Crawley  ;    Miss  Mary  Stephens,  to  Swanley. 


MEDALS    FOR     NURSES. 

At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Joint  Committee  of 
Management  of  the  Richmond  District  Asylum, 
Dublin,  Nurse  Yourelle  and  Nurse  M'Kenna  were 
the  recipients  of  the  prize  medals  annually  awarded 
by  Mrs.  M' Dowel  Cosgrave  for  meritorious  work 
in  connection  with  the  management  of  the  institu- 
tion. The  chairman,  Mr.  R.  Jones,  J. P.,  in 
making  the  presentation,  said  that  the  fact  that 
they  had  obtained  the  prizes  was  a  testimony  to 
their  zeal  and  their  ability  in  the  discharge  of 
their  duties.     The  nurses  suitably  returned  thanks. 


THE     PASSING     BELL. 

The  traditions  of  the  nursing  profession  that 
those  in  their  charge  must  be  served  even  unto 
death  found  practical  expression  in  a  railway 
accident  in  Western  Peimsylvania,  when  an 
excursion  train  filled  with  300  men,  women  and 
children  returning  from  a  day's  outing  was  run 
into  by  a  heavy  freight  train  ;  nearly  every  person 
in  the  rear  car  of  the  passenger  train  was  killed, 
and  in  the  front  of  it  were  fifteen  children  from  a 
charitable  organisation  in  charge  of  two  nurses, 
who  had  been  taken  from  the  "  Black  Country  " 
for  a  picnic  up  the  line  in  the  "  Green  Country." 
One  of  the  nurses  sacrificed  her  life  in  endeavouring 
to  save  her  charges.  Her  name  is  not  mentioned 
in  the  accounts  which  have  reached  us,  but  her 
profession  is  the  richer  that  she  thus  bravely 
performed  her  duty,  and  we  may  be  sure  that  she 
will  in  no  wise  lose  her  reward. 


NURSING    FXHOES. 

On  Friday,  the  19th  inst.,  Queen  Alexandra 
visited  the  East  End  of  London  to  attend  the 
Flower  Show  of  the  People's  Palace  and  East 
London  Horticultural  Society  at  the  People's 
Palace.  Her  Majesty  then  drove  to  Bow,  and 
opened  the  new  Tredegar  House,  built  on  a 
site  given  by  Lord  Tredegar,  to  be  used  as  the 
Preliminary  Home  of  London  Hospital  proba- 
tioners. Queen  Alexandra  was  received  by  the 
Chairman  (the  Hon.  Sydney  Holland),  the 
Matron  (Miss  Liickes),  and  other  prominent 
officials.  After  an  address  and  the  presentation 
of  Mr.  Rowland  Plumbe,  the  honorary  archi- 
tect, who  has  given  (;^5,ooo  towards  the  new 
building.  Queen  Alexandra  declared  the  build- 
ing open,  saying  :  "  I  declare  this  building 
open,  and  I  hope  God's  blessing  may  rest  upon 
it  and  all  \vho  work  in  it."  She  was  then  con- 
ducted over  the  Home,  and  promised  to  send  a 
photograph  of  herself.  The  new  school,  which 
has  cost  ;£i2,ooo,  is  opened  free  of  debt,  and 
contains  accommodation  for  30  pupils,  who  are 
taught  for  seven  weeks — this  number  just 
meeting  the  loss  at  the  London  Hospital  during 
that  term.  

We  have  always  been  of  opinion  that  the 
Preliminary  Training  of  nurses  is  very  urgently 
required  before  they  begin  their  ward  work. 
Much,  of  course,  can  be  taught  systematically 
in  seven  weeks,  but  it  is  far  from  a  sufficient 
term,  and  may  result  in  superficial  cramming". 
Six  months  devoted  to  preliminary  theoretical 
and  practical  training  is  the  very  least  time  in 
which  it  can  be  possible  to  secure  a  thorough 
course,  and  if  the  Probationers  at  the  London 
Hospital  were  given  a  three  years'  term  of 
training — instead  of  two — the  Preliminary 
C(jurse  could  be  made  more  thorough. 


Whilst  other  hospitals,  such  as  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's, fail  even  to  supply  their  nursing  staffs 
with  an  efficient  Nurses'  Home,  where  the 
teaching  department  of  the  nurses  can  be 
organized,  the  London,  in  comparison,  is  to 
be  congratulated  on  going  aliead  and  securing 
the  necessary  buildings.  The  course  of  teach- 
ing can  be  extended  at  any  time. 

It  may  not  be  generally  known  that  the 
Board  of  Education  subscribes  liberally  several 
hundred  pounds  a  year  towards  the  education 
of  nurses  at  the  London  Hospital.  Why  should 
not  other  large  hospitals  apply  for  a  grant? 
They  have  an  equal  right  to  it. 


The  grievances  of  the  staff  nurses  in  Que?n 
Alexandra's  Imperial  Military  Nursing  Service 


July 


1912 


Cbe  Britieb  3ournal  of  IRurstno. 


71 


in  reg'ard  to  promotion  arc  being  voiced  by 
Truth,  which  states  that,  while  staff  nurses 
were  led  on  joining  to  expect  that  they  would 
be  promoted  to  sisters'  posts  in  from  one  lo 
three  years,  there  are  at  present  8g  with  more 
than  three  years'  service,  and  the  prospect  of 
promotion  is  extremely  remote,  as  there  are 
only  about  four  promotions  from  staff  nurse  to 
Sister  e\erv  vear.  Now  that  the  Service  has  its 
full  complement  of  Matrons,  Sisters,  and  Staff 
Nurses,  promotion  is  inevitably  slow,  for  one 
of  the  attractions  to  those  holding  the  higher 


raise  the  tone  and  bring  comfort  lo  those  in 
trouble.  He  described  a  little  girl  carrying  a 
large  child,  and  on  being  asked  if  it  wasn't  a 
heavy  burden,  said,  "  Oh  no;  it's  my  brother." 
He  hoped  the  Guild  would  not  only  bind  ail  the 
members  together  as  brethren,  but  would  also 
help  them  to  bear  the  burden  of  the  often  hope- 
less and  helpless  lives  of  those  to  whom  ihev 
had  to  minister. 

.'\rchdeacon  Escreet,  the  Warden  of  the 
Guild,  was  also  present,  and  Prebendary 
Ingram    proposed    a    vote    of    thanks    to    the 


posts  is  the  pension  which  they  will  ultimately       Bishop,  which  was  carried  with  acclamation. 


earn.  But  nurses 
should  realise  this 
on  entering  the 
Service,  as  it  is  a 
mistake  for 
women  of  ability 
to  continue  to 
work  as  staff 
nurses  until  they 
let  all  the  desir- 
able civilian  posts 
pass  by  them. 


The    Bishop    of 

Kingston,   the 

President    of    the 

Guild   of    Service, 

invited  the  mem- 
bers to  a  most  en- 
joyable    party     in 

his       garden       at 

Kingston      House 

on  the  evening  of 

the  15th  inst.   The 

Guild    is    founded 

to      nourish      and 

foster    religious 

life    among    Poor 

L  n  w   o  ffi  c  i  a  1  s  . 

Branches      ar(' 

being  started  in  different  parts  of  the  country. 
Soon  after  6  o'clock  the  guests  began  to  arrive, 
by  far  the  largest  proportion  being  nurses. 
Refreshments  were  handed  round  out  of  doors, 
and  various  games,  such  as  bowls,  Aunt  .Sally, 
&c.,  were  very  popular.  A  band  played,  and 
several  couples  danced  on  the  grass. 

Before  the  guests  had  to  separate,  liie 
Bishop,  standing  on  a  raised  seat  under  a  tree, 
spoke  words  of  encouragement  and  cheer.  He 
said  he  felt  the  Guild  was  getting  its  roots 
firmly  embedded  and  was  spreading  over  the 
country.  He  considered  that  those  present 
were  doing  the  noblest  and  least  repaying  work 
in  caring  for  the  wrecks  of  life  and   Irving  to 


Mrs.  W  o  o  d  - 
ward,  12,  West 
Cromwell  Road, 
the  Hon.  Organi- 
z  i  n  g  Secretary, 
would  be  glad  to 
hear  from  anv 
wishing  t 
the  Guild. 


JO 


Miss     MAY     ALLliN 


Through  the 
kindness  of  the 
Secretary  of  the 
Universities'  Mis- 
sion to  Central 
Africa  we  arc 
able  to  publish 
the  accompanying 
portrait  of  \Iiss 
M  a  r  y  Ann 
Harriett  Allen,  of 
whose  work^n  the 
early  days  of  the 
Universities'  Mis- 
sion in  Zanzibar 
we  have  already 
g  iven  some  ac- 
count.  Miss 
-Mien,  a  c  c  o  m  - 
panied  by  two 
nurses  who  had  worked  with  her  at  King's 
College  Hospital,  threw  herself  into  the  dis- 
pensary work  on  her  arrival  in  1875,  "  glory- 
ing," says  Central  Africa,  "in  the  difTiculties 
and  limitations  which  met  her  on  all  sides,  for 
in  those  early  days  there  were  actually  no 
facilities  for  nursing,  very  small  accommoda- 
tion for  the  sick,  next  to  no  food  for  invalids, 
and  drugs  were  as  precious  and  hard  to  get  as 
gold. 

"  In  spite  of  all  these  drawbacks.  Miss  Allen 
worked  some  wonderful  cures  and  quickly 
established  her  reputation  as  a  healer  among 
the  Africans — indeed,  she  was  the  pioneer  of 
the    hospital     work,     and     for    this     alone     the 


5tbe  Britisb  3ounial  of  IRurstna 


July   27,    191. 


Mission  owes  her  much."  Her  great  gift  for 
languages  was  highly  valued  by  Bishop  Steere, 
who  sought  her  help  and  criticisms  in  all  his 
translations ;  her  afternoons  were  devoted  to 
visiting  the  Arab  ladies  in  the  town ;  she  filled 
the  arduous  post  of  housekeeper  in  the  Bishop's 
House  at  Mkunazini,  which  bore  a  strong 
resemblance  to  a  hotel  because  of  the 
manv  comings  and  goings;  and  her  "spare 
moments  " — we  should  imagine  they  were  few 
— were  devoted  to  sketching,  and  her  brush 
vividlv  and  powerfully  portrayed  the  glory  of 
the  gorgeous  Eastern  colouring. 

The  following  very  interesting  letter  appears 
in  the  journal  of'  the  Nurses'  Missionary 
League  from  Rachel  A.  Williams,  resident  at 
Bangalore,  on  the  "Training  of  Indian 
Nurses."  It  pleads  for  standards,  and  will 
arouse  the  heartiest  sympathy  of  those  of  us 
who,  against  much  interested  opposition  and 
ignorance,  are  always  striving  after  better  con- 
ditions of  nursing  : — 

At  the  Conference  of  the  Indian  Medical  Mis- 
sionar>'  Association  it  was  almost  unanimously 
agreed  by  doctors  and  nurses  present  that  an 
effort  should  be  made  to  raise  the  standard  of 
nursing  in  our  Mission  Hospitals.  I  know  that  the 
standard  proposed  bv  the  Nursing  Sub-Committee 
appointed  to  consider  the  matter,  and  draw  up  a 
scheme,  is  thought  to  be  rather  too  high  at  present 
for  some  ;  but  from  what  I  can  remember  no  one 
present  considered  that  an\-thing  less  than  three 
years'  traimng  was  sufficient.  And  at  the  Annual 
Conference  of  the  Association  of  Nursmg  Superm- 
tendents  of  India,  and  Trained  Nurses'  Association 
of  India,  which  was  held  in  Calcutta  in  November 
last,  and  which  represented  Ci%-il  and  Mission 
Hospitals  in  many  parts  of  India,  from  north  to 
south,  this  point  was  emphasized.  True,  many 
difficulties  in  this  connection  were  discussed,  and 
the  most  hopeful  among  us  cannot  expect  them 
to  be  removed  vet,  but  one  thing  stood  out  clearly, 
namely,  that  no  one  ought  to  be  granted  a  certifi- 
cate gi^^ng  her  the  status  of  "  Trained  Nurse  " 
unless  she  had  had  three  years'  training. 
•         *         * 

I  believe  three  vears'  training  is  compulsory  in 
all  Government  Hospitals  where  Hindu  w^omen 
are  trained.  Are  we  to  allow  the  non-Christian 
nurses  of  the  future  to  be.  more  efficient  than  our 
Christians  ?  To  me  that  seems  a  serious  question. 
\nd  while  we  out  here  make  new  efforts  to  over- 
come the  difficulties  which  anv  change  is  liable 
to  cause,  we  need  the  prayers  of  our  fellow  nurses 
and  others  at  home  that  we  may  not  be  discouraged 
if  we  are  not  successful  at  first,  and  that  we  may  m 
due  time  succeed.  Mso  that  eventually,  through 
their  increased  efficiency,  our  Christian  Nurses 
may  be  leaders  in  their  profession.  We  are  agreed 
that  Indian  Nurses  are  wanted  for  evangelistic 
work,  as  well  as  for  nursing,  and  the  better  equipped 


they  are  in  their  profession,  the  greater  will  be 
their  opportunities,  and  the  wider  their  influence, 
in  the  days  w-hen  '  nursing  '  wUl  be  recognised  in 
this  land  as  an  honourable  profession  for  Indian 
women."  

Miss  Hurlston,  Sister  in  Charge  of  the  Royal 
Hospital  for  Sick  Children,  Muirfield  House, 
Gullane,  N.B.,  is  to  be  congratulated  on  the 
excellent  results  obtained  by  the  Gullane  Sec- 
tion of  the  Red  Cross  Society,  to  w'hom  she 
has  been  delivering  a  course  of  Home  Nursing, 
at  the  recent  examination. 

The  examination  was  conducted  by  Dr.  Ken- 
mure  Melville,  examiner  for  St.  Andrew's 
Ambulance  Association.  Fourteen  out  of  a 
possible  fifteen  members  passed,  about  three- 
quarters  of  the  class  gaining  first-class 
honours. 

Miss  Hurlston  made  it  plain  to  the  class  that 
she  only  proposed  teaching  them  the  little 
things  that  every  woman  should  know  how  to 
do  in  case  of  illness  in  her  own  home  until  she 
can  obtain  a  doctor's  advice,  specially  empha- 
sising that  drugs  should  never  be  prescribed, 
and  the  risks  run  by  so  doing.  Instruction  was 
given  in  the  elements  of  hygiene  in  relation  to 
infectious  diseases,  on  bandaging,  and  on  the 
use  and  administration  of  simple  remedies  fre- 
quentiv  ordered  by  doctors.  The  w'ork  of  the 
Section  is  done  under  the  supervision  of  the 
Medical  Officer. 


The  "Overstrain  of  Nurses,"  w'hich  is  to 
be  w^idely  discussed  at  the  Nursing  Congress 
at  Cologne,  is  a  question  of  vital  importance 
at  the  moment,  and  we  note  this  week  nurses 
and  overwork  finds  publicity  in  quite  a  number 
of  papers.  The  Liverpool  Courier  ends  up  some 
slashing  criticisms  on  the  strain,  especially  in 
Poor  Law  institutions,  where  nurses  are 
"  rushed  to  death,"  with  the  pertinent  ques- 
tion :  "  It  is  regrettable  that  while  the  medical 
men,  quite  properly,  organise  and  agitate  for 
their  own  rights,  they  are  never  heard — in 
public,  at  all  events — asking  that  their  neces- 
sary colleagues,  the  nurses,  shall  be  treated 
with  more  consideration.  What  do  they  say  to 
this?  Will  they  tell  the  community  what  is  to 
be  done  to  put  our  hospitals  on  a  decently 
efficient  footing?  " 

The  Spectator  and  the  Lahoitr  Leader 
wonder  how  it  is  that  the  health  of  Peter  the 
nurse  is  exploited  in  hospitals  to  benefit  Paul 
the  patient  ! 

We  are  not  surprised  that  this  point  of  view 
presents  itself.  It  seems  quite  senseless  to 
make  one  set  of  people  ill  in  order  to  nurse 
another  set  back  to  health. 


July   27,    191 2 


^[)c  aSvitiC'l?  3oiunal  ot  "ll'liu-sino. 


THE    HOSPITAL    WORLD. 


THU     ROYAL     VICTORIA     INFIRMARY. 
NK\\  CASTLK-ON-TYNE. 

When  visiting  an  important  city  for  the  first 
time  one  naturally  asks,  "  F"or  what  is  this  place 
famous?  "  The  reply  may  be,  "  Oh  !  ships — 
or  shoes — or  sealing-wax,"  as  the  case  may  be, 
but  when  the  advice  is  added,  "  You  must  see 
our  magnificent  new  Infirmary,"  one  may  rely 
upon  it  that  the  folks  in  that  particular  city  are 
all  right.  A  great  town  without  a  magnifijrent 
new  Infirmary  has  failed  in  civic  enterprise  and 
duty,  and  lacks  enlightened  appreciation  of  the 
value  of  medicine  as  an  adjunct  to  sanitary 
science.  It  also  lacks  appreciation  of  the  magic 
restorative  value  to  health  of  skilled  and  com- 
fortable nursing. 

I  recently  spent  two  days  in  that  ancient  and 
virile  city  Newcastle-on-Tyne,  and,  conducted 
by  the  matron,  Miss  L.  Wilson  Wamsley,  had 
the  privilege  of  inspecting  the  splendid  new 
Victoria  Infirmary,  finely  placed  on  Tow  n  Moor 
land,  and  which  crowns  the  site  as  a  perpetual 
reminder  to  coming  generations  of  Tyneside 
folk  that  the  best  only  was  considered  good 
enough  for  their  needs  and  service  when  its 
stone  was  laid  and  its  portals  opened  by  the 
kindest  and  most  sympathetic  of  Kings.  The 
Victoria  Infirmary  is  indeed  beautifully  situated, 
and  is  surrounded  by  fine,  well-kept  grounds. 
The  approach  is  stately,  and  dignity  is  lent  to 
the  whole  institution  by  the  well-placed  and 
most  lovely  statue,  in  pure  white  marble,  of 
Queen  \'ictoria  by  Frampton,  a  young  and 
gracious  Queen — as  all  Queens  should  for  ever 
remain. 

The  exterior  of  the  administrative  block  and 
the  various  pavilions  are  somewhat  severe  in 
style,  but  upon  entrance  one  soon  realises  that 
the  lordly  sum  which  was  expended  in  the 
erection  and  decoration  of  the  hospital  has  been 
expended  to  the  very  best  purpose  within.  Hov 
really  artistic  and  beautiful  is  the  inner  entrance 
hall  !  With  its  stamped  leather  walls  and 
fine  woodwork,  the  staircase  and  gallery  lead- 
ing to  the  Board  room  above,  give  a  baronial  air 
which  is  not  at  all  out  of  place  in  this  magnifi- 
cent municipal  building.  It  is  fine — and  the 
People's  Palace  of  Recovery  should  be  fine.  Cor- 
ridors to  right  and  left  lead  to  handsome  official 
apartments,  and  the  Matron's  sitting-room — 
softly  toned  within,  a  fine  view  without — is  a 
tranquil  place,  and  must  be  a  delightful  retreat 
to  rest  in,  if  the  busy  Matron  of  so  well-ordered 
an  institution  ever  finds  time  to  rest. 

The  hospital,  which  contains  430  beds, 
is  the  ideal   size  to  manage — not  too  large  to 


keep  ill  human  toucli  with  all  within.  It  is- 
possible  for  a  Superintendent  to  keep  in  con- 
stant conimunication  with  the  heads  of  all 
departments — nursing,  domestic,  and  clerical  ; 
most  important  of  all,  the  wards  can  be  con- 
stantly visited,  the  work  of  Sisters  and  nurses 
seen  and  appreciated,  and  a  personal  judgment 
— apart  from  reports  useful  in  their  place — 
formed  of  the  practical  work  of  those  in  train- 
ing. Needless  to  say,  the  wards  of  the  Victoria 
Infirmary  are  scientifically  constructed  and 
beautifully  appointed.  They  are  spacious,  light, 
airy,  and  comfortable,  and  evidently  very  well 
cared  for.  Polished  floors  and  wooden  lockers 
I  consider  hygienically  defective,  and  they  add 
greatly  to  the  cost  of  labour,  but  they  are  very 
harmonious,  for  which  let  us  be  thankful  !  So 
speckless  was  the  whole  institution — corridors, 
wards,  annexes — that  I  ventured  to  ask  : 

"  Is  Newcastle  really  a  dirty  place?  " 

The  emphatic  reply,  "  Oh  !  indeed  yes  !  " 
still  left  a  lurking  suspicion  in  my  mind  that  the 
floating  smuts  of  this  industrial  centre  did  not 
venture  to  intrude  into  the  privacy  of  the 
people's  place  of  healing. 

For  veritably  the  Victoria  Infirmary  belongs 
to  the  people,  and  they  are  evidently  vastly 
proud  of  it.  Turn  to  the  balance-sheet,  and  you 
will  find  that  the  Workmen's  Contributions 
last  year  amounted  to  the  grand  total 
of  ;^i8,85o  los.  out  of  an  income  of 
;C37>985  5^-  Sa^-,  which  proves  how  greatly 
they  value  its  benefits.  The  Committee  state 
in  their  report  that  they  cannot  speak  too 
approvingly  of  the  appreciation  of  the  work  of 
the  Infirmary  which  is  represented  in  these 
figures,  and  in  thanking  the  many  thousands 
of  contributors,  emphasise  that  acknowledg- 
ment is  again  due  in  respect  of  the  large  number 
of  workmen's  representatives,  colliery  and 
works  officials,  who  kindly  act  as  honorary 
agents  in  collecting  and  forwarding  the  contri- 
butions. 

On  the  other  hand,  for  so  wealthy  a  city  as 
Newcastle  it  does  not  strike  me  that  those  who 
are  so  fortunately  placed  as  not  to  require  the 
hospital's  help  contribute  quite  as  generously 
as  they  might  do  ! 

The  Nurses'  Home  is  worthy  of  the  Infir- 
mary, and  its  approach  through  the  lovely 
winter  garden  must  be  a  daily  delight  to  the 
nursing  staff  passing  to  and  fro.  The  glass 
corridor  and  domed  conservatory  were  gay  with 
flowers,  ferns,  and  creepers,  and  the  gardener, 
I  learned,  takes  a  very  special  pride  in  its  care. 
Each  Sister  and  Nurse  has  her  own  charming 
little  bedroom,  and  there  are  large  and  very 
prettilv  furnished  rooms  for  recreation  and 
studv.     From  the  latter  one  can  step  into  the 


74 


^be  36riti5b  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


July   27,    1912 


garden,  and  the  adjacent  grounds  are  reserved 
for  the  nurses,  where  in  shady  nooks  their 
lounge  chairs  can  be  cunningly  placed. 

Averv  high  and  practical  standard  of  train- 
ing in  the  Nurses'  School  is  now  in  force.  The 
term  is,  of  course,  for  three  years,  well  planned 
out,  and  the  probationers  are  systematically 
taught  and  their  studies  supervised.  At  present 
there  is  no  preliminary  course,  the  cost  is  so 
great ;  but  some  day,  when  Newcastle  is  a  great 
examining  centre  for  Trained  Nurses  prepara- 
torv  to  Registration  (as  it  is  to  some  degree  now 
for  certified  midwives),  money  will  be  forth- 
coming for  the  systematic  preliminary  teaching 
of  pupil  rturses,  and  for  their  examination,  as  a 
matter  of  course.  Parents  are  slowly  beginning 
to  realise  that  to  fit  daughters  to  enter  self- 
supporting  professions,  it  is  their  duty  equally 
with  that  they  owe  their  sons,  to  pay  towards 
the  expenses  of  the  educational  course  which 
will  fit  them  to  earn  their  livelihood.  Habits 
die  hard,  and  the  discreditable  habit  of  parents 
expecting  "  some  other  fellow  "  to  provide  for 
their  daughters,  whilst  realising  parental  re- 
sponsibilitv  towards  their  sons,  is  slowly  but 
surelv  decreasing. 

The  Nurses'  Dining-room  is  very  well  ap- 
pointed with  little  tables  a  qualre.  To  judge 
from  the  food  I  saw  being  served,  under  the 
supervision  of  a  Sister,  in  the  large  well-kept 
kitchen  at  the  top  of  a  block,  it  is  very  appetis- 
ing ;  and  near  bv  are  arranged  most  con- 
veniently all  the  little  "  shops  "  from  which 
domestic  stores  of  all  kinds  are  obtainable. 

Indeed,  a  well-appointed  modern  hospital  is 
a  verv  comprehensive  place.  It  is  also  a  very 
happv  one.  Every  true  nurse  realises  that, 
upon  entering  a  ward  long  after  she  has 
passed  to  work  in  other  spheres.  It  all  comes 
back  to  her — the  glorv  of  vitality,  the  sweetness 
of  serving,  the  satisfaction  of  weariness  after 
work  well  done.  The  blessedness  of  duty.  In- 
deed, nurses  who  reallv  love  their  work  are  just 
as  close  to  the  Pearly  Gates  as  we  can  ever  get 
in  this  world. 

Fthei.  G.  Fenwick. 


AN    EXAMPLE    TO    FOLLOW. 


Tuberculosis  work,  says  the  American 
Journal  of  Nursing,  is  progressing  in  Cuba, 
and  a  cottage  or  "  caseta,"  named  Martina 
Guavera,  has  been  built  for  the  use  of  the 
nurses  at  the  sanatorium.  A  pretty  ceremonial 
of  blessing  the  cottage  took  place  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Cuban  Nurses'  ."Association, 
which  sent  out  invitations  for  the  event. 


REFLECTIONS. 

FROM    A    BO.\RD    ROOM   MIRROR. 


Queen  Alexandra  has  become  an  annual  sub- 
scriber to  the  Children's  Sanatorium  for  the 
Treatment  of  Phthisis,  Holt,   Norfolk. 


Princess  Louise  visited  Romford  last  week  and 
laid  the  foundation  stone  of  an  enlargement  of 
the  Victoria  Cottage  Hospital,  which  is  being 
erected  bv  public  subscription,  as  a  memorial 
of  Kin"  Edward  VII. 


The  committee  for  the  removal  of  King's  College 
Hospital  to  South  London  ha\e  just  received  a 
cheque  for  ;/^20,ooo,  being  the  balance  of  the  gift  of 
£50,000  recently  made  to  the  fund  by  an  anony- 
mous donor.  Bv  the  donor's  desire,  £4,000  of  the 
total  donation  is  allotted  to  the  sum  required  for 
the  building  of  the  medical  school  in  connection 
with  the  new  hospital.  Let  us  hope  some  millionaire 
will  follow  suit  and  pav  for  the  new  Nurses'  Home, 
and  he  might  also  endow  a  Preliminary  Training 
School  for  Nurses  at  the  same  time. 


■»  The  secretary  of  the  Sunderland  Royal  Infirmary 
CSlr.  Thomas  Robinson)  has  received  a  cheque  for 
£i,ooo  from  the  Local  Ladies'  Guild,  through  the 
Hon.  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Arthur  Kidson,  for  the 
endowment  of  a  bed  in  memory  of  the  late  King 
Edward  VII.  The  money  has  been  raised  by- 
annual  sales  of  work.  The  Guild  was  founded  in 
1900,  and,  prior  to  the  present  gift,  there  have 
been  four  beds  endowed  through  the  efforts  of  the 
members,  each  endowment  in\ohing  the  collection 
of  /i.ooo. 


The  ilayor  of  Croydon  (Alderman  J.  Trumble, 
J. P.)  and  the  Mayoress  of  Croydon  opened  on 
Saturday  the  King  Edward  VII.  Memorial  Wing 
of  the  Croydon  General  Hospital  and  the  exten- 
sions of  the  Royal  .\lfred  Wing.  For  some  time 
past  the  work  of  the  hospital  has  been  hampered 
by  the  absence  of  isolation  wards  and  the  limited 
accommodation  for  its  new  departments.  This 
has  now  been  remedied  as  the  result  of  the  Mayor's 
ardent  efforts  in  the  cause. 


On  Monday  Mr.  Harold  Smith  presented  a  Bill 
in  the  House  of  Commons  to  pro\'ide  for  the 
registration  of  accountants  and  auditors  in  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland ;  and  for  other  purposes 
connected  therewith. 


NOTICE. 

May  we  remmd  members  of  the  Trained  Women 
Nurses'  Friendly  Society  of  the  meeting  to  be  held 
on  Saturday,  27th  inst.,  in  the  ;\Iedical  Society-'s 
Rooms,  II,  Chandos  Street,  Cavendish  Square, 
London,  W.,  at  5  p.m.,  to  elect  officers  and  adopt 
rules  approved  by  the  Commissioners.  Only 
members  will  be  admitted. 


j„iy  27,  1912  ^Ibe  Britisb  3ountal  of  Ij-lursinci 

DOCTORS  AND  THE  INSURANCE  ACT.  OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


75 


The  result  of  the  voting  on  resolutions  in  con- 
sidering the  National  Insurance  Act  by  the  repre- 
sentative meeting  of  the  British  ^^edical  Associa- 
tion at  Liverpool  has  been  eagerly  awaited  by  the 
public,  and,  wc  have  no  doubt,  by  the  Chancellor 
of  the  Exchequer.  The  members  decided  that 
medical  men  should  be  left  free  to  accept  service 
imder  the  Act  in  regard  to  sanatorium  benefit, 
while  refusing  it  in  regard  to  medical  benefit.  The 
reason  for  this  seems  to  be  that  many  mcmbeft  of 
the  profession  see  no  reason  to  object  to  the 
salaries  and  appointments  in  connection  with 
sanatorium  benefit,  and  would  indeed  be  quite 
willing  to  work  the  Act  in  regard  to  medical 
benefits  if  the  terms  were  such  as  they  considered 
fair. 

In  a  masterly  letter  to  the  Times  Sir  Clifford 
Allbutt  proves  there  is  danger  in  a  cheap  medical 
service  becoming  stereotyped  in  practice — a  pill 
and  potion  practice  on  rule  of  thumb  diagnosis  ! 
and  adds,  "  My  fear  is  lest  the  Insurance  Act 
prove  to  be  one  more  and  a  big  example  of  our 
inveterate  habit  of  ignoring  causes  and  throwing 
all  our  strength  into  the  mopping  up  of  con- 
sequences." 

ACTED    AS    A    NURSE. 


THREE    CONVICTIONS    FOR    BIGAMY. 

.\  voung  woman,  giving  the  name  of  Mary 
Leslie,  on  July  i6th  pleaded  guilty  to  a  charge 
of  bigamy  at  a  pleading  ilict  of  the  Edinburgh 
Sheriff  Court,  before  Sheriff- Principal  Maconochie. 
The  woman  is  said  to  have  acted  as  a  nurse. 

The  charge  in  the  present  instance  was  that 
on  the  second  of  April  this  year,  in  a  solicitor's 
office  in  Edinburgh,  she  being  the  lawful  wife 
of  Albert  Esgate,  carpenter,  and  he  being  still 
alive,  she  bigamouslv  married  another  man. 

Her  record  is  that  during  the  last  eleven  years 
fehe  has  been  sentenced  several  times  for  fraud 
and  theft  and  this  is.  the  third  time  she  has  been 
convicted  of  bigamy,  having  contracted  bigamous 
marriages  with  an  Edinburgh  merchant,  a  student 
at  Edinburgh  University,  and  now  a  young  Roch- 
dale gentleman.  Between  the  two  last  episodes  she 
"  acted  as  a  nurse  "  in  the  South  of  England, 
and  was  staving  with  the  parents  of  the  young  man 
from  Rochdale  when  her  arrest  for  the  third  time 
on  a  charge  of  bigamy  took  place.  She  is  described 
as  "  having  an  engaging  manner  which  has 
repeatedly  stood  in  her  good  stead." 

In  sentencing  her  to  eighteen  months'  imprison- 
ment. Mis  Lordship  said  it  w<is  a  bad  and  extraor- 
dinary case.    It  was  the  third  case  of  bigamy. 

Is  this  the  kind  of  woman  the  public  desire  I11 
have  in  their  houses  in  the  confidential  relationship 
of  a  trained  nurse  ?  If  there  is  no  State  Register 
of  Trained  Nurses  when  she  comes  out  of  jail  she 
will  be  atlc  to  pose  as  a  trained  nurse  with  impunity, 
and  her  "  engaging  manner  "  will  no  doubt  stand 
her  in  good  stead. 


WOMEN. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pethick  Lawrence  and  Mrs. 
Pankhurst  have  gone  abroad  to  in  some  degree 
recover  their  shattered  health,  resulting  from  the 
hunger  strike  in  prison,  and  have  publicly  inti- 
mated that  they  will  not  hold  themselves  respon- 
sible for  the  actions  of  individual  suffragists 
during  the  suspension  of  their  leadership.  They 
are  to  be  welcomed  back  as  leaders  of  the  W.S.P. LJ. 
at  a  great  njeeting  at  the  Albert  Hall  in  October. 


^Irs.  Garrett  Fawcett — the  veteran  suffragist, 
and  leader  of  the  constitutional  partv — has 
addressed  an  open  letter  to  the  militants  begging 
them  to  drop  their  policy,  which  she  considers  is 
alienating  public  sympath^^  from  the  cause  of 
women's  enfranchisement. 


The  press  consider — and  they  lorow  a  few 
things  under  the  rose — that  the  militant  suffra- 
gists have  inaugurated  a  reign  of  terror  amongst 
Cabinet  Ministers.  Scotland  Yard  for  some  time 
past  has  devoted  its  energies  to  the  protection  of 
Ministers  singled  out  for  attack — ^Ir.  Asquith, 
Mr.  Lloyd  George,  Mr.  Harcourt,  and  Mr.  McKenna 
are  closely  guarded  at  home  and  abroad  bv 
detectives. 


The  Standard  reports  that  at  a  recent  meeting 
Miss  Eraser,  in  the  course  of  her  address,  told  the 
following  story  about  a  South  African,  who  said 
he  had  always  been  in  favour,  of  Woman's  Suffrage, 
but  had  reason  lately  to  doubt  his  >visdom  in 
upholding  it.  Asked  what  had  made  him  change, 
he  stiid  that  in  New  Zealand  since  women  had  the 
vote  all  the  old  stiffs  had  left  the  countrv  for  home. 
"  Old  Stiffs  !  Who  and  what  arc  Old  Stiffs  ?  " 
"  Why,  all  the  drunk  and  incorrigibles,  of  course, 
and  if  women  get  the  vote  here  they'll  be  sending 
all  the  Old  Stiffs  over  to  us."  "  'Then,"  replied 
Miss  Eraser,  "  you  had  better  give  the  vote  to  the 
women  in  South  .\frica,  and  get  rid  of  your  Old 
Stiffs  from  there."  This  is  a  very  direct  compli- 
ment to  the  moral  influence  of  women  in  politics. 


Canon  Henson,  of  Westminster,  begs  everybody 
to  spend  the  petty  sum  of  is.  5d.  in  obtaining  the 
Putumayo  Blue  Book  and  learning  something  of  the 
possibilities  of  commercial  greed  in  the  twentieth 
century.  We  need  not  go  to  Peru  to  realise  the 
worship  of  the  Golden  Calf — let  the  good  Canon 
step  across  the  road  and  remonstrate  with  the 
Members  of  the  House  of  Commons,  who  have 
\-oted  themselves  large  salaries,  partly  paid  by 
taxing  women,  to  whom  they  deny  representa- 
tion, and  whom,  moreover,  they  imprison  and 
despitefully  use — for  objecting  to  this  "  commercial 
greed,"  of  taxation  without  representation. 

The  horrors  in  Putumayo  are  abominable,  but 
the  horrors  of  Holloway  are  worse. 


76 


Jibe  Brltlsb  3ournal  of  IWurslna. 


July  27,    1912 


The"  Mothers'  Congress  of  Denver,  is  run- 
ning a  special  school  of  matrimony  for  the 
•elder  public  school  girls  of  the  city,  where  they 
are  instructed  in  the  cares  and  duties  of  life  that 
lie  before  them.  Realising  the  value  of  the 
instruction  given,  the  Denver  School  Board  has 
decided  to  place  the  school  under  its  jurisdiction 
and  to  considerably  enlarge  its  sphere  of  re- 
sponsibility. In  future  girls  in  their  last  school 
■\-ear  are  to  choose  a  vocation,  and  then  advice 
and  instruction  will  be  given  them  on  their  choice. 
Special  courses  fitting  them  for  work  as  wives 
and  mothers  will  also  be  arranged. 


VERSES. 

O  ye  who  taste  that  love  is  sweet, 
Set  waymarks  for  all  doubtful  feet 
That  stumble  on  in  spite  of  it. 
Sing  notes  of  love,  that  some  who  hear 
Far  off.  inert,  may  lend  an  car, 
ti\se  up,  and  wonder,  and  draw  near. 
Lead  life  of  love  ;    that  others,  who 
Behold  your  life,  may  Idndle  too 
With  love,  and  cast  their  lot  with  you. 

Christina  Rosetti. 


COMING    EVENTS. 

July  27//J. — Irish  Nurses'  Association.  Social 
gathering.  Killiney  Hill,  Victoria  Gate.  Cyclists' 
meet.   Park  Gate,  4  p.m. 

July  2-jth. — Meeting  of  Members  of  the  Trained 
Women  Nurses  Friendly  Society  (approved  by 
1:he  National  Insurance  Commissioners).  To  elect 
officers  and  to  adopt  rules.  Medical  Society's 
Rooms,  II,  Chandos  Street,  W.,  5  p.m. 

July  zjth. — Prince  Arthur  of  Connaught  opens 
the  Health  Exhibition  of  the  Royal  Sanitary 
Institute  at  York,  at  3  p.m. 

July  igth. — International  Eugenics  Congress 
Reception,   University  of  London,    9.30  p.m. 

August  I  St. — Central  Midwives  Board  Ex- 
amination.    London. 

August  yd  to  gth. — International  Council  of 
Nurses.  Triennial  Meeting.  Congress.  Exhibition, 
•Cologne. 

■    ♦    ■ 

A     WORD     FOR     THE     WEEK. 

The  futTire — the  last  Evangel,  which  has 
included  all  others.  Its  cathedral  the  dome  of 
immensity — hast  thou  seen  it  ?  Coped  with  the 
star-galaxies ;  paved  with  the  green  mosaic  of 
land  and  ocean  ;  and  for  altar,  verily  the  star- 
throne  of  the  Eternal  !  Its  litany  and  psalmody 
the  noble  arts,  the  heroic  work  and  suffering,  and 
the  heart-utterance  of  all  the  valiant  of  the  sons 
of  men.  Its  choir-music  the  ancient  winds  and 
oceans,  and  deep-toned,  inarticulate,  but  most 
speaking  voices  of  destiny  and  history,  supernal 
•even  as  of  old,  between  two  great  Silences  : 
"  Stars  silent  rest  o'er  us. 
Graves  under  us  silent." 

_  I    — Carlyle. 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  for  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 

OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITION. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dear  Madam, — Many  thanks  for  the  cheque  for 
Prize  Competition,    which    I    was    surprised    and 
delighted  to  receive  this  morning. 

Yours  sincerelv, 

Grace  Nash. 
North   Ormesby   Hospital, 
Middlesbrough,  Yorkshire. 


THE    ORGANISATION  OF    NURSING  HOMES. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dear  Madam, — I  sympathise  with  the  main 
object  of  Miss  Stower's  letter,  headed  "A Practical 
Suggestion,"  in  last  week's  issue,  but  the  lack  of 
all  supervision  of  nursing  homes  is  to  blame  for 
the  antipathy  of  the  public  generally  to  these 
institutions.  It  is  quite  hopeless,  presumably, 
to  expect  the  present  Government  to  bring  in 
any  legislation  of  a  social  reform  character,  as  had 
a  Bill  for  the  registration  of  nursing  homes  been 
put  into  force  when  suggested  years  ago  good 
organisation  might  have  resulted  by  now.  First 
should  come  the  Nurses'  Registration  Act,  and  then 
an  Act  to  register  nursing  homes.  The  public 
might  then  hope  for  effective  protection. 
Yours  truly, 

Member  R.B.N.A. 


IT   HANGS   ON   REGISTRATION   OF   NURSES* 

To  the  Editor  ofTniL  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — I  was  in  the  House  of  Lords 
in  1908  when  nurses'  registration  was  under 
consideration,  through  the  Directory  of  Nurses 
Bill,  and  the  Nurses  Registration  Bill,  and  if  I 
remember  rightly  Lord  Salisbury  worked  actively 
and  spoke  against  Lord  Ampthill's  Bill.  Now 
there  is  no  doubt  that  had  that  Bill  become  law, 
many  of  the  stories  he  has  since  heard  concerning 
them  "  as  would  make  one's  hair  turn,"  would 
long  ago  have  been  remedied.  It  is  hopeful, 
therefore,'  to  find  Lord  Salisbury  (who  in  igo8 
moved  an  amendment  to  Lord  Ampthill's  Bill  to 
substitute  one  for  three  j'ears'  training  as  sufficient 
for  registration)  now  saying  publicly  that  "  Lf 
someone  turned  his  attention  in  Parliament  to 
the  inspection  and  registration  of  nursing  homes 
he  would  be  emplojdng  his  time  to  great  ad- 
vantage." 

Any  real  protection  for  the  sick  public  in  nursing 
homes^and    elsewhere   hangs   on    registration    of 


July 


191; 


Cbc  36iitf,3b  3ournal  ot  IFlursnui 


77 


nurses,  as  without  a  prescribed  minimum  o£ 
nursing  efficiency  the  registration  of  nursing  homes 
would   be   useless.        Yours  sincerclv, 

M.  B. 
(Several  letters  are  held  over  on  this  question. — 
Ed.) 


LARRIKIN     LAW. 

To  the  Editor  ofTHTL  British  Journal  of  Xuusixg. 

Dear  Madam, — I  am  sorry  to  note  the  advice 
of  an  Australian  Matron  in  last  week's  editorial 
discouraging  us  from  emigrating  to  the  Colonies, 
because  many  working  \vomcn  arc  longing  for  a 
change  from  the  narrow  and  restrictive  sphere  at 
home.  Enjoyment  as  summed  up  in  personal 
comfort  is  not  the  aim  of  life  if  it  is  to  be  lived  to 
the  full,  and  I  intend  to  go  to  Canada  and  take 
a  helping  hand  in  protecting  the  health  of  the 
strenuous  folks  building  up  the  Empire  out  there. 
I  have  been  in  Australia,  and,  in  spile  of  certain 
disadvantages,  I  found  the  atmosphere  surrounding 
the  worker  far  more  vigorous  than  in  the  Strand 
and  Bond  Street.  Don't  let  our  really  fine  women 
be  discouraged  from  leaving  the  old  country. 
Few  appreciate  their  libcrtv-loving  spirit  here, 
and  it  will  all  bs  crushed  out  of  them  bv  pluto- 
cratic vulgarity  if  they  are  content  in  the  future 
to  obey  "  Larrikin  Law."  The  Manhood  Suffrage 
Bill,  if  it  becomes  law  without  enfranchising 
women,  and  amongst  them  trained  nurses,  will 
place  the  power  of  life  and  death  over  women  in 
the  hands  of  these  ignorant  vouths.  Anywav, 
in  Australia  women  can  insist  upon  decent  con- 
ditions of  life.  My  advice  to  .self-respecting 
working  women  is  to  clear  out  of  a  countrv  which 
values  them  so  little,  and  let  the  Larrikins  import 
the  serfs  they  require,  at  the  very  poor  pay 
considered  adequate  for  our  skilled  work. 
Yours  trulv, 

.\   British  Wo.m.^.v. 


A     JUST     SALARY     THE     REMEDY. 

'I'o  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — In  .a  letter  which  appeared 
recently  in  the  Glasgow  Herald,  written  by  Mr. 
Sydney  Holland,  opposing  our  demand  for  State 
Registration  of  Nurses  (after  accusing  Miss  E.  A. 
Stevenson  of  inaccuracy,  and  making  a  personal 
attack  upon  you  and  ihe  only  Nurses'  journal 
which  tells  us  the  truth)  he  writes  : — 

"  The  attempt  to  get  the  word  '  trained  ' 
before  the  word  district  nurses  in  the  clause 
enabling  an  approved  society  or  insurance  com- 
mittee to  support  a  '  district  nurse,'  and  to 
appoint  '  nurses '  for  the  purpose  of  visiting 
insured  persons  was  happily  not  successful. 
If  it  had  been  there  would  have  at  once  arisen 
the  question  as  to  what  a  '  trained  nurse  '  is, 
and  if  the  view  of  Miss  Stevenson  and  others 
had  been  carried  out  in  the  definition  of  these 
words  then  hundreds  of  women  doing  most 
excellent  work  all  over  the  country  as  district 
and  village  nurses  would  have  been  put  out  of 


work,  and  there  are  not  enough  other  nurses  to 
take  their  place." 

It  is  wonderful  how  tenderly  careful  the 
"  antis  "  arc  of  the  interests  of  those  who,  after 
a  few  months'  so-called  training,  assume  the 
responsibility  of  nursing  the  sick — and  here  let 
me  say  it  is  not  always  their  fault  they  are  lured 
into  undertaking  such  hard  work  for  such  poor 
pay.  But  Mr.  Holland  makes  a  significant  ad- 
mission when  he  says  if  "  trained  "  nurses  had 
statutory  protection  "  hundreds  of  village  nurses 
would  be  put  out  of  work."  Many  village  nurses 
are  certified  midwivcs — and  as  such  have  State 
protection — and  will  not  cease  to  act  as  such  when 
trained  nurses  are  treated  with  equal  justice  by 
the  State.  But  if  "  hundreds  of  women  "  are 
sailing  under  false  colours,  assuming  to  be  skilled 
nurses  when  they  do  not  possess  the  knowledge 
and  experience  to  make  them  so,  the  sooner  the 
poor  are  protected  from  them  the  better.  The 
majority  of  village  nurses  are  so  insufficientlv  paid 
that  their  rich  patrons  arc  rapidly  creating  an6ther 
pauper  class  of  women  workers,  and  classes  of 
women  workers  in  the  pauper  line  are  a  national 
danger.  In  Scotland  wc  have  fought  and  shall 
continue  to  do  so,  against  this  evil  imported  from 
over  the  border. 

The  truth  is  that  if  a  just  salary  was  offered 
for  district  nurses,  from  which  they  could  save 
for  old  age,  there  would  be  plentv  of  excellent 
nurses  offer  for  the  work.  But  their  work  is 
held  in  contempt  economically,  and  self-respecting 
well-trained  women  will  not,  and  cannot  afford  to 
work  at  the  price.  With  gratitude  for  the  good 
fight  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing  puts  up 
for  justice  to  nurses  all  round,  , 

Yours  truly,  ^ 

Once  a  Scottish  Queen's  Nurse. 

■    ♦    ■ ^ 

OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITION i    FOR    AUGUST. 


August  T,rd. — What  points  would  you  observe 
on  the  admission  of  a  new  patient  to  a  ward,  and 
why  ? 

August  loth. — Enumerate  the  principal  physical, 
mental,  and  moral  qualifications  requisite  in  a 
trained  nurse. 

August  ijth. — Mention  some  of  the  emergencies 
you  have  met  with  in  the  course  of  your  nursing 
career  and  your  methods- of  dealing  with  them. 

August  24//;. — How  would  n'ou  deal  with  severe 
post  partum  haemorrhage  in  the  absence  of  medical 
assistance  ? 

August  31  si. — Describe  the  preparation  of  a 
patient  for  receiving  an  anaesthetic.  What  ])re- 
cautions  would  you  take  before  and  after  ? 

THE  TRAINED  NURSES'  FRIENDLY  SOCIETY. 

.ApPRO\  KD    BV   THE    I.NSLRANCE     C0M4MISS10.N1:RS. 

Miss  MoUett,  Hon.  Secretary,  will  be  at 
431,  Oxford  Street,  W.,  daily,  and  will  be 
pleased  to  give  all  information  possible  to  those 
desiring  to  join  a  Friendly  Society  of  profes- 
sional nurses. 


:\K  Britieb  journal  of  H-lurtMiui  Supplement,     jmv  27,  1912 

THe   Midwife. 


A  WORLD=FAMOUS  INSTITUTION. 


London  will  lose  a  world-famous  institution 
(says  tlie  Liverpool  Courier)  if,  as  is  expected,  the 
Universitv  of  London  acquires  the  site  of  the 
Foundling  Hospital  for  its  new  premises.  "  Sunday 
moming  at  the  Foundling,"  listening  to  the  sweet- 
voiced  children,  has  been  a  regular  recreation  of 
Londoners  and  country  visitors  for  close  upon 
200  vears.  Dickens  enjoyed  manv  a  Sabbath 
heart-wanning  there,  and  during  the  reigns  of 
tlie  Georges  the  gallants  in  their  brocaded  sUks 
used  the  fine  stretch  of  greensward  in  front  of 
the  building  as  a  fashionable  morning  lounge. 
It  is  a  splendid  show  place,  too,  apart  from  its 
appealing  human  interest.  Paintings  by  Hogarth, 
Re\Tiolds.  and  Gainsborough  may  be  seen  there, 
presented  by  the  artists  themselves.  Hogarth's 
"  March  of  the  Guards  "  dominates  a  collection 
of  Georgian  pictures  that  can  hardly  be  rivalled 
elsewhere,  and  other  great  treasures  are  the  organ 
which  Handel  gave  to  the  chapel  and  the  full 
score  of  his  "  Messiah."  The  institution  never 
had  a  greater  friend  than  Handel,  who  often  con- 
ducted the  "  Messiah  "  and  other  oratorios  for  the 
benefit  of  the  charity.  Now-adays  there  are  usually 
about  400  bovs  and  girls  at  the  "  Foundling,"  the 
boys  in  dark  brown  coats  and  trousers  and  waist- 
coats, the  girls,  like  demure  little  Quakeresses,  in 
brown  frocks  with  white  caps  and  aprons. 
Admission  to  the  institution  is  a  more  delicate 
agair  to-day  than  it  was  in  the  middle  of  the 
eighteenth  centurv,  when  all  that  was  necessary 
was  to  deposit  a  child  in  a  basket  hung  outside 
the  gates  and  ring  the  bell. 


BORAX  AND  HONEY  FOR  BOTTLE 
TEATS. 


The  practice  of  applying  a  diluted  mixture 
of  borax  and  glycerine,  or  borax  and  honey, 
to  the  mouths  of  young  infants,  after  each 
cleansing,  as  a  preventive  against  thrush,  is  a 
routine  practice  in  many  maternity  hospitals, 
and  of  many  midwives  and  monthly  nurses, 
who  follow  the  traditions  of  their  school  after 
leaving  it.  The  following  details  of  a  case  sent 
by  Mr.  A.  S.  McNeil,  L.R.C.P.,  to  the  British 
Medical  Journal  should  therefore  be  carefullv 
studied,  for  few  midwives  or  nurses  would,  we 
believe,  have  supposed  this  danger  to  exist  : — 

On  April  23rd  a  male  infant,  aged  thiee  months, 
fed  naturally  from  birth,  was  brought  to  me  for 
treatment.  It  had  all  the  signs  of  gastro-intestinal 
trouble,  and,  as  the  mother  did  not  appear  in  the 


best  of  health,  I  ad\-ised  her  to  wean  the  child 
and  put  it  on  an  artificial  diet  which  I  prescribed. 
Two  days  after^vards  it  was  brought  again  suffering 
from  "  fits  "  in  addition  to  the  bowel  trouble. 
On  this  occasion  I  made  a  more  minute  examination 
and  discovered  that  the  child  had  a  long  ulcerated 
foreskin,  with  retained  smegma.  After  this  had  been 
thoroughly  cleaned  up  and  the  mother  instructed 
how  to  look  after  it,  I  thought  this  would  put  an 
end  to  the  "  fits."  In  spite  of  repeated  and  most 
careful  examinations,  however,  both  fits  and  the 
slimv  olTensi\-e  diarrhoea  got  worse.  I  made  changes 
in  the  diet,  gave  bismuth  and  grev  powders,  and 
later  morphine,  but  all  to  no  purpose.  From  the 
character  of  the  motions  and  the  rapid  wasting 
I  now  suspected  tuberculous  trouble,  but  I  could 
not  account  for  the  very-  frequent  fits,  and  it 
struck  me  that  the  parents  were  giving  the  child 
something  other  than  I  had  told  them.  I  questioned 
them  closelv  and  frequently-  on  this  point  without 
result.  It  was  not  until  five  weeks  after  the  child 
was  first  brought  to  me  that  the  father,  in  showing 
me  a  jar  of  \-irol  I  had  ad\4sed  him  to  get  for  the 
child,  casually  showed  me  also  a  tin  of  "  borax 
and  honey  "  to  put  on  the  child's  soothing  teat. 
It  struck  me  at  once,  when  he  admitted  that  they 
had  been  using  this  all  along,  that  this  was  the 
cause  of  the  fits,  so  I  put  the  box  in  the  waste 
bucket.  The  father  was  incredulous,  but  I  warned 
him  to  get  no  more.  The  child  was  ha\-irg  as  many 
as  thirty  fits  in  the  tsventj--four  hours,  and  was 
at  the  point  of  death,  but  the  fits  now  rapidly 
diminished  in  numbers  and  se\-erity,  until  in  a  few 
days  it  was  quite  free  from  both  fits  and  gastro- 
intestinal disturbance,  and  is  now  perfectly  well. 

I  think  it  proper  to  publish  this  case  because  the 
habit  of  giving  this  mixture  of  borax,  honev,  and 
glvcerine  to  children  in  this  improper  manner 
is  becoming  so  widespread  that  chemists  get  large 
quantities  of  cheap  honey  from  California  for  this 
purpose  and  issue  the  mixtnire  in  special  tin  boxes 
with  "  Borax  and  Honey  "  printed  on  the  lids. 
I  may  say  that  the  child  w-as  taken  to  two  hospitals 
for  further  advice  on  different  occasions  during 
the  time  I  was  att -ending  it.  .\t  one  hospital  the 
mother  was  given  some  pills  "  like  flour  "  which 
made  the  child  much  worse,  so  she  stopped  gi^^ng 
them  ard  broi  ght  him  to  me  again.  It  is  possible 
these  pUls  were  made  of  boric  acid,  with  the 
idea  oi  disinfecting  the  bowels.  At  the  other 
hospital  the  chOd  had  a  series  of  \dolent  fits  in  the 
out-pat'ents'  room  .  necessitating  the  attentions 
of  the  doctor  and  nurses.  The  mother  told  me 
that  she  dipped  the  child's  teat  in  the  borax  and 
honey  in  front  of  the  doctor  and  gave  it  to  the 
child.  She  told  me  this  to  justify  herself  in  gi\ang 
the  mixture,  as  she  quite  refused  at  first  to  believe 
it  was  the  cause  of  the  illness.  I  should  say  that 
it  was  their  first  child,  and  both  the  parents  were 


July  27,  1912     ^be  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IHiu'sino  Supplement. 


79 


thoroughly  worn  out  with  sitting  up  with  him. 
Since  then  a  woman  in  the  same  street  has  volun- 
teered the  information  that  her  baby  had  fits 
till  it  was  nine  months  old  and  had  to  be  carried 
about  on  a  pillow.  She  gave  it  a  ssothing  teat 
until  about  that  age,  dipped  in  borax  and  honey, 
on  the  advice  of  a  nurse,  and  she  now  thinlts  she 
knows  what  caused  the  fits.  It  seems  to  me  that 
this  matter  deserves  the  attention  of  medical 
officers  of  health  and  district  nurses,  as  well  as  the 
general  body  of  medical  men. 

It  would  seem  as  if  the  commercial  prepara- 
tions of  glycerine  and  honey  are  dangerously 
strong  for  infants.  The  dilute  ones,  the  use  of 
which  is  sanctioned  by  members  of  the  medical 
staffs  of  hospitals,  are  constantly  used  without 
ill  effect.  At  the  same  time,  nurses  and  mid- 
wives  should  avoid  using  on  their  own  respon- 
sibility preparations  which  may  have  such 
serious  consequences. 

DIARRHCEA     IN    BOTTLE-FED    BABIES. 

"After  many  experiments,"  says  The  Medical 
Record,  "  Dennett  came  to  the  following  con- 
clusions : — 

"  I.  Underfed,  poorly  nourished  babies  witn 
diarrhoea  do  best  on  the  milk  and  water  mixture, 
boiled,  without  sugar. 

"  2.  Those  that  do  not  improve  on  these 
mixtures  are  benefited  by  albumin  milk. 

"  3.  Babies  that  have  repeated  or  prolonged 
attacks  do  better  on  albumin  milk. 

"  4.  Older,  well  -  nourished  babies  with  a 
diarrhoea  do  best  on  a  barley  gruel  diet  for  a  few 
days. 

"  5.  Infectious  diarrhoeas,  if  seen  early,  should 
have  a  cathartic  and  starvation  for  forty-eight 
hours.  The  milk-and-water  mixture,  boiled,  or 
albumin  milk  should  then  be  given. 

"  6.  Cathartics  should  be  given  to  babies  with 
diarrhoea  with  great  discretion." 

MATERNITY  TRAINING  FOR  CHARGE 
NURSES  AT  THE  BELFAST  ROOR 
LAW     INFIRMARY. 

At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  I?clfast  Board  of 
Guardians  the  Infirmary  Committee  reported  that 
they  had,  as  directed  by  the  Board,  reconsidered 
the  question  of  affording  maternity  training  to 
charge  nurses,  and  also  considered  the  report  of 
Dr.  M'Liesh,  visiting  medical  officer,  relative  to 
this  subject,  in  which  he  suggested  that  charge 
nurses  who  had  not  obtained  maternity  training 
should  be  sent  over  to  fill  extra  vacancies  as  they 
arise.  The  Committee  recommended  :  "  That  the 
Board  grant  a  course  of  maternity  training  to  all 
charge  nurses  who  have  not  yet  received  such 
training  as  opportunity  arises  to  enable  this 
proposal  to  be  carried  out  without  infringing  the 
nursmg  regulations  under  which  sixteen  proba- 
tioner nurses  are  to  be  trained  yearly.  Any  nurse 
receiving   maternity   training   is    not   to   be    paid 


salary  during  the  period.  That  the  Lady  Super- 
intendent and  medical  staff  be  authorised  to 
arrange  as  to  the  method  of  sending  nurses  for  the 
training."  It  was  agreed  to  adopt  the  recom- 
mendation, which  should  certainly  have  the 
effect  of  increasing  the  applications  for  posts  at 
the  Infirmarj'. 

PROSECUTION     OF     AN     UNCERTIFIED 
MIDWIFE. 

The  first  case  of  prosecuting  an  uncertified 
/midwife  in  the  county  of  Somerset  occurred 
recently,  when  Mrs.  Sarah  Xc\vton,  of  Huxham, 
East  Pennard,  was  summoned  at  the  instance  of 
Miss  C.  C.  du  Sautoy,  inspector  of  midwives,  for 
and  on  behalf  of  the  County  Council  of  Somerset, 
acting  as  the  local  suporivising  authority  for 
midwives  within  the  area  of  the  said  countj-, 
for  that  she,  not  being  a  woman  certified  under  the 
Midwives  Act,  1902,  imlawfully  did  habitualh- 
and  for  gain  attend  certain  women  in  child-birth, 
otherwise  than  under  tJie  direction  of  a  qualified 
medical  practitioner. 

The  defendant  pleaded  guilty  in  all  except  one  of 
the  cases  mentioned,  which  Mr.  A.  J.  Mawer  (of 
Wells),  who  prosecuted,  professed  himself  willing 
to  have  struck  out. 

Mr.  Mawer  further  stated  that  the  case  was  an 
important  one  ;  and  he  wished,  therefore,  to 
address  a  few  words  to  the  Bench.  He  explained 
that  he  appeared  for  the  Somerset  Countv  Council, 
which  was  the  Local  Supervising  Authoritv.  to 
prosecute  in  this  case,  but,  as  the  defendant  had 
pleaded  guilty,  he  had  no  desire  to  press  the 
charge.  It  was  the  first  case  that  had  been  brought 
under  the  Midwives  Act  of  1902  i'n  the  coui^ty  ; 
and  the  only  object  of  the  prosecution  was  to  put 
an  end  to  the  indiscriminate  practice  of  midwifery 
by  unqualified  persons. 

He  then  traced  the  history  of  midwives  from  the 
time  when  they  were  recognised  as  a  separate  class 
of  the  community  at  the  Court  of  Pharaoh,  when 
Moses  was  born,  to  the  passing  of  the  Midwives 
.\ct,  in  1902.  He  explained  that  at  the  passing  of 
the  Act  a  period  of  grace  was  provided,  in  the 
interests  of  women  who  were  in  actual  practice, 
and  the  Section  of  the  Act.  imder  which  they  were 
proceeding,  in  this  case,  did  not  come  into  force 
till  1 910.  In  that  year  the  Somerset  County 
Council  issued  a  circular,  under  the  hand  of  Dr. 
Savage,  the  County  Medical  Officer  of  Health, 
calling  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  Section  of  the 
.\ct  came  into  force  in  April  of  that  vear  ;  and  this 
particular  handbill  was  sent  to  the  defendant, 
and  one  was  also  left  at  her  house  by  a  policeman, 
so  that  she  must  have  had  cognizance  of  it. 

The  defendant  said  she  never  read  the  County 
Council    paper ;     it    was    destro)-ed    by    mistake. 

The  Chairman  of  the  Bench  said  that  the 
defendant  was  liable  to  a  penalty  of  /lo,  but  the 
County  Council  did  not  wish  to  press  the  case. 
They  had  got  to  put  a  stop  to  this  sort  of  thing 
going  on.  It  appeared  the  defendant  had  a  warning, 
and  did  not  take  anv  notice  of  it.  He  fined  her  los. 
and  half  the  costs,  £1  3s.  4d. 


So        Zbc  Britieb  3ournal  of  HAuvsinc;  Supplement.      /«?>■  27,  191 2 


REPORT     OF     THE     AUDWIVES     ACT 
COMMITTEE     OF    THE     L.C.C. 

The  Midwives  Act  Committct-  of  the  L.C.C. 
presented  the  followmg  report,  signed  by  the 
Acting  Chairman,  Mr.  A.  L.  Leon,  to  the  Council. 
at  its  meeting  on  Tuesday  : — 

Charges  against  Certified  Midwives. 

1.  On  May  15th,  191 2,  the  Central  Midwives 
Board  asked  the  Council  to  investigate,  pursuant 
to  the  pro\asions  of  Section  8  (2)  of  the  ;\rid\vives 
Act,  1902,  charges  of  malpractice,  negligence  or 
misconduct  against  a  certified  midwife  pursuing 
her  calling  in  the  County  of  London.  This  investiga- 
tion has  been  made,  and  we  are  of  opinion  that  the 
matter  is  not  of  sufficient  gravity  to  warrant  the 
finding  bv  the  Council  that  a  prima  facie  case  has 
been  established  against  her.    We  recommend — 

That,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Council,  a  prima  facie  Case 
of  malpractice,  negligence  or  misconduct  within  the 
meaning  of  Section  8  (2)  of  the  INIidwives  Act,  1902. 
•has  not  been  established  against  the  certified  midwife 
with  respect  to  whom  charges  were  remitted  to  the 
Council  by  the  Central  Midwives  Board  on  May  15th, 
1912  ;    and  that  the  Board  be  informed  accordingly. 

2.  On  December  12th,  1911,  the  Council,  on  our 
recommendation,  decided  to  inform  the  Central 
Midwives  Board  that  a  prima  facie  case  of  -  negli- 
gence had  been  established  against  a  certified 
midwife  pursuing  her  calling  within  the  County  of 
London.  The  Board,  in  due  course,  considered  the 
charge,  and  asked  the  Council  to  report  at  the  end 
of  three  months,  and  again  at  the  end  of  six 
months  as  to  the  midwife's  conduct. 

On  Mav  14th,  1912,  the  Council  authorised  the 
sending  to  the  Board  of  a  favourable  report  of  her 
conduct  during  three  months,  and  we  are  now 
able  to  report  that  she  has  continued  to  be  satis- 
factory since  that  day.  We  consider  that  this 
case  is  of  special  interest,  in  showing  the  value  of 
action  on  the  part  of  the  Council  and  the  Central 
Midwives  Board,  as  when  the  Council  first  called 
the  attention  of  the  Central  Midwives  Board  to 
the  practice  of  the  midwife,  she  had  not  only 
neglected  her  patients  but  there  were  strong 
grounds  for  suspecting  that  she  kept  one  bag  of 
appliances  for  inspection  bv  the  Council,  while  she 
used  another  set  of  apparatus  in  her  practice.  We 
recommend — 

That,  as  the  certified  midwife  against  whom  the 
Council  decided  on  December  12th,  igir  (p.  i486),  to 
report  the  establishment  of  a  prima  facie  case  of  negli- 
gence continues  to  show  improvement  in  her  methods 
of  practice,  a  communication  to  this  effect  be  made  to 
the  Central  Midwives  Board. 

3.  On  May  14th,  1912,  the  Council  decided  to 
inform  the  Central  Midwives  Board  that  a  certi- 
fied midwife  against  whom  a  prima  facie  case  of 
negligence  and  misconduct  had  been  established 
had,  since  the  hearing  of  the  charge  by  the  Board, 
shown  improvement  in  her  methods  of  practice. 

The  Board  has  notified  to  the  Council  that,  as 
this  midwife's  conduct  now  appears  to  be  generally 
satisfactory,  no  further  action  will  be  taken  in  the 
matter. 


THE  CENTRAL  MIDWIVES  BOARD. 

A  Special  .Meeting  of  the  Central  Midwives 
Board,  to  consider  charges  brought  against 
certified  midwives,  was  held  at  the  board  room, 
Caxton  House,  S.W.,  on  Tuesday  last,  with  the 
following  results  : — 

Struck  of)  the  Roll  and  Certificate  Cancelled. — • 
M.  E.  Boyce  (No.  10320),  E.  Dixon  (No.  15048), 
E.  Donaghue  (No.  1249),  E.  A.  Jackson  (No. 
4929),  M.  McQuilling  (No.  5979),  J.  M.  A.  Mark- 
ham  (No.  3714),  A.  Oates  (No.  10734),  J-  P^a-vne 
(No.  2193),  M.  A.  Penketh  (No.  16629),  E.  Poundall 
(No.  12970),  C.  Ridden  (No.  1133),  J.  Roberts 
(No.  1842),  S.  Robinson  (No.  19977),  S.  Saxe  (No. 
15946),  E.  A.  Smith  (No.  8133),  E.  Swyer  (No. 
12994),  M-  J-  Wilson  (No.  20703),  S.  Wolfenden 
(No.  2764). 

Severely  Censured. — E  Brearley  (No.  3316), 
A.  Swain  (No.  2984).        \ 

Censured. — E.  Fisher  (No.  13012),  L.  Marsden 
(No.  15758). 

Cautioned. — F.  A.  Preston  (No.  1207). 

Judgment  Suspended. — In  one  case  judgment 
was  suspended. 

Application  for  Restoration  of  Name  to  the  Roll. — • 
The  application  of  Edith  May  Dalchow  for  the 
restoration  of  her  name  to  the  Roll  was  refused. 

Cases  Adjoiiriied  for  Judgment,  ivith  option  of 
Resignation. — Jane  Cliffe  (No.  10552)  and  Sarah 
Harrison  (No.  18715),  both  resigned. 

Cases  Adjourned  for  Judgment  on  Report  of 
L.S.A. — The  names  of  Mary  ,\nn  Allen  (No. 
14224),  Elizabeth  Clasper  (No.  18586).  and 
Harriett  ^Nlaria  Davis  (No.  3016),  were  struck  off. 

REGISTRATION     OF     MIDWIVES     IN 
WESTERN     AUSTRALIA. 

The  regulations  issued  by  the  Midwi\'es  Board 
under  the  Health  Act  in  Western  Australia,  which 
came  into  force  on  January  ist,  1912,  have 
specified  certain  certificates  as  exempting  the 
holders  froni  passing  any  examination  under  the 
Act,  including  the  certificate  of  the  Central 
^lidwives  Board  in  this  country,  and  certificates  of 
registration  under  the  provisions  of  the  Midwives 
.\cts  in  Tasmania  and  New  Zealand. 

It  seems  very  unfair  on  Australian  nurses  that 
while  those  trained  in  Sydney,  Mejbourne,  and 
Adelaide  must,  as  the  Australian  Nurses'  Journal 
points  out,  hold  a  twelve  months'  certificate  before 
they  can  be  registered  or  allowed  to  practise,  even 
though  the\-  are  trained  in  general  nursing,  yet 
overseas  midwives  with  three  and  six  months' 
certificates  in  midwifery  only  may  practise  in 
W,pstem  Australia  on  those  qualifications  alone, 
competing  generally  with  Australian  midwives  who 
are  required  to  undergo  a  training  twice  or  four 
tines  as  long.  Surely,  legislators  in  Western 
Australia  should  protect  the  standards  they 
themselves  enforce  by  demanding  that  overseas 
nurses  shall  either  produce  e\-idence  of  having 
attained  standards  as  high  as  their  own,  or  pass 
the  examination  in  force  in  Western  Australia. 
Anv  other  policy  is  suicidal. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

rME  irailSIM€  EECOMP 

EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1,270 


SATURDAY,     AUGUST   3,    1912. 


THE  SPIRIT  OF  INTERNATIONALISM. 


.\   PA(iR  Of-   NURSINCi    HISTORY. 

Manv  times  I  lia\c  thout;lil  I  wduld  place  on 
record  just  how  the  International  Council  of 
Nur.ses  came  to  lie  formed.  .\o\\ ,  in  as  few 
words  as  possible,  I  will  do  ii. 

In  the  year  1893  I  attended  the  World's 
Columbian  Exposition  at  Chicago,  as  President 
of  the  Nursing  Section  of  the  Women's  Com- 
mittee of  the  British  Royal  Commission,  and 
was  at  the  same  time  appointed  its  Delegate  by 
the  Royal  British  Nurses'  Association  to  repre- 
sent it  at  the  World's  Women's  Congress  held 
in  Chicago  in  May  of  that  year,  from  which 
great  meeting  of  the  women  of  all  nations  may 
be  dated  the  birth  of  internationalism  amongst 
us.  At  this  most  inspiring  Convention,  where 
I  had  the  happiness  to  meet — never  to  forget 
them — the  fine  pioneers  of  the  true  spiritual 
awakening  of  women — Puritan  bred,  American 
born — now  passed  to  spheres  of  light  where 
their  sweetness  and  courage  have  found 
serenitv,  I  came  for  the  first  time  into  actual 
touch  with  life  as  I  had  dreamed  it  might  be — 
life  simple  and  beautiful,  which  these  stately,, 
pure-minded,  white-haired,  eloquent  women 
proved  it  could  be. 

At  this  Convention  seventeen  rooms  were 
provided  in  which  sessions  'could  hv  held,  some 
large  and  some  small,  in  which  at  times  just 
half  a  dozen  women  met,  and  spoke  simple 
truths  not  always  to  be  told. 

I  listened. 

One  afternoon,  wandering  through  the  cor- 
ridors, I  observed  on  a  door  a  notice  headed 
"The  International  Council  of  W'omen," 
notifying  that  a  meeting  would  be  held 
quite  early  on  the  following  morning.  I 
paused,  and  took  notice  of  the  title,  the  hour 
of  meeting,  and  the  number  of  the  room.  My 
attention  was  arrested  for  f|uilr  a  while.  Why? 
^'ou  tell  me.      I  do  not  know  . 

I  knew  I  was  booked  to  take  the  chair  at  a 
meeting  in  the  Woman's  Building  in  the.  E\- 
position  grouacis — ten  miU'S  away  from  the  city 
^on  the  following  morning,  at  which  questions 


of  National  Health  in  England  were  to  be  dis- 
cussed, and  that  it  was  not  possible  to  be  in  two 
places  at  once — at  least,  in  the  flesh. 

What  happened  was  this — I  was  strongly 
urged,  by  what  influence  I  cannot  say,  to 
attend  the  meeting  of  the  International  Council 
of  Women — of  which  until  that  hour  I  had  never 
heard — so  strongly  influenced,  indeed,  that  I 
excused  myself  from  presiding  at  the  meeting — 
long  since  arranged — and  at  8  a.m.  on  the  fol- 
lowing day  found  myself  before  the  little  room 
in  which  the  International  Council  Meeting  was 
to  be  held  ! 

The  room  was  not  yet  prepared,  and  ;i  scrulj- 
lady  was  languidlv  wielding  a  broom.  I  waited 
in  the  corridor  until  her  somewhat  superficial 
flipping  was  at  an  end,  then  seated  mvself  in  a 
corner. 

The  meeting  was  called  for  i)  a.m.  Tin-  hour 
struck,  yet  the  room  was  empty.  Another  hour 
passed  ;  it  was  still  empty.  Then  I  made  in- 
quiries, and  learned  that  the  advertised  chair- 
man, Mrs.  May  Wright  Sewall,  of  Indiana- 
polis, was  unavoidably  detained. 

"  XVould  she  ever  come?  "  I  questioned. 

"  Mavbe,"  was  the  casual  reph'. 

Dowii  I  sat. 

.\n  hour  later  a  gracious  woman,  followed  by 
olheis,  hurried  in,  smiling  and  apologetic — a 
gay  and  gentle  personality,  who  at  once  stepped 
on  to  the  little  platform,  and,  sweeping  aside 
such  inconsiderable  items  as  hours  ticked  off 
by  clocks,  began  to  speak  with  us,  and  we  all 
floated  away  on  the  wings  of  her  eloquence 
from  mere  mundane  surroundings  into  realms 
of  delight.  Inspired  by  the  International  Idea, 
she  emphasised  her  belief  in  the  oneness  of  the 
world,  and  even  of  all  worlds.  She  had  con- 
ceived of  a  vast  sisterhood  of  women  of  all 
peoples,  of  all  land.s — meeting  together,  speak- 
ing with  one  another,  learning  from  one 
another,  becoming  known  to  one  another,  work- 
ing for  th(!  blessed  ideal  of  kindness  to  one 
another,  and  to  tliis  federal  idea  she  had  given 
the  title  of  the  International  Council  of  W^omen. 
Five  years  before  in  Washington  she  had  de- 
livered her  message  and  formed  the  nucleus  of 
the   International   Council,    bv   associating   to- 


Z\K  36ritic>b  3ournal  of  mursino- 


[iti:i(si 


uji: 


u-eihcr  a  few  kindred  spirits  into  the  National 
Council  of  Women  of  the  United  States. 

From  this  meeting  she  told  us  we  must  all 
go  forth— even  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
earth  we  must  presently  go— and  teach  the 
lesson  of  the  common  right  of  humanity  to 
communion,  participation,  and  fellowship. 
How  infinitesimal  are  worlds — or  spheres- 
even  the  whole  universe— how  pale,  inert,  how 
lifeless,  deprived  of  the  affluence  of  human  feel- 
ing !  The  spiritual  and  intellectual  forces  of 
love  and  learning,  the  germ  of  the  Divine  in 
man,  are  these  not  the  forces  through  which 
worlds  are  enlightened  and  kept  sane? 

Thus  May  Wright  Sewall,  apostle  and 
prophet. 

She  ceased  speaking. 

Then   matters   of   business   were   discussed. 
Councils  must  be  formed  in  every  country  in 
.  the  world,  and  those  present  must  just  go  out 
and  do  it.     Names  were  tossed  about — inter- 
national officers  nominated. 

Suddenlv,  smiling  upon  me  in  my  far  corner 
in  her  enticing  way,  she  said  :  "  I  was  aware 
whilst  speaking  of  a  personality  in  this  room 
very  much  in  sympathy  with  the  International 
Idea." 

"  That  is  so,"  I  answered.  Someone  intro- 
duced us,  and  suffice  it  to  say  in  a  few  minutes 
I  had  been  commissioned  straight  away  to  see 
Mrs.  Eva  McLaren,  "of  England,"  nominated 
International  Secretary,  and  urge  her  from  that 
meeting  to  form  a  National  Council  of  A\'omen 
of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  preparatory  to 
affiliation  with  the  International  Council. 

This  upon  my  return  to  London  I  did,  and 
Mrs.  Eva  McLaren  invited  me  to  act  as  Hon. 
Secretary  to  a  provisional  committee,  which 
ultimately,  in  conference  with  representatives 
of  the  National  Union  of  Women  Workers, 
decided  to  extend  the  Constitution  of  that 
Union,  by  forming  a  governing  body  of 
affiliated  societies  of  women  and  branches ;  and 
this  organization,  under  the  title  of  the  National 
Council  of  Women  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland,  has  long  since  formed  a  part  of  the 
great  International  Council  of  Women. 
So  far,  well. 

But  what  of  the  nurses?  Year  by  year  all 
over  the  world  their  usefulness  to  the  com- 
munitv  and  their  own  professional  needs  grow 
and  grow.  How  find  time  or  interest  to  deal 
with  them  effectively  in  a  general  assembly? 
It  did  not  appear  possible.  Why  not  commune 
together? 

Of  all  classes  of  women  the  trained  nurse  is 
least  tied  and  bound  by  environment.  Sick 
humanity  in  the  past,  and  now  in  addition 
how  to  prevent  sickness,  is  her  universal  sphere 


of  action.  Truly  it  has  been  said  that  there  is 
no  nationality  in  nursing.  Metaphorically  she 
should  fly  around,  obli\ious  of  geographical 
and  spherical  boundaries.  Wherever  she 
alights  there,  ready  to  hand,  her  work  awaits 
her — need  of  the  sanitary  law,  eugenics,  home 
making,  child  tending,  and  mind  training. 
.\lwavs — always  first,  prevention  of  injurious 
environment,  then  bodv  building.  All  to  have 
a  sufficiency  of  earth,  air,  fire,  and  water, 
elemental  human  rights.  Then  unceasing  war 
on  human  greed,  body  maiming,  and  spirit 
crushing,  through  wealth  worship.  Also,  if 
disease  creeps  in,  and  accidents  happen,  every 
nurse  must  possess  fundamental  know- 
ledge— theory  and  practice  hand  in  hand,  fine 
trained  skill,  mental  and  manual,  so  that, 
trained,  wonderful,  indispensable,  she  may 
outpour  of  her  treasures  all  the  time — it 
matters  not  ivhere. 

Why  not  encircle  the  world  with  the 
sympathetic  touch  of  such  a  Sisterhood? 

"  Let  us  do  it,"  I  said  to  Isla  Stewart. 
"  Let  us,"  she  answered  in  her  buoyant  way. 

So  it  came  about  that  w-hen  the  International 
Council  of  Women  held  its  Quinquennial  Meet- 
ing in  London  in  iSgg,  the  Spirit  of  Inter- 
nationalism was  in  our  midst.  We  invited  its 
presence,  and  at  the  .'Annual  Meeting  of  the 
Matrons'  Council,  at  which  foreign  nurses 
were  present,  I  proposed  "  That  steps  be  taken 
to  organize  an  International  Council  of 
Nurses."  The  resolution  was  seconded  from 
the  chair  by  the  late  Miss  Isla  Stewart  and 
unanimously  adopted. 

The  constitution  as  adopted  was  prefaced  by 
the  following  preamble  : — 

"  We,  nurses  of  all  nations,  sincerely  believ- 
ing that  the  best  good  of  our  profession  will  be 
advanced  by  greater  unity  of  thought,  sym- 
pathv,  and  purpose,  do  hereby  band  ourselves 
into  a  confederation  of  w'orkers  to  further  the 
efficient  care  of  the  sick,  and  to  secure  the 
honour  and  the  interests  of  the  nursing  pro- 
fession." 

Realising  that  professions,  like  nations,  can 
only  flourish  by  the  development  of  the  indi- 
vidual sense  of  corporate  responsibility,  the 
first  aim  of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses 
\\;as,  through  the  affiliation  of  National  .'Vsso- 
ciations  adopting  graduate  suffrage  as  a 
fundamental  principle,  to  organize  nurses  all 
the  world  over  and  make  them  articulate. 
Rooted  in  the  graduate  vote,  the  nursing  tree 
branches  into  Leagues  and  Alumnae  Associa- 
tions, blossoms  by  delegation  into  National 
Councils,  inclusive  of  Superintendents!  and 
Nurses'  Associations,  the  ripe  fruit  of  which  is 


August  3,    191. 


CDc  36iitli5b  3ournal  of  H-lurslno. 


83 


seen  in  the  work  of  the  International  Council 
of  Nurses — in  time  to  be  composed,  we  hope, 
of  the  delegates  of  national  associations  from 
every  civilized  country  in  the  world. 

The  decisions  arrived  at  in  general  assembly 
by  a  body  of  nurses  so  constituted,  and  repre- 
sentative of  all  shades  of  opinion,  must  neces- 
sarily receive  consideration  and  respect.  Ulti- 
mately   no    doubt 


the  International 
Council  of  N'urses 
will  become  the 
deliberative  as- 
s  e  m  b 1 y  ,  and 
supreme  court  of 
appeal  of  the 
nursing  world. 

The  movement 
has  surprising 
vitality.  In  thir- 
teen years  the 
Intern  a  ti  onal 
Federation  will  be 
composed  of  the 
nurses  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ire- 
land, the  United 
States  of  America, 
Germany, 
Canada,  Holland, 
Denmark,  Fin- 
land, India,  and 
New  Zealand  in 
the  precedence  in 
which  they  have 
affiliated.  Its  in- 
spiration has, 
however,  gone  far, 
far  further  afield. 
The  Cologne  Con- 
gress will  be  at- 
tended by  frater- 
nal delegates  from 
Australasia, 
Africa,  and  Japan, 
France,  Italy, 
Austria,  Hungary, 
Switzerland, 
Belgium  ,  and 
Sweden. 

Is  it  not  won- 
derful? 

Now  I  know  why,  thoiigli  not  how  it  was 
I  sat  alone  ;ill  those  hours  waiting  for  the 
coming  of  one  of  the  world's  most  spiritual 
teachers — May  Wright  Sewall — on  that  sum- 
mer's morning  in  Chicago — so  many  years  ago. 
Ethel  G.  Fenwick. 


THE  PRESIDENT  OF 
THE  INTERNATIONAL  COUNCIL. 

Sister  Agnes  Karll,  the  President  of  the 
International  Council  of  N'urses,  who,  in  her 
official  capacity,  will  gi\c  the  Address  of 
Welcome  to  the  delegates  and  members,  and 
preside  over  its  General  Assembly  at  the 
Triennial   Meeting 


Cologne, 
one  of  the  best 
known  and  be- 
loved of  the 
oflicers  of  the 
Council,  and  when 
those  for  the  pre- 
sent triennial 
period  were 
elected,  at  its  last 
meeting  in  Lon- 
don, it  was  felt 
that  no  more  ac- 
ceptable President 
could  be  found 
than  Sister  Agnes 
Karll,  who,  on  in- 
timating her  will- 
ingness to  accept 
office,  was  unani- 
mously elected. 

Sister  Karll  has 
the  gifts  neces- 
sary in  the  leader 
of  a  great  move- 
ment  which 
touches  intimately 
the  very  difficult 
question  of  the 
status  of  women 
and  their  educa- 
tional and  cco- 
noniic  conditions. 
She  possesses  in 
a  singular  degree 
personal  charm, 
intellectual  ability, 
courage,  single- 
ness and  tenacity 
of  purpose,  and 
that  unerring  love 
of  truth  produc- 
tive of  personal  loyalty,  and  the  power  of 
self-sacrifice.  These  gifts  have  been  patrioti- 
cally devoted  to  the  formation  and  consolida- 
tion of  the  German  Nurses'  Association, 
of  which  she  is  the  President,  formed 
for  the  purpose  of  organizing  German  nurses 
on     a     professional     basis     with     the     object 

H* 


S15TUR    AONKS    KARLL.    R.N.. 
dent  of  the  Internutional  Council  of  Nurses, 
dent    of   the    German    Nurses'    Association, 


84 


Zbc  3Brtti0b  3ournaI  of  IHurstno. 


August  3,   191; 


of  obtaining  personal  freedom,  better  educa- 
tion, adequate  pay  and  professional  status. 
All  legitimate  demands,  and  in  the  interest  not 
only  of  the  nurses  but  of  the  community,  but 
we  in  this  country,  who  know  how  stern  and 
bitter  has  been  the  struggle  for  our  profes- 
sional freedom,  are  able  intimately  to  sympa- 
thise with  our  colleagues  in  Germany,  to 
rejoice  with  them  that,  chiefly  through  the 
work  of  the  German  Nurses'  Association,  a 
uniform  standard  of  nursing  education  and- 
examination  has  been  won  for  the  nurses  of  the 


fronted.  It  will  take  time  to  translate  its 
aspirations  into  facts,  but  as  these  have  their 
origin  in  justice  and  righteousness  the  full 
realization  of  its  desires  is  only  a  matter  of 
time.  The  future  is  bright  \\ith  hope,  for 
German  women  enter  the  profession  of 
nursing  with  a  good  general  education  and 
knowledge  of  the  domestic  arts,  a  simplicity 
and  industry  which  are  an  excellent  stock  on 
which  to  graft  the  special  knowledge  and  skill 
required  of  them  in  the  practice  of  their  pro- 
fession.  And  the  great  German  nation  is  keenly 


SISTER     EDITH     KOEHUER.   R  N. 
Matron.  Moabit  Hospital,  Berlin. 


Empire,  which,  if  not  all  that  can  be  desired, 
is  a  foundation  upon  which  to  build,  and  the 
attainment  of  which  carries  with-it  the  right 
to  the  title  of  registered  nurse. 

Those  \\ho  have  met  some  of  the  man) 
grand  and  earnest  women  forming  that  Asso- 
ciation will  be  sure  that  they  are  working 
whole-heartedly  in  support  of  the  aims  which 
they  have  set  before  themselves  in  their  pro- 
fessional organization,  realizing  the  strength 
which  is  derived  from  unity  of  purpose. 

The  work  of  the  German  nurses  has  been 
uphill  in  the  past,  and  it  is  difficult  to  realize 
the   obstruction   with   which   it   has  been   con- 


alive  to  the  value  of  thoroughness  in  education, 
and  will  no  doubt  realize  the  justice  of  the 
demand  of  its  nurses  for  higher  professional 
standards,  reasonable  hours  of  work,  and 
sufficient  remuneration  for  their  skilled  labour, 
which  the  German  Nurses'  Association,  with 
the  indispensable  aid  of  its  official  organ, 
Unterni  Lazarushreus,  is  struggling  to  attain. 

The  members  of  the  International  Council 
of  Nurses  from  overseas  bring  to  their  Presi- 
dent heartfelt  admiration  for  her  splendid 
work,  not  only  for  German  nurses,  but  for  the 
profession  at  large,  and  their  loyal  support  in 
her  endeavours  for  its  welfare. 


Aupiist  3,   191; 


Cbc  3Sriti£-'b  3oiunal  of  ■n-lurs?ino- 


A     BHAUTIFUL  ENSEMBLE. 

Our  Hon.  Secretary,  Miss  L.  L.  Dock,  writes 
from  Colog^ne  : — "  It  is  a  revelation  to  see  how- 
widespread  and  intent  an  interest  is  beintf 
taken  in  our  Congress  by  the  people  of 
Cologne,  and  especially  the  women.  They 
have  raised  a  prodigious  sum  of  money  for  the 
preliminary  work  and  various  expenses  con- 
nected with  the  meetings,  and  are  so  enthu- 
siastic over  it  all.  They  are  taking  the  greatest 
pains  over  the  production  of  the  Pageant  and 
throwing  themselves  into  its  details  as  earnestly 
as  if  it  were  their  own  lifcwork.  The  Pageant, 
I  suppose  you  know,  will  be  differently  repre- 
sented here  from  in  England.  There  is  not  the 
necessity  of  making  it  here 
a  plea  for  State  Registra- 
tion, as  that  is  attained. 
And  there  is  no  real  stage  in 
the  Giirzenich  ;  the  Pageant 
will  therefore  be  modified  as 
a  series  of  living  pictures, 
in  which  artists,  musicians, 
and  poets  are  helping  to 
produce  a  beautiful  en- 
semble. The  interesting 
thing  is  that  circles  which 
are  '.  sually  divided  from  one 
another  by  politics,  religion, 
or  point  of  view  are  all 
equally  interested  in  the 
Nursing  Congress,  and  art- 
united  like  old  friends  on 
making  things  pleasant  for 
the  visiting  nurses." 

THE   CiERMAN 

DELEGATES. 

SISTER  EDITH  KOEHLER. 


Sister  Edith  Koehler  was  sister    maida 

trained       at       the       Victoria       Vice-?resident  German 

House,  Berlin,  the  first 
Training  School  for  Nurses  in  that  city,  which 
was  founded  by  the  Empress  Frederick.  Sister 
Koehler  has  devoted  the  whole  of  her  life- 
work  to  the  service  of  th<-  Berlin  Municipal 
Hospitals,  and  has  been  the  reformer  of  the 
Moabit  Hospital,  where  she  has  acted  as  Ladv 
Superintendent  for  the  last  ten  years,  so  that  it 
now  has  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  best 
training  schools  for  nurses  in  Germany. 

The  whole  staff  of  the  hospital  joined  the 
German  Nurses'  Association  after  the  nurses 
had  an  object  lesson  in  the  meaning  of 
organization  from  the  medical  staff,  who  were 
united  against  them  in  one  of  those  trying  inci- 
dents which  occur  from  time  to  time  in  hospital 
life. 


Sister  Koehler  was  elected  on  to  the  Board 
of  the  German  Nurses'  .Association  in  191 1,  an 
appointment  which  has  given  the  staff  of  the 
.Moabit  Hospital  much  pleasure,  and  the 
authorities  of  the  hospital  have  recognized  her 
able  work  by  sending  her,  with  one  of  her 
charge  nurses,  as  an  official  delegate  to  the 
meeting  of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses 
at  Cologne. 

SISTER     MAIDA     LUBBEN. 

Sister  Maida  Liibben  was  trained  as  a  mem- 
ber  of   the    Diaconie-X'crein   in   the    Municipal 
Hospital  at  Erfurt,  and  afterwards  had  some  ex- 
perience of  private  nursing  and  in  private  nurs- 
ing    institutions.       She     is 
one    of    the    thirty    nurses 

who    founded    the    German 

Nurses'  Association,  and 
has  served  on  its  Governing 
Board.  She  was  also  one 
of  the  first  members  of  the 
nursing  staff  appointed  in 
Berlin  in  connection  with 
the  preventive  work  in 
tuberculosis.  When,  after 
more  than  seven  years' 
work,  she  gave  this  up,  she 
joined  the  staff  of  the  Ger- 
man Nurses'  Association, 
and  is  now  at  the  head  of 
it  as  Vice-President  of  the 
S(X-iety. 

She  had  exceptibnal 
opportunities  of  being 
grounded  in  statistical 
work,  as  from  her  sixteenth 
year  she  was  the  right-hand 
of  her  father,  a  govern- 
mental doctor,  who  was 
concerned  with  much  work 
of  this  character,  and 
whose  early  death  is  greatly 
lamented.  At  the  present  time  nurses  who  have 
organizing  ability,  and  gifts  for  office  and 
statistical  work,  can  utilize  them  to  great 
advantage  in  connection  with  their  professional 
associations.  They  probably  render  greater 
service  to  the  sick  by  helping  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  their  profession  as  a  whole  than  by 
caring  for  individual  cases. 

Sister  Maida  Liibben  is  responsible  for  the 
calculations  and  summary  of  statistics  as  to  the 
health  of  the  2,500  nurses  of  the  German 
Nurses'  .Association  embodied  in  a  diagram  for 
the  Hygiene  Exhibition  at  Dresden,  and  which 
will  be  on  view  in  Cologne.  -She  is  one  of  the 
greatest  bulwarks  of  the  German  Nurses' 
.Association. 


LUBBEN.     R.N. 
Nurses'  Association. 


86 


^be  36ritisb  3oui-nal  of  H-lursino. 


August  3,   1912 


SISTER  MARTHA    OESTERLEN. 

Sister  Martha  Oesterlen  is  another  most 
steadfast  and  loyal  supporter  of  organization  of 
nurses  in  Germany. 
She  is  a  pupil  of  the 
Diakonie-Vercin,  and 
did  years  of  hard  work 
in  large  State  hos- 
pitals for  the  insane. 
Later,  in  order  to  be 
near  her  father,  who 
was  nearly  blind,  she 
took  up  private  nurs- 
ing *at  Stuttgart,  and 
VViirttemberg,  her 
native  town. 

Sister     Oesterlen 
joined      the      German 
Nurses'       Association 
-during  the  foundation 
year,    and   during   her 
years  of  private  nurs- 
ing  tried    to    make   a 
home        for       private 
nurses,  and  to  form  a 
branch  of  the  German 
Nurses'      Association, 
of  which   she  is   now 
the       President,        in 
Wiirttemberg.      Some 
years  ago  the  authori- 
ties utilized  her  excel- 
lent   qualifications    by 
appointing    her    an    inspec- 
tor   of    orphans    and    poor 
people.       Those     who     at- 
tended     the      International 
Congress  in  London  in  igog 
will  remember  her  as  one  of 
the   German   delegates   and 
speakers. 
SISTER    HELENE    MEYER. 

Sister  Helene  Meyer, 
Matron  of  the  Municipal 
Hospital,  Dortmund,  has 
had  a  long  and  varied  ex- 
perience of  hospital  work. 
She  was  trained  in  that 
most  famous  hospital,  the 
Eppendorf  Hospital  at 
Hamburg,  and  was  one  of 
the  first  group  of  nurses 
selected  to  train  Turkish 
soldiers  as  nurses  in  the 
Giilhau^  Hospital  at  Con- 
stantinople. After  years  of 
strenuous  work,  a  break- 
down    compelled      her      to 


SISTER     MARTHA     0E5TERLEN,  R.N. 
President  Wiirttemberg   Branch  German   Nurs 
Association. 


SISTER     HELENE     MEYER,    R.N. 
Matron.  Municipal  Hospital.  Dortmun< 


resign  and  to  reside  for  two  years  in  Davos  for 
the  restoration  of  her  health.  She  then  re- 
turned to  work  in  the  Eppendorf  Hospital  until 
selected  as  Lady 
I  Superintendent  of  the 
Municipal  Hospital  in 
Dusseldorf,  with  the 
object  of  organizing 
the  Nurse  Training 
School  there.  The 
circumstances  under 
which,  after  a  few 
days,  she  had  to  give 
up  this  post  is  one  of 
those  episodes  in  nurs- 
ing history  which  will 
make  interesting  read- 
ing when  the  time 
comes  to  write  it. 

Just  at  that  time  the 
German  Nurses'  ."Asso- 
ciation     was      called 
upon  to  staff  the  Dort- 
mund   Hospital    after 
56  years  of  nursing  by 
deaconesses.      It    was 
difficult  to  find  a  suit- 
able  Matron  at   once, 
I      and   Sister  Meyer  did 
^^      duty    in   this   capacity 
for       some       months. 
Two    years    later    she 
was    invited    to    take 
the       position       of       Lady 
Superintendent      at      Dort- 
mund, and  in  a  few  weeks 
she     eliminated     the    worst 
features  of  the  nurses'  life 
there,   and  secured  them  a 
suitable      home      in      some 
houses    near    the    hospital, 
thus     at     once    eradicating 
much  ill-health. 

Before  training  as  a 
nurse  she  had  passed  the 
teachers'  State  examina- 
tion and  been  a  teacher  for 
some  years,  an  experience 
which  should  stand  her  in 
good  stead  in  connection 
with  the  training  of  nurses, 
but  unfortunately  she  has 
little  time  to  give  to  this 
important  side  of  her  work. 
German  nurses  will  never 
have  a  more  thorough  and 
courageous  champion  than 
Sister  Mever. 


August  3,    1912 


Cbe  Britteb  3ournai  ot  iMuretno 


87 


THE    TRAINED    NURSES'   ASSOCIATION 

OF  INDIA. 

MISS  CHARLOTTE  R.  MILL. 

Under  the  constitution  of  the  International 
Council  of  Nurses,  Hon.  Mce-Presidents  arc 
appointed  in  countries  where  a  National 
Council  is  not  fully  formed,  in  order  to  keep 
in  touch  with  the  International  Council,  and 
to  assist  in  forming  the  national  organization. 

In  India  this 
honourable  ollice 
has  been  held  by 
Miss  C.  R.  Mill, 
the  Matron  of 
St.  George's 

Hospital,  Bom- 
bay, who  has 
now  the  satisfac- 
tion of  knowing 
that  the  initial 
work  is  accom- 
plished, and  that 
the  two  national 
associations  of 
nurses  in  India, 
the  Association 
of  Nursing 
Superintendents 
of  India,  Presi- 
dent Miss  Tip- 
petts,  and  the 
Trained  Nurses' 
A  s  s  o  c  i  a  t  ion. 
President,  Miss 
Tindall,  affiliated 
together  for  the 
purpose  in  a  cen- 
tral committee, 
have  applied  for 
admission  to  the 
Intern  ational 
Council,  and 
have  appointed 
delegates  to 

represent  it  at 
the  Cologne 
meeting.       T  h  e 

inclusion  of  these  Associations  will  be  speci- 
ally interesting,  as  membership  of  the  Nurses' 
Association  is  open  to  native  nurses  with 
the  necessary  professional  qualification ;  and 
this  is  the  first  instance  of  a  national  organiza- 
tion including  Eastern  nurses  becoming 
associated  witii  those  of  the  West.  The 
Indian  Association  will  therefore  receive  a 
particularly  warm  welcome. 

The    Indian  "Committee    includes    the    Presi- 


Mis.s  c. 
Matron.  St.  Oeorge's  Ho.< 
President  for  India,  Inter 


dents  of  the  two  Associations,  with  Miss  Mill 
as  Corresponding  Secretary,  and  two  other 
members  nominated  annually,  those  for  the 
present  year  being  Mrs.  Klosz  and  Miss 
Creighton,  who  are  two  of  the  official  delegates 
to  the   International   meeting. 

Miss  Mill,  to  whose  efforts  the  affiliation  of 
the  Indian  Association  is  largely  due,  has  had 
an  interesting  nursing  career.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Dundee,  after- 
wards holding 
the  position  of 
Sister  at  the 
Western  In- 
firmary, Glas- 
gow, and  of  As- 
sistant Matron 
at  the  Lewisham 
Infirmary.  She 
has  had  three 
years'  experience 
of  Army  nurs- 
ing,, and  five  of 
plague  nursing 
in  India.  In  1902 
she  was  ap- 
pointed Matron 
of  St.  George's 
Hospital,  Bom- 
bay— sometimes 
known  as  the 
European  Gene- 
ral ,  Hospital — a 
position  she  Still 
holds. 

One  of  the 
most  interesting 
functions  at  the 
meeting  of  the 
Intern  ational 
Council  of 
Nurses  is  the 
reception  of  new 
Councils.  Miss 
Mill,  as  Hon. 
Vice  -  President, 
has  sent  a  letter 
to  be  read  when 
the  Trained  Nurses'  Association  of  India  is 
received  at  Cologne,  and  the  four  delegates 
appointed  to  represent  the  Association  are  Mrs. 
W.  H.  Klosz,  Editor  of  The  Nursing  Journal 
of  India ;  Mrs.  Barr,  Manager  ;  Miss  Creighton, 
a  member  of  the  Executive  of  the  Superinten- 
dents' Association ;  and  Miss  Bonser,  Hon. 
Secretary,  T.N. A.  It  will  be  agreed  that  the 
Association  has  appointed  very  acceptable 
delegates. 


MILL, 
al.    Bombay  :    Hon.  Vice- 
ional  Council  of  Nurses. 


vll3c  36viti5b  3ournal  of  IHurslno. 


August  3,    191 2 


TME.NHW     ZEALAND    TRAINED 
NURSES'    AS50C1ATI0N. 

MISS  JEANNIE   M.   SUTHERLAND. 

Miss  Jcannie  M.  Sutherland,  who  attends  the 
meeting-  of  tlie  International  Council  of  Nurses 
as  one  of  the  four  delegates  from  the  New 
Zealand  Trained  Nurses'  Association,  was 
born   and   educated  


is  unanimous  as  to  its  value.  Recently  alsc> 
Dr.  Chappie,  ^LP.,  who  has  practised  in  New 
Zealand,  and  been  a  Member  of  Parliament  in 
the  Dominion,  and  is  now  a  Member  of  the 
House  of  Commons  in  this  countr}',  has  paid 
high  tribute  to  the  effect  of  the  Act  in  attract- 
ing a  better  class  of  women  to  the  profession, 
raising  the  status  of  nurses,  and  their  w'hole 
standard  and  tone. 


in  the  Dominion,  in 
the  town  of  Dune- 
din,  and  received 
her  three  years' 
protessional  train- 
ing at  the  Dunedin 
Hospital,  which 
ranks  high  as  a 
training  school  for 
nurses.  She  after- 
wards    worked     at 

*the  Auckland  Hos- 
pital, and  since 
1898  has  been 
Matron  of  the 
Chalet  Private  Hos- 
pital, which  she 
built  for  the  pur- 
pose. 

The  affiliation  of 
the  New  Zealand 
Trained  Nurses' 
Association  with 
the  International 
Council  is  especially 
gratifying,  as  the 
Dominion  was  the 
first  country  to  pass 
a  Nurses  Registra- 
tion Bill,  which  be- 
came law  in  1901, 
followed  in  1904  by 
a  Midwives  Act, 
and  in  1908  by  a 
Private  Hospitals 
Act.  It  is  true  that 
Cape  Colony  pro- 
vided for  the  regis- 
tration of  its  nurses 
in  1 89 1,  but  this 
was  effected  by  the 
inclusion  of  some 
clauses  in  the  Medical  and  Pharmacy  Act,  and 
the  State  is  only  one  of  a  number  in  South 
Africa.  To  New  Zealand  belongs  the  honour 
of  the  first  Nurses  Registration  Act. 

The  Act  has  now  been  in  operation  long 
enough  to  test  its  value,  and  the  official  testi- 
mony of  the  late  Dr.  MacGregor,  and  of  Dr. 
\'alintine,  the  Inspector-General  of  Hospitals, 


ceived, 
wifery 
trained 


MISS    JHANMli     M.    SUTHERLAND,     R.N.. 
Matron.  Chalet  Private   Hospital.  Dunedin,  Delesate 
from  the  New  Zealand  Trained  Nur>es'  Association. 


The        Dominion 
has     instituted     an 
excellent  system  of 
State         Maternity 
Hospitals,      known 
as   the    St.    Helen's 
Hospitals,  in  which 
patients      are      re- 
and     mid- 
nurses 
and      pre- 
pared for  the  State 
examination. 

Under  the  Pri- 
vate Hospitals  Act 
licences  are  only 
issued  to  registered 
nurses  and  regis- 
tered midwives,  or 
to  ins  t  i  t  u  t  i  o  n  s 
where  a  registered 
nurse  or  midwife  is 
in  the  position  of 
manager.  These 
hospitals  are  now 
regularly  inspected 
and  a  report  made 
upon  them  to  Go- 
vernment through 
Miss  Maclean,  As- 
sistant Inspector  of 
Hospitals. 

In  addition  to  her 
manv  public  duties. 
Miss  Maclean  is 
President  of  the 
New  Zealand 
Trained  Nurses' 
Association,  and 
editor  of  its  official 
organ,  Kai-Tiaki. 
The  delegates 
nominated  to  represent  the  Association  are  Miss 
J.  M.  Sutherland,  Matron  and  Proprietor  of 
the  Chalet  Hospital,  Dunedin;  Mrs.  Holgate, 
a  native  of  New  Zealand,  who.  received  her 
training  at  the  Middlesex  Hospital,  London, 
and  for  some  vears  has  had  a  nursing  home  in 
Wellington ;  and  Miss  Beswick,  for  20  years 
Matron  of  the  Seacliff  Mental  Hospital,  Otago. 


August  3,    1912 


ebe  Brttlsb  3oiunal  of  IRurslno. 


89 


THE    CANADIAN    NATIONAL 

ASSOCIATION    OF  TRAINED    NURSES. 

MISS    MARY   ARD    MACKENZIE. 

Miss  Arcl  Mackenzie,  R.N'.,  who  has  succeeded 
Miss  M.  Afjnes  Snively  as  President  of  the 
Canadian  National  Association  of  Trained 
Nurses,  has  had  a  distinguished  career.  Born 
at  Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada,  she  was  edu- 
cated at  the  Model  School  in  connection  with 
the    Collegiate    Institute    and     University    of 


aims  at  carrying  skilled  nursing,  by  means  of 
Cottage  Hospitals  and  fully  trained  district 
nurses,  to  all  parts  of  the  Dominion ;  the  post 
of  Chief  Superintendent  is  therefore  an  onerous 
and  responsible  one. 

The  Canada  National  Association  of  Trained 
N'urses  envered  into  affiliation  with  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses  at  its  last  meeting 
in  London  in  igog,  when  the  President  at  that 
time.  Miss  M.  Agnes  Snively — to  whom  the 
Association    owes    much — and    four    delegates 


Toronto,    and    received    a    B.A.    degree    with  '  were   present,    and   Miss   Snively   presented    a 
honours  in  modern  languages  in   i8g2,   and  a      report,   comprising  a  review  of  the  status  of 


specialist's  certifi- 
cate from  Ontario 
Normal  College  in 
1893.  Subse- 
quently she  taught 
in  a  High  School 
for  four  years,  and 
was  Principal  of  a 
Church  School  for 
one  year.  She  then 
entered  the  Massa- 
chusetts General 
Hospital,  Boston, 
Mass.,  U.S.A.,  as 
a  probationer,  and 
graduated  from 

this  hospital,  and 
from  the  Sloane 
Maternity  Hos- 

pital, New  York,  in 
1901.  She  held  the 
position  of  Head 
Nurse  at  the  Mas- 
sachusetts General 
Hospital  from 
1901-1902,  w  a  s 
Superintendent  of 
the  \'incent  Me- 
morial Hospital, 
Boston,  igo2-igo3  ; 
Superintendent  of 
the  Margaret  Pills- 
bury  Hospital, 
Concord,     from 

1903-1904;  Superintendent  of  the  Training 
School  of  the  Brooklyn  Gcn(;ral  Hospital,  New 
York,  iQ04-igo5 ;  was  engaged  in  private, 
district,  and  smallpox  nursing  in  Washington 
from  i905-igo8;  and  in  that  year  returned  to 
Canada  as  Chief  Superintendent  of  the 
Victorian  Order  of  Nurses  for  Canada,  a 
position  which  she  holds  with  distinction  at  the 
present  time. 

The  Victorian  Order  of  Nurses  was  founded 
under  Royal  "Charter  in  1897  in  commemora- 
tion of  Queen  Victoria's  Diamond  Jubilee,  and 


MISS   MARY    ARD   MACKENZIE,    R.N. 
President  of  the  Canadian  National  Association  of  Trained  Nurses 


.Nursing  Education 
from  the  Atlantic 
to  the  Pacific 
Coast,  demonstra- 
ting the  unity  of 
Canadian  Superin- 
tendents  and 
N'urses  through 

their  various  organ- 
izations. Since  that 
time  Ontario  has 
been  the  first  State 
to  recommend  a 
Bill,  and  as  the 
whole  of  the  nurses' 
associations  in  the 
Dominion,  with  the 
Canadian  Xurse  as 
their  official  organ 
to  voice  their  needs, 
are  w^orking  whole- 
hcartedlv  with  this 
object,  the  registra- 
tion of  nurses 
throughout  Canada 
is  an  assured  fact 
in  the  near  future. 

Territorially  the 
Dominion  of 
Canada  is  the 
largest  country  at 
present  in  member- 
ship with  the  Inter- 
national Council  of 
Nurses,  and  great  honour  and  prestige  have 
already  been  conferred  upon  it. 

By  special  permission  of  the  late  King, 
during  the  International  Congress  week  in 
London  in  igog.  Miss  Snively,  as  President,  in 
the  presence  of  the  Camdian  Delegates,  was 
permitted  to  place  a  floral  offering  on  the  tomb 
of  Queen  \'ictoria  at  Frogmore,  and  King 
Edw-ard  subsequently  accepted  an  illuminated 
address  by  the  President,  a  duplicate  of  which 
is  preserved  in  the  archives  of  the  .Association 
at  Toronto. 


90 


STbe  JBvttlsb  3oiunai  of  iRursimj 


August  3,   1912 


A    NURSING    REFORMER    IN    FRANCE. 
DR.    LOUIS    LANDE. 

Since  our  last  International  Congress  the 
Angel  of  Death  has  again  and  again  removed 
from  our  ranks  those  whom  we  seem  least 
able  to  spare.  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  the 
United  States  of  America,  France,  and  India 
are  united  in  a  common  sorrow,  by  the  loss  of 
those  to  whom  they  looked,  and  never  in  vain, 
for  leadership,  counsel  and  guidance. 

One  of  the  most 
distinguished  mem- 
bers ,of  our  Con- 
gresses in  Paris  and 
in  London  was  Dr. 
Louis  Lande,  Pro- 
fessor of  Forensic 
Medicine  at  the 
Bordeaux  Univer- 
sity, Member  of  the 
Superior  Council  of 
the  Assistance  Pub- 
lique  of  France, 
Vice-President  of 
the  General  Asso- 
ciation of  Medical 
P  r  a  c  t  i  t  ioners  in 
France.  Dr.  Lande 
had  notified  his  in- 
tention of  attend- 
ing the  Congress  in 
Cologne,  and  many 
of  those  who  appre- 
ciated his  great 
gifts  were  looking 
forward  to  meeting 
this  distinguished 
medical  man,  who 
has  so  nobly  sup- 
ported the  move- 
ment for  the  train- 
ing of  nurses  in 
France  on  Florence 
Nightingale's 
system. 

As     our     readers 
are      aware,       Dr. 
Lande,      after     de- 
livering      his       in- 
augural  address   as   President   of   the    Medical 
Association    in    Paris,    was    suddenly    stricken 
down    with    paralysis    and    shortly    afterwards 
passed  away. 

Dr.  Lande  was  a  native  of  Bordeaux,  and 
in  the  most  public  spirited  way  identified  him- 
self with  the  interests  of  the  town.  During 
the  Franco-Prussian  War  he  had  charge  of  the 
Red  Cross  Ambulance  of  the  Gironde,  and  at 


PROFESSEUI. 
;  du  Conseil  5uperieur  de  I' 
President  de  I'Association  1 


the  end  of  the  campaign  received  the  Cross  of 
tlie  Legion  of  Honour.  It  was  in  1903,  when 
Mayor  of  Bordeaux,  that  Dr.  Lande  founded 
the  first  nursing  school  on  Miss  Nightingale's 
principles  in  a  State  Hospital — the  St.  Andr^ 
Hospital.  Later  it  was  moved  to  the  Tondu 
Hospital,  where,  under  the  direction  of  Miss 
Elston  and  the  fostering  care  of  Dr.  Lande, 
86  nurses  have  been  trained  and  certificated. 
Nine  matrons  have  also  been  supplied  to  other 
hospitals,  and  six 
military  hospitals 
have  turned  to  the 
Tondu  for  nurses. 
By  Dr.  Lande's 
advice,  two  public 
schools  in  Bor- 
deaux have  ap- 
pointed nurses  in 
charge  of  their  sick 
rooms,  the  Muni- 
cipal Council  has 
appointed  a  school 
nurse  in  the 
largest  Board 
school,  and  dis- 
trict nursing  has 
been  initiated  in 
Bordeaux. 

Dr.  Lande  was 
also  a  true  friend 
to  the  Protestant 
Hospital,  which, 
under  Dr.  Anna 
Hamilton's  direc- 
tion, demonstrated 
the  advantages  of 
the  modern  nurs- 
ing system  later  in- 
troduced into  the 
State  hospitals, 

and  La  Garde 
M  aJ  ad  e  H  o  s  - 
pitaliere  owns  him 
as  its  founder. 

In  recognition  of 

his    great    services 

to  his  countrv,   the 

Government  raised 

him    to    the     highest    rank    possible,    that    of 

Coilim.indor  of  the  Legion  of  Honour. 

By  the  kindness  of  Dr.  Hamilton  and  of  the 
Comite  d' Organisation  du  Congrts  d'Assist- 
ance  Publique  and  de  Bienfaisance  privie, 
Nantes,  we  are  able  to  publish  this  portrait. 

Much  sympathy  is  felt  with  the  Bordeaux 
nurses  in  the  irreparable  loss  they  have  sus- 
tained. 


LANDE. 
ssistance  Publiaue  de  France. 
;s  /Vl^dicins  de  France. 


August  3,    191; 


Cbe  Brttisb  3ournal  of  IRurslno. 


91 


THE  INTERNATIONAL  COUNCIL 
OF  NURSES. 

(Foufided  July,   1 899.) 


THE     GRAND     COUNCIL. 

The  following  members  of  the  I.C.N,  have  the 
right  to  attend  and  vote  at  the  ^Meeting  of  the 
Grand  Council  convened  to  meet  in  the  Giirzenich, 
Cologne,  on  August  5th,  at  9.30  a.m.  and  2  p.m. 

The  Honorary  Officers  as  defined  in  Article  II 
of  the  Constitution. 

1.  The  President  :  Fraulein  Agnes  Karll. 

2.  The  Hon.  President :  ^Irs.  Bedford  Fenwick. 

3.  The  Presidents  for  the  time  being  of  the 
affiliated  National  Councils  of  Nurses. 

4.  Hon.  Vice-Presidents  ;  elected  to  represent 
countries  where  no  National  Council  is  organized. 

5.  The  Councillors  :   Foundation  Members. 

6.  The  Honorary  Secretary  ;  Miss  L.  L.  Dock. 

7.  The  Honorary  Treasurer  :  Miss  M.  Breay. 

8.  Four  elected  Delegates  from  each  AffiUated 
Council.  

OFFICIAL    DELEQATES. 

The  following  ladies  have  been  appointed  by 
the  affiliated  National  Association  of  Nurses  as 
their  official  delegates,  to  attend  the  International 
Council  Meeting  :■ — 

GERMANY. 
The  German  Nurses'  Association. 

Sister  Edith  Koehler,  Berlin,  Matron  of  the 
Municipal  Moabit  Hospital. 

Sister  Helene  Meyer,  Dortmund,  Matron  of  the 
Municipal  Hospital. 

Sister  Maida  Liibben,  Berlin,  Vice-President 
G.N.A. 

Sister  Martha  Oesterlen,  Stuttgart,  President 
of  the  Wiirttemberg  Branch  G.N.A. 

GREAT   BRITAIN    AND    IRELAND. 

The  National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses. 

Miss  Beatrice  Cutler,  Assistant  Matron  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  London,  Hon.  Sec. 
N.C.N. 

Miss  Christina  Forrest,  President  Victoria  and 
Bournemouth  Nurses'  League,  Hon.  Treasurer 
N.C.N. 

Miss  Gertrude  Rogers,  President  Royal  In- 
firmary Leicester  Nurses'  League. 

Miss  B.  M.  Kelly,  Lady  Superintendent,  Dr. 
Steevens'  Hospital,  Dublin  (Irish  Nurses'  Associa- 
tion) . 

UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

The    American    Nurses'     Association. 

Miss  M.  Adelaide  Nutting,  R.N.,  Director, 
Department  of  Nursing  and  Health,  Teachers' 
College,  Columbia  University,  New  York. 

Miss  Anna  Maxwell,  Superintendent  of  Nurses' 
Training  School,  Presbyterian  Hospital,  New 
York. 

Miss  Helen  Kelly,  Superintendent,  County 
Hospital,  Wanwatosa,  Wisconsin. 

Miss  Donna  L.  Burgar,  Superintendent, 
Worcester  Hospital,  Mass. 


CANADA. 

Canadian  National  Association  of  Trained 
Nurses. 
Miss  Georgina  Colley,  Secretary,  Montreal. 
Miss  Helen  A.  de  Braisay,  Montreal. 
Miss    L.    L.     Rogers,     Superintendent,     Pubhc 
School  Nursing,   Toronto. 

HOLLAND. 

The    Dutch    Nurses'    Association. 
Sister    Tilanus,    Sister    Verwey    Mejan,    Sister 
van  Rijn,  Sister  Spruijtenburg. 

DENMARK. 

The   Danish    Council   of   Nurses. 

Sister  Maiken  Liitken,  Secretary,  Danish  Council 
of  Nurses. 

Mrs.  Charlotte  Munck,  Matron  and  Member  of 
Representative  Board  Danish  Council  of  Nurses. 

Mrs.  Dr.  Agnete  Claudius,  Editor  of  Journal 
Danish  Council  of  Nurses. 

Miss  Kirstine  Pedersen,  Directrice  of  the  Office, 
Danish  Council  of  Nurses. 

INDIA. 

The    Trained    Nurses'    Association    of   India. 

Miss  May  Bonser,  Hon.  Secretary. 

Miss  Annie  R.  Creighton,  Vice-President. 

Mrs.  Klosz,  Editor  of  Nursing  Journal  of  India. 

Mrs.  Barr,  Manager 

NEW  ZEALAND. 

The    New    Zealand    Trained    Nurses'  Association. 

Miss  Jeannie  M.  Sutherland,  Matron,  Chalet 
Private   Hospital,  Dunedin. 

iliss  Beswick,  formerly  >ratron,  Mental  Hospital, 
Seaclifl,  Otago. 

Mrs.  Holgate,  formerly  Matron,  Private  Hospital, 
Wellington. 


FRATERNAL   DELEGATES. 

From  countries  where  no  National  organisation  of 
Trained  Nurses  exists. 

FRANCE. 

M.  Andre  Mesureur,  Chef  de  Service,  Adminis- 
tration General  de  I'Assistance  Publique  k  Paris, 
Administrateur  de  I'Ecolc  des  Infirmidres 

Mile.  Clement,  Surveillante  General  de  I'Ecole 
des  Infirmieres. 

Mile.  Blondeau,  Monitrice  de  I'Ecole  des  In- 
firmieres. 

Mile.  Gosselin,  Monitrice  de  rEcole  des  In- 
firmieres. 

ITALY. 

Miss  Grace  Baxter,  Matron,  Ospedale  Gesu-e- 
Maria,  Naples. 

Miss  Dorothy  SneU,  Matron  Scuola  Convitto 
Regina  Elena,  PolicUnico,  Rome,  and  several 
members  of  nursing  staff. 

AUSTRIA. 

Herr  Linsmayer,  Director,  Jubilee  Hospital, 
Vienna. 

Sister  Hedwig  Brezina,  Charge  Nurse,  University 
Children's  Clinic,  Vienna. 

Sister  Poldi  Vogt,  Assistant,  UniversityChildren's 
Hospital,  Vienna. 


92 


Jibe  ©litidb  journal  of  IRurstnn 


August  3,    191 2 


BELGIUM. 

La  Comtessc  Jean  de  Morode,  Brabant. 

La  tomtesse  Albertine  dc  Villegas,  Hainault. 

Dr.  van  Swieten. 

Dr.  Manrice  Peremans,  Stuyvenburg  Hospital. 
Sent  by  City  of  Antwerp. 

Dr.  Marcelle  and  Mrs.  Marcelle,  Hospital  St. 
John,  Brussels. 

INIlle.  Proqueant,  Monitrice. 

l\Illc.  Menetrey,  Infirmiere. 

INIlle.  Rancy,  eleve. 

Mile.  Verbeek,  President  National  Council  of 
Women  of  Belgium. 

Representatives  of  the  Ecolc  Saint  Cami'le. 
Brussels. 

Five  members  of  the  "  \'ereeniging  voor 
Ziekenvcrpleging,  Antwerp. 

HOLLAND. 

Dr.  A.  Couvee,  Amsterdam,  Nederlandischcn 
Bond  for  Zickenverpleging  ;    and 

Miss  G.  Reeling  Browver,  Ryksklinik,  Utrecht. 

SWITZERLAND. 

Sister  Emmy  Oser,  Zurich,  Swiss  Nursing 
Federation. 

JAPAN. 

Miss  Take  Hagiwara,  Matron  Red  Cross  Hospital, 
Tokio. 

Miss  Yao  Yamamoto,  Red  Cross  Hospital,  Tokio. 

Mrs.  Reri  Watatani,  Matron,  Mitsui  Hospital, 
Tokio. 

AUSTRALASIA. 

Australasian    Trained  Nurses'  Associatio  1,  Sydicy. 
Miss  Winifred  Tait. 


Miss  Muriel  Peyton-Jones,  a  member  of  the 
Royal  Victorian  Trained  Nurses'  Association,  has 
been  studying  German  preparatory  to  taking  part 
in  the  Congress  ;  and  Miss  Olive  Ross  and  a  nurse 
friend  from  the  Royal  Victorian  Hospital,  Montreal, 
will  be  two  more  Canadians  present. 


REPRESENTATIVES. 

A  very,  large  number  of  nurses  from  all  the 
countries  which  at  present  form  the  International 
Council  will  attend  the  Congress.  The  United 
Ivingdom  sends  nearly  100,  and  many  Societies 
are  sending  special  representatives.  Many  mem- 
bers of  the  Matrons'  Council  have  joined  Miss 
MoUett's  party  of  57,  and  as  hon.  secretary  she  is 
appointed  as  representative  of  the  Council.  Miss 
E.  Barton,  President,  Chelsea  Infirmary  Nurses' 
League,  represents  the  Poor  Law  Infirmary  Matrons' 
Association,  and  Miss  Melrose,  Matron  Royal 
Infirmary,  Glasgow,  and  Miss  Graham,  hon. 
secretary,  the  Scottish  Matrons'  Association. 
Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  represents  the  Society  for 
State  Registration  of  Nurses,  and  Miss  H.  L. 
Pearse,  the  School  Nurses'  League  ;  Miss  E.  Bann, 
the  Fever  Nurses'  Association.  Miss  B.  Kent,  the 
Nui-ses'  Social  Union.  The  League  of  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital  Nurses  is  sending  Miss 
E.  M.  Hunter.  The  General  Hospital,  Birming- 
liam,  Nurses'  League,  Miss  Macfarlane.    The  Royal 


South  Hants  Nurses'  League,  Miss  Lee  Smith. 
St.  John's  House  Nurses'  League,  Miss  M.  Burr. 
The  Irish  Nurses'  Association.  Miss  Carson  Rae. 
The  Catholic  Nurses'  Association  (Ireland),  Miss 
McLaughlin.  The  National  Association  of  Mid- 
wives  will  be  represented,  and  the  Incorporated 
Society  of  Trained  Masseuses  send  Miss  Grafton. 

From  far  and  wide  throughout  the  German 
Empire  nurses  will  attend  the  Congress,  Holland, 
Denmark,  Sweden,  will  be  represented  by  large 
contingents  from  each  country.  France,  Italy 
and  Belgium  mean  to  be  well  to  the  fore,  and  a 
very  large  number  of  Americans  will  help  to 
make  the  gathering  the  success  it  deserves  to  be 
after  the  devoted  labours  of  our  German  sisters 
in  its  organisation. 


THIRD   TRIENNIAL   MEETING. 


PROGRAMME. 

Monday,  August  5TH. 

Morning    Session,    9.30    a.m.    to     12.30    p.m. 


The  Tliird  Triennial  Meeting  and  Grand 
Council  of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses 
will  be  held  in  the  Giirzcnich,  at  Cologne,  on 
Monday,  August  5th. 

Cliairman :     Fraulein   Agnes    Karll,    R.N.,  President 
of  the   International  Council   of  Nurses. 

Agenda. 

1.  Call  to  Order. 

2.  Address  of  Welcome  :    Tlic  President. 

3.  The  Watchword,  "  Aspiration  " :   Mrs.  Bedford 

Fenwick,    Founder    of    the     International 
Council  of  Nurses. 

4.  Minutes     of     the     London     Meeting :      Miss 

L.  L.  Dock,  R.N.,  Hon.  Secretary. 

5.  Report  of  the  Hon.  Secretary. 

6.  Report    of    the    Hon.     Treasurer,     Miss     M. 

Breay. 

7.  International  Recognition  of  the  Services  to 

the   Nursing    Profession   of   the    President, 
Fraulein  Agnes  Karll. 

Invitation  to  Fraulein  Agnes  Karll  to 
accept  the  Honorarv  Membership  of  the 
National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland ;  Mrs.  ■  B3d- 
ford  Fenwick,  President. 
Music — German  National  .Anthem. 

8.  The    Affiliation    of   National    Associations    of 

Nurses  :    Welcome  by  The  President. 

(a)  The   Traiaed   Nurses'    Association   of 

India. 
(6)  The  New  Zealand  Trained  Nurses' 
Association. 
Presentation  of  the  Representatives  of 
incoming  Associations  :  Mrs.  Klosz 
(India),  and  Miss  Jeannie  M.  Sutherland 
(New  Zealand). 


August  3,    191 


tTbe  British  3oiunal  of  llliucuno. 


93 


Music — The  British  National  Anthem. 
9.  Speech     in     Honour     of     the     Dead  :      Tlie 
President. 

Isia   Stewart,    Great   Britain  &   Ireland. 
Isabel    Hampton    Robb,    United    States 

of  America  and  Canada. 
Jeanie    Kildare   Treacy,   Ireland. 
Jane  Winifred  Thorpe,   India. 
Louis  Lande,  France. 
Alusic. 

10.  Election  of  Hon.  Officers. 

11.  Selection  of  Next  Meeting  Place. 

12.  Resolutions — 

(a)  On  the  Rights  of  Citizenship — Women's 

Suffrage. 
(6)  On  State  Registration  of  Nurses. 

13.  Welcome    of    ^Members    of    Allied    Organisa- 

tions. 

Afternoon  Session,  2  to  4  p.m. 

1.  Report   of   the    International    Committee    on 

Nursing  Education. 

The  Preliminary  Education  of 
Nurses :  Presented  by  Miss  J.  C. 
van  Lanschot  Hubrecht,  President 
Dutch  Nurses'  Association. 

2.  Organisation        and        State        Registration  : 

(a)  England  :  Report  from  the  Society  for 

State  Registration  of  Trained 
Nurses.     Miss  Christina  Forrest. 

(b)  United    States    America :     Miss    Char- 

lotte Ehrlicher,  late  Superinten- 
dent of  the  German  Hospital,  in 
Brooklyn,  U.S.A. 

(c)  Germany  :    Sister  Emma  Ampt. 
(rf)   Denmark  :  Sister  Maiken  Liitken. 
{e)  Belgium  :  La  Comtcssc  de  Merode. 
(/)  Japan  :  Miss  Take  Hagiwara. 

(g)  Hungary:  Sister  Kadar  Jldiko. 


5    p.m.    Festival     by    the     Municipality     ot 
Cologne    in    the    Floral    Town    (jardens. 


THE    INTERNATIONAL    CONGRESS    OF 
NURSES    IN    THE    QURZENICH. 


PROGRAMME. 

Tuesday,  August  6x11. 

Morning  Session. — g  a.m.  to  12.30  jj.m. 

President    of    Session :   Miss  M.  A.  Nutting,  R.N., 

Director,  Department    of    Nursing    and    Health, 

Teachers'  College,  Columbia  University,  New  York, 

U.S.A. 

THE     OVERSTRAIN     OF     NURSES. 
Speakers  : 
Herr     Rcgierungs     and    Gehcimcr  ^Medicinalrat 
Heckcr,  Strasburg. 


Obcrin  Meyer,  Dortmund. 
Miss  Margaret  Brcay,  London. 
Sister  Spruij  ten  burg,  Amsterdam. 
Discussion. 


Afternoon  Session  :  z  to  4  p.m. 

President  of  Session  :    Mrs.  H.dford   Fenwick. 

I.    THE     DUTIES   OF   THE   MATRON     IN    THE    TRAIN- 
ING    AND    EDUCATION     OF     NURSES. 

Speakers  : 
Miss   M.    Mollett,    England,    formerly   Matron    of 
the     Royal     South     Hants    and    Southampton 
Hospital.     (In  Gc-rman.) 
Miss    Anna   Maxwell,    United    State   of   America, 
Superintendent    of    Nurses'     Training    School, 
Presbyterian  Hospital,  New  York. 
Fraulein  Agnes  Karll,  Gsrmany,  Bsrlin. 
Discussion. 


2.     THE     DUTIES     OF     THE      MATRON      IN      THE      AD- 
MINISTRATION   OF    HOSPITALS. 

Speakers  : 

Sister    Lisbeth    Bsckcr,    Evangelischer-Diakonie- 

Vereii  Germ^my. 
Sister  Verwey-Mejan,  Holland. 
Mother  Mary  Albens  Fogarty,   Ireland. 
Sister   Mary    Ignatius,    Mercy    Hospital,  Chicago. 


5   p.m.   Visit   to   the    Lindenburg    Municipal 
Hospital. 


Evening  Session,   8.30  p.m.        ^. 
President    of     Ssssion,     Fraulein     Hedwig     Busch, 

Hanover,       Women's        College,       Evangelical 
Women's  League  for  Social  Work. 

ITHE     SOCIAL     W0.1JK     OF    THE     NJRSE. 

Reports  by  Miss  M.  A.  Nutting  and  Miss  Wald, 

New  York.     Read  by 
Sister  Marie  Lustnauer,  Louisville  City  Hospital, 

Fraternal    Delegate   from    Kentucky. 
Speaker :    Fraulein  Agnes  Karll. 


Wednesd.w,  August  7TH. 

Morning  Session,  9  a.m.  to  12.30.  • 

President  of  Session  :  Miss  Mary  A.  Snively, 
formerly  Lady  Superintendent  of  the  General 
Hospital,  Toronto,  Canada. 

Afternoon  Session  :    2  to  4. 
President  :   Fraulein  Agnes  Karll. 

THE     SOCIAL     WORK     OF     THE     NURSE. 

(Special  Branches.) 

1.  Miss  Beatrice  Kent,  London.     (In  Gorman.) 

2.  Care   of    Orphans  :     Sister   Martha   Ocsterlenj 

Stuttgart. 


94. 


^be  IBritisb  3ountal  of  IRursino. 


August  3,    1912 


3.  The    Work   of    the    Police    Assistant :     Sister 

Henriette  Arendt,  Ascona. 

4.  Homes   for  Working  Women  :    Sister  Alyke  v. 

Tiimpling,  Davos. 
5  &  6.  The  Care  of  Babies  :    Sister  Else  Ivnoerich, 

and  Fraulcin  \V.  Schubert,  Darmstadt. 
7.  Welfare     Work    for     Consumptive     Patients : 
Sister  Dorothea  Taubert,  Solingen. 
Sister  Tilanus,  Amsterdam. 
Sister  Maiken  Liitken,  Copenhagen. 
Sister  Emmy  Lindhagen,  Stockliolm. 
Discussion. 


8.30  p.m.  Banquet  in  the  Hotel  Disch. 


*  Thursday,  August   8th. 

Excursion  to  Kaiserswerih. — Departure  9.30 
a.m.,  by  steamer.  Fare  :  dinner  on  board  and 
ticket  on  electric  car,  at  Dusseldorf,  5s.  From 
I  to  6  p.m.  :  Visit  to  the  Kaiserswerth  Deaconess 
House.  Afternoon  coffee.  Return  by  steamer  to 
Dusseldorf,  6  p.m.  Leave  Dusseldorf  for  Cologne 
by  train,   8  p.m. 

Friday,  August  qth. 

Whole  dav  Excursion  to  Bad  Neuenahr,  Ahr- 
weiler.  Departure :  Central  Station,  9.30  a.m., 
on  the  in\-itation  of  Herr  von  Elirenwall.  Luncheon 
11.30  a.m.,  as  guests  of  the  Kurveraltung.  Visit  to 
Bad  Neuenahr.  Departure  for  Ahrweiler,  2.30  p.m. 
Visit  to  the  San.  Rat.  v.  Ehrenwall's  Sanatorium 
for  Nervous  and  Mentally  Diseased  Patients. 
Afternoon  tea  in  the  Forest.  Return  to  Cologne, 
8  p.m.     Fare  4s. 


tinguished  can  wear  a  ribbon  with  the  words 
England,  Scotland,  or  Ireland  on  it,  but  must 
provide  these  badges  for  themselves.  There  is 
certain  to  be  "  Wearing  of  the  Green." 


THE   BUREAU. 

There  will  be  a  Congress  Office  in  the  Giirzenich, 
at  which  \-isitors  should  at  once  call,  where 
tickets,  badges  and  information  can  be  obtained 
(from  ist  to  3rd  August,  apply  at  Quartermark- 
staal) . 

TICKETS. 
r^The  price  of  tickets  will  be  as  foUow-s  :  For 
Congress  and  Exhibition  for  members  of  the 
LC.N.,  and  for  all  nurses,  3s.  For  others,  5s. 
Day  tickets  for  Congress,  each  session,  6d.  Exhi- 
bition, after  opening  day,  2jd. 

Banquet    tickets,     los.    each,    including    wine. 

Excursion  to  Kaiserswerth,  5s. 

Excursion  to  Neuenahr  and  Ahrweiler,  4s. 

All  those  wishing  to  attend  these  functions 
should  procure  their  tickets  as  soon  after  arrival 
as  possible.  As  550  visitors  (exclusive  of  residents) 
have  already  notified  their  intention  of  attending 
the  Congress,  everything  should  be  done  promptly, 
so  as  to  facilitate  arrangements. 

BADQES     AND     RIBBONS. 

Badges  and  ribbons  will  be  supplied  ;  the 
brassards  will  be  embroidered  with  the  name  of 
country.  In  our  case  Great  Britain  and  Ireland 
will  distinguish  members  of  our  National  Council 
with  I.C.N,  in  gold.  Those  nurses  who  in 
addition  wish  their  nationahty  still  further  dis- 


On  presentation  of  Congress  ticket  the  town 
permits  free  visits  to  the  museums.  Arrangements 
have  been  made  for  conducting  parties  over 
public  institutions,  hospitals,  and  places  of  interest, 
from  10  a.m.  to  5  p.m. 


Many  of  our  Matrons  have  been  disappointed. 
August  is  the  month  in  which  so  many  hospital 
secretaries  and  medical  superintendents  take 
their  holiday,  and  duty  claims  the  Matron  at 
home.  Owing  to  the  much  regretted  inability 
of  Miss  Heather  Bigg  to  attend  the  Congress, 
Miss  Elma  Smith  has  consented  to  take  part  in 
the  Pageant  as  EUzabeth  Fry.  The  English 
National  Council  will  offer  a  wreath  to  be  placed 
on  the  grave  of  Friederike  Fliedner  at  Kaiserswerth, 
the  first  wife  of  Pastor  Fliedner,  whose  creative  and 
executive  work  must  now  be  recognised  as  the 
origin  of  that  marvellous  organisation  on  the 
Rhine,  from  which  Mrs.  Fry,  Miss  Nightingale 
and  Miss  Agnes  Jones  learned  and  passed  on 
to  the  nursing  world  lessons  of  inestimable  value. 


The  following  will  take  part  in  the  Pageant : — 
;\Iiss  B.  Kent,  as  Phcebe  of  Cenchrea  ;  Mrs.  Manson, 
Queen  Philippa  of  Hainault  ;  Miss  Macvitie,  a 
Choir  Sister  of  the  Augustinian  Order ;  and  Miss 
Clara  Lee  as  Sister  Rahere  (1S50). 


Sister  Agnes  Karli  may  be  addressed  at  Baseler 
Hof,  Hermannstrasse,  17-19,  Cologne  ;  and  Miss 
L.  L.  Dock,  at  the  same  address. 


MEETING  OF  THE  EXECUTIVE  COMAIITTEE. 

There  will  be  a  meeting  of  the  Executive 
Committee  of  the  I.C.N.,  held  at  the  Hotel  Disch, 
on  August  4,  at  2  p.m.,  to  consider  the  Agenda 
for  the  following  day. 


THE    BOOKSTALL. 

The  following  publications  will  be  on  sale  on  the 
literature  stall  in  the  Giirzenich  during  the 
Congress  : — 

The  British  Journal  of  Nursing,  price  id., 
with  nimierous  illustrations. 

"The  Queen's  Nurses  Magazine,"  price  6d. 

"  The  Isla  Stewart  Oration,"  price  6d. 
,     "  The    Report    of    the    Society    for    the    State 
Registration  of  Trained  Nurses,"  price  2d. 

Pictures  of  Nurses  of  Note,  including  Presidents 
of  National  Councils. 

The  Mother  Books  :  "  Children  :  A.  Maer- 
chen,"  bv  Dr.  Hugo  Salus,  price  is.,  and  "  Dolls 
Dead  and  Alive,"  by  Otto  Ernst,  price  is.  6d. 
English  edition,  translated  by  A.  C.  Caton. 


August  3,   191: 


Cbc  Brittsb  3ounial  of  IRurstng. 


95 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 

WHAT  POINTS  WOULD  YOlj  OBSbRVE  ON  THb  AD.MIS- 
SION   OF  A    NEW    PATIENT    TO    A   WARD.   AND    WHY  ? 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Martin,  the  Royal 
Halifax  Infirmary,  Halifax. 

PRIZE     PAPER. 

The  patients  admitted  into  our  hospital 
wards  may  be  divided  into  two  classes,  viz., 
urgent  and  non-urgent. 

The  chief  points  to  be  observed  when  admit- 
ting a  new  case  to  a  ward  are  : — 

(i)  The  general  condition  of  the  patient. 

(2)  The  choosing  of  a  suitable  bed. 

(3)  Preparation  of  mackintoshes,  blankets, 
hot  bottles,  &c.  (These  points  are  of  greater 
importance  when  the  case  is  an  urgent  one.) 

(i)  Tlie  Condition  of  the  Patient. — It  is  the 
duty  of  the  ward  sister  or  staff  nurse  to  admit 
the  new  patients,  and  every  care  must  be  taken 
in  noticing  as  much  as  possible  about  any  new 
case. 

An  internal  and  external  temperature  should 
be  taken  on  admission ;  the  pulse  and  respira- 
tion also  should  be  counted  for  a  whole  miniUe 
and  charted.  These  should  be  taken  again  about 
half  an  hour  later,  after  the  patient  has  become 
more  settled  and  less  nervous.  Notice  if  the 
patient  is  suffering  from  shock,  and  try  to 
relieve  the  same,  from  a  nursing  point  of  view, 
until  further  treatment  is  ordered  by  the 
doctor.  Any  haematemesis,  haemoptysis, 
melaena,  hematuria,  &c.,  must  be  reported, 
and  specimens  saved  for  inspection. 

Procure  a  specimen  of  urine  in  any  case  as 
soon  as  possible. 

Report  any  distention ;  and  all  apparently 
slight  injuries,  wounds,  scars,  bruises,  &c. 

.All  these  things  are  of  vital  importance,  and 
are  also  of  great  help  to  the  medical  man. 

(2)  The  Choosing  of  a  Suitable  Bed. — This 
entirely  depends  upon  the  case  admitted. 

If  a  surgical  case,  and  an  urgent  abdominal 
operation,  the  patient  should  be  nursed  as  near 
the  centre  of  the  ward  as  possible ;  by  this 
arrangement  many  draughts  are  avoided  from 
either  end  of  the  ward. 

Have  a  fracture  bed  prepared  for  all  cases  of 
fractured  leg,  especially  a  fractured  femur.  All 
head  injuries,  &c.,  should  be  put  to  bed  with- 
out pillows.  (Sometimes  a  water  pillow  is 
ordered  later.) 

Water  beds  should  be  prepared  for  cases  of 
fractured  spine  and  fractured  pelvis,  and  also 
for  some  medical  cases,  such  as  paraplegia  and 
hemiplegia.    " 


(3)  Preparation  of  Mackintoshes,  Blankets, 
Hot  Bottles,  &c. — All  urgent  beds  should  be 
covered  with  mackintosh  and  bath  blanket,  as 
all  bathing  must  be  done  in  bed,  and  the  nurse 
should  have  blankets  in  readiness  by  the  fire. 

If  the  new  patient  is  admitted  in  a  very  cold 
and  collapsed  state,  more  hot  blankets  will  be 
required  and  hot  bottles. 

Great    care    must    always    be    taken    when 

placing  hot  bottles  in  the  bed.      Every  bottle 

must    have    a    cover    and    be    placed    between 

/  blankets,   so  as  not  to  burn  the  patient,  who 

may  be  in  a  semi-conscious  condition. 

rhe  ward  should  always  be  kept  as  quiet  as 
possible,  and  the  nurses  on  duty  should  always 
be  very  quiet  and  orderly. 

New  patients  and  their  friends  are  naturally 
very  nervous  of  hospital,  and  many  (friends 
especially)  have  been  known  to  get  quite  a 
wrong  impression. 

With  regard  to  history,  &c. — The  house 
surgeon  is  responsible  for  all  history  from  the 
adult  patients,  but,  as  a  rule,  all  history,  &c., 
for  the  children  is  taken  by  the  ward  sister  or 
her  most  senior  nurses.  Therefore  all  nurses 
should  be  taught  how  to  take  the  history  of  a 
child's  illness  as  accurately  as  possible,  and  the 
importance  of  history  taking  explained  to 
them. 

Why  these  points  should  be  observed  wiien 
admitting  a  new  patient  to  a  ward  is  :-^ 

(i)  For  the  comfort  and  welfare  of  the 
patient. 

(2)  For  the  benefit  of  the  training  of^  the 
nurses. 

(3)  For  the  report  to  the  house  surgeon. 

HONOURABLE    MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honour- 
able mention  : — Miss  Emilv  Marshall,  Miss 
E.  F.  Stokes,  Miss  E.  H.'  Gibert,  Miss  M. 
Cullen,  Miss  .\.  Rhind,  Miss  P.  Macfarlane, 
Miss  M.  Saunders,  Miss  .A.  McCabe. 

Miss  Gibert  writes  :  "One  of  the  most  im- 
portant qualities  which  every  Sister  should  try 
to  bring  out  and  cultivate  in  those  for  whose 
training  she  is  responsible,  is  the  power  of 
observation,  and,  in  so  doing,  she  might  do 
well  to  bear  in  mind  the  words  of  Taylor, 
'  Remember  that  as  thine  eye  observes  others, 
so  art  thou  observed  by  .Angels  and  men.'  " 

Xurses  often  do  not  realize  how  much  they 
may  be  able  to  assist  surgeons  and  physicians 
by  paying  special  attention  to  this  important 
power. 

.Amongst  the  points  to  be  observed,  Miss 
Emily  Marshall  mentions  : — Note  whether 
the   patient   is   conscious,    delirious,    semi-con- 


96 


Jibe  Britisb  journal  of  H-Iuvijino. 


Ausriist 


191: 


scious,    unconscious,    feverish,    collapsed,    ami 
report  as  necessary. 

Take  notice  of  any  rash,  wounds,  bruises, 
paralysis,  defective  speech,  or  any  other  sign 
of  abnormality,  report  the  same,  and  make 
notes  for  reference. 

Inspect  patients'  hair  and  report  if  not  clean, 
and  free  from  nits  and  pediculi,  also  report  dis- 
charges of  any  kind. 

Xote  and  report  deafness,  defective  sight, 
any  signs  of  insanity,  burns,  or  bUsters,  or  any 
skin  affections,  swellings  on  any  part  of  the 
body ;  in  fact,  the  smallest  defect  should  be 
noted  and  reported  to  the  doctor  on  his  next 
visit. 

.Miss  Stokes  mentions  deformities,  bruises, 
bedsores,  and  ruptures  amongst  the  things  to 
be  noted  and  reported  at  once,  as  these  may 
have  been  overlooked  by  the  patient's  friends, 
who  may  cause  a  great  deal  of  unpleasantness 
bv  saying  that  they  were  not  there  on  admis- 
sion. Rashes  should  be  immediately  reported. 
With  children  it  is  a  frequent  occurrence  to 
find  ringworm  or  scabies  or  other  contagious 
•skin  eruptions.  These  call  for  special  atten- 
tion, and  care  must  be  taken  to  keep  the  child's 
comb,  brush,  and  clothing  separate,  or  other- 
wise an  epidemic  may  be  the  result. 

.Miss  Cullen  says  :  "I  should  first  of  all 
notice  the  general  aspect  of  the  patient, 
whether  he  looked  ill,  if  he  was  cyanosed  or 
breathing  badly,  and  also  note  how  he  was 
brought  in,  whether  he  was  carried  in  on  a 
stretcher  or  chair,  or  walked  in.  All  these 
points  must  be  carefully  observed,  as  such 
observations  help  towards  the  next  steps  to 
take." 

Miss  A.  Rhind  mentions  : — For  identifica- 
tion and  reference  verify  admission  ticket  as  to 
name  and  age.  Take  address — home  address 
or  address  of  nearest  relatives.  It  is  also  usual 
to  take  the  patient's  present  address. 

These  particulars  are  usually  obtained  from 
the  friends  accompanying  the  patient ;  failing 
these,  from  the  patient.  If  no  friends  are 
present  and  the  patient  is  not  in  a  fit  condition 
to  give  anv  information,  attempts  must  be 
made  to  identify  the  patient  from  personal 
belongings,  clothes,  letters,  note-books,  lining 
of  hat  or  cap.     Tattoo  marks  sometimes  help. 

Manv  of  the  papers  are  very  interesting,  and 
prove  that  many  nurses  realize  that  the  recep-* 
tion  of  a  patient  into  a  ward  is  not  a  simple 
matter,  but  that  trained  observation,  alertness, 
tact,  and  kindness  are  requisite  in  nurses  in  the 
discharge  of  this  duty. 

QUESTION    FOR     NEXT     WEEK 

Enumerate  the  principal  physical,  mental, 
and  moral  qualifications  in  a  trained  nurse? 


THE     TRAINED     WOMEN    NURSES' 
FRIENDLY    SOCIETY. 


On  Saturdav,  Julv  2  jch,  at  a  meeting  of 
members  summoned  for  the  purpose,  the  Trained 
Women  Nurses'  Friendlj"  Society  was  formallj' 
inaugurated. 

:Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  presided,  and  after 
briefly  explaining  the  objects  of  the  meeting, 
in\-ited  Miss  ]M.  Mollett,  ProWsional  Hon.  Secretan-, 
to  present  a  report.  Miss  !Mollett  reported  that  the 
Society  had  been  appro\-ed  by  the  National 
Insurance  Commissioners,  and  then  explained 
the  present  position,  and  in  regard  to  proposed 
benefits,  said  that  the  P^o^^sional  Committee 
made  no  proposal  to  var\'  the  statuton."  benefits 
at  first.  If  after  a  time  there  was  a  surplus,  and 
experience  had  been  gained  as  to  the  most  desirable 
alternative  benefit,  it  would  be  then  open  to  the 
members  to  adopt  it. 

Electiox  of  Officers. 

The  Chairman  then  announced  the  nominations 
of  the  E.xecutive  Committee  for  the  positions  of 
officers,  but  said  it  was  open  to  any  member  to 
make  other  nominations.  The  following  ofiicers 
were  unanimouslv  elected  : — 

President — Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick. 

Vice-President — Mrs.  Paston  Brown,  Chairman 
of  Kingston  Board  of  Guardians. 

Trustees — Miss  E.  M.  Waind,  Lad}'  Superin- 
tendent, Galen  House,  Guildford. 

Mr.  H.  W.  Ma\-nard,  late  Director  Union-Castle 
Line. 

Mr.  H.  Dixon  I\imber,  of  the  firm  of  ISIessrs. 
Kimbers  &  Boatman,  Solicitors,  Lombard  Street. 

Treasurer — Mr.  T.  W.  Craig. 

Secretary — !Miss  M.  Mollett. 

!Miss  Mollett  explained  that  she  was  quite 
willing  to  act  as  Secretar\'  for  a  time  and  see  the 
thing  through,  but  she  was  afraid  she  could  not 
undertake  the  position  permanentlv.  She  had 
onlv  recentlv  entered  into  partnership  with  a 
friend  who  was  unwilling  to  move  nearer  London. 
She  was  therefore  elected  on  this  understanding. 

The  Treasurer's  Speech. 
Mr.  T.  W.  Craig  said  that  personally  he  had  been 
interested  for  many  vears  in  nursing  and  nurses, 
and  it  was  an  additional  pleasure  to  hirii  to  help 
this  Societv.  He  was  in  s\inpathy  with  the 
principle  of  insurance,  and  alwavs  encouraged 
ever\'one  to  insure,  and  he  believed  the  advantages 
offered  to  nurses  by  the  Trained  Women  Nurses' 
Friendlv  Society  were  superior  to  anv  other.  No 
lother  societv,  so  far  as  he  knew,  offered  them  the 
advantages  of  professional  association,  through 
which  the\'  could  maintain  the  status  of  member- 
ship. In  the  insurance  world  th,c  "diflicultv  was 
always  to  eliminate  the  inferior  element.  It  was 
up  to  the  membeis  of  this  Society  to  secure  nurses 
standing  well  professionally,  and  with  good 
lives  from  the  insurance  standpoint.  He  therefore 
advised  each  member  to  induce  a  friend  to  join 


August  3,    1913 


CDC  BvitrC'b  3ounial  oX  IWursiiui 


97 


their  society,  rather  than  one  with  an  indiscrimi- 
nate membership.  Moreover,  it  seemed  probable 
that  the  majority  of  the  members  were  of  a  class 
who  would  not  require  to  come  on  the  funds  of 
the  society  after  maniage.  In  that  case  we 
should  hope  to  retain  their  interest  and  assistance 
as  Hon.  Members.  Mr.  Craij;  then  explained  the 
principle  of  insurance  and  concluded  by  expressing 
his  pleasure  at  being  associated  with  the  President, 
Comm.ittee,  and  members  in  the  promotion  of  the 
Society. 

Committee  oi'  Management. 
The  present  Provisional  Committee  were  then 
elected  as  the  Committee  of  Management,  with  the 
addition  of  Miss  Knight  (Nottingham),  Miss 
Buckingham  (Birmingham),  Miss  O'Brien  (Uni- 
vcrsitv  College  Hospital),  and  Miss  Mollett, 
making  a  thoroughly  representative  Committee. 


IRISH    .NURSES'   ASSOCIATION. 


TWO    QUEENS    AT    ALTON    HOSPITAL. 


A  special  meeting  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee of  the  above  Association  was  held  on 
July  24th,  Miss  Shuter,  the  President,  in 
the  chair.  There  was  a  large  and  representa- 
tive attendance. 

A  resolution  was  proposed  by  Miss  Huxley, 
Elpis  Private  Nursing  Home,  seconded  by  Miss 
Reeves,  Royal  Victoria  Hospital,  and  was 
passed  with  only  two  dissentients,  most  regret- 
fully entirely  dissociating  the  Irish  Nurses' 
.Association  from  the  Irish  Nurses'  Insurance 
Society. 

The  President  and  Committee  of  the  I.N. A. 
wish  it  to  be  understood  that  they  have  no 
wish  to  retard  in  any  way  the  success  of  the 
Insurance  Society ;  on  the  contrary,  they  will 
be  very  pleased  if  a  successful  Society  can  be 
formed ;  but  as  they  do  not  approve  of  the 
methods  of  administration,  they  think  it  only 
fair  to  all  nurses  that  they  should  at  any  rate 
understand  that  the  Insurance  Society  is  not 
controlled  by  the  Irish  Nurses'  Association. 
For  another  reason  they  consider  this  explana- 
tion necessary,  as  the  fact  of  the  Insurance 
Society  having  rented  a  temporary  office  at  34, 
Stephen's  Green,  the  headquarters  of  the  Irish 
Nurses'  Association,  is  liable  to  lead  to  some 
confusion. 

.\  copy  of  the  resolution  will  be  sent  to  all 
members  of  the  I.N. .A.,  within  a  few  days. 
(Signed)   E.    Hanan, 
Secretary  Irish  Nurses'  Association. 
We  feel  sure  that  the  Irish  Nurses'  Associa- 
tion has  taken  this  step  in  the  belief  that  it  is 
for  the  best  interest  of  the  members,  and  we 
have  plcasute  in  giving  publicity  to  it. 


The  visit  of  Queen  Alexandra  and  Qjeen 
Amelie  of  Portugal  to  Lord  Maj-or  Treloar's 
Hospital  and  College  for  Cripples  at  Alton  gave 
immense  pleasure  to  those  who  are  working  so 
hard  at  this  wonderful  institution,  and  also  to  all 
the  little  patients  and  pupils. 

Her  Majesty  and  party  first  visited  the  college, 
where  Sir  W.  Treloar  showed  her  round  the  leather 
shop,  where  the  college  boys  were  at  work.  Her 
Majesty  spoke  to  every  boy,  and  seemed  espcciallv 
interested  in  the  boys  making  surgical  boots  for 
children  in  the  hospital.  That  seemed  to  appeal 
to  her  tremendously.  She  questioned  those  boys 
who  were  wearing  surgical  boots  if  they  made  their 
own.  Both  Queen  Ale.xandra  and  Queen  .Vmelic 
asked  that  a  large  assortment  of  goods  made  in 
the  College  should  be  sent  for  their  inspection  in 
London. 

Dr.  Gauvain,  the  medical  superintendent,  and 
IMiss  Robertson,  matron,  were  presented  to  Her 
Majestv  and  conducted  her  over  the  hospital. 
The  nursing  staff  and  convalescent  patients  w-ere 
also  drawn  up  oatside  the  observation  wards, 
where  they  were  received  by  the  Royal  party. 
Going  through  the  observation  wards  Her 
^fajesty  e.xpressed  warm  admiration  of  all  the 
arrangements  made  for  preventing  the  spread  of 
infectious  disease.  She  insisted  on  speaking  to 
every  child.  Her  Majesty  then  visited  the  cot 
ward  and  spent  some  time  among  the  babies. 
Here  she  was  interested  in  a  little  child  wearing 
a  high  plaster  jacket,  and  made  numerous  inquiries 
as  to  whether  the  child  was  comfortable  or  not, 
being  most  happy  to  know  that  the  discomfort 
was  very  small.  Gladys  Jory,  who  cKcupied  the 
King  Edward  Cot,  and  who  is  sulfering  ^from 
tuberculosis  in  the  elbow^  ankle  and  kitce  joints, 
had  the  honour  of  presenting  Queen  Alexandra 
with  a  bouquet  of  carnations  and  Queen  .\mclic 
with  a  one  of  sweet  peas,  grown  on  the  estate. 

Her  Majesty  then  went  into  the  splint  ward, 
and  Dr.  Gauvain  explained  the  use  of  the  splints, 
in  which  Her  Majesty  was  immenselv  interested. 
One  of  the  back  splints  of  a  patient  w-as  removed 
in  order  to  demonstrate  its  use,  but  the  Queen 
insisted  that  it  should  be  replaced  immediately, 
so  that  no  discomfort  should  be  gi\  en  to  the  patient. 
The  plaster  room  was  also  visited,  and  here  the 
Queen  saw  a  little  patient  fitted  with  a  plaster 
cast.  The  X-Ra%-  room  was  another  feature  of 
the  work  in  which  the  Queen  was  very  delighted. 
Repeatedly  Her  Majesty  expressed  her  regret 
that  her  stay  was  not  of  longer  duration.  The 
trustees'  house  at  the  top  of  the  slope  on  w-hich 
the  hospital  stands  was  visited,  and  in  front  on 
the  lawn  Queen  Alexandra  and  Queen  Amelie 
each  planted  an  oak  tree. 

Altogether  over  an  hour  was  spent  in  the 
hospital,  and  the  Royal  train  left  on  the  return 
journey  shortly  after  five  o'clock,  amid  cheers 
from  the  boys  and  others  who  witnessed  the 
departure. 


98  ^ftc  ISritisb  journal  of  murstno.         Augtist  3,  1912 

APPOINTMENTS.  NURSING  FXHOES. 


MATRON. 

General  Hospital,  Cheltenham. — ^Miss  Cliiistine 
Falconer  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  for  two  years  at  the  Stephen  Cottage 
Hospital,  Dufftown,  and  for  three  years  at  the 
General  Hospital,  Northampton,  and  has  held 
the  position  of  Sister  of  Medical  Wards  at  the 
General  Hospital,  Leith,  whei-e  she  was  subse- 
quently Night  Superintendent  and  Assistant 
Matron,  and  since  February,  1910,  has  been 
Assistant  Matron  at  the  General  Hospital,  Birming- 
ham. 

The  Queen  Victoria  Cottage  Hospital,  Quarry  Hill, 
Tonbridge. — i\Iiss  Annie  Foxall  has  been 
appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Royal 
Victoria  Infirmary,  Newcastle-on-Tyne,  and  has 
been  Sister  at  the  General  Hospital,  Stroud, 
Night  Sister  at  the  Essex  County  Hospital, 
Colchester,  and  Sister  at  the  King  Edward 
Memorial  Hospital,  Ealing.  She  is  a  certified 
midwife. 

NURSE-MATRON, 

Isolation  Hospital,  Acomb. — INIiss  Lena  Driver 
has  been  appointed  Nurse-Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  St.  Mary's,  Islington,  Infirmary, 
London,  and  has  held  the  position  of  Charge 
Nurse  at  Sculcoates  Infirmary,  Hull,  and  at  the 
Park  Hospital,  Lewisham.  She  has  also  been 
Night  Superintendent  at  the  City  Fe\er  Hospital, 
Bradford, and  Home  Sister  at  the  Sanatorium,  Hull. 

STAFF     NURSE. 

The  Cottage  Hospital,  Carnarvon. — Miss  Dora 
Richards  has  been  appointed  Staff  Nurse.  She 
was  trained  at  St.  Helen's  Hospital,  Lancashire. 

QUEEN    VICTORIA'S    JUBILEE    INSTITUTE. 

Transfers  and  Appointments  : — Miss  Catherine 
Parry  is  appointed  to  Lincolnshire  as  Assistant 
Couiity  Superintendent,  Miss  Florence  Worthing- 
ton  to  Carlisle,  as  Senior  Nuise,  Miss  Mary 
Adcock  to  Stourbridge,  Miss  Lilian  Butler  to 
Leicester,  Miss  Mary  E.  Cowlishaw  to  Brigg,  Miss 
Rhoda  Griggs  to  Northampton,  Miss  Clara  Moore 
to  Melbourne,  Miss  Nora  Sherwood  to  Buckland. 


PRIZES. 

The  Duchess  of  Marlborough  presented  the 
prizes  to  nurses  at  the  West  Ham  and  Eastern 
General  Hospital,  Stratford,  London,  E.,  on 
Tuesday  last  as  follows  : — 

Senior  Nurses'  Class. — Gold  Medal  (presented 
by  the  Duchess  of  Marlborough),  Miss  Harris. 
First  Prize  (also  presented  by  the  above),  Miss 
Kingston.  Second  Prize  (also  given  by  the 
above).  Miss  Skinner. 

Junior  Nurses'  Class. — First  Prize  (gi\'en  by 
the  Hospital  Committee),  Miss  Ellerker.  Second 
Prize  (also  given  by  the  above),  Mi.ss  Pearson. 

The  Duchess  also  presented  a  prize  given  by 
the  late  Matron,  Miss  Ough,  for  the  neatest  and 
most  conscientious  nurse,  which  is  balloted  for 
every  year,  and  this  year  won  by  Miss  A.  Huggins. 


The  "At  Home"  given  by  the  Lord  Chan- 
cellor, Lord  Haldane,  and  Miss  E.  S.  Haldane, 
at  28,  Queen  Anne's  Gate,  on  the  25th  July,  to 
meet  the  Matrons  of  the  Territorial  Force 
Nursing  Service,  was  a  delightful  function. 
As  host  and  hostess  no  one  could  have  been 
more  kind  and  genial,  and  everyone  present 
thoroughly  enjoyed  this  quite  unique  occasion. 
The  Lord  Chancellor  and  Miss  Haldane  re- 
ceived their  guests  at  the  head  of  the  stairs 
leading  into  the  beautiful  double  parlour  on  the 
first  floor.  The  house,  of  Adam  period,  has  all 
the  artistic  charm  of  a  past  century,  and  has 
escaped  the  desecration  of  modern  improve- 
ments. Panelled  walls,  Georgian  squarc- 
paned  windows,  lighting  by  chandeliers, 
polished  floors,  and  Persian  mats,  chintz- 
covered  seats,  and  a  wonderful  assortment  of 
finely  bound  books,  with  bright  rose-coloured 
curtains,  fine  needlework,  and  porcelain — just 
enough  and  no  more — and  you  can  imagine  the 
delightful  background  to  the  picturesque 
company.  The  matrons  wore  the  uniform 
of  the  T.F.N.S. — soft  grey  gown  and  cape 
bound  with  scarlet,  graceful  white  "  hand- 
kerchief" cap,  and  badges,  and  cunning 
little  silver  "  T's "  on  the  corner  of  capes. 
The  general  company,  patriotic  ,  men  and 
women — the  majority  of  whom  are  working  on 
Committees  of  the  Service  or  on  other  nursing 
organizations — were  in  best  bib  and  tucker, 
wearing  their  Orders  in  honour,  no  doubt,  of 
the  illustrious  host,  and  the  professional 
women,  whose  services  he  has  so  wisely  en- 
listed in  the  service  of  soldiers  for  home 
defence. 

From  the  ground-floor  one  can  step  into 
a  pretty  patch  of  garden — with  only  the 
Bird-cage  Walk  between  it  and  beautiful  St. 
James'  Park.  This  garden  was  carpeted,  and 
lighted  around  by  gay  Chinese  lanterns — 
and  here  in  chairs  one  could  sit  and  chat  and 
enjoy  the  delightful  breezes  from  off  the 
rippling  sheet  of  water  in  the  Park. 

Refreshments  were  served  in  the  white- 
panelled  dining-room,  and  the  whole  scene  was 
very  bright  and  charming. 

Amongst  the  guests  were  the  Countess  of 
Minto,  the  Lady  Hermione  Blackwood,  Lady 
"Emmott,  Lady  Dimsdale,  the  Director-General 
A. M.S.,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Byron,  Mrs. 
Bedford  Fenwick,  Miss  S.  Browne,  R.R.C., 
Miss  A.  W.  Gill,  R.R.C.,  Miss  Amy  Hughes, 
Miss  Finch,  Miss  Lloyd  Still,  Miss  Good- 
hue, Miss  Davies,  Miss  Barton,  Miss 
Wamsley,    Miss    Riddell,    Miss   Pinsent,    Miss 


August  3,   igi2 


vibe  Bvittab  3ounial  of  ll-lurslno. 


99 


Todd,  Colonel  Hislop,  Colonel  Broome  Giles, 
Colonel  Harrison,  Colonel  Harper,  and  many 
other  matrons  and  guests,  a  very  happy  com- 
pany, who  thoroughly  enjoyed  the  thoughtful 
hospitality  of  the  Lord  Chancellor  and  Miss 
Haldane. 


private  friends,  mostly  members  of  the  Board, 
felt  they  could  not  allow  Miss  Rogers  to  go 
w  ithout  providing  in  some  way  for  her  future. 


Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute  is  reported 
to  be  negotiating  with  the  great  friendly 
societies  with  a  view  to  securing  a  basis  of 
payment  of  nurses'  services  under  the  medical 
benefit  sections  of  the  Insurance  Act.  The  lead- 
ing fricndlv  societies  have  made  an  offer  of  so 
much  per  member  to  meet  the  cost  of  nursing, 
but  the  amount  of  this  capitation  fee  is  so 
small  as  to  be  nearly  nominal ;  but  if  paid  in 
respect  of  each  insured  person  it  should  mean 
substantial  remuneration  for  those  nurses  who 
will  have  to  work  under  the  Act.  Two  things 
must  be  kept  in  sight — only  trained  and 
efficient  nurses  should  be  employed,  as  they  arc 
to  be  subsidised  by  the  State  ;  and  they  should 
be  well-paid  for  their  work.  Trained  nurses 
are  the  only  class  to  be  employed  to  look  after 
the  insured  sick — who  have  no  State  protection 
— they  must  not  therefore  be  State  exploited. 


Sir  Edward  Wood,  Chairman  of  the  Royal 
Infirmary,  Leicester,  speaking  at  the  .Annual 
Meeting,  said  that  the  retirement  of  their 
valued  Lady  Superintendent,  Miss  Rogers,  '.lad 
caused  the  Board  very  considerable  anxiety. 
Miss  Rogers  had  trained  there  33  years  ago, 
and  had  had  the  confidence  of  every  succeeding 
Board.  The  work  of  her  life  had  been  her 
work  at  the  Leicester  Infirmary.  As  the  result 
of  her  training  of  the  nurses  the  Leicester 
Infirmary  had  attained  a  very  high  position  in 
the  nursing  world.  Many  of  the  nurses  and 
Sisters  trained  there  were  now  enjoying  im- 
portant positions  as  Lady  Superintendents  in 
'  other  hospitals,  and  wherc\  er  the  name  of  Miss 
Rogers  was  mentioned  in  the  nursing  world  it 
was  always  received  with  profound  respect. 


In  the  case  of  a  public  servant  like  Miss 
Rogers,  who  had  done  so  much  for  the  institu- 
tion, it  was  felt  that  some  public  acknowledg- 
ment should  be  paid  to  her,  but  Miss  Rogers 
had  firmly  declined  to  accept  anything  of  th(' 
kind.  Some  members  of  the  Board  and  a  few 
private  friends  had,  however,  warmly  re- 
sponded, within  a  few  days,  to  a  letter  suggest- 
ing a  private  gift.  .Sir  Edward  Wood  said  that 
he  thought  the  public  would  like  to  know  that 
although  the  Board  were  prevented,  in  accord- 
ance with  Miss  Rogers'  wish,  from  m.iking  any 
public    appeal  "for    help    in    this    direction,    her 


Miss  Margaret  Carrington,  of  New  York 
City,  says  the  Standard,  has  started  a  novel 
career  for  trained  nurses — that  of  invalid 
motor  chauffeur.  Six  months  ago  Miss 
Carrington,  who  is  herself  a  trained  nurse, 
recognised  the  superiority  of  the  motor  car 
over  the  carriage  for  invalid  outings.  She 
'designed  a  specially  smooth-running  car,  in 
which  an  invalid  chair  could  he  wheeled  with- 
out any  discomfort  to  the  occupant,  fitted  it 
with  a  medicine  chest,  and  started  her  career 
as  invalid  chauffeur.  Her  clients  increased  so 
rapidly  that  she  has  now  six  cars,  run  by  com- 
petent trained  nurses,  in  constant  use.  She  is 
also  training  a  staff  of  nurses  who  wish  to 
emulate  her  example  in  other  cities  of  America. 


Our  friend  and  ally,  Mutsu  Hito,  Emperor 
of  Japan,  has  passed  away.  It  is  reported 
that  during  his  illness  the  Empress  was  un- 
remitting in  her  attendance,  and  that  all  the 
sick  room  nursing  was  performed  by  ladies- 
in-waiting  dressed  in  foreign  white  linen.  It 
had  been  urged  that  foreign  trained  nurses 
should  be  employed,  but  it  was  found  that  the 
ladies-in-waiting,  all  of  whom  had  gained  prac- 
tical experience  in  the  war  with  Russia,  were 
most  efificient.  Japanese  women,  so  gentle  and 
deft  by  nature,  make  dear  little  nurses,  and 
possess  charming  graces  we  Western  woiVien 
miffht  well  emulate  in  the  sick  room. 


The  administration  of  subcutaneous  injec- 
tions, authorised  by  the  Empress  and  Crown 
Prince,  was  a  quite  unprecedented  step,  as  the 
person  of  the  Mikado  is  regarded  as  semi-divine. 

A     MISLEADING     ADVERTISEMENT. 

W'e  notice  that  the  Nurses'  Insurance 
Society  in  connection  with  the  Nurses'  Pension 
Fund  continues  to  advertise  that  "  it  is  the  only 
.Approved  Society  open  to  none  but  Women 
Nurses."  We  call  the  Secretary's,  Mr.  L. 
Dick's,  attention  to  this  misstatement,  and 
hope  that  he,  or  the  Matrons  associated  with 
the  scheme,  will  have  it  corrected  forthwith. 
Mr.  Dick  is  fully  aware  that  the  Trained 
Women  Nurses'  Friendly  Society  has  been 
approved  by  the  National  Insurance  Commis- 
sion, and  also,  as  his  Society  insures  midwives, 
who  are  not  nurses,  and  sick  attendants  who 
are  not  trained,  to  state  that  "  none  but  women 
nurses  "  are  admitted  is  not  a  fact. 


(Tbe  Brltisb  3ournai  ot  iRiireino, 


August  3,    1912 


THE  FIRST  INTERNATIONAL  EUGENICS 
CONGRESS. 

Tnc  first  International  Eugenics  Congress,  which 
opened  with  a  brilliant  banquet  at  the  Hotel  Cecil 
on  Wednesday  in  last  week,  when  the  President  of 
the  (Congress,  Professor  Darwin,  presided,  has  been 
from  first  to  last  an  extraordinary  success." 

Both  Mrs.  Gotto,  Secretary  of  the  Eugenics 
Education  Societ}-,  upon  whom  much  of  the 
initial  work  devolved,  and  IMrs.  Alec  Tweedie, 
the  talented  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Entertainments 
Committee,  are  greativ  to  be  congratulated  on  the 
success  of  the  Congress.  The  hospitality  through- 
put the  week  was  most  enjoyable,  and  added 
greativ  to  the  pleasure  of  a  most  interesting 
Conference. 

Congress  Kernels. 
The  sections  of  the  Congress,  which  was  held  at 
the  University  of  London,  were  most  comprehen- 
sive and  illuminating.     In  this  journal  we  can  only 
mention  briefly  a  few  of  the  kernels  of  the  papers. 
Dr.  Soren  Hansen,  Copenhagen. 
"  Tf   Eugenics  is  the  study   of  agencies   under 
social  control,   that  may  improve  or  impair  the 
racial     qualities     of     future     generations,     either 
physically  or  mentally,  it  must  be  one  of  the  first 
objects  of  Eugenics  to  take  account  of  the  agencies, 
■under  social   control   or  not.   that  have   already 
improved  or  impai.ed  the  racial  qualities  of  the 
present  generation." 

Dr.  Louis  Ouerton,  Brussels. 
"  ihe  control  of  children,  subject  to  conditions 
so  little  suited  to  their  needs,  would  appear  to  be 
an  absolute  necessity,  it  we  wish  to  ensure  the 
education  of  the  individual  and  at  the  same  time 
to  prevent  the  degeneration  of  the  race. 

"  The  control  should  be  relegated  to  medical 
men,  as  the  registration  of  births  and  deaths  is 
relegated  to  them  at  the  present  time,  but  alter 
the  birth  is  registered,  and  the  position  of  the  child 
as  regards  the  community  established,  the  doctor 
should  continue  to  exercise  over  the  child  perma- 
nent control  through  the  dilferent  phases  of  its 
development." 

Professor  Vernon  Lyman  Kellogg,  California. 
"  Syphilis  is  a  disease  that  renders  marriage  an 
abomination,  and  child-bearing  a  social  danger. 
And,  as  a  crowning  misfortune,  this  disease  does 
not  kill,  but  only  ruins  its  victims.  While  phthisis 
and  cancer  carry  off  their  subjects  at  the  rate,  in 
England,  to-day,  of  1,000  per  year  to  each  1,000,000 
of  ])opulation,  syphilis  kills  but  one  person  in  a 
million.  It  is,  then,  not  a  purifying,  but  wholly 
a  contaminating  disease." 

Mr.  H.  E.  Jord.\n,  II.S.A. 
"  jSIodem  medicine,  yielding  to  the  demands  of 
real  progress,  is  becoming  less  a  curative  and  more 
a  preventive  science.  It  is  safe  to  predict  that  in 
several  centuries  medical  men  generalh'  will  be 
more  of  the  order  of  guardians  of  the  public  health 
than  doctors  of  private  diseases." 


BOOKS  TO  READ  AND  POSSESS. 


Publishers'  announcements  just  now  are  offering 
a  most  attractive  selection  of  books  of  interest  to 
nurses. 

Messrs.  G.  P.  Putnam's. 

Nurses  and  others  who  have  read  with  delight 
the  first  two  volumes  of  "  A  History  of  Nursing," 
by  Miss  Lavinia  L.  Dock  and  Miss  M.  Adelaide 
Nutting,  will  receive  the  announcement  that  the 
third  and  fourth  volumes  will  shortly  be  published 
by  Messrs.  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons,  24,  Bedford 
Street,  Strand,  London,  W.C,  wdth  enthusiasm. 
We  may  expect  that  many  orders  will  bs  given 
for  them  at  the  International  Nursing  Congress  at 
Cologne.  Other  books  published  by  this  firm  are 
"  Materia  Medica  for  Nurses,"  price  3s.  6d.,  and 
"  Hygiene  and  Morality,"  price  5s.,  also  by 
Miss  L.  L.  Dock,  both  of  which  every  nurse 
should  possess  ;  and  "  Practical  Nursing,"  by 
Miss  A.  E.  Pope  and  Miss  A.  C.  Maxwell,  price 
6s.,  designed  to  be  of  great  assistance  to  nurses, 
and  deservedly  popular. 

Messrs.  Ch.arles  Griffin,  Ltd. 
Messrs.  Griffin,  of  Exeter  Street,  Strand,  are  the 
publishers  of  that  well-known  and  most  popular 
Ijook,  "A  Manual  of  Nursing,"  by  Laurence 
Humphry,  ^I.D.,  M.R.C.S.,  which  is  now  in  its 
thirty-fourth  edition  ;  price,  3s.  6d.  "  An  Intro- 
duction to  the  Study  of  Midwifery,"  by  Dr.  Archi- 
bald Donald,  should  prove  of  much, use  to  mid- 
wives  ;  while  all  nurses  and  midwives  should 
acquaint  themselves  with  the  principles  con- 
tained in  Sir  R.  W^.  Burnet's  book  on  "  Foods  and 
Dietaries." 

'  Messrs.  Bailliere,  Tindall  &  Co.x. 
Messrs.  Bailhere,  Tindall  &  Cox,  S,  Henrietta 
Street,  Covent  Girden,  London,  W.C,  are  just 
bringing  out  "  The  Nurses'  Complete  Medical 
Dictionary,"  at  a  cost  of  2s.,  which  contains  many 
more  words  than  any  other  dictionary  published 
at  a  similar  price,  by  Miss  M.  Theresa  Bryan. 
Another  most  useful  book  published  by  the  same 
firm  is  an  "  Index  of  Practical  Nursing,"  by  Dr. 
J.  Basil  Cook,  Senior  Assistant  Medical  Officer  at 
the  Kensington  Infirmary,  a  book  wliich  nurses 
will  find  of  great  assistance  to  tlie'm  in  their  work. 


VIROL. 

An  article  of  diet  much  prescribed,  often  with 
the  greatest  benefit,  in  cases  of  infantile  diarrhoea 
and  wasting,  is  Virol,  wliich  is  now  used  in  more 
than  1,000  hospitals  and  consumptive  sanatoria. 
It  is  supplied  by  Virol,  Ltd.,  Old  Street,  E.C.  ; 
and  the  number  of  cases  in  which  great  improve- 
ment has  taken  place  is  most  encouraging  testi- 
mony to  its  value.  It  is  not  too  much  to  say  that 
in  many  instances  life  has  been  saved,  wliich 
otherwise  would  have  been  lost,  if  \'irol  had  not 
been  prescribed. 


August  3,   1912 


i^l)c  Brttisb  3ournal  of  TRursino. 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


BOOK    OF    THE    WEEK. 


WOMEN. 

It  is  to  be  regretted  that  there  is  a  widening 
breach  between  the  constitutional  and  mihtant 
Suffragists'  societies.  As  militancy  becomes,  as  is 
inevitable,  more  violent,  condemnation  also 
becomes  stronger.  This  is  greatly  a  matter  of 
temperament,  and  all  we  hope  is  that  sympathy 
between  women  who  are  striving  after  freedom  of 
soul  will  not  be  shaken.  Personally  we  are  of 
those  who  indignantly  resent  the  humiliation  of 
the  denial  by  men  of  full  citizenship  to  women. 
We  are  not  to  be  convinced  that  such  denial  is  not 
injurious  to  the  moral  and  mental  progress  of 
women,  and  that  for  this  cause  men  must  be  con- 
vinced that  craft  and  cruelty  can  only  result  in  the 
deterioration  of  humanity  thus  despoiled  of  life's 
sweet  sense  of  responsibility.  The  vote  we  must 
have — now,  how  ;  or  those  who  deny  j  ustice — must 
take  punishment. 


Miss  Mary  Coleman,  of  the  United  States, 
considers  the  Rev.  Elmer  Huffner,  of  Grand 
Junction,  Colorado,  "  an  intolerable  old  duffer," 
and  so  think  all  of  us.  Figure  to  yourself,  as  our 
French  neighbours  saj',  this  obsolete  divine 
has  been  prating  of  "  old  maids."  Fancy  "  old 
maids  "  in  the  twentieth  century.  On  this  side 
we  have  pretty  maids,  bachelor  women,  and 
mothers  in  Israel,  all  indispensable  and  lovely 
people,  but  no  longer  any  "  old  maids." 

In  a  recent  sermon  on  love,  courtship,  and 
marriage,  this  clergyman  said  that  no  woman 
had  done  duty  by  the  world  unless  she  had  borne 
children,  and  he  suggested  that  spinsters  should  be 
banished  to  a  desert  island  as  "  waste  humanity." 
Naturally  a  lively  protest  has  been  evoked. 

Mrs.  William  Grant  Brown,  President  of  the 
New  York  City  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs, 
says,  "  When  I  think  of  the  beautiful  and  unselfish 
lives  that  single  women  lead,  their  goodness  to 
the  poor  and  to  children,  I  am  stirred  with  the 
deepest  indignation  agamst  their  unworthy 
truducer.  They  are  a  particularly  noble  type, 
far  from  waste  humanity.  The  unnaarricd  woman 
is  frequently  an  uncrowned  saint." 

That  \-ery  wealthy  and  noble  woman,  Miss 
Helen  Gould,  defending  the  spinsters,  is  advised 
by  the  "  intolerable  "  one  to  take  a  position  in 
the  backwoods  incognita,  when  perhaps  she  will 
find  a  righteous  and  industrious  man  who  would 
love  her  for  her  true  self  and  for  her  charming 
personality. 

Mr.  Huffner  does  not  notice  the  suggestion  thrown 
out  by  Miss  King,  of  California,  that  "  But  for  the 
dear  old  maids  some  preachers  would  be  hunting 
for  jobs,"  or  the  statement  of  Miss  Mary  Boyle 
O'Reilly,  daughter  of  the  Boston  poet,  that 
"  The  care  of  the  helpless,  the  weak,  the  poor, 
and  the  sick  has  almost  always  been  done  by  un- 
married women,  who  have  given  up  their  lives 
to  the  service  of  the  Church." 


BETWEEN    TWO    THIEVES.* 

The  authoress  of  the  "  Dop  Doctor  "  has  pre- 
served to  the  full  her  brilliant  reputation  in  her 
new  book. 

So  full  is  it  of  incident,  so  varied  in  theme,  so 
generous  in  introduction  to  men  and  women  of 
absorbing  personality — good,  bad,  subtle,  brilliant 
and  simple — all  drawn  with  finish  and  infinite  care, 
and  each  con\incmg. 

It  is  a  book  that  should  especially  commend 
/  itself  to  nurses,  for  amidst  the  uncompromising 
portraits  of  human  frailty,  in  contradistinction  to 
the  wanton  Henriette  de  Rou.\,  the  authoress  has 
boldly  introduced  "The  Lady  of  the  Lamp,"  under 
the  name  of  Ada  Merling,  as  the  bright  and  par- 
ticular star  of  this  remarkable  book,  and  has 
woven  around  her  a  tender  love  romance.  Hector 
Dunoisse,  the  chivalrous  soldier,  the  brave  gentle- 
man true,  though  he  fell  a  prey  to  the  siren 
Henriette,  much  though  there  is  to  regret  in.  his 
relation  with  her,  died  in  extreme  old  age,  with 
the  image  of  this  noble  woman  in  his  heart  and 
her  letters  in  his  hand.  "  He  turned  his  head  that 
his  cheek  might  rest  against  the  letter-case.  The 
letters  told  no  tale  of  love — womanly,  gracious 
letters.  How  devoutly  they  had  been  kept  and 
cherished  ;  how  delicately  and  reverently  handled" 
Do  you  know  why  Dunoisse  would  not  consent  to 
die  ?  "  He  was  waiting  for  the  letter  that  told  him 
of  her  love.  He  had  waited  fifty-six  years.  She 
died  in  August,  and  the  letter  would  never  come 
now." 

Where  did  young  Dunoisse  first  meet  the  idol 
of  his  later  years  ?  In  a  home  for  sick  and  aged 
gentlewomen,  whither  he  went  to  visit  his  old 
governess. 

He  asks  her,  never  guessing  from  her  simplicity 
of  manner  who  she  is  :  "  Would  the  directress  of 
this  charitable  house  favour  mc  with  a  private 
audience.    Could  you  graciously,  mademoiselle  ?" 

"  She  said,  with  intent  eyes  still  reading  him  : 
'  I  should  tell  you  it  is  the  rule  of  this  house  that  no 
attendant  in  it  should  be  addressed  as  "  Mademoi- 
selle," "  Miss,"  or  "  Mrs."  Nurse  is  the  name 
to  which  we  all  answer,  and  we  trv  to  deserve  it 
well.' 

"  Her  smile  wrought  a  radiant,  lovely  change 
in  her.  The  pearl,  white  te.eth  it  revealed  shqne 
brilliant  in  the  light  of  it,  and  the  dark  blue-grey 
eyes  flashed  and  gleamed  like  sapphires  between 
their  narrowed  lids.  But  tlie  next  moment  she 
stood  before  him,  pale  and  grave,  as  she  had 
seemed  to  him  before,  with  her  white  hands  folded 
on  her  white  apron. 

"  The  voice  that  spoke  was  sweet — barely  raised 
above  an  undertone — presumably  for  the  sake  of 
sufferers  within  neighbouring  rooms  that  opened 
on  the  landing." 

And  afterwards,  in  the  hospital  at  Scutari  : 

"  She  stood  upon  a  rising  knoll  of  ground  upon 
the  right  of  the  entrance  to  the  hospital.    As  in  his 

*  By  Richard  Dehan.     William  Heinemann. 


Z\K  British  3ournal  of  H-lursiiui 


August  3,   igi2 


dream  of  her,  she  wore  a  plain  black  dress,  and  a 
black  kerchief  tied  over  the  white  frilled  cap. 
Nurses  in  grey  or  brown  holland  and  white  caps 
gathered  about  her  .  .  .  Sisters  of  Jfercy 
conspicuous  among  the  rest  ....  diligent 
as  little  black-and-white  humble-bees  obeying  the 
orders  of  their  Queen.  It  is  upon  record  that  all 
through  the  day,  all  through  the  night  of  fog- 
bleared  moonlight,  and  far  into  the  morning  that 
followed,  Ada  Merling  stood   while  the  sick  and 

.wounded  were  carried  into  the  hospital." 

In  these  pages  it  seems  so  eminently  suitable 

to  dwell  at  length  on  this  inspiring  and  attractive 

personality,  that  space  forbids  so  much  as  even  a 

reference    to   what   is   of   more   general   interest. 

But  this  is,  undoubtedly,  a  great  book  ;   and  one 

Hiat  should  commend  the  closest  attention  of  all 

•lovers  of  true  literary  genius. 

H.  H. 


VERSES. 

The  camel,  at  the  close  of  day, 
Ivneels  down  upon  the  sandv  plain 
To  have  his  burden  lifted  oif, 

And  rest  to  gain. 
My  soul,  thou,  too,  shouldst  to  thy  laiees 
When  da^■light  draweth  to  a  close. 
And  let  thy  Master  lift  the  load 

And  grant  repose. 
The  cam.  I  kneels  at  break  of  day 
To  have  his  guide  replace  his  load, 
Then  rises  up  anew  to  take 

The  desert  road. 
So  thou  shouldst  laieel  at  morning's  dawn 
That  God  may  give  thee  daily  care. 
Assured  that  He  no  load  too  great 

Will  make  thee  bear. 

U  iikiwwn. 


READ. 

"  Between  Two  Thieves,"  by  Richard  Dehan. 

"  Mightier  than  the  Sword,"  by  Alphonse 
Courlander.  |-.  i     i 

"  Out  of  the  Wreck  I  Rise,"  by  Beatrice 
Harraden. 

COMING     EVENTS. 

August  yd. — Opening  of  Nursing  and  Health 
Exhibition,  Marzellen  Gymnasium,  Cologne. 
11.30  a.m. 

August  4th. — Reception,  Banquet  Hall,  Gur- 
zenich,  Cologne.  Organ  Recital,  Addresses,  Concert, 
Men's  Choral  Society.  Pageant,  "  The  Triumph  of 
Hygeia.'"    7  p.m. 

August  5th. — Meeting  Grand  Council  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses,  Gurzenich,  Cologne. 
9.30  a.m.  and  2  p.m. 

August  bth  to  gth. — International  Congress  of 
Nurses,  Cologne. 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 

Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  for  these  columns,  ive  luish  it  to  he 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


HOW     WE     STRIKE     THE     PUBLIC. 

To  the  Editor  of  Tim  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam. — I  read  the  letter  in  the  Church 
Times  referred  to  in  The  British  Journal  of 
Nursing  for  this  week  with  some  indignation,  and  I 
was  very  pleased  to  see  the  editorial  criticism  on  it. 

Although  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  writer's 
view  of  the  callousness  and  frivolity  of  nurses  is 
exaggerated,  I  think  it  is  sometimes  good  to  see 
how  we  strike  the  public. 

It  is,  unfortunatelv,  not  uncommon  to  hear 
two  nurses  in  a  ward  discussing  some  new  piece 
at  a  theatre,  or  how  thev  have  spent,  or  intend  to 
spend,  their  next  off-duty  time,  and  the  patient  or 
patient's  friends  puts  them  dov\-n  as  "  hard 
hearted."  One  cannot,  of  course,  expect  nurses 
to  live  on  "  domes  of  silence,"  still,  they  should 
realise  that  a  quiet,  professional  manner  is  above 
all  things  desirable  on  dutv. 

The  private  nurse  who  discusses  her  last  case, 
and  shows  any  present  she  may  have  received 
from  a  former  patient  to  her  present  one,  is  a  tvpe 
of  nurse  greatly  to  be  deplored. 

The  nurse  also  one  sees  in  the  streets  laughing 
and  talking  loudly,  and  with  her  bonnet  strings 
tied  under  her  ear,  is  not  an  uncommon  sight. 

The  scraps  of  conversation  I  have  heard  between 
nurses  on  'buses,  &c.,  have  been  of  such  a  nature 
that  I  personally  should  be  sorry  to  wear  outdoor 
uniform  unless  obliged  to  do  so.  It  is  without 
doubt  these  types  of  nurses  who  drag  down  the 
nursing  profession  and  bring  discredit  to  the 
whole. 

The  nurses  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago,  to  whom 
the  Editor  refers,  probably  did  not  behave  in  this 
manner,  and  if  State  Registration  is  going  to  mend 
all  this  by  raising  our  professional  status,  let  us 
hope  we  get  it  before  we  sink  into  the  losvest 
depths. 

Mabelle  Augusta  Fussell. 
Hospital  for  Sick  Children, 

Great  Ormond  Street,  W.C. 


WORD    FOR    THE    WEEK. 

That  undisturbed  satisfaction  with  what  is,  is 
more  fatal  than  a  dozen  misplaced  enthusiasms. 


PROGRESS     IN     HOLLAND. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
De.\r  Editor. — Imagine  my  distress  on  reaching 
Amsterdam  to  find  Miss  \'an  Lanschot  Hubrecht 
ill  in  a  private  hospital,  entirely  unable  to  go  to 
the  Congress,  and  with  the  prospect,  I  fear,  of  a 
somewhat  tedious,  even  if  not  dangerous,  illness, 
as  she  has  been  overworking  badly  for  a  long  time, 
and  her  digestion  has  given  out  for  the  time  being. 
I  was  greatly  grieved  over  this,  not  only  because 
of  the  Congress,  but  for  the  sake  of  all  she  was 
doing.    She  is  one  of  the  workers  who  are.  in  every 


Auj^iisl   .^,    uji. 


Zbc  Briti^b  3oui*nnl  ot  1Kluri?inrt 


103 


country  too  rare,  and  because  of  her  devotion 
to  and  enthusiasm  over  all  that  she  sees  needs  to 
be  done,  like  all  workers,  she  has  undertaken  the 
work  of  several  women  and  now  must  pay  the 
penalty. 

Besides  continuing  to  lead  in  nursing  organisa- 
tion, she  has  become  very  active  in  the  Woman 
Suffrage  work  ;  has  assumed  duties  both  on  the 
National  Journal  for  Women  Suffrage  and 
on  the  International  Magazine  Jus  Siiffragii 
published  in  Rotterdam,  and  has  been  to  the 
front  in  pushing  the  affairs  of  a  Suffrage  Society 
which  has  lately  opened  headijiiarters  in  Amster- 
dam. I  find,  though,  that  Suffrage  propaganda 
in  Holland  is  not  as  free  as  ours  and  yours.  Street 
meetings,  for  instance,  have  not  been  attempted, 
and  it  is  unlikely  that  the  public  authorities  would 
permit  them.  Miss  Hubreclit  has  also  brought 
about  a  decided  piece  of  progress  for  the  Nurses' 
Society,  Nosokomos,  namely,  the  foundation  of  a 
central  headquarters  and  the  centralising  of  all 
the  various  offices  and  departments  under  the 
care  of  a  nurse  as  office  secretary-.  This  will  give 
great  impetus  and  strength  to  the  Society,  and 
will  make  it  much  easier  to  bring  in  new  members. 
The  address  of  this  headquarters  is  13,  Von 
Eeghen  Str.,  and  the  nurse  in  charge  is  Miss 
Dien  ^'on  Rijn,  a  charming  woman  and  mcst  pro- 
gressive in  her  ideals. 

Another  very  important  achievement  of  Miss 
Hubrecht's  has  been  the  founding  of  a  State 
Society  for  the  State  registration  of  nurses.  It 
is  modelled  on  the  lines  of  your  English  Society-, 
the  members  being  nurses  and  men  and  women 
of  the  laity.  It  was  only  organised  last  February, 
and  already  has  over  300  members,  many  of 
whom  are  liberal  physicians.  Miss  Hubrecht 
said  she  had  been  too  busy  to  write  to  any  of  us 
about  this  gratifying  development. 

Yours  very  truly, 

L.  L.  Dock. 

[\\'e  much  regret  to  learn  of  the  cause  which 
will  deprive  us  of  the  presence  of  Miss  Hubrecht 
at  the  Congress.  The  loss  will  be  great.  She  was 
to  have  presented  the  report  of  the  International 
Committee  on  Nursing  Education. — Ed.] 


NURSING    HOMES. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  oi-  Nursing. 
Dear  Madam, — I  quite  agree  that  it  is  quite 
useless  to  register  nursing  homes  unless  nurses 
are  registered.  In  Australia  the  nurses  employed 
ii  private  hospitals  must  be  registered.  This  is 
only  honest.  The  patient  pays  for  skilled  nursing, 
and  has  a  right  to  it.  But  in  London  in  some 
Homes  the  greatest  dishonesty  prevails  on  the 
quality  of  the  nursing  provided,  and  I  know  from 
personal  experience  that  young  women  in  their 
teens  are  employed — often  on  night  duty — who 
fiave  never  been  trained  at  all.  It  is  no  uncommon 
thing  for  the  patient  to  instruct  the  nurse.  High 
<ees  are  charged,  and  these  untrained  girls  are 
sometimes  paid  infinitesimal  salaries — "  as  they 
are  being  trained  " — and  in  one  place  I  know 
these  poor  things  actually  pay  for  their  training  ! 
The  British  Journal  of  Nursing  is  strongly 
disapproved  of,  and  registration  of  nurses  violently 
opposed.  I  hope  Miss  Stower  will  agitate  for 
reforms.  Yours  truly, 

S.  F.  P. 

STATE     REOISTRATION     IN     RHODE 
ISLAND     STATE. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — Your  cordial  letter  of  con- 
gratulation to  us  from  the  Society  for  the  State 
Registration  of  Trained  Nurses,  London,  was 
received  a  few  days  ago.  We  heartily  thank 
your  Association  for  their  interest  in  us. 

Plccise    convev    to    your     Society    our    hearty 
appreciation  of  their  kindness. 
Yours  sincerely, 

Sara  Lowden,  Secretary. 

55,  Eddy  Street,  Providence,  R.I.  ^ 

[We  are  asked  by  the  Hon .  Secretary  of  the  State 
Registration  Society  to  publish  this  letter. — Ed.] 


A  MORE  LIBERAL  SPIRIT. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journ.\l  of  Nursing. 
Dear  M.adam, — When  the  International  Council 
of  Nurses  came  to  London  the  nurses  in  this 
hospitrl  were  practically  forbidden  to  attend. 
Our  present  Matron  permits  The  British  Journal 
OF  Nursing  in  the  sitting-room,  and  a  more 
liberal  spirit  prevails.  W'e  are  much  interested 
in  the  meeting  at  Cologne,  and  I  only  wish  1 
could  afford  to  go.  Especially  should  I  like  to 
go  to  Kaiserswerth,  and  see  the  German  pageant 
of  Nursing.  Wishing  the  lucky  ones  a  happy 
time, 

I  agi  yours  sincerely. 

An  Appreciative  Reader. 


OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS    FOR    AUGUST. 

A  tigust  10th. — Enumerate  the  principal  physical, 
mental,  and  moral  qualifications  requisite  in  a 
trained  nurse. 

A  ugnst  I  yth. — Mention  some  of  the  emergencies 
you  have  met  with  in  the  course  of  your  nursing 
career  and  your  methods  of  dealing  with  them. 

August  24th. — How  would  you  deal  with  severe 
post  partum  haemorrhage  in  the  absence  of  medical 
assistance  ? 

August  31s/. — Describe  the  preparation  of  a 
patient  for  receiving  an  anaesthetic.  What  pre- 
cautions would  you  take  before  and  after  ? 

NOTICE. 

A  Subscription  Form  for  The  British  Journal 
OF  Nursing  will  be  found  on  page  xvi.  of  our 
advertisement  columns.  The  Journal  is  the 
official  organ  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  of  the 
International  Council  of  Nurses,  and  full  reports 
of  the  Cologne  meetings  will  be  published  in  it. 

The  price  is  id.  weekly.  Abroad,  gs.  per  year, 
post  free.    Of&ce,  431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  S.W. 


ioi       cTbc  Britif'b  3oiu*nal  of  IHursino  Supplement. 


A  Hi;  list 


iyi2 


The   Midwife. 


THE  CENTRAL  MIDWIVES  BOARD. 


A  meeting  of  the  C'entral  Midvvivcs  Board  was 
held  at  the  Board  Room.  Caxton  House,  West- 
minster, on  Thursday,  July  ^5th,  Sir  Francis 
Champneys  presiding. 

A  letter  was  considered  from  the  Clerk  of  the 
Council  referring  to  the  salary  of  the  Secretary  of 
the  Board  and  suggesting  that  an  age  limit  should 
be  fixed  for  retirement. 

The  Board  decided  (a)  that  in  accordance  with 
the  communication  received  from  the  Clerk  of  the 
Council  the  salary  of  the  present  secretary  be 
increased,  as  from  April  ist  last,  by  annual 
increments  of  £25,  to  a  maximum  of  /750  per 
annum  ;  (6)  that  he  retire  at  the  age  of  65.  The 
question  of  the  Secretary's  salary  to  be  subject 
to  revision  on  the  first  vacancy.  A  letter  was 
considered  from  a  candidate  who  had  failed  to 
pass  the  Board's  Examination  on  two  previous 
occasions,  and  who  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
a  post  falsely  stated  that  she  had  passed  the 
E.xamination,  asking  permission  to  enter  for  tlie 
next  Examination. 

It  was  agreed  that  the  candidate  be  informed 
that  her  certificates  of  character  arc  void,  and 
that  she  cannot  be  admitted  to  the  E.xamination 
until  the  Board  is  satisfied  by  special  testimony 
that  she  is  a  trustworthy  person. 

A  letter  was  considered  from  the  Clerk  of  the 
Notts  Count}'  Council  suggesting  a  material  modifi- 
cation of  the  limitations  imposed  on  suspension  by 
Rules  F.  2. 

It  was  decided  that  the  letter  from  tlie  Clerk 
of  the  Notts  County  Council  lie  on  the  table. 

A  letter  was  considered  from  the  Clerk  of  the 
East  Susse.x  County  Council,  enclosing  a  copy  of  a 
report  by  the  County  Medical  Officer  of  Health 
with  regard  to  the  failure  of  Sarah  Linton,  No. 
1 659 1,  to  notify  the  Authority  on  two  occasions 
when  she  had  advised  medical  help.  The  Board 
decided  to  forward  a  copy  of  the  correspondence 
to  the  Privy  Council. 

A  letter  was  considered  from  the  Hon.  Secretary 
of  the  Norwich  Maternity  Charity  rene\ving  the 
application  of  the  Charity  for  permission  to  hold 
written    examinations    at    Norwich,    and    it    was  * 
decided  to  grant  the  application. 

A  suggestion  from  the  Medical  Officer  of  Health 
for  Manchester  that  pupil  midvvivcs  should  be 
obliged  to  reside  with  the  midwife  by  whom  they 
are  being  trained  was  considered.  It  was  decided 
that  the  reply  of  the  Board  be  that  it  is  not  ])rc- 
pared  at  present  to  amend  the  rules  in  the  sense 
desired. 


In  connection  with  a  complaint  from  a  candidate 
who  successfully  passed  the  last  Examination 
of  the  manner  in  which  she  had  been  treated  by 
one  of  the  examiners  it  was  decided  that  no  action 
be  taken  in  the  matter. 

Letters  were  read  from  the  Matron  of  the 
Newport  Maternity  Home  and  from  the  Local 
Supervising  Authority  as  to  notifying  that 
Authority.  It  was  decided  to  reply  that  the 
Newport  Health  Committee  be  informed  that  they 
appear  to  have  misunderstood  the  Board's  letter, 
and  that  they  also  be  informed  of  the  Chairman's 
opinion  as  communicated  to  Miss  Barrett  (the 
Matron  of  the  Home)  and  of  her  undertaking 
to  comply  with  it,  and  that  the  Board  trusts  there 
will  be  no  further  obstacle  to  the  friendly  co- 
operation of  both  parties  in  future. 

A  letter  was  considered  from  the  County  Medical 
Officer  for  Cheshire  as  to  the  propriety  of  adver- 
tising by  a  midwife.  The  Board  adopted  the 
recommendation  of  the  Standing  Committee  on 
the  motion  of  Sir  George  Fordham,  seconded  by 
Mr.  Parker  Young,  that  the  reply  be  that  the 
Board  is  unable  to  express  an  opinion  on  matters 
which  may  come  before  it  in  a  judicial  capacity. 

The  applications  of  fi\e  midwives  for  removal 
from  the  Roll  were  granted,  and  the  Secretary 
was  directed  to  remove  their  names  from  the 
Roll  of  Midwives  and  to  cancel  their  certificates. 

The  Exa,mi.\'ation. 

The  Secretary  presented  a  report  on  the  recent 
Examination  giving  the  analysis  .of  training. 
The  percentage  of  failures  in  candidates  trained  in 
institutions  was  14.6 ;  in  private,  and  institutions, 
and  private  tuition,  19.2;  the  total  percentage  of 
failures  bein.g  1.5.6. 

The  Next  E.xamination. 
The  ne.xt  Examination  of  the  Board  will  be  held 
in  London,  Birmingham,  Leeds, 'Manchester,  and 
Newcastlc-on-Tync,  on  October  22nd,  1912. 


THE     ROTUNDA     HOSPITAL. 

We  desire  to  draw  the  attention  of  our  readers 
to  the  facilities  for  training  in  midwifery  and  also 
in  monthly  and  gynaecological  nursing,  particulars 
of  which  will  be  found  on  page  vi  of  our  advertise- 
ment columns.  The  Hospital  is. the  oldest  school 
of  midwifery  in  the  Briti.sh  Empire,  and  its 
reputation,  both  as  to  the  experience  available 
and  as  to  the  training  available  is  the  highest 
possible.  The  Rotunda  certificate  carries  with  it 
prestige  to  all  parts  of  the  world. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,    AUGUST    10,   1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


OUR    WORLD    CONGRESSES. 

Our  pleasant  home,  the  world,  has  no 
unluckv  numbers.  Thirteen  years  have  we 
seen  slip  bv,  since  the  first  assemblage  of 
nurses  gathered  in  London  at  the  beck  of 
Internationalii.m,  and  stronger  than  ever, 
more  confident  in  our  future  than  ever, 
more  than  ever  at  home  in  our  world,  we 
have  gathered  from  the  four  corners  of 
the  earth  in  joyful  reunion  for  the  sixth 
time.  With  every  meeting  we  have  gained 
in  numbers,  in  extent,  in  earnestness,  in 
enthusiasm.  At  each  reunion  we  have 
seen  farther  and  more  clearly,  have  under- 
stood better,  have  resolved  more  steadfastly. 
Ours  is  a  part  of  the  vast  emancipatory 
movement  which  is  sweeping  the  earth ; 
we  are  a  part  of  the  great  advance  of 
women  to  a  larger  life. 

The  active  work  of  our  profession,  the 
work  of  nursing,  has,  since  Time  begun, 
been  considered  as  especially  womanly. 
How  natural,  then,  that  it  shoukl  be  one  of 
the  pioneer  professions — that  it  should  lead 
in  the  vanguard  of  the  Woman's  Move- 
ment. All-important  was  it  that  women 
should  learn  to  say  ho\<-  their  own  work 
should  best  be  done— that  thev  should 
learn  to  take  the  helm  in  directing  and 
developing  it.  Through  compassion  and 
pitv  women  first  asserted  their  right  to  say 
how  their  own  work  could  be,  and  must  be, 
best  done,  an  assertion  and  a  right  that 
might  have  been  longer  stifled  had  it  not 
been  for  the  dominant  quality  of  protective- 
ness  in  the  characters  of  our  pioneers  ;  but 
now,  with  vision  ever  keener,  bent  forward 
to  the  future  of  mankind,  they  daily  assert 
more  firmly  and  more  intelligently  their 
right  to  develop  and  mould  their  own 
woman's  work  in  all  ways  and  in  every 
direction  where  it  leads. 


To  this  end  are  our  national  and  inter- 
'  national  associations  framed,  and  for  this 
purpose  do  we  gather  from  the  four  corners 
of  the  earth.  Our  leaders  point  the  way, 
and  each  member  gives  of  her  experience 
and  knowledge.  We  learn  from  one  another, 
and  take  home  fresh  material  of  worth  and 
use.  Vigorous  natural  growth  is  then  seen 
on  all  sides  ;  inspiration  is  contagious,  and 
in  spontaneity  and  freedom  is  the  security 
that  our  work  as  professional  women  shall 
not  be  fettered  and  trammelled,  nor  cast  in 
shapes  of  rigid  formalism  and  of  timid 
subserviency.  Immense  is  the  courage  and 
reassurance  gained  in  co-operation.  Well 
was  it  said  by  an  American  patriot  in  a 
time  of  trouble  :  "  If  we  do  not  all  hang 
together,  we  shall  all  hang  separately."  So 
would  it  undoubtedly  be  in  our  work  of 
building  up  the  science  of  health-nursing, 
still  more  in  our  defence  of  good  standards 
in  sick-nursing.  Were  it  not,  for  the  links 
which  unite  us  together,  and  which  en"tible 
one  to  draw  upon  the  fortitude  of  all,  pro- 
gress would  halt  or  cease  altogether. 

It  is  easy  to  see  why  the  enemies  of 
woman's  higher  advance  seek  first  of  all  to 
keep  them  isolated  from  one  another  ;  to 
throw  barriers  around  and  between ;  to  choke 
free  union  among  women.  But  the  day  is 
past  when  that  can  be  successfully  done. 
Having  once  learned  to  know  one  another 
and  to  share  aspirations  and  ideals  in  work, 
women  will  never  again  consent  to  give  up 
the  joy  of  co-operation  with  one  another  in 
the  furtherance  of  those  ideals. 

And  so  our  International  gatherings  are 
destined  to  flourish  exceedingly,  and  to 
become  more  epochal,  more  significant  in 
the  general  direction  of  nursing  work,  more 
influential ;  for,  as  we  show  our  standards, 
men  of  large  mind  and  true  civilisation  will 
meet  us  half-way  in  recognition  and  in 
co-operation. 

L.  L.  Dock. 

A* 


io6 


^be  IBi'ttisb  journal  of  HAursino. 


August   lo,    igi2 


MEDICAL  MATTERS. 


THE -TREATMENT   OF   DIPHTHERIA 

INFECTION     BY     AlEANS     OF     DIPHTHERIA 

ENDOTOXIN. 

Dr.  Tanner  Hewlett,  F.R.C.P.,  Professor  of 
Bacteriology  in  the  University  of  London,  and 
Dr.  A.  T.  Xankivell,  D.P.H.,' contribute  to  the 
Lancet  an  interesting-  article  on  the  above 
subject,  in  which  they  say  in  part  : — 

"  Those  occupied  in  the  prevention  and  treat- 
ment of  infective  diseases  know  how  frequent 
are  diphtheria  carriers  and  chronic  cases  of 
diphtheria.  An  attack  of  diphtheria  after  early 
treatment  with  antitoxin  may  pass  rapidly  to  a 
complete  convalescence.  In  a  few  weeks  the 
patient  may  be  well,  ready  and  desirous  for  dis- 
charge from  quarantine ;  unfortunately,  how- 
ever, the  diphtheria  bacilli  may  still  be  present 
in  the  throat  or  nose.  Some  of  these  chronic 
cases  may  remain  infective  for  months,  yielding 
pure  cultures  of  virulent  diphtheria  bacilli ; 
indeed,  one  such  case,  under  the  care  of  one  of 
us  (A.  T.  N.)  persisted  for  so  long  as  15  months. 
Naturallv  such  cases  are  a  source  of  trouble  to 
the  authorities  of  isolation  hospitals  :  the  ex- 
pense of  their  maintenance  is  great ;  and  their 
anxious,  and  often  importunate,  relations  may 
fail  to  recognise  that  continued  isolation  is 
essential  in  the  interests  of  the  public  health. 

"  The  cause  of  this  chronicity  and  persistence 
of  infection  is  not  known.  Certainly,  it  seems 
to  bear  no  relation  to  the  quantity  of  antitoxin 
given  to  the  patient,  nor  is  it  associated  espe- 
cially with  any  one  morphological  variety  of  the 
bacillus  diphtherias.  Again,  it  is  impossible  to 
foretell  in  what  patients  the  infection  will  be- 
come chronic,  and  hence  difficult  to  answer  the 
question  of  the  parent  who  asks  how  long  the 
child  will  remain  infectious.  Speaking  gener- 
ally, we  should  say  that  children,  who  physi- 
cally are  not  robust,  are  more  likely  to  become 
chronic  carriers  than  other  more  healthy  chil- 
dren. Patients  suffering  from  scarlet  fever, 
who  at  the  same  time  harbour  the  B.  diphtherite 
in  nose  or  throat,  more  often  become  chronic 
carriers  of  the  bacillus  than  do  pure  diphtheria 
cases.  On  the  other  hand,  diphtheria  patients 
who  subsequently  contract  scarlet  fever  do  not 
tend  towards  chronicity  in  their  B.  diphtheria; 
infection. 

"  Ever  since  the  practice  of  swabbing  con- 
valescent cases  of  diphtheria  became  general, 
the  treatment  of  the  chronic  carrier  has  received 
more  and  more  attention.  On  the  whole,^  it 
may  be  said  that  the  treatment  of  this  condition 
is  very  unsatisfactory.  Perhaps  complete  isola- 
tion (in  order  to  prohibit  the  possibility  of  re- 


infection) has,  in  hospitals,  hitherto  been  the 
least  unsuccessful.  Local  treatment,  antiseptic 
gargles,  syringing,  lozenges,  sprays,  and  in- 
halations have  given  no  definite  and  immediate 
results ;  nor  do  we  wonder  at  this  failure.  The 
crypts  of  the  tonsils  or  the  accessory  air  sinuses 
of  the  nose  offer  favourable  and  impregnable 
resting-places  for  the  bacilli,  where  they  are  far 
removed  from  the  influence  of  the  antiseptic. 
Medicinal  treatment  likewise  is  unlikely  to 
destroy  the  organisms. 

"  In  selecting  our  cases  for  treatment  w'lih 
diphtheria  endotoxin  we  have,  so  far  as  we 
were  able,  taken  only  those  in  w'hom  chronicity 
of  infection  seemed  to  be  well  established  ;  but 
here,  as  in  other  treatment,  the  post  hoc  atit 
propter  hoc  difficulty  is  present  :  Would  the 
patients  have  become  free  of  their  infection 
without  the  use  of  the  endotoxin? 

"  We  tried  to  put  this  question  to  a  practical 
test  as  follows.  Ordinary  cases  of  faucial 
diphtheria  are  not,  as  a  rule,  free  from  infection 
for  a  month  or  five  weeks  after  the  onset  of  the 
attack.  We  gave  diphtheria  endotoxin  to  five 
such  cases  while  the  membrane  was  still  pre- 
sent on  the  tonsils ;  all  these  cases  gave  practi- 
cally pure  cultures  of  the  B.  diphtherias. 
Between  ten  days  and  a  fortnight  from  the  date 
of  injection  of  the' endotoxin  four  of  these  five 
cases  were  free  from  diphtheria  bacilli,  and  the 
fifth  was  free  a  fortnight  later.  This  rapidity 
of  the  disappearance  of  the  micro-organisms 
mav  have  been  a  coincidence,  but  \\e  think  it 
unlikely. 

"  Most  of  our  patients  had  harboured  the 
diphtheria  bacilli  for  many  weeks  or  months. 
After  one  or  more  injections  of  the  endotoxin  all 
the  cases  showed  definite  improvement.  In 
manv  the  diphtheria  infection  ceased  entirely  ;  in 
some  it  persisted,  and  the  patient  remained  un- 
cured  ;  but  even  in  these  unsuccessful  cases  we 
noted  invariably  a  diminution  in  the  number  of 
bacilli  present  microscopically ;  where  pre- 
viously the  swab  had  given  almost  a  pure 
culture  of  the  diphtheria  bacillus,  a  few  isolated 
clumps  only  were  found. 

"  With  regard  to  dosage,  we  began  with 
small  quantities  of  the  endotoxin — 0.5  mgm. 
and  i.o  mgm.  ;  but  our  cases  treated  with  these 
doses  did  not  do  so  well  as  subsequently,  when 
we  emploved  an  initial  dose  of  2  mgm.  At  the 
,  end  of  a  w^eek  or  ten  days,  if  the  swab  was  still 
positive,  a  dose  of  5  mgm.  was  given ;  and  this, 
if  necessarv,  was  repeated  later.  The  dose  was 
the  same  for  children  and  for  adults.  No  ill 
effects,  except  some  redness  and  tenderness 
around  the  site  of  injection,  follow  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  endotoxin. 


August  lo,   igi; 


abc  Bvttisb  3ournal  of  TRursiiiQ. 


107 


"  We  wish  to  insist  that  in  no  way  do  we 
consider  the  diphtheria  endotoxin  to  be  a  sub- 
stitute for  diphtheria  antitoxin ;  the  latter  is  to 
be  used  in  the  treatmejit  of  tlie  case  in  "he 
ordinary  way." 


CLINICAL  NOTES  ON  SOME  COMMON 
AILMENTS. 


Bv  A.   Knvvett  Gordon,  M.B.  Cantab. 
TLBERCL'LOSIS    IN   CHILDREN. 

I  have  chosen  the  subject  of  tuberculosis  as 
it  affects  children  for  two  reasons ;  firstly, 
because  it  is  not  very  easy  for  a  nurse  to  get 
a  clear  idea  of  the  subject  from  the  average 
text-book  of  medicine,  where  she  will  probably 
have  to  wade  through  a  large  quantity  of  facts 
and  figures  only  to  find,  after  all,  that  they 
relate  mainly  to  pulmonary  consumption  in 
adults — a  very  different  thing. 

Then  I  know  of  no  disease  which  so  well 
illustrates  the  way  in  which  the  body  reacts 
to  an  attack  made  on  it  by  micro-organisms, 
and  I  always  think  that,  if  a  nurse  has  in  her 
head  a  clear  idea  of  the  nature  of  the  fight 
which  is  constantly  going  on  between  our- 
selves and  these  our  invisible  enemies,  she  is 
much  less  likely  to  think  of  the  care  of  her 
patients  as  drudgery — everything,  incidentally, 
which  we  do  not  understand,  but  yet  have  to 
do,  must  be  either  drudgery  or  a  meaningless 
ritual. 

So  I  am  going  to  begin  with  the  tubercle 
bacillus  itself,  and  then  show  how  it  affects  the 
children  who  are  exposed  to  its  attacks.  As 
usual,  I  shall  leave  out  very  much  in  order  that 
the  main  outlines  of  the  picture  may  be  clear. 

The  tubercle  bacillus  is  an  organism  that  has 
a  great  power  of  living  under  adverse  circum- 
stances;  in  particular,  it  may  lie  in  a  dried-up 
state  for  a  long  time,  but'so  soon  as  it  reaches 
a  supply  of  moisture  and  food,  it  emerges  from 
its  inactivity  and  grows  with  vigour  in  its  new 
surroundings.  It  is  also  rather  hard  to  kill,  a 
fairly  prolonged  contact  with  quite  strong 
solutions  of  disinfectants  being  required  for 
this  purpose.  Some  of  the  so-called  antiseptics 
it  has  no  objection  to  whatever,  as  it  will  even 
grow  after  it  has  been  treated  with  a  solution 
of  them.  Though  this  is  rather  a  digression, 
I  may  say  that  it  is  very  much  to  be  wished 
that  some  law  could  be  passed  making  it 
illegal  to  publish  false  descriptions  of  disin- 
fectants. Many  poor  people  spend  shillings 
which  they  can  ill  spare  on  preparations  which 
tmerely  smell,  and  which  do  not  give  the  much 


advertised  protection  from  disease  which 
causes  them  to  have  so  ready  a  sale ;  they  may 
subsequently  pay  the  penalty  for  their  quite 
excusable  faith  in  the  loss  of  one  of  their 
children  from  the  ravages  of  an  organism 
which  has  been  liberally  attacked  according  to 
the  directions  on  the  bottle. 

.\ow  the  tubercle  bacillus  attacks  cattle  as 
well  as  human  beings,  so  that  the  two  main 
sources  of  bacilli  which  can  infect  children  are 
dust  containing  dried-up  bacilli  from  the 
expectoration  of  persons  whose  lungs  are 
affected  by  the  disease,  and  milk  from  infected 
cows.  These  latter  often  suffer  from  tubercu- 
losis of  the  udder,  even  though  they  appear  to 
be  pretty  well  in  themselves,  and  take  their 
food  well.  Many  cow  keepers  therefore  do 
not  know  when  they  have  such  animals  in 
their  possession,  and,  as  the  reports  of  in- 
spections of  farms  show,  some  do  not  mind 
mixing  milk  from  cows  that  they  know  to  be 
thus  diseased  with  the  common  stock.  It  was 
formerly  believed,  on  the  dictum  of  a  celebrated 
bacteriologist,  that  bacilli  from  cows  could  not 
give  rise  to  tuberculosis  in  human  beings,  but 
this  assertion  has  now  been  shown  to  be 
erroneous — in  fact,  the  possibility  of  bovine 
infection  has  been  proved  up  to  the  hilt  by  the 
deaths  of  thousands  of  small  children — a 
veritable  massacre  of  tlie  innocents. 

Tuberculous  milk,  however,  is  not  the  chief 
source  of  infection  in  children,  though  it  is,  or 
should  be,  the  most  easily  preventible.  In  a 
large  series  of  fatal  cases  it  was  found  that 
the  organism  had  entered  by  the  lungs  in  63.8 
per  cent.,  by  the  car  in  6  per  cent.,  and  Ijy  the 
intestine  in  29  per  cent.  In  rather  less  than 
one-third,  therefore,  was  the  milk  to  blame, 
and  infected  dust  must  be  held  responsible  for 
the  remaining  two-thirds — it  is  probable  that 
the  ultimate  source  of  this  in  almost  cverv 
case  is  the  dried-up  expectoration  from  adults 
with  phthisis,  or  "consumption,"  as  it  is 
popularlv  called.  Hence  the  "prevention  of 
spitting  "  notices  in  public  places. 

As  regards  the  frequency  of  the  disease, 
statistics  of  post-mortem  examinations  show 
that  about  one-third  of  the  children  who  die  in 
hospitals  do  so  on  account  of  tuberculosis  in 
one  form  or  other,  and  in  a  further  12  per  cent, 
signs  of  tubercle  are  found,  though  this  has 
not  been  the  actual  cause  of  death.  This  is 
rather  an  appalling  state  of  things  when  we 
consider  that  the  sources  of  infection  are 
known  and  preventible. 

Now  in  childhood,  the  tubercle  bacillus 
attacks  the  blood-forming  organs.  We  know 
from  the  researches  of  physiologists  that  the 


io8 


^be  36rittsb  3onvnal  of  IHuvstng. 


August    lo,    Tgi. 


red  corpuscles  of  the  blood  are  manufactured 
in  the  red  marrow  of  the  bones,  and  the  white 
cells  in  the  lymphatic  glands  which  are  situated 
all  over  the  body.  Now  we  have  seen  that  in 
the  majority  of  cases  the  bacilli  are  inhaled  in 
infected  dust.  In  healthy  children  the  glands 
which  serve  the  bronchi,  or  tubes  down  which 
the  dust  is  drawn  in  the  process  of  inspiration, 
are  able  to  deal  with  the  bacilli  and  destroy 
them  ;  each  gland  contains  a  large  number  of 
white  blood  corpusles  which  are  the  policemen 
of  the  body  in  the  sense  that  they  arrest  and 
withdraw  from  the  community  such  criminals 
as  micro-organisms.  Consequently  nothing 
more  is  heard  of  the  tubercle  bacilli  in  the  case 
cuf  the  thousands  of  healthy  children  who  are 
daily  inhaling  tubercle  germs. 

But  let  us  suppose  that  these  glands  are  not 
very  healthy  themselves.  Instead  of  the  white 
cells  destroying  the  bacilli,  these  latter  destroy 
the  corpuscles,  and  the  germs  are  thus  able  to 
enter  the  general  blood  stream,  whence  thev 
are  carried,  amongst  other  places,  to  the  bones 
and  joints,  or  it  may  be  to  almost  all  the 
internal  organs  simultaneously,  when  we  get 
the  disease  known  as  general  (or  miliary) 
tuberculosis.  The  commonest  cause  of  this 
weakening  of  the  bronchial  glands  is  a  previous 
attack  of  bronchitis  from  measles  or  whooping 
cough.  Similarly,  when  infected  milk  is 
swallowed,  the  mesenteric  glands  which  serve 
the  intestine  should  stop  the  invaders ;  but  if 
they  do  not  they  become  filled  with  bacilli 
themselves,  and  so  these  organisms  are  enabled 
to  reach  any  part  of  the  body  through  the 
blood  stream.  Perhaps  the  commonest  cause 
of  weak  intestinal  glands  is  digestive  trouble 
(diarrhoea  and  so  on)  from  improper  feeding  of 
the  child  on  "what  we  has  ourselves." 
A\'hether  the  bacillus  enters  in  dust  through 
the  lungs  or  ear,  or  in  infected  milk  through 
the  intestine,  there  is  a  great  tendency  for  the 
disease  to  spread  through  the  various  organs 
of  the  body,  and  this  is  much  more  likely  to 
happen  in  children  than  in  adults,  and,  strange 
though  it  may  seem,  there  are  often  very  few 
symptoms,  even  when  the  general  invasion  is 
extensive,  and  the  reason  is  that  the  child,  as 
a  rule,  dies  before  the  little  patches  of  tubercle 
germs  have  had  time  to  break  down  into 
abscesses,  when  they  would  give  rise  to  dis- 
coverable signs.  Consequently  we  have  to 
rely  on  certain  general,  and  often  rather  in- 
definite, symptoms,  and  the  diagnosis  is  often 
very  difficult ;  indeed,  I  have  seen,  post- 
mortem, all  the  internal  organs  of  the  body 
riddled  with  little  patches  of  tubercle  in  a  case 
where  most  careful  clinical  examination  failed 


to  discover  any  definite  sign  of  that  disease, 
though  its  existence  was,  of  course,  suspected. 
.And  it  must  be  remembered  that  children,  as 
a  rule,  do  not  expectorate,  so  we  cannot 
examine  their  sputum  under  the  microscope 
for  the  presence  of  tubercle  bacilli,  as  we  can 
in  adults.  The  first  of  these  general  signs  is 
irregular  pyrexia,  without  anything  to  account 
for  the  rise  of  temperature.  When  this  is 
combined  with  wasting  we  should  always 
suspect  the  existence  of  disseminated — that  is, 
spreading — tuberculosis.  Or  we  may  not  get 
even  a  rise  of  temperature  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  illness,  but  only  apparent  illness, 
or  fretfulness  without  any  discoverable  sign  of 
gross  disease  on  careful  and  exhaustive  clinical 
examination. 

Recently,  however,  some  help  has  been 
obtained  from  the  discovery  of  the  fact  that  if 
we  scratch  the  skin  of  a  child,  and  then  rub 
in  some  dead  tubercle  bacilli  or  else  put  a  few 
of  these  into  the  eye,  nothing  happens  if  the 
child  be  not  tuberculous  ;  but  if  he  is,  inflam- 
mation will  appear  round  the  site  of  the 
scratches,  or  a  slight  redness  of  the  conjunctiva 
if  the  eye  has  been  selected,  and  we  are  often 
able  bv  this  means  to  detect  tubercle  in  quite 
an  early  stage,  when  it  may  be  sometimes 
possible  to  cure  the  patient.  Another  valuable 
sign  is  the  investig'ation  of  what  is  known  as 
the  opsonic  index  for  tubercle.  In  this  process 
a  little  blood  is  taken  from  the  finger  and 
mixed  with  some  dead  tubercle  germs  in  a 
small  tube,  which  is  then  placed  in  an  incubator 
for  twenty-four  hours.  .A  drop  of  the  mixture 
is  then  examined  under  the  microscope,  and  the 
number  of  the  patient's  white  cells  which  have 
tubercle  bacilli  inside  them — showing  that  the 
corpuscles  have  made  an  attempt  to  swallow 
the  bacilli — is  compared  \\ith  the  result  of  a 
similar  drop  from  a  mixture  of  bacilli  and  the 
blood  of  a  healthy  person.  If  the  patient's 
corpuscles  have  fewer  bacilli  inside  them  than 
those  from  the  healthy  person,  it  shows  that 
he  is  in  all  probability  tuberculous. 

But  we  have  seen  that  the  glands  at  the  root 
of  the  lung — the  bronchial  glands — and  in  the 
abdomen — the  mesenteric  glands — are  very 
likely  to  be  attacked,  so  we  have  to  see  if  we 
can  recognise  the  presence  of  tubercle  in  these. 

In  the  case  of  the  bronchial  glands  we  can 
suspect  disease  when  the  child  has  a  frequent 
spasmodic  cough,  and,  as  a  matter  of  fact, 
when  a  child  has  an  attack  of  whooping 
cough  which  does  not  clear  up,  we  should 
always  suspect  that  tuberculosis  of  the 
bronchial  glands  may  have  supervened.  There 
are    other    signs    also    which    are    rather    too 


August   lo,    1912 


<Ebc  Britisb  3ournal  of  llliiroino. 


109 


intricate  to  be  described  here,  but  in  practice 
we  do  not  often  succeed  in  detecting-  this  ■ 
trouble  until  one  of  the  glands  has  broken 
down  into  an  abscess  which  has  burst  into  the 
lung  and  has  given  rise  to  tubercular  inflam- 
mation there  also. 

In  the  case  of  the  abdomen  the  outlook  is 
not  so  hopeless,  because  the  signs  are  easier  to 
detect,  and,  moreover,  abdominal  tuberculosis 
is  much  more  easily  curable  in  children  than 
tubercle  of  the  lung. 

In  practice  we  detect  tuberculosis  of  the 
abdominal  g-lands  by  the  spreading  that  almost 
always  takes  place  into  the  surrounding  peri- 
toneum, which  becomes  hard  and  matted 
together  in  masses,  or  there  may  be  free  fluid 
in  the  abdominal  cavity  ;  both  the  lumps  and 
the  fluid  can  be  easily  felt  when  the  abdomen 
is  handled.  The  condition  is  known  as 
tubercular  peritonitis,  or,  as  it  used  to  be 
called,  "  tabes  mesenterica,"  and  is  a  very 
common  form  of  tubercidar  disease  in  children. 

\\  e  have  also  seen  that  in  some  cases  the 
germs  enter  through  the  middle  ear.  Probably 
the  immediate  source  of  this  is  settling  of 
infected  dust  in  the  external  ear  passage,  but 
if  the  car  itself  be  intact,  it  is  very  doubtful 
whether  much  harm  is  done  as  a  rule.  But  the 
case  is  different  when  the  dust  finds  a  hole  in 
the  drumhead  leading  into  an  ear  which  is  the 
subject  of  chronic  discharge,  generally  from  a 
previous  attack  of  scarlet  fever  or  measles. 
Then  the  tubercle  bacillus  finds  soil  in  which  it 
can  grow  and  multiply,  and  sooner  or  later  the 
trouble  spreads  from  the  ear  into  the  closely 
adjoining  covering  of  the  brain,  and  we  have 
inflammation  of  the  meninges — tubercular 
meningitis — or  disease  of  the  brain  itself; — 
tubercular  tumour  or  cerebral  abscess. 

It  is  not  always,  however,  in  this  way  that 
the  brain  or  its  membranes  become  infected. 
They  may  be  attacked  by'  germs  from  a  tuber- 
cular bronchial  gland,  or  from  enlarged  tonsils 
or  adenoids,  or  the  bacilli  may  reach  the  brain 
through  the  nose.  In  any  case,  unless  the 
surgeon  can  successfully  intervene  before  the 
organisms  reach  the  inside  of  the  skull,  death 
almost  always  results. 

But  tubercle  need  not  necessarily  be  a 
"  medical  "  disease.  We  may  have  the  various 
forms  of  so-called  "  surgical  "  tuberculosis, 
and  this  simply  means  that  tubercle  has 
attacked  either  lymphatic  glands  or  bones  in 
regions  that  are  within  the  reach  of  the 
surgeon.  One  very  common  form  of  this  is 
the  enlargement  of  the  glands  in  the  neck  ;  if 
these  are  not  dealt  with  in  the  early  stage  they 
mav    bre.ik'  down    into    ;ibscesses    which    dis- 


charge through  the  skin,  leaving  a  track  or 
sinus  leading  from  th«  skin  to  the  gland,  which 
is  perpetually  discharging,  healing  up,  and 
discharging  again,  until  the  system  becomes 
infected,  and  we  then  get  either  general  tuber- 
culosis or  involvement  of  the  lungs,  abdomen, 
or  brain  as  before. 

Or  some  bone  may  be  attacked.  Here, 
though  we  may  get  almost  any  bone  affected, 
two  forms  are  most  common,  namely,  disease 
of  the  hip-joint  and  of  the  spine,  and  it  is  these 
two  between  them  that  are  responsible  for  the 
pathetic  procession  of.  crippled  children  who 
pass  from  one  general  hospital  to  another, 
having  often  to  be  discharged  before  they  are 
cured,  owing  to  lack  of  room,  until  they  ulti- 
mately reach  a  workhouse  infirmary,  unless, 
indeed,  they  are  fortunate  enough  to  secure 
scientific  treatment  in  pure  air  in  such  an 
institution  as  the  Treloar  Home. 

I  do  not  now  propose  to  describe  these  two 
diseases  in  detail,  but  I  may  mention  that  hip 
disease  shows  itself  first  in  pain  (which  is  often 
agonising)  in  the  hip  and  knee,  then  in  fixation 
of  the  joint  in  such  a  position  as  to  cause  a 
limp,  and,  finally,  in  the  breaking  down  of  the 
inflamed  bone  into  an  ab.scess  which  discharges 
through  one  or  more  channels  in  the  skin  round 
the  joint — a  perpetually  running  sere. 

In  disease  of  the  spine  we  get  at  first  pain 
in  various  regions,  according  to  the  situation 
of  the  disease,  and  then  an  abscess  which 
discharges  in  the  groin — psoas  abscess — and  if 
death  does  not — shall  we  say  fortunately.'' — 
previously  ensue,  the  deformity  that  we  know 
as  hunchback. 

Before  going  on  to  the  treatment  of  tuber- 
culosis in  children,  which  will  form  the  subject 
of  the  next  paper,  I  may  sum  up  the  course  of 
the  disease.  The  germ  gets  in  generally 
through  infected  dust  or  through  infected  milk. 
It  reaches  the  bronchial  glands,  and  goes  on  to 
kill  the  patient  by  infection  of  the  lungs  or 
brain,  or  the  abdominal  glands,  proceeding 
thence  to  attack  the  peritoneum  and  intestine; 
or  it  attacks  the  ear  and  thence  the  brain  or  its 
membranes ;  or  it  seizes  on  external  glands, 
or  on  bones  with  the  resulting  crippling  de- 
formities. But  by  whatever  path  it  enters, 
unless  its  progress  can  be  arrested,  the  end 
is  ultimately  death  from  generalised  tubercu- 
losis. Considering  the  life  that  a  tubercular 
child  in  poor  environment  has  to  lead,  we  may 
perhaps  be  pardoned  if  we  sometimes  think 
that  the  sf)oncr  this  comes  the  better. 

Our  readers  ^\ill  be  glad  to  have  the  oppor- 
tunity of  reading  Dr.  Gordon's  paper  on  the 
treatment  of  tuberculosis  in  children. 


CTbe  Britisb  3ounial  of  IRurslno. 


August   lo,    1912 


THE  COLOGNE  CONGRESS. 


THE  ^URSINU  EXHIBITION. 

The  ceremony  of  opening  the  Nursing  Ex- 
hibition in  the  Marzellen  Gymnasium  on  the 
morning  of  Saturday,  August  3rd,  was  one 
which  no  one  attending  the  Congress  in  connec- 
tion with  the  meeting  of  the  International 
Council  of  Nurses  would  willingly  have  missed. 
The  Delegates  and  others  who  arrived  in 
Cologne  on  the  evening  of  Friday,  August  2nd, 
had  ample  time  to  obtain  their  tickets  and 
badges  from  the  bureai^at  the  Giirzenich  before 
going  to  the  Exhibition,  and  numbers  thronged 
tha-e  for  this  purpose,  but,  thanks  to  the  ex- 
cellent arrangements  and  the  courtesy  and 
kindness  of  the  ladies  managing  the  bureau, 
everyone  obtained  the  necessary  tickets  as 
quickly  as  possible,  and  thus  equipped  went 
out  to  see  something  of  the  city,  with  its 
stupendous  cathedral,  as  its  centre,  dominating 
the  whole,  and  provided  with  a  guide  compiled 
and  dedicated  to  the  visitors  to  the  Inter- 
national Congress  of  Nurses  by  the  thoughtful 
kindness  of  the  Cologne  Verkehrs-Verein,  and 
published  in  English,  German,  French,  and 
Dutch. 

The  cathedral  or  Dom  Platz  was  crowded  on 
Saturday  morning  for  the  Requiem  Mass  for 
the  late  Archbishop,  who  was  lying  in  state 
there,  was  being  sung  with  all  the  impressive 
and  gorgeous  accompaniments  with  which  the 
Roman  Church  knows  so  well  how  to  honour 
her  faithful  sons  and  daughters,  and  naturally, 
for  a  Cardinal-Archbishop,  the  ceremonial  is  on 
the  most  magnificent  scale  possible.  A  huge 
congregation  filled  the  cathedral,  and  in  the 
Platz,  troops,  commanded  by  officers  splendidly 
mounted,  and  wearing  gorgeous  medals  and 
decorations,  were  on  duty  from  an  early  hour. 

The  Marzellen  Gymnasium,  where  the  Nurs- 
ing Exhibition  is  being  held,  is  a  fine  hall 
kindly  lent  by  the  Lord  Mayor  of  Cologne,  and 
freshly  decorated  for  the  occasion.  The  prin- 
cipal hall,  which  is  of  firte  proportions  and 
beautifully  moulded  is  decorated  in  gold,  and, 
in  the  centre,  enclosing  the  exhibit  of  the  Lin- 
denburg,  rise  four  white  pedestals  bearing 
baskets  of  crimson  roses  in  moss,  which  one 
.sees  from  all  parts  of  the  hall,  and  which  give 
just  the  note  of  colour  necessary  to  perfect  the 
scheme  of  decoration. 

The  Committee  organizing  the  Exhibition 
included  Frau  Regierungsrat  Hoefer,  Frau 
Tiltz,  Frau  Reg.  Rat.  Rusnck,  Herr  and  Frau 
Dr.  Martin,  Herr  and  Frnu  Reg.  Banmeister- 
Moritz,  Frau  Spookenbach,  Frau  Dr.  Auer- 
bach,  Fraulein  Worringer,  Fraulein  Hopmann, 


Herr  and  Frau  Geheimrat  Bardenheuer,  Frau 
Biirgers,  and  Herr  Ezaplewski. 

The  opening  ceremony  was  performed  by 
Frau  Regierungsrat  Hoefer,  and  grouped  about 
her  were  distinguished  citizens  who  came  to 
honour  the  Exhibition  with  their  support,  the 
officers  of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses, 
delegates,  and  visitors. 

The  Greeting. 

Frau  Hoefer,  in  the  name  of  the  Committee 
of  workers,  and  all  the  leaders,  greeted  all  those 
present,  and  extended  a  special  welcome  to 
strangers,  saying  that  the  Committee  hoped  to 
be  able  to  show  what  German  industry  has  done 
to  help  sick  nursing.  She  spoke  of  recent 
wonderful  exhibits  relating  to  women's  work — 
public  health  and  nursing — held  in  Dresden  and 
Berlin,  and  said  she  believed  in  comparison 
there  was  no  need  to  feel  dissatisfied  with 
results  here.  She  spoke  also  of  the  great  in- 
structiveness  of  exhibits  as  compared  with 
spoken  words,  and  expressed  the  gratitude  of 
the  Committee  to  the  Central  Committee  of  the 
Red  Cross  for  sending  its  splendid  exhibit. 

Models,  pictured  representations,  statistics, 
indexes,  as  well  as  portions  of  conspicuously 
good  work  by  both  German  and  foreign  nurs- 
ing sisters,  could  be  studied  and  compared. 

The  Committee  were  specially  indebted  to  the 
Catholic  Nursing  Orders  for  the  interest  thev 
had  shown,  and  to  the  German  Evangelical 
Women's  L'nion. 

She  also  thanked  the  Lord  Mavor  for  his 
interest  and  his  kindness  in  lending  the  hall, 
and  all  those  authorities  who,  with  counsel  and 
personal  work,  have  helped  to  bring  about  the 
work  presented. 

The  Speech  of  the  President. 

Sister  .A-gnes  Karll,  President  of  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses,  said  that  associa- 
tion in  congresses  and  exhibitions  had  come 
to  be  an  essential  part  of  the  work  of  nurses. 
In  order  to  keep  abreast  with  the  times  we 
must  meet  together  and  bring  to  a  common 
centre  our  knowledge  and  problerns.  She  out- 
lined the  beginnings  of  our  International 
organization  as  related  by  Mrs.  Bedford  Fen- 
wick,  the  Founder,  in  the  last  issue  of  The 
British  Journal  of  Nursing,  entitled  "  A 
Page  of  Nursing  History  "  ;  she  spoke  also  of 
the  first  Congress  in  London,  and  of  those  in 
Buffalo  and  Berlin,  and  said  that  the  Exhibition 
had  far  surpassed  her  expectations.  Also  when 
she  saw  how  the  Cologne  ladies  had  trans- 
formed the  Gymnasium  she  was  greatly  de- 
lighted. It  was  a  plain,  unadorned  building, 
and  they  had  decorated  and  beautified  it.  She 
cordially   endorsed   the   thanks   offered   to   the 


August   lo,   1912 


Hbc  Brltisb  3ournal  of  fl-lnreino. 


Coinniiuee  of  the  Red  Cross  and  all  who  had 
helped. 

Bury;omeister  Dr.  Krautwig-,  Head  of  the 
Medical  Department  of  the  City  of  Cologne, 
spoke  a  few  words  of  appreciation  of  the  im- 
portance of  nursing  and  of  the  educational 
effect  of  exhibits,  and  in  a  very  earnest  way 
wished  success  to  the  I'-xhibition  and  Congress, 
and  complimented  the  ladies  of  Cologne  on  the 
manner  in  which  they  had  carried  out  the 
arrangements  for  the  former. 

The  Exhibits. 

The  Exhibits,  which  are  many  and  various, 
occupy  both  the  ground  floor  and  the  first  floor 
of  this  large  building.  In  the  principal  hall  are 
the  exhibits  of  nurses,  and  of  various  firms. 

The  town  of  Cologne  sent  a  beautiful  model 
of  the  Lindenburg  Slate  Hospital,  which 
occupies  the  centre  of  the  hall,  and  there  is  also 
a  model  of  Dr.  von  Ehrcnwnll's  hospital  for 
mental  and  nerve  cases  at  Ahrweiler,  with 
photographs  illustrating  different  departments 
of  the  work,  and  some  excellent  specimens  of 
handicraft  executed  by  the  non-paying  patients. 
Photographs,  pictures,  models,  statistical 
charts,  have  been  sent  by  many  different  groups 
of  Sisters,  and  also  from  the  Victoria  House, 
Berlin.  The  German  Nurses'  Association  have, 
of  course,  a  very  complete  exhibit,  including 
photographs  of  the  office  and  staff ;  a  statistical 
chart  prepared  by  Sister  Maida  Lubben  con- 
cerning the  health  of  the  2,500  nurses  in  the 
Association,  embodied  in  a  diagram ;  photo- 
graphs taken  from  "A  Historv  of  Nursing," 
which  has  been  translated  into  German  by 
Sister  Karll  ;  bound  copies  of  Unicrm  JMzarus 
Kreuz,  and  much  else  beside. 

Close  by  is  a  fascinating  exhibit,  arranged  bv 
Sister  Anna  Hopffe,  of  Drtsdcn,  showing  work 
done  in  the  preparation  of  cultures  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Roval  Veterinary  High  School 
from  germs  found  in  the  open  air,  in  water,  and 
in  the  stomach  of  an  ox.  Also  a  cat  mummified 
after  the  Egyptian  method,  and  a  cat  and  kitten 
embalmed. 

The  other  side  of  the  work  is  to  show  milk 
preserved  whole,  modified  milk,  extraneous 
matter  filtered  from  milk,  and  the  best  method 
of  preserving  milk  in  a  bacteria-free  condition. 

Another  exhibit  included  some  wonderful  wax 
models  of  eruptive  rashes,  of  svphilis,  and 
lupus,  and  others  of  syphilitic  and  diphtheritic 
throats.  Foreign  countries  also  sent  exhibits, 
including  America,  Canada,  Denmark,  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,   Holland,  and  Sweden. 

The  British  Group  includes  similar  exhibits 
to  those  which,  in  London  rerontlv,  received 
prizes  awarded   through   this   Journal,    illustra- 


tive of  the  nursing  methods  and  appliances 
used  in  connection  with  the  Head  (Royal 
Leicester  Infirmary),  the  Abdomen  (Royal  Free 
Hospital,  London),  the  Bladder  and  Kidneys 
(St.  Peter's  Hospital  for  Stone,  London), 
Gynaecological  Nursing  (Chelsea  Hospital  for 
Women,  London),  Splints  (St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital,  London),  Special  Splints  and  Appli- 
ances (Lord  Mayor  Trcloar's  Hospital,  Alton). 
A  group  of  dolls  in  the  uniforms  of  the 
matrons,  sisters,  and  nurses  in  different 
'branches  of  nursing  work,  sent  by  Miss  Barton, 
Matron,  Chelsea  Infirmary,  are  attracting 
special  attention  and  admiration.  A  picture  of 
Mrs.  Elizabeth  Fry  comes  from  the  Institution 
of  Nursing  Sisters  in  Devonshire  Square, 
London,  which  she  founded,  and  Brownlow 
Hill  Infirmary,  Liverpool,  sent  a  bust  of  Miss 
Agnes  Jones.  Pictures  of  Miss  Nightingale 
and  Sister  Dora  are  also  included  in  this 
exhibit,  and  the  Nurses'  Social  Union  sciit 
some  striking  posters. 

THE  RECEPTION  AND  PAGEANT. 

The  Banquet  Hall  of  the  historic  Giirzenich 
was  crowded  on  Sunday  evening,  August  4th, 
for  the  Reception  and  Pageant  with  which  the 
Congress  was  inaugurated.  The  City  Fathers 
in  the  isth  century,  who  built  th('  Hail  in  order 
to  possess  a  place  in  which  to  entertain  dis- 
tinguished guests  with  a  magnificence  worthv 
of  the  city,  built  with  no  niggard,  hand.  Round 
three  sides  of  the  Hall  runs  a  gallery  borr>e  by 
richly  carved  wooden  pillars,  and  the  windows 
are  filled  with  stained  glass  of  historic  interest, 
while  the  walls  are  decorated  with  a  representa- 
tion of  the  Procession  on  the  completion  of  the 
Cathedral  in   iSSo. 

This  building,  with  its  memories  of  the  past, 
was  on  August  4th  taken  possession  of  by  the 
modern  nurses  of  all  nations,  who,  in  their  neat, 
spotless,  and  picturesque  imiforms,  together 
with  their  hostesses,  brought  into  it  light,  and 
life  and  colour. 

The  Speeches. 

Geheimrat  Ruhsack,  speaking  in  the  name  of 
the  Government,  welcomed  the  guests,  saying 
that  it  fully  appreciated  the  zeal  and  aims  of 
the  International  Council  of  Nurses,  its  en- 
deavour to  promote  the  thorough  education  of 
nurses  and  to  unite  all  nurses  in  a  world-wide 
organization.  In  Germany,  he  said,  statistics 
showed  that  there  were  70,000  women  who 
nurse,  of  whom  26,000  were  Catholics,  12,000 
Protestant  Deaconesses,  and  4,500  Red  Cross 
workers,  besides  others  not  included  in  any 
statistics. 


^bc  Br(ti5b  3ournal  of  mursino 


August   lo,    191 2 


It  was  necessary  to  clear  one's  views  and  to 
see  that  conditions  now  are  dilTerent  to  those 
of  past  centuries  in  regard  lo  women's  work. 
Let  women  freely  show  their  knowledge  and 
powers,  and  the  same  applied  to  nurses.  He 
welcomed  those  who  had  assembled  from  all 
countries,  and  hoped  that  in  the  future  there 
would  only  be  a  peaceful  emulation.  In  olden 
times  nursing  was  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the 
Catholic  Orders.  Now  things  were  changed, 
and  we  had  "  free  nurses  "  also.  But  the  soul 
and  heart  of  nursing  was  just  the  same,  and, 
whether  Catholic,  Red  Cross,  or  Free  Sisters, 
aH  would  give  their  lives  to  si'rxc  the  sick  in 
time  of  war  or  epidemics. 

Burgomeister  Krautwig  said  that  the  old 
Giirzenich  had  stood  for  years  and  years,  and 
seen  many  meetings,  but  seldom  such  guests  as 
that  day — the  organized  nurses  from  all  parts 
of  the  world.  He  suggested  for  a  motto  the 
words  of  Goethe,  "  Edcl  sei  dar  Mensch 
hilfreich  und  gut." 

Professor  Dr.  Seigart  spolce  in  the  name  of 
the  Academy  of  Practical  Medicine,  and 
said  that  since  October,  1909,  arrange- 
ments had  been  made  for  the  examina- 
tion and  State  Registration  of  nurses,  and  Frau 
Bachemsieger,  speaking  in  the  name  of  the 
Local  Committee,  said  that  she  brought  those 
present  a  heartfelt  welcome.  Thev  had  come 
together  for  earnest  work,  but  they  must  not 
forget  that  on  the  Rhine  humour  and  gaiety 
were  the  rule. 

Sister  Agnes  Karll  expressed  her  pleasure 
that  the  Reception  was  taking  place  in  the 
historic  Giirzenich,  and  also  offered  words  of 
welcome. 

The  ^Iannek-Choir. 

Then  followed  part-songs  by  the  Cologne 
Manner-Gesang-Verein,  in  which  Cologne 
provided  for  its  guests  a  time  of  rare  enjoy- 
ment. The  lovely  choir,  famous  throughout  the 
world,  and  the  wonderful  harmonies  of  the 
great  organ  produced  an  effect  which  delighted 
and  enthralled  the  audience.  At  the  end  it 
burst  out  into  such  rapturous  applause  that  the 
choir  responded  with  another  charming  song. 
The  Triumph  of  Hygeia. 

Then  followed  the  marvellous  series  of  living 
pictures  arranged  by  the  ladies  of  Cologne, 
concluding  with  the  "Triumph  of  Hygeia." 
The  motif  of  the  pictures  was  to  illustrate  the 
development  of  sympathy  for  the  sick  and  poor. 
These  pictures,  really  represented  by  living 
people,  bore  an  astonishing  resemblance  to 
figT.ires  carved  in  wood,  stone,  or  bronze,  as 
cathedral  statues ;  and  again  Hygeia  chiselled 
— out  of  marble. 


St.   Elizabeth. 

First  w.-is  presented  "  die  heilige  Elizabeth  " 
(St.  Elizabeth  of  Hungary,  a  royal  nurse 
belonging  to  a  Religious  Order),  mounted  on  a 
pedestal,  wearing  veil  and  crown  and  bearing 
the  model  of  a  church  on  her  left  hand.  At  her 
feet  the  white  lilies  of  purity,  and  near  by  tlie 
legendary  crimson  roses.  Most  human  of 
saints,  St.  Elizabeth  is  one  of  the  best  loved  of 
the  noble  army  of  martyrs. 

Introducing  this  ;md  the  other  pictures  was 
lovely  music  and  melodious  poetry.  The  music 
specially  written  by  Herr  Paul  Mania,  the 
poem  (spoken  by  Herr  Heinz  Jatho)  by  Herr 
Otto  Rennefeldt.  Presiding  at  the  organ  was 
Herr  W.  Bredack ;  at  the  piano,  Herr 
Allekotte ;  and  the  soloist  was  Fraulein  Louise 
Jonghaus.  Art — music — poetry — the  world  is 
the  richer  for  them  all,  and  they  were  combined 
very  perfectly  in  the  presentment  of  St.  Eliza- 
beth and  the  succeeding  pictures. 

The  Founders  of  the  RE\iLn:N'  Hospitals. 
Next  was  revealed  a  picture  of  the 
Founders  of  the  Revilien  Hospitals  at 
Cologne,  Damian  von  Lowen,  his  wife, 
Mechtild,  a  nurse  living  in  the  world,  and 
their  daughter.  They  were  represented  kneel- 
ing with  clasped  hands  on  the  cross  beam, 
under  a  Gothic  arch,  surmounting  a  door  in  a 
wall  grey  with  age.  So  perfect  was  the 
resemblance  to  figures  carved  in  stone  that  it 
was  almost  impossible  to  believe  that  they  were 
living  persons.  Life  was  introduced  into  the 
picture  by  two  Beguines,  who  walked  in  front 
of  the  wall,  paused  to  kneel  before  the  pious 
founders  of  the  hospital,  and  then  disappeared. 

The  Dead  \\'arrior. 

Tile  next  picture  represented  in  bronze 
relief  a  dead  warrior  lying  on  his  bed  of  honour 
and  surrounded  by  his  fellow-warriors,  stern 
and  upright,  a  military  nurse,  and  a  weeping 
maid,  the  date  being  181 3.  In  front  were  hung 
a  laurel  wreath  and  azure  blue  banners.  This 
picture  was  preceded  by  a  splendid  march,  to 
the  strains  of  which  soldiers  marched  to  battle 
at  that  period. 

The  Tku'MPH  of  Hygeia. 
.  The  last  picture  represented  a  marble  statue 
of  Hygeia,  the  goddess  who  claims  the  alle- 
giance of  the  modern  nurse.  She  was  revealed, 
draped  in  white,  against  a  background  of 
greenerv,  and  holding  before  her  a  large  ever- 
green wreath  were  two  nurses  of  the  New  York 
City  Hospital,  Mrs.  R.  L.  Williams  and  Miss 
Ada  J.  Senhouse.  Then  nurses  of  past  ages 
and  of  the  present  time,  bearing  ropes  of  ever- 


August    lo,    igi. 


aJ)e  Bvttieb  3ouvnai  of  TRurstno 


i'3 


green  and  carrying  crimson  roses,  filed  past, 
a  brave  array,  with  banners  and  emblems,  each 
pausing  to  offer  to  Hygeia  a  crimson  rose  and 
then  place  it  in  a  bowl  at  her  feet.  Many  of  our 
old  friends  were  there — Phasbe  of  Cenehrea 
(Miss  B.  Kent);  Queen  Fhilippa  of  Hainault 
(Mrs.  ^ianson),  magnificent  and  resplendent  in 
jewelled  crown  and  gorgeous  robes ;  an 
.Augustian  Choir  Sister  (Miss  Macvitie)  ; 
heroic  Jeanne  Mance  of  Canada  (Miss  de 
Braisay ) ;  Elizabeth  Fry  (Miss  Elma  Smith) ;  a 
Sister  Rahere  in  the  middle  of  the  19th  century  / 
(.Miss  C.  Lee),  and  others. 

Added  to  these  must  be  mentioned  the  holy 
Hildegardis  (Miss  Sophie  von  Ehrenwall),  who 
lived  about  1150  A.D.,  and  joined  a  Sisterhood 
in  a  nunnery  on  the  Rhine ;  she  had  prophetic 
vision  and  was  able  to  foretell  the  future ; 
the  holy  Gertrandis,  who  lived  between  500 
and  600  .-\.D.  (Sister  Clara  W'eidsmann) 
and  succoured  those  travelling  from  place 
to  place  in  search  of  work.  Alyke  von 
Tumpling  (1380  a.d.),  represented  by  her 
namesake  and  descendant,  a  member  of 
the  German  Nurses'  Association,  who 
lived  at  Thijringen,  in  conjunction  with 
her  husband  founded  and  endowed  a  hospital 
named  Brijder  Spital  at  Jena,  for  twelve  old 
and  infirm  persons,  which  still  exists.  Another 
interesting  personality  was  the  Princess  Eliza- 
beth, who,  in  the  religious  war  in  1552,  took 
care  of  wounded  and  exiled  persons  in  her  own 
castle  at  personal  risk  to  herself. 

The  modern  nurses  included  Miss  Hunter, 
-Miss  Burr,  .Miss  Lee  Smith,  and  others,  bear- 
ing the  banner  of  their  various  Leagues,  and 
Miss  Barton  in  the  uniform  of  a  Matron  of  the 
Territorial  Force  Nursing  Service,  which  she 
had  official  permission  to  wear,  with  instruc- 
tions to  place  a  band  of  crepe  on  the  left  arm 
as  mourning  for  the  Emperor  of  Japan  ;  and 
Miss  Breay,  with  a  crimson  plume  denoting  her 
connection  with  The  British  Journal  of 
NfRSiXG  and  the  professional  nursing  Press. 

The  Pageant  over,  dainty  refreshments  were 
most  hospitably  served,  and  then  those  present 
dispersed,  with  all  gratitude  to  those  who  had 
spared  neither  time,  pains,  or  expense  to  make 
the  evening  one  never  to  be  forgotten,  most 
especially  to  the  renowned  lady  artist  who 
designed  the  pictures  and  acted  as  stage 
manager — Fraulein  Alexe  Altenkirch. 

THE  MEETING  OF  THE  GRAND  COUNCIL. 

The  triennial  meeting  of  the  Grand  Council 
of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses  was  held 
in     the     fnfrzenich    on     Mondav    last.     Sister 


Agnes  Karll  presided.  W'c  shall  give  a  full 
account  of  the  proceedings  later.  We  have 
now  only  space  to  publish  the  Watchword  and 
to  say  that  a  cordial  invitation  was  received 
from  the  Californian  Nurses'  Association  for 
the  Council  to  meet  in  San  Francisco  in  1915. 
The  Officers  and  Delegates  unanimously 
decided  to  accept  the  invitation,  which  was 
warmly  supported  by  the  Delegates  of  the 
.American  Nurses'  -Association  present.  On 
the  proposition  of  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  it 
was  decided  to  send  the  thanks  of  the  Council 
to  the  Californian  nurses  for  their  gracious  in- 
vitation. The  place  of  meeting  having  been 
decided  upon,  it  was  unanimously  agreed  to 
invite  Miss  .Annie  W.  Goodrich,  who  has  held 
the  highest  positions  in  the  National  Associa- 
tion of  American  Nurses,  to  become  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Council,  and  to  cable  the  invitation, 
in  the  hope  that  the  answer  may  be  received 
during  the  Congress  week. 

The     following     resolutions     were     adopted 
unanimously  : — 

RESOLUTIONS. 

State  Registration  of  Nurses. 

Whereas  the  experience  of  those  countries 
where  State  Registration  for  Nurses  has  been 
put  in  force  shows  that  the  State  regulation 
and  control  of  nursing  education,  by  setting 
a  standard  of  genuine  and  uniform  profes- 
sional training  for  the  nurse,  is  wholly  in 
the  best  interests  of  the  sick  and  helpless, 
therefore  be  it 
Resolved — - 

That  this  meeting  emphatically  endorses 
the  movement  for  State  Registration  of 
Nurses,  expresses  its  satisfaction  with  those 
Governments  that  have  enacted  Registration 
Acts,  and  calls  upon  those  Governments  that 
have  so  far  denied  this  obviously  just  demand 
of  nurses  and  of  public  bodies  to  reverse 
their  attitude  of  inaction  and  to  legislate  in 
protection  of  the  sick  against  fraudulent  and 
incompetent  nursing  care. 

Woman  Suffr.age. 
In  the  belief  that  the  highest  purposes  of 
civilisation  and  the  truest  blessings  to  the 
race  can  only  be  attained  by  the  equal  and 
united  labours  of  men  and  women  possessing 
equal  and  unabridged  political  powers,  we 
declare  our  adherence  to  the  principle  of 
woman  suffrage  and  regard  the  suffrage 
movement  as  a  great  moral  movement 
making  for  the  conquest  of  misery,  pre- 
ventible  illness,  and  vice,  and  as  strengthen- 
ing a  feeling  of  human  brotherhood. 


114 


Zrlic  Britisb  3ournal  of  ll'lursino. 


August   lo,    igi2 


THE     WATCHWORD. 

Spoken  by   Mrs.   Bedioru   Fenwick. 


ASPIRATION. 

Madam  President,  Members  of  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses,  and  Fraternal 
Delegates, — It  is  our  custom  when  in  Grand 
Council  assembled  to  select  a  Watchword 
which  shall  serve  as  a  common  bond  of  union 
till  we  meet  again.  Work — Courage — Life — 
all  these  have  sounded  the  note  of  our  en- 
deavours for  a  period  of  years,  and  the  word 
I  propose  we  shall  take  as  our  motto  for  the 
next  triennial  term  is  Aspiration. 

This  word  expresses  a  desire  to  seek  eagerly 
after  that  which  is  above  us.  That  was  the 
inspiration  of  the  Council  Idea,  and  that  is  its 
goal.  The  essential  essence  of  Nursing  is  not 
merely  to  afford  skilled  help  to  suffering  and 
diseased  humanity — it  is  something  far  higher 
than  that.  It  is  the  endeavour  to  appropriate 
the  spiritual  force  which  is  the  common 
heritage  of  our  profession,  bequeathed  to  it 
by  many  noble  men  and  women,  our  predeces- 
sors, who  have  served  the  sick  of  all  ages  m 
everv  land  ;  a  reserve  force  upon  which,  as  long 
as  we  walk  worthily,  we  may  freely  draw,  a 
force  potent  with  grace,  so  that  in  helping  to 
heal  the  body,  those  to  whom  we  minister  may 
discern  the  fineness  of  motive  which  inspires 
our  vocation,  and  the  upUfting  spiritual  zeal 
which  inspires  our  service,  and  may  be  sus- 
tained and  comforted  thereby. 

From  its  inception  our  Council  has  aspired 
far  beyond  what  was  considered  practicable. 

To  infuse  with  a  sense  of  professional 
solidarity  the  nurses  of  all  nations,  so  that  as 
a  community  they  should  zealously  conserve 
the  health  and  happiness  of  the  people — the 
essential  right  of  Life — that  with  sound  know- 
ledge and  skill  they  should  serve  and  restore 
to  health  the  sick  in  mind  and  body — and  in  so 
doing  maintain  the  honour  of  their  profession 
— are  lofty  aims.  Believing,  as  we  do,  that 
these  high  aims  can  be  advanced  by  greater 
unity  of  thought,  sympathy  and  purpose,  we 
have  banded  ourselves  together  in  this  Inter- 
national Council  to  further  them,  and  we  come 
together  from  all  parts  of  the  world  to  confer 
on  questions  not  merely  of  imperial,  but  of 
human  weight  and  consequence.  Our  highest 
aspiration  Is— to  keep  pure  and  sacred  the 
physical  fount  of  Life,  and  thus  give  liberty 
and  solace  to  the  Soul. 

High  aspirations  indeed,  but  not  beyond 
attainment,  and  high  aspirations  are  the  best 
incentive  to  high  endeavours. 


It  is  not  enough,  however,  that  we  attend 
these  great  gatherings  and  enjoy  communion. 
It  should  be  the  aspiration  of  each  one  of  us 
to  help  to  build  up  by  personal  service  our 
National  Organizations,  from  which  inter- 
nationalism derives  its  vitality  and  strength. 
That  is  one  aspiration  which  I  invite  you  to 
translate  into  accomplishment  during  the  next 
triennial  period.  Do  not  let  us  allow  the  in- 
spiration of  our  conference  to  evaporate  in 
sentiment.  We  need  to  capture,  concentrate, 
and  utilize  it  as  a  compelling  force  in  the 
upraising  and  resultant  happiness  of  all  things 
sentient. 

Then  to  aspire  to  have  all  things  in  common 
— especially  to  be  generous  in  sharing  know- 
ledge. That  which  one  has  acquired — after 
stress  and  toil — let  her  hasten  to  pass  on,  so 
that  the  more  may  benefit  from  the  result  of 
her  labour,  and  we  could  have  no  more  effec- 
tive medium  through  which  to  teach  than  this 
world-wide  confederation  of  nurses. 

Also,  whilst  cherishing  tiie  entrancing  vision 
of  the  ideal,  a  vision  which  guards  monotony 
of  work  from  becoming  monotony  of  life,  we 
should  aspire  to  be  eminently  practical.  Thus 
let  us  take  counsel  together  of  practical  ways 
and  means — of  the  happy  Home  life  and 
humane  Hospital  life  of  the  pupil — of  a  sound 
and  thorough  basis  for  our  Educational  Curri- 
culum. Let  us  see  that,  when  the  worker  is 
worthy  of  her  hire,  the  hire  shall  be  worthy  of 
the  work  accomplished.  Only  thus  can  we 
fit  ourselves  for  our  high  vocation,  and  make 
that  vocation  respond  to  the  needs  of  the  com- 
munity. Let  us  aspire  to  the  purest  and  most 
strenuous  endeavour. 

It  has  been  written  that  "  he  is  a  profane 
person  that  performs  holy  duties  lightly 
and  superficially ;  all  our  duties  ought  to  be 
warmed  with  zeal,  winged  with  affection,  and 
shot  up  to  Heaven  from  the  whole  bent 
of  the  soul.  Our  whole  hearts  must  go 
with  them ;  and  the  strength  and  vigour  of 
our  spirits  must  diffuse  themselves  in  every 
part  of  them.  .  .  .  Truly  all  our  sacrifices  must 
be  offered  up  to  God  with  fire ;  and  that  fire 
which  alone  can  sanctify  them,  must  be  darted 
down  from  Heaven ;  the  celestial  flame  of  zeal 
and  love,  which  comes  down  from  Heaven,  and 
hath  a  natural  tendency  to  ascend  thither 
again,  and  to  carry  up  our  hearts  and  souls 
upon  its  wings." 

Let  Aspiration  be  our  Watchword  until  our 
next  meeting,  assured  that,  if  touched  with  the 
celestial  flame,  our  hearts  and  souls  may  aspire 
to  make  altogether  lovely  the  beneficent  work  to 
which  the  members  of  this  great  Federation  of 
Nurses  have  the  happiness  to  give  their  lives. 


August  lo,    191 


ilbe  Bi'ittsb  3ournal  of  IRuusUio. 


"5 


APPOINTMENTS. 


Marston  Orccn  Cottuge  Homes,  lSirniin><ham. — 
Miss  B.  S.  Dittmer  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  King's  College  Hospital,  and 
has  since  been  Sister  at  the  County  Branch  of  the 
Royal  Hospital  for  Sick  Children,  Glasgow,  and 
Ward  Sister,  Xight  Superintendent,  and  Home 
Sister  at  Lambeth  Infirmary. 

Cottage  Hospital,  Ripley,  Derby,— Miss  Holford 
has  been  appointed  Nurse-Matron.  She  was  trained 
at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Sheffield,  and  has  since 
been  Sister  at  the  Morton  Infirmary,  Banbury, 
and  at  the  Mansfield  Hospital,  Nottinghamshire. 

SISTER.  > 

The  Kensington  Infirmary,  Marloes  Road 
Kensington. — Miss  Annie  Horsfall  has  been  ap- 
pointed Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the  West 
Derby  Union  Infirmary,  and  has  been  Staff  Nurse 
at  the  Edmonton  Infirmar\-,  and  Charge  Nurse 
at  Eastbourne  Infirmary. 

Miss  PoIIv  Hutchinson  has  been  appointed  Sister 
in  the  same  institution.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Bradford  Union  Hospital,  and  has  held  the 
position  of  Staff  Nurse  at  the  South  Eastern 
Hospital,  London,  under  the  Metropolitan 
Asylums  Board. 

The  Hackney  Infirmary,  Horaerton. — Miss  Lilian 
M.  Edmonds  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Steyning  Union  Infirmary,  and  has 
been  Staff  Nurse  at  the  Camberwell  Infirmar\-, 
and  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Manchester. 

Haverfordwest  and  Pembrokeshire  County  Hos- 
pital, Haverfordwest. — Miss  May  Aloysius  Finnan 
has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the 
City  Hospital,  Liverpool,  and  the  Millar  Hospital, 
Barrow,  and  has  been  Staff  Nurse  at  the  Isolation 
Hospital,  Devizes,  and  the  .Aiccident  Hospital, 
Ilkeston. 

Sanitary  Hospital,  Boscombe. — Miss  F.  Fairbrother 
has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at 
the  Hampstead  General  Hospital,  and  has  held 
the  position  of  Nurse  at  the  Fever  Hospital, 
Winchester;  Charge  Nurse  at  the  Fever  Hospital, 
Little  Bromwich  ;  and  Sister-in-Charge  at  the 
Fever  Hospital,  Darlington. 

Essex  County  Hospital,  Colchester. — Miss  Eraser 
has  been  appointed  Sister  of  the  Male  Surgical 
Ward.  She  was  trained  at  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital,  E.C.,  and  has'  held  the  post  of  Sister 
at  the  Hospital,  Faversham,  and  is  a  Certified 
Midwife. 

Essex  County  Hospital,  Colchester. — Miss  \. 
Smith  has  been  appointed  Sister  of  the  Women's 
Surgical  Ward.  She  worked  as  a  l^aying  Proba- 
tioner at  .\denbrookc's  Hospital,  Cambridge,  and 
afterwards  trained  at  Clayton  Hospital,  Wakefield, 
where  she  was 'also  a  Charge  Nurse,  and  has  since 
held  the  post^of  Sister^atJ[thc  Infirmary,  Bury, 
Lanes.  " 


QUEEN'S    NURSES. 

Queen  Alexandra  has  been  pleased  to  approve 
the  appointment  of  the  following  to  be  Queen's 
nurses,  to  date  July  ist,  1912  : — 

Thurstan,  A.  V.,  Jeffries,  J.  M.,  and  Kershaw, 

R.,  Birmingham  (Moseley  Road)  ;    Davies,  G.  E., 

lones,  C,  Kiifler,  L.  F.,  and  Mellor,  G.  A.,  Birming- 

liam  (Summer  Hill  Road)  ;    Barlow,  A.,   Bolton  ; 

Bamford,  C,  Carrver,  K.  M.,  Chumley,  E.,  Groom, 

H.  M..  Hall,  E.  M.,  Lewis,  E.,  Moss,  M.  A.,  and 

Radbum,  R.  E.,  Brighton  ;    Travis,  E.,  Burnley  ; 

Bailey,  S.  E.,  Camberwell  ;    Walklin,  E.  B.,  East 

i^ondon    (Southern)  ;     Gillett,    F.   C,    Gloucester ; 

Burd,    W.    M.,    and     Owen,    M.    R.,    Haclmey ; 

Aclcroyd,  A.  E.,  and  Firth,   .\..  Halifax  ;    Wells, 

W.  M.,  Hammersmith  ;    Acton,  A.  M.,   Kingston- 

')n-Thames  ;    Henderson,   J.  D.,  Leeds  (Central)  ; 

Stol,  A.  W.,  Leicester  ;   Davies,  E.  R.,  and  W.allacei 

D.  E.,  Liverpool   (Centrtil)  ;    Boll,  E.  E.,  Liverpool 

(East)  ;    Ward,  A.  K.,  Liverpool  (West)  ;    Peers, 

M.,  Manchester  (Ardwick  Home)  ;    Briggs,  E.  E., 

and  Nicol,  M.  M.,  Manchester  (Bradford)  ;   Boydell^ 

A.  M.,  and  Dickinson,  M.  E.,  Manchester  (Har- 

purhey)  ;    Cordingley,  C.  E.,  and  Plummcr,  S.  H., 

Manchester  (Salford  Home)  ;     Andrews,   J.,  Blun- 

dell,  R.  M.,  BuUough.  L.,  Paling,  R.  E.,   Salmon, 

F.   E.,   and  van  Dam,   E.,   Metropolitan   Nursing 

Association  ;   Searle,  F.  E.,  Northampton  ;   Aland, 

M.,  Allen,  C.  S.,  and  Inchley,  P.  M.,  Portsmouth  ; 

Taylor,  L.  E.,  St.  Helens;'  Farrelly,  M.  M.,  and 

Howson,  O.,  St.  Olave's  ;    Stringer,' E.,  Sheffield  : 

Burn,  J.,  Miles,  G.  E.,  and  Miller,  E.,  Sunderland  ; 

Parker,   H.,   Tate,   E.,   and  Thomas,   B.,   Cardiff  ; 

Brock,  A.,  Cochrane,  A.,  Grant,  H.  B.,  Lumsden, 

J.  H.,  Smith,  G.  M.,  Smyth,  S.  J.  P.,  and  Stephen, 

L.  J.,  Scottish  District  Training  Home,  Edinburgh  ; 

Walker,  I.,  Higginbotham  Home,  Glasgow  ;    Keh- 

ily,   E.,    McDonnell,  M.   J.,  and  Scannell,  M.Sl., 

St.   Lawrence's   Home,    Dublin  ;     and   Parke,    E,, 

St.  Patrick's  Home,  Dublin. 


PRESENTATION. 

JVIiss  Atthill,  Lady  Superintendent  of  the  Royal 
Nursing  .\ssociation,  Derby,  has  been  presented  by 
67  of  its  nurses  with  an  illuminated  address, 
inscribed  as  follows  :  "  To  Miss  Agnes  H.  Atthill, 
Lady  Superintendent  of  the  Royal  Derby  and 
Derbyshire  Nursing  Association. — We,  the  Nurses 
of  the  above  Association,  desire  to  express  our 
affectionate  regard  for  you,  and  we  heartily  thank 
you  for  all  you  have  done  for  us  during  the  eighteen 
years  you  have  been  our  Lady  Superintendent. 
We  rejoice  with  you  in  the  great  prosperity  of  our 
•Association  under  your  able  management,  and  we 
sincerely  hope  and  pray  that  you  may  be  spared 
to  continue  your  useful  work  for  many  years  to 
come. — Assuring  you  of  our  loyal  support,  we  are 
yours  affectionately  (67  signatures)."  The  presen- 
tation was  made  by  Nurse  Edwards,  the  senior 
member  of  the  staff,  who  spoke  warmly  of  Miss 
Atthill's  work  for  the  association.  Miss  Freeman 
and  -Miss  Cash  endorsed  her  remarks.  Miss  Atthill 
suitably  replied  by  thanking  the  nurses  for  the 
kind  words  of  the  address,  which  would  be  a  great 
comfort  and  strength  to  her  in  her  future  work. 


ii6 


Cbe  Biitieb  3ournal  of  H-lur^tiuj. 


August   lo,    191: 


NURSING    FXHOES. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Council  of  the  Metro- 
politan Hospital  Sunday  Fund  held  at  the 
Mansion  House  last  week,  when  the  Lord 
Mayor  presided,  awards  to  the  following- 
nursing'  associations  were  authorised  :-^Bel- 
vedcre.  Abbey  Wood,  £6 ;  Brixton,  ;£i8 ; 
Central  St.  Pancras,  ;£i8;  Chelsea  and  Pimlico, 
;^i8;  Hackney,  £2^^;  Hammersmith,  £.^2 ; 
Hampstead,  ;£i8;  Isleworth,  /I12;  Kensington, 
jt42 ;  Kilburn.  £6;  Kingston,  £20;  Lambeth 
Road  (Catholic),  £12  ;  Metropolitan  (Blooms- 
lyiry),  ;£i2  ;  St.  Olave's  (Bermondsey),  ;(^i8 ; 
Paddington  and  Marylebone,  £40  i6s.  ;  Peck- 
ham,  £12;  Plaistow,  ;£i03  i6s.  ;  Plaistow 
(Maternity),  ;^i66  16s.;  Rotherhithe,  ^^^12; 
Shoreditch,  £~,4 ;  Sick  Room  Helps  Society, 
;t28  i6s.  ;  Sidcup,  £6;  Silvertown,  £iS ; 
South  London  (Battersea),  ^^54;  Southwark, 
^52  i6s.  ;  South  Wimbledon,  £^36  12s.  ;  Totten- 
ham, ;^n  8s.;  Westminster,  ^."24;  Woolwich, 
£26;  East  London,  X'150;  North  London, 
;£6o ;  London  District,  ;£3oo. 


The  nurses  of  the  Kingston  Infirmary 
recently  held  their  annual  garden  party,  which 
is  always  a  most  enjoyable  function.  As  on 
previous  occasions  invitations  had  been  ex- 
tended to  former  nurses  trained  at  the 
Infirmary  and  members  of  the  Xurses'  League, 
and  many  availed  themsehes  of  the  oppor- 
tunitj-  for  reunion  afforded,  some  present  not 
having  been  able  to  attend  a  similar  gathering 
for  a  period  of  six  or  seven  years.  Letters  of 
remembrance  were  received  by  the  Matron, 
Miss  A.  Smith,  from  nurses  in  Russia,  New 
Zealand,  France,  and  many  other  places. 
Including  several  of  the  Guardians,  the  guests 
numbered  about  120,  and  every  one  agreed 
that  the  party  was  delightful. 


Canon  Scott  Holland,  preaching  in  the 
Cathedral,  Oxford,  on  behalf  of  hospitals,  said 
that,  passing  down  hospital  wards,  people  saw 
poor  scrofulous  children,  poor  little  girls  and 
boys  with  their  bodies  rotten ;  they  knew  well 
whv  it  was  so.  It  was  the  sin  of  the  parents 
which  had  put  them  there,  and  they  all  knew 
it.  But  for  all  that,  the  doctors  and  nurses, 
who  knew  it  best,  disregarded  it — It  had 
nothing  to  do  with  them.  There  might  be  a 
man,  brought  in  full  of  festering  evil,  which  it 
was  perfectly  clear  was  the  result  of  his  own 
lust  and  drink,  but  the  doctors  and  nurses  left 
that  behind.  Here  was  a  man  to  be  cured,  and 
they  would  spend  themselves  on  that  man  just 
as   thev    would    for   the    most    innocent   child. 


All  their  skill,  love  and  tenderness  were  for 
him  ;  it  was  enough  that  he  was  suffering  and 
that  they  could  help  him.  So,  the  hospitals  of 
our  great  cities  were  filled  with  a  love  which 
was  born  of  Christ.  The  beautiful  tenderness 
of  nurse  and  doctor  was  the  best  similitude  of 
what  Jesus  Christ  did  for  them  on  the  Cross. 


By  the  kind  invitation  of  Miss  Carpenter- 
Turner,  an  interesting  meeting-  of  the  Mothers' 
L'nion  was  recently  held  at  the  Royal  Hants 
County  Hospital,  Winchester,  when  hospital, 
district,  and  maternity  nurses  in  the  city  had 
the  plea.sure  of  hearing  an  address  by  Mrs. 
Sumner,  Foundress  and  Hon.  President  of  the 
Union,  who  said  that  It  Is  now  seven  years 
since  a  definite  effort  was  first  made  to  gain 
the  interest  and  co-operation  of  hospital  nurses 
and  other  nurses  In  the  Mothers'  Union. 
During  these  years  about  75  meetings  have 
been  held,  and  the  results  In  many  places  have 
been  most  encouraging  and  satisfactory. 
Nurses  are  now  among-  the  regular  workers  of 
the  Mothers'  Union,  and,  as  they  go  from  place 
to  place,  they  try  to  bring  their  patients  Into 
touch  with  local  branches. 


•At  the  monthly  meeting  of  the  Catholic 
Nurses'  Association  at  Lourdes  House,  Dublin, 
the  Association  unanimously  agreed  to  give  an 
annual  subscription  to  Linden  Convalescent 
Home,  so  that  members  needing  change  may 
be  admitted  there.  The  members  and  friends 
had  their  second  outing  on  the  23rd  ult.  to  the 
Hill  of  Howth,  where  a  sumptuous  tea  was 
served.  Unfortunately,  the  pleasure  was  some- 
what marred  by  the  heavy  downpour  of  rain 
which  came  on  during  the  evening. 


The  Iiiteruational  Hospital  Record  states 
that  the  validity  of  the  Illinois  state  law 
governing  nurse  registration  Is  being  tested  in 
the  court.  Miss  Velora  E.  Randel,  supervising- 
nurse,  and  Miss  Marion  Finn,  head  surgical 
nurse,  at  the  Rhodes  Avenue  Hospital,  at 
Chicago,  have  been  arrested  at  the  instigation 
of  the  State  Board  of  Nurse  Examiners,  for 
using  without  authority.  In  the  catalogue  of 
the  hospital,  the  title  R.N.  In  case  a  verdict 
is  rendered  in  favour  of  the  State  Board,  the 
Rhodes  Avenue  Hospital  officials  announce 
their  determination  to  appeal  the  case  to  the 
Illinois  supreme  court  on  the  ground  that  the 
law  is  unconstitutional.  It  Is  altogether 
probable  that  the  case  will  be  appealed.  If,  as 
it  appears.  Miss  Randel  and  Miss  Finn  have 
used,  or  have  allowed  to  be  used  In  connection 
with  their  names,  the  title  R.N.,  they  not  being 


August  lo,   1912 


abe  KiitiC'l)  3ournal  of  1Hiu-»inij. 


117 


registered  under  the  Illinois  state  law,  the 
case  will  be  a  leading  one.  It  is  a  plain 
provision  of  the  law  as  entered  in  the  state 
statutes  that  it  is  a  punishable  misdemeanour 
to  use  the  title  R.X.  unless  a  nurse  be  regis- 
tered under  the  law,  and  our  contemporary 
can  see  no  possible  chance  for  acquittal  of  the 
defendants. 


REFLECTIONS. 

FROM   A   BOARD    ROOM  MIRROR. 


We  always  regret  we  have  not  more  time  to 
enjoy  the  professional  nursing  journals,  but 
thev  pour  into  this  office  in  such  wonderful 
abundance  that  we  fear  we  do  not  learn  half 
they  have  to  teach.  Miss  Xancy  E.  Cadmus, 
R.X.  Superintendent  of  the  Manhattan  Mater- 
nitv  Hospital,  Xew  York,  and  a  member  of  the 
Xurse  Board  of  Examiners  of  the  State,  has  a 
paper  in  the  Atnencan  Journal  of  Xursing,  en- 
titled "  The  Awakening,"  in  which  she  points 
the  moral  to  the  foolish  virgins  who  failed  to 
register  in  the  time  of  grace  "  because  I  can't 
see  it  means  any  benefit  to  me  ! 

Often  we  have  been  pained  by  the  apparently 
selfish  view  taken  by  those  who  should  have 
been  broad  enough  to  see  into  the  future,  and 
not  been  so  entirely  influenced  by  the  question 
of  personal  gain. 

She  continues  :  "  The  .\wakening  has  come  : 
graduate  nurses  find  they  cannot  possibly  enjoy 
the  same  standing  without  as  with  registra- 
tion ;  they  soon  learn  on  application  for  a  posi- 
tion in  practically  any  one  of  the  many  channels 
now  open  to  the  trained  nurse  that  it  is  of  very 
little  use  unless  she  is  registered 

"  We  all  who  compose  this  body  of  women 
known  as  trained  nurses,  holding  credentials 
from  reputable  schools,  should  feel  the  respon- 
sibility of  the  future  of  our  work,  and  not 
confine  ourselves  to  seeking  personal  benefits, 
but  rather  give  ourselves  in  every  possible  way 
to  further  the  progress  of  .the  nursing  profes- 
sion in  promoting  and  maintaining  high  stan- 
dards of  living  and  action." 


Prince  Arthur  of  Connaught,  in  opening  a 
Health  Exhibition  at  York,  in  connection  with  the 
Annual  Congress  of  the  Ko\al  Sanitary  Institute, 
made  a  reference  to  the  presence  at  the  Congress 
of  delegates  from  Japan.  Comparisons,  he  added, 
were  odious,  but  from  personal  knowledge  he  could 
testify  to  the  fact  that  this  country  has  much  to 
/learn  from  its  allies  in  the  Far  East  with  reference 
to  cleanliness  in  the  home. 


On  Bush  Xursing  the  Australasian  yurses\ 
Journal  says  :  Work  and  business  progress  so 
smoothly  at  Jindabyne.  the  first  district  to 
have  a  Bush  Xurse,  that  more  and  more  it  is 
being  proved  how  useful  and  necessary  a 
member  of  the  community  she  is.  It  will  be 
remembered  that  the  .Australasian  Trained 
Xurses'  Association  set  its  face  sternly  against 
any  system  of  providing  a  class  of  nurses  for 
nursing  in  the  Bush  which  was  not  thoroughly 
trained  and  adequately  paid.  Thus,  though  the 
svstem  may  be  more  slowly  adopted  in  rural 
far-away  districts,  the  quality  of  nursing  when 
provided  will  be  safe  and  worth  having.  This 
is  true  economy,  both  for  patients  and  nurses. 


We  are  glad  to  hear  that  most  usefid  hospital 
the  East  London  Hospital  for  Children  is  now 
out  of  debt,  largely  due  to  the  munificent  donation 
of  /4,ooo  given  by  Mr.  C.  F.  Denny,  in  memory 
of  his  late  wife. 

The  report  presented  by  the  Secretary  (Mr.  W.  M. 
Wilcox)  showed  that  there  had  been  a  decrease  of 
considerablv  over  /2,ooo  in  the  expenditure  during 
the  past  half-vear  compared  with  the  corresponding 
period  in  191 1.  The  number  of  both  in-patients 
and  out-patients  showed  a  diminution,  this,  it  was 
thought,  being  due  to  the  m.ore  healthy  conditions 
prevailing  in  the  district  and  the  absence  of  epi- 
demics. 


Queen  Amelie  of  Portugal  \-isited  the  Royal 
Free  Hospital  recently,  and  expressed  great 
appreciation  of  all  she  saw.  The  Matron,  Jliss 
Cox-Davies,  was  amongst  the  members  of  the  staff 
who  conducted  her  round  the  wards.  We  can 
imagine  Queen  Am^ie  a  first-rate  hospital  matron. 


HEALTH     LEAFLETS. 

The  National  League  for  Physical  Education 
and  Improvement  has  recently  added  four  new 
health  leaflets  to  its  well-known  series,  which  has 
ahead}-  met  with  so  much  appreciation  both  by 
Public  Health  Authorities  and  by  the  ever- 
increasing  number  of  voluntar\-  healtli  workers. 
One  deals  with  cleanliness  in  the  home,  another 
with  fresh  air  and  \-enti!ation,  while  the  other 
two  contain  instructions  oh  bringing  up  breast-fed 
and  bottle-fed  infants  respectively.  The  latter  were 
drawn  up  by  the  Medical  Sub-Committee  of  the 
Association  of  Infant  Consultations  and  Schools 
for  Mothers  and  by  the  Metropolitan  Branch  of  the 
Society  of  Medical  Officers  of  Health.  The  instruc- 
tions have  purposely  been  published  separately, 
as  it  is  thought  that  the  indiscriminate  distribution 
of  printed  matter,  dealing  in  the  same  leaflet  with 
both  methods,  tends  to  encourage  bottle-feeding. 
All  four  are  written  in  simple,  forcible  language, 
understandable  by  the  most  ignorant. 

Specimen  copies  will  gladly  be  sent  on  applica- 
tion to  the  Secretary  of  the  League,  at  4,  Tavistock 
Square,  W.C.,  if  a  stamp  is  enclosed  for  postage. 


[i8 


G;1)C  Bvittsb  3ournal  of  murstna 


August   lo,    191: 


WITH  THE  RED  CROSS  AT  FLEET. 

In  our  detachment  of  the  \..\.D.  <A  the  B.R.C. 
Society  there  was  great  excitement  when  we 
heard  that  we  were  to  mobilise  with  other  detach- 
ments and  arrange  a  hospital  lor  the  wounded 
in  the  battle  which  was  to  take  place  near  Aldershot 
on  Julv  23.  On  the  24th  many  of  us  were  at 
the  Pinewood  Hall  (given  into  the  charge  of  the 
Everslev  and  Fleet  detachments,  each  of  which 
was  to  be  responsible  for  twenty  beds)  at  2.30. 

\\Tien  we  arrived  there  was  indeed  a  scene  of 
chaos — bedsteads  in  pieces,  bundles  of  bedding, 
and  mattresses  tied  up  lying  scattered  in  all 
directions.  But  in  a  wonderfully  short  space  of 
time  our  twenty  beds  were  set  up  in  their  places, 
a 'double  row  in  one  half  of  the  hall,  with  packing 
case  or  box,  containing  towels  and  shirt,  doing 
duty  beside  each  bed  as  a  locker.  A  doctor's 
stand  was  also  provided,  and  at  the  door  end  of 
the  hall  was  a  long  table  on  tressels  for  bandages. 
When  all  this  was  arranged  our  preparatory-  work 
was  finished. 

On  the  25th  we  got  into  our  unilorm  (in  our  case 
white  dresses,  Red  Cross  aprons,  caps,  and  brassard), 
and  were  at  our  posts  at  12  o'clock,  when  we  helped 
to  arrange  the  stores  on  the  table,  padded  rough 
splints  with  tow,  and  saw  that  our  beds  were 
all  quite  correctly  made  with  mackintosh  and 
draw  sheet — the  top  blanket  and  sheet  rolled  to 
the  foot  of  the  bed,  and  the  receiving  blanket  over 
all.  At  one  o'clock  we  had  a  light  luncheon  of 
sandwiches  and  lemonade,  provided  by  a  member 
of  the  V.A.D.,  and  were  then  "  ready,  aye  ready." 

Meanwhile  the  Eversley  and  Yateiy  detachment 
had  arrived,  and  we  admired  the  businesslike  way 
in  which  they  set  to  work,  and  got  their  beds  in 
order.  Their  uniform  dress  was  grey,  so  there 
was  no  danger  of  confusion  as  to  detachments. 

As  usually  happens  on  such  occasions,  the 
wounded,  who  were  expected  soon  after  cne 
o'clock,  did  not  come  until  long  after  that  time. 
But  we  had  food  for  excitement  in  visits  from 
various  officials,  who  asked  questions  about  the 
detachment,  visited  the  kitchen,  and  inspected 
the  beds  and  stores. 

At  2.30  the  first  batch  of  wounded  began  to 
arrive,  gently  carried  in  on  stretchers  by  men  of 
the  B.R.C.  It  was  a  great  moment  for  us  when 
we  read  on  labels  attached  to  each  the  case  they 
were  in.  We  attended  to  them  to  the  best  of  our 
ability,  and  then  tried  to  pass  away  the  time  for 
them  (buns  and  lemonade  were  a  help)  until  their 
turn  came  to  be  carried  off  to  the  base  hospital 
and  we  received  another  batch.  So  the  hours 
passed  until  we  were  told  that  there  were  no  more 
wounded  to  come,  when,  after  a  hasty  but  welcome 
cup  of  tea,  arranged  by  another  member  of  the 
V.A.D.,  we  hurried  down  to  the  station,  where  a 
base  scene  was  in  progress.  The  special  train  of 
trucks  was  on  a  siding.  Many  wounded  were 
already  slung  in  their  stretchers  in  these  trucks, 
and  others  were  being  placed  there.  All  who 
could  walk  were  in  ordinary  carriages.  By  the 
side  of  the  line  in  the  station  yard  was  a  hospital 


tent  under  the  Hartley  Wintney  and  Elvetham 
Division  of  the  V.A.D.  Here  the  beds  were 
chieil)-  pallets  of  straw  on  stretchers  raised  from 
the  ground  on  bricks,  pillows  being  improvised 
from  rolls  of  straw,  or  an\-thing  hand)'  which 
would  serve. 

All  was  most  practical  and  won  our  admiration, 
but  there  was  not  much  time  to  inspect — the  train 
began  to  nrove  !  It  was  gently  brought  from  the 
siding  to  the  platform,  and  here  ladies  of  the  place 
regaled  the  wounded  with  refreshments,  and  at 
last  off  it  went  to  Basingstoke  (each  truck  or 
carriage  carrying  a  Red  Cross  Nurse  in  charge) 
amid  the  cheers  of  -wounded  and  bystanders.  Our 
busy  day  was  done  after  the  hospital  had  been  put 
straight,  and  we  returned  to  our  homes  with  new 
experience  and  Imowledge,  but  with  also,  perhaps, 
a  new  heartache  as  we  realised  a  tinv  bit  more  of 
what  war  must  mean,  and  with  the  prayer  ihat 
our  countrv  may  never  be  devastated  bv  a  foreign 
foe.  '         "  E.  P.  C. 

THE  EDUCATIONAL  STATUS  OF 
NURSING. 

The  Bulletin  on  the  Educational  Status  of  Nursing, 
by  Miss  M.  Adelaide  Nutting,  Director  of  the 
Department  of  Nursing  and  Health  at  Teachers 
College,  Colun-ibia,  Universit\-,  New  York,  and 
published  by  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Educa- 
tion, should  be  studied  bv  all  interested  in  this 
important  question,  for  it  is  a  brilliant  survey  of 
the  situation.  In  introducing  it  Miss  Nutting 
points  out  that  "  although  there  have  been  no 
radical  changes  in  methods  of  education  in 
nursing  during  the  past  five  years,  there  are  yei 
substantial  evidences  of  progress  to  record. 
Training  Schools  for  Nurses  throughout  the 
countrv  are  steadily,  even  if  slowly,  effecting 
improvements  in  their  work  and  conditions.  The 
professional  field  of  nursing  is  w-idening  and 
embracing  new  and  important  activities,  and 
offering  new  incentives  to  effort.  Public  interest 
in  hospitals  and  training  schools  is  growing,  and 
an  intelligent  public  opinion  on  nursing  affairs 
is  gradually  forming.  The  education  of  nurses, 
long  looked  upon  as  a  matter  in  which  hospitals 
only  were  concerned,  is  now  beginning  to  be 
seen  as  a  mntter  in  which  the  public  also  is 
deeply  and  necessarily  concerned.". 

In  connection  with  opposition  experienced  to 
the  principle  of  State  registration  for  nurses,  Miss 
Nutting  writes  :  "  A  somewhat  carefid  study  of 
the  opposition  which  has  been  n-iet  both  in  this 
countrv  and  abroad,  shows  how  largelv  com- 
mercial it  has  been  and  is  in  its  nature  and  to 
vvhat  lengths  the  exploitation  of  pupil  nurses 
has  been  carried.  There  could,  indeed,  be  no 
possible  rational  objection  urged  against  a  pro- 
cedure, the  principle  of  which  is  recognised  as 
sound  in  all  other  professions  or  vocations  in 
which  scientific  knowledge  and  technical  skill  in 
definite  degrees  are  essential  for  public  safety." 

The  Bulletin  is  published  by  the  Government 
Printing  Office,  at  Washington. 


August   lo,   igi; 


Z\K  "Bvitisb  3ournal  of  IHursino 


119 


JOHNNIE'S   MOTHER. 


Someone  once  said  it  was  the  prettiest  ward  in 
London.  It  really  was  the  prettiest  in  the  world, 
but  that  is  beside  the  mark.  On  a  particular  day 
in  June  the  sun  was  shining  through  the  many 
windows,  flowers  in  abundance  adorned  the 
shining  tables,  cheerful  sounds  of  life  and  move- 
ment came  from  the  thoroughfare  without.  Within 
a  canarj-  sings,  and  there  is  a  subdued  murmur  of 
conversation  from  the  men. 

Subdued,  because  behind  those  screens  yonder, 
unconscious  of  all  the  sounds  of  life  and  joyousness, 
Johnnie  lies  a-dying.  Johnnie  with  hair  like  the 
ripening  com  and  eyes  blue  as  the  cornflower, 
with  straight  and  slender  limbs,  and  for  all  his 
fourteen  years,  the  face  of  an  angel. 

Jolinnie's  mother  sits  calm  by  liis  bedside, 
with  the  terrible  resignation  of  extreme  povertj'. 
She  makes  no  sign,  save  for  an  occasional  tear 
that  she  dries  furtively  on  the  comer  of  her  poor 
shawl,  save  that  with  her  toil-worn  hand,  a  tender 
mother's  hand  withal,  she  smooths  from  time  to 
time  the  golden  hair,  damp  with  death  dew. 

She. had  given  the  "  history-."  "  He  was  alius 
a  good  boy,  was  my  Johnnie.  A  good  boy  to  'is 
mother  'e  was.  Only  left  school  at  Christmas. 
'E  never  went  to  work  afore  he  lit  the  fire  and  got 
me  a  cup  o'  tea.  Worked  at  wood-choppin',  'e 
did.  Yes,  sir,  I'm  coming  to  it-.~  To-day  dinner- 
time I  ses  to  'im,  '  Johnnie,'  I  ses,  '  run  and  fetch 
a  penn'orth  of  cheese.'  '  All  right,  mother,'  'e 
ses.  And  them  was  the  last  words  as  I  'eard  'im 
say.  They  ses  as  it  ^vas  one  of  them  big  vans  as 
knocked  'im  down." 

Everj-thing  possible  had  been  done  for  the  boj-. 
The  surgeon  had  come  down,  had  shaken  his  head, 
said  "  nothing  could  save  the  poor  little  chap," 
and  had  returned  West. 

How  long  the  afternoon  seemed.  But  with  the 
setting  sun  came  a  long  sigh,  and  the  blue  eyes 
opened  wide.  What  did  they  see  ?  Not  his 
mother.     They  had  a  distant  look. 

"  Johnnie,  'ere's  mother.  ■  Kiss  mother, 
Johnnie." 

For  the  first  time  in  his  short  Ufe  he  is  deaf  to 
the  entreatj^  in  his  mother's  voipe. 

\Miat  are  the  words  that  come  floating  down 
the  ward  ? 

"  We  commend  to  Thee  the  soul." 

Ah  !     Johnnie's   mother  I 

There  is  complete  silence  in  the  ward  now. 
Within  the  screens  Jolinnie's  mother  rises  from 
her  knees.  With  quivering  lips  she  kisses  the 
angehc  face,  and  leaves  upon  it  the  tears  of  her 
Gethsemane. 

"  Good-bye,  my  darlin',"  she  whispers.  "  You 
was  alius  a  good  b'y  to  me,  but  I  reckon  as  God 
knows  a  lump  best." 

She  wipes  her  eyes  once  more  with  her  thread- 
bare shawl,  and  draws  it  closely  round  her,  as 
though  she  were  chilly  on  that  warm  evening, 
takes  that  pathetic  parcel  of  her  boy's  clothes, 
and  goes  out  alone.  H.  H. 


CHILD    NURSING   AS    A    CAREER    FOR 
EDUCATED     WOMEN. 


Scotland  can  claim  to  be  pioneer  in  many 
educational  schemes,  but  not  in  the  particular 
one  about  which  we  write  ;  but  Edinburgh  has 
taken  the  lead  on  this  side  of  the  Border  in 
providing  training  for  nurserj-  nurses — a  pro- 
fession which  should  appeal  to  all  women,  whether 
they  wish  to  follow  it  as  a  means  of  living,  or  simply 
in  order  to  qualify  them  for  the  many  and  res- 
"  ponsible  duties  of  home  life. 

The  training  as  nursery  nurse  may  be  com- 
menced when  a  girl  leaves  school — -a  time  when 
many  mothers  are  concerned  as  to  what  they  shall 
do  with  their  daughters.  Hospital  training, 
which  has  had  a  great  attraction  for  our  young 
people  in  the  past,  cannot  be  started  for  several 
years  after  the  age  of  eighteen  ;  so,  as  a  pre- 
liminary to  hospital  training,  or  as  gi\'ing  facilities 
for  the  study  of  the  science  of  infant  life,  this 
training  appeals  in  a  very  strong  measure  to 
educated  girls. 

The  dajr  is  now  past  when  unskilled  work  in  any 
sphere  is  in  demand.  Girls  ver\-  often,  unless 
they  are  obliged  to  eam- their  living  or  have  a 
strong  bent  towards  some  profession,  seem  to 
consider  that  the  world  holds  nothing  for  them  but 
a  possible  marriage  ;  and  for  marriage,  the 
majority  of  girls,  unfortunately,  do  not  realise 
that  training  is  needed.  Thus,  there  is  always  a 
large  number  of  women  in  the  community  who 
enter  this  most  difi&cult  and  important  of  profes- 
sions without  ha\-ing  prepared  themselves  in  the 
least  for  it,  besides  an  equally  Jarge  number 
who,  ■  hoping  to  marrj-.  liave  not  trained  them- 
selves in  anything  ;  and  if  it  is  a  bad  thing  for  a 
countrj-  to  be  over-stocked  with  unskilled  workers, 
it  is  surely  infinitely  worse  for  it  to  be  over- 
stocked \vith  unskilled  wives  and  mothers.  The 
training  given  in  nursery  colleges  will  be  in- 
valuable to  any  girl  in  after  hfe,  and  an  occupation 
that  gives  her  the  power  to  eam  her  own  living  as 
well  as  make  a  satisfactory'  wife  and  mother  is 
worth  consideration.  Preventive  and  educative 
work  are  the  lines  on  which  we  must  work  in  these 
enlightened  days  and  it  must  be  fully  recog- 
nised that  if  mothers  and  nurses  had  the  know- 
ledge required,  and  which  can  be  obtained  by  the 
training  in  our  nurseries,  a  tremendous  amount  of 
illness  would  be  avoided. 

The  kind  of  girl  to  whom  this  work  will  appeal 
most  of  all  is  the  child-lover,  with  a  vocation  for 
her  work,  and  with  it  the  strong  lo\-e  and  patience 
which  go  hand  in  hand  ;  it  will  also  appeal  to  those 
who  want  a  quiet  home-life  without  the  necessity 
of  a  long  professional  training.  Child  nursing 
ought  to  be  as  attractive  as  the  now  somewhat 
over-rated  hospital  life  ;  it  demands  the  best 
qualities  of  mind  and  body  in  those  who  under- 
take it  ;  and  the  status  of  the  position  should  be 
as  fully  recognised  as  that  of  the  hospital  nurse. 


Cbc  Britisb  3oin'nal  of  IRurstno. 


Auiriist   lo, 


1912 


provided  that  the  nursery  nurse  is  as  capable  in  her 
splicre  as  the  hospital  nurse  is  in  hers. 

The  Edinburgh  Training  School  for  Nursery 
Nurses  is  at  9,  St.  Bernards  Crescent,  where 
pupils  are  received  for  twenty-three  weeks'  train- 
ing in  the  home,  for  a  fee  of  £25.  wliich  includes 
board,  residence,  and  tuition.  A  hmited  number  of 
non-resident  pupils,  at  a  fee  of  £16,  to  cover  board 
and  tuition,   will  be  taken.     Pupils  receive  their 


clothes,  and  attend  classes  on  first  aid  and  hvgiene. 

Pupils  who  have  completed  their  training  in  the 
Nurseries  in  a  satisfactory  manner  will  have  the 
option  of  three  months'  residence  at  the  Citv 
Hospital,  where  they  will  gain  experience  in  nurs- 
ing the  usual  cliildren's  ailments,  without  anv 
further  fee. 

The  nurses  will  be  known  as  the  "  Edinburgh 
Nurses,"  and  will  receive  a  c;rtificate  at  the  end 


i 

BH 

■ 

HWBiWw'****'^.    '^^^^^^^^^^^J 

I   '^'^'J^^KS  ^^^^1 

^HjRf  "^  - 

WL              1     ^^^^^^                    ^km 

m       "%>. 

7a      .^    ^^Hk  -^B^^^^Hl 

b^^^M 

^H^l^ 

^^^H 

INTPKIOR     OF     DAY     ^LR5E1^V. 


practical  experience  in  the  Creche  Day  Nurseries  , 
and  in  the  model  Day  and  Night  Nursery,  where 
infants  and  children  are  in  residence.  (A  most 
essential  part  of  the  training  is  the  care  of  infants 
during  the  night.)  Another  feature  of  the  training 
will  be  the  care  of  delicate  children  in  the  Model 
Nurser}'.  Pupils  also  receive  instruction  in  elemen- 
tary cooking,   laundry-  and   making  of  cluldren's 


of  their  twenty-three  weeks'  training,  and  the 
badge  of  the  Training  School  after  a  year's  satis- 
factory service.  The  profession  of  a  nurseni*  nurse 
is  not  overcrowded  ;  in  fact,  the  demand  is  greater 
than  the  supply.  Manv  applications  have  been 
received  here  already  for  trained  nursery  nurses  ; 
and  the  salaries  bear  favourable  comparison, with 
those  given  to  hospital  nurses,  even  after  three  or 


August   lo,    191 


Cbc  Biitisl)  3ounial  ot  IWuistiui 


four  years'  training.  The  training  will  also  open 
various '  fields  of  public  work  to  the  students, 
such  as  appointments  in  other  crdches,  schools  for 
mothers,  &c.  To  ensure  pupils  getting  work,  a 
register  will  be  kept,  and  a  list  ol  posts  vacant. 

Miss  A.  M.  Becdic,  the  lady  principal,  is  a  certific- 
ated nurse,  and  has  held  several  posts  as  matron  of 
hospitals,  in  addition  to  which  she  has  had  a  large 
and  varied  experience  in  the  care  and  manage- 
ment of  children.  She  is  most  anxious  that  her 
pupils  should  turn  out  intelligent  women,  who  will 
be  of  use  in  any  household  to  which  they  may  be 
sent,  and  aims  at  niaking  them  responsible  beings 
and  at  raising  the  dignity  of  their  work  so  high  in 
their  eyes  that  there  shall  never  be  any  question 
in  their  minds  as  to  what  is,  or  is  not,  their  place. 

F.  H.  R. 


BOOK   OF  THE    WEEK. 


JULIA   FRANCE  AND   HER  TliVlES.' 

Tliis  novel  is  written  with  a  definite  object, 
and  as  often  happens  in  such  a  case,  the  object 
somewhat  spoils  the  story.  Though  we  have  no 
quarrel  with  women's  suffrage  as  such,  we  feel 
rather  aggrieved  that  it  should  accept  such  a 
large  proportion  of  this  very  interesting  book, 
and  would  prefer  to  gather  information  from 
the  ample  literature  dedicated  to- that  object. 

As  may  be  gathered  from  the  above  remarks, 
the  times  of  JuHa  France  were  stormy  ones.  She 
is  first  introduced  to  the  reader  as  Julia  Edis,  a 
beautiful  young  debutante  making  her  first 
appearance  at  a  ball  at  the  Government  House 
in  the  little  capital  of  Basse  Terre,  West  Indies. 

"  She  was  a  charnaing  young  creature,  with  a 
mane  of  untidy  red-yellow  hair,  immense  grey 
eyes  with  thick  black  lashes  on  either  lid,  narrow 
black  brows,  a  refined  but  not  undistinguished 
nose,  a  sweet  childish  mouth  whose  undefined 
shape  Nature  had  left  to  life,  a  flat  figure  rather 
under  medium  height,  covered  with  a  white  n^uslin 
frock,  whose  onlv  caparison  was  a  faded  blue  sash 
unmistakablv  Victorian.  Her  skin,  like  that  of 
the  other  Creole  girls  reared  in  West  Indian  heats 
was  a  pure  transparent  white  which  not  even 
dancing  tinged  with  colour." 

Her  mother  is  frankly  an  eligible  husband 
hunter. 

"  This  is  the  eighth  time  Lieutenant  F'rance 
has  taken  m\'  girl  out,"  she  announced.  "  And 
it  is  true  that  he  will  be  a  duke."  Mrs.  Edis 
disdained  finesse,  although  she  was  capable  of 
hoodwinking  a  Parliament. 

The  old  Captain  to  whom  these  words  were 
addressed  cleared  his  throat  and  glanced  uneasily 
at  the  formidable  old  lady,  then  answered 
resolutely  : 

"  Better  take  your  girl  home,  ma'am,  and  keep 
her  safe  while  we  are  in  harbour.  ...  I  mean. 
Madam,   that  France  is  not  a  decent  sort  and 

•  By  Gertrude  Atherton.     John  Murray,  London. 


would  have  been  chucked  out  long  since  but  for 
family  influence.  .  .  .  I'd  rather  see  a  daughter 
of  niine  in  her  coffin  than  niarried  to  him." 

Xeverthelcss,  Mrs.  Edis,  who  was  suspected 
of  dabbling  in  the  black  arts,  was  convinced  that 
the  horoscope  had  determined  Julia's  destiny  in 
this    direction. 

An  innocent  girl  mated  with  a  man  of  France's 
character,  must  perforce  develop  quickly,  and 
her  young,  imformed  and  exceptionally  ignorant 
mind  unfolds  before  the  reader  in  a  highly  interest- 
ing manner. 

She  begins  her  married  life  by  declaring  to  a 
perfect  stranger  that  she  considers  it  was  very 
^dnd  of  France  to  have  married  her.  "  After  I 
have  seen  the  world  a  bit  and  read  some  modem 
novels  perhaps  I  shall  understand  Mr.  France 
better.  I  should  think  it  would  be  a  good  thing 
to  understand  one's  husband." 

Unfortunately  the  understanding  brought  her 
nothing  but  horror,  but  her  self-protective  instinct 
and  her  high  courage  stands  her  in  good  stead. 

"  I  shall  have  everything  I  want  or  need  so 
long  as  I  live  with  you,"  said  his  wife  deliberately. 
"  If  vou  don't  want  to  pay  for  my  clothes  you  can 
put  me  out.  I  can  earn  my  own  living.  Ishbel 
would  teach  mc  how  to  trim  hats." 

France  sat  down,  his  mouth  hanging  open. 

"  You  have  got  a  will  of  your  own,  young  lady." 

"  I   have." 

"  Well,  by  Heaven,  I'll  break  it." 

"  Try  it."  Julia  shook  out  her  shimmering 
hair. 

"  It's  not  your  place  to  know  what  niy  income 
is  or  what  I  do  with  it." 

"  But  you  see  I  do." 

Julia  has  travelled  a  long  way  since  she  left 
the  West  Indies,  and  the  reason  of  her  future 
absorbing  devotion  to  the  cause'  of  Women's 
Suffrage  is  not  difficult  to  understand. 

Xevertheless,  at  the  close  of  the  book,  when 
France  has  died  in  a  lunatic  asylum,  and  Julia's 
ardent  nature  is  to  bo  satisfied  with  Tay's  devotion, 
wo  find  symptoms  of  her  cooling  off. 

Tay  makes  her  promise  to  "  chuck  it  "  for  a 
while. 

"  I  promise,"  said  Julia.  "  I  really  should  like 
to  feel  quite  young  and  frivolous  for  a  bit.  .\nd 
love  is  as  deadly  serious  as  suffrage." 

"  So  vou  will  find  when  I  get  ready  to  make 
love  to  von."  j^_  y[ 

VERSES. 

But  God  IS  never  so  far  off  as  even  to  be  near. 
He  is  within,  our  Spirit  is  the  home  He  holds  most 

dear  ; 
To  think  of  Him  as  by  our  side  is  almost  as  untrue 
As  to  remove  His  throne  beyond  the  skies  of  starry 

blue. 
So  all  the  while  I  thought  myself  homeless,  forlorn 

and  weary. 
Nursing  my  joy,  I  walked  the  earth — myself  God's 

Sanctuary. 

Faber. 


Z\K  Britisb  3ournal  of  mm-slnij. 


August   lo,   1912 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


JVhilsi  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
■all  subjects  jor  these  columns,  lue  wish  it  to  be 
■distinctly  understood  thai  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opi)iions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


NURSING    HOMES. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — I  fully  appreciate  Miss  Stower's 
desire  for  organization  amongst  proprietors  of 
nursing  homes,  on  the  lines  of  self  protection,  by 
admitting  only  to  the  proposed  association  homes 
of  good  standing,  and  maintaining  definite 
standards  for  their  nurses.  But  how  are  we  to 
arrive  at  these  standards  ?  We  will,  of  course, 
eliminate  the  probationer.  She  has  no  place  in  a 
Home  where  patients  pay  high  fees  on  the 
assumption  that  they  are  receiving  skilled  nwrsm^, 
and  further,  the  limited  experience  obtainable  in 
a  nursing  h-^me  of  a  few  beds  does  not  qualify  it 
to  be  a  training  school. 

I  corsider  that  the  standard  of  our  Colonics 
Avhere  registration  is  in  force  is  the  only  one  which 
is  satisfactory  in  relation  to  the  registration  of 
nursing  homes,  i.e.,  that  the  proprietor  and  her 
stafif  are  all  trained  nurses  enrolled  on  the  state 
register.  Xothing  else  is  reallv  much  use.  Moral; 
^^'ork  to  secure  a  Nurses  Registration  Act  without 
delay. 

Yours  faithfully, 

Logic. 


HORSES     AND     THE     HEAT. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  ok  Nursing. 

]\Iadam, — With  the  ad\-ent  of  the  hottest 
months  of  the  year,  will  you  allow  me  to  make  a 
practical  suggestion  with  regard  to  "  summering  " 
horses  ?  There  seems  to  be  an  established  idea 
that  horses  can  be  turned  out  for  the  summer,  and 
that  pro^■iding  they  have  sufficient  grass  and 
water,  they  require  nothing  else.  My  belief  is 
different,  and  my  practice  is  this  :  During  the 
lieat  of  the  day,  and  so  long  as  the  flies  are  trouble- 
some, I  bring  my  horses  in  at  9  a.m.  and  keep 
them  stabled  till  6  p.m.,  turning  them  out  again 
ior  the  night.  They  have  only  one  small  feed  at 
mid-day,  and  yet  they  keep  in  capital  condition 
and  are  ready  for  work  when  required. 

It  is  certainly  unwise  to  leave  horses  and  live- 
stock out  in  the  full  heat  and  sunshine,  as  the 
irritation  caused  by  the  flies  keeps  them  constantly 
on  the  move,  and  the  force  exerted  by  constant 
kicking,  biting,  stamping  and  stampeding  is  very 
considerable  indeed,  and  is  just  so  much  waste  of 
strength  which  ought  to  be  avoided.  I  know  of 
a  case  where  a  cart  mare  was  turned  out  for  the  " 
whole  of  last  summer  in  some  twenty  acres  of 
meadowland,  on  the  level  coast  near  Chichester, 
which  Sir  Rider  Haggard  says  is  the  richest 
pasture  in  the  Kingdom.  This  mare  might  have 
been  expected  to  improve  under  these  conditions, 
but  by  the  autumn  was  absolutely  nothing  but 


skin  and  bone,  for  which  state  (it  was  admitted 
by  the  owner)  the  flies  had  been  responsible. 
I  am,  yours  faithfully, 

W.    J.    C.    NORRIS. 
Thukeham,  Pulborough. 

[AVe  are  always  pleased  to  call  the  attention  of 
our  readers  to  methods  of  helping  the  dear 
animals. — Ed.] 

REPLIES    TO     CORRESPONDENTS. 

Enquirer  (Sheffield). — The  Sanatorium  Benefit 
under  the  National  Insurance  Act  begins  at  once. 
The  Medical  Benefit  in  January.  191 3.  You  have 
no  option  as  an  employed  person  as  to  insuring, 
if  vou  are  engaged  at  a  rate  of  remuneration  not 
exceeding  in  value  /160  per  annum.  If  you  have 
a  private  income,  not  dependent  on  your  earnings, 
of  £26  per  annum,  you  are  not  bound  to  insure, 
but  your  emplover  must  still  pav  his  or  her  3d. 
weeldy,  in  which  case  it  benefits  the  State  only. 
You  should,  therefore,  consider  whether  you  will 
become  a  voluntary  contributor  and  obtain  the 
benefit. 

Midwife  (Liverpool}. — It  is  desirable  to  give 
infants  some  cool  water  each  day  in  addition  to 
their  mother's  milk.  This  is  specially  important 
in  hot  weather. 

OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS    FOR    AUGUST. 

August  lyth. — Mention  some  of  the  emergencies 
you  have  met  with  in  the  course  of  your  nursing 
career  and  ^•our  methods  of  dealing  with  them. 

August  2^th. — How  would  you  deal  with  severe 
post  partum  haemorrhage  in  the  absence  of  medical 
assistance  ? 

August  2^ St. — Describe  the  preparation  of  a 
patient  for  receiving  an  anaesthetic.  What  pre- 
cautions would  you  take  before  and  after  ? 


NOTICES. 

A  Subscription  Form  for  The  British  Journal 
OF  Nursing  will  be  found  on  page  xii.  of  our 
advertisement  columns.  The  Journal  is  the 
official  organ  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  of  the 
International  Council  of  Nurses,  and  full  reports 
of  the  Cologne  meetings  will  be  published  in  it. 

The  price  is  id.  weeklv.  Abroad,  gs.  per  year, 
post  free.     Office,  431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W. 


Address  Needed. 
A  monev  order  for  gs.  from  India,  but  without 
further  information,  was  received  at  The  British 
Journal  of  Nursing  Office  on  May  13th,  191 2. 
The  Post  Office  cannot  trace  it,  so  we  shall  be 
obliged  if  the  sender — who,  presumably,  is  not 
receiving  the  Journal — will  communicate  with 
the  Manager,  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing, 
431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W.,  England. 

Our  Prize  Competitions. 
Owing    t:>  the    absence     of    the     Editor    and 
Assistant   Editor   at   the    Cologne    Congress,    the 
award  of  the  Prize  Competition  Prize  is  postponed 
till  next  week.  ' 


August  lo,  191 2  r.be  36vitisb  3oiu-nal  of  H-lurslno  Supplement. 


THe   Midwife. 


EUGENICS  AND  OBSTETRICS. 


IRON  IN  THE  FCETAL  LIVER  AT  BIRTH. 


By  Dk.  Agnes  Bllhm,  Berlin. 

1.  Among  the  agencies  under  social  control 
which  impair  the  racial  qualities  of  future 
generations,  an  important  place  is  taken  by  the 
science  of  medicine,  especially  by  obstetrics. 
For  the  increase  of  obstetrics  increases  the 
incapacity  for  bearing  children  of  future 
generations. 

2.  The  great  difference  in  the  capacity  for 
bearing  children  between  the  primitive  and 
civilised  races  depends  only  in  part  on  the 
lessened  fitness  of  the  latter  due  to  the  increase 
of  skilled  assistance. 

3.  Incapacity  for  bearing  children  can  be 
acquired ;  it  develops,  however,  abundantly  on 
the  grounds  of  a  congenital  predisposition. 

4.  In  so  far  as  the  latter  is  the  case,  obstetrics 
contributes  towards  the  diffusion  of  this  in- 
capacity. 

5.  The  most  serious  obstacles  to  delivery  are 
effected  by  deformities  of  the  pelvis,  in  at  least 
90  per  cent,  of  which  heredity  plays  a  part.  In 
this  connection,  rickets,  the  predisposition  lo 
which  is  inherited,  takes  the  foremost  place. 

6.  German  medical  statistics  make  it  appear 
probable  that  incapacity  to  bear  children  is  on 
the  increase. 

7.  Medical  help  in  childbirth  brings,  un- 
doubtedly, numerical  advantage  to  the  race, 
but  it  endangers  the  quality  of  the  race  in  other 
ways  than  through  the  fostering  of  unfitness 
for  bearing. 

8.  The  danger  of  the  incfease  of  incapacity 
for  bearing  through  the  increase  of  assistance 
in  childbirth  can  be  combatted  : — 

((/)  Through  the  renunciation  of  descendants 
by  women  unfitted  to  bear  children. 

(h)  Through  an  energetic  campaign  against 
rickets,  to  which  only  the  predisposition  can  be 
inherited. 

(c)  Through  the  permeation  of  obstetrics 
with  the  spirit  of  eugenics,  so  that  the  obstetri- 
cian no  longer  proceeds  according  to  a  settled 
rule  (living  mother  and  living  child),  but  in  each 
separate  case  takes  into  consideration  the 
interests  of  the  race. 


*  The  ab-slract  of  a  p.iper  presented  at  the  ivst  Internationnt 
EiigrciiiC'  Congress.  London,  1913. 


Dr.   Hugh  Ashby,  writing  in  the  Lancet  on 

the  Relation  of  Iron  lo  .Anwrnia  in  Infancy  and 

Childhood,  points  out  w  hat  a  large  amount  of 

iron  is  stored  up  in   ftetal  liver  at  birth.      He 

writes  : — 
r 

The  liver  is  the  organ  that  has  most  to  do 
with  the  storage  and  with  the  metabolism  of 
iron.  The  liver  in  inlra-uterine  life  receives  a 
very  good  blood-supply  by  means  of  the 
branches  of  the  umbilical  vein  carrying  arterial 
blood  from  the  placenta.  At  birth,  the  liver 
forms  from  4  to  5  per  cent,  of  the  body  weight, 
which  is  twice  the  corresponding  weight  in  the 
adult  (2i  per  cent,  of  the  body  weight).  It 
seems  that  the  liver  performs  a  similar  storage 
function  with  regard  to  iron  as  it  does  with  fats 
and  carbohydrates.  When  the  iron  is  needed  it 
is  given  up  by  the  liver  into  the  blood  again, 
and  used  to  make  new  ha?moglobin  and  red 
blood  corpuscles.  The  absorption  of  iron  from 
the  intestine  is,  however,  regulated  by  the 
demand,  so  that  rarely  are  larger  amounts  than 
normal  found  in  the  liver,  which  fact  my 
analysis  bears  out.  In  some  diseases,  such  as 
pernicious  ansemia,  hypertrophic  cirrhosis  of 
the  liver,  there  is  a  large  amount  of  iron  found 
in  the  liver  which  has  been  derived  from  the 
blood. 

The  liver  has  also  other  functions  in  connec- 
tion with  this  iron.  Together  with  spleen,  it 
separates  the  iron  from  effete  iron-containing 
pigment,  which  it  stores  in  the  form  of  a  loose 
compound.  The  liver  also  transforms  this  iron 
into  an  organic  compound,  ferratin,  which  is 
readv  for  assimilation  by  young  red  blood  cells, 
and  is  given  out  as  it  is  required  to  make  new 
haemoglobin. 

When  iron  is  given  to  a  patient,  much  the 
greater  quantity  is  excreted  again  in  the  fa?ces, 
but  at  times  it  appears  as  if  large  quantities  are 
kept  in  the  body.  Thus  a  patient  with  an  ileo- 
cecal fistula  was  given  416  mg.  of  iron  citrate 
in  two  days,  but  only  338  mg.  ever  appeared  in 
the  faeces  at  the  fistula. 

Iron-  Stored  in  the  Livek  of  the  Fcetis 
.AND  Infant. 

.As  the  liver  has  such  a  large  blood-supply 
and  is  such  a  large  organ  in  proportion  to  the 
body   in   infancy,    it   is   not   surprising  that   it 


J24       iCbc  36riti6l)  3ournal  of  IRursino  Supplement.  August  lo,  191: 


should  have  a  store  of  iron  at  birth,  and  that  it 
should  regulate  the  supply  of  iron  to  the  body. 
During  a  healthy  pregnancy,  which  Bar  defines 
as  "  fetus  sanus  in  matre  sana,"  the  mother 
has  the  power  of  extracting  from  her  food  all 
the  materials  required  for  the  growth  and  de- 
velopment of  the  foetus,  and  she  in  no  way 
suffers  by  this  self-sacrifice  to  the  foetus. 
During  the  last  three  months  or  so  of  intra- 
uterine life  a  store  of  iron  is  laid  up  in  the  liver, 
so  that  the  infant  when  born  starts  its  life  with 
a  good  supply  of  iron  in  order  to  supply  the 
needs  of  the  haemoglobin  and  red  blood  cells, 
which  are  to  be  formed  as  the  infant  grows. 
The  necessity  for  this  store  of  iron  is  made 
apparent  when  it  is  understood  what  a  very 
small  amount  of  iron  there  is  in  milk  (7  to  14 
times  as  little  iron  as  in  any  other  food),  and 
when  it  is  remembered  that  normally  an  infant 
has  no  other  food  than  breast  milk  for  eight  to 
nine  months  at  least,  and  often  for  much  longer 
than  this.  This  store  of  iron,  which  the  infant 
starts  life  with,  has  thus  to  last  till  it  can  take 
food  other  than  milk,  and  so  obtain  a  sufficient 
amount  of  iron.  If  the  store  of  iron  is  too  small 
to  start  with,  or  if  it  gives  out,  then  the  infant 
will  become  anaemic  for  lack  of  iron  if  none  is 
given  in  its  food. 

In  deciding  the  question  of  man's  need  for 
inorganic  salts,  including  iron,  we  must  dis- 
tinguish between  the  growing  and  the  adult 
body  ;  the  former  requires  a  considerable  quan- 
tity of  inorganic  salts,  and  much  more  than  the 
adult  in  proportion  to  its  weight  in  order  to 
keep  up  with  the  development.  Now  all  the 
inorganic  salts  are  supplied  to  the  infant  in 
sufficient  quantities,  except  the  iron. 

MIDWIVES     AND     NATIONAL 
INSURANCE. 

Mr.  Rowntrec.  in  the  House  of  Commons  reccnth', 
asked  whether,  under  the  National  Insurance 
Act,  a  midwife  must  be  insured  whilst  she  was  in 
attendance  on  a  maternity  case.  Mr.  Masterman 
replied  that  the  Commissioners  were  ad\dsed  that 
a  midwife  who  undertook  a  case  on  her  own 
account,  without  any  understanding  that  she 
should  work  under  a  doctor,  was  not  employed 
under  contract  of  service.  In  these  circumstances 
she  need  not  be  insured. 

THE    DECLINING    BIRTH    RATE. 

The  Norddeutsc/ie  AUgemeine  Zeiinng,  discussing 
the  question  of  tlie  declining  birth  rate  in  Germany, 
points  out  that  the  problem  is  of  a  social  and  not 
of  a  physiological  character,  and  expects  that  the 
inquiry  which  lias  been  ordered  by  the  Prussian 
Minister  of  the  Interior  into  the  causes  of  the  evil 
will  show  the  necessity  of  two  classes  of  remedial 
measures — namely,  economic  and  educational. 


THE  QUSQOW  MATERNITY  HOSPITAL. 

The  Corporation  of  Glasgow  recently  received 
a  deputation,  introduced  by  Councillor  Dr. 
M'Connell,  from  the  directors  of  the  Glasgow 
Maternity  and  Women's  Hosptial  for  the  purpose 
of  hearing  a  statement  of  work  carried  on  in  the 
institution,  and  of  the  need  for  granting  it  financial 
assistance.  Referring  to  the  hospital  as  a  training 
school,  Principal  Sir  Donald  Macalister,  as 
reported  by  the  Glasgoiv  Herald,  said  :  "  He 
need  not  before  the  Council  labour  the  point  of 
the  necessity  of  the  hospital  as  a  charity'.  The 
Council  had  again  and  again  shown  that  it  was 
alive  to  tlie  importance  of  reducing  infantile 
mortality  in  the  interest  of  the  city-'s  good  repute, 
and  with  the  object  of  saving  the  lives  and  the 
health  of  those  who  in  the  future  might  become 
worthy  citizens  (and  ratepayers)  themselves. 
The  maternity  charity  sought  to  aid  the  Council's 
efforts  by  checking  infantile  mortality  and  en- 
feeblemcnt  at  the  very  beginning  of  life.  It 
existed  to  diminish  the  awful  waste  of  cliild-life 
and  of  mother-life  that  was  inevitable  in  the 
crowded  dwellings  of  the  poor.  And  he  claimed 
that  in  tliis  it  rendered  a  civic  service  that  was 
worthy  of  civic  encouragement  and  a  civic  subsidy. 
But  tliere  was  another  aspect  of  the  hospital's 
activity  on  which  he  would  lay  no  less  stress. 
He  referred  to  its  function  as  a  training-school 
for  those  who  were  hereafter  to  attend  in  their 
extremity  the  mothers,  not  of  the  poor  only,  but 
of  all  ranks  and  classes  in  the  community. 
Tlie  equipment,  the  staff,  and  the  opportunities 
offered  at  present  by  the  Maternity  Hospital 
were  such  that  midwifery  pupils,  both  men  and 
women,  paid  ;^2,ooo  a  year  in  fees  in  order  that 
they  might  receive  their  teclmical  training  there. 
And  there  was  no  finer  school  for  the  purpose 
in  this  country.  The  reputation  of  Glasgow- 
trained  practitioners  and  midwives  stood  liigh 
throughout  the  kingdom.  If  the  Maternity  had 
to  be  "  shut  down  "  by  reason  of  the  burden  of 
debt,  or  of.  insufficient  local  support,  tilasgow 
would  lose  the  opportunity  of  securing  the  fore- 
most place  in  Scotland  as  a  technical  training 
school  ill  this  branch  of  practice.  The  students 
must  and  would  be  trained  :  the  professional 
authorities  would  see  to  that.  But  they  would 
be  trained  elsewhere — in  Dublin  or  in  England — 
and  their  student  loyalties  (and  their  fees)  would 
be  transferred  to  the  institutions-  out  of  Scotland 
which  provided  them  with  the  instruction  they 
required.  -  It  seemed  to  him  that  that  result  was 
one  which  Glasgow  should  not  brook  with  in- 
difference. They  all  wanted  to  raise  not  to  lower 
the  city's  fame  as  an  educational  centre,  and  the 
city's  claim  on  the  loyalty  of  those  who  resorted 
to  it  to  gain  the  training  necessary  for  their  life's 
work.  They  offered  academic  and  technical 
instruction  which  was  second  to  none.  In 
medicine  and  surgery  they  were  unsurpassed ; 
but  in  the  equally  important  branch  of  obstetrics 
their  local  provision  was  centred  in  the  maternity 
training  school,  and  that  was  now  in  danger 
of  being  taken  away. 


<^  THE 

'ifnsilonnLo' 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

:  MOIISI(II«l  MECOMB 

EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,    AUGUST    17,    1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


THE  RESOLUTIONS  OF  THE  CONQRESS. 

During  the  meetings  of  the  International 
Council  and  Congress  of  Nurses  at  Cologne, 
several  important  resolutions  were  discussed 
and  carried.  The  two  offered  bv  the 
Executive  were  those  passed  on  the  first 
morning:  (i)  dealing  with  the  State  Regis- 
tration of  Trained  Nurses,  and  calling  upon 
those  Governments  which  have  so  far 
denied  this  just  demand  of  nurses  to  reverse 
their  attitude  of  inaction;  and  (2J  declaring 
the  adhesion  of  the  Council  to  the  principle 
of  \voman  suffrage.  The  third  declared  the 
complete  and  unshakable  adherence  of  the 
Congress  to  the  principle  laid  down  bv 
Florence  Nightingale,  that  the  head  of 
every  nursing  staff  must  have  full  charge  of 
the  teaching  and  iliscipline  of  the  staff  ;  antl 
the  fourth  declared  that  "  Whereas  with  the 
advance  made  bv  scientists  in  the  study  and 
comprehension  of  the  human  mechanism, 
and  with  the  new  knowledge  regard- 
ing the  nature  and  effects  of  fatigue 
upon  the  human  capacities  by  overstrain, 
Resolved,  that  we  earnestly  beg  hospital 
authorities  to  give  the  same,  consideration 
to  the  problem  of  overwork  among  nurses 
that  industrial  leaders  are  giving  to  the 
question  of  overwork  among  workers  in 
mdustry,  in  order  that  the  present  needless 
and  grievous  destruction  of  the  health  of 
nurses  may  cease." 

It  was  further  agreed  to  send  the  resolu- 
tion to  the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Home 
Department  in  countries  in  which  a  National 
Council  of  Nurses  is  affiliated  to  the 
International  Council. 

A  Nurses'  Inteknatiowl  Memorial. 

In     the     fifth     resolution      the     Congress 

requested     the     International      Council     of 

Nurses  to  stimulate  enquiries  into  the  social 

condition  of  nurses  in  the  affiliated  countries. 


Bjnt  the  Congress  will  be  chiefly  memorable 
for  the  proposition  made  by  IVIrs.  Bedford 
Fenwick  at  the  Banquet,  with  which  it 
concluded,  that  the  nurses  of  the  world 
should  co-operate  then  and  there  to  found 
an  Educational  Memorial  to  Florence 
Nightingale,  a  proposition  warmly  seconded 
by  Miss  Nutting,  Director  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Nursing  and  Health  at  Teachers 
College,  Columbia  University,  New  York, 
and  supported  by  delegates  of  the  various 
nationalities  present.  It  is  universally  felt 
that  the  only  International  Memorial  appro- 
priate to  so  great  a  teacher  is  one  which 
will  emphasise  her  life's  work  as  a  teacher 
of  sanitary  science,  of  which  nursing  forms 
a  part,  and  which  would  benefit  the  nurses 
of  the  world,  and  that  it  was  fitting  for 
such  a  Memorial  to  be  established  in 
England,  the  country  where  she  lived  and 
died,  and  where  she  has  left  her  greatest 
memorial.  This  proposal  the  nurses  of  all 
nations  assembled  in  Cologne  agreed  to 
further.  The  Executive  Committee,  when 
considering  and  endorsing  the  proposal, 
felt  the  desirability  of  a  short  statement 
which  would  brieflv  outline  the  nature  of 
the  scheme  proposed,  and  Miss  L.  L.  Dock, 
the  indefatigable  Hon.  Secretary  of  the 
Council  undertook  to  incorporate  the  scheme 
proposed  in  a  leaflet,  to  be  published  in 
various  languages,  so  that  all  nurses  may 
become  acquainted  with  it. 

It  is  hoped  that  as  the  soldiers  after  the 
Crimean  War  voluntarily  gave  up  a  day's 
pay  in  order  to  subscribe  to  the  nation  s 
personal  gift  to  Miss  Nightingale,  so  the 
legions  of  nurses  who  owe  her  homage 
will  be  willing  to  subscribe  a  small  definite 
sum  to  found  a  suitable  Memorial  to  the 
genius  of  the  founder  of  Professional 
Nursing.  Several  of  the  delegates  at  the 
Banquet  spoke  with  definite  assurance,  that 
such  subscription  would  be  forthcoming 
m  their  respective  countries. 

a' 


126 


Z\JC  Brittsb  3oiirnal  of  mursiiuj. 


August   17,    191: 


THE  INTERNATIONAL  COUNCIL  OF 
NURSES. 


THE     TRIENNIAL     MEETING. 

The  historic  Hall  of  the  Gurzenich,  in 
Cologne,  was  crowded  to  the  walls  on  Monday, 
August  5th,  with  an  audience  composed  of 
delegates  and  representative  nurses  from  23 
countries,  and  the  atmosphere  was  electric 
with  enthusiasm  when  Sister  Agnes  Karll,  the 
President  of  the  International  Council  of 
Nurses,  rose,  amidst  a  tremendous  ovation,  to 
deliver  her  Address  of  Welcome.  The  Presi- 
»dent  was  supported  on  the  platform  by  the  Hon. 
President,  NIrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  the  Hon. 
Officers,  Miss  Dock  and  Miss  Breay,  several 
Councillors,  and  official  delegates  from  Ger- 
many, Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  the  United 
States  of -America,  Canada,  Denmark,  Holland, 
India,  and   New  Zealand. 

Fraternal  delegates  were  also  present  from 
South  Africa,  Australia,  France,  Austria  Hun- 
gary, Norway,  Sweden,  Belgium,  Italy,  Switz- 
erland, Japan,  and  other  countries. 

The  Address  of  Welcome. 
The  President  on  rising  to  open  the  meeting 
was  greeted  with  prolonged  acclamation,  and 
bowed  her  acknowledgment  with  evident  feel- 
ing. Speaking  first  in  German  and  then  in 
English,  she  said  :  "  I  open  from  the  chair  the 
general  meeting  of  the  International  Council  of 
Nurses,  and  I  thank  you  all — Germans  and 
foreigners — that  you  have  assembled  here  to 
unite  with  us  in  our  deliberations,  and  I  welcome 
you  heartily  in  the  name  of  the  Fatherland  and 
of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses.  It  is  a 
great  joy  to  me  that  so  many  of  you  have  come 
from  so  far,  and  I  hope  all  our  foreign  guests 
will  have  a  happy  time  in  our  wonderful  city  of 
Cologne  on  the  Rhine,  and  that  our  German 
sisters  will  enjoy  the  week  also.  We  shall  wel- 
come to-day  into  international  membership  the 
National  Councils  of  India  and  New  Zealand — 
a  most  happy  enlargement  of  our  circle." 

Greetin'gs. 
Professor  Dr.  F"ranke  then  conveyed  to  the 
meeting  the  greetings  of  the  Association  of 
Teachers  of  Midwives,  congratulating  the  Con- 
gress that  it  had  chosen  the  ancient  city  of 
Cologne  as  its  place  of  meeting.  Cologne  knew' 
how  to  keep  the  freshness  of  youth.  Last  even- 
ing, he  said,  the  Congress  had  been  welcomed 
by  the  heads  of  the  Government,  and  of  the 
town,  to  the  strains  of  music  and  a  choir  of 
lovely  voices.  Now  it  was  the  part  of  the 
medical  profession  to  welcome  it,  and  some  of 


its  senior  members  were  there  to  greet  the 
members  of  the  Congress  and  assure  them  that 
they  had  the  best  wishes  of  the  medical  profes- 
sion in  the  city.  Midwifery  was  one  of  the  most 
important  departments  associated  with  nursing, 
in  which  the  smallest  mistake  might  have  the 
most  serious  result,  causing  the  death 
of  both  mother  and  child.  He  expressed 
his  pleasure  that  the  best  educated 
women  were  taking  up  nursing  and  mid- 
wifery, and  that  they  had  a  good  profes- 
sional position  and  had  also  attained  a  better 
position  in  society.  The  members  of  the 
medical  profession  knew  that  the  best  prescrip- 
tion was  useless  if  trained  nurses  were  not  at 
the  bedside  to  carry  out  their  directions.  The 
work  of  the  trained  nurse  was  animated  by  a 
spirit  of  love  to  her  neighbour,  and  in  this  way 
she  assisted  the  civilization  of  the  nation  and 
gained  ideal  victories  for  the  Fatherland.  In 
this  way  also  she  formed  a  support  for  the 
(iovernmcnt  which  did  not  fail  in  the  day  of 
emergency. 

Dr.  Franke  concluded  his  address  by  saying  : 
"  You  have  come  together  for  serious  work, 
and  we  appreciate  what  you  are  doing  for  your 
profession,  because  we  understand  your  aspira- 
tions and  expect  the  best  from  you.  We  hope, 
therefore,  for  a  blessing  on  this  Congress  in 
Cologne,  so  that  in  the  power  and  success  of 
its  resolutions  it  may  not  be  behind  those  that 
have  preceded  it,  and  we  German  doctors  hope 
that  where  the  nurses  are  not  yet  organized 
they  may  be  strengthened  and  supported,  and 
in  this  hope  I  welcome  you." 

Sister  Karll,  who  thanked  Dr.  Franke  for 
his  kind  words,  said  it  was  a  real  honour  that 
he  should  speak  in  the  name  of  the  teachers  of 
nurses  and  midwives. 

Frau  Bode-Engelhard  then  greeted  the 
Council  in  the  name  of  the  Westphalian 
Women's  Association,  saying  that  it  would 
follow  with  its  best  wishes  the  proceedings  of 
the  nurses  who  were  gathered  together  from  nil 
lands  to  talk  over  professional  matters. 

Fraulein  Busch,  of  Hanover,  brought  the 
best  wishes  of  the  Evangelical  Association  of 
German  Women,  and  spoke  of  the  sympathy 
which  binds  all  women  workers  together.  Her 
Association  fully  sympathized  with  the  desire 
of  the  nurses  that  they  should  be  well  equipped 
for  their  work,  and  would  always  follow  that 
work  with  interest. 

■Sister  Agnes  Karll,  in  her  reply,  said  that  the 
speaker  knew  the  difficulties  of  nurses  because 
she  was  a  nurse  herself. 

Fraulein  Rosa  Kahnt,  who  spoke  in  th(^name 
of     the     German     Association     for     Women's 


August  17,   igi: 


Cbe  British  3ournal  of  IRurstno. 


127 


Rights,  said  that  its  Prcsidtnt,  Frau  Marie 
Stritt,  very  much  regretted  not  being  able  to  be 
present,  and  said  that  nurses  were  doing 
pioneer  work  for  women's  sulTrage  in  obtaining 
equal  rights  for  men  and  women,  and  reminded 
the  audience  that  if  they  had  equal  rights  they 
must  realize  their  responsibility  in  assisting  in 
the  advance  of  civilization. 

Frau  Dr.  Block  si)oke  in  the  name  of  the 
Prussian  Association  lor  Women's  Rights,  and 
brought  greetings  from  Frau  Minna  Cauer, 
saying  that  the  success  of  the  Congress  was 
specially  on  her  heart.  She  also  expressed  the 
sympathy  of  the  Association  for  Promoting  the 
Welfare  of  Mothers  and  Children. 

Herr  Georg  Streiter,  Superintendent  of  an 
Association  of  Male  Nurses  in  Berlin,  and 
speaking  in  their  name,  conveyed  their  greet- 
ings, and  said  that  they  hoped  they  might  have 
the  ability  to  use  the  lessons  which  they  intended 
to  gather  from  the  Congress. 

The  Watchword. 

I  he  President  then  invited  Mrs.  Bedford 
Fenwick,  the  Founder  of  the  International 
Council,  to  give  the  Watchword  for  the  next 
triennial  period.  Mrs.  Fenwick,  who  was 
accorded  an  enthusiastic  reception,  spoke  on 
Aspiration — a  speech  reported  in  full  in  our 
last  issue,  and  which  was  greeted  with  evident 
approbation.  Upon  leaving  the  rostrum,  the 
President  presented  Mrs.  Fenwick  with  a  beau- 
tiful bouquet  of  roses. 

Taken  as  Read. 

The  minutes  of  the  London  meeting  were 
taken  as  read.  The  reports  of  the  Hon.  Secre- 
tary and  Hon.  Treasurer  were  taken  as  read, 
Miss  Breay  announcing  a  balance  in  hand  of 

Ri;(  (>(;nition  of  the   Services   oe  the 
President.' 

Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  then  said  that  when 
the  International  Council  of  Nurses  met  in 
London  three  years  ago  the  unanimous  choice 
of  a  President  fell  on  Sister  Agnes  Karll.  How- 
happy  that  choice  had  been  those  attending  the 
present  Congress  were  beginning  to  realize. 
In  addition  to  her  international  work  Sister 
Karll  had  done,  and  was  doing,  a  great  work 
for  (ierman  nurses,  and  it  was  largely  owing  to 
her  that  they  had  gained  a  measure  of  profes- 
sional status,  and  English  nurses,  with  their 
own  strenuous  fight  for  this  object,  were  in 
deep  sympathy  with  her  aims. 

Mrs.  Fenwick  said  that  one  of  the  happiest 
moments  in  her  life  was  when  the  Hon. 
Membership  of  the  German  Nurses'  Asso- 
ciation   was    conferred    upon    her.       She    had 


now,  as  President  of  the  National  Council  of 
Nurses  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  the 
pleasure  to  invite  Sister  Karll  to  become  its 
first  Hon.  Member. 

In  the  name  of  the  Council,  the  Hon.  Secre- 
tary, Miss  Beatrice  Cutler,  asked  Sister  Karll 
to  accept  a  bouquet  of  beautiful  pink  carnations 
in  token  of  its  admiration  for  her  work. 

In    expressing    her    warm     thanks    for    the 

honour  conferred  upon  her,   Sister  Karll  said 

that  she  believed  that  Internationalism  would 

do  great  things  for  the  peace  of  the  world,  and 

'  in  this  work  nurses  would  share. 

The  whole  audience  then  rose  and  remained 
standing  while  the  German  National  Anthem 
resounded  through  the  Hall. 

The  Affile^tion  of  National  Councils. 
India. 

The  President  reported  that  the  International 
Council  of  Nurses  learnt  with  gratification 
that  the  National  Association  of  Nurses  of 
India  had  applied  for  affiliation.  This  was  the 
first  application  of  a  National  Association  in- 
cluding Oriental  nurses  amongst  its  members, 
and  it  was  therefore  specially  welcome.  She 
proposed  from  the  chair  that  the  application  be 
accepted. 

This  having  been  unanimously  agreed.  Miss 
Annie  R.  Creighton,  Vice-President  of  the 
National  Association  of  Nurses  of  India,  said  : 

"  Mau.\m  Presiue.nt,  and  Frie.nds. — In  the 
name  of  the  Trained  Nurses  of  India  I  thank  you 
for  the  very  kind  way  in  which  you  have  welcomed 
us  into  affiliation  with  the]]International  Council 
of  Nurses.  Few,  I  think,  have  any  conception  of 
the  vastness  of  the  Empire  or  realise  that  in  the 
State  of  Bengal  alone  the  population  is  greater 
than  that  in  the  whole  of  the  United  States  of 
America,  and  that  in  the  United  Provinces  is 
greater  than  that  of  Japan.  ' 

"  It  was  in  1905  that  a  few  nurses  met  in  a  place 
in  Liicknow  and  founded  the  Association  of 
Nursing  Superintendents  of  India,  and  subse- 
quently defined  a  course  of  training  for  natives 
extending  over  three  vears.  ,\  drawback  in  con- 
nection with  the  teaching  of  natives  is  that  at 
present  there  are  so  'few  text  books  in  the  ver- 
nacular. A  Central  Board  for  the  examination 
of  nurses  has  now  been  established  in  Bombav, 
and  in  the  Punjab,  the  United  Provinces,  and  in 
South  India  there  is  also  a  Board  of  Nursing 
H.xaminers. 

"  The  Trained  Nurses'  Association  has  now 
affiliated  with  the  Superintendents'  Association, 
and  any  nurse,  whether  English  or  Indian,  who 
attains  to  the  standard  which  it  imposes  is  admitted 
to  membership. 

"  I  thank  you  all  for  the  welcome  yon  have 
extended  to  us  and  am  sure  that  we  shall  find  a 
tower  of  strength  and  a  treasury  of  wisdom  with 
vou." 


^I)e  36i1ttsb  3ournal  ot  Wlm-QinQ. 


August   17,   191: 


•  Mrs.  W.  II.  Klosz,  R.N,,  one  of  the  dele- 
gates from  India,  read  a  letter  from  Miss  C.  R. 
Mill,  Hon.  Vice-President  for  India,  describing 
the  lines  on  which  the  organization  of  nurses 
in  India  had  taken  place,  giving  a  brief  account 
of  the  various  branches  of  nursing  work  in  the 
Empire  and  wishing  the  Congress  and  Exhibi- 
tion ever}-  success. 

The  Association  was  then  welcomed  into 
membership  to  the  strains  of  the  British 
National  -Anthem,  and  the  President  presented 
to  Miss  Creighton  a  lovely  sheaf  of  white 
lilies  and  introduced  to  the  audience  as  the 
delegates  present  from  India  Miss  Creighton 
apd  Mrs.   Klosz. 

New  Zealand. 

The  President  said  that  the  Trained  Nurses' 
Association  of  New  Zealand  had  applied  for 
affiliation,  and  it  was  with  much  pleasure  that 
she  proposed  from  the  chair  that  the  applica- 
tion be  accepted.  This  having  been  unani- 
mously approved,  Miss  Jeannie  M.  Sutherland, 
one  of  the  delegates  from  New  Zealand,  said  : 

It  is  a  great  privilege  and  a  great  honour  to  be 

present  at  this  International  Congress  of  Nurses, 

.  and  to  have  come  such  a  distance  to  accept  for 

my  native   country   and  for  my  training  school 

what  it  speciallv  deserves — affiliation  with  you.  ti 

Wc  New  Zealanders  are  very  proud  of  our 
country,  and  we  New  Zealand  nurses  are  very 
proud  of  our  profession  and  our  training  schools. 
Ours  was  the  first  country,  I  believe,  to  obtain 
legal  status  as  a  whole  for  its  nurses.  We  have 
had  State  Registration  for  ten  vears  now,  as  the 
Act  was  passed  in  190 1. 

We  who  were  trained  before  then  had  been 
urging  it  for  some  years,  feeling  that  it  would 
raise  the  standard  of  our  profession,  be  a  protection 
to  us,  and  would  graduallv  eliminate  all  the 
untrained  or  partially  trained  women  from  the 
nursing  ranks  and  also  abolish  the  unfit  and  un- 
suitable hospitals. 

Legal  status  has  raised  the  tone  of  our  pro- 
fession, and  we  are  now  on  quite  a  different 
footing  to  what  we  were  before  the  Act  was  passed. 
Individual  nurses  responded  to  a  professional 
inspiration  and  gave  their  support  to  organisation 
through  State  Registration,  with  the  result  that 
we  have  now  a  thoroughlv  efficient  professional 
nursing  service,  such  as  State  Registration 
demands. 

We  have  now  in  New  Zealand  four  branches  of 
the  New  Zealand  Trained  Nurses'  Association, 
one  in  each  centre,  Auckland,  Wellington,  Christ- 
church  and  Dunedin.  Each  has  a  local  Council 
with  a  president  and  vice-president.  There  is 
also  a  Central  Council  with  representatives  from 
each  branch  controlling  the  whole  of  New  Zealand. 
We  held  our  first  Interprovincial  Congress  at 
Wellington  in  1909  ;  the  second  Triennial  Meeting 
will  be  held  at  Dunedin  in  igi2,  this  year.  It  is 
to  be  held  in  a  different  centre  each  time,  and 


delegates  sent  from  each  Council.  This  is  bringing 
all  the  centres  into  line  and  is  doing  away  with 
provincial  conservatism,  and  will  help  to  bring 
the  whole  profession  in  New  Zealand  into  friendly 
union. 

There  is  now  an  established  professional 
standard  for  the  whole  of  New  Zealand  ;  before 
each  centre  was  a  law  imto  itself.  We  find 
that  this  friendh'  union  has  promoted  mutual 
acquaintance  and  been  of  mutual  help,  and  this 
self-government  of  nurses  in  our  associations  is 
helping  to  raise  ever  higher  the  standard  of  the 
nursing  education,  and  of  professional  ethics, 
and  of  the  public  usefulness  of  the  nurse.  We 
hope  for  that  full  development  of  the  human  being 
and  citizen  in  every  nurse  which  shall  best  enable 
her  to  bring  her  professional  knowledge  and  skill 
to  the  many-sided  service  that  modern  society 
demands  of  her. 

Sister  Karll  presented  Miss  Sutherland  with 
a  beautiful  bouquet  of  lilies,  and  introduced  to 
the  meeting  as  the  New  Zealand  delegates 
Miss  Sutherland,  Miss  Beswick,  and  Mrs. 
Holgate,  and  the  New  Zealand  Association  of 
Trained  Nurses  was  welcomed  into  membership 
to  the  sound  of  the  National  Anthem. 

Hon.   Vice-President  tor   Switzerland. 

The  President  proposed  that  Sister  Emmie 
Oser,  of  Zurich,  should  be  appointed  the  Hon. 
Vice-President  for  Switzerland,  and  Mrs. 
Bedford  Fenwick  explained  that  the  custom 
had  been  found  advantageous  to  appoint  a  pro- 
minent member  of  the  nursing  profession  in 
countries  where  the  profession  was  not  ripe  for 
national  organization,  to  interest  the  nurses  in 
the  work  of  the  Council,  in  the  hope  of  building 
up  a  national  association  of  nurses. 

Sister  Emmie  Oser  was  unanimously  elected 
to  the  ofiice  of  Hon.  Vice-President  in  Switzer- 
land, and  in  expressing  her  thanks  for  the 
honour,  spoke  as  follows  : 

Greeting  from  Switzerland. 

In  the  name  of  the  Swiss  Council  of  Nurses,  and 
as  their  delegate,  I  offer  greeting  and  good  wishes 
to  the  International  Council  of  Nurses  on  the 
occasion  of  their  meeting  in  Cologne.  I  wish  to 
express  mv  most  heartfelt  thanks  for  their  choice, 
which  I  look  upon  as  a  great  honour.  I  consider 
the  acceptance  of  a  delegate  from  Switzerland  as 
a  fresh  proof  of  the  open-hearted  sympathy  which 
has  alwavs  been  shown  to  us  by  all  countries.  • 

Our  Svi-iss  Council  of  Nurses  was  founded  in 
November,  1910,  in  connection  with  the  Swiss 
school  of  nursing  arid  Women's  Hospital  in  Zurich, 
and  the  Red  Cross  Nursing  School  in  Berne,  with 
the  object  of  raising  the  profession  and  of  economic- 
ally furthering  the  independence  of  sick  nursing, 
midwifery  and  nursing  of  children.  It  embraces 
at  the  present  time  four  sections,  viz.,  the  Asspcia- 
tion  of  Nurses  in  Zurich,  Berne,  Nuremburg  and 


August   17,   1912 


Z\K  36riti6b  3ournal  of  IRursiiuj. 


129 


Basle,  numbering  as  members,  in  all,   824  women 
and  39  men. 

We  stand  in  the  midst  of  our  work,  and  can 
already  look  back  on  much  that  has  been  suc- 
cessfully accomplished.  If  in  doing  that  which 
lies  nearest  to  us,  we  are  trying  to  fulfil  the  tasks 
imposed  on  us  by  the  conditions  and  needs  of 
Switzerland,  we  look  out,  at  the  same  time,  upon 
the  aims  of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses. 
We  rejoice  in  its  growth  and  in  its  results,  and  are 
grateful  to  it  for  its  pioneer  work  and  its  manifold 
inspirations,  which  have  benefited  nurses  ever\- 
where. 

Speech  in  Honour  of  the  De.ad. 

The  President  said  that  in  no  period  since  the 
foundation  of  the  Council  had  it  suffered  such 
heavy  bereavement  as  during  the  last  three 
years.  It  had  lost  through  death  in  England 
Miss  Isla  Stewart,  one  of  its  foundation 
members,  whose  great  services  to  the  nursing 
profession  needed  no  emphasis.  In  the  United 
States  of  America  Mrs.  Hampton  Robb,  who 
had  done  such  wonderful  work  as  a  pioneer, 
was  killed  by  a  most  tragic  accident  in  a  few- 
moments.  In  Ireland,  Mrs.  Kildare  Treacy — 
who  was  one  of  the  delegates  nominated  by  the 
National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland  to  that~  meeting — had 
passed  away,  after  a  short  illness.  In  India, 
Miss  J.  W.  Thorpe,  who  had  done  so  much  to 
organize  nurses  there,  had  been  accidentally 
killed  ;  and  in  France  the  Council  Had  to  record 
with  sorrow  the  sudden  death  of  Dr.  Louis 
Lande,  of  Bordeaux,  who  had  taken  the 
greatest  interest  in  the  work  of  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses,  and  had  intimated 
his  intention  of  attending  the  Cologne  Con- 
gress. 

"We  shall  never,"  said  Sister  Karll,  "  for- 
get these  true  friends,  but  for  ever  cherish  their 
memory  in  the  International  Council  of 
Nurses." 

During  this  period  also  the  great  founder  of 
modern  nursing,  Florence  Nightingale,  had 
passed  away. 

The  whole  audience  thereupon  rose,  and  re- 
mained standing  while  Dr.  Franke  played  on 
the  organ  a  beautiful  chorale  from  Bach's 
Passion  Music,  in  which  the  plaintive  melodv, 
constantly  recurring,  was  instinct  with  tender 
memories  of  the  departed. 

Selection  of  Next  Meeting  Place. 
Miss  Dock  reported  that  the  Council  had  been 
invited  by  the  far  Western  States  of  America 
to  meet  in  San  Francisco  in  1915,  and  a  cordial 
invitation  was  extended  by  the  Californian 
Nurses'  Association.  The  National  Association 
of  American  Nurses  had  also  been  invited  to 


meet  there  at  the  same  time,  and  she  had  the 
honour  to  place  in  the  hands  of  the  meeting  the 
invitation  of  American  nurses. 

Sister  Karll  said  that  three  of  the  meetings 
of  the  International  Council  had  been  held  in 
Europe,  but  its  interests  were  worldwide,  and 
its  meetings  must  be  held  in  both  hemispheres. 

Mrs.  Fenwick  pointed  out  that  British, 
.American,  and  German  nurses  had  founded  the 
Council  and  made  it  a  success,  and  it  was  high 
time  that  it  had  an  American  President.  She 
moved  that  the  gracious  invitation  of  the  Cali- 
fornian nurses  be  accepted. 

Miss  Dock  said  that  they  would  not  be  able 
to  provide  a  sumptuous  background,  but  there 
were  some  things  they  would  be  able  to  show 
their  visitors — i.e..  State  Registered  Nurses 
voting  for  the  election  of  the  President  of  the 
United  States  ! 

The  President  announced  by  cablegram  : 
"  Greetings  from  Californian  Nurses'  Associa- 
tion. Welcome  to  California  in  1915."  In 
accepting  the  invitation  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks 
for  their  courtesy  was  sent  to  the  Californian 
Nurses. 

The  Panama-Pacific  Universal  Exposition. 

The  following  official  invitation  was  also 
received  : — 

The  President  and  Directors  of  the  Panama- 
Pacific  Universal  Exposition,  to  be  held  in  San 
Francisco  in  IQ15,  have  the  honour  to  extend  to 
the  International  Congress  of  Nurses  a  cordial 
in\-itaion  to  hold  its  1915  meeting  in  San  Fran- 
cisco. 

The  Cit>-  has  been  selected  by  Congress,  wth  the 
approval  of  the  President  of  the  United  States, 
as  the  official  site  for  celebrating  the  uniting  of 
the  waters  of  the  Pacific  and  the  Atlantic  through . 
the  Panama  Canal,  the  greatest  physical  accom- 
plishment acliicved  by  man. 

The  Exposition  will  only  attempt  to  show  that 
which  is  most  advanced  in  Invention,  most 
interesting  in  Art,  and  of  greatest  scientific 
value,  embracing  all  that  is  important  in  the 
material  progress  of  the  world  ;  but  it  will  be  the 
aim  of  the  Directors  to  make  this  rank  in  intellec- 
tual interest  above  all  pre\aous  expositions,  and  to 
bring  together  so  much  of  wisdom,  so  much  of 
practical  scientific  thought,  and  so  much  of 
broad  grasp  of  the  world's  important  problems, 
that  the  progress  of  mankind  shall  be  advanced 
by  a  quarter  of  a  century-. 

To  assist  in  achieving  this  aim,  we  invite  your 
presence  in  the  City  of  San  Francisco,  in  the 
year,  nineteen  hundred  and  fifteen. 

The    invitation   is   signed  by  the  President  of 
the  l'ni\ersity  of  California,  and  other  officers. 
The  Election  of  Oi  ficers. 

It  was  announced  that  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee had  nominated  Miss  .\.    W.   Goodrich, 


I30 


Cbe  Britisb  3ountal  of  IRurslno 


August  17,   1912- 


of  the  United  States,  as  President  for  the  next 
triennial  term,  and  Mrs.  Fenwick  moved  that 
the  nomination  of  the  Executive  be  accepted. 

Miss  Anna  Maxwell  said  that  Miss  Goodrich 
was  one  of  their  great  leaders  in  nursing-  re- 
form, and  worked  day  and  night  to  improve 
the  education  of  nurses.  Siie  held  an  important 
appointment  as  Inspector  of  Training  Schools 
in  the  State  of  New  York.  American  nurses 
would  be  highly  honoured  by  the  appointment 
of  Miss  Goodrich  as  President. 

The  nomination  was  unanimously  approved 
and  a  pleasant  international  courtesy  took 
place  when  the  President  presented  Miss 
Nutting  with  a  bouquet  of  pure  white  roses,  as 
'the  President-elect  was  not  there  to  receive 
them,  for  which  Miss  Nutting  returned  thanks 
in  her  charming  manner. 

It  was  decided  to  cable  to  Miss  Goodrich 
inviting  her  to  accept  the  position  of  President, 
and  before  the  Congress  concluded  its  session 
Miss  Goodrich  cabled  her  acceptance  and  ex- 
pressed her  thanks  for  the  honour  conferred 
upon  her. 

Miss  L.  L.  Dock  was  re-elected  Hon.  Sec- 
retarv  and  Miss  M.  Breay  Hon.  Treasurer. 

Honorary  President. 

Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  announced  that  she 
had  a  very  pleasant  duty  to  perform,  and  she 
hoped  the  proposition  slie  was  about  to  make 
would  commend  itself  to  the  delegates.  It  was 
in  the  power  of  the  Council  to  offer  to  a  re- 
tiring President  of  whose  work  it  approved  the 
position  of  Hon.  President  for  life ;  she  hoped 
thev  would  now  confer  the  honour  upon  Sister 
Karll.  During  the  whole  of  her  three  years' 
term  of  office  Sister  Karll's  work  had  been 
strenuous,  generous,  and  self-sacrificing,  and 
it  would  be  well  that  it  should  be  recognised. 
It  was  unanimously  agreed  to  invite  Sister 
Karll  to  become  an  Hon.  President,  and  in  a 
few  appreciative  words  she  accepted  the 
honour. 

The  Resoli  tions. 

The  Resolutions  published  last  week  were 
then  considered — that  in  support  of  the  Regis- 
tration of  Nurses  was  proposed  by  Miss  Dock 
and  seconded  by  Miss  G.  A.  Rogers,  and  was 
warmly  supported  by  Miss  Mejan  (Holland), 
Miss  Liitken  (Denmark),  Miss  L.  L.  Rogers 
(Canada),  Miss  Child  (South  Africa),  and  Mrs, 
Fenwick  (Great  Britain).  It  was  passed 
unanimously  and  with  enthusiasm. 

Miss  Dock  proposed  the  resolution  declaring 
adherence  to  the  principle  of  Woman  Suffrage, 
and  it  was  seconded  by  Miss  Nutting,  who  said 
she  could  not  have  a  more  congenial  task — there 


was  a  great  group  of  American  nurses  behind 
her,  who  at  their  recent  meeting  in  Chicago 
voted  solidly  for  it.  The  German  nurses  needed 
to  bring  their  influence  to  bear  upon  it.  Florence 
Nightingale,  Isla  Stewart,  Isabel  Hampton 
Robh  were  ardent  supporters  of  woman's, 
suffrage,  and  the  members  of  the  International 
Council  could  not  do  better  than  follow  their 
example.  The  resolution  was  carried  unani- 
mouslv. 

The  meeting,  which  had  been  most  har- 
monious throughout  and  conducted  with  won- 
derful dispatch,  then  terminated,  and  the 
hundreds  of  members  took  luncheon  together 
in  hospitable  little  groups,  reassembling  at 
2  p.m.  for  the  afternoon  session. 

THE     AFTERNOON     SESSION. 

Sister  Karll  again  presided  at  the  afternoon 
session,  when  the  report  of  the  International 
Committee  on  Nursing  Education  was  pre- 
sented by  Miss  Verwey  Mejan,  of  Holland,  in 
the  absence  through  illness  of  the  Hon.  Secre- 
tary, Miss  van  Lanschot  Hubrecht. 

Report    on    Preliminary    Education. 

The  Report  gave  a  short  statement  as  to  the- 
foundation  of  the  Committee,  during  the  meeting 
of  the  International  Council  in  London,  in  1909, 
the  late  j\Irs.  Hampton  Robb  being  appointed 
Chairman,  and  Miss  Van  Lanschot  Hubrecht 
(Hon.  Secretary).  The  Report  stated  that,  in 
co-operation  with  Sister  Agnes  Karll  and  Miss 
Dock,  the  following  questions,  concerning  the 
preliminary  training  of  nurses,  were  drawn  up 
and  circulated  to  the  affiliated  councils  : — 

(i)  Is  any  preliminary  training  for  nurses  given 
in  your  country  ?  (2)  Is  it  given  in  the  hospital 
(nurse  training  school),  or  outside  in  some  other 
mstitution  or  institutions  ?  (3)  Do  the  pupils  of 
tlie  preliminary  course  live  in  the  hospital  (train- 
ing school)  ?  (4)  How  long  does  the  preliminary 
training  last  ?  (5)  What  are  the  subjects  taught  ? 
(6)  Do  the  pupils  pay  for  the  preliminary  course  of 
trainuig  ?  (7)  What  are  the  qualifications  required 
for  admission  ? 

The  information  obtained,  as  a  result  of  this 
enquiry,  was  incorporated  in  ,a  pamphlet  circu- 
lated to  the  delegates  of  the  various  countries 
concerned. 

Miss  Hubrecht  made  clear  in  her  report  that 
what  is  meant  by  preliminary  training  is  not  the 
education  a  probationer  may  have  enjoyed 
before  entering  the  hospital,  but  an  organised 
and  specially  supervised  probation  period  after 
she  has  entered  it,  during  wliich  period  she  is 
prepared,  to  a  certain  extent,  to  approach  the  sick, 
and  begin  lier  practical  services  to  them,  without 
showing  that  awkwardness  which  comes  from  new 
surroundings  and  unfamiliar  duties. 

Further,  that  in  no  other  profession  or  ^handi- 
craft is  the  novice  ever  allowed  to  practise  upon 


Atigust 


1912 


The  British  3ournal  of  H-lursmo 


13 1 


the  most  precious  material  ;  but  is  given  material 
of  little  or  no  value.  A  nurse  has  only  o  e  kind 
of  material  she  can  practise  upon  ;  and  this  is,  at 
the  same  time,  the  most  precious  material  upon 
earth — the  human  body  and  the  human  soul. 
Every  precaution  should,  therefore,  be  taken  to 
prevent  needless  suffering  to  the  patients  in  the 
hospitals,  tlirough  the  ignorance  of  the  pro- 
bationer. A  preliminary  training  of  some  months, 
under  the  guidance  of  qualitied  teachers,  will 
greatly  assist  toward  removing  tliis  difficulty. 

Miss  Hubrccht  stated  that  the  time  given  to  the 
preliminary  training  varies  greatly  from  two  or 
three  weeks  to  six  months,  and  the  amount  of 
theoretical  study  also  varies  considerably.  There  is 
general  agreement,  however,  that  the  pupils  shall 
be  taught  outside  the  wards,  practising  upon  each 
other  how  to  handle,  bathe,  attend,  and  care  for  a 
sick  person. 

CONCLUSIONS. 

As  a  result  of  the  inquiry.  Miss  Hubrecht 
suggested  the  following  conclusions  for  adoption  : — 

1.  Preliminary  training  is  desirable  and  is 
recommended,  as  it  gives  probationers  a  uniform 
preparation  for  their  work  by  the  bedside. 

2.  Two  to  six  weeks  we  regard  as  too  short  a 
time  in  which  to  give  much  theoretical  instruction, 
even  in  an  elementary  form,  with  preliminary 
trailing,  and  we  suggest  that__only  the  elements 
of  practical  nursing,  the  principles  of  hygiene  and 
sanitation  and  sick  cookery  can  be  satisfactorily 
taught  in  so  short  a  time. 

3.  Theory  should  not  be  limited  solely  to  the 
preliminary  training  which  is  meant  first  of  all 
to  prepare  the  hands  and  the  special  senses  of  the 
pupil.  Theoretical  instruction  in  a  simple  form 
should  accompany  the  practical  work  throughout 
the  entire  two  or  three  years'  course. 

4.  If  it  is  desirable  to  limit  theoretical  teaching 
in  anatomy,  physiology,  drugs  and  their  actions, 
simple  chemistry,  bacteriology  and  hygiene  as 
closely  as  possible  to  a  preliminary  period  of 
time,  such  a  period  should  be  "from  three  to  six 
montlis  long,  and  during  this  period  the  pupil 
might  spend  a  part  of  every  day  in  the  wards. 

5.  State  Registration  will  help  to  form  public 
standards  and  so  make  it  easier  for  us  to  arrive 
at  preparatory  study  for  nurse-teachers,  graded 
work  in  training  schools,  and  uniform  preparation 
of  probationers. 

6.  The  cost  to  hospitals  of  a  good  preliminary 
course  is  so  considerable  as  to  prevent  its  organisa- 
tion in  many  instances,  and  it  would  be  desirable 
that  such  courses  should  bo  carried  on  by  some 
special  school  in  co-operation  with  several 
hospitals. 

In  the  discussion  which  followed  Miss  Nutting, 
Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  and  Miss  H.  L.  Pearse  took 
part.  Miss  Nutting  pointed  oul  that  a  preliminary 
course  of  organised  theoretical  training  was  the 
first  effort  to  bring  nursing  education  into  touch 
with  an  academic  course.  The  report  just 
presented  was  a  most  important  consensus  of 
opinion,    and   record   of  successful   work.     Those 


schools  which  had  adopted  preliminary  courses 
were  most  enthusiastic  as  to  their  usefulness. 
The  definite  acceptance  of  courses  of  preliminary 
theoretical  training  could  be  regarded  as  a  small 
measure  of  progress.  We  had  found  out,  however, 
that  five  or  six  weeks,  even  three  or  four  months 
was  too  short  a  period  for  preliminary  training. 
Science  and  principles  could  not  be  taught  in 
that  time,  and  we  must  accept  an  extension  of 
the  time  devoted  to  theory.  A  nurse  who  had 
to  handle  human  life  could  not  get  on  without  a 
knowledge  of  chemistry  and  bacteriology,  and  this 
could  not  be  acquired  in  the  course  of  the  two 
'  lectures  which  were  all  some  training  schools 
devoted  to  these  subjects.  Nurses  were  doing 
better  work  to-day  than  any  other  body  of 
workers,  but  discipline  was  needed,  more  especially 
the  discipline  of  the  mind.  There  was  some- 
times a  tendency  to  cut  short  the  theoretical 
and  introduce  practical  work  into  the  preliminary 
course.  The  hospital  should  be  kept  from 
working  the  preliminary  pupil,  who  should  not 
be  pushed  into  theoretical  work,  and  have  hospital 
work  required  of  her  also. 

Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  said  that  with  the  up- 
rising of  medicine  the  field  of  the  nurse  had  ex- 
tended. She  was  no  longer  a  ward  hack,  and  the 
curriculum  of  her  training  must  be  founded  on 
the  same  basis  as  that  of  medicine.  All  the  pro- 
gress made  by  medicine  had  been  liased  on 
scientific  principles.  Nurses  now  must  be  trained 
to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  Medical  Officer 
of  Health.  The  maternity  nurse  working  in  con- 
nection with  maternity  clinics,  needs  to  know 
how  the  diet  of  the  mother  before  and  after  the 
birth  of  her  child  is  to  be  regulated,  district  nursing, 
school  nursing.  Government  departments  all 
make  special  demands  upon  nurses,  but  the 
training  they  receive  was  designed  to  meet  the 
needs  of  nurses  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago.  New 
curricula  of  training  were  required  ;  they 
should  be  extended  to  fit  nurses  for  branches  of 
social  nursing.  The  course  should  be  designed, 
not  only  for  ward  workers,  but  to  qualify  nurses 
for  every  branch  of  nursing  in  the  social  sphere. 
Miss  H.  L.  Pearse  endorsed  this  view,  and  said 
that  there  were  now  a  number  of  new  branches  of 
social  service  into  which  nurses  were  expected 
to  go  fully  equipped.  Work  done  in  the  schools 
made  demands  upon  the  social  knowledge,  judg- 
ment, and  clerical  ability  of  nurses  ;  and  fully 
trained  nurses,  taking  up  school  work,  had  to  be 
carefully  instructed  after  their  appointment. 

On  the  proposition  of  Miss  Maxwell,  seconded 
by  Miss  Snively,  the  Report  was  adopted,  and 
Miss  Nutting  accepted  the  position  of  Chairman 
of  the  International  Committee  on  Nursing 
Education. 

ORQANISATION  AND  STATE  REOISTRATION. 

The  remainder  of  the  afternoon  was  devoted 
to  receiving  the  reports  from  various  countries 
on  Organisation  and  Registration. 


132 


Z\K  aSritlsb  3ournal  of  mursino 


August   17,   1912 


Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 

The  report  of  the  Society  for  the  State  Regis- 
tration of  Trained  Nurses  was  presented  by 
Miss  Christina  Forrest,  who  showed  that  at  present 
nursing  in  the  United  Kingdom  is  unorganised, 
and  that  at  present  the  public  have  no  State 
guarantee  that  the  nurses  thev  employ  have  been 
tested  and  foimd  efficient,  and  that  trained, 
semi-trained,  and  untrained  compete  together 
for  employment  on  the  same  footing,  leaving  the 
public  to  discriminate  as  to  their  qualifications, 
of  which  thev  cannot  be  expert  judges. 

She  referred  to  the  co-operation  of  medical  and 
nursing  societies,  under  the  chairmanship  of  Lord 
Ampthill,  in  the  Central  Committee  for  Regis- 
traf^on,  and  briefly  outlined  the  present  position 
and  the  work  which  had  been  accomplished  in 
regard  to  State  Registration,  since  the  last 
triennial  meeting  of  the  International  Council 
of  Nurses. 

United  States  of  America. 

The  report  from  the  United  States  was  pre- 
pared by  a  committee  of  the  American  Nurses 
Association,  but  Miss  Dock  proposed  that  as  the 
American  facts  were  so  thoroughly  well-known, 
the  report  should  be  taken  as  read,  and  this  was 
agreed. 

Germany. 

The  German  report  was  presented  by  Sister 
Emma  Ampt.  It  expressed  regret  that  the  three 
years'  curriculum  of  training  already  enforced  in 
other  Anglo-Saxon  countries  had  not  yet  been 
adopted  in  Germany  ;  the  one  year's  compulsory 
training  was  a  great  step  forward,  but  unfortu- 
nately, it  was  only  partially  in  force,  Bavaria, 
Baden,  Oldenburg  and  Mecklenburg  not  having 
joined  the  movement.  Formerly,  after  a  theo- 
retical training  of  six  weeks,  a  candidate  could 
present  herself  to  the  public  as  a  medically 
certificated  nurse.  Now  she  must  pass  a  State 
examination  after  not  less  than  one  year's  training, 
and  a  training  school  for  nurses  must  obtain  a 
State  license  ;  but  it  was  regrettable  that  the 
State  was  content  with  the  assurance  of  theo- 
retical instruction,  and  neglected  to  insist  upon 
what  was  so  urgently  necessary,  the  training 
of  nurses  under  a  competent  professional  woman. 

Although  the  State  does  not  indicate  any  in- 
tention of  prolonging  the  term  of  training,  it  is 
possible,  as  the  one  year  is  compulsory,  for  hospitals 
to  prolong  the  period  of  training  to  two  or  three 
years,  and  so  secure  a  solid  basis  on  which  to 
found  the  profession  securely. 

New  Zealand. 

The  Report  for  New  Zealand,  which  was  pre- 
pared by  Miss  Hester  Maclean,  and  read  by  Miss 
Sutherland,  stated  that  it  was  now  over  ten  years 
since  the  Nurses'  Registration  Act  came  into  force 
in  the  Dominion,  and  its  effect  upon  the  nurses 
trained  in  the  various  hospitals  had  had  ample 
time  to  manifest  itself. 

State  Registration  affords  to  the  nurse  what  she 
might  otherwise  not  have  had,  a  point  at  which  to 


aim,  and  gives  to  her  teachers  a  standard  which 
they  must  do  their  best  to  give  her  a  chance  to 
reach. 

Without  it,  and  without  the  test  of  the  teaching 
given  by  a  uniform  examination,  set  by  an  inde- 
pendent authority,  such  as  the  State,  there  would 
be  no  guarantee  whatever  that  a  nurse  had  any 
but  the  most  elementary  knowledge  of  the  work. 

For  the  public  registration  is  a  protection.  It 
is  the  people's  own  fault  if  they  confide  them- 
selves, or  those  dear  to  them,  to  the  care  of 
unqualified  persons.  It  is  quite  easy  for  them  to 
ascertain  whether  a  woman  calling  herself  a  nurse 
has  any  right  to  so  call  herself,  and  people  begin 
to  recognise  the  advisability  of  making  enquiries. 

Thoughtful  women  of  education;  in  choosing  a 
career  for  the  future,  will  be  more  likely  to  allow 
their  choice  to  follow  inclination,  and  adopt  a 
nurse's  work  when  that  has  also  legal  recognition, 
when  otherwise  perhaps  that  of  the  doctor  would 
have  been  the  one  chosen,  because  of  its  pro- 
fessional promise.  The  great  benefit  of  registra- 
tion is  the  differentiation  of  the  qualified  from  the 
unqualified. 

Japan. 

Miss  Take  Hagiwara,  speaking  in  Japanese, 
said  that  in  her  country  nurses  were  not  so  far 
organised  in  professional  societies  ;  it  had  not  been 
the  national  custom.  They  had,  however,  a 
highly  organised  Red  Cross  Society,  through 
which  the  care  of  the  sick  and  wounded  was  main- 
tained at  a  high  standard.  She  hoped  to  learn 
much  during  the  sessions  of  the  Congress. 

Hungary. 
Sister  Kadar  Ildiko  of  Budapest  reported  that 
until  lately  nursing  had  been  principally  in  the 
hands  of  nuns,  hospitals  and  clinics  having  been 
supplied  with  nurses  through  the  religious  orders. 
Lately  the  supply  not  having  been  equal  to  the 
demand,  public  opinion  had  been  directed  in 
favour  of  the  employment  of  secular  nurses. 
Up  to  five  years  ago  these  nurses  were  all  supplied 
by  the  Red  Cross  Society,  or  taken  from  a  certain 
class  of  untrained  and  imeducated  women.  The 
first  Hungarian  school  for  nurses  formed  on  the 
German  system  met  with  no  success.  As  the  hospital 
had  only  ten  beds,  instruction  was  gained  in  the 
course  of  daily  visits  to  neighbouring  hospitals 
and  clinics — an  interesting  but  unpractical  method. 
It  was  then  decided  to  send  Hungarian  Sisters  to 
the  Moabit  Hospital,  Berlin,  for  a  certain  period 
of  instruction.  To  this  the  present  success  was  due. 
Not  only  was  the  Gondvisele's  hospital  now  too 
small  for  its  needs,  but  secular  nursing  was  regarded 
from  quite  a  different  standpoint. 

Belgium. 

A  number  of  reports  were  presented  from 
Belgium.  The  first  by  Mme.  La  Comtesse  Jean  de 
Merode,  who  said  that  a  system  of  examination  for 
nurses  was  now  in  force  in  that  country. 

Dr.  Maurice  Peremans,  representing  the  city  of 
Antwerp,  said  that  at  each  of  the  preceding 
International  Congresses  Belgium  had  been  repre- 


August   17,   1912 


cue  36iitl5l)  Sournal  ot  IRursmo 


J  33 


sentcd,  and  during  the  last  few  years  the  progress 
made  in  that  country-  had  been  notable.  Too  much 
importance  must  not  be  attached  to  the  system 
of  State  Registration  created  by  a  Royal  decree 
as  it  exists  in  that  countrj',  as  no  guarantee  of 
practical  work  was  required. 

He  considered  that  a  training  school  for  nurses 
should  be  connected  with  a  hospital  of  not  less 
than  40  beds  under  the  authority  of  a  medical 
superintendent  ;  a  matron  should  control  the 
discipline  of  the  nurses,  theoretical  instruction 
should  be  given  by  the  doctors  giving  the  practical 
instruction,  pupils  should  ha\e  a  general  instruc- 
tion corresponding  to  the  middle  studies  in 
Belgium,  three  years'  practical  training  should  be 
required,  the  moral  and  material  conditions  under 
which  the  nurses  live  should  be  good. 

Dr.  G.  Marcelle  said  that  the  Conseil  des  Hospices 
in  Brussels  well  understood  that  the  instruction 
of  the  nurse  must  follow  therapeutic  methods, 
and  it  conceived  the  idea  of  creating  a  technical 
school  for  nurses.  In  1902  an  attempt  was  made 
to  give  instruction  in  nursing  to  a  certain  number 
of  women  of  the  domestic  classes  remarkable  for 
their  intelligence,  good  conduct  and  devotion. 
But,  unfortunately,  owing  to  the  insufficiency  of 
their  previous  education,  the  efforts  of  the  most 
painstaking  instructors  were  in  vain,  and  it  became 
evident  that  only  a  school  founded  on  Unes  similar 
to  those  in  foreign  countries  could  be  efiective. 
In  1907,  therefore,  the  Council  modified  its  pro- 
gramme and  created  a  nursing  school,  giving  a 
three  years'  course. 

Dr.  MarceUe  concluded  liis  paper  with  an 
expression  of  gratitude  to  those  foreign  associa- 
tions of  nurses  wliich  had  indicated  tlie  way  which 
they  should  follow,  and  thus  enabled  them  to  avoid 
numerous  difficulties. 

Dr.  Depage,  Professor  of  the  Clique  at  the 
Hospital  of  St.  Pierre,  said  that  before  1907 
nursing  was  practically  non-e.xistent  in  Belgium  ; 
the  nuns  were  the  only  nurses,  and,  although 
sincerely  devoted  to  their  patients,  they  were 
governed  by  old  ideas,  and  knew  nothing  of  the 
progress  initiated  by  Miss  Florence  Nightingale. 
The  Ecole  Beige  d'lnfirmUres  Diplomees  was  there- 
fore founded  under  an  Enghsh  Matron,  Miss 
Cavell,  where  the  term  of  training  is  for  three 
years. 

The  President  then  closed  the  session,  and  the 
members  hastened  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
courteous  invitation  of  the  Municipality  to  a  FSte 
in  the  Flora. 

THE    SOCIAL    SIDE. 
THE    FETE    AT    THE    FLORA. 

The  Open-air  Fete  given  by  the  Municipality 
of  Cologne  in  the  Floral  Town  Gardens,  "  to 
honour  the  members  of  the  Congress,"  was  one 
of  the  most  charming  receptions  during  the  week. 
Tea  was  laid  for  the  guests  in  the  central  glass- 
house, where  palms  grew  in  tropical  profusion, 
on  rose  decorated  tables,  and  all  kinds  of  national 
dainties  were  hospitably  pressed  upon  the  guests. 

Tea  over   (although   throughout  the  afternoon 


trays  laden  with  delicacies  were  brought  round  at 
intervals),  Herr  Biirgermeister  Lau6  gave  those 
present  a  heartfelt  welcome  in  the  name  of  the 
City  of  Cologne.  "  You,"  he  said,  "  who  have 
come  from  all  countries  to  discuss  your  work 
for  the  good  of  the  world,  I  welcome  in  this  garden 
of  flowers  and  blossoms.  We  are  bound  by  a  rib- 
bon of  brotherly  love,  and  without  considering 
nationality  or  religion,  we  bow  the  knee  to  one 
God.  Once  more  we  greet  you  in  our  city  on  the 
Rhine.  May  our  town  never  be  forgotten  by 
you." 

Sister  Agnes  Karll,  in  warmly  thanking  the 
Biirgermeister  and  Town  Council  for  their  hos- 
pitality in  the  name  of  the  International  Council 
of  Nurses,  assured  him  that  the  town  of  Cologne 
and  its  citizens  would  always  be  remembered 
with   gratitude   and   affection    by   those   present. 

The  members  of  the  Congress  then  availed  them- 
selves of  the  opportunity  to  listen  to  the  beautiful 
music,  to  see  the  exquisite  gardens,  ablaze  with 
flowers,  or  to  wander  further  on  velvet  lawns 
and  rest  under  the  shade  of  the  lovely  trees  for 
which  the  gardens  are  noted. 

THE     BANQUET. 

The  Banquet  held  in  the  splendid  gold  and 
white  ball-room  of  the  Hotel  Disch  on  the  evening 
of  August  7th  was  a  most  brilliant  social  event, 
and  will  never  be  forgotten  by  those  privileged 
to  be  present.  Never  before  had  a  banquet  organized 
bv  women  been  held  in  Cologne — but  certainly  it 
will  not  be  the  last.  Over  350  guests  assembled, 
and  when  Sister  Agnes  Karll  took  her  seat  at  the 
high  table — supported  by  the  officers  and  delegates 
of  the  International  Council  and  members  of  the 
Hospitality  Committee — she  looked  upon  a  most 
bright  and  joyous  scene.  The  gold  and  white 
decorations  of  the  beautiful  room — the  tables 
laden  with  exquisite  pink  roses,  the  window  ledges 
bright  with  bouquets  presented  to  her  by  repre- 
sentatives of  the  National  Councils— the  gay 
company  and  enlivening  strains  of  music — -all 
combined  to  produce  just  the  tone  of  colour  and 
sound,  inspiring  in  the  highest  degree. 

In  Germany  it  is  the  custom  to  make  speeches 
between  the  courses — and,  rising  early  in  the 
evening.  Dr.  Ruhsack  said  that  the  opinion  was 
sometimes  expressed  that  in  the  Rhincland  the 
modem  woman  was  not  appreciated,  but  the 
contrary  was  the  fact.  In  Rhincland  women  had 
done  serious  work  for  their  s^x,  which  he  attributed 
partly  to  the  proximity  of  the  University  of 
Bonn,  which  attracted  women  students.  Women 
with  an  aim  in  life  knew  how  to  claim  their 
independence,  to  which  everyone  had  a  right. 
Dr.  Ruhsack  concluded  by  a  reference  to  the  debt 
of  gratitude  owed  by  the  International  Council  of 
Nurses  to  its  Presidents. 

The  next  speaker  was  Dr.  Hecker  who  won  for 
himself  so  warm  a  regard  from  Congress  members 
during  the  week,  who  said  that  in  war  victories 
were  formerly  won  bv  individual  courage,  now 
they  were  won  by  generalship.  He  congratulated 
the   Council    upon    its   generals.      The   Congress 


134 


^\)C  3Srltisb  Journal  of  IHursino. 


August   17,    1912 


Badge  presented  to  him  by  Sister  Agnes  Karll 
had,  he  said,  given  him  more  pleasure  than  medals 
won  in  battle.  He  took  it  to  mean  that  he  now- 
belonged  to  the  nurses,  and  honour  as  well  as  duty 
compelled  him  for  the  future  to  fight  in  the  good 
.cause.  He  concluded  by  offering  a  toast  to  "  the 
generals." 

Dr.  Paul  Jacobsohn  said  if  all  the  nurses  were 
like  those  present  he  thouglit  there  would  be  very 
little  illness.  He  expressed  his  good  wishes  for 
an  entente  cordiale,  first  between  doctors  and 
nurses,  and  secondly  between  nurses  themselves. 

Sister  Agnes  Karll,  referring  to  the  acceptance 
of  the  Presidency  of  the  Council  by  Miss  A.  \V. 
Goodrich,  asked  the  American  delegates  to  convey 
to  her  the  pleasure  wliich  her  decision  had  given 
to  the  Council.  She  also  expressed  her  thanks  to 
all  those  who  had  come  so  far  to  attend  the  Congress, 
and  read  the  list  of  the  twenty-three  nationalities 
included  in  its  members,  all  of  whom  she  hoped 
to  meet  in  San  Francisco  in  three  years  time. 
She  also  warmly  thanked  the  City  of  Cologne 
and  the  women  of  Cologne  for  all  they  had  done 
for  the  success  of  the  Congress. 

Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  expressed' her  pleasure 
at  the  great  success  of  the  Congress,  and  in 
thanking  the  President  for  her  work,  not  only  for 
the  German  Nurses'  Association,  but  for  the  nurses 
of  the  world,  offered  for  her  acceptance,  on  behalf 
of  the  British  nurses  present,  including  those  of 
Canada,  India,  New  Zealand  and  South  Africa, 
a  beautiful  bouquet  of  pink  roses.  She  also,  on 
their  behalf,  expressed  gratitude  to  the  ladies 
and  gentlemen  of  Cologne  for  the  splendid  recep- 
tion accorded  to  the  members  of  the  Congress. 

The  Florence  Nightingale  Memorial. 

Mrs.  Fenwick  went  on  to  say  that  all  the  splendid 
vitality  characterising  the  members  of  the  Congress 
must  not  be  allowed  to  evaporate,  but  should  be 
utilised  for  some  practical  purpose,  and  after 
consultation  with  Miss  Nutting  and  others,  she 
had  the  honour  now  to  propose  that  at  the  Cologne 
Congress  steps  should  be  taken  to  institute  an 
appropriate  memorial  to  Miss  Florence  Nightingale. 
Miss  Nightingale  was  above  all  nationality,  and 
belonged  to  every  age  and  every  country.  She 
was  endowed  with  the  genius  to  realise  that  nursing 
must  follow  scientific  medicine  as  its  handmaid. 

To  fulfil  this  great  mission  aright,  those  who 
practised  it  must  be  adequately  equipped  ;  and 
her  proposition  was  that  the  nurses  of  the  world 
should  co-operate  to  found  an  educational  memo- 
rial, in  memory  of  Miss  Nightingale,  which  would 
benefit  the  nur.ses  of  the  world.  It  was  pecu- 
liarly appropriate  that  the  proposition,  which  she ' 
hoped  would  commend  itself  to  those  present, 
should  be  made  at  Cologne,  near  to  Kaiserswerth, 
where  Florence  Nightingale  came  to  learn  the 
fundamental  principles  of  the  art  which  she  after- 
wards practised  and  taught  for  the  benefit  of 
humanity. 


Sister  Karll,  in  thanking  IMrs.  Fenwick  for 
her  kind  personal  words,  expressed  on  behalf  of 
German  nurses  high  approval  of  the  proposal 
made  by  her. 

Miss  M.  A.  Nutting  said  that  she  had  no  hesita- 
tion in  answering  for  American  nurses — not  any. 
No  one  for  a  day  could  witlihold  their  support  to  a 
proposition  for  the  endowment  of  an  educa- 
tional memorial  in  her  honour — a  real  memorial 
to  Florence  Nightingale  could  take  no  other 
form  ;  and  it  should  be  founded  in  the  country 
where  Florence  Nightingale  lived  her  life,  and 
where  she  left  her  greatest  memorial. 

Miss  M.  A.  Snively,  as  one  of  the  founders  of 
the  International  Council  of  Nurses,  and  a  past 
president  of  the  National  Association  of  Nurses 
in  Canada,  expressed  her  complete  sympathy 
with  the  proposition.  She  believed  that  a 
memorial,  educational  in  its  nature,  was  one 
which  Miss  Nightingale  would  approve.  "  Pioneers 
pass,  but  leave  behind  them  a  world  transformed 
out  of  the  resemblance  to  that  on  which  they 
opened  their    eyes." 

Miss  Mejan,  a  Dutch  delegate,  also  spoke  : 
and  Miss  Liitken,  of  Denmark,  expressed  the 
thanks  of  Danish  nurses  for  their  "  perfect  recep- 
tion." 

]\Iiss  Creighton,  after  thanking  the  Council  for 
the  reception  accorded  to  the  Indian  delegates, 
said,  cm  behalf  of  the  nurses  of  India,  that  she  was 
sure  they  would  heartily  co-operate  in  the  pro- 
posal just  made  by  Mrs.  IJedford  Fenwick. 

Miss  Sutherland  (New  Zealand)  also  supported 
the  proposed  memorial,  and  said  she  would  go 
back  to  New  Zealand  inspired  with  the  spirit  of 
internationalism.  New  Zealand  nurses  were  not 
behind  others  in  helping  a  good  object. 

Miss  Take  Hagiwara,  of  Japan,  addressing  Sister 
Agnes  Karll,  then  said  :  "  Our  soul  and  our 
spirit  have  been  refreshed  by  the  unhymnable 
source  of  knowledge  which  draws  us  on  by  a  magic 
bond  far  to  the  Star  of  Hope.  I  hardly  know 
if  I  can  find  words  or  poetry  that  can  suffice  to 
thank  onr  President,  Sister  Agnes  Karll.  To-day, 
dear  Sister,  we  are  striving  towards  the  same  goal 
with  united  hearts,  and  may  trees  with  sweet- 
scented  blossoms  be  covered  later  with  the  noblest 
of  fruits."  Miss  Hagiwara  then  presented  Sister 
Karll  with  a  laurel  wreath  tied  with  red  and  white 
ribbons,  inscribed  in  gold. 

Miss  Wakakani,  another  Japanese  delegate, 
said  :  "It  wiU  be  a  never-to-be-forgotten  picture 
of  my  heart  that,  as  delegate  of  the  Mitsui  Sister 
of  Mercy  Hospital,  with  those  of  the  Red  Cross, 
I  was  able  to  take  part  in  this  most  interesting 
and  instructive  Congress,  which  closes  with  this 
splendid  banquet-.  For  all  the  kindness  and 
attention  of  my  honoured  sisters,  which  will  be 
stored  up  as  treasures  in  my  mind,  I  should  like 
to  express  my  warmest  thanks.  I  shall  share 
these  treasures  with  my  sisters  of  Japan,  when 
I  go  back  ;  and  so  further  our  cause  in  my. own 
country." 


\uf:ust   17,    igi 


Zbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRurstnci. 


135 


M.  Andi<5  Mesurcur,  Chef  du  Service  dti  Directeur 
de  V Assistance  Pitblique,  Paris,  briefly  and  grace- 
fully returned  thanks  on  behalf  ol  the  French 
representatives  for  the  courtesy  extended  to 
chem.  i\I.  Mesureur  attended  both  the  Paris  and 
the  London  Congresses. 

'l"he  Countess  van  den  Steen,  speaking  in  the 
name  of  Countess  dc  Merode  and  Dr.  van  Swciten, 
who  had  returned  home,  returned  thanks  for  the 
delightful  reception  accorded  to  the  uieiiibers  of 
the  St.  Caniillc  School,  delegated  by  the  Belgian 
Government.  "  We  rejoice,"  she  said,  "  in  being 
so  completely  in  contact  with  our  German  friends, 
as  three  years  ago  with  our  English  ones.  We  tendr 
towards  the  same  aims,  the  same  ideals — the  heal- 
ing of  the  l)ody,  and  the  healing  of  the  soul.  Hand 
in  hand,  we  shall  go  forward  along  the  hard  but 
comforting  path  in  which  Sister  Agnes  Karll 
leads  us." 

Signorina  Nerina  Gigluicci,  after  expressing  the 
thanks  of  the  three  Italian  members  of  the  Congress 
for  their  kind  reception,  said  they  were  deeply 
sensible  of  the  honour  of  being  the  first  of  their 
countrywomen  to  assist  at  one  of  the  Congresses 
of  the  International  Council  of  Nur.ses,  and  said  her 
aspiration  was  that  at  a  not  too  distant  date  her 
countrywonacn  might  be  able  to  welccjmc  the 
Council  in  one  of  the  great  historic  halls  in  which 
Italy  is  .so  rich.  She  could  wish  it  to  be  Florence, 
because  there  Florence  Nightingale  first  saw  the 
light  of  day,  and  the  city  had  the  honour  to  give 
her  its  name. 

In  proposing  a  toast  of  our  hostesses,  and  the 
International  Council  of  Nvfrscs,  Signorina  Gig- 
luicci substituted  the  Italian  "  Evviva  "  for  the 
German   "  Hoch." 

Sister  Emma  Lindhagen  said  that  nur.ses  in 
Norway  were  not  organised  as  they  should  be,  but 
they  had  now  begun  to  think  about  this  and  were 
going  home  to  work  for  it. 

Miss  Dock,  who  claimed  that  she  had  discovered 
Sister  Agnes  Karll,  said  that  she  could  not  help 
being  thorough  ;  it  was  a  characteristic  of  the 
nation  to  which  she  belonged.  In  her  own 
inimitable  way  Miss  Dock  then  described  her 
experience  in  being  summoned  before  a  magistrate 
in  Berlin  because  h6r  age  supplied  at  the  request 
of  the  pohce  did  not  correspond  with  that  given 
on  a  visit  five  years  previously. 

An  amusing  episode  during  the  evening  was 
the  reception  of  a  telegram  of  congratulations 
"  from  your  Sisters  in  the  Zoological  Gardens," 
who,  however,  were  members  of  the  Congress 
supping  together  there. 

Sister  Karll,  in  the  course  of  the  evening,  read 
the  following  letter  from  the  Hon.  Albinia  Brodrick : 

"It  is  with  deep  disappointment  that  I  realize 
the  impossibility  of  being  amongst  you  all  at 
Cologne  and  renewing  the  affectionate  bonds  of 
comradeship  which  have  been  so  effectually  formed 
between  us  at  our  earlier  Congresses. 

"  I  send  you  my  love  and  my  greetings. 

"  May  this  Congress  help  you,  and  through  you 
the  whole  world,  to  realize  more  deeply  the 
magnificent    possibilities    of    our    profession,    and 


strengthen  )()u  to  carry  on,  in  that  broad-minded 
spirit  of  love  which  alone  can  ennoble  it,  that 
work  for  God  and  for  humanity  which  humbly 
and  hopefully  we  have  ventured  upon. 

"My  thoughts  will  constantly  be  with  you 
during  these  coming  days — and  perhaps  some 
of  you,  too,  may  spare  a  thought  sometimes  to 
those  of  vts  whom  (luty  holds  fast. 

"  We,  the  nurses  of  the  world,  are  making  the 
history  of  the  world.  Ours  is  the  contribution 
of  healing,  the  saving  of  lives,  to  do,  some  great 
works,  some  lesser  ones,  but  all  do  take  some  part 
in  the  history  of  their  nation.  Great  is  the  trust 
reposed  in  us,  great  the  responsibility  upon  us. 
But  great  also  the  certainty  of  our  reward.  When 
or  where  we  may  meet  it  we  cannot  tell — onl\- 
this  we  know,  that,  silently,  imperce])tibly,  we 
are  forging,  link  by  link,  a  mighty  chain  which 
shall  some  day  girdle  the  world,  and  bind  it  in  the 
bonds  of  an  Universal  Peace. 

"There  is  the  certain  guerdon  of  our  toil." 

W'e  have  verbally  recorded  the  speeches  made 
on  this  never-to-be-forgotten  evening,  but  to 
capture  and  describe  in  words  the  gaiety,  the  good 
fellowship,  the  friendliness  with  which  it  was 
characterised,  frofn  first  to  last,  is  a  task  almost 
impossible  of  accomplishment.  As  the  "  hochs  " 
resounded  through  the  hall,  and  glass  touched 
glass,  few  words  were  needed  to  cement  friendship 
and  good  feeling  between  those  who  a  sliort  week 
ago  had  been  strangers  to  one  another.  Those 
who  were  present  can  never  forget  the  inspiration 
of  the  occasion. 


THE    QER.'VIAN     HOSPITAL     WORLD. 


A     CJARD[:N     HOSPITAL. 

During  the  Congress  week,  hospitals  and 
similar  institutions  in  and  near  Cologne  were 
liberally  thrown  open  for  the  inspection  of  members 
— an  educative  privilege,  of  which  hundreds  wisely 
availed  themselves. 

The  Lindenburg  Municipal   Hospital. 

On  Tuesday,  August  6th,  the  magnificent  Linden- 
burg Municipal  Hospital  received  300  guests  ;  and 
so  excellent  were  the  arrangements  that, 
divided  into  four  parties,  they  were  conducted 
through  every  department  by  medical  officers, 
many  of  whom  spoke  English,  greatly  to  the 
relief  of  foreigners.  The  Lindenburg  Hospital  is 
situated  on  the  confines  of  what  may  be  termed 
New  Cologne — a  ring  of  beautiful  mansions, 
splendid  streets  and  boulevards,  stretching  in 
semi-circle  around  the  old  city,  far  out  into  the 
country  ;  and  erected  on  a  modern  and  sanitary 
system.  The  wise  German  plan  in  modem  cities  is 
to  acquire  a  vast  tract  ol  land,  and  thereon  plan 
out  and  erect  a  fine  municipal  hospital,  built  on 
the  detached  pavilion  plan — surrounded  by  gardens 
— where  every  class  of  disease  can  be  easily 
isolated  and  specially  treated.   The  members  of  the 


.36 


Cbc  Biltisb  3ournal  of  H'luretng. 


Aiigusi   17,    igi2 


Congress  were  welcomed  by  the  Medical  Director, 
who^  in  a  short  speech,  explained  the  construction 
and  scope  of  the  hospital,  which  contains  1,200 
beds—by  the  help  of  a  map.  The  guides  then 
gathered  together  their  flocks,  and  passing  through 
a  long  strip  of  garden,  exquisitely  laid  out — the 
rose  gardens  being  specially  lovely — and  where 
patients  were  taking  the  air  in  comfortable 
wheel-chairs — department  after  department  was 
visited  in  turn,  beginning  with  a  \ery  elaborate 
bath-house. 

One  of  the  departments  which  aroused  the 
greatest  interest  and  admiration  was  that  in  which 
a  number  of  models  showing  the  ravages  of  such 


Some  examples  of  the  ulcers  caused  by  X-ray 
burns  were  a  practical  lesson  in  the  care  which 
is  necessary  in  dealing  with  potent  forces.  The 
treatment  of  lupus  and  ulcers  by  Finsen  lamps 
was  in  progress  in  another  room,  the  rays  being 
applied  by  the  Sisters. 

The  nursing  of  the  Lindenburg  is  done  by  Sisters 
of  the  Augustinian  Order,  who,  in  spite  of  their 
long  hours  on  duty,  looked  most  sweet,  fresh  and 
serene,  in  the  wards  with  the  sick — with  fractious 
children — and  in  the  kitchen — where  we  were 
told  the  food  was  a  very  special  care — and,  indeed, 
it  was  easy  to  believe — to  judge  from  the  soups, 
golden   fried  potatoes — the  cakes,   pancakes,   and 


LINDENBURQ    MUNICIPAL    HOSPITAL.     l>.s>  CH I ATRLSCHE     KLINIK. 


diseases  as  syphilis,  lupus  and  diphtheria  were  on 
view.  The  modelling  of  heads,  tliroats  and  limbs 
was  most  accurate  and  the  colouring  life-like,  wliile 
the  rashes  were  depicted  with  a  fidelity  to  the 
original  which  could  only  have  been  achieved  by 
one  who  had  modelled  them  from  the  life,  and 
who  possessed  a  high  degree  of  anatomical  know- 
ledge and  technical  skill.  We  learnt  with  pleasure 
that  these  models  with  the  work  of  one  of  the 
nurses,  a  member  of  the  nursing  staff,  who  had 
had  special  instruction  in  the  subject. 

We  feel  sure  that  if  judiciously  used  for  the 
instruction  of  young  men  and  young  women  as 
to  the  dangers  and  consequences  of  vice,  they 
would  prove  the  best  possible  incentive  to  purity 
of  hfe. 


other  dainties — all  simmering, sizzling  and  baking 
in  careful  charge  of  the  Sisters. 

Pupils  are  taken  for  one  year's  training,  this 
term  qualifying  for  registration  in  Germany — and 
we  learned  the  work  was  by  no  means  exhausting. 
All  the  pavilions  we  entered  were  very  clean  and 
tidy — beds  and  cots  a  bit  too  close  for  our  taste, 
and  windows  were  closed  when  in  some  instances 
a  fresh  stream  of  pure  air  might  have  been  advan- 
tageous. We  learned  that  the  gardens  were  often 
in  use — every  patient  possible  spending  much  time 
in  them — the  patients  in  each  pavilion  being  kept 
to  their  own  surroundings.  This  is,  of  course, 
necessary  for  the  protection  of  all^where  those 
suffering  from  so  many  different  ailments  are 
admitted. 


Auf;Hst    i; 


Hbe  Britisb  3ournnl  of  IFlursino. 


137 


THE  PILGRIMAGE  TO  KAISERSVVERTH. 


"  Du  bist  die  Liebe,  lass  mich  Liebe  werden." 

When  it  was  first  proposed  that  the  International 
Council  of  Nurses  should  meet  in  Cologne  in  1912, 
a  very  tempting  item  in  the  programme  was  the 
suggestion  of  a  visit  to  the  Deaconess  Mother 
House  at  Kaiserswerth  on  the  Rhine.  The  word 
Kaiserswerth  means  so  much  to  the  nurses  of  the 
wliole  world,  for  it  was  here  that  our  own  great 
pioneers — Elizabeth  Fry,  Florence  Nightingale  and 
Agnes  Jones — came  for  practical  instruction  and 
inspiration  upwards  of  sixty  years  ago.  To  make 
a  pilgrimage  to  Kaiserswerth  has  long  been  the 
ambition  of  many  of  our  younger  nurses,  and  on 
Thursday,  August  8th,  upwards  of  300  nurses  of 
twentv-three     nationalities     took    steamer     from 


wcrlh.  A  perfectly  lovely  woman,  physically  and 
morally  ;  that  we  gather,  assuredly,  from  the  fine 
pencil  drawing  taken  after  death,  which  we  found 
in  the  little  Garden  House  Sanctuary  (the  Garten- 
hauschen),  and  with  which  we  have  become 
familiar  in  the  History  of  Nursing.  For  many 
years  wc  had  longed  to  stand  by  her  grave.  She 
was  only  forty-two  when,  after  almost  super- 
human labours,  she  was  laid  to  rest  just  sixty 
years  ago.  Iron  railing  protects  the  little  patch 
of  earth  where  under  the  stone,  with  its  well- 
known  symbols  of  dove,  olive  branch,  and  star, 
all  that  is  mortal  of  this  wonderful  woman  is 
'hidden  away,  and  on  which  is  inscribed  the  te.vt, 
"  Come  ye  blessfed  of  my  Father,  inherit  the 
Kingdom  prepared  for  you  from  the  foundation 
of  the  world."  From  Cologne  a  splendid  wreath 
of  laurels,  tied  with  purple  ribbon,Miad  been  care- 


FLORENCE     NiaHTINaALES     ROOM     (WINDOW     THIRD     FROM     TOP,   CORNER     BLOCK). 


Cologne  and,  in  spite  of  dull  weather,  enjoyed  a 
vast  amount  of  happy  converse  and  an  excellent 
dinner  on  board,  coming  presently  to  the  little  old 
town  of  Kaiserswerth,  where,  in  a  downpour  of 
rain,  wliich  had  no  power  to  damp  spirits,  they 
were  met  by  the  kind  Pastor  \on  \elscn,  and 
conducted  through  picturesque  streets  of  gabled 
houses,  where  gaily-painted  shutters  and  boxes 
filled  with  brilliant  flowers  presented  a  charming 
exterior. 

To  reach  the  Mother  House  one  passed  through 
the  peaceful  cemetery,  and  here  those  who  know  the 
true  inwardness  of  the  history  of  this  romance  of 
nursing  first  waited  by  the  grave,  alone  and  ju.st 
inside  the  gate,  of  Friedrike  Fliedner,  the  first 
wife  of  Pastor  Tlieodor  Fliedner,  to  whom  must 
be  given  due  recognition  for  the  creative 
genius,  and  marvellous  and  spirited  energy  which 
found  practical  expression  in  the  foundation  of 
the  first  hospital  and  Mother  House  at   Kaisers- 


fully  brought  by  English  delegates,  and  this  was- 
reverently  placed  on  the  grave,  a  gift  from  the 
National  Council  of  Nurses  of  Great;  Britain  and 
Ireland,  with  love  and  admiration  from  all  the 
British  nurses  gathered  there,  by  Miss  Elma 
Smith,  who  had  represented  I'-lizabeth  Fry  in  the 
Triumph  of  Hygeia  in  the  Pageant.  The  rain 
pattered  down,  the  beautiful  green  leaves  but 
shone  the  more,  the  ribbon  took  on  a  deeper  and 
more  royal  purple  ;  those  who  lingered  tliere 
realised  a  beneficent  calm,  a  moment  of  profound 
peace,  and  then  passed  on,  with  a  beautiful 
memorj-  the  more. 

In  this  cemetery  is  to  be  found  the  grave  of 
Pastor  Fliedner,  and  by  his  side  that  of  the  second 
wife —  kind  Karoline — who  died  at  the  age  of  S2, 
and  of  Gertrud  Kcichardt,  the  first  deaconess, 
and  rows  and  rows  of  little  stones  record  the 
names  of  the  sisters  who  have  toiled  and  died  at 
Kaiserswerth. 


138 


Cbe  Britisb  3oui-nal  of  IRursina 


August  17,   1912 


Two  things  more  we  came  to  see,  and  these  were 
shown  to  us.  First  the  Httle  comer  room,  with  its 
two  windows,  occupied  by  Florence  Nightingale 
during  lier  \isits  to  the  Home,  now  the  school  for 
teachers.  ^ 

First  we  looked  up  at  the  flower-decked  windows, 
draped  for  this  happy  day  with  the  English 
colours,  and  then  we  were  permitted  to  ascend 
tlie  little  staircase  and  pass  into  the  simple 
httlc  room,  where  one  looks  out  over  lovely 
flower  gardens  and  meadows  to  where  the 
Rliine  flows  swiftly,  an  arter\-  of  never-ceasing 
traffic,  carrxing  its  rich  freight  to  and  from  the 
south.      Just    here 

at    tliis    very    win-       

dow  no  doubt 
Fl(5rence  Kightin- 
gale  sat  and  saw 
clearly,  with  pro- 
phetic ^^sion,  the 
coming  of  the 
modern  nurse, 
trained  and  taught 
upon  the  logical 
principles  w  h  i  c  h 
stand  as  firmly 
to-day  as  when  she 
laid  them  down 
fifty  years  ago. 

The  Sister  in 
charge  of  this  de- 
partment, Sister 
Julie  Borges,  was 
quite  a  revelation — 
so  bright  and  up- 
to-date  in  thought 
and  manner — and 
deeplv  interested 
in  ail  that  con- 
cerned Florence 
Nightingale.  In- 
deed, later — when 
we  had  been  hos- 
pitably entertained 
with  cakes  and 
coffee  —  she  was 
in\-ited,  and  con- 
sented, to  address 
us  on  her  personal 
relations  with 
Miss  Nightingale.  She  told  how  she  came  to 
London,  and  could  find  no  one  who  knew  her 
address  ! — Tlf  she  had  only  known  of  our  Inter- 
national Office] — and  how  she  at  last  found  her 
in  her  house  in  South  Street.  After  refieshment, 
she  was  admitted  to  the  large  room — where  she 
found  Miss  Nightingale  in  bed — behind  a  black 
and  silver  screen,  placid  and  beautiful,  wearing 
a  lace  scarf  over  her  head  ;  and,  after  delivering 
her  greeting  from  Kaiserswerth,  ^liss  Nightingale 
told  her  she  should  never  forget  the  kindness  she 
had  received  there.  \\Tien  told  she  was  called 
"  The  Queen  of  Nurses,"  she  gave  a  little  smUe, 
but  turned  from  the  subject,  and  asked  her  to  join 


SISTER     LOUISA     AND     HER    SISTERS. 


m  prayer.  At  parting,  she  sent  flowers  to  Frau 
Disselhoff,  whose  greetings  had  been  brought  to 
her.  In  conclusion,  Sister  Julie  said :  "  God 
removes  His  workmen,  but  He  carries  on  His 
work  ;  and  that  you  are  all  assembled  here  to-day 
is  a  sign  to  me  that  the  good  work  of  Florence 
Nightingale  goes  on." 

We  also  paid  a  visit  to  the  historic  little  Garden 
House — the  Cradle  of  Kaiserswerth  institutions, 
where  the  joyous  Friedrike  "  destined  to  become 
the  mother  of  the  revived  apostolic  order  of 
deaconesses,  and  the  immediate  ancestress  of 
modem  nursing,"  began  her  wonderful  work  as 
the      first      House 

Mother.     Here  she 

adfnitted  the  young 
convict  Minna, 

"  who  did  her  more 
good  than  iron  and 
quinine  "  ;  cared 
for  children,  and 
received  her  two 
first  probationers  ; 
and  here  she 
planned  out  relief 
for  the  sick. 

The  Garden  House 
is  now  used  as  a 
shrine  for  the 
marble  bust  of 
Pastor  Fliedner — 
and  on  its  walls 
hangs  the  exquisite 
drawing  of  the 
dead  Friedrike  ; . 
and  pictures  also 
of  the  second  wife, 
Karoline — a  sacred 
little  spot  ! 

Each  group  of 
nurses  \'isited  the 
various  institutions 
at  Kaiserswerth — 
in  charge  of  a 
pasto'  or  sister. 
We  fortunately  fell 
1  to  the  charge  of 
a  very  charming 
and  intelligent 
deaconess.  Sister 
Louisa  ;  and  imagine  with  what  pleasure  it 
became  known  that  she  was  the  grand-daughter 
of  Pastor  and  Friedrike  Fliedner  !  As  she  spoke 
English  fluently,  she  made  a  delightful  cicerone  ; 
and  explained  lucidly  the  various  branches  of 
work — housed  in  24  different  buildings  :  The 
>  School  for  Domestic  Training  of  Young  Girls  ; 
the  Penitentiary  ;  the  School  for  Teachers  ;  the 
Hospital  for  the  Sick  ;  the  beautiful  Mother 
House  ;  the  School  for  Deaconesses  ;  the  Farm  ; 
and  many  other  departments.  Then  we  begged  for 
her  photograph,  and  received  the  charming  group 
reproduced.  Sister  Louisa  on  the  right,  and  ■>  her 
sisters — three  grand-cliildren  of  Friedrike  and  Pastor 


August  17,  1912        Cbc  Britisb  3oiirnal  of  IHursino 


'39 


Fliedner  ;  one.  the  grand-child  01  Karoimc. 
At  six  o'clock  we  said  good-bye  to  all  our  kind 
friends,  after  a  most  memorable  and  delightful 
day  ;  and  got  a  peep  from  the  electric  car  of  the 
splendid  modem  German  cit\-  of  Dusseldorf — 
from  whence  we  took  train  to  Cologne. 

E.  G.  F. 


IMPRESSIONS  OF  THB  CONGRESS. 


My  impressions  of  the  Congress  ?  They  hav^ 
crowded  thick  and  fast  upon  each  other  during 
this  wonderful  week,  in  which  we  have  been  so 
royally  welcomed  and  entertained  with  such 
generous  and  genuine  hospitality.  In  common 
with  everyone  present,  I  was  mucii  impressed 
with  the  singular  charm  and  interest  of  the 
opening  festivities,  and  especially  with  the  solemn 
beauty  of  the  music  as  it  floated-  down  to  us  from 
the  upper  galleries  of  the  ancient  Giirzenich.  It 
was  impressive  indeed  to  see  that  great  audience 
of  hundreds  of  nurses  gathered  together  from  so 
many  different  and  far  distant  countries  and  to 
note  the  steady  intense  interest  with  which  they 
listened  to  the  proceedings.  I  was  struck  with 
the  high  character  of  the  papers  and  addresses, 
of  the  great  value  of  the  reports  from  different 
countries,  and  of  course  with  the  notable  con- 
triburion  made  by  Dr.  Hecker. 

.Again  and  again  was  I  reminded  of  the  debt 
we  all  owe  that  remarkable  group  of  women  who. 
as  leaders,  have  done  so  much  educationally  and 
professionally,  for  nursing.  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick. 
Isabel  Robb.  Isla  Stewart,  I_^\-inia  Dock.  Agnes 
Karll  and  others.  How  clear  their  vision,  how 
courageous  and  untiring  their  efforts  1 

I  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  number  of  fine, 
strong,  resolute  women  among  the  German 
nurses,  and  with  the  evidences  of  progress  which 
they  are  making.  As  one  looked  at  the.se  splendid 
women  one  felt  that  such  reforms  and  advances 
as  are  needed  could  not  possibly  long  be  denied 
them. 

Perhaps  the  strongest  impression  wsis  that 
made  in  seeing  our  sisters  from  Japan  in  their 
places  day  after  day,  and  in  being  able  to  turn  to 
other  sisters,  perhaps  from  India  on  the  one  hand 
and  from  South  Africa  01  New  Zealand  on  the 
other,  and  in  realising  how  surely  the  barriers  of 
race,  language,  creed  and  custom  are  falling  down 
before  the  welding  power  of  our  common  work, 
our  common  purpose,  our  common  faith.  It  is  a 
good  day  for  the  health  of  the  world  when  nurses 
gather  together  from  the  ends  of  the  earth  in  such 
numbers  and  in  such  a  spirit. 

Our  Congress  is  over,  the  doors  ha\'e  closed, 
the  \oices  have  ceased,  but  the  spirit  remains, 
our  precious  and  permanent  possession,  and 
through  it  everj'  one  of  us  is  made  stronger  for 
her  task. 

Adelaide  Nutting. 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 

ENLMERATE  THE  PRINCIPAL  PHN  .SICAL. 
.MENTAL.  AND  .MORAL  UL  Ai.lFIC ATIONS 
REOb'ISITE       IN        A        TRALSbU       NLRSE. 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  for 
the  best  paper  on  the  above  subject  to  Miss 
Mena  .M.  G.  Bielby,  Hounslow,  for  her  paper 
on  the  above  subject. 

PRIZE    PAPER. 

"  Hitch  your  wagon  to  a  star,"  said  a  wise 
man,  and  in  the  matter  of  the  choice  and  supply 
of  material  for  trained  nursing  it  is  advisable 
to  do  this,  at  the  same  time  not  losing  sight  of 
the  inevitable  limitations  of  the  physical  plane. 

Perhaps  there  is  no  calling  which  demands 
such  a  combination  of  the  attributes  of  perfect 
womanhood  as  does  nursing.  Oliver  Wendell 
Holmes  said  that  the  making  of  a  perfect  child 
must  begin  a  hundred  years  before  its  birth. 
The  making  of  a  really  good  nurse  must  cer- 
tainly begin  nine  months  before  her  birth  ;  for 
though  all  the  moral  and  mental  qualifications 
may  be  present,  these  will  be  rendered  quite 
useless  for  the  greatest  of  all  professions  unless 
accompanied  by  a  physique  which  will  stand  the 
strain  and  wear  and  tear  inseparable  from  this 
arduous   work. 

Much,  then,  depends  on  the  early  life.  A 
physical  body  that  has  been  well  built  bv  a 
score  of  years  of  good  and  careful  feeding,  all 
muscles  being  developed  by  a  sufficiency  of 
judicious  exercises,  an  abundance  of  fresh  air, 
hygienic  clothing,  simple,  regular  habits,  and 
a  home  atmosphere  from  which  fear,  worry, 
and  disharmony  were  absent,  is  the  best  quali- 
fication. 

.A  necessary  physical  gift  is  an  abundant  and 
beneficial  magnetism,  with  its  firm  and  gentle 
touch,  which  plays  so  important  :\  part  in  heal- 
ing. There  should  be  that  measure  of  sound- 
ness which  literally  radiates  health  and  bright- 
ness. A  nurse  should  always  be  pleasing  to 
look  upon,  and  without  sound  health  she  cannot 
be  this.  There  is  beauty  of  the  most  desirable 
sort  in  the  sparkling  eye,  the  clear  skin,  the 
natural  colour,  and  the  elastic  movement  of 
good  health,  secured  by  adequate  grooming, 
bathing,  careful  dressing,  and  good  phvsical 
habits  generally.  .\  musical  speaking  voice  is 
important. 

It  frequently  happens,  when  the  mental  and 
moral  characteristics  are  all  that  is  desirable, 
that  the  physique  is  delicately  organized.  In 
such  cases  much  self-denial  is  demanded  in 
order  to  keep  the  physical  body  fit  for  its  work, 
and  sleep  must  be  secured  in  preference  to 
pleasure. 


Zlic  36rttisb  Sournal  of  IRurstuQ. 


August   17,    1912 


Of  all  Ihe  mental  qualifications  fine  percep- 
tions are  the  most  useful,  and  if  these  are  of 
the  quality  which  enables  one  to  sense  condi- 
tions so  much  the  better  for  the  jsatient.  There 
should  be  power  of  rapid  observation  and 
deduction,  love  of  order,  keenness  and  enthu- 
siasm, which  are  so  communicable,  a  natural 
love  of  healing  and  study  of  the  physical  body, 
a  taste  for  the  domestic  arts,  the  widest 
adaptability,  a  limitless  resourcefulness,  a 
strong-  will — the  steel  hand  in  the  velvet  glove 
— versatility,  and  a  wide  social  experience. 

The  outlook  should  be  bright  and  philo- 
sophical, extending  beyond  the  present  world, 
for  though  this  may  never  be  expressed  in 
■  definile  terms,  it  will  make  itself  beneficially 
felt  in  every  word  and  action,  and  will  greatly 
strengthen  and  beautify  the  personal  influence. 

All  these  qualities  must  have  been  cultivated 
by  training,  wide  reading,  and  deep  thinking. 

The  first  moral  qualification  is  sympathy — 
"  the  one  poor  word  which  includes  all  our  best 
insight  and  our  best  love  " — the  sympathy 
which  gives  a  perfect  understanding  of  all  the 
pain  and  sorrow  and  complexity  we  contact, 
whether  or  not  we  have  ourselves  experienced 
it,  and  which  fills  us  with  an  overwhelming 
desire  to  alleviate.  This  sj'mpathy  is  usually 
attended  by  the  further  qualification  of  selfless- 
ness— a  much  more  comfortable  quality  than 
unselfishness. 

There  should  be  the  strictest  conscientious- 
ness, sense  of  responsibility,  obedience  and 
loyalty  to  superiors,  the  dignity  which  springs 
from  self-respect,  unfailing  gentleness,  reti- 
cence, exquisite  refinement  in  every  department 
of  the  life,  a  complete  absence  of  prudery,  much 
optimism,  and  serenity  under  all  circumstances. 

And,  so  far  as  poor  human  nature  will  allow, 
the  Golden  Rule  should  be  supreme  in  all  the 
-work  of  a  trained  nurse. 

HONOURABLE    ME.NTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honour- 
able mention  : — Miss  Ida  Barton,  Miss  Estelle 
Florence  Stokes,  Miss  Emily  Marshall,  Miss 
Gladys  Tatham,  Miss  Alice  Rhind,  Miss 
Kathleen  O'Brien. 

Speaking  of  moral  qualifications.  Miss 
Rhind  writes: — "The  great  moral  danger  in 
nursing,  in  my  opinion,  is  the  drugging  habit. 
Constipation  and  sleeplessness  are  often  treated 

'bv  mild  remedies,  then  stronger,  until  presently 
the  habit  is  insidiously  formed,  and  lasting 
damage  done  to  the  general  and  nervous 
system.  The  nurse's  remedy  against  this 
enemy  is  undeviating  observance  of  the  rules  of 
hygiene  with  regard  to  her  own  personal  con- 

.  duct  and  surroundings,  and  if  circumstances  do 


not   permit   she   must   simply   not   rest   till   she 
has  altered  the  circumstances." 

QUESTION     FOR     NE.XT     WEEK 

How  would  you  deal  with  severe  post  partuni 
hsemorrhage  in  the  absence  of  medical  assist- 
ance ?  

We  regret  that  the  few  papers  sent  in  in 
answer  to  this  week's  Competition  are  not 
of  sufficient  interest  for  insertion  ;  the  Prize  will 
not,  therefore,  be  awarded. 

APPOINTMENTS. 


MATRON. 

Wellingborough  Cottage  Hospital. — Miss  E.  K. 
Tuke  has  been  appointed  ^Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Southern  Hospital.  Manchester, 
and  has  held  the  position  of  Staff  Nurse  at  the 
^Manchester  Children's  Hospital,  Sister  of  Children's 
and  Accident  \\'ards  at  the  Ancoats  Hospital, 
Sister  of  ^Vomen's  and  Children's  Ward  at  the 
Rochdale  Infirmary,  Night  Superintendent  at  the 
Royal  Infirmary,  Preston,  Theatre  and  Ward 
Sister  at  the  Coventn,-  and  Warwicksliire  Hospital, 
and  Senior  Sister  in  "Theatre  and  Children's  Wards 
at  the  \\'arrington  Infirmary. 

Sunderland  Koyal  Infirmary. — Miss  Jane  Amour 
has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at 
the  Roval  Infirmary,  and  has  since  been  Sister  in 
the  same  institution,  and  Assistant  Matron  for  the 
last  nine  vears. 

Peamount  Sanatorium  for  Consumptives,  Lucan. — 
Miss  Brennan  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Richmond,  Hardwicke  and 
^\^lit^vorth  Hospitals,  Dublin,  and  for  some  years 
past  has  had  charge  of  the  Alan  Ryan  Home  for 
Consumptives  at  the  Pigeon  House. 

ASSISTANT    MATRON. 

Royal  Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the  Chest,  City 
Road,  London. — Miss  Cooper  has  been  appointed 
.\ssistant  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  King's 
College  Hospital,  and  is  now  a  Sister  at  the  Royal 
Free  Hospital,  London. 

SISTER. 

Clontrea,     co.     Dublin,     Isolation     Hospital. — Miss 

Agnes  Guinane  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She 
was  trained  in  the  Mater  Misericordiae  Hospital, 
Dublin,  and  has  been  Nurse  Matron  at  Fever 
Hospital,  Drogheda,  and  Head  Nurse  at  Fever 
Hospital,  Limerick. 

HEALTH      VISITOR     AND     SANITARY     INSPECTOR. 

Leyton  Urban  District  Council. — ^liss  Edith  Holland 
has  been  appointed  health  visitor  and  sanitary- 
inspector.  She  was  trained  at  Bermondsey  Infir- 
mary, and  has  since  been  Charge  Nurse  at  Willes- 
den  Infirmary  and  the  Children's  Sanatorium, 
Millfield,  Littlehampton,  and  School  Nurse  at 
Le>-ton.  She  holds  the  Health  Visitors'  Certifi- 
cate of  the  Royal  Sanitary  Institute,  and  the 
certificate  of  the  Sanitary  Inspectors'  Examination 
Board. 


\ui;ust    17,    HI  I  2 


Cbc  Biitisl)  3oiunal  of  IHuieina 


141 


QUEEN     ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL     MILITARY^ 
NURSING     SERVICE. 

Staff  Nurse  Mi^s  M.  (  Liwlon  resigns  her 
appointment  (August  12). 

QUEEN    VICTORIA'S    JUBILEE    INSTITUTE. 

Transfers  and  Appoi)itmeiUs. — Miss  (iiWhitc 
(Inspector)  is  transferred  to  the  Lancasliirc  and 
Cheshire  Area,  Miss  Dora  Ludlow  is  appointed  to 
Brixton,  Miss  Jean  Macaulay  to  King's  Lynn, 
Miss  Eva  McCuIla  to  Blackburn,  Miss  Gertrude 
Mellor  to  Clcckhcaton,  Miss  Henrietta  Parker  to 
Exeter,  Miss  Alida  Stol  to  Carlisle,  Miss  Annie 
Willetts  to  King's  Lynn,  Miss  Winifred  Burd  to 
Tipton,  Miss  Emma  Pritchctt  to  Gainsborough, 
Miss  Mary  Richards  to  Beckington,  Miss  Kathleen 
Rogers  to  Bolsover. 


PRESENTATIONS. 

On  Tuesday,  August  6th,  at  the  Royal  Infirmary, 
Sunderland,  the  nursing  staff  presented  Sister 
Mary  Thompson,  who  is  retiring  from  the  matron- 
ship  after  40  years'  work,  with  an  easy  chair,  a 
bureau  in  Queen  Anne  style,  and  a  jewel-case  con- 
taining gold  for  the  purchase  of  a  fur  cloak.  A  large 
number  of  former  nurses  contributed  as  well,  and 
a  good  many  of  those  working  in  the  vicinity  were 
able  to  come  to  the  presentation.  The  whole 
nursing  staff,  former  nurses,  and  a  number  of  the 
honorary  resident  medical  staff  were  photo- 
graphed on  the  lawn  and  afterwards  had  tea  in 
the  Infirmary. 

Sister  Mary  will  be  much  missed  ;  she  is 
esteemed  and  loved  by  all  4:hose  who  have  had 
the  privilege  of  working  under  her,  all  of  whom 
wish  her  many  years  of  health  and  happiness. 


Upon  resigning  the  posit  iim  of  matron  of  the  York- 
shire Home  for  Incurables,  Miss  Christie,  the  matron. 
wEis  recently  presented  with  a  purse  containing  £50 
from  friends  who  valued  her  excellent  work  during 
her  twenty-one  years'  term  of  office.  The  Com- 
mittee had  previously  presented'  a  year's  salary 
to  Miss  Christie,  and  everyone  with  whom  she  had 
worked  sent  good  wishes  for  her  future.  Miss 
Christie  said  she  would  be  very  happy  remembering 
both  the  kindly  words  and  generous  gifts. 

Miss  Bcmrose,  of  Grimsbv,  has  been  ai)pointed 
Miss  Christie's  successor. 


NURShNQ    FXHOES. 

The  Queen  has  sent  ;£io  los.  towards  the 
rebuilding-  of  the  Chelsea  Hospital  for  Women, 
and  ;£^io  10s.  fowards  the  rebuilding  of  its 
.\urses'  Home. 


The  Board  of  Management  of  the  Auckland 
Hospital,  New  Zealand,  has  invited  Mrs. 
Bedford  Fenwick,  the  Hon.  Sydney  Holland, 
and  Dr.  Choyce,  Surgeon  Superintendent  of  the 
Dreadnought  Hospital,  to  act  in  conjunction  in 
the  selection  of  a  matron  for  that  important 
institution,  and  as  Mr.  Holland  is  unable  to  act, 
Dr.  Choyce  and  Mrs.  Fenwick  will  undertake 
the  duty  of  selection  early  in  September. 

The  Auckland  Hospital  is  one  of  the  most 
important  in  the  Dominion,  and  is  a  general 
hospital,  with  special  departments  for  the  eye, 
ear,  nose,  and  throat,  and  contains  340  beds. 
The  nursing  staff  numbers  104. 

As  will  be  seen  in  the  advertisement  columns, 
the  salary  offered  is  ;^200,  with  board  and 
quarters,  and  the  age  specified  as  preferable  is 
about  35.  The  candidate  must  hold  a  certificate 
after  a  three  years'  term  of  training  in  the 
wards,  and  examination,  as  this  is  the  mini- 
mum qualification  for  nurses  in  New  Zealand 
who  are  registered  by  the  State. 

There  should  be  keen  competition  amongst 
those  thoroughly  experienced  in  the  training  of 
nurses  for  this  position,  as  it  is  the  expressed 
opinion  of  the  Board  of  the  Auckland  Hospital 
"  that  a  lady  of  large  experience  should  be 
chosen  ;  as  it  is  desirable  she  should  take  a  lead- 
ing position  in  the  nursing  world  in  New  Zea- 
land, she  must  be  a  woman  of  standing  in  the 
nursing  community  at  home,  and  have  a  per- 
sonalitv  which  would  enable  her  to  take  her 
proper  position  with  ease  and  dignity."  This 
recognition  of  the  great  responsibility  of  the 
matron's  position,  augurs  well  for  the  con- 
sideration and  help  in  her  work,  the  new  matron 
mav  expect  from  the  Board  of  Management, 
and  the  medical  staff,  of  the  Auckland  Hospital. 


THE     PASSING     BELL. 

Nurse  lillen  Pitfield  has  passed  away,  and  her 
funeral  at  Kensal  Green  was  largely  attended 
by  members  of  the  W.S.P.U.  She  was  a  woman 
of  very  genial  nature,  much  beloved  by  a  large 
circle  of  friends,  who  warmly  resented  her  in- 
carceration in  HoUoway  when  dying  of  a  most 
painful  form  of  cancer.  Now  all  her  trials  are  at 
an  end — and  according  to  her  wishes  her  coffin 
was  draped  in  the  tri-colour  of  the  Union — purple, 
white  and  green — and  thus  lowered  into  the  grave. 
— Requiescat  in  pace. 


Very  soon  the  City  of  London  Memorial  to 
Florence  Nightingale  will  be  ready  for  the  niche 
in  the  lobby  of  the  Guildhall.  The  memorial 
will  probabiv  be  unveiled  in  the  early  autumn. 
It  is  a  splendid  example,  says  the  Manchester 
Courier,  of  sympathetic  statuary,  and  instantly 
arrests  the  eye  by  its  graceful  simplicity.  Mr. 
Walter  Merrett  is  the  sculptor. 

The  memorial  takes  the  form  of  a  marble 
statuette,  three  feet  in  height.  Miss  Florence 
Xightingale  is  shown  setting  out  on  one  of  her 
heroic  errands  of  mercy.     The  "  Lady  of  the 


142 


^bc  3Bi1tisb  3ournaI  of  IRiirsuuj. 


August   17,    191; 


Lamp  "  stands  bareheaded  in  the  simple  dress 
of  the  picturesque  Victorian  period,  which  pre- 
ceded the  crinoline.  In  her  left  hand  she  carries 
a  candlestick,  whilst  with  her  right  she  is 
.shielding-  her  eyes  from  its  light.  Ihe  portrait 
and  model  were  founded  on  a  statuette  in  the 
possession  of  Sir  Harry  Verney,  and  the  effect 
is  most  peaceful. 

In  the  Florence  XFghtingale  memorial  Mr. 
Merrett  returns  to  his  earliest  ideals — that  of 
the  portrayal  of  perfect  womanhood — and  his 
work  of  191 2,  when  placed  alongside  "  Sym- 
pathy," which  appeared  in  the  Royal  Academy 
of  1873,  when  the  sculptor  was  only  16  years 
of  age,  affords  an  interesting  study  in  the 
ev<flution  of  Mr.  Merrett's  art. 


.\  discursive  discussion  is  taking  place  in 
the  Church  Times  on  the  "  hardness," 
not  to  say  brutality,  of  nurses.  That  there  are 
unsympathetic  nurses  in  the  ranks  we  very  well 
know,  but,  taken  as  a  class,  trained  nurses 
are  kindly  people.  "  A  Bart's  Xurse  "  tells 
the  following  little  stories,  and  we  could  sup- 
plement them  by  others.  Sick  people,  especially 
the  poor,  have  little  use  for  sentimentality,  and 
prefer  a  cheerful  to  a  dolorous  face. 

I  was,  until  quite  lately,  a  nurse  for  fifteen 
years  in  our  oldest  London  hospital,  and  I  am 
bound  to  say  that  in  all  that  time  saw  nothing 
of  the  "  hardness  "  and  "  brutality  "  of  the 
nurses  complained  of  by  _\our  two  correspon- 
dents. 

Whilst  acting  sister  I  remember  getting 
ready  an  old  soldier  for  operation ;  the  proba- 
tioner, a  woman  of  thirty,  was  helping  me  lo 
put  on  his  socks  and  flannel  gown,  preparatory 
to  his  being  taken  to  the  theatre,  when  slie 
suddenly  burst  into  tears.  "  W'ot's  the  Ivdv 
crying  for?  "  said  the  patient,  in  alarm;  and 
when  I  explained  that  it  was  because  he  was  to 
be  operated  upon,  he  exclaimed  :  "  She  needn't 
cry  for  me.  Sister;  I'm  only  too  glad,  I  am.  I 
knows  the  nurses  and  doctors  have  done  all 
they  could  all  these  weeks  to  save  mv  arm,  but 
I've  been  begging  the  house  surgeon  long 
enough  to  take  it  off,  and  I've  been  looking 
forward  to  operation  day  ever  since  he  said  he 
would.  She's  Scotch,  ain't  she.  Sister?  I 
could  do  with  a  little  Scotch,"  with  a  laugh, 
^'  but  not  that  sort  !  " 

One  day  a  ladv,  a  relative  of  one  of  the 
nurses,  came  to  look  over  the  ward,  and  re- 
marked to  me  at  the  end,  "  I  cannot  think  how 
vou  nurses  ever  laugh."  When  we  made  the 
men's  beds  that  night,  one  of  them  said,  "  I'm 
glad  that  lady  ain't  our  nuss  ;  if  the  nusses  was 
to  pull  such  lone  faces  as  hers,  we  should  all 
think  we  wos  goin'  to  die  !  " 


I  could  quote  many  such  stories.  Cheerful- 
ness and  brightness  in  a  nurse  do  not  denote 
callousness,  and  a  joke  in  the  ward  has  often 
helped  "  a  lame  dog  over  his  stile." 


Mr.  Windcatt,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Devon 
Education  Committee,  moved  the  adoption  of  a 
recommendation  by  Dr.  Adkins  that  the  school 
nurse  be  placed  on  the  permanent  staff  of  the 
Committee.  He  said  the  arrangement  in  regard 
to  the  school  nurse  had  worked  admirably. 
From  all  he  could  hear,  the  parents  were  far 
more  ready  to  take  the  advice  of  the  nurse  than 
even  that  of  their  own  doctor.  Dr.  Adkins  said 
the  value  of  her  work  was  shown  by  the  fact 
that  the  pediculosis  rate  had  been  reduced  from 
thirty  to  six.     The  motion  was  carried. 


THE     TRAINED     WOMEN    NURSES' 
FRIENDLY    SOCIETY. 


The  Trained  Women  Nurses'  Friendly 
Society  is  the  only  Society  which  has  been 
approved  by  the  Insurance  Commissioners  for 
professional  women  nurses  only,  and  it  will  be 
economically  managed  in  the  interests  of 
trained  nurses  by  a  very  representative  Com- 
mittee of  Matrons  and  Nurses  with  expert 
financial  advice,  as  a  Friendly  Society,  not 
merely  by  men  as  an  Insurance  Society.  All 
hospital  nurses  trained  and  in  training  are 
eligible  for  membership.  Forms  can  be 
obtained  from  the  Secretary,  431,  Oxford 
Street,  London,  W. 


His  Majesty  the  King  has  been  graciously 
pleased  to  grant  to  the  British  Medical  Benevolent 
Fund  the  title  of  Royal,  so  that  it  will  henceforth 
be  known  as  the  Royal  Medical  Benevolent  Fund. 


An  anonymous  donation  of  /3,ooo  has  been 
sent  by  post  to  the  West  London  Hospital,  Ham- 
mersmith. It  was  made  by  cheque,  which  bore 
two  signatures,  apparently  on  behalf  of  a  third 
pa-ty.  The  officials  had  no  clue  whatever  to  the 
identity  of  the  donor. 


The  Emperor  of  Russia  has  presented  a  brooch 
with  the  Imperial  Eagle  in  diamonds  to  Mrs. 
vLangley,  in  recognition  of  her  services  while 
nursing  the  wounded  sailors  from  H.M.  cruiser 
Variag.  The  services  were  rendered  in  1903-04, 
during  the  Russo-Japanese  war,  when  !Mrs. 
Langley,  at  the  time  Miss  Georgina  Franklin,  was 
a  Sister  at  the  Government  Ci\il  Hospital,  Hong- 
kong, and  the  Variag  was  the  first  ship  blown,  up 
at  Chemulpo. 


Aiigiixt  17,   igi: 


Cbe  Bvlttsb  3ouvnal  of  murslno 


143 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 

Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  for  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


A    VOICE    IN    THE    PRESS. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing- 
Dear  Madam, — I  am  one  of  those  unfortunate 
people  unable  to  attend  the  Congress  at  Cologne. 
I  hear  from  a  friend  what  a  splendid  gathering 
it  was,  and  am  eagerly  looking  forward  to  the 
Keport  in  our  Journal.  The  fact  that  with  the 
exception  of  The  Standard,  the  daily  press  quite 
ignores  the  Trained  Nurses'  point  of  view — makes 
The  British  Journal  of  Nursing  quite  indis- 
pensable to  those  of  us  who  "  aspire." 

Yours    gratefully, 

Membkr  K.  N.  S. 


THE    FIRST    INTERNATIONAL    EUGENIC 
CONGRESS. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — The  First  International 
Eugenic  Congress  has  passed,  but  to  many,  I 
think,  it  will  be  a  never-forgotten  week. 

To  put  into  a  sentence  or  two  the  lessons  of 
such  a  Conference  would  be  impossible,  but  it 
is  perhaps  permissible  to-  isolate  one  thought — 
that  the  future  of  Eugenics  depends  upon  Edu- 
cation— education  of  boys,  of  girls,  of  parents, 
of  teachers,  of  Social  Workers,  and  of  Nurses. 

Over  and  over  again  it  was  pointed  out  that 
necessary  as  legal  enactments  may  be  in  some 
directions,  yet,  after  all,  personal  influence  is 
the  strongest  lever  in  the  world,  and  in  this  field 
as  in  many  another.  Nurses  have  exceptional 
facilities    and    qualifications.     . 

Think  what  is  needed. 

First  :  That  children  should  reverently  be 
taught  the  truth  regarding  the  facts  of  life.  Who 
has  greater  opportunity  than  a  Nurse  of  impressing 
upon  mothers  that  this  is  their  duty  and  privi- 
lege ? 

Second  :  That  the  sense  of  parental  responsi- 
bility should  be  deepened.  Who  has  greater 
opportunity  than  the  Nurse  of  tenderly  pointing 
out  that  it  is  a  terrible  sin  to  hand  on  a  heritage 
of  syphilis,  epilepsy  and  the  like  ? 

Third  :  That  the  sense  of  privilege  of  parent- 
hood should  be  deepened.  Wlio  so  often  as  the 
Nurse  sees  that  sad  spectacle — "  unwilling  mother- 
hood "  and  who  therefore  can  so  well  urge  the 
necessity  for  self-control  when  parenthood  is 
not  desired  or  desirable  and  of  thankful  acceptance 
of  this  greatest  gift  of  life  when  it  is  right  that  it 
should  be  undertaken  ? 

I  am  impelled  to  send  this  letter  because,  to 
my  surprise  and  sorrow,  I  found  that  in  that  great 
gathering,  representative  of  State  and  individual 


ctlorl  lor  the  regeneration  of  the  Race,  only 
two  bodies  connected  with  the  Nursing  Profession, 
had  sent  delegates. 

1  earnestly  hope  that  these  utterly  inadequate 
words  of  mine  may  at  least  serve  to  remind 
Nurses  of  the  practical  bearing  of  Eugenics  upon 
human  lives  and  of  the  opportunities  which  lie 
to  their  hand  of  doing  work  of  incalculable  value 
to  the  nation. 

I  am,  faithfully  yours, 

Annie  E.  Barnes, 
Central  Secretary,  Nurses  Social  Union. 

(We  agree  with  Mrs.  Barnes  that  Trained  Nurses 
must  take  an  active  part  in  all  that  makes  for 
the  benefit  of  the  Race.  That  more  Trained 
Nurses  organisations  did  not  take  part  in  the 
deliberations  of  the  Eugenic  Congress,  may  be 
accounted  for,  (i)  it  was  held  the  week 
before  the  great  International  gathering  of 
Nurses  at  Cologne,  (2)  that  societies  of  Nurses, 
such  as  the  National  Council  of  Nurses  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  were  not  officially  invited  to 
take  part.  The  Editor  of  this  Journal  and  Presi- 
dent of  the  N.C.N.,  attended  the  Eugenic  Congress 
as  the  official  delegate  of  the  Society  of  \\'omcn 
Journalists  1 — Ed.) 


REPLIES    TO     CORRESPONDENTS 

Sister  C.  T. — There  is  no  central  school  in  this 
country  where  trained  nurses  can  procure  a  course 
of  instruction  in  a  matron's  administrative  duties. 
This  branch  of  work  is  quite  different  to  that  of 
nursing  and  superintending  a  ward.  We  should 
advise  you  to  trv  and  obtain  an  assistant  matron's 
post,  but  unless  you  work  under  a  capable 
matron,  whose  office  work  is  well  organised, 
systematic  instruction  is  very  difficult  to 
procure. 

M.  F.  Manchester. — ^We  do  not  think  your 
suggestion  feasible.  It  is  no  good  going  to  the 
Colonies  unless  you  are  prepared  for  hard  work. 


OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS    FOR    AUGUST 

August  24//;. — How  would  vou  deal  with  severe 
post  partum  haeniorrhage  in  the  absence  of  medical 
assistance  ?  '^   ''    1 1    !    'I   *! 

August  31s/. — Describe  the  preparation  of  a 
patient  for  receiving  ari  anaesthetic.  What  pre- 
cautions would  you  take  before  and  after  ? 


NOTICES. 

A  Subscription  Form  for  The  British  Journal 
OF  Nursing  will  be  found  on  page  xii.  of  our 
advertisement  columns.  The  Journal  is  the 
official  organ  in  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  of  the 
International  Council  of  Nurses,  and  full  reports 
of  the  Cologne  meetings  will  be  published  in  it. 

The  price  is  id.  weekly.  Abroad,  gs.  per  year, 
post  free.    Office,  431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W. 


144       ^bc  Biitieb  3onrnaI  ot  IRursuui  Supplement.  August  17,  1912 


The   Midwife. 


CENTRAL  MIDWIVHS'  BOARD. 


EXAAIINATION     PAPER. 

The  following  is  the  Paper  set  to  the  candidates 
of  the  Central  ;\fid\vives  Board  at  the  examination 
held  in  London  on  August  ist  : — 

1.  What  are  the  causes  of  swelling  of  the  legs 
(a)  during  pregnancy  and  (6)  after  labour  ? 

How  w-ould  you  deal  with  such  cases  ? 

2.  What  are  the  difficulties  likely  to  be  met 
with  in  the  management  of  a  breech  presentation, 
and  how  would  you  deal  with  them  ? 

3.  Describe  in  detail  the  management  of  the 
third  stage  of  labour.  WTiat  dangers  may  result 
from  mismanagement  ? 

4.  Describe  exactly  vour  examination  of  the 
lochial  pad  during  the  puerperium,  and  the  infor- 
mation to  be  gained  from  it. 

5.  By  what  day  should  a  breast-fed  bab\' 
regain  its  birth  weight  ?  Wbat  are  the  common 
causes  of  its  failure  to  do  so,  and  what  w-ould  you 
do  in  each  case  ? 

6.  Under  what  conditions  in  the  case  of  a 
lying-in  woman  must  a  midwife  adv-ise  that 
medical  help  be  sent  for  according  to  the  rules  of 
the  Central  Midwives  Board  ? 

How-  many  copies  of  the  "  Form  of  Sending 
for  Medical  Help  "  should  be  made,  and  what 
should  be  done  with  each  of  them  ? 

How  should  the  fact  of  medical  assistance 
ha-vdng  been  sent  for  be  entered  in  the  Register  of 
Cases  ? 


REFINEMENT  OF  MODERN  MIDWIFERY. 


A  correspondent  of  the  British  Medical  Journal 
writes  :  I  am  amazed  at  the  present-day  refine- 
ments in  the  treatment  of  midwifery  cases.  The 
routine  treatment  by  the  more  advanced  school 
seems  to  be  as  follows  :  (i)  Disinfect  the  hands 
with  at  least  three  different  solutions.  (2)  Inject 
as  a  prophylactic  measure,  so  many  million 
Streptococcus  puerperalis  and  B.  coli.  (3)  Shave 
vulva.  (4)  Scrub  thoroughly  with  soap  and  water 
the  patient's  hips,  thighs,  abdomen.  (5)  Rub  the 
same  area  vigorously  with  dry  sterilized  tow-els. 
(6)  Rub  in  methylated  spirits.  (7)  Wash  with 
mercury  biniodide  (i  in  500)  in  75  per  cent,  of 
methylated  spirits.  (8)  Adjust  sterilized  towels, 
(g)  Make  two  lateral  incisions  to  anticipate  perineal 
laceration.  The  above  is  the  routine  for  normal 
cases  ;  space  prevents  my  giving  details  for 
abnormal  cases.  As  against  this  elaborate  routine, 
let  me  give  the  routine  treatment  practised  by  a 
neighbouring  doctor  of  over  forty  years'  standing. 
He  gives  a  perfunctory  rub  to  his  hands,  smears 
his  instruments  w-ith  vaseline,  which  is  provided 
by  the  patient,  and  proceeds  to  deliver.    He  never 


by  any  chance  washes  the  patient's  \-ulva  or 
thighs,  and  yet  in  a  large  midwifery  practice, 
extending  over  forty  years,  he  has  never  had  one 
case  of  puerperal  sepsis.  This  treatment  accords 
with  the  advice  Dr.  Angus  Frascr  is  credited  with 
having  given  to  a  class  of  midwifery  students  at 
Aberdeen,  "  Wash  your  hands  if  they  are  dirty." 
I  cannot  vouch  for  the  truth  of  the  story. 

RESCUE  HOMES. 


Two  interesting  institutions  in  Cologne  which 
were  visited  by  members  of  the  International 
Congress  of  Nurses  were  the  Evangelical  Zuflucht- 
shaus  Sauglingsheim,  or  Protestant  Rescue  Home, 
Kyllburgstrasse,  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city  m 
a  new  house  and  a  delightfully  open  and  airy 
situation.  Here  the  mothers  may  come  until  the 
baby  is  expected,  but  for  the  actual  confinement 
they  go  to  the  city  hospital  for  ten  days,  after 
which  they  return  to  the  home  for  two  months 
and  pay  15  marks  a  month.  After  two  months 
the  charge  is  increased  to  50  marks  a  month  for 
mother  and  babe.  The  babies,  however,  are 
kept  for  one  year  and  are  paid  for  by  either 
mother  or  father,  and,  as  usual,  it  is  generally 
the  former  who  does  the  paying. 

There  is  accommodation  for  30  babies.  We  saw 
them  all  in  their  swing  cots  upon  the  balcony, 
lying  ia  every  kind  of  attitude  that  w-ee  babes  can 
assume,  from  toe-counting  to  nose-pulling  and 
thumb-sucking,  all  looking  so  clean  and  w-ell  cared 
for.  They  are  fed  five  times  during  the  day — at 
6  a.m.  the  first  feed,  and  the  last  at  9  p.m.  Much 
buttermilk  is  used,  partly  because  the  home  is 
poor.  There  are  three  large  nurseries,  each  fitted 
with  baths  and  hot  and  cold  water,  where  all 
the  toilet  things  are  kept,  each  child  having  its 
ow-n  tray,  also  thermometer  kept  in  solution,  upon 
w-hich  any  other  article  is  kept  that  is  being  used 
for  the  child.  Wfien  the  weather  is  wet  and  at 
night  the  children  are  wheeled  into  the  nurseries. 


Another  similar  home  is  that  for  Roman  Catholic 
girls,  the  Kathola  Zufluchtshaus.  This  belongs  to 
a  very  wealthy  community  and  keeps  both  mother 
and  babe  for  two  vears.  But,  naturallv.  the 
mothers  must  work,  so  laundry  work  is  taken  in, 
as  well  as  sew-ing,  and  most  beautifully  it  is  done. 
Situations  are  obtained  for  the  girls  on  leaving. 
Here  milk  is  prepared  and  supplied  to  poor 
nt'others  outside  the  Home  ;  the  daily  number  of 
feeds  are  put  up  in  bottles,  different  coloured 
stoppers  being  used  for  different  ages,  and  put 
into  a  sort  of  wire  basket,  so  that  the  whole  can  be 
easily  carried.  This  home  is  large  and  can  take 
about  100  babies.  It  is  indeed  sad  that  so  much 
accommodation  should  be  necessary  for  such 
cases  in  Christian  lands. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED  BY  MRS  BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,    AUGUST   24,   1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


THE     ADMINISTRATION     OH     Mi-.DICINES. 

From  time  to  time  a  mistake  in  the 
administration  of  medicines,  eiuiing  dis- 
astrously for  the  patient,  draws  attention 
to  the  unceasing  need  for  care  in  the  dis- 
charge of  a  duty  wliich  is  repeaitetl  so  often 
that  there  is  elanger  of  its  being  performed 
mechanically  ;  and  to  the  even  greater 
need  of  the  rigorous  observance,  in  all 
institutions,  of  a  system  whereby  poisonous 
drugs  are  effectively  separated  from  those 
which  are  non-poisonous,  and  where  medi- 
cines intended  for  administration  to  patients 
can  readily  be  identified  from  lotions  which 
are  to  be  used  for  outward  application  or 
for  disinfecting  purposes.^ 

We  are  led  to  make  these  remarks  in 
consequence  of  an  inquest  recently  held  by 
the  Dublin  City  Coroner  into  the  circum- 
stances of  the  death  of  a  patient  at  the 
Jervis  St.  Hospital,  in  which  a  dose  of 
crosylic  acid,  or  some  other  constituent  of 
tar  oil,  was  given  in  mistake  for  house 
mixture,  the  patient  dying  \Vithin  half  an 
hour.  The  house  surgeon  who  gave 
evidence  at  the  inquest  testified  tiiat  the 
man  had  been  in  a  very  wea-k  condition  for 
a  couple  of  days,  and  it  was  doubtful  how 
long  he  could  have  lasted  apart  from  any 
misadventure.  On  the  morning  of  the  day 
he  died  the  Sister  was  thinking  of  having 
him  anointed. 

Professor  M'Weeney,  who  performed  a 
post  mortem  examination,  stated  his  belief 
that  the  immediate  cause  of  death  was 
poisoning  by  creoline,  or  some  allied 
derivative  of  carbolic  acid. 

The  condition  of  the  man's  heart  and 
lungs  would  cause  him  to  suffer  severely 
from  the  effect  of  any  poison,  and  the  mere 
passage  of  a  stomach  tube  might  cause  a 
fatal  attack  of  syncope. 

On    the    suggestion    that    the    nurse    who 


administered  the  metiicine  should  be  called, 
^Ir.  E.  H.  Brvne,  solicitor,  who  was  repre- 
senting the  hospital  authorities,  :aid  that 
the  nurse  in  question  was  in  a  state  of 
collapse.  She  was  a  verv  young  girl,  and 
not  able  to  bear  the  strain  of  the  shock,  but 
if  the  jury  desired  it,  she  would  endeavour 
to  give  as  intelligent  an  explanation  as 
possible.  The  nurse  had  informed  him  that 
the  bottle  from  which  she  gave  the  dose 
was  similar  to  that  which  should  have  been 
there,  but  no  one  seemed  to  kriow  w'hat 
had  become  of  the  latter  bottle.  The  nurse 
fully  believed  she  was  gi\ing  a  dose  from 
the  right  bottle. 

Evidence  was  offered  by  Dr.  M'Hugh  to 
prove  that  the  bottle  of  house  medicine  was 
gcnerallv  kept  on  a  stand  in  the  ward,  and 
the  disinfectant  administered  in  error  for  it 
under  lock  and  kev  ;  the  key  of  the  cup- 
board being  in  charge  of  the  ward  sister. 

The  jury  found  that  the  deceased  died 
from  taking  cros\Iic  acid,  or  some  other 
constituent  of  tar  oil  atlministered  in  mis- 
take. They  exonerated  the  nurse  from 
blame,  and  suggested  that  all  bottles  other 
than  those  containing  medicine  intended  for 
patients  should  have  some  distinctive  mark 
of  colour  or  shape. 

We  entirely  agree  with  the  recommenda- 
tion of  the  jury.  It  should  be  an  invariable 
rule.  It  is  quite  easy  to  have  lotion  bottles 
made  triangular  in  shape,  which  at  once 
distinguishes  them  fr-om  the  ordinary 
medicine  bottle.  It  should  also  be  instilled 
into  probationers  that  they  should  never 
give  a  dose  cf  medicine  to  a  patient  without 
first  reading  the  label  on  the  bottle,  for  if 
this  simple  rule  v  ere  always  observed,  it 
would  be  impossible  for  a  wrong  dose  to 
be  administered  ;  and  lastly,  poisons,  or 
medicines  and  solutions  containing  poisons, 
should  always  be  kept  under  lock  and  key, 
the  key  being  in  charge  of  the  ward  sister, 
or,  in  her  absence,  of  the  staff  nurse  who 
represents  her. 


Z46 


ZlK  BritisI)  journal  of  IRursino. 


August  2^,    1 91 2 


MEDICAL   MATTERS. 


CHILDREN  AND  DENTAL  DISEASES. 

Two  interesting  papers  on  the  above  im- 
portant subject  were  delivered  at  the  Annual 
Meeting  of  the  British  Medical  Association  at 
Liverpool,  in  the  Section  of  State  Medicine — 
one  by  Dr.  R.  J.  Erskine  Young,  Dental  Officer 
to  the  Liverpool  Education  Committee ;  the 
other  by  Dr.  J.  Sim  Wallace,  Lecturer  on 
Dental  Surgery  and  Pathology  at  the  London 
Hospital.  The  papers  are  printed  in  full  in  the 
Bnlish  Medical  Journal. 

Dr.  Erskine  Young  writes  : — "  The  deplor- 
able dental  condition  of  the  poorer  classes  of 
society  is  already  too  well  known  to  the  dental 
profession,  but  it  was  only  as  recently  as  1907 
that  certain  municipal  authorities  recognized 
this.  After  due  consideration,  the  dental  clinic 
at  Cambridge  was  begun  in  July  of  that  year, 
and  in  the  same  month  of  1907  the  Liverpool 
Education  Committee  felt  justified  in  starting 
a  dental  clinic,  with  a  view  to  do  something  to 
combat  the  ravages  of  dental  caries  among  the 
children  of  the  day  industrial  schools  of  Liver- 
pool and  that  at  Hightown  (at  that  time  called 
the  truant  schools).  Applications  were  duly 
invited,  and  the  writer  of  this  article  was 
appointed  "  for  three  years  as  an  experiment." 
At  the  end  of  that  period — namely,  October, 
1910 — mv  appointment  was  made  permanent, 
as  the  clinic  was  believed  to  have  done  sufficient 
good  to  justify  the  step. 

"  The  first  step  taken  was  to  examine  the 
teeth  of  all  the  children  in  all  the  six  schools,  and 
this  examination  has  been  repeated  four  times 
yearly  since  that  time.  On  visiting  each  school 
the  bookkeeper  makes  a  note  of  each  child's 
requirements,  as  dictated  by  me  after  examina- 
tion of  the  mouth.  The  work  entailed  by  such 
examination  is  very  great,  and  we  have  never 
attempted  elaborate  charting.  Opposite  the 
name  of  each  child  are  two  columns,  the  first 
for  fillings  required  and  the  second  for  extrac- 
tions. I  rapidly  review  the  mouth,  and  count 
the  number  of  cavities  which  can  be  inexpen- 
sively and  beneficially  filled,  and  that  number 
is  duly  noted.  I  further  take  into  account  the 
number  of  teeth  which  are  either  unsavable  or 
which  would  require  elaborate  treatment,  and 
that  number  is  duly  noted  under  extractions. 
Between  forty  and  sixty  children  are  examined 
in  a  morning,  and  this  is  continued  thrice 
weekly  for  a  fortnight.  I  can  in  this  period 
examine  all  the  children  (about  1,000)  attending 
all   the  dav  industrial   schools.      On   the  com- 


pletion of  my  survey  the  children  are  sent  to  me 
alphabetically,  except  those  in  pain,  who  are, 
as  far  as  possible,  sent  at  once. 

"  And  now  let  me  refer  to  actual  treatment. 
I  devote  three  half-days  of  each  week  to  the 
work,  and,  as  my  efforts  are  unremitting,  the 
time  given  has  proved  ample.  Owing  to  the 
necessity  for  economy,  only  the  simplest  treat- 
ment has  been  adopted,  and  it  largely  consists 
of  "cement"  and  "amalgam"  fillings,  and, 
where  necessary,  extractions. 

Children  .and  P,\in. 

"  The  avoidance  of  pain  in  dental  operating 
is,  of  course,  an  exceedingh  important  matter. 
\\'here  I  must  extract,  it  is  done  for  the  most 
part  painlessly,  by  means  of  judicious  employ- 
ment of  a  local  amesthetic. 

"  The  giving  of  pain  would   mean  not  only 
that     the     children     would     be     unnecessarily 
frightened,  but  the  question  of  parental  objec- 
tion would  arise.     This  brings  me  to  speak  of 
The  Clinic  i-ko.m  the  Children's  St.andpoint. 

"  I  fear  it  must  be  admitted  that,  at  least  at 
first,  the  children  were  very  sorry  for  them- 
selves, and  in  some  cases  the  child  required  a 
great  deal  of  coaxing — much  time  being  lost 
thereby.  But  it  would  appear  as  though  I  have 
gained  the  young  people's  confidence  in  a 
measure,  for  I  now  have  very  little  trouble,  and 
practically  never  resistance  on  the  part  of  the 
child.  For  the  most  part  the  children  and  I  are 
very  good  friends,  and  I  believe  I  can  attribute 
this  to  the  fact  that  the  work  is,  as  a  rule,  pain- 
lessly done  by  means  of  a  judicious  use  of  local 
anaesthetics.  Thus  extractions,  "drilling," 
and  removal  of  nerves  can  be  done  without  anv 
pain  whatever.  Before  dismissing  a  child  (after 
treatment)  a  quite  usual  question  is,  "  Did  I 
give  vou  pain?  "  or  "  Did  vou  feel  vour  teeth 
coming  out?  "  Almost  always  the  answer 
cam.e,  "No,  sir,"  or  "  Very  little,  sir,"  and 
the  child  goes  away  comforted.  The  promise 
of  a  halfpenny  or  a  penny  to  buy  sweets  (  !)  has 
an  excellent  effect.  One  baby  of  seven  summers 
had  some  cavities  filled,  to  which  she  objected 
strongly ;  but  a  kiss  and  a  coin — chiefly  the 
latter — purchased  her  forgiveness,  and  we 
parted  quite  good  friends. 

"It  is  essential  to  remember  that,  however 
,  desirous  one  may  be  to  save  the  children's  teeth, 
one  must  keep  in  mind  the  fact  that  there  is  a 
little  sensitive  nerve  and  a  little  frightened  child 
at  the  end  of  each  tooth.  On  the  other  hand, 
though  one  must  be  tender  to  the  little  ones, 
kindness  must  not  be  overdone.  For  many 
mistake  kindness  for  weakness,  and  take 
advantage  accordingly." 


Aui;ust  24,   1912 


abc  36iltisb  3ournnl  of  IHurstna 


'47 


THE  INTERNATIONAL  CONGRESS  OF 
NURSES. 

TUESDAY,     AUGUST     6th. 

Morning  Skssion. 
The  whole  of  Monday,  August  5th,  at  the 
Cologne  Congress,  was  devoted  to  the  business 
of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses  and  the 
reports  from  various  countries.  On  Tuesday 
morning  the  sessions  of  the  Congress  begun. 

THE     OVERSTRAIN    OF     NURSES. 

Miss  M.  .\.  Xutting,  Director  of  the  Department 
of  Nursing  and  Health  at  Teachers'  College, 
Columbia  University,  presided,  and  in  opening 
the  Session  said  that  in  these  days,  when  we  were 
considering  afresh  the  capacity  of  the  human 
machine,  it  was  highly  appropriate  to  consider 
the  position  of  nurses — a  body  of  workers  who  had 
given  freely  of  their  physical  and  rnental  strength 
— -when  industrial  workers  and  universities  were 
regulating  the  hours  of  pupils.  She  then  called 
on  Geheimrat  Hecker,  of  Strasburg-,  to  address 
the  Congress  on  the  subject  of  the  overstrain  of 
nurses. 

Dr.  Hecker,  in  an  exhaustive  and  masterly 
treatise,  discussed  the  whole  question  and  said 
that  a  vital  question  of  the  day  was  the  excess 
of  work  of  nurses  with  consequent  overstrain  and 
undue  demands  upon  their  strength.  Fatigue 
was  physiological,  over  fatigue  was  pathological. 
He  briefly  reviewed  the  origin  and  development 
of  nursing,  beginning  in  the  home  with  the  care 
of  the  children  and  the  ailing,  and  the  dressing  of 
injuries  received  in  encounters  with  wild  beasts. 
In  ancient  times  also  Germanic  women  followed 
their  men  to  the  battlefield  in  order  to  bind  their 
wounds,  and  this,  according  to  Tacitus,  was  the 
rea.son  why  the  German  men  of  those  times  held 
their  women  in  such  veneration.  .After  the 
introduction  of  Christianitv'  Religious  Orders 
were  founded,  the  members  of  which  were  animated 
by  a  love  of  God  and  of  their  neighbours.  They 
gave  their  services  freely,  receiving  no  compensa- 
tion, but  provision  for  times  of  illness  and  old  age 
was  assured  to  them,  so  tliat  when  a  woman 
helped  her  neighbours  in  illness  it  was  considered 
quite  natural  that  her  services  should  be  rendered 
gratuitously. 

The  advancement  of  civilisation,  the  increa.se 
of  wealth,  the  development  of  science,  and  the 
recognition  of  the  importance  of  health,  and 
consequently  of  adequate  nursing  and  the  observ- 
ance of  the  laws  of  hygiene,  created  demands  which 
the  Religious  Orders  were  not  able  to  meet.  .\t 
the  same  time  the  desire  of  modem  women  for  a 
suitable  sphere  of  work  developed,  and  thus 
nursing  by  seculars  originated.  Whilst  the  (Jld 
World,  with  its  traditions  handed  down  from  the 
Religious  Orders,  still  found  it  difficult  to  regard 
nursing  otherwise  than  as  a  charitable  duty, 
needing  little  or  no  pecuniary  compensation,  in 
the  New  World  it  had  been  founded  on  the  ba.sis 
of  a  recognised  profession.     At   the  close  of  the 


nineteenth  century  domestic  servants  were  so 
well  paid  that  they  were  unavailable  for  nursing, 
and  at  the  same  time  it  was  necessary  to  find 
avenues  of  work  for  educated  women.  Nursing, 
therefore,  was  organised  with  the  object  of  gaining 
the  support  of  the  intellectual  woman.  Women 
were  taught  stedfastness  of  aim  in  social  reform, 
but  from  the  beginning  they  were  placed  on  an 
independent  economic  footing.  Secular  nursing 
and  the  organisation  of  private  nursing  on  an 
independent  basis  did  not,  said  Dr.  Hecker. 
receive  the  same  support  from  German  hospital 
^authorities  as  in  America  or  England. 

In  Germany  hospitals  train  their  nurses  for 
their  own  use  and  try  to  bind  them  to  the  service 
of  the  institution  by  a  long  contract  and  the 
prospect  of  a  pension  ultimately.  In  the  United 
States  of  .\merica  a  three-years'  training  was  the 
rule.  The  nursing  of  the  hospitals  was  thus 
adequately  provided  for.  and  it  was  natural  that 
at  the  end  of  three  years  the  nurses  should  move 
on.  either  to  private  work  or  to  study  some  other 
branch  of  the  profession.  In  England  the  con- 
ditions were  similar. 

Formerly  in  Germany  each  institution  was 
allowed  to  determine  the  length  of  training  for 
its  nurses.  Since  igoo,  however,  a  State  exami- 
nation had  been  introduced  to  be  taken  after  a 
year's  training  in  hospital.  Only  those  who 
passed  this  examination  might  receive  the  diploma 
entitling  them  to  the  title  of  certificated  nurse. 
In  Prussia  there  were  now  171  institutions  in 
which  nurses  might  prepare  for  the  State  exami- 
nation. 

.\fter  a  short  physiological  sketch  of  the  dangers 
of  overwork.  Dr.  Hecker  said  that  experience 
proved  that  a  higher  percentage  of  .women  workers 
than  of  men  broke  down  because  they  were  less 
able  to  bear  the  mental  and  bodily  strain. 

In  Germany  there  were  '1.300  hospitals  with 
370.000  beds,  and  in  May,  1904,  the  number  of 
professional  nurses  employed,  principally  in  insti- 
tutions, was  27,675.  Of  these  14,235  were  Roman 
Catholics,  7,250  Evangelicals,  6,172  Seculars, 
and  1 1  Jewesses. 

Org.\niz..\tion. 

Turning  to  the  organisation  of  the  nursing  pro- 
fession. Dr.  Hecker  said  that  it  was  owing  to  the 
high  educational  standards  of  American  nurses, 
many  of  whom  had  rccci\'ed  a  college  training, 
and  to  the  subsequent  period  of  professional 
education  enforced,  that  the  standing  of  the 
profession  was  so  high,  and  that  its  members 
enjoyed  economic  independence.  A  careful  selection 
was  therefore  possible.  In  England  conditions 
were  much  the  same.  Only  those  candidates  were 
admitted  who  were  of  sound  health  and  without 
hereditary  taint.  Germany  was  the  third  countrj' 
to  join  the  International  Council  of  Nurses,  but  its 
conditions  of  training  and  organisation  were 
totally  different.  Side  by  side  with  the  Religious 
Orders  many  associations  had  sprung  up,  and  ten 
years  ago  the  German  Nursed  Association  was 
founded. 


148 


(Tbe  Bvttisb  3ournal  ot  H^iu'stno. 


J  Ki^llSt'  24,     I912 


Dr.  Hecker  explained  that,  in  Germany,  hospitals 
trained  their  probationers  with  a  view  to  obtaining 
cheap  labour,  and  in  return  for  board,  lodging, 
and  from  10  to  20  marks  pocket  money,  ten  to 
twelve  hours'  heavy  housework  and  responsible 
nursing  work  were  exacted. 

Instruction  w-as  given  during  off-duty  time,  or 
in  the  evening,  when  the  pupils  were  too  tired  to 
profit  by  it.  Instead  of  this  being  given  by  a 
capable  Matron,  they  received  two  hours'  teaching 
weekly  from  hard-worked  house  doctors,  whose 
services  in  this  connection  were  unremunerated. 
In  practical  instruction  also  the  Matron  and 
Sisters  should  also  take  a  more  active  part 
in  teaching  the  probationers,  but  at  present  they 
werektoo  hard  worked  to  permit  of  their  doing  so. 

Regulation  of  Work. 
The  regulation  of  work  was  a  most  important 
point.  According  to  statistics  compiled  by  the 
German  Nurses'  Association,  a  normal  day's  duty 
in  hospitals  in  igio  was  from  11  to  13 J-  hours,  in 
exceptional  cases  i8i  hours.  These  were  really 
working  hours  and  did  not  include  the  one  free 
hour  daily  nor  the  half-hour  for  dinner  which, 
in  small  hospitals,  was  by  no  means  undisturbed. 

In  a  hospital  in  Hamburg  the  nurses  were  on 
duty  from  twelve  to  thirteen  and  a  half  hours,  once 
a  week  for  half  the  night  also,  which  brought  their 
day's  work  up  to  sixteen  and  a  half  hours.  Dr. 
Hecker  then  gave  specific  instances  of  overwork, 
including  that  of  a  strong  young  nurse  in  a  small 
town  in  Wiirtemburg,  who,  with  the  help  of  one 
servant,  was  in  charge  of  twenty  to  twenty-five 
beds,  which  were  always  occupied,  mostly  by 
serious  cases,  such  as  infectious  di.seases  or 
accidents.  She  did  all  the  cooking,  and  in  ad- 
dition was  expected  to  keep  the  garden,  where 
vegetables  were  grown  for  sale,  in  order.  This 
she  did  by  rising  at  three  o'c  ock,  or  in  the  early 
morning  hours  after  a  night  on  dutj-.  At  the 
end  of  four  years  she  broke  down,  and  though 
after  six  months'  rest  she  resumed  work,  she  now 
suffered  from  periodical  melancholia. 

In  a  manufacturing  suburb  of  Berlin,  with 
70,000  inhabitants,  there  were  two  parish  sisters, 
many  of  the  cases  visited  living  on  the  third  and 
fourth  floors.  In  sanatoria  for  nervous  and 
mental  cases  nurses  were  frequently  on  duty  for 
fourteen  and  a  half  hours,  added  to  which  they 
slept  in  the  wards,  and  often  a  half  night's  duty- 
was  demanded,  bringing  the  hours  of  service  up 
to  eighteen  and  a  half.  A  Sister  in  a  small  private 
clinic  in  East  I'russia  went  on  duty  every  other 
night  for  five  weeks  without  having  a  single  free 
Irour  in  the  day,  so  that  in  the  course  of  forty-eight 
hours  she  was  on  duty  for  forty-one.  As  for  the 
private  nurse,  she  often  found  it  most  difficult 
to  obtain  a  quiet  room  to  rest  in  by  day.  The 
above  instances,  which  could  be  largely  added 
to,  together  with  the  invalid  and  death  statistics 
compiled  by  order  of  the  German  Diet,  spoke 
'for  themselves. 

Night  duty  was  a  vital  point.  As  a  rule,  a 
nurse  on  night  duty  had  the  care  of  thirty  to  forty 


patients.  Young  probationers,  after  a  few  weeks' 
training,  were  sent  on  night  duty,  and  if  they 
could  not  manage  a  serious  case  alone  were  required 
to  call  the  head  Sister.  Not  infrequently  also  a 
night  nurse  was  expected  to  do  domestic  work. 

In  England  and  the  United  States  probationers 
only  went  on  night  duty  with  an  experienced 
nurse  ;  in  Germany,  owing  to  the  lack  of  nurses, 
they  were  often  put  on  after  a  few  days'  experience. 
Many  probationers  broke  down  or  retired,  and 
complaints  were  frequent  with  regard  to  overwork, 
poor  food  and  accommodation,  and  want  of 
consideration,  as  well  as  of  enforced  attendance 
at  church  to  the  neglect  of  patients,  the  last 
complaint  being  made  by  a  good  Churchwoman. 

Remuneraton. 

Dr.  Hecker  said  that  the  remuneration  of  nurses 
proved  how  underrated  the  nursing  profession 
was  in  Germany,  instancing  300  marks,  or  about 
£14  15s.  yearly,  raised  after  ten  years'  service  to 
£2^,  was  a  typical  salary.  The  highest  salary 
known  was  700  marks,  or  about  £34  10s.,  after 
long  years  of  service.  Uniform  was  sometimes 
provided,  but  if  a  pension  fund  existed  5  to 
1 6  marks  were  deducted  from  the  salary.  Unlike 
servants,  nurses  paid  taxes,  but  were  mostly 
entitled  to  board  wages.  It  was  natural  that, 
owing  to  lack  of  means,  nurses  often  neglected  to 
take  a  necessary  holiday. 

With  regard  to  insurance  and  old  age  pensions, 
the  Secretary  of  State,  Dr.  Delbriick  had  said  : 
"  A  demand  has  been  rejected,  the  justifiability  of 
which  I  acknowledge,  namely,  the  insurance  of  the 
sick  nurse."  Pensions  were  rarely  sufficient,  and 
the  old-age  insurance  pension  by  no  means 
obligatory  in  all  institutions.  Statistics  showed 
that  in  Prussia  numerous  cases  were  still  entirely 
unprovided  for.  It  was  evident  how  injurious 
these  conditions  were  for  the  profession,  and  why 
frequent  breakdowns  occurred.  The  statistics 
of  the  German  Nurses'  Association  showed  that 
during  ten  years'  service,  out  of  2,500  nurses  986 
were  ovei^strained,  and  this  overtaxation  of 
strength  not  only  sowed  the  seed  of  cruel  disease 
but  caused  a  train  of  disaster.  No  one  wanted  a 
nurse  whose  health  must  be  considered,  and  only 
too  often  nurses  had  others  dependent  on  thc:n. 
For  many  death  was  a  release. 

Mortality. 

The  following  figures,  taken  from  statistics  com- 
piled by  the  German  Nurses'  Association,  showed 
that  up  to  1910  the  cause  of  death  of  35  nurses 
was  as  follows  ;  Suicide  g,  tuberculosis  7,  heart 
disease  6,  appendicitis  4,  inflammation  of  the  lungs 
"5,  cancer  2,  multiple-sarcoma  i,  typhus  i,  septic 
angina  i,  accident  i.  In  1910,  5  out  of  12  nurses — 
i.e.,  over  40  per  cent.,  ended  their  lives  by  suicide. 

Dr.  Hecker  then  quoted  the  last  annual  official 
statistics  of  the  Red  Cross  Society,  showing  that  Of 
1,562  nurses  471,  or  over  30  per  cent-.,  were  in- 
valided ;  and  of  329-  probationers  i  71,  or  over 
52  per  cent.     He  also  gave  figures,  showing  the 


August  24,    1912 


Z\K  Biitisb  3ournaI  of  UlurtJiiuj, 


149 


enormous  mortality  from  tubrrculosis  ;  and  gave, 
as  the  causes : — 

1.  Admission  to  the  nursing  profession  of  too 
young  and  delicate  persons,  or  of  those  affected 
by  hereditary  taint. 

2.  Poor  food  and  fasting,  and  hick  of  outdoor 
exercise. 

3.  Direct  infection  from  patients  or  other 
nurses. 

4.  Overwork,  aggra\atcd  l)\'  domestic  service 
being  demanded  in  addition  to  nursing  duties  ; 
lack  of  recreation  :    and  mental  depression. 

5.  A  stooping  attitude,  affecting  the  lungs. 

6.  Insanitary  uniform. 

Rf.commendations. 

To  deal  with  these  conditions.  Dr.  Hecker 
suggested  the  adoption  of  tlie  following  recom- 
mendations of  the  Gsrman  Nurses'  Association, 
formulated  at  the  International  Hygiene  Exhibi- 
tion, in  Dresden,  last  October  : — 

(1)  For  the  present,  10  hours' duty.  (2)  Distinct 
services  for  dav  and  night  duty.  (3)  A  three  years' 
term  of  training,  as  a  transition  at  least  two 
years.  (4)  The  establishment  of  special  courses  of 
training  for  matrons  and  tcaeliers.  {5)  The  pro- 
hibition of  non-certificated  teachers  in  public 
institutions.  (6)  The  years  of  services  to  be 
credited    to    a   nurse    on    changing    her    position. 

(7)  A  sufficient  State  Insurance  against  accident. 

(8)  Private  official  insurance,  (q)  Sufficient  board 
wages  during  vacation.  (lo)  The  com])iIation  of 
Government  statistics,  regarding  the  economic  con- 
ditions of  hospital  staffs.  (11)  llndisturbed  meals. 
(12)  Strict  selection,  as  in  England,  of  healthy 
p'-obationers,  free  from  the  hereditary  taint  of 
tuberculosis  ;  the  age  of  admission  to  be  not  under 
20  and  preferably  23.  (13)  Abolition  of  menial 
work  unconnected  with  the  patient  ;  once  a  nurse 
has  learnt  how  such  work  should  be  done,  in  order 
to  supervise  those  under  her.  she  should  not  be 
required  to  perform  it,  in  order  to  save  a  servant's 
wages  ;  a  maternity  nurse  was  expected  to  keep 
her  hands  smooth,  and  a  general  nurse  should  do 
the  same.     (14)  Considerate  treatment. 

Once  the  conditions  of  nursing  are  improved. 
Dr.  Hecker  expressed  the  belief  that  there  would 
be  no  lack  of  suitable  candidates,  and  maintained 
that  the  concession  of  the  points  enumerated  was 
possible,  as  evident  from  conditions  in  America, 
and  also  from  the  action  taken  by  the  Government 
Departments  of  Potsdam  and  South  Alsace,  and 
in  other  German  hospitals.  In  the  Government 
district  of  Cologne  in  1902  the  President  of  the 
Government  issued  an  order  to  all  hospitals  which 
he  controlled  that  "  over-work  should  be  avoided, 
and  proper  holidays  provided."  The  following 
year  a  table  of  regulations  was  sent  to  the  hos- 
jjitals  by  the  Board  of  Control  which,  amongst 
other  things,  provided  that  day  and  night  nurses 
were  to  be  relieved  at  regular  intervals,  that  night 
nurses  were  to  be  allowed  time  for  absolute  rest 
until  6  o'clock  the  following  day,  and  that  nurses 
were  to  have  an  aimual  holiday  of  14  days,  to  be 


devoted  entirely  to  recreation.  When  it  was 
found  that  these  orders  were  not  carried  out,  a 
strict  inquiry  was  made,  and  Dr.  Ruhsack,  in  an 
interview  with  the  Vicar  General,  requested  that 
an  ecclesiastical  order  should  be  issued  prohibiting 
the  nurses'  holidays,  which  were  to  be  a  time  of 
bodilv  recreation,  from  being  spent  in  retreat. 
The  result  of  the  Vicar  General's  report  to  the 
Archbishop  was  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  Ruhsack, 
and  the  assurance  that  his  request  should  be 
granted. 

Recreation  Homes. 

Some  Orders  had  gone  the  length  of  building 
recreation  homes,  and  the  Red  Cross  Societv  had 
made  arrangements  with  no  less  than  thirty-six 
watering  places,  sea  and  inland,  by  which  its 
nurses  could  be  received  on  reduced  terms,  and  in 
some  instances  free.  It  must  not,  however,  be 
forgotten  that  prevention  is  better  than  cure, 
and  that  those  institutions  which  avoided  over- 
working their  staff  were  on  the  best  economic 
basis. 

Dr.  Hecker  mentioned  that  His  Holiness  the 
Pope  (Pius  X)  is  greatly  interested  in  the 
question  of  the  overwork  of  nurses.  He  has 
caused  the  organisation  of  a  training  school  in 
Rome,  and  when  he  noticed  that  religious  com- 
munities sent  few  pupils  he  issued  strict  orders  that 
a  certain  number  were  to  be  sent  annually,  and 
declared  "  The  nursing  sisters  are  not  there  for  the 
performance  of  menial  work,  but  for  the  service 
of  the  sick." 

The  speaker  then  dealt  briell\-  with  the  duties 
and  position  of  the  Matron,  and  further  said  that 
young  doctors  were,  through  ignorance,  sometimes 
inconsiderate  of  nurses.  The  general  public 
should  not  abuse  the  good  nature  of  a  nurse  by 
accepting  her  services  out  of  the  sick  room,  and 
the  nurse  should  be  protected  by  the  regulations 
under  which  she  worked. 

Dr.  Hecker  concluded  by  pa\ing  a  higli  tribute 
to  the  work  of  the  President  of  the  International 
Council  of  Nurses,  Sister  Agnes  Karll,  "  to  who.se 
thorough  knowledge,  burning  zeal,  untiring  energy 
and  unselfish  devotion  her  colleagues  owe  so 
much."  With  the  recognition  of  the  need  for 
reformation,  the  work  is,  he  said,  already  begun. 

The  paper  of  which  the  above  is  only  a  very 
brief  abstract,  was  listened  to  with  the  closest 
attention    and   interest. 

The  Chairman  said  she  was  sorry  for  those 
nurses  who  could  not  understand  German  and  so 
missed  Dr.  Hocker's  masterly  treatise,  the  first, 
she  believed,  to  deal  with  the  question  of  overstrain 
in  nurses  from  the  scientific  standpoint.  She  hoped 
it  would  be  translated  in  its  entirety  and  published 
in  English.  Germany  had  a  monopoly  of  many 
good  things,  but  it  ought  not  to  have  a  monopoly 
of  Dr.  Hecker.  She  remarked  incidentally  that 
America  was  no  paradise  for  nurses,  and  con- 
gratulated the  German  Nurses'  Association  and 
German  nurses  generally  on  having  secured  so 
brave  and  fearless  a  supportei-  as  Dr.  Hecker,  who 


Cbc  36i'itisb  3ournaI  of  IRurstno 


Aiif^ust  24,    191: 


spoke    not    only    for    himself    but    for    the    large 
Government  Department  which  he  represented. 

A  Matron's  View. 
^  Sister  Helene  Meyer,  a  delegate  of  the  German 
Nurses'  Association,  and  Matron  of  the  Municipal 
Hospital  at  Dortmund,  who  presented  the  ne.xt 
paper,  complained  strongly  of  the  incredible 
abuses  practised  in  many  hospitals  in  Germany 
in  connection  with  the  overwork  of  nurses, 
declaring  that  it  was  far  behind  other  countries  in 
this  matter.  The  work  of  the  nurses  on  day  duty 
began  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning,  sometimes  at 
five,  and  the  time  for  coming  off  duty  was 
frequently  onlv  observ-ed  on  paper.  Night  duty 
was  also  very  hard.  Nurses  had  a  right  to  work 
in  cfuiet,  and  that  they  could  not  do.  Nor  could 
they  enjoy  the  pleasure  which  was  legitimately 
theirs  when  their  patients  recovered,  because  they 
themselves  were  so  tired  and  overworked,  and  from 
this  cause  thousands  of  healthy  girls  became  ill 
every  year.  They  could  not  devote  themselves  to 
culture,  and  they  could  not  give  the  best  that  was 
in  them  to  their  patients,  as  they  had  not  the  time. 

Sister  Meyer,  however,  ended  her  paper  on  a 
note  of  hope,  saving  that  we  had  glimpses  of  the 
beautiful  dawn  of  a  new  era.  We  were  conscious 
during  this  Congress  of  the  encouragement  derived 
from  the  knowledge  that  in  unison  with  our 
colleagues  we  encircled  the  world  with  the  same 
aims,  and  if  we  took  the  watchword  of  our  Con- 
gress— "  Aspiration  " — as  the  guiding  star  of  our 
work,  the  victory  of  those  who  strive  would  be 
our  reward. 

RESOLUTION. 

The  following  resolution  was  then  proposed 
by  Miss  Verwey  Mejan  (Holland),  seconded  by 
Oberin  von  Wietersheim  (Germany),  and  carried 
unanimously  : — 

"  Wliereas  with  the  advance  made  l:)y  scientists 
in  the  study  and  comprehension  of  the  human 
mechanism,  and  with  the  new  knowledge  regarding 
the  nature  and  effects  of  fatigue  upon  the  human 
organism,  it  is  seen  to  be  unscientific  and  wasteful 
to  destroy  human  capacities  by  overstrain. 
Resolved,  that  we  earnestly  beg  hospital  authorities 
to  give  the  same  consideration  to  the  problem  of 
overwork  among  nurses  that  industrial  leaders  are 
giving  to  the  question  of  overwork  among  workers 
in  industry  in  order  that  the  present  grievous 
destruction  of  the  health  of  nurses  may  cease." 

It  was  further  agreed,  on  the  proposition  of 
Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  to  send  the  resolution  to 
the  Secretary  of  State  for  the  Home  Department 
in  countries  in  which  a  National  Council  of  Nurses 
is  affiliated  to  the  International  Council. 

Mrs.  Holgate  (New  Zealand)  said  that  in  that 
country,  where  nurses  were  registered  by  the 
State,  and  had  the  Parliamentary  vote,  the,- 
had  an  eight  hours'  day,  and  were  reaping  the 
benefit  in  health  and  happiness.  Flaws  were, 
however,  sometimes  discovered  in  the  most 
apparently  perfect  things,  and  it  was  not  certain, 
after  experience  of  the  system,  that  it  was  the  best 
for  the  patients,  whose  interests  came  first. 


THE    GERMAN     HOSPITAL    WORLD. 


THE    JEWISH     HOSPITAL. 

Somewhat  fagged  after  a  very  strenuous  day,^ 
we  arrived  in  the  late  afternoon  at  the  Jewish 
Hospital,  Cologne-Ehrcnfeld, 

Joining  a  party  of  visitors,  w-e  were  at  once 
shown  over  this  well-arranged  and  comfortable 
hospital,  which  is  capable  of  accommodating  200 
patients,  of  whonr  we  were  told  the  larger  number 
are  Christians.  The  staff,  medical  and  nursing, 
must  be  of  Hebrew  nationality. 

There  are  no  large  wards — all  are  small. 
There  are  two  operating  theatres,  a  small  one  for 
operations  on  the  nose,  throat,  ear,  &c.,  and  the 
other  for  general  operations.  Here  I  saw  for  the 
first  time  a  machine  for  regulating  and  measuring 
the  amount  of  the  ana?sthetic  administered.  The 
hospital  is  very  complete,  and  has  all  the  necessarj- 
arrangements  for  electric,  hot  air,  sand,  local  and 
other  baths,  also  a  small  gymnasium  for  exercises. 
The  laundry,  also,  was  very  up  to  date,  all  the 
work  being  done  by  three  workers,  under  a 
directress,  and  by  machinery  ;  washing,  rinsing, 
wringing  and  ironing,  all  going  on  at  the  same  time. 

The  nurses'  home  was,  to  me,  almost  more  in- 
teresting than  the  hospital  ;  one  is  so  accustomed 
to  find  all  the  most  recent  inventions  and  dis- 
coveries in  use  for  the  benefit  of  patients,  that  one 
is  surprised  only  when  such  things  are  wanting. 

But  in  many  cases  it  is  quite  otherwise  in  regard 
to  the  nurses  ;  so  often  their  comfort  is  the  last 
consideration  ;  but  not  so  here.  E-vidently  the 
care  of  the  nurses  is  thought  to  be  as  important 
as  the  care  of  the  patients. 

The  Nurses'  Home  is  most  complete  in  every 
particular.  They  have  a  charming  suite  of  rooms 
for  meals,  recreation,  studv  and  rest,  not  forgettmg 
a  nice  balcony.  All  are  furnished  most  comfort- 
ably— almost  luxuriously.  The  dining  room  is 
decorated  in  shades  of  red,  with  pretty  carved 
chairs,  covered  with  stamped  leather.  In  the  salon 
is  a  grand  piano,  so  that  the  nurses  have  musical 
evenings. 

Every  nurse  has  her  own  room,  charmingly 
furnished,  and  where  she  may  scatter  her  personal 
treasures.  All  the  bedrooms  are  decorated  in 
shades  of  blue,  with  chairs,  beds,  and  windows 
draped  in  linen  to  match. 

The  training  is  for  18  months,  and  just  now  all 
are  working  hard  for  the  State  examination, 
the  advantage  of  which  has  been  quickly  realised. 

In  the  home  are  isolation  quarters,  where  those 

who  have  been  nursing  infectious  cases  may  be 

quarantined.       They  have     their    own    entrance, 

bath,  etc.     There  are  33   nurses  belonging  to  the 

'  home,  some  of  whom  go  to  private  cases. 

The  nurses'  hours  in  hospital  are  from  5  a.m. 
to  8  p.m.,  and  at  night  from  8  p.m.  to  8  a.m.  The 
day  nurses  have  half  an  hour  for  breakfast,  one 
hour  for  dinner,  one  hour  for  recreation  in  the 
afternoon,  and  half  an  hour  for  afternoon  coffee, 
and  one  month's  holiday  a  year.  After  twenty 
years'   service   they  are  entitled   to  a  pension. 


Au<:iisi  24,    igi 


Cbc  36rltiC'b  3ouvnal  of  H-luvsmo. 


For  every  division  containing  twenty-lwo 
patients  there  is  a  nurse,  a  probationer,  and  a 
maid. 

Here,  too,  the  care  is  not  confined  only  to  those 
who  are  ill,  for  one  part  of  the  building— or,  to  be 
quite  correct,  one  building  (for  there  are  many 
built  about  nice  gardens)  —is  devoted  to  the  care 
of  the  aged  poor.  Daddies  and  grannies  have 
their  homes  together,  sit  on  the  verandahs,  and 
chat  and  take  tlicir  meals  eti  lamilh. 

They  looked  so  happy  and  contented  in  their 
little  rooms.  The  sweet  faced  matron  and  the 
gentle  looking  nurses,  some  so  like  the  pictures 
of  the  Madonna,  all  so  enjoyed  the  good  work 
they  have  undertaken,  that  quite  reluctantly  we 
took  leave,  after  a  most  acceptable  and  sumptuous 
tea,  hoping  that  some  day  we  may  meet 
again. 

THE    CITY    CRECHE. 

The  City  Creche,  at  20,  Georgstrasse,  is  another 
interesting  institution  which  was  open  for  our 
inspection  in  Cologne. 

The  babies  are  brought  from  6.30  to  7  a.m., 
their  clothes  arc  changed,  and  twice  a  week  they 
are  bathed.  They  are  kept  until  7  or  8  in  the 
evening.  Once  a  week  they  are  all  weighed. 
They  are  fed  five  times  during  the  day,  but  the 
mothers  are  encouraged  to  breast  feed  them  as 
much  as  possible.  So  anxious  are  the  authorities 
to  induce  the  mothers  to  feed  their  babies  naturally 
that  the  city  pays  every  poor  mother  who  does 
so  8s.  a  week  so  long  as  she  continues  this  method. 
Also,  she  pays  only  abaut  10  Jd.  per  week  for  her 
baby  at  the  Creche  insteadtaf  nearlj'  is.  8d.  paid 
by  the  others. 

There  is  accommodation  for  fifty  or  sixty 
children.  Here,  too,  there  is  a  large  verandah 
upon  which  the  cots  are  wheeled  and  the  older 
children  play.  Open  air  treatment  is  beiiig 
practised  in  all  the  public  institutions,  and  large 
verandahs  are  seen  everywhere,  and  they  are 
well  occupied  when  weather  permits. 

In  the  babies'  dining-room  was  a  low  circular' 
table  with  seat  attached,  where  the  little  ones 
have  their  meals.  Lavatories,  too,  were  arranged 
of  a  size  for  the  wee  occupants  of  the  house.  In 
fact,  everything  was  thought  of  for  the  comfort 
and  well  being  of  the  future  generation. 

A  member  of  the  Ladies  Committee  attended 
here,  as  elsewhere,  to  explain,  interpret  and  direct, 
willing  to  render  to  all  as  much  assistance  as 
possible. 

Every  member  of  the  Congress  is  much  indebted 
to  the  Cologne  Ladies  Committee,  who  gave 
themselves  up  so  entirely  to  the  entertainment  and 
care  of  their  numerous  guests.         Mary  Bl-rk. 

ST.    ANTONIUS    HEIM. 

As  a  member  of  the  International  Congress  of 
Nurses,  having  charge  of  a  large  children's 
hospital,  I  was  anxious  to  see  some  of  the  institu- 
tions for  children  in  Cologne. 

The  first  one  we  visited  was  St.  Antonius  Heim, 
where  about  seventy  Uttle  orphans  are  looked 
after  by  the  nuns.     They  are  all  children  Who 


have  lost  one  parent,  and  in  many  cases  both. 
\\'e  were  shown  into  a  class-room  where  about 
forty  small  boys  and  girls  were  being  taught  by 
a  sympathetic  nun.  They  arc  all  dressed  in  neat, 
plain  clothes,  and  wore  a  simple  pinafore  made 
of  holland,  cut  square  at  the  neck,  and  without 
any  frills  or  pleats.  We  saw  many  of  these 
later  on  and  were  told  that  all  school  children  in 
Germany  are  expected  to  wear  a  pinafore,  which 
seems  a  very  clean,  sensible  idea.  The  little  ones 
greeted  us  in  a  friendly  way,  and  sang  us  a  song 
accompanied  with  pretty  actions,  such  as  we 
see  in  kindergarten  classes  in  England. 
/  We  were  then  shown  the  babies'  ward.  Rows 
of  bassinettes  held  tiny  mites,  some  very  ricketj' 
and  ill-nourished,  reminding  us  painfully  of  the 
small  patients  who  fill  so  many  of  our  cots  at 
home.  The  cradles  stood  on  wooden  stands,  so 
that  the  babies  were  protected  from  draughts, 
and  we  were  amused  to  see  on  the  top  of  each 
cradle  a  miniature  edition  of  the  feather  bed 
which  is  such  a  familiar  feature  of  every  German 
Hotel.  We  wondered  if  these  were  not 
occasionally  found  reposing  on  the  floor,  as  the 
baby  increased  in  strength  and  vigour. 

The  dormitories  for  the  bigger  children  held 
rows  of  neat  white  cots,  and  we  were  also  shown 
the  store-room,  where  the  plain,  neat  little 
costumes  are  supplied  for  each  child.  The 
rooms  were  large  and  well  lighted,  and  a  beautiful 
garden  surrounded  the  home,  which  is  situated 
in  a  poor,  barren-looking  district,  and  gay  window- 
boxes  made  it  a  bright  spot  of  colour. 

THE     MUNICIPAL     MILK     DEPOT. 

We  afterwards  visited  the  well-kept  Municipal 
Milk  Depot,  where  the  milk  is  prepared  and  issued 
to  many  babies,  both  in  hospital  and  in  their 
own  homes.  We  saw  the  bottles  thoroughly 
washed  and  sterilised  and  the  milk  bottled  in 
sensible,  broad-based  bottles,  which  are  delivered 
daily  to  any  mother  who  has  received  an  order 
from  the  doctor. 

The  courteous  guide  who  showed  us  round 
appeared  embarrassed  when  we  asked  liow  often 
the  milk  was  delivered,  so  much  so  that  we 
feared  we  were  asking  for  State  secrets,  but 
it  appeared  that  his  confusion  arose  from  not 
wishing  to  offend  our  susceptibilities,  as  he  re- 
marked later  that  he  must  not  tell  the  English 
that  they  worked  on  Sundays  ! 

We  went  on  to  sec  the  beautiful  Jewish 
Hospital,  which  is  thoroughly  up  to  date,  and 
fitted  with  everv  modern  ctmvenience.  Here  we 
were  most  hospitably  received  by  the  Matron, 
who  showed  us  every  part  of  this  fine  building, 
and  afterwards  entertained  us  to  tea,  served  in 
elegant  glasses,  with  cakes,  etc.,  of  a  most 
inviting  kind. 

In  this  Hospital  there  were  no  babies.  A  few 
older  children  ;  but  some  delightful  old  grannies 
who  received  us  with  the  greatest  cordiality  were 
especially  interesting,  one  ,  old  lady  of  07 
declaring  that,  if  she  were  a  little  younger,  she 
sliould  come  to  England  and  return  our  visit ! 

S.  A.   V. 


Cbc  rn-itisb  3ournal  of  fluri?iiuj 


August  24,   1912 


BAD   NEUENAHR. 


The  reputation  of  German  Baths  as  curative 
agencies  stands  high,  and  no  one  can  wonder, 
after  seeing  the  perfection  of  the  arrangements 
at  Bad  Xeuenahr,  that  there  is  an  annual 
exodus  from  this  country  to  drink  the  waters  at 
German  springs,  for,  after  all,  onlj'  a  \-er>^  small 
portion  of  each  day  is  occupied  in  qualhng  the 
regenerating  draught  which  bubbles  up  from 
mother  earth,  but  the  days  must  be  all  too  short 
at  Xeuenahr  to  enjoy  the  lovely  pleasure  grounds, 
the  music  of  the  Baths  Orchestra,  which  e\en  in 
this  land  of  musicians  is  exceptionally  fine,  and 
the  walks  and  excursions  in  the  valley  of  the  Ahr, 
which 'tradition  tells  is  a  bit  of  Paradise  which 


that  he  had  followed  with  great  interest  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Congress  at  Cologne,  and  noted  the 
high-minded  efforts  for  the  welfare  of  mankind  of 
the  International  Council  of  Nurses.  He  hoped 
that  after  the  strenuous  work  of  the  Congress  the 
excursion  to  the  valley  of  the  Ahr  would  be  an 
agreeable  recreation. 

In  connection  with  the  classes  of  cases  for  wliich 
the  thermal  springs  are  beneficial  he  mentioned 
diseases  of  the  digestive  tract,  of  the  li\-er  and 
kidneys,  including  gaU  stones,  diabetes,  and  gout, 
as  well  as  many  diseases  of  the  respiraton,-  organs, 
an  experience  of  over  fifty  years  having  proved 
the  efficacy  of  the  treatment.  \'isitors  availing 
themselves  of  the  cure  are  received  from  all  parts 
of  the  world,  the  number  last  year  being  no  less 
than  14,000.  one-fifth  of  whom  were  foreigners. 


THE      KURH.AUS.      BAD      NEUENAHR. 


fell  from  the  hands  of  the  angels  when,  on  account 
of  man's  transgression,  the  Garden  of  Eden  was 
being  renioved  from  earth  to  hea\-en. 

It  was  a  \er\-  merr\-,  happy  party,  some  three 
hundred  in  number,  which  entrained  at  Cologne 
early  on  the  morning  of  Friday,  August  gth,  and 
an  hour  and  a  half  later  arrived  at  Xeuenahr, 
where  it  was  met  by  the  Director  and  conducted 
to  Bad  Xeuenahr.  Here,  b3-  invitation  of  the 
Administration,  the  whole  party  was  entertained 
to  luncheon  in  the  beautiful  Kurhaus,  the  hospi- 
talitv  extended  being  as  generous  as  it  was 
delightful,  and  the  music  an  abiding  pleasurable 
memory:  Music  indeed  played  a  memorable  part 
in  the  hospitality  extended  to  the  Congress. 

During  luncheon  the  Director  in  the  name  of 
the  Administration,  welcomed  the  International 
Congress  of  Xurses  to  Bad   Xeuenalir,   and   said 


In  conclusion  the  Director  begged  his  guests 
to  bear  in  mind  their  short  stay  in  Xeuenahr,  and 
said,  "  I  beg  you  to  allow  me  to  drink  your  health, 
and  I  ask  you  to  clink  glasses  to  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  X'urses.  May  it  de\'elop  and 
succeed  far  and  wide.  Der  Weltbund  lebe  f 
Hurrah  !  " 

Geheimrat  Dr.  Hecker,  who  on  rising  to  speak 
was  warmly  applauded,  in  expressing  his  thanks 
for  the  delightful  hospitality  extended  to  the 
part\',  said  that  all  who  took  part  would  remember 
the  Congress  week  and  their  visit  to  Xeuenahr 
with  great  pleasure.  They  met  as  strangers,  but 
had  become  friends  and  sisters,  a  privilege  he  also 
claimed  as  he  had  been  welcomed  to  the  Congress 
meetings  and  presented  with  its  badge.  After 
referring  to  the  work  of  the  ladies'  committee,^ 
Dr.    Hecker   said   that   the   International   Council 


August  24,   191: 


ClK  Bntiyb  3oiirnal  ot  iRiiremo 


153 


of  Nurses  owed  its  existence  to  Mrs.  Bcdtord 
Fenwick,  who  could  never  be  thanked  enough. 
He  thought  that  the  Coxincil  as  yet  scarcely 
realised  the  power  it  possessed  in  the  strength  of 
its  unity.  He  knew  no  other  association  so  united. 
Press  and  nations  were  divided  bv  political 
and  religious  differences.  The  Council  had  one 
single  aim,  and  he  urged  it  to  make  its  power  felt 
throughout  the  world  in  the  service  of  humanity. 
Having  first  thanked  Mrs.  Fenwick,  "  the 
founder  of  all,"  he  must  also  mention  Miss  Nutting, 
"a  pearl  in  the  crown,"  and  the  ven,-  necessary 
"  Schatzmeisterin  "  Miss  Hrc-ay,  who  always 
had  money  in  the  TreJisur)',  an  unusual  achieve- 
ment, and  Miss  Dock,  the  dear,  quick  little  lady 
who  reminded  him  of  the  great  German  general 


Burgermcister  Laue  said  tliat  as  the  rcpre- 
sentatu'e  of  the  Congress  town  of  Cologne,  and  of 
the  Committee,  he  was  deputed  to  thank  the 
.\d ministration  of  Bad  Ncucnahr  for  their  hospi- 
tality and  kindness,  and  especially  the  man  upon 
whom  the  organisation  of  tliis  wonderful  festival 
in  the  \-allcy  of  the  Ahr  had  fallen — the  Hen- 
Director.     D.r  Bade-director.     Hoch  !  Hoch  !  Hoch  > 

Sister  Karll,  as  President  of  the  Council, 
warmly  expressed  its  thanks  for  the  hospitaUty 
and  courtesy  extended  to  it.  and  Mrs.  Bedford 
Fenwick  said  that  she  felt  it  would  Ix;  the  desire 
of  everyone  present  to  con\ey  to  their  kind  host 
their  heartfelt  thanks  for  the  generous  and 
'delightful  reception  arranged  for  them.  The  day 
was  the  last  of  the  Congress  week,  and  those  who 


A     FEW    OF    THE     ME.MBEKtS    OF    THE    INTERNATIONAL    CONGRESS    OF    NL'R5ES    AT     NELENAHR. 


"  Vorwarts  "  Bliicher.  He  could  not  thank 
everj'one  separately,  but  we  must  at  least  re- 
member our  dear  President.  Sister  Agnes  Karll, 
to  whom  everyone  was  sincerely  grateful. 

Dr.  Hecker  concluded  by  urging  tlic  members 
of  the  Council  to  fight  like  the  Amazons  of  old, 
not  with  the  weapons  of  war,  but  with  moral  arms, 
and  asked  all  the  membei  s  of  the  Congress 
to  work  for  a  better  social  position  for  the 
Sisters,  and  to  report  in  three  years'  time  what 
had  been  done  in  that  way.  He  regretted  that 
the  beautiful  days  were  over,  and  would  miss 
the  many  dear  faces  one  had  learnt  to  love,  but 
would  scarcely  see  again.  He  proposed  the 
health  of  the  Committee,  and  success  to  the 
Internationa'.  Council  of  Nurses.  "Hoch!  Hoch! 
Hoch  !  "  The  band  then  took  up  the  "  hoch," 
which  resounded  round  the  hall. 


had  arrived  full  of  appreciation  of  their  German 
friends  would  go  away  with  an  increased  admira- 
tion for  evcrj-thing  German.  The  Congress  had 
done  much  to  inculcate  professional  ideals,  and 
the  visit  to  Neuenahr  would  be  one  of  its  most 
delightful  memories. 

Tnc  members  of  the  Congress  were  then  in\ated 
to  visit  as  much  of  the  great  establishment  as 
it  was  possible  to  see  in  a  short  time.  A  halt  was 
first  made  in  front  of  the  Kurliaus,  where  a  photo- 
graph was  taken  of  the  group  which  appears  on 
this  page  ;  then  a  short  walk  across  the  grounds 
brought  them  to  the  "  Grosser  Spnidel  "  (the 
great  hot  spring),  where  the  healing  waters 
bubble  up  in  the  midst  of  beautiful  surroundings, 
back  again  to  the  "  Willibrodus  Sprudel."  which 
springs  from  a  depth  of  1,233  feet,  where  comely 
maidens  offered  draughts  of  this  natural  mineral 


154 


£bc  36viti5b  3ouvnal  or  n-lur^ino. 


24.  1912 


water,  which  rises  from  the  earth  at  a  tem- 
perature of  95.3  degrees  Fahr.,  and  is  by  no  means 
unpleasant  to  taste.  Kowhcre  in  Germany,  except 
at  Xeuenahr,  are  these  alkaline  thermal  springs 
to  be  found,  and  they  are  used  not  only  for 
drinking,  but  also  for  bathing. 

The  bathing  establishment  is  well  worth  a 
visit,  the  three  corridors  containing  the  large 
well- ventilated  and  luxurious  bath-rooms,  over 
100  in  number,  being  connected  with  the  Kurhotel 
by  a  cross  gallery^.  The  floors  of  the  bath  rooms 
are  covered  with 
deep  red  tiles,  the 
prevailing  colour  of 
the  walls  and  of  the 
baths  being  white, 
so  that  a  general 
impression  of  bright- 
ness, as  well  as 
scrupulous  cleanli- 
ness, is  received.  By 
means  of  a  special 
apparatus,  both  ver- 
tical and  horizontal 
douches  can  be 
given  at  any  desired 
heat  or  strength. 

In  addition  to  the 
thermal  baths,  car- 
bonic acid,  wave, 
and  water  stream 
baths  are  provided, 
as  well  as  Fango 
(volcanic  mud), 

sandbaths,  hot  air 
and  light  baths. 
Indeed,  there 
appears  to  be  no 
\ariety  of  bath 
which  cannot  be 
obtained  in  this 
up  -  to  -  date  estab- 
lishment;  and 
trained  masseurs 
and  masseuses  are 
in  attendance.  In 
addition,  diseases  of 
the  respiratory 
organs  can  be 
treated  bv  inhalation 
on  Hever's  system, 
when    the     sprayed 

liquid  is  inhaled  by  means  of  deep  breathing,  or 
in  a  room  filled  up  with  one  of  Wassmuth's  in- 
halation appliances,  when  the  healing  substance 
can  be  inhaled  for  lengthy  periods  without  any 
exertion  on  the  part  of  the  patient. 

]\Iuch  more  might  be  written  of  this  wonderful 
Spa,  the  courtesy  of  its  director,  and  the  charm  of 
its  natural  surroundings,  which,  combined  with 
the  curative  effects  of  its  healing  springs,  make 
it  an  ideal  holiday  and  health  resort.  We  wish 
for  no  better  fate  for  the  nurses  who  have  recently 
visited  it  than  to  return  there  with  patients  in 
the  course  of  their  professional  dut},-. 


.AHRVVEILER. 


HERR     VON     EHRENWALL'S    SANATORIUM. 

The  pleasures  of  this  last  day  of  the  Congress 
were  not  yet  over,  for  there  remained  the  hospitable 
invitation  of  Herr  von  Ehrenwall  to  view  his 
Sanatorium  for  nervous  and  mentally  diseased 
patients  at  Ahrvveiler.  A  short  journey  in  the 
train  and  a  walk  through  the  charmingly  quaint 
streets  of  the  little  town  brought  us  to  the  Sana- 
torium, where  the 
members  of  the 
Congress  were 
divided  into  four 
large  parties,  and 
conducted  tlu'ough 
this  great  establish- 
ment by  as  many 
guides. 

The  grounds  com- 
prise no  less  than 
452  acres,  and  the 
foundation  stone  of 
the  principal  house 
was  laid  in  1S82. 
There  are  now  a 
number  of  depart- 
ments, including  the 
house  for  restless 
patients,  the  Villa 
Maria,  and  the  \'illa 
Sophia,  named  after 
the  director's 
daughters,  and  de- 
voted to  medical 
patients,  the  batlis, 
under  the  care  of  a 
presiding  genius 
named  Johanna,  so 
arranged  that  while 
there  is  perfect 
privacy  for  the 
patients,  complete 
supervision  is 
assured.  The  whole 
of  the  appointments 
are  most  sumptuous. 
( )ne  was  struck  also 
b\'  the  airiness  of 
the  -wiiole  establish- 
ment, which  is  not 
always  achieved  in  institutions  of  tliis  kind  ;  by  the 
absence  of  any  appearance  of  restraint,  although 
some  of  the  rooms  were  padded  ;  by  the  arrange- 
ment for  opening  the  windows  in  the  'S'illa  Maria,  by 
means  of  which  complete  securits"  with  a  maximum 
»of  fresh  air  were  combined.  The  rooms  for  the 
patients  were  most  comfortablv  and  e\en  luxuri- 
ously furnished.  Some  were  bed-sitting  rooms, 
others  bedroom  and  sitting-room  opening  into  one 
another.  We  were  informed  that  the  nurses  on 
the  staff  are  all  trained  before  their  appointnient. 
They  appeared  to  be  of  a  high  type,  alert,  Is^d, 
and  competent. 


SANATORILM      AHRWEll.ER.     MLl.A      MARIA. 


rust  24,  191 


<rbe  Britl^b  3oiu-nal  of  H-lurstno. 


'55 


The  area  to  be  covered  in  going  round  this 
great  building  was  immense  — and  wc  had  already 
inspected  Xcuenahr.  Up  and  down  stairs  we 
went,  as  our  guide  led  off  at  a  good  pace,  as  one 
visitor  remarked,  "  faint  yet  pursuing,"  but  were 
rewarded  by  an  insight  into  a  very  well  managed 
and  interesting  institution.  A  much  admired 
department  was  the  gymnasium,  with  massage 
and  electrical  department,  where  rowing,  sculling, 
and  all  kinds  of  exercises  can  be  indulged  in. 
Shouts  of  laughter  greeted  Miss  Clara  Lee  as  she 
adventured  upon 
the  mechanical 
horse  worked  by 
electricity,  and, 

though  jolted  ui> 
and  down  with  sur- 
prising rapidity, 
courageously  stuck 
to  her  mount,  which 
must  afford  fine 
exercise  for  the 
liver.  Another  de- 
partment which  ex- 
cited much  admira- 
tion was  that  ex- 
hibiting specimens 
of  the  liandicraft  of 
non-paying  patients, 
including  wood 
carving  of  high 
excellence.  The 
charges  for  paying 
patients  appear 
moit  reasonable — 
from  I  o  marks 
(shillings)  a  day 
upwards,  including 
medical  attendance. 

By  the  time  the 
round  of  the  estab- 
lishment had  been 
made,  every  one 
was  ready  for  tea,  to 
which  they  were 
bidden  by  the  Tlerr 
and  Frau  Director 
— and  tea  under  the 
most  perfect  con- 
ditions  possible. 

Long  tables, 
decorated         with 

lovely  roses,  and  laden  with  every  kind  of  delectable 
cake,  were  laid  in  a  lovely  green  bower,  hundreds 
of  feet  in  length ;  and  tea,  followed  by  dehcious 
ices  and  fruit  drinks,  was  served  by  many 
willing   hands. 

All  good  things  come  to  an  end  at  last,  and  with 
them  the  golden  day  spent  at  Neuenahr  and 
Ahrweilcr  ;  but  not  before  the  last  words  had  been 
spoken. 

Gehcimrat  Dr.  von  Ehrenwall,  who,  on  rising  to 
speak,  was  greeted  with  loud  applause,  said  that 
Tie  had  been  honoured  by  an  invitation  to  the 
Congress    meetings    in    Cologne,    and    had    been 


SANATOkraiiH     AHRWU 


much  struck  by  the  earnestness  and  discipline  of 
the  members.  In  an  association  of  which  he  had 
been  a  member  for  thirty  years,  he  had  never  met 
such  profound  earnestness  and  harmony  as  were 
so  noticeable  at  the  Nurses'  Congress  meetings. 
Vour  Council  is,  he  said,  already  honourably 
conspicuous  ;  but  you  will  agree  with  me,  if  I  ask 
you  to  think  once  more  of  it,  and  that  it  may 
always  help  to  stimulate  your  zeal.  The  Interna- 
tional Council  of  Nurses,  and  its  German  head. 
Sister  .\gnes  Karll.     Iloch  !  hoch  !  hoch  ! 

Sister  Karll  said 
that  on  the  last, 
as  on  the  first 
time  we  met  to- 
gether, in  the  Con- 
gress week,  it  de- 
\olved  upon  her  to 
express  her  thanks. 
The  foreign  guests 
had  seen  something 
of  German  hos- 
l>itality,  and  espe- 
cially of  the  hospi- 
tality of  the  Rhenish 
provinces  ;  they  had 
also  had  their  wish 
fulfilled  in  listening 
to  much  German 
music.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  Congress 
desired  to  express 
their  thanks  for  all 
the  hospitality  they 
had  received  on  the 
Rhine.  It  was  the 
personal  note  of 
kindness  which  was 
so  conspicuous  in 
its  festivities,  wliicli 
it  valued  so  much, 
and  the  good  fellow- 
ship of  its  members, 
who  were  not  only 
united  as  profes- 
sional workers,  but 
by  the  harmony  of 
their  aims.  It  was 
tliis  which  promised 
success  in  the 
future,  and  in  this 
hope  she  said  auf 
wiedrrsehen  in  San  Francisco.  She  also  said  attf 
wiedirsshm  to  our  dear  hosts,  Herr  and  Frau 
Geheimrat  von  Ehrenwall  ;  and  asked  them  to 
accept  the  sincere  thanks  of  the  members  of  the 
Congress  for  the  kind  welcome  they  had  given 
them,  and  which  they  would  always  remember 
with  profound  pleasure.  And,  bj--and-by,  when 
the  special  train  passed  out  of  the  station,  there 
was  a  great  fluttering  of  handkerchiefs  and 
kissing  of  hand. 

"  Cologne,  1912,"  a  very  wonderful  chapter  in 
the  history  of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses, 
was  closed. 


-56 


Cbe  Bittisl)  3oiunal  ot  Burstno 


August  24,    igi2 


IMPRESSIONS   OF   THE    CONGRESS. 


How  the  International  Council  of  Nnrses  has 
grown  in  three  years  !  Not  only  in  numbers  but 
in  influence.  It  is  verjr  significant  to  gather 
together  in  conference  upwards  of  600  nurses 
from  twenty-three  different  countries  in  one 
meeting  place  for  a  week,  and  Germany  will  note 
these  days  of  association  as  a  milestone  in  the 
history  of  nursing.  In  Cologne,  before  our 
Congress,  no  one  realised  what  professional 
nursing  means  in  these  days.  When  the  Cologne 
ladies  were  asked  to  help  in  the  work  for  the 
Congress,  they  were  ready  to  do  it,  because 
nurses  are  warmly  supported  in  their  devoted 
work  in  Germany,  on  account  of  the  general 
love  for  the  old  religious  institutions,  from  whose 
past  labours  nurses  reap  many  benefits,  as  38,000 
of  the  72,000  nurses  are  still  members  of  Catholic 
orders,  or  deaconesses. 

The  lesson  learnt  by  Germany  at  Cologne  will 
be  the  realisation  that  professional  nursing  does 
not  necessarily  mean  degrading  the  holiest  of 
women  engaged  in  nursing,  but  that  in  maintaining 
high  ideals  it  can  uplift  the  soul.  The  unity  of 
thought  and  earnestness  of  purpose  and  high 
ideals  of  the  members  of  our  International  Council, 
have  impressed  the  women  of  Cologne  very  deeply, 
also  the  men  who  have  attended  our  meetings. 
They  think  hundreds  more  should  have  been 
present,  and  they  will  hand  on  their  good  im- 
pressions to  a  wide  circle  of  people,  to  the  great 
ultimate  benefit  of  professional  nurses  in  Germany. 

From  the  first  evening  the  old  Giirzenich  was 
filled  with  a  depth  of  feeling  and  warm  hearted- 
ness  which  was  retained  throughout  the  Congress. 
Happy  every  nurse  who  could  be  there  and  enjoy 
such  inspiring  fellowship.  How  greatly  en- 
couraged German  nurses  must  feel,  knowing,  dear 
friends,  that  you  came  to  them  from  the  farthest 
ends  of  the  world  !  We  shall  never  lose  what  you 
gave  us  by  so  doing.  Auf  Wiederseh.n  in  San 
Francisco — the  only  fitting  words  to  end  my 
impressions  of  these  past  happy  days. 
Agnes  Karll. 

Hon.  Presidtnt, 
I liisrnational  Council  0/  Nurses. 


The  prevailing  impression  of  our  Cologne 
Congress,  to  me,  was  that  of  a  rare  joyousness,  a 
fresh  energy,  delighting  in  its  out-streaming 
powers.  It  seemed  to  be  the  very  embodiment 
of  that  spirit  of  joy  in  service  and  work  which, 
Herr  Geheimrat  Dr.  Hecker  truly  said  it  was 
the  right  of  every  human  being  to  experience, 
and  which  should  not  be  crushed  out  of  the  life 
of  anv  worker. 

This  stamp  of  joyousness  was  set  from  the  first 
moment,  I  think,  partly  by  our  glorious  surround- 
ings in  the  beautiful  city  ;  the  richly  built 
mediaeval  hall  where  we  met,  which  was  dedicated 
by  the  city  to  hospitality;  the  soaring  splendour  of 
the  Cathedral  and  its  thrilling  bell-tones  ;  the 
warm  and.  unboimded  kindness  which  we  met  on 


all  sides  (even  in  the  Customs  House,  when  one  of 
us  appeared,  five  or  six  men,  instead  of  one, 
attended  to  our  papers  and  packets)  ;  then  the 
beauty  of  German  gardens,  tfie  Rhine  landscape, 
and  accompanying  us  everywhere  the  unrivalled 
music  of  Germanv,  priceless  gift  of  joy,  which  is 
here  truly  a  part  of  the  life  of  the  people. 

This  subtle  rh\thmic  harmony  swayed  our 
meetings.  Mrs.  Fenwick's  watchword  "  Aspira- 
tion," chimed  in  unison  with  it.  As  Dr.  Ruhsack 
pointed  out,  there  was  not  one  trace  of  discord. 
All  was  eager,  aspiring  unitv  of  purpose.  May 
our  interim  period  continue  so,  and  may  we  meet 
in  three  years  undivided  by  the  factional  dis- 
sensions with  which  the  world  around  us  is  clogged 
in  its  progress  !  l   L.  Dock, 

Hon.  Secretary, 
Inlertialional  Council  of  Nurses. 


Can  it  be  that  it  is  onlv  thirteen  vears  since  that 
great  forward  movement  in  the  nursing  world 
took  place — -the  organisation  of  the  International 
Council  of  Trained  Nurses  ?  Those  who  were 
privileged  to  be  present  at  the  Triennial  Congress 
at  Cologne  were  distinctlv  conscious  of  the  advance 
made  since  our  last  meeting  held  in  London  in  1909. 
Nurses  the  world  over  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude, 
which  the  future  only  can  fully  disclose,  to  the 
untiring  devotion,  courage  and  abilitv  of  Mrs. 
Bedford  Fenwick,  its  honoured  founder  and 
Honorary  President.  "  She  builded  better  than 
she  knew,"  and  this  world-wide  organisation  will 
be  a  lasting  memorial  to  her.  The  unbounded 
hospitality  of  the  citizens  of  Cologne,  the  perfect- 
ness  noticeable  in  all  the  arrangements  of  the 
Congress  over  which  Sister  .\gnes  Karll  presided 
with  dignitv  and  eminent  abilitv,  the  readiness 
manifested  bv  the  medical  profession  to  co-operate 
with  the  suggestions  made  as  to  lessening  hours 
of  duty  of  German  nurses,  taken  with  the  exquisite 
music  and  entertainments  pro\-ided,  all  contributed 
to  make  this  Congress,  at  which  there  were  present 
delegates  from  nine  countries,  and  fraternal 
delegates  from  many  more,  one  of  the  most, 
if  not  the  most,  memorable  in  the  history  of  the 
International  Council. 

M.  Agnes  Snively, 
First  President,  Canadian  National 
Association  of  Trained  Nurses. 


Dr.  Paul  Jacobsohn,  editor  of  the  Deutsche 
Krankcnpfiege  Zeitung,  writes  in  glowing  terms 
of  the  Congress.  He  is  impressed  first  by  the 
extent  and  thoroughness  of  the  preliminary 
arrangements,  by  the  work  of  the  Council  in 
planning  and  completing  the  programme,  the 
immense  forethought  of  Sister  Agnes,  and  the 
remarkable  scope  and  perfection  of  the  details 
executed  by  the  ladies  of  the  local  Committees. 
He  feels  deep  admiration  for  the  earnestness,  single- 
ness of  purpose,  harmony  of  spirit,  and  force  of  co- 
operation shown  by  the  members  who  carried  the 
programme  tlirough,  and  by  those  who  listened. 
Having  attended  many  Congresses  of  men,  hS  is 


Aui:ust   24,    191; 


Cbe  Brttisb  3ounial  of  IRursiruj. 


greatly  struck  by  tlic  balance,  serenity  and 
womanliness  of  all  the  participants  in  this  Congress 
of  nurses,  and  by  the  union  of  sweetness  and 
strengtli  displayed  as  one  by  one  came  forward, 
unconscious  of  self,  intent  upon  her  subject.  He 
wishes  that  more  physicians  and  hospital  directors 
might  have  been  present  to  be  enlightened,  and 
believes  that  those  who  were  there  can  only  feel 
wholly  friendly  and  helpful  to  nursing  reforms. 
To  him  Mrs.  Fenwick's  beautiful  watchword 
seemed  to  illuminate  the  whole  never-to-be- 
forgotten  week. 


WELCOME     TO     SAN     FRANCISCO. 

The  International  Council  of  Nurses  will  receive 
a  warm  welcome  when  it  meets  in  San  Francisco 
in  1915.  In  addition  to  the  cordial  invitations 
extended  by  the  President  and  Directors  of  the 
Panama-Pacific  Universal  Kxposition  and  the 
Californian  Nurses'  Association,  Miss  Dock  has 
received  the  following  kind  letter  from  Mrs.  F.  G. 
Sambon,  President  of  the  Woman's  Board  o'  the 
Exposition  :- — 

"  Will  you  be  kind  enough  to  present  to  the 
International  Council  of  Nurses  the  invitation 
of  the  Woman's  Board  of  the  Panama- Pacific 
International  Exposition  to  hold  the  convention 
of  igis  in  the  city  of  San  Francisco. 

"  The  women  of  California  will  be  pleased  to 
greet  the  fine,  earnest  women  of  your  profession 
during  the  Exposition,  and  to  do  everything 
possible  for  their  comfort  arrd  pleasure." 


THE  NEW  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  INTER= 
NATIONAL  COUNCIL  OF  NURSES. 


MISS    ANNIE    W.    GOODRICH,  R.N. 

Miss  Annie  W.  Goodrich,  State  Inspector  of 
Nurse  Training  .Schools,  New  \'ork,  has  had  an 
interesting  and  unusual  career.  Born  in  Hart- 
ford, Conn.,  she  was  educated  partly  in  America 
and  partly  in  England,  where  her  family  lived 
for  some  years.  She  was  trained  at  the  Xew 
York  Hospital,  and  during  the  twenty  years 
since  her  graduation  has  filled  successively,  and 
with  a  high  measure  of  success  in  each,  five  of 
the  most  important  posts  in  hosjiitals  and  in 
nursing  in  .New  \'ork.  Her  first  appointment 
after  graduation  was  that  of  Superintendent  of 
Nursing  at  the  Post  Graduate  Hospital,  and 
into  this  first  charge  she  threw  herself  with 
great  energy  and  zeal,  bringing  about  much- 
needed  improvements,  not  only  in  the  nursing 
but  in  the  domestic  departments,  both  of  w  hich 
were  under  her  control,  and  making  such  an 
excellent  record  that  she  attracted  the  attention 
of  the  authorities  of  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  and, 
upon  a  vacancy  arising  there,  she  was  appointed 


Superintendent  of  .Nurses  of  that  school,  one 
of  the  larger  and  more  important  in  New  \'ork. 
Here  she  remained  but  a  few  years,  doing 
admirable  work  and  steadily  increasing  in 
strength,  and  so  adding  to  her  reputation  lor 
ability  that,  when  a  vacancy  arose  in  the  school 
from  which  she  graduated,  the  governors  of 
the  .New  York  Hospital  invited  her  to  return  to 
fill  the  office  of  Superintendent  of  Nurses  in  her 
own  school.  Accepting  the  position  only  upon 
condition  that  certain  changes  in  the  admini.s- 
tration  of  the  training  school  should  be  made, 
'and  that  authority  in  the  nursing  department 
should  be  more  largely  centred  in  its  own  re- 
sponsible head,  Miss  Goodrich  wrought  here 
notable  advances — established  an  excellent  pre- 
paratory course,  enlarged  the  administrative 
and  teaching  staffs  of  the  school,  secured  a 
Training  .School  Committee  on  the  Governing 
Board,  and  established  scholarships.  .She 
brought  a  new  activity  into  the  life  of  the  school, 
and  also  entered  more  largely  into  public  nurs- 
ing work.  From  here,  after  four  years,  she 
was  called  to  assume  the  very  heavy  responsi- 
bility of  General  Superintendent  of  the  three 
training  schools  attached  lo  Bellevuc  and  Allied 
Hospitals,  in  many  respects  one  of  the  most 
important  and  difficult  posts  in  nursing  in  the 
United  States.  Bellevue  is  a  large  municipal 
hospital  of  over  1,200  beds,  calling  for  a  very 
large  nursing  staff,  and  it  offered  a  congenial 
field  for  the  tireless  energy  which  has  ever 
prompted  Miss  Goodrich  to  accept  difficult 
tasks.  Much  could  be  w-ritten  ,of  her  work 
during  the  four  or  five  years  of  her  occupancy 
of  the  post  at  Bellevue,  but  that  must  be  kept 
for  a  later  date,  and  it  is  only  possible  to  men- 
tion here  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of 
a  large  salaried  graduate  staff — an  unusual 
feature  in  any  hospital.  Through  this  staff  the 
dependence  of  the  hospital  upon  the  pupils  of 
the  .school  was  in  some  degree  limited,  and 
thus  the  number  of  pupils  required  for  work 
was  in  proportion  limited.  The  significance  of 
this  effort  will  be  understood  by  those  who 
know  the  difficulty  existing  everywhere  to-day 
in  securing  enough  properly  qualified  candi- 
dates to  enter  nurses'  training  schools.  When, 
upon  Miss  Alline's  resignation,  the  request 
came  from  the  Education  Department  at  .Albany 
urging  Miss  Goodrich  to  accept  the  position  of 
Inspector  of  Training  Schools,  those  who  know 
her  best  know  how  she  shrank  from  attacking 
a  new  and  extraordinarily  difficult  problem. 
But,  believing  that  her  wide  experience  in 
several  different  types  of  hospitals  and  training 
schools,  and  her  intimate  knowledge  of  nursing 
affairs,  had  given  her  a  preparation  which  it 
was  her  duty  to  utilise,   she  undertook  fin;illy 


CTbc  Bi'itisb  journal  of  H-'lurtiina 


AtHTUSf 


24,  I9I2 


this  ne\v  work,  and  has  ahiady  rendered  in- 
valuable services  to  nursing  and  hospitals  in 
protecting  and  strengthening-  educational  stan- 
dards. 

Throughout  her  entire  career  Miss  Goodrich 
has  held  the  affection  and  esteem,  not  only 
of  her  pupils,  but  of  the  hospital  authori- 
ties, medical  staff,  and  others  with  whom  she 
has  been  associated.  She  possesses  the  rather 
unusual  quality  of  being  able  to  oppose  without 
antagonising.  She  is  fearless,  straightforward, 
and  yet  so  kindly  and  courteous  that  she  secures 
ready  sympathy  and  effective  co-operation.  She 
possesses,  in  fact,  in  a  high  degree  those 
spirited  qualities,  that  rare  insight  into  human 
character  and  human  motives,  which  enable  one 
not  only  to  work  with  others,  but  to  lead  them. 
She  was  President  of  the  American  Society  of 
Superintendents  of  Nursing  Schools  in  1905, 
and  was  made  President  of  the  American 
Federation  of  Nurses  in  1909.  She  has  been 
•  Chairman  of  several  important  committees  in 
the  various  societies,  notably  for  several  years 
of  that  Committee  of  the  Superintendents'  So- 
ciety related  to  the  Department  of  Nursing 
Health  at  Teachers'  College.  There  is  no  aspect 
of  nursing  affairs  with  which  she  is  not  familiar, 
and  there  is  to-day  no  more  distinguished 
woman  in  nursing-  in  America  than  Miss 
Goodrich. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  Miss  Goodrich, 
as  President  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Nurses  (now  the  American  Nurses'  Associa- 
tion), attended  as  its  official  delegate  the  Inter- 
national Council  meeting  in  London  in  1909. 
^^'ho  will  ever  forget  the  dignified  rebuke  she 
administered  from  the  platform  when  she  was 
told  h\  the  anti-registration  spokesman  that 
there  were  colleagues  in  London  opposed  to 
professional  co-operation.  How  she  instanlly 
stepped  forward  and  said  with  deep  feeling  : 
"  I  never  felt  so  sad  as  I  do  at  this  moment  to 
hear  that  there  are  67  matrons  of  leading  hos- 
pitals in  London  who  are  not  willing  to  meet 
with  us  to  discuss  the  best  way  to  meet  the 
needs  of  the  sick  and  of  suffering  humanity.  I 
beg  Mr.  Holland's  pardon,  but  I  think  their 
place  is  here,  and  not  his  "  ! 

A  woman  of  charming  personality  and  valiant 
spirit,  The  British  Journ.al  of  Nursing 
•warmly  welcomes  Miss  Goodrich  as  President 
of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses,  feeling 
sure  that  through  her  administration,  the 
honour  of  the  profession  of  nursing  for  which 
it  stands  will  be  in  very  safe  keeping. 


.■\t  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  -Austrakisian 
Trained  Nurses'  Association  affiliation  with  the 
International   Council  was  considered. 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 


HOW       WOULD      ^OLI       DEAL      WITH      SbVERB       POST 

PARtUiM       HEMORRHAGE       IN       THE      ABSENCE       OF 

MEDICAL     ASSISTANCE? 

\\"e  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Jeffries,  Bath  Road, 
Wolverhampton,  for  her  paper  on  the  above 
subject. 

PRIZE    PAPER. 

In  treating  a  case  of  severe  post  partum 
hajmorrhage  in  the  absence  of  a  doctor  the  first 
thing  to  do  is  to  empty  the  uterus.  The  pillow- 
should  have  already  been  removed  from  under 
the  head  after  the  birth  of  the  child,  and  the 
patient  placed  in  the  left  lateral  or  dorsal  posi- 
tion, whichever  is  preferred.  If  the  placenta 
has  come  away,  the  uterus  should  be  massaged 
abdominally  and  all  the  clots  expressed  from  it. 
If  the  placenta  has  not  come  away,  the  uterus 
should  be  massaged  abdominally,  and  efforts 
made  to  express  it.  If  unsuccessful,  an  atten- 
dant should  be  asked  to  grasp  the  uterus 
abdominally,  and  the  hands  and  forearms 
hastily  scrubbed  and  disinfected ;  i  drachm  of 
lysol  to  I  pint  of  boiled  water  is  preferable  for 
the  latter,  as  it  also  acts  as  a  lubricant.  The 
vuha  should  be  swabbed  with  an  antiseptic 
with  the  left  hand,  and  the  right  hand  should 
then  be  introduced  cone-shaped  into  the  vagina, 
following  up  the  cord  until  the  placenta  is 
reached.  It  should  then  be  peeled  off  from  the 
uterine  wall,  beginning  where  partial  separation 
has  taken  place ;  the  left  hand  should  be  placed 
over  the  uterus  externally.  Having  ascertained 
the  complete  removal- of  the  placenta,  all  the 
blood  clots  and  placenta  should  be  removed 
from  the  uterus  on  the  withdrawal  of  the  hand. 
A  hypodermic  injection  of  ergotine  lis  gr. 
should  then  be  injected  into  the  buttock,  or 
liquid  extract  of  ergot  i  drachm  be  given  by 
mouth,  but  to  ensure  a  quick  action  the  former 
method  is  usually  adopted. 

An  intra-uterine  douche  of  Ivsol  i  drachm  to 
2  pints  of  boiled  water  (temp.  120°)  should  then 
be  given.  A  little  vaseline  or  cloths  wrung 
out  of  cool  lotion  should  be  applied  to  the 
buttocks  to  prevent  scalding.  The  douche 
should  be  given  without  using  any  force,  with 
the  left  hand  on  the  abdomen  over  the  uterus, 
to  prevent  anv  of  the  fluid  getting  into  the 
.Fallopian  tubes.  Great  care  should  also  be 
taken  to  exclude  all  the  air  from  the  tubing 
before  giving  the  douche.  The  hot  fluid  will 
cause  the  uterus  to  contract. 

If  this  fails  to  check  the  haemorrhage,  bi- 
manual compression  of  the  uterus  should  be 
done.     The  hands  should  be  again  disinfected 


August  2^,    1912 


Z\K  36ritisb  3ournal  of  H-lur^ino 


'59 


as  quicklv  as  possible,  and  one  hand  should  bc 
introduced  into  the  vagina  with  the  fingers 
flexed  on  the  palm  and  lying-  uppermost ;  com- 
press the  uterus  between  this  hand  and  the 
other  one  placed  on  the  uterus  abdominally. 
This  compression  mechanically  closes  the 
mouths  of  the  blood-vessels,  and  should  be  kept 
up,  if  possible,  for  a  considerable  time.  This 
treatment  is  usually  sufficient  to  check  a  case 
of  severe  hicmorrhage ;  but,  should  it  not  be 
effectual,  the  uterus  may  be  plugged  with  strips 
of  gauze,  but  this  is  rarely  undertaken  by  a 
nurse. 

Having  checked  the  hemorrhage,  the  patient 
should  be  treated  for  shock. 

The  foot  of  the  bed  should  be  raised,  and  a 
warm  blanket  placed  next  to  the  patient.  Hot 
bottles,  well  covered,  should  also  be  placed  to 
the  feet ;  if  these  are  not  obtainable,  hot  bricks 
or  the  oven  plate  may  be  used.  The  window 
should  be  opened. 

A  rectal  injection  of  saline  (i  drachm  of  salt  to 
I  pint  of  boiled  water),  temp.  100°,  should  then 
be  given,  and,  if  the  patient  shows  any  sign  of 
svncope,  i  oz.  brandy  to  everv  pint  of  saline 
may  be  given.  The  patient  will  usually  retain 
I  to  2  pints,  and  the  arms  and  legs  should  be 
bandaged  upwards  towards  the  trunk ;  flannel 
bandages  are  the  best  to  use. 

Hot  fomentations  or  pBultices,  such  as  mus- 
tard or  linseed,  may  be  placed  over  the  cardiac 
region.  .As  there  is  frequently  a  tendency  to 
vomit,  sips  of  hot  water  should  be  given  by 
mouth  at  first ;  afterwards  albumen  water  in 
small  quantities.  The  binder  should  not  be 
applied  until  a  firm  contraction  of  the  uterus  is 
assured,  and  the  pulse  rate  is  below  100.  The 
saline  injections  and  hot  fomentations  may  be 
repeated  if  occasion  arises. 

Severe  haemorrhage  may  occur  from  a  lacera- 
tion of  the  cervix  ;  if  the  uterus  is  small  and 
well  contracted,  it  may  be  assumed  that  the 
bleeding  is  coming  from  the  cervix,  in  which 
case  the  vagina  must  be  firmly  plugged. 

HONOURABLR    MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honourable 
mention  :  Miss  Gladvs  Tatham,  Miss  Katherine 
Parry,  Miss  S.  .\.G.  Lett.  Miss  H.  K.  E. 
Loman,  Miss  M.  Macintyrc.  Miss  F.  O'Brien. 

QUESTION     FOR     NKXT     WEEK 

Describe  the  preparation  of  a  patient  for 
receiving  an  anaesthetic.  What  precautions 
would  you  take  before  and  after? 

We  regret  to  record  the  death  of  Mrs. 
Brooke,  of  Far  Town,  Pudsey,  who  acted  as  a 
nurse  under  Miss  Xightint^ale  in  the  Crimean 
War.  The  chief  mourner  at  the  funeral  was  a 
Crimean  veteran  of  8-;  nur.-<d  bv  Mrs.  Brooke. 


APPOINTMENTS. 


MATRON. 

The  Isolation  Hospital.  Keigate.  —  Miss  Amy 
\'okes  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  St.  George's  Hospital.  London,  and  has 
held  the  positions  of  Charge  Nurse  at  the  South 
Eastern  Hospital.  New  Cross.  Ward  Sister  at 
N\"oohvich  Infirmary.  Sister  and  Assistant  Matron 
at  Ilford  Isolation  Hospital,  and  Night  Superin- 
tendent at  Enfield  Isolation  Hospital. 

NURSE     MATRON. 

'  Erith  Cottage  Hospital,  Erith,  Kent.  —  Miss 
Mary  Burton  has  been  appointed  Nurse-Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Metropolitan  Hospital. 
Kingsland  Koad.  N.E.,  where  she  has  held  the 
position  of  Surgical  Sister,  and  has  also  done 
Assistant  Matron's  duties.  She  has  also  been 
Matron  of  the  Lynton  Cottage  Hospital,  Devon. 

Isolation  Hospital,  Hebburn.-^Miss  Louisa  Blain 
has  been  appointed  Nurse-Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  iliddlesborough  Infirmary,  and  has 
held  the  position  of  .Assistant  Nurse  at  the 
Macclesfield  Poor  Law  Infirmary,  and  Assistant 
Matron  under  the  Lanchester  Joint  Hospital 
Board. 

Cottage  Hospital,  Ripley,  Derby. — Miss  Jennie 
Holford  has  been  appointed  Nurse-Matron.  She 
was  trained  at  the  Sheffield  Koyal  Hospital,  and 
has  since  been  sister  at  the  Horton  Infirmary, 
Banbur\-,  and  at  the  Accident  Hospital,  Mans- 
field, where  she  has  done  Matron's  holiday  duty. 
She  holds  the  certificate  of  the  Central  Midwives 
Board. 

NIGHT     SISTER. 

Nottingham  Children's  Hospital.; — Miss  Selina 
Hutton  has  been  appointed  Night  Sister.  She 
was  trained  at  Tannton  and  Somerset  Hospital, 
and  has  been  Staff  Nurse  at  the  Droitwich  and 
Redditch  Hospital,  where  she  has  taken  Matron's 
holidav  dutv.  She  has  al.so  had  experience  in 
private  nur~in;. 
QUEEN  VICTORIA  S  JUBILEE  INSTITUTE. 
SUPERINTENDENT. 

Aliss  Norah  Terry  is  apjximted  to  Grimsby 
as  Superintendent.  She  was  trained  in  general 
nursing  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Leicester,  in 
midwifery  at  St.  Mary's,  Fulham,  and  in  district 
nursing  at  Haggerston,  and  has  since  held  the 
following  appointments:  -Queen's  Nurse,  Fleet, 
New  Maiden  (temp.)  ;  Assistant  Superintendent, 
Three  Towns ;  Asst.  County  Superintendent, 
Lincolnshire  (temp.)  ;  .Asst.  Superintendent,  Tip- 
ton. Miss  Terry  holds  the  Diploma  of  the 
.Apothecaries  Hall  and  the  certificate  of  the 
Central  Midwives  Board. 

Transfers  and  Appointments. — Miss  Edith  .Ash- 
worth  is  appointed  to  Manchester  (.Ardwick 
Home)  ;  Miss  Olave  Enclish,  to  Willington  ; 
Miss  Frances  Gillett,  to  Weston-super-Mare  : 
^liss  Hilda  King,  to  Bridpvater ;  Miss  Ada 
Morgan,  to  Old  Hill  ;  Miss  Selina  Morgan,  to 
Widnes  ;    Miss  Amy  Tabor,  to  Bridges  atf-r. 


i6o 


al)c  i6nti£?b  Souvnal  of  IHuretuQ. 


lugiist   24,    191 


NURSING    F.CHOES. 

We  do  not  believe  that  nurses  are  amongst 
those  who  are  guilty  of  the  cruelty  of  leaving 
animals  to  starve  when  going  for  their  holi- 
davs;  they  are  too  tenderhearted  to  suffering 
in  all  its  forms,  and  to  know  that  the  alterna- 
tive for  their  pets  was  the  chance  kindness  of 
strangers,  or  starvation,  would  quite  deprive 
nurses  worthy  of  the  name  of  any  enjoyment. 
But  it  is  true,  though  incredible,  that  many 
people  do  go  away  at  this  season  leaving  their 
domestic  pets,  and  more  especially  their  cats, 
to  shift  for  themselves,  and  private  nurses,  by 
a  well'limed  word,  may  help  to  prevent  this 
wanton  cruelty. 

By     the     kind 
permission  of  the 

Editor     of     The 

Animals'    Friend 

we    are    able    lo 

reproduce      t  h  e 

accompan  y  i  n  g 

picture,     and 

there   are   surely 

f  e  w  w  ho  c  a  n 

resist  its  appeal. 

Our      contempo- 
rary      gives       a 

necessarv     word 

of   advice   to 

those      who      do 

make      provision 

for     their     pets. 

"  In     all     cases 

inspect  the  tem- 
porary      homes, 

and   see  animals 

safely    settled    in 

before  the  bustle 

of  packing  com- 
mences.    Cats  particularlv  dislike  disturbance, 

and    may    slink   away    to   some   out-of-the-way 

corner — even   a    cupboard — and    get    shut    up. 

Far  better  have  an  animal  lethalized  than  leave 

it  unprotected  during  absence." 


e.\penses  fur  treatment  of  minor  ailments  and 
aiding  in  the  provision  of  spectacles,  &c.,  or  by 
small  contributions  to  existing  agencies,  the 
expenditure  was  estimated  not  to  exceed  ^^loo 
per  annum.  The  sub-committee  was  assured 
that  the  greater  part  of  the  expense  would  be 
met  by  increased  grants  for  increased  average 
attendance. 


DON'T     FORCiET     Li 


Lady  Frances  Balfour  presided  recently  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Tiree  Nursing  Committee,  when 
the  treasurer  was  able  to  make  the  welcome 
announcements  that  the  subscriptions  received 
showed  a  steady  increase  all  round  and  that 
a  Sale  of  Work  recently  held  at  Scarinish 
realized  a  sum  of  £34-  Ladv  Frances  con- 
gratulated the 
committee  on 
the  satisfactory 
wav  in  which 
the  financial  vear 
had  been  wound 
up,  but  said  she 
could  not  help 
thinking  there 
was  room  for 
further  gratui- 
tous giving  on 
the  part  of  all 
who  had  the  wel- 
fare of  the  sick 
and  suffering  at 
heart.  She  re- 
gretted that  they 
were  to  be  de- 
prived of  the  ser- 
vices of  Nurse 
Douglas,  w  h  o 
during  the  five 
vears  in  which 
she  had  acted  as 
district  nurse  had  done  such  humane  and  bene- 
ficent work.  The  parish  minister,  the  Rev.  D. 
Macpherson,  in  proposing  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
Ladv  Frances  for  presiding,  was,  we  are  glad 
to  learn,  able  to  report  that,  although  Tiree 
knew  much  sickness,  it  kne\\'  very  little  poverty. 


•  The  value  of  the  work  of  school  nurses  re- 
ceived striking  testimony  at  a  recent  meeting 
of  the  Lowestoft  Education  Committee,  when 
the  special  sub-committee  appointed  to  con- 
sider the  question  of  the  appointment  of  a 
school  nurse  reported  on  the  desirability  of  the 
appointment.  The  sub-committee  was  of 
opinion  that  the  appointment  of  a  school  nurse 
would  add  little  (if  any)  expense  to  the  rates. 
A  nurse  could  be  obtained  at  a  salary  of  from 
;^7o  to  ^80  per  annum,  and  with  certain  other 


State  pensions  amounting  to  £2  8s.  a  month 
are  now  (says  the  Standard)  to  be  granted 
to  the  surviving'  women  nurses  who  served 
through  the  American  Civil  War.  Enlisted 
nurses  have  received  for  years  a  pension  from 
the  Nurses'  Pension  Fund,  but  the  women  who 
served  voluntarilv  no  recognition  at  all.  .AboU 
75  women  will  benefit  under  this  ruling,  all  oC 
them  over  80  years  of  age,  and  many,  in 
straitened  circumstances. 


August  24,    191 2 


Cbc  Bvittsb  3ouvnal  of  Burstncj 


161 


OLTSIDE   THK   GATES. 


WOMEN. 

The  Times,  discussing  the  work  ot  the  late 
Miss  t)ctavia  Hill,  whose  life  has  enriched  the 
countrj-  by  the  example  of  a  noble  woman,  says  : — 
"  It  was  lier  fate  to  be  held  in  high  honour  by  a 
public  which  yet  failed  to  understand  the  true 
significance  of  her  work.  In  this  respect  she 
resembles  Florence  Nightingale,  who  is  still 
popularly  regarded  as  the  perfect  type  and  pattern 
of  the  hospital  nurse,  and  as  the  first  lady  who 
devoted  herself  to  that  then  menial  calling.  .  .  . 
She  did  a  great  deal,  it  is  true,  to  improve  nursing  ; 
but  she  was  \ery  far  from  being  the  first  of  her  class 
to  take  up  that  career.  For  centuries  the  religious 
orders  had  sent  refined  and  cultured  women  into 
the  hospitals.  What  Florence  Nightingale  did 
was  to  organise  and  reforni  the  whole  system  of 
military  hospitals  on  sanitar\-  principles  and  to 
set  up  an  entirely  new  standard.  There  was 
nothing  sentimental  about  it,  though  the  aim  was 
fiumanitarian  ;  it  was  liard,  practical  work,  based 
on  knowledge  and  carried  out  on  business  lines. 
Octavia  Hill's  work,  equally  inspired  by  sympathy, 
was  marked  by  the  same  qualities.  She  did  not 
start  the  housing  reform  movement.  .  .  .  She 
may  be  said  to  ha\'e  entered  the  movement  on 
the  crest  of  a  wave  ;  but  she  did  not  follow  the 
main  stream.  She  struck  out  a  line  of  her  own 
on  different  principles,  and  it  was  here  that  she 
became  a  pioneer.  .  .  .  The  essence  of  it  was 
personal  service,  which  took  account  not  only 
of  the  house,  but  of  the  human  beings  who 
occupied  it.  She  became  a  landlord,  at  first  in 
a  very  small  way,  and  she  took  the  calling 
seriously.  .  .  .  The  success  was  double.  The 
condition  of  the  tenants  was  greatly  improved 
physically  and  morally,  and  at  the  same  time  the 
property  paid." 

BOOK   OF  THE    WEEK. 


HALCYO^K.* 

One  cannot  imagine  a  greater  contrast  than  this 
latest  work  of  Mrs.  Glyn  to  those  which  have 
preceded  it.  If  the  former  were — as  undoubtedly 
they  were — amusing,  "  Halcyone  "  can  be  read 
from  cover  to  cover  without  any  unpleasant 
aroma.  The  ordinary  reader  would  no  doubt 
prefer  a  heroine  that  was  not  quite  so  saturated 
with  the  classics,  but  when  we  have  surmounted 
this  difficulty,  we  find  a  charming  girl  just  as  ready 
to  fall  in  love  as  any  ignoramus.  The  child  lived 
with  her  two  ancient  great  aunts  of  mid-Victorian 
attitude  of  mind.  The  Misses  La  Sarthe,  of 
La  Sartlic  Chase,  clung  to  their  former  glories, 
although  the  passing  years  had  greatly  impover- 
ished them. 

"  Miss  La  Sarthe  sat  at  the  head  of  the  table 
in  a  green  silk  dress  cut  low  upon  the  shoulders 

*  ]5y  l^linor  Glyn.     {Duckworth  &  Co. _  London.' 


and  trimmed  with  a  berthe  of  blonde  lace.  Miss 
Roberta  had  her  thin  bones  co\-ercd  with  a  habit 
shirt  of  tulle,  because  she  was  altogether  a  po  )rcr 
object  than  her  sister  and  felt  the  cold  badly. 
Both  ladies  wore  ringlets  at  the  sides  of  their 
faces  and  little  caps  of  ribbon  and  lace. 

"  Need  I  have  any  more  governesses,  .\unt 
Ginevra  ?  "  Halcyone  said.  "  There  is  an  old 
gentleman  who  has  bought  the  orchard  house, 
and  he  says  he  will  teach  me  Greek,  and  I  already 
know  a  number  of  other  tiresome  things." 

This  same  old  gentleman,  who  she  calls 
f  Cheiron,"  and  whose  real  name  was  Mr.  Carlyon, 
becomes  her  "  Master  "  and  confidant. 

It  is  through  him  that  she  becomes  acquainted 
with  John  Derringham. 

"  It  was  three  years  since  he  had  left  Oxford, 
and  life  held  out  many  interesting  aspects  for  him. 
He  was  standing  for  the  southern  division  of  his 
county  in  the  following  spring.  He  was  so  eloquent 
in  his  discourse,  and  so  full  of  that  divine  spark  of 
enthusiasm  that  he  was  always  listened  to.  .  .  . 
He  never  posed  as  anything  but  an  aristocrat." 
We  must  confess  that  to  our  mind  he  cuts  but 
a  sorry  figure. 

He  falls  a  victim  to  the  charm  of  Halcyone's 
early  girlhood,  though  he  is  staying  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood for  the  purpose  of  pasing  his  addresses 
to  a  wealthy  divorc6e,  .Mrs.  t'ricklandcr.  Halcyone 
readily  accedes  to  his  request  for  a  secret  marriage. 

"  A  wave  of  emotion  surged  through  him,  and 
he  looked  at  her  with  reverence  and  worship,  and 
for  one  second  liis  own  part  of  utter  selfishness 
flashed  into  his  understanding,  so  that  he  asked, 
with  almost  an  anxious  note  in  his  deep  assured 
voice  : 

"  You  are  not  afraid,  sweetheart,  to  come  away 
— for  all  the  rest  of  your  life — alone  with  me  ?  " 

"  Afraid  ?  "  she  said  ;  "  how  should  I  be  afraid, 
since  you  are  my  lord  and  I  am  your  love  ?  Do 
we  not  belong  to  one  another  ? 

"  Oh,  my  dear,"  he  said,  as  he  folded  her  to  his 
heart  in  wild,  worshipping  passion,  "  God  keep 
you  always  safe — here  in  my  arms  !  " 

But  the  day  appointed  for  the  marriage  finds 
John  unconscious,  and  the  young  bride  elect, 
waiting  and  watching  in  vain  for  her  missing 
lover.  Derringham  is  nursed  back  to  health  by 
Cora  Cricklander,  and  in  less  than  three  weeks 
his  engagement  to  her  is  announced  in  the  Morning 
Post. 

There  is  nothing  particularly  original  in  this 
story,  but  we  are  sufficiently  interested  in  Halcyone 
to  be  glad  that  she  is  at  last  made  happy  with 
the  man  she  had  idealised. 

H     11. 


WORD    FOR    THE    WEEK. 

So  many  gods,  so  many  creeds—^ 

So  many  roads  that  wind,    and  wind. 
And  vet,  the  art  of  being  kind 

Is  all   liiis  .;a<l   world   n.'i-ls. 

.  1  lion. 


l62 


Zbc  36riti9b  3ouvnal  of  IHuremo.        August  24,  1912 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


IK/i!7s;  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
ail  subjects  for  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITION. 

To  the  Editor  o/  The  British  Jol-knal  of  Nursing. 
Dear     Madam, — I     acknowledge     with     many 
thanks  the  receipt  of  your  cheque  for  five  shillings 
as  the  prize  in  last  week's  competition. 
Yours  faithfully, 

.Me.na  M.  G.  Bielby. 
Hounslow. 


A     CATHOLIC     NURSES      LMON. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — I  should  like  to  send  a  petition 
to  the  Catholic  Women's  League  that  a  Nurses' 
Section  be  formed  in  connection  with  the  above 
on  similar  lines  to  the  Catholic  Nurses'  Association 
at  Harrow,  Manchester,  and  Liverpool,  and  shall 
be  obliged  if  vou  will  kindly  insert  this  letter. 
Tnc  Catholic  Women's  League  have  branches  in 
nearly  all  Catholic  dioceses.  These  also  have 
their  local  branches,  so  that  nurses  could  be 
transferred  from  one  place  to  another.  Perhaps 
if  a  sufficient  number  of  nurses  vote  for  it  the 
authorities  of  both  organisations  would  co-operate 
and  so  form  a  large  nurses'  Guild.  I  am  quite 
sure  all  Catholic  nurses  feel  the  need  of  this  bond 
of  union.  Will  all  Catholic  nurses  write  these 
words  on  a  post  card  :  "  We  approve  of  a  Catholic 
Nurses'  Guild  or  Union."  Sign  it,  and  send  it  to 
me.  Several  nurses  can  sign  the  same  card. 
Please  do  it  at  once,  as  I  want  the  Petition  sent 
in  early  in  September.  .Address  to  Miss  Petitt, 
Citv  Hospital,  Seacroft,  Leeds. 

Thanking  vou  in  anticipation, 
I  am,  yours  truly, 

A.  Petitt. 


THE    PRACTICAL    BEARING    OF    EUGENICS. 

'Jo  the  Editor  oIThz  British  Jolknai,  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — I  entirely  agree  with  Mrs. 
Barnes  in  her  plea  that  nurses  should  realise  the 
practical  bearing  of  Eugenics  upon  human  lives 
and  the  opportunities  which  lie  to  their  hand  of 
doing  work  of  incalculable  value  to  the  nation. 

It  is  not  so  many  years  ago  since  we,  as  nurses, 
set  before  ourselves  as  the  thing  most  desirable 
of  achievement  the  restoration  of  the  sick  to 
health.  We  loiow  better  now,  and  realise  that 
a  large  and  increasing  part  of  our  work  lies  in 
preventing  the  healthy  from  becoming  sick.  To 
secure  for  the  ill-fed  school  child  nourishing  food, 
a  clean  bodv,  clean  clothes,  and  sleep  in  the  fresh 
air,  by  giving  mothers  simple  lessons  in  hygiene 
and  quiet  individual  talks  on  management,  is 
rendering  him  far  greater  service  than  to  feed  him 
with   cod-liver  oil,   to  nurse   him   back   to   semi- 


lii<i!il],  \\ln.ii,  lliruugh  wilful  or  ignorant  neglect — 
generally  the  latter— he  has  become  stunted, 
ill-nourished  and  rickety.  To  develop  in  the 
adult  that  air-hunger  which  will  inevitably  lead 
to  his  migration  from  the  slum,  where  in  close  dark 
and  crowded  tenements  the  germs  of  tuberculosis 
and  other  diseases  flourish  and  batten  upDn 
humanity,  is  to  cut  off  the  supply  of  patients  from 
dispensaries  and  hospitals  for  tuberculosis,  and 
therefore  gives  more  satisfactory  results  than  the 
care  of  individual  cases  of  tuberculosis  when 
contamination  has  taken  place.  Bath,  of  course, 
are  necessary,  but  in  the  one  case  our  work  is  for 
the  most  part  palliative,  in  the  other  remedial, 
and  it  is  the  remedial  work  which  is  really  im- 
portant. And  so,  to  go  back  a  step  further,  we 
come  to  the  importance  of  eugenics,  and  the  claim 
that  every  child  who  is  brought  into  the  world 
has  the  right  to  be  well  born,  of  parents  who 
realise  their  respansibility  for  his  existence,  who 
are  themselves  healthy,  and  who  by  clean  lives 
and  self  restraint  have  done  their  best  to  insure 
that  the  lamp  of  life  which  they  hand  on  to  their 
offspring  shall  burn  brightly  and  strongly. 

No  one  has  greater  opportunities  of  inculcating 
such  truths  in  all  classes  of  society  than  the 
trained  nurses  of  the  country  and  as  the  oppor- 
tunity is  ours  the  respDnsibility  is  ours  also. 
By  all  means  let  us  equip  ourselves  for  our  chosen 
work  by  studying  the  subject  of  eugenics,  which 
is  as  fascinating  as  it  is  necessary. 

Eugenist. 

REPLY    TO     CORRESPONDENT. 

Maternity  Nurse. — Whey  may  be  prepared  by 
adding  tivo  tablespoonfuls  of  liquid  rennet  to  a 
pint  of  milk  warmed  to  a  temperature  of  loo  deg. 
Fahr.  This  should  be  stirred  and  placed  on  one 
side  to  set.  The  curd  should  then  be  broken  up 
with  a  fork,  and  strained  through  wetted  muslin, 
which  will  retain  the  curd  and  allow  the  whey  to 
pass  through. 

• — ♦— « 

OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS. 

lOR    .\lGUST. 

August    _]isl. — Describi.    the    preparation    of    a 
patient  for  receiving  an  ansesthctic.     What   pre- 
cautions would  you  take  before  and  after  ? 
For  September. 

September  yth. — -Describe  your  practice  in  the 
care  and  administration  of  medicines  ;  your 
method  of  identifying  dangerous  drugs,  and  of 
distinguishing  medicines  to  be  administered  to 
patients  from  lotions  and  poisonous  solutions 
used  for  outward  application,  or  as  disinfectants. 


NOTICE. 

Tlie  Editor  will  be  obliged  if  all  business  com- 
munications, such  as  requiring  extra  journals,  &c., 
arc  addressed  to  the  Manager,  The  British 
Journal  of  Nursing  Office,  431,  Oxford  Street, 
London,  W.,  and  not  to  the  editorial  oftice  at  20, 
Upper  Wimpole  Street,  W. 


.ii<i.'.<>/  -M.  .912  Z\K  :i6ritii?b  Journal  of  Biui?ini3  Supplement.        163 


The   Midwife. 


QUEEN     CHARLOTTE'S     HOSPITAL. 


Bv  the  courtesy  of  the  Matron,  Miss  AUce 
Blonificld,  we  are  able  to  publish  the  regulations 
for  the  Preliminary  Traininj;  School  which  is  to 
be  opened  in  connection  with  Queen  Charlotte's 
Hospital,  Marylelx)ne  Koad.  London.  N.\\'.,  next 
November. 

PRELl.WINARY    TRAl.NrNO     SCHOOL. 

The  Committee  of  Man.igcment  have  made 
arrangements  whereby  th.ose  candidates  who 
desire  to  do  so  may  undergo  one  month's  pre- 
liminary- training  under  the  supervision  of  a  Sister 
in  Charge  before  entering  upon  the  ordinary 
training  in  the  Wards.  During  this  montli  they 
will  receive  such  preparation  and  instruction  as 
will  fit  them  to  carrj-  out  the  important  duties 
which  will  devolve  upon  them  in  the  Wards, 
including  lectures  in  elementary  anatomy  and 
physiology',  instruction  in  sickroom  cookery, 
and  such  details  of  practical  nursing  as  can  be 
taught  before  actual  attendance  on  patients  and 
infants. 

While  in  the  Preliminary  Training  School 
pupils  will  be  required  to  pecform  such  household 
duties  as  will  subsequentlv  fall  to  their  share 
when  they  are  on  duty  in  the  \\ards.  These 
include  sweeping,  dusting,  <.S:c.,  but  no  cleaning 
of  grates  or  scrubbing. 

A  separate  bedroom  at  the  Nurses'  Home  is 
provided  for  each  pupil. 

The  Committee  of  Management  desire  that  all 
candidates  shall,  if  possible,  enter  for  this 
additional  month's  (preliminary)  training,  which 
will  enable  them  to  grasp  the  work  during  the 
succeeding  months  of  their  training  much  more 
readily,  and  they  urge  all  pupils  to  make  the  most 
of  the  special  opportunities  provided  for  them  in 
the  Preliminary  Training  School. 

Pupil  Midwives  who  decide  to  enter  for  the 
month's  preliminary  training  will  join  for  a 
total  period  of  six  months,  the  first  month  of 
which  will  be  spent  in  the  Prcliminarv  Training 
School.  The  fee  for  the  six  months  will  be  £40. 
In  the  event  of  a  Pupil  Midwife  leaving  during 
or  at  the  end  of  the  preliminary  month,  /30  of  the 
fee  paid  will  be  returned  to  her  ;  but  the  Com- 
mittee of  Management  may  determine  her  engage- 
ment during  or  at  the  end  of  this  preliminary' 
month  on  the  same  terms. 

Pupil  Monthly  Nurses  wlm  decide  to  undergo 
the  month's  preliminary'  training  will  join  for  a 
total  period  of  five  months,  the  first  month  of 
which  will  be  s{-)ent  in  the  Preliminary  Training 
School.  The  fee  for  the  fi\c  months  will  be  /ig. 
In  the  event  of  a  Pupil  Monthly  Nurse  leaving 
during  or  at  the  end  of  the  preliminary  month,  £19 


of  the  fee  paid  will  be  returned  to  her  ;  but  the 
Committee  of  Management  may  determine  her 
engagement  during,  or  at  the  end  of  this  pre- 
liminary month  on  the  same  terms. 


This  is  the  first  Preliminary  Training  School  to 
pe  started  in  connection  with  a  special  hospital, 
and  the  experiment  will  be  watched  with  interest. 
E\ery  one  who  has  had  experience  in  training 
midwifer^'  pupils  must  realise  that  unless  they 
have  had  previous  training  in  general  nursing,  it 
is  most  bewildering  for  the  pupils,  and  unsatis- 
factory for  their  teachers,  that  they  should  begin 
their  work  in  the  wards  before  they  have  an 
clcmcntarj'  knowledge  of  anatomy  atid  physiologv  : 
and  the  knowledge  acquired  in  a  few  short  months 
of  preparation  for  the  examination  of  the  Central 
Midwives  Board  is  likely  to  be,  for  the  most  part, 
forgotten  as  soon  as  it  has  served  a  temporary 
purpose.  To  devote  even  a  month  therefore  to 
acquiring  theoretical  training  in  the  principles 
underlying  the  practice  of  midwifery  must  be  a 
gain,  and  the  extension  of  the  course  to  six  months 
is  a  step  in  the  right  direction.  At  the  same  time, 
we  think  that  only  a  limited  number  of  pupils 
will  be  able  to  afford  to  spend  ;^40  on  acquiring 
this  training,  considering  that  the  prospects  for 
midwives  when  trained  are  so  poor.  Lastly,  does 
not  tlie  fact  that  even  the  special  hospitals  are 
feeling  the  want  of  preliminary  training  for  their 
pupils  indicate  the  need  for  a  Central  l^reliminary 
Training  School,  instead  of  the  more  costly  plan 
of  each  hospital  providing  preliminary  teaching 
for  its  pupils  ' 

CENTRAL  MIDWIVES'  BOARD. 


List  of  Sl'ccf.ssicl  C.-\NDin.ATt-s. 

At   the   Examination  of  the   Central   Midwives 
B)ard  held  in  London  on  .\ugust  ist,  28 5  candidates 
were  examined  and  237  passed  the  examiners.   The 
percentage  of  failures  was  13.4. 
London'. 

British  Lying-in  Hospital: — M.  S.  ]\lcllhvham. 

City  of  Lcidon  Lving-iii  Hospital. — H.  IC. 
Bjorah.  M.  F.  Bray,  F.  A.  Cooke,  M.  K.  Cooper, 
E.  G.  Gibbings,  M.  A.  Searle,  A.  Steinecke,  M. 
Straker,  C.  F.  Wheeler. 

Clapham  Maternily  Hospital. — O.  M.  Bailey, 
M.  Devi.  C.  L.  Heckrath,  G.  M.  Swainson,  G.  E. 
Tebby,  K.  S.  Vine. 

Hast  End  Mothers'  Home. — P.  Cook,  M.  A. 
Hardwick,  W.  G.  Palmer,  L.  I".  Spencer. 

General  Lving-in  Hospital. —  E.  W.  Barber,  K. 
Berrv,  A.  Burr,  S.  K.  Clappcn,  B.  Clark,  L.  J. 
Davies,  E.  L.  Dowton,  T.  A.  CK)odav.  H.  M. 
Havward,  L.  H.  Hazelgrove,  M.  E.  Hirst,  R.  A. 
Hoiden,  E,  E.  F.  Ingle,  G.  L.  Ingle,  W.  Johnson, 


i6,       Lbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRureincs  Siuntlcmcnt. 


liii^iisf  24,    191: 


F.  K.  M.  Jones,  L.  A.  Knighton  (Private),  C.  E. 
Lewis  (Private),  M.  B.  Lorden,  F.  dc  N.  Lucas, 
A.  F.  Mitchell,  M.  E.  Morgan,  S.  B.  Page,  A.  M. 
Quinn,  L.  A.  Ratcliffe,  A.  M.  P.  Rees,  M.  de  R. 
Rendlc,  E.  B.  Roberts,  A.  Sheldon,  M.  A.  B. 
Sinics,  A.  E.  Stanley  (Private),  A.  E.  Stuart, 
M.  Y.  Thomson.  M.  G.  Waiite,  M.  H.  WTiiteley. 

Guy's  Institution. — K.  M.  Dickson,  E.  A.  G. 
Eaton,  A.  Hawkins,  C.  Myers,  E.  C.  P.  Orchard. 

London  Hospital. — L.  Armitage,  E.  Ashbumer, 
J.  L.  R.  Bain,  A.  D.  Bentwich  (Private),  \V.  E. 
Betts,  IM.  Price.  F.  M.  Pritchard. 

Maternity  Nursing  Association. — A.  J.  Birch, 
A.  K,  Harris,  A.  B.  Hawtin.  J.  A.  Herbert,  G.  iL 
Hutchinson,  A.  ^lUner,  R.  Roddan,  F.  Sugden. 

Middlesex  Hospital.— C.  E.  Bott,  E.  L.  S. 
Siniraonds,  F.  Wadds. 

New  Hospital  for  Women. — E.  S.  Camm.  E.  I. 
Little. 

Plaistow  Materniiv  Charity. — C.  E.  A.  Acors, 
A.  G.  Bainbridge,  I.  M.  Barker,  C.  Burchill,  R. 
Clackson,  L.  A.  Cockell,  A.  Cooper,  M.  E.  Cornes, 
M.  A.  Cousins,  V.  A.  Elhvood,  H.  Fuge,  M.  Hindle, 
H.  Jago,  E.  A.  Kinch,  M.  A.  Longbone,  L.  G. 
Morris,  A.  M.  Powell,  J.  Pr^-de,  A.  R.  Rogers, 
M.  M.  Turner,  R.  A.  T>T-rell,  J.'WUliams. 

Regions  Beyond  Missionary  Union. — E.  J. 
Parker. 

Queen  Charlotte's  Hosp^ital. — E.  A.  Crowther, 
E.  A.  Du  Pre,  .AI.  I.  Frey,  I.  M.  Garside,  E.  M. 
Gaze,  A.  Gunter,  F.  E.  Hammond,  AI.  A.  Heugh, 
A.  M.  Homblower,  H.  L.  Kirkbv,  AL  C.  Alartyn, 
M.  Alunro,  L.  Gates,  D.  Pritchard,  E.  H.  Snelling, 
jM.  S.  G.  Widdicombe. 

St.  Bartholomew' s  Hospital. — L.  E.  H.  Alaulton. 

Salvation  Army  Maternity  Hospital. — J.  Ander- 
son,  A.   Desson,   A.   M.   Edmonds,    J.   Hagopian, 

D.  G.  Hunter,  G.  M.  Alarshall.  C.  Quinn,  K.  J.  L. 
Rothengatter. 

Shoreditch   Union  Infirmary. — E.   Wood. 

University  College  Hospital. — C.  Dalton,  E.  AI. 
James,  E.  L.  Johns,  (LewiSham  Union  Inf.), 
M.  Martin.  " 

West  Ham   U'orkliouse. — R.  Re\-nolds. 

Woolwich  Home  for  Mothers  and  Babies. — D. 
Dawson. 

Woolwich  Military  Families'  Hospital. — E. 
Barker. 

Provincial. 

Aldershot  Louise  Margaret  Hospital. — H.  Lew. 

Aston  Union  Workhouse. — G.  Barrett,  E.  AI. 
Edwards. 

Birkenhead  Maternity  Hospital. — C.  F.  Wallace. 

Birmingham  Maternity  Hospital. — A.  E.  Bayliss, 

E.  F.  Morris. 

Brentford  Union  Hospital. — L.  Thomas. 

Brighton  and  Hove  Hospital  for  Women. — F. 
Ablett,  M.  Duffield,  W.  M.  Falla,  C.  M.  Richard. 
I.   Stone.  E.   J.  Thomas. 

Bristol  Royal  Infirmary. — F.  AI.  Abbott.  L. 
Coombs.  E.  I.  Stobie. 

Chatham  Military  Families'  Hospital. — E.  Evans. 

Derby,  Royal  Derby  Nursing  Association. — C.  E. 
Coulson,  H.  Millington.  ■   „   , 


Devon  and  Cornwall  Training  School. — A.  AI.  B. 
Bennett.  I.  Brooke,  A.  Donohoe,  C.  AI.  H. 
Pentreath,  H.  Rowe. 

Essex  Cownty  Cottage  Nursing  Society. — I.  E.  L. 
Branch,  H.  Cant,  A.  Hulse,  M.  I.  Leybum,  A.  S.  J. 
Roddis. 

GloiKester  District  Nursing  Society. — T.  Coggins. 

Greenwich  Union  Infirmary. — E.  Osborne,  K.  B. 
Scott,  E.  L.  Sinclair. 

Hull  Lying-in  Charity  and  Nottingham  Work- 
house Infirmary. — W.  H.  E.  WTiitbread. 

Kingston-on-Tluimes  Union  Infirmary. — E.  L. 
Smith. 

Leeds  Maternity  Hospital. — V.  Honnej-man. 

Mansfield  Union  Workhouse. — A.  AI.  Piaydon. 

Monmouthshire  Training  Centre. — AI.  E.  Todd. 

North  Evington  Union  Infirmary. — E.  AI.  Adams. 

Preston  Union  Workhouse. — S.  Edwards. 

Sheffield  Jessop  Hospital. — C.  E.  Quayle,  E.  L. 
Smith. 

Shorncliffe,  Helena  Hospital. — K.  G.  Lee.  A.  E. 
Patmore. 

Steyning  Union  Infirmary. — F.  E.   Hart. 

Worcester  Nursing  Institution. — F.   E.   Hill,    E. 


Sandham. 


W.\LES. 


0. V.J.N. I.,     Cardiff. ~K.    A.    Hall. 
Scotland. 

Dundee  Maternity  Hospital. — AI.  E.  Hills,  E. 
AlcCaul. 

Edinburgh  Royal  Maternity  Hospital. — G.  AI. 
Bennet,  E.  A.  Simson,  J.  A.  Smith. 

Glasgow  Maternity  Hospital. — J.  A.  Aird,  J. 
Crawford,  J.  W.  Gentleman,  AI.  Theobalds,  E.  A. 
Ward.  Ireland. 

Curragh  Camp  Military  Families'  Hospital. — 
A.  Cameron. 

Dublin  Coombe  Hospital. — K.  Hackett. 

Dublin  National  Maternity  Hospital. — AI.  Somers. 

Dublin  Rotunda  Hospital. — W.  AI.  Burroughs, 
N.  Chopping,  A.  R.  Colhoun,  A.  Jackson,  AI.  J. 
St.  John,  G.  E.  Watts. 

Private  Tuition. 
AI.  E.  Alexander.  AI.  A.  W.  Bannister.  A.  J. 
Boden,  AI.  A.  AI.  Borthwick,  AI.  A.  R.  Callender. 
A.  E.  Cooper.  E.  Cooper  (Kingswood  Nurses' 
Home).  H.  Davies,  E.  E.  Dunkley,  P.  N.  Golds- 
worthy.  J.  C.  Gray,  A.  AI.  Hanks,  L.  AI.  Hebditch, 
E.  E.  Hutchings,  K.  Jones.  AI.  A.  Jones,  AI. 
Kelsey,  AI.  King.  M.  A.  Lloyd.  H:  R.  Nice.  E.  H. 
Nicholson.  E.  Otterbum.  I.  AI.  Parry,  K.  Pask, 
A.  F.  AI.  Rice,  A.  AI.  Spreadbur\-,  A.  Stringer, 
L.  E.  H.  Stroud.  E.  AI.  Suckling,  C.  Tubbs,  c'^  C. 
Webb,  E.  AI.  WUson.  C.  AI.  Wood,  L.  Wood. 


The  Governors  of  the  Birmingham  and  Alidland 
'Hospital  for  Women  ha^•e  approved  a  scheme 
which  w-iU  place  25  additional  beds  at  their 
disposal  for  puerperal  fever  and  general  septic 
.cases.  Fourteen  of  these  will  be  appropriated 
to  the  puerperal  fever  cases  of  the  city,  for 
which  the  City  Council  will  pay  £y^  per  bed  per 
annum,  about  I  of  the  cost.  Puerperal  fever  'is  a 
notifiable  disease  in  Birmingham. 


No.   1,274 


"'mm'' 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,    AUGUST  31,   1912. 


Vol.  XLIX. 


EDITORIAL. 


THE    HOLIDAY    SE.ASON. 

It  is  good  for  man — and  for  woman — to 
work,  and  it  may  indeed  be  taken  as  certain 
that  the  happiest  people  in  the  .world  are 
the  hard  workers.  To  go  no  further  than 
our  own  profession,  nurses  are  some  of  the 
hardest  workers  ;  seven  days — or  nights — a 
week  thev  are  to  be  found  at  their  posts, 
making  little  of  a  ten  hours  dav — did  not 
their  predecessors  indeed  work  for  fourteen 
hours  daily  with  equal  cheerfulness  .■' 

Yet  the  dav  comes  sometimes  when  the 
music  (jf  the  spheres  is  tuned  to  a  minor  key, 
when  life  becomes  a  burden,  and  work  a 
weariness.  Then  indeed  it  is  time  for  the 
workman  to  lav  down  his  tools  for  a  while 
and  seek  that  rest  which  his  honest  toil  has 
earned.  And  to  nurses  also  the  call  comes, 
the  call  of  Mother  Nature,  to  leave  the 
feverish  cities  and  come  once  more  to  learn 
of  her,  to  absorb  something  of  her  peace, 
her  strength,  her  restfulnes,';,  to  learn  in  the 
solitudes  with  which,  if  we  will  let  her,  she 
surrounds  us,  and  so  come  back  once  more, 
each  to  her  appointed  place  in  the  world  of 
work,  re-invigorated,  readv  to  grapple  again 
with  the  difficulties  and  dailv  worries  which 
lie  in  wait  for  us  all. 

Indeed  there  is  something  about  the 
holida\-makers  which  is  umnistakable.  We 
met  them  perhaps  in  tube  and  'bus  three 
weeks  or  a  month  ago,  listless,  unobservant, 
inert.  A  few  weeks  of  absence  and  we  meet 
them  again,  buovant,  optimistic  and  full  of 
energv,  and  it  is  Nature  \.lio  has  wrought 
the  change.  Therefore  it  beiio\es  all  nurses 
cease  work  from  time  to  time  that  they 
mav  return  to  it  surcharged  with  all  those 
potent  forces  wliich  Nature  liberally 
bestows  on  those  who  turn  to  her  for 
help.  "  Nature  never  did  betray  the  heart 
that  loves  her." 


It  is  not  to  be  expected  that  all  tastes 
sfioula  be  the  same  ;  to  some  people  quiet 
seems  essential  to  their  well-being,  to  others 
it  is  merelv  oppressive.  Some  seek  com- 
panionship, others  desire  to  escape  from  it. 
But  whatever  it  is  which  will  restore  to  us 
the  lost  power  to  work,  let  us  seek  it, 
whether  in  the  gay  parks  and  boulev.irds  of  a 
foreign  city,  or  amongst  hills  and  mountains 
at  home  or  abroad,  where,  to  the  accom- 
paniment of  running  water,  the  birds  alone 
make  melodv. 

It  was  a  great  lover  of  Nature  who  wrote  : 
•'  The  best  image  which  the  world  can  give 
of  Paradise  is  in  the  slope  of  the  meadows, 
orchaids  and  cornfields  on  the  side  of  a 
great  Alp,  with  its  purple  rocks  and  eternal 
snows  above.  .  .  .  Loveliness  of  colour,  per- 
fectness  of  form,  endlessness  of  change, 
wonderfulness  of  structure,  are  precious  to 
all  undiseased  human  minds  ;  and  the 
superiority  of  the  mountains  in  all  these 
things  to  the  lowland  is,  I  repeat,  as 
measurable  as  the  richness  of  a  painted 
window  matched  with  a  white  one,  or  the 
wealth  of  a  museum  compared  with  that  of 
a  simply  furnished  chamber.  They  seem  to 
have  been  built  for  the  human  race,  as  at 
once  their  schools  anil  cathedrals  ;  full  of 
treasures  of  illuminated  manuscript  for  the 
scholar,  kindly  in  simple  lessons  to  the 
worker,  quiet  in  pale  cloisters  for  the 
thinker,  glorious  in  holiness  for  the  wor- 
shipper." 

For  all  the  mountains  have  some  message, 
and  thev  are  wise  who  seek  to  decipher  it. 
.\nd  while  we  enjov  the  wonders  of  the 
glorious  world  a'round  us,  unspoiled  as  on 
the  day  of  its  creation,  let  us  remember 
those  who  in  sick  room  and  hospital  ward 
are  transfixed  on  beds  of  pain,  and  through 
the  peace  and  serenity  which  enfolds  us 
when  we  return  to  work  amongst  them,  let 
us  pass  on  the  message  of  the  everlasting 
hills. 


i66 


ZlK  British  3ouinal  of  HAuustuO' 


August  31,    191. 


HOOKWORM  DISEASE.^ 


By  Anna  T.  Sorcenfrev. 

Only  within  recent  years  has  the  hookworm 
disease  been  heard  of  in  California.  Even  so, 
it  has  been  regarded  with  more  or  less  indiffer- 
ence, and  believed  by  some  to  be  another  term 
for  laziness.  Through  the  investigations  of 
Dr.  Herbert  Gunn,  of  the  Board  of  Health, 
we  have  abimdant  proof  that  the  disease  exists, 
not  only  in  the  heart  of  our  city,  but  in  th<.' 
gold  mines  and  agricultural  districts  of  the 
State,  and  unless  prompt  and  efficient  measures 
are  taken  to  eradicate  it,  the  hookworm  is  here 
to  sttiy. 

Sir  Patrick  Manson  says,  "  Hookworm 
disease,  since  its  discovery  by  Dubini  in  1838, 
has  become  so  widely  diffused  that  it  may  be 
said  to  occur  in  nearly  all  the  tropical  and  sub- 
tropical countries.  Its  marked  characteristic  is 
progressive  anfemia.  In  many  parts  of  India 
seventy-five  per  cent,  of  the  inhabitants  are 
affected  ;  in  Egypt  the  anaemia  it  gives  rise  to 
is  one  of  the  common  causes  for  rejection  of 
troops  in  the  army."  Another  authority  says 
that  in  Ceylon  it  is  considered  as  far  more 
serious  than  cholera.  It  was  found  by  another 
professor  to  be  the  cause  of  an  epidemic  of 
antemia  in  a  Cornish  mine ;  it  occurs  in  the 
mines  of  Austria  and  is  abundant  in  Southern 
Europe.  John  D.  Rockefeller  recently  donated 
one  million  dollars  for  the  eradication  of  hook- 
worm among  the  negroes  and  shiftless  whites, 
commonly  called  "  poor  white  trash  "  in  our 
Southern  States.  Our  island  possessions, 
Porto  Rico  and  Hawaii,  are  both  heavily  in- 
fected. 

In  Porto  Rico,  before  the  Government  began 
its  medical  and  sanitary  campaign  in  1904,  the 
infection  embraced  nearly  all  of  the  country 
population  and  was  the  cause  of  one-third  of 
the  total  death  rate.  The  disease  is  said  to 
have  been  imported  to  Porto  Rico  by  the  first 
slaves  from  .'Africa,  as  far  back  as  the  sixteenth 
century.  Porto  Ricans  in  turn  have  carried  tht' 
infection  not  only  to  Hawaii's  native  population 
but  to  the  large  number  of  Spaniards  who 
during  the  last  ten  or  fifteen  years  have  been 
emigrating  to  these  islands.  The  Spaniards 
work  on  the  plantations  together  with  the 
Porto  Ricans  among  other  foreign  labourers, 
mostly  coolies,  and,  tiring  of  the  plantation 
conditions,  flock  to  California,  carrying  their 
infection  with  them. 


*  Read  at  the  Ninth  Annual  Convention  o£  the 
Californian  State  Nurses'  Association,  and  published 
jn  The  Pacific  Coast  Journal  of  Nursing. 


The  alien  hookworm  carriers,  Chinese, 
Japanese,  Hindoos  and  Central  Americans, 
come  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Immigra- 
tion Department  and  are  handled  by  the 
Federal  Government  at  its  station  at  .'\ngel 
Island.  With  the  Porto  Ricans  and  Spanish  it 
is  different ;  coming  from  our  own  possessions 
these  laws  do  not  apply  to  them  and  they  land 
without  a  protest.  Most  of  them  congregate 
in  the  Latin  quarter  on  Telegraph  Hill,  and 
sooner  or  later  they  become  scattered  through- 
out the  State,  where  they  work  in  the  fruit  and 
vegetable  districts  and  where  wholesale  pollu- 
tion of  the  soil  and  water  is  carried  on  through 
their  lax  habits  and  the  absence  of  sewer  facili- 
ties in  country  districts. 

"  The  normal  habitat  of  the  hookworm  is  the 
small  intestine  of  man,  particularly  the 
jejunum,  rarely  in  the  lower  reaches  of  the  in- 
testine and  occasionally  in  the  stomach.  In 
these  situations  it  attaches  itself  to  the  mucous 
membrane  by  means  of  its  powerful  capsule- 
shaped  mouth,  which  is  armed  on  each  side  by 
two  claw-like  hooks  and  one  cone-shaped  tooth. 
It  obtains  a  plentiful  supply  of  blood  in  this 
manner.  It  is  supposed  to  shift  its  hold  from 
time  to  time,  the  abandoned  bite  continuing  to 
ooze  blood  for  a  short  period.  The  red  cor- 
puscles pass  through  it  unchanged,  the  plasma 
only  being  utilized. 

"  The  female  produces  a  never-ending 
stream  of  eggs  which  pass  out  in  the  faces. 
While  in  the  body  of  the  host  the  development 
of  the  embryo  does  not  advance  very  far,  but 
on  leaving  the  human  body  it  proceeds  in  suit- 
able circumstances  to  develop  with  great 
rapidity  into  certain  other  changes  until  it 
reaches  a  torpid  condition  ;  in  that  state  it  will 
live  for  weeks  or  months  in  muddy  water,  mud, 
or  damp  earth.  In  this  way  those  handling  the 
soil,  the  brick-maker,  the  miner,  and  the  agri- 
culturist are  infected  by  the  dirt  adhering  to 
their  hands,  dishes,  &c.,  as  well  as  by  drinking- 
water."  Nearly  all  the  inhabitants  of  the 
tropics  go  barefoot,  this  being  the  most 
frequent  manner  of  infection,  the  embryo, 
which  is  microscopic,  entering  through  the 
skin.  It  might  be  interesting  to  hear  about 
tht-  intelligent  way  in  which  this  embryo 
reaches  the  alimentary  canal,  .^fter  it  enters 
the  skin  it  proceeds  through  the  circulation  to 
the  heart,  the  lungs,  and  finally  to  the  cesopha- 
'  gus,  where  it  is  swallowed  by  its  victim. 

"  Some  idea  of  the  intensity  of  the  infection 
may  be  got  from  the  enumeration  in  a  given 
quantity  of  faces — 150  to  180  eggs  per  cubic 
centigramme  indicate  an  infection  of  about 
1,000    worms,    male    and    female."       In    other 


August 


191. 


Cbc  Biittsb  3ournal  of  lllurslno 


167 


vords,  five  or  six  eggs  on  an  ordinary  glass 
slide  would  indicate  a  heavy  infection. 

"  Considering  the  constant  drain  of  blood, 
the  catarrh  arising  from  the  irritation  of  the 
mucous  membrane,  the  consequent  impairment 
of  nutrition,  as  those  poor  people  live  usually 
on  coarse  innutritious  food,  it  can  be  plainly 
seen  that  they  are  in  a  state  of  chronic  starva- 
tion. 

"  Ihe  disease,  as  stated  before,  is  charac- 
terized by  marked  anaemia,  associated  with 
more  or  less  dyspepsia."  One  of  the  earliest 
symptoms  is  pain  and  uneasiness  in  the  epigas- 
trium, unnatural  cravings,  constipation,  lassi- 
tude, pallor  and  mental  apathy  and  depression. 
This  last  symptom  is  \ery  marked.  In  the 
advanced  stages  the  face  is  puffy  and  the  feet 
and  ankles  swollen.  There  is  no  apparent 
wasting  on  account  of  the  oedema  present. 
Children  infected  with  the  disease  are  under- 
sized and  imder-developed. 

In  some  instances  the  return  to  health  under 
treatment  has  been  so  sudden  as  to  be  remark- 
able. A  new  interest  in  life  tlirough  a  desire  to 
go  to  work  showed  mental  and  moral,  as  well 
as  physical  improvement. 

Thymol  is  the  drug  most  popularly  used. 
The  patient  is  put  on  liquid  diet  for  one  or  two 
davs  and  an  aperient,  preferably  Epsom  salts, 
is  given  to  clear  the  intesFinal  tract,  after 
which  thymol  in  twenty-grain  doses  (adult 
dose)  is  given  every  hour  until  three  doses  or 
sixty  grains  have  been  taken.  One  hour  after 
the  last  dose  of  thvmol  another  dose  of  salts  is 
given.  One  or  two  hours  after  this  the  patient 
is  allowed  a  light  diet.  No  oil,  alcohol, 
whiskey,  wine,  glycerine,  or  turpentine,  used 
cither  as  food  or  medicine,  are  allowed  for  the 
rest  of  the  day,  as  thymol  is  soluble  in  all  of 
these  and  poisoning  by  absorjation  of  the  drug 
might  ensue,  and,  therefore,  collapse. 

THE    PREVENTION    OF    THE    SEQUEL/E   OF 
MIDDLE    EAR    SUPPURATION. 

The  Brituih  Medical  Jourtuil,  discussing  the 
proceedings  in  the  Section  of  Otology  at  the 
recent  .Annual  Meeting  of  the  Hritish  Medical 
Association,  says  that  Dr.  Claude  Rundle,  who 
spoke  from  experience  at  a  fever  hospital, 
raised  some  interesting  practical  points.  He 
avoids  routine  treatment  of  the  throat  and 
naso-pharynx  in  scarlet  fever  and  measles,  and 
to  this  attributes  the  relatively  low  incidence 
of  otitis  at  the  Fazakerlev  Hospital.  Dr. 
Kundle  also  considers  that  the  otitis  occurring 
in  the  acute  stage  of  an  exanthem  is  as  a 
general  rule  mild,  rarely  calling  for  any 
surgical  interference. 


THE  INTERNATIONAL  CONGRESS  OF 
NURSES. 

TUESDAY,     AUGUST     6th. 

.\i'  ricRNOox  Si;ssio.N . 

On  the  afternoon  of  August  6th  the  Cologne 
Congress  re-a.ssembled,  under  the  presidency  of 
Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  to  consider — (i)  The  Duties 
of  the  Matron  in  the  Training  and  Education  of 
Nurses  ;  and  (2)  The  Duties  of  the  Matron  in 
the  Administration  of  Hospitals.  In  opening  the 
Session,  Mrs.  Fenwick  said  that  the  question  to  be 
diifcusscd  was  one  of  the  most  important,  if  not 
the  most  important,  before  the  Congress.  It  was, 
moreover,  one  on  which  a  difference  of  opinion 
existed  in  European  countries.  In  the  United 
Kingdom  the  licads  of  the  Secretarial,  Medical, 
and  Nursing  Departments  were  usually  held 
directly  responsible  to  the  .Administrative  Com- 
mittee for  the  efficiency  of  their  several  depart- 
ments ;  and  this  had  proved  to  be  the  only  system 
by  which  the  best  results  could  be  hoped  for.  The 
claim  that  the  Matron  should  have  sufficient  power 
and  responsibility  to  enable  her  to  fulfil  the 
duties  of  her  office  had  been  advanced  by  Miss 
Nightingale  ;  and  harmony  and  efficiency  could 
not  be  maintained  without  a  just  measure  of 
power.  She  then  called  on  Miss  Mollett,  for  many 
years  Matron  of  an  important  provincial  hospital 
in  l^ngland — the  Royal  South  Hants  and  South- 
ampton I  lospital — to  present  the  first  paper. 

THK     DUTIES    OF    THE     MATRON     IN     THE 
TRAINING     AND    EDUCATION    OF     NURSES. 

Miss  Mollett  said  in  the  course  of  her  paper 
(read  in  German)  that  the  conception  of  nursing 
as  a  profession,  as  something  to  be  studied,  and 
which  required  instruction  and  a  certain  degree 
of  education,  originated  with  Florence  Nightin- 
gale, and  with  her  attitude  towards  training. 
To  a  certain  extent,  public  homage  had  placed  a 
halo  about  her  head.  She  was,  however,  as  we  all 
now  knew,  before  all  a  great  teacher  ;  and  firmly 
bslieved  that  willingness  of  spirit,  piety  and  self- 
sacrifice  alone  could  not  make  a  good  nurse.  These 
qualities  must  indeed  be  present,  but  without 
training,  without  a  certain  well-regulated  instruc- 
tion in  the  art  of  nursing,  tliey  must  fail  of  their 
fvill  fruition.  Miss  Nightingale  reiterated  this 
point  again  and  again — the  nurse  must  be  carefully 
and  definitely  trained. 

At  the  beginning  and  in  the  middle  of  the  last 
century  linglish  nurses  were  drawn  almost  entirely 
from  the  lower — even  the  lowest — classes.  That 
they  should  be  educated  was  unthought  of,  and  it 
was  even  rare  that  one  could  read.  Indeed,  the 
calling  of  a  nurse  was  hardlv  held  to  be  respectable. 
The  descriptions  given  by  Dickens  and  other  writers 
of  that  time  were  by  no  means  overdrawn. 

Miss  Nightingale  had,  therefore,  no  traditions 
to  follow  in  founding  her  school.  She  belonged 
to  a  cultured  English  family,  her  friends  and 
relations  were  influential  people,  and  she  returned 
from   the  Crimea  a  heroine — to  devote  the   fund 


i68 


(Tbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  IHursinG. 


August  31,    191: 


offered  her  bv  the  English  nation  to  the  establish- 
ment of  her  famous  school  at  St.  Thomas'  Hospital 
on  secular  lines.  She  herself  drew  up  the  rules  for 
this  school  ;  and  in  these  celebrated  rules  she  laid 
down  the  absolute  principle  that  the  Matron  must 
be  the  head  of  the  training  school,  and  must  have 
control  of  all  that  pertained  to  the  nursing  of  the 
sick  and  the  well-being  and  discipline  of  the 
nurses. 

The  speaker  then  said  : — 

My  introduction  has  been  rather  long,  but  I 
wished  to  make  it  clear  that  English  nursing,  as 
a  calling  or  profession,  did  not  come  into  existence 
under  the  direct  influence  of  the  church,  but  has 
been  the  creation  of  a  woman — a  woman  who 
recognised  clearly  the  importance  of  thorough 
training,  and  who  was  convinced  that  this  training 
must  be  directed  b^'  women. 

The  physician  must  demand  unconditional 
obedience  in  all  that  relates  to  the  treatment  and 
care  of  the  patient  ;  but  the  discipline  and  the 
training  of  the  nurse  were  placed  in  the  hands  of 
the  Matron,  as  head  and  guide  of  the  Sisters.  This 
is  still  the  English  ideal  and  system. 

It  has  been  truly  said  that,  in  hospitals  where 
the  entire  control  of  nursing  lies  in  the  hands  of  the 
medical  profession,  the  nurses  develop  a  tendency 
to  regard  themselves  as  assistants  to  the  physician, 
rather  than  as  nurses  to  the  sick,  and  to  neglect 
all  the  fine  points  of  nursing  care,  which  mean  so 
much  to  the  patient.  Again,  when  hospital 
committees  have  absolute  control,  the  nursing 
staff  is  usually  too  little  regarded  ;  and,  from 
motives  of  economv,  is  turned  to  house-work ; 
the  plan  of  working  hours  is  likely  to  be  stupid  and 
ineffective,  so  that  nurses  have  no  time  for  rest. 
A  weary,  exhausted  woman,  with  hands  roughened 
by  coarse  work,  cannot  bring  to  the  bedside  the 
patience,  the  serenitv,  and  the  gentle  touch  which 
the  patient  needs. 

It  is  not  our  ideal  to  develop  eithe  ■  half-taught 
physicians  or  half-trained  servants,  but  well- 
taught,  expert,  and  devoted  nurses.  And  at  their 
head  there  must  be  a  woman,  herself  a  nurse,  who 
has  passed  through  every  stage  of  nursing,  and 
who  knows  every  detail  of  the  probationer's  life 
and  work,  who  will  see  to  every  link  in  the  chain 
of  her  pupils'  education  and  training  in  the  nursing 
art.  She  must  cherish  the  moral  and  the  ethical 
needs  of  the  nurses  under  her,  and  must  also  care 
for  their  physical  well-being.  It  is  the  duty  of  the 
Matron  to  see  that  the  nursing  staff  is  not  harmed 
by  injudicious  and  unintelligent  efforts  at  economy, 
wliich,  on  the  side  of  hospital  authorities,  are 
usually  aimed  first  at  the  women's  departments, 
and  she  must  not  hesitate  to  protest  wnen  such 
tendency  is  shown,  for  she  may  not  hold  her  office 
and  ignore  its  responsibilities.  It  is  her  duty  to 
see  that  the  nurses  have  suitable  living  quarters 
and  nourishing  food,  and  that  their  day  or  night 
plan  of  hours  allows  sufficient  time  for  rest.  She 
must  see  that  nurses  are  in  a  fit  condition  to 
perform  all  their  duties  perfectly,  for  her  responsi- 
bility towards  the  medical  staff  is  to  see  that 
all  orders  are  fulfilled  thoroughly  and  punctually. 


She  has  also,  toward  the  patients,  the  responsi" 
bility  of  seeing  that  they  are  cared  for  with  a 
devotion  to  infinitely  small  details,  and  in  a  serene 
and  tender  manner,  and  that  the  ward  service 
shall  not  become  a  routine  performed  in  frenzied 
haste  by  women  who  are  trying  to  make  two 
hands  do  the  work  of  six  or  eight.  To  see  that 
nurses  have  sufficient  time  for  rest  is  one  of  the 
Matron's  chief  duties,  for  if  they  are  physically 
exhausted  they  are  unable  to  utilise  the  instruction 
that  is  offered  them. 

The  tone  or  atmosphere  found  in  any  hospital 
is  given  by  the  Matron's  intiuence.  There  is  a 
proverb,  "  Practice  is  better  than  precept,"  and 
if  the  Matron  gives  her  nurses  an  example  of 
uprightness,  humanitarianism,  order  and  discipline, 
this  example  is  worth  more  than  sermons.  If  to 
this  she  adds  a  truly  religious  spirit,  a  real  faith, 
she  stands  so  much  higher. 

The  position  of  Matron  is,  I  think,  an  ideal 
one,  but  it  calls  for  an  ideal  personality  to  fill  it. 
The  Matron  must  have  a  truly  noble  character,  a 
firm  will,  a  cheerful  and  motherly  spirit,  and  a 
complete  armament  of  education.  A  human 
being  before  all,  she  must  help  to  bear  the  common 
lot  of  humanity. 

The   Direction   of  Pupil  Nurses. 

Miss  Anna  Maxwell,  Superintendent  of  Nurses 
at  the  Presbyterian  Hospital,  New  York,  U.S.A., 
who  said  that  she  had  bsen  working  in  hospitals 
for  thirty-eight  vears — thirtv-three  in  charge  of 
schools,  for  twenty  of  wh  ich  she  had  superintended 
the  Nursing  School  at  the  Presbyterian  Hospital — 
explained  that  in  America  there  was  a  somewhat 
different  wav  of  managing  to^  that  which  had 
previously  been  described.  There  was  a  male 
Superintendent  of  the  Hospital  as  a  whole.  Tiie 
Superintendent  of  Nurses  was  responsible  for  the 
training  of  the  nurses  in  the  wards,  and  followed 
the  career  of  each  pupil  from  the  day  she  entered 
to  the  dav  she  left.  At  the  Presbyterian  Hospital 
a  six  months'  preparatory  course  had  been 
established,  two  months  of  which  were  spent  in 
practical  and  four  in  theoretical  work.  Tiie 
Superintendents  had  absolute  authority  over  the 
pupils,  their  correction  and  direction.  A  strong 
line  of  demarcation  was  drawn  between  the  work 
of  a  nurse  and  of  a  physician.  In  this  way  the 
risk  of  friction  was  minimised.  '  ^"^ 

In  their  first  lessons  on  ethics,  the  nurses  were 
taught  what  to  expect,  and  wherein-  lay  their 
responsibility  ;  they  also  received  instruction  in 
the  ethical  side  of  private  nursing.  In  regard  to 
district  nursing,  instruction  was  given  in  social 
problems,  and  the  work  was  thus  developed  and 
made  stronger. 
,  Miss  Maxwell  emphasised  the  fact  that  one 
individual  was  responsible  for  and  cared  for  the 
pupil  throughout  the  whole  of  her  training.  She 
could  not  imagine  that  two  or  three  people  could 
be  responsible  successfullv. 
The  Development  or  the  Nursing  Profession. 

Sister  Agnes  Karll  said  that,  from  the  nursing 
standpoint,   the    Matron    was    a    most    important 


August  31,    191; 


Zbc  36i-iti5b  3ouniaI  of  IRiu'Sintj. 


169 


factor  in  the  development  of  the  nursing  profession. 
Medical  instruction  must  always  remain  in  the 
hands  of  the  doctor,  but  it  was  the  Matron  of 
the  training  school  who  must  train  and  educate 
probationers  and  nurses,  and  in  her  hands  should 
lie  the  right  of  final  decision  respecting  the 
qualifications  of  a  candidate  for  the  profession. 
Until,  as  in  England,  personal  application  was 
a  necessary  preliminarv  to  admission  as  a  pro- 
bationer, a  careful  correspondence  should  .be 
conducted  by  the  Matron  with  the  applicant ; 
a  medical  certificate  should  not  bo  regarded  as 
sufficient.  A  Matron's  duties  were  manifold,  and 
she  should  be  assisted  bv  a  capable  Head  Sister, 
but  she  should  never  give  the  reins  out  of  her  own 
hands.  She  should  neither  draw  them  too  tight 
nor  let  them  slip.  Order,  and  with  order  good 
work,  and  contentment  could  only  so  be  obtained, 
and  a  standpoint  maintained  beneficial  alike  to 
patients  and  nur.ses.  A  Matron  should  herself 
have  passed  through  all  branches  of  training  and 
\x  able  in  cases  of  emergenc\-  to  give  practical 
demonstration  of  her  knowledge.  Only  those  who 
had  worked  their  wa\-  up  from  the  lowest  rung  of 
the  ladder,  and  knew  the  difficulties  which  beset 
those  who  were  climbing,  could  really  estimate 
the  amount  of  work  which  could  be  demanded 
of  nurses  with  benefit  to  both  patient  and  nurse. 
It  was  customary  for  expensive  machiner\-  to  be 
examined  from  time  to  time  in  order  that  each 
function  might  be  repaired  and  put  into  working 
order.  Surely  the  same  care  should  be  bestowed 
upon  those  who  were  working  in  such  an  important 
department  as  the  care  of  human  beings.  A 
Matron  should  be  verv  careful  of  the  healtli  of  those 
under  her  guidance,  check  overstrain  promjrtcd 
bv  ambition,  discourage  undue  hardening,  while 
combating  slackness.  Incapable  of  either  favour- 
itism or  pettv  tvranny,  a  Matron  besides  being 
well  educated  should  be  broad-minded,  warm- 
hearted, and  well-balanced.  It  would  be  seen 
that  almost  an  ideal  woman  was  demanded,  but 
nursing  was  an  ideal  calling,  and  ohh-  the  best 
tools  were  good  enough,  onlv  the  best  workers 
could  mould  the  material  and  train  and  educate 
•  staff  to  be  an  honour  to  their  calling.  \  Head 
Sister  might  rise  to  be  a  Matron,  and  it  was  inter- 
esting to  know  that  from  next  winter  the  Leipzig 
Lyceum  would  give  courses  on  political  economy, 
hygienics  and  pedagogics  whicli  would  be  of  in- 
'  alculable  value  to  both  Head  Sisters  and  Matrons. 
It  was  to  be  liopcd  that,  as  in  other  branches  of 
woman's  study,  scholarships  would  be  granted 
which  would  enable  those  who  were  without  private 
means  to  profit  bv  these  most  important  courses. 

THE    DUTY    OF    THE     MATRON    IN    THE 
AD.MIMSTRATION    OF    HOSPITALS. 

Oberin  Becker  said  that  a  deaconess  home  was 
almost  always  conn  ctcd  with  a  hospital.  In  the 
former  department  the  Matron  had  absolute 
power  of  administration,  whilst  in  the  latter  she 
was  assisted  by  the  resident  clergyman.  Office 
and  house-deaconesses  worked  under  her  orders. 
Officials   and   inspectors   were   unknown,    though 


.secular  female  help  was  employed  in  the  office. 
The  Red-Cross  Matron  was  absolute  administrator. 
She  discussed  matters  with  the  Board,  or  even 
with  the  president,  treasurer  and  secretary  only, 
but  in  her  hands  was  the  final  decision.  The 
head  doctor  decided  what  articles  were  necessarj' 
for  special  treatment  and  as  far  as  means  allowed  his 
wishes  were  law,  but  it  was  the  Matron  who  saw 
them  carried  out.  Uniform,  furniture,  &c.,  were 
renewed  or  bought  by  her,  a  fi.xed  sum  being 
allowed.  She  decided  on  the  admission  of 
probationers  and  nurses  and  apportioned  the 
niyrses'  work.  She  was  free  to  engage  or  dismiss 
servants.  The  Matron  of  a  seminary — that  is  a 
large  town  hospital — though  she  was  present  at 
the  Board  Meetings  and  her  advice  often  regarded 
as  conclusive,  had  no  power  in  the  administration, 
which  was  in  the  hands  of  a  sub-inspector,  and 
head  inspector  or  director.  Witli  the  admission  of 
patients,  payments,  purveying,  she  had  nothing 
to  do.  .-Xny  wish  expressed  by  the  Ward  Sister 
the  Matron  laid  before  the  Board.  She  devoted 
her  time  to  the  supervision  of  nurses,  training  of 
probationers,  and  conducting  of  correspondence. 
A  Head  Sister  sent  to  manage  a  small  hospital — 
50-100  beds — had  the  absolute  power  of  a  Matron, 
and  in  si.xty  such  hospitals  Sisters  of  the 
Evangelical  Deaconesses'  Society  have  proved 
capable  administrators. 

The  Training  of  Nurses  in  Holland. 
Miss  Mejan  said  that  the  task  had  been  assigned 
to  her  of  speaking  on  the  Matron's  duties  and 
position  in  Holland,  and  she  was  sorry  that  there 
was  little  she  could  say,  as  the  training  of  nurses 
in  Holland  was  still  very  incomplete  and  far  from 
systematic.  In  the  large  hospitals  the  Alatrons 
usually  lectured  to  the  nurses,  but  irregularly. 
Sometimes  months  intervened  between  such 
lectures,  and  it  was  almost  a  fortunate  accident 
when  pupils  in  their  "  Lehrzeit  "  (period  when 
teaching  is  given)  received  any  instruction  from 
their  Matrons.  The  lectures  from  the  medical 
staff  were  usually  repeated  or  explained  by  the 
Matron,  who  then  spoke  also  upon  ethics.  Practical 
work  was  taught  in  the  wards  by  the  Sisters  and 
senior  nurses.  In  some  of  the  smaller  hospitals 
the  pupils  received  more  personal  instruction  from 
the  Matron.  But  Dutch  nurses  continually  felt 
aware  of  the  deficiencies  in  their  training  and  of 
its  planless  character.  Miss  ^lejan  spoke  of  the 
efforts  the.  Nurses'  Association  (Nosokomos)  was 
making,  to  develop  and  improve  hospital  training. 
At  present  it  often  happened  that  pupils  completed 
their  time  and  received  their  certificates,  having 
only  gone  through  part  of  the  hospital  divisions. 
The  Matron's  sphere  was  too  closely  limited  to 
housekeeping,  and  her  authority  was  restricted. 
She  was  not  permitted  to  occupy  her  rightful 
position  in  regard  to  the  nurses. 

Friends  and  Comrades. 
Sister   Cecilia    Wolff    thought   that   Sisters   ap- 
pointed to  the  position  of  Oberin  (Lady  Superin- 
tendent) might  become  too  much  of  a  class  apart 
from  the  nurses.     She  pleaded  that  they  should 


CTbc  Bvitisb  journal  of  murslno- 


August   31,    iqi. 


not  onh-  be  Superintendents  bvit  shonld  also  be 
the  friends  and  comrades  of  tlie  nurses  under  them. 

Discussion. 

Sister  Helene  :\Ieyer  hoped  that  the  Congress 
would  strengthen  the  hands  of  the  Matron  in 
administration.  She  considered  she  should  have 
a  direct  voice  on  the  management,  and  mentioned 
the  case  of  a  highly  qualified  sister  who  could  not 
get  justice  done  in  a  difference  with  a  young 
medical  man,  though  she  was  aTssolutely  in  the 
right,  because  there  was  no  one  to  voice  her  point 
of  view,  and  the  Oberin  was  unable  to  help  her. 

Miss  Nutting  said  that  she  could  not  let  the 
discussion  pass  without  a  few  words.  She 
empha^sed  the  need  of  well  educated  wcmen  as 
the  heads  of  training  schools,  and  said  that  in  all 
countries  there  was  some  danger  lest  the  Matron 
should  be  principally  a  practical  housekeeper. 
No  one  without  a  good  general  education  could 
conduct  a  nurse-training  school,  which  was  a 
complicated  organisation,  on  the  best  lines.  There 
was  need  to  urge  the  selection  for  admission  to 
the  training  schools  of  women  of  good  education, 
and  appointments  to  the  higher  posts  should 
certainly  be  limited  to  them. 

Definition  of   Duties  Xecessar^'. 

^  Miss  Dock  then  summarised  a  paper  contributeil 
by  Baroness  Mannerheim,  who  said  that  there  was 
great  need  for  discussion  on  the  position  of  the 
Matron,  for  nothing  could  vary  more  than  the 
ideas  on  her  duties  and  responsibilities,  and  it 
was  important  that  those  duties  and  responsibilities 
should  be  clearly  defined. 

In  many  countries  the  belief  was  held  that  the 
non-Matron  system  was  best,  a  conviction  based 
on  the  wrong  impression  which  people  received 
of  what  was  really  meant  by  a  Matron  at  the  head 
of  a  hospital. 

Perhaps  the  fear  of "  petticoat  government  "  was 
not  wholly  without  foundation,  for  there  were 
certainly  instances  of  hospital  rules  which  seemed 
written  on  purpose  to  crush  all  individuality  out 
of  those  governed,  but  to  mend  an  evil  by  going  to 
the  other  extreme  could  never  be  considered  a 
wise  policy,  and  when  the  change  advocated  was 
not  a  step  forward  but  a  retracing  of  steps  already 
taken,  and  a  revival  of  dreary  times  gone  by, 
reason  should  condemn  such  a  change. 

For  it  was  not  as  if  the  non-Matron  system 
were  a  new  innovation.  It  was  just  the  old  order 
of  things  making  for  muddle  and  confusion,  and 
which  the  genius  of  a  woman  once  condemned 
with  the  words  :  "In  disciplinary  matters  a 
woman  only  can  understand  a  woman  "  ;  and 
"  A  training  school  without  a  mother  is  worse 
than  children  without  parents." 

She  liad  seen  nurses  from  several  countries 
where  this  non-Matron  system  was  now  prevalent. 
She  knew  many  of  them,  influenced  in  great  part 
by  their  physicians  and  surgeons  would,  on  being 
asked,  say  that  they  were  much  happier  and  felt 
much  freer  to  do  what  they  liked,   and  arrange 


their  life  and  their  work  as  they  pleased  without 
a  Matron  to  superintend  them  ;  but  she  knew 
also  a  number  of  nurses  working  under  the  same 
conditions,  many  of  whom — especially  those  who 
had  anything  to  do  with  the  training  of  pro- 
bationers— felt  deeply  the  deficiencies  of  a  system 
where  there  was  no  one  to  carry  the  responsibility 
of  the  whole,  and  to  see  that  the  instruction  the 
youthful  nurses  had  a  right  to  receive  was  really 
systematically  and  thoroughly  given. 

Baroness  Mannerheim  urged  strongly  the  need 
of  a  Matron  to  carry  the  responsibility  as  a 
whole,  to  see  that  the  instruction  the  pupil 
nurses  received  was  really  systematic  and 
thorough  in  its  scope,  and  that  each  pupil  received 
her  share  of  training  in  the  different  wards.  Also 
who  should  keep  in  mind  the  question  not  only  of 
the  work  to  be  done  by  the  young  girls  entrusted 
to  the  care  of  the  hospital,  but  also  the  care  of 
their  health  of  body  and  mind  if  there  were  not  a 
woman  at  the  head  of  the  institution  ?  Sisters 
and  nurses  also  needed  sometimes  someone  to 
go  to,  and  consult  on  questions  upon  which  only 
a  woman  could  give  advice,  and  there  must  be 
someone  to  decide  upon  the  work  to  be  done, 
and  when  and  how  to  do  it,  to  arrange  off  times 
and  holidays  for  the  nursing  staff,  and  many  other 
things  concerning  the  internal  arrangements  of  the 
hospital. 

She  had  often  heard  medical  men  sa\-.  that  if  the 
Matron  would  limit  herself  to  the  housekeeping 
and  be  content  with  looking  after  the  linen-room 
they  would  not  object  to  her,  but  it  was  her 
meddling  with  the  nursing  which  could  not  be 
tolerated,  and  made  the  non-Matron  system 
preferable.  Baroness  Mannerhe'Tm  said  that  she 
had  always  come  to  the  conclusion  that  what  was 
meant  bv  the  nursing  was  the  treatment,  which 
was  naturally  a  matter  between  the  doctor  and  the 
ward  sister  ;  but  this  was  not  what  was  included 
in  the  nursing  proper,  the  dailv  attendance  to  the 
needs  of  the  patients,  and  to  the  cleanliness  and 
hygiene  of  the  wards,  which  ought  not  to  be  left 
entirely  to  the  judgment  of  the  different  ward 
sisters. 

If  the  sisters  and  nurses  of  the  hospital,  as  ought 
always  to  be  the  case,  had  been  chosen  by  the 
Matron  who  thoroughly  knew  them  and  their 
qualifications,  she  must  be  able  to  believe  in  their 
loyalty  and  goodwill,  but  nevertheless  it  was  she 
who,  either  in  person  or  with  the  help  of  assistants, 
must  superintend  the  work  and  see  that  it  was 
always  done  in  a  certain  approved  fashion,  and 
that  no  slackness  was  allowed  to  creep  into  it. 
Only  thus  would  she  rest  assured  that  the  patients 
under  her  care  received  the  attendance  due  to 
them,  and  only  thus  could  the  standard  of  work 
be  reached  without  which  no  hospital  could  ever 
aspire  to  give  the  pupils  entrusted  to  its  care 
the  training  they  had  the  right  to  receive. 

The  personality  of  the  Matron  was  of  the  greatest 
importance,  and  permeated  the  whole  hospital. 
If  she  were  really  as  good  and  as  strong  a  woman 
as  she  ought  to  be,  you  felt  the  happy  harmonious 
spirit  of  the  hospital  at  the  gate.     In  the  manner 


August  31,    igi; 


Cbc  Bvitit?b  3ournal  of  IHursmo 


•of  your  reception,  first  by  llio  porter  and  then  by 
the  Sisters  and  everyone  belonging  to  the  place ; 
you  perceived  a  subtle  influence,  with  which  you 
either  felt  in  harmony,  or  else  which  jarred  upon 
ycu,  and  to  which  you  could  even  feel  antagonistic. 
When  vou  met  the  Matron  vou  would  no  doubt 
understand  why  you  felt  as  you  did.  In  this 
influence  lay  the  chief  significance  of  the  Matron. 
T.ie  tone  and  tenor  of  the  hospital  was  as  much 
her  work  as  the  supervision  of  the  nursing,  the 
housekeeping,  and  the  linen-room.  She  should  be 
the  soul  and  spirit  of  the  place,  and  had — her 
position  given — a  position  most  enviable,  and  a 
great  power  for  good  in  all  the  departments  of  the 
little  world  which  was  hers. 

RESOLUTION. 

The  following  resolution  was  then  proposed  by 
Miss  B.  Kelly,  Matron  of  Dr.  Stee\ens'  Hospital 
Dublin,  who  said  she  spoke  after  twenty-one  years' 
experience  as  a  Matron,  and  was  seconded  by  Miss 
Helen  L.  Pearse,  and  carried  unanimously. 

"  Whereas  Florence  Nightingale  declared  that 
a  woman,  herself  trained  in  nursing,  must  be  at 
the  head  of  ever>-  nursing  staff,  and  must  ha\e 
full  charge  of  the  teaching  and  discipline  of  the 
staff,  and  whereas  this  trutli  has  been  testified  to 
by  every  succeeding  generation  of  nurses,  be  it 
resolved  that  we  in  this  meeting  declare  our 
•complete  and  unshakable  adherence  to  this 
principle,  and  earnestly  urge  upon  hospital 
administrations  to  give  proper  scope  and  extent  to 
the  Matron's  sphere  in  order  that  she  may  best 
fulfil  her  duties  both  of  teaching,  of  supervision 
and  of  disciplinary  control.  " 

The  Chairman  said  we  had  heard  much  during 
the  afternoon  of  the  great  responsibility  of  the 
Matron,  but  we  had  not  heard  one  word  about  the 
training  which  was  to  qualify  her  for  the  fulfilment 
of  her  duties.  .\  special  curriculum  was  very  much 
needed  to  enable  trained  nurses  to  qualify  as 
Superintendents  of  nurse  training  schools,  and  as 
domestic  administrators  in  hospitals. 

The  first  step  in  this  direction  had  been  taken 
in  England  by  the  War  Office.  In  the  Military 
Nursing  Service  a  Sister  was  •  not  eligible  for 
promotion  to  a  Matron's  post  until  she  had 
passed  through  a  prescribed  course  of  special 
training,  and  given  evidence  of  her  ability  to  teach 
and  impart  knowledge.  In  the  State  of  Victoria, 
in  the  Commonwealth  of  .•\ustralia,  an  excellent 
system  had  been  inaugurated  by  the  Royal 
Victorian  Trained  Nurses'  Association,  which  was 
supported  by  hospital  authorities,  of  granting  to 
trained  nurses  a  ^Iatron's  Certificate  after  a  special 
course  and  examination,  before  they  were  con- 
sidered eligible  for  a  Matron's  post. 

No  such  systematic  preparation  was  available 
in  England — or  required — outside  the  Military- 
Nursing  Service  :  but  a  very  thorough  course  was 
obtainable  at  Teachers'  College,  Columbia  Uni- 
versity, New  Vork.  in  connection  with  the  Depart- 
ment of  Nursing  and  Health,  under  the  direction  of 
Miss  Nutting. 


THE    GKRMAN    INSTITUTION    AND 
HOSPITAL    WORLD. 


THE  JEWISH  CHH^DREN  S  HOME. 

It  is  well  known  that  Jews  are  most  generous  in 
caring  for  their  co-religionists.  It  was  our  privilege, 
in  addition  to  the  Jewish  Hospital,  to  see  another  of 
their  institutions  in  Cologne — the  Children's  Home. 
The  Home  is  a  large,  well-built  institution  situated 
somewhat  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city. 

On  arriving,  we  were  shown  into  the  dining 
joom,  which  was  most  tastefully  and  comfortably 
furnished,  from  w-hich  opened  a  large  salon 
sparely  furnished,  and  which  we  understood  w-as 
used  by  the  children  on  wet  days.  All  the  floors 
were  covered  with  what  seems  to  be  the  usual 
floor  covering  in  Cologne  hospitals  and  institutions 
— well  polished  and  perfectl}-  laid  linoleum.  On 
the  walls  were  hung  a  few  pictures,  the  whole 
giving  an  impression  of  comfort, '  light  and  air. 
After  waiting  a  few  minutes  a  lady  entered  and 
acted  as  guide. 

The  girls  are  housed  on  the  first  floor  where, 
under  efficient  guidance,  they  are  taught  practical 
economy,  as  they  are  entirely  responsible  for  the 
care  of  their  own  quarters.  \\'e  saw  them  washing, 
ironing,  folding,  and  doing  all  the  ordinary-  work 
of  the  day.  The  dormitories  appeared  somewhat 
crowded,  but  fear  of  insufiicient  air  was  removed 
when  wc  heard  that  all  slept  with  open  windows. 

The  next  floor  is  occupied  by  the  babies,  some 
being  in  cradles,  older  ones  on  the  verandah 
singing  their  little  action  songs  for  the  pleasure 
of  the  %-isitors,  aU  so  bright  and  happy,  and  most 
interested  in  the  crowd  of  foreign  ladies.  The 
Home  was  founded  by  Frau  Phato.and  two  other 
ladies,  the  present  director  being  Herr  Marcus 
Piiato,  son  of  the  former,  who,  speaking  in  excellent 
Enghsh,  most  kindly  explained  everything,  answer- 
ing our  numerous  questions  most  patiently. 
I  The  children  need  not  be  orphans,  if  necessitous 
that  is  sufficient  qualification.  They  are  taken 
at  any  age  from  ten  days  old.  Girls  are  kept 
until  16  years,  and  boys  14  years  of  age.  The 
girls  are  taught  everything  necessan,-  to  make 
them  efficient  domestic  servants,  and  the  boys 
are  apprenticed  to  trades  or  put  to  other  work 
for  which  they  show  incUnation.  All  are  given 
the  usual  education  required  by  the  State. 

Older  girls  are  taken  for  one  year  to  train  in 
domestic  economy,  but  these  pay  25  or  30  marks 
a  month.  Another  department  is  the  creche  for 
the  children  of  working  mothers.  These  children 
are  kept  separate  from  the  others,  and  are  fed, 
amused  and  taught  by  kindergarten  methods  in 
a  large  playground  or  play  room,  according  to 
the  weather.  About  50  come  daily,  their  parents 
■paying  (if  they  can)  about  7  pence  a  week.  All  the 
babes  are  put  to  rest  for  an  hour  or  two  after 
dinner  on  long  low  carpet  chairs.  The  work  is 
not  confined  exclusively  to  Jewish  children,  but 
Christians  are  taken  also,  but  are  kept  only  until 
two  years  of  age. 


172 


Cbe  Bi'ltisb  3ournal  of  H-lurstiuj 


August  31,    1912- 


Still  another  branch  of  the  work  is  the  sonp 
kitchen,  where  any  needy  person  can  get  as  much 
as  he  can  eat  for  about  ajd.  of  soup,  vegetables 
and  a  morsel  of  meat.  We  saw  the  preparations 
for  dinner  in  the  exquisitely  clean  and  well- 
appointed  kitchen,  and  but  for  the  want  of  time 
would  have  been  tempted  to  accept  the  kind 
invitation  to  trj'  it. 

THE  DEACONESS  HOME  AT  FREIBURO. 

Passing  through  Freiburg  gave  me  the  oppor- 
tunity to  pay  a  short  visit  to  the  Deaconess  Home. 
My  welcome  was  assured,  because  the  Matron 
had  been  to  the  Congress  at  Cologne  (welcome 
news),  and  in  a  few  minutes  there  entered  a  tall 
dignified  lady,  with  the  sweetest  sympathetic 
face  imaginable.  A  glance  of  recognition,  and 
immediately  I  felt  at  home,  in  spite  of  the  difficulty 
of  language. 

The  operating  theatre  I  could  not  visit,  as  it 
was  in  use,  but  I  saw  the  wards,  none  of  which 
contained  more  than  eight  beds,  also  the  private 
rooms,  some  of  which  have  two  beds,  for  which 
t  the  patients  pay  6  marks  a  day,  others  only  one 
bed,  for  which  up  to  10  marks  are  charged.  This 
includes  board,  heating  and  nursing.  There  is  a 
Finsen  light  room,  also  a  variety  of  baths. 

The  hospital  contains  80  beds,  medical,  surgical 
and  infectious  blocks,  post-mortem  room  and 
mortuary.  There  is  also  on  one  side  of  the 
beautiful  garden  the  Mother  House,  where  the 
deaconesses  stay  for  rest  or  when  ill.  There  are 
160  belonging  to  the  Home,  many  of  whom  do 
district  nursing  in  the  surrounding  villages. 

They  are  trained  for  18  months  in  the  hospital, 
and,  as  at  Kaiserswerth,  before  being  accepted  as 
full  deaconesses  must  spend  five  years  in  probation. 
When  accepted  the  deaconess  is  cared  for  for  the 
rest  of  her  life.  She  is  not,  liowever,  bound  by- 
vows,  but  is  free  to  leave  should  she  wish. 

The  Matron  is  appointed  by  the  Committee, 
and  is  not  elected  by  the  Sisters  over  whom  she 
is  placed  as  Mother,  the  other  head  being,  as  is 
usual,  a  pastor,  the  endeavour  being  to  carry  out 
the  idea  of  a  family. 

"  What  did  you  think  of  the  Congress  ?  "  I 
asked.  "  I  enjoj^ed  it  so  much,  but  I  am  not  a 
member."  "  Your  rules  do  not  permit  you  to 
belong  to  other  Societies  ?  "  I  suggested.  "  No. 
But  the  Congress  will  do  much  good." 

;\Iary  Burr. 

Miss  Chung,  a  Chinese  nurse  trained  in  London, 
and  now  working  at  Tientsin,  writes  of  the  Cologne 
Congress  to  Miss  Dock  ;  "I  have  tried  every  way 
to  get  the  Government  to  send  me,  but  row  find 
it  quite  impossible.  I  am  so  disappointed,  and 
had  hoped  up  to  the  present  I  might  be  able  to  go, 
but  the  Go\'ernment  is  still  too  unsettled  and 
worried  about  the  more  important  affairs  of  the 
country.  Our  Chinese  people  do  not  realize  yet 
the  value  of  good  nurses,  and  we  are  working  hard 
here,  in  our  small  hospital,  to  train  nurses,  and  to 
teach  the  people  how  much  a  good  nurse  can  do 
towards  the  comfort  and  I'elief  of  the  sick." 


A  MESSAGE  FROM  OUR  COLLEAGUES. 

The  following  letter  has  been  received  by   the- 
Prcsident  of  the  National  Council  of  Nurses  : — 
To  THE  National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses 
OF  Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 

Dear  Mrs.  Fenwick  (President), — The  members 
of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses,  and  especi- 
ally those  members  in  Germany  and  neighbouring 
countries,  desire  to  thank  most  warmly  and 
sincerely  the  National  Council  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland  for  the  very  great  and  important  part 
it  took  in  ensuring  the  success  of  the  Cologne 
Congress.  The  imposing  numbers  of  the  British 
and  Irish  delegations,  the  great  support  given  to 
the  programme,  and  the  splendid  contribution  of 
historical  characters  to  the  Festival  Play  were  all 
in  keeping  with  your  own  wonderful  London 
Congress,  and  held  up  and  strengthened  Sister 
Agnes'  hands,  winning  the  warm  appreciation  of 
Continental  Nurses,  and  deeply  impressing  the 
visitors  to  the  Congress. 

We  hope  that  these  few  words  may  assure  your 
members  that  their  labours  were  not  in  vain,  but 
had  much  to  do  with  the  gratifying  success  of  our 
meetings.  With  greetings  from  Sister  Agnes. 
Karll, 

I  am,   as  ever. 

Sincerely  Yours, 

L.  L.  Dock,  Hon.  Secretary, 
Intirnatinnal  Council  of  Nurses. 


IMPRESSIONS   OF   THE. CONGRESS. 


The  following  impressions  of  Herr  Regierungs- 
und  Geh.  Medizinalrat  Dr.  H.  Hecker,  of  Stras- 
burg,  have  been  translated  and  summarised  for 
this  journal  by  Miss  L.  L.  Dock  :— 

To  anyone  who  had  the  privilege  of  sharing  in 
those  days  of  the  Congress  in  Cologne  the  memory 
of  them  must  remain  imperishable,  and  one  must 
hope  that  the  good  seed  then  lavishly  scattered 
will  fall  on  good  ground  and  bear  fruit. 

It  was  strangely  impressive  and  moving  to 
see  this  great  body  of  older  and  of  younger  women 
rapt  in  devotion  to  their  calling — the  noblest,  but 
one  of  the  most  difficult  and  exhausting  which 
women  can  take  up — distinguished  by  true 
womanliness,  united  by  their  ideals,  nurses  of 
twenty-three  countries  united  as  one  people,  all 
differences  of  race,  colour  or  political  divisions 
forgotten  in  the  bond  which  made  them  as  one. 

Throughout  all  the  conferences  the  tone  of 
hopeful  optimism  and  love  of  profession  shone 
tlirough  the  revelations  of  crushing  burdens  of 
weariness  and  overlading.  We  must  believe  that 
the  iodifference  of  the  public  and  of  Governments 
hitherto  have  hot  arisen  from  hardness  of  heart, 
but  from  the  failure  to  understand,  and  that  in 
1915  Germany  will  be  able  to  take  her  place 
beside  England  and  New  Zealand  in  regard  to'the 
conditions  of  the  nurse's  life  and  service. 


Aiiirusl   -ii. 


1912 


Cbc  3Sritt5h  3ournai  of  TBiirstno. 


173 


The  whole  Congress  was  irradiated  by  a  liospi- 
tahty  which  seemed  not,  indeed,  to  be  mere 
hospitaHty,  but  to  spring  from  the  heart.  The 
infinite  pains  taken  by  tlie  Cologne  ladies,  the 
cordiality  of  the  city,  the  receptions  met  with 
on  the  excursions  were  all  lavish  of  friendliness. 

From  beginning  to  end  there  was  harmony, 
no  trace  of  discord  or  disunion  was  to  be  felt. 


I  am  asked  what  was  the  niipression  that  the 
Koln  Conference  left 
on  my  mind.  First 
and  f  aremost  and 
from  beginning  to 
end  I  think  it  was 
the  impression  of 
energy  —  boundless, 
niighty,  brilliant 

energy.  Energy  in 
everything  under- 
taken and  brought  to 
such  a  consummate 
finish  ;  energy  of 
conception,  of 
i  m  a  g  i  n  a  tion,  of 
whole-hearted  hos- 
pitality, of  determin- 
ation that  all,  and 
especially  the  foreign 
section,  should  be 
helped  to  profit 
by  the  Conference, 
that  they  should 
enjoy  themselves 
to  the  full.  Marvel- 
lous energy  in  organ- 
isation, and  yet 
no  one  seemed  over- 
tired, no  one  fretful 
or  "  nervy  "  among 
our  hosts,  no  one 
too  busy  to  help 
others.  The  work 
of  the  Conference 
and  Congress  alone 
makes  one  dizzy  to 
think  of  the  multi- 
tude of  subjects 
touched  on,  the 
multitude  of 
speakers,  the  multi- 
tude of  listeners,  the 
breadth  of  the 
ground  covered,  and, 
added    to    all    this, 

the  energy  shown  in  the  entertainments  provided 
for  us.  The  Pageant,  of  course,  stands  out 
gloriously  pre-eminent — the  heavenly  singing  of 
the  men's  choir,  the  wonderful  rendering  by  living 
human  beings  of  four  episodes  of  German  nursing 
culminating  in  the  great  group  of  nurses  from  all 
lands  bearing  their  banners  and  offering  to  Hygeia 
(the  Goddess  of  Health)  the  laurel  wreaths  of  the 
victors  over  disease  and  death.  But  besides  that, 
there  were  ffites  given  to  us  by  the  Head  Burgo- 
master of  Cologne,   by  the  .Municipality,   by  the 


Xeu.enahr  Baths  management,  by  more  than  I 
can  remember,  for  indeed  this  rush  of  resistless 
energy  seems  to  have  made  all  pass  by  at  such 
speed  that  only  by  degrees  will  one  remember 
and  pick  out  individual  scenes.  One  lecture 
stands  out  before  all  others,  and  that  was  Dr. 
Hecker's  magnificent  speech  on  the  social  condi- 
tions of  the  German  nurse.  One  idea  rears  itself 
on  high  above  the  many  others  presented  to  our 
minds,  and  that  is  that  nurses  should  never  be 
contented  with  their 
work  of  nursing  the 
sick,  but  aspire 
always  to  the  time 
when  their  work 
will  be  at  least 
mainly  to  prevent 
illness. 

One  excursion 
before  all  others  will 
be  remembered  by 
the  English-speaking 
nurses,  and  that  is 
the  one  to  Kaisers- 
w  e  r  t  h,  where 
Florence  Nightingale 
learnt  the  science 
and  the  discipline 
and  the  art  of 
nursing. 

(HRi.sTiNA  Forrest, 
Treasurer  National 
Council  of  Trained 
Murses  of  Great 
liritain  and  Ireland. 


DR.  HECKKR.   A  NURSES'  CHAMPION. 


The  impression 
which  the  Dutch 
nurses  have  of  the 
Congressis  enormous. 
So  much  has  been 
spoken  about  so 
many  interesting  and 
instructive  subjects 
that  we  shall  keep 
the  remembrance  of 
it  for  many  years. 

We  hope  during 
the  next  three  years 
to  carry  to  their  ful- 
filment many  great 
jjlans,  especially 
those  of  State  regis- 
tration and  improved 
training. 
We  agree  so  very  much  with  what  Mrs.  Bedford 

Fenwick  said,  that  there  must  be  no  nationality 

among  nurses,   and  that  we  must  feel  ourselves 

one  in  all  in  our  great  organisation. 

A  word  of  thanks  to  Sister  Agnes  Karll  and  Miss 

Dock  for  all  they  have  done. 

C.  J.    TlLANSUS, 

Verwev  Mejan, 

D.  E.  Van  Rijn, 
Fr.  Spruijtenburg, 

Delegates  of  the  Dutch  Nurses  Association. 


174 


(Xbc  36vitii5b  3oiunal  of  11-lui-slno. 


August  31,    191 2 


^\■hen  we  think  of  the  {esti\al  days  of  Cologne 
after  returning  to  our  own  work  it  must  be  with  a 
feehng  of  J03-  and  repose  that  we  all  remember 
the  strong  and  warm  sympathy  which  the  nurses 
ha\-e  met  with  in  Germany,  and  we  must  feel, 
that  a  strong  link  has  once  again  been  forged  in 
the  chain,  which — as  we  hope — will  in  time  make 
nurses  all  the  world  over  a  united  sisterhood. 
It  cannot  be  doubted  that  such  an  international 
meeting  has  its  great  value,  not  only  as  to  its 
earnest  work  in  practical  affairs,  but  also  because 
it  calls  forth  in  us  the  spirit  and  incites  us  to  keep 
the  ideals,  which  we  all  cherish,  and  which  made 
us  choose  that  work — these  ideals,  which  we  some- 
times lose  sight  of  during  the  e\-erj-day  work, 
with  its  ine\-itable  troublesomeness,  which  can 
tire  us  out  in  soul  and  body  and  make  us  faint- 
hearted. And  we  can  not  sufficiently  thank  the 
women  who  spend  time  and  strength  for  the 
sake  of  nurses.  This  feeling  gives  us  new  spirit 
to  continue  each  in  one's  little  place. 

Marthe  Luxd, 

Member  of  the  Dunish  National 

Cowicil  of  Nurses. 


This  great  Congress,  to  which  we  have  all  looked 
forward  so  much,  has  come  to  a  close,  and  it  is 
hard  to  find  words  wherewith  to  express  the  joy 
it  has  brought  to  us.  For  while  many  of  us  have 
lost  a  great  deal  owing  to  our  lack  of  Imowledge 
of  the  German  language,  we  have  learned  very 
manv  things  from  our  sisters  in  all  branches  of 
our  profession,  and  we  shall,  I  feel  sure,  go  back  to 
our  different  posts  strengthened  and  refreshed  for 
the  work  that  lies  before  us.  The  whole  Congress 
has  been  most  inspiring,  and  the  excellent  way  in 
which  it  has  been  managed  for  us  is  beyond  praise. 

With  the  Watchword  given  us  by  Mrs.  Fenwick 
and  the  high  ideals  set  before  us  by  Sister  Agnes 
Karll,  in  her  address,  we  shall  find  strength  and 
courage  to  go  forward,  and  will  endeavour  to  place 
before  our  different  Associations  the  benefits 
which  we  have  enjo\ed  and  which  it  has  been  their 
misfortune  not  to  have  heard.  We  shall  also  have 
much  to  tell  them  of  the  great  Idndnesses  which 
our  German  sisters  ha\-e  heaped  upon  us.  We  can 
never  thank  them  sufficientlv  for  all  the  trouble 
thev  have  taken  in  our  behalf  and  which  has 
ensured  to  the  Congress  such  unbounded  success. 

Mav  we  all  aim  high  to  make  our  work  fruitful, 
and  to  be  able  bv  so  doing  to  help  those  in  need  ! 
Helen  A  Des  Brisay, 
Delegate   Natioiial  Association 
of  Trained  Nurses  of  Canada. 


Nurse  -  Internationalism  practically  •  illus- 
trated. India  and  Xew  Zealand  affiUated  to  the 
International  Council  of  Xurses  in  the  old  and 
historic  citv  of  Cologne.  We  have  been  welcomed 
and  accepted  in  two  languages,  which  were 
orignally  one,  by  a  President  whose  name  is 
known  to  all  nurses  who  keep  up  with  the  women 
of  their  times.   We  knew  of  her,  now  we  know  her. 


.My  impressions  of  this  Congress  are  : — 

I.  The  breadth  of  the  outlook  of  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses  on  the  problem  of  life. 
Countries  and  indi\-idua!s  are  almost  non-existent ; 
it  is  the  world  and  humanity.  The  country  and 
the  individual  only  exist  to  make  the  world  such 
that  prevention  will  do  away  with  the  necessity 
for  cure — both  physical  and  moral.  It  looks  at 
things  broadlv  and  kindly. 

II.  Nothing  could  have  been  more  inspiring 
than  this  week  in  Cologne.  To  meet  the  repre- 
sentatives of  so  many  different  nationalities,  and 
to  compare  impressions  with  sometimes  the  very 
slightest  laiowledge  of  the  language,  and  having 
to  depend  often  on  gesticulation  and  visual 
illustration  tested  one's  wits  to  the  utmost,  and 
was  another  illustration  of  the  necessity  for  a 
nurse  to  be  international.  We  are  extremely 
national  in  our  speech,  and  it  was  very  nice  to 
see  how  truly  international  Miss  MoUett,  Miss 
Kent  and  Miss  Dock,  as  well  as  others  who  spoke 
Gennan  fluently,  were.  The  latter  were  often  to 
be  seen  surrounded  by  Germany,  Holland,  Belgium 
and  representatives  of  other  countries,  all  talking 
and  laughing.     Note — learn  another  language. 

III.  The  last,  and  the  one  that  I  am  sure  is 
ultra-international,  if  there  is  such  a  thing,  our 
delightful  impression  of  the  hospitality  of  the 
ladies  of  Cologne. 

I  think  our  William  of  Avon  is  international 
enough  for  me  to  quote  here  : 

"  I  am  not  rich  in  thanks,  but  I  thank  you." 
Auf  wiedersehen  till  San  Francisco. 

C.    A.    HOLGATE, 

Delegate  from  the  New  Zealand 
Trained    Nurses'  Association. 


I  would  call  our  Congress  a  Peace  Congress. 
All  about  us,  among  European  nations,  are  the 
mutterings  of  political  unrest.  Not  only  Europe, 
but  indeed  the  whole  world  is  full  of  the  threats 
of  conflict,  and  men  watch  the  signs  of  sharpening 
discord  with  fearful  hearts,  not  knowing  whether 
to  expect  peace  or  war.  And  there  together  sat 
we,  representatives  of  twenty-three  nationalities, 
united  as  one  people.  One  in  our  aspiration  toward 
liigh  ideals,  one  in,  the  desire  to  help  mutually, 
one  in  the  hope  of  a  better  and  worthier  humanity, 
one  in  comprehension  of  the  great  tasks  and 
duties  for  which  we  women  realise  ourselves 
responsible,  and  last,  not  least,  one  in  our  trust 
of  one  another  and  our  respect  for  one  another. 

While  we  nurses,  in  time  of  war,  feel  it  our 
highest  duty  to  serve  our  Fatherland,  so  in  time 
of  peace  do  we  feel  it  our  first  duty  to  work  for 
the  well-being  of  its  citizens,  to  serve  its  sick,  to 
protect  the  most  insignificant,  to  save  the  poorest 
'of  the  poor. 

.\  joyous  banquet  closed  our  graver  proceedings. 
Under  the  same  flag  sat  our  naembers  from 
twenty-three  lands,  possessed  by  the  fine  inspira- 
tion of  our  purpose — all  for  one,  and  its  counter- 
part, one  for  all. 

Emmv  Oser. 
Dshgate  of  the  Swiss  Nurses'  Association. 


August  31,    1912 


Cbc  Brltleb  3ournnl  of  H-liu-stmi. 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 

llli^CRIBi;    THi;    PkKI'ARAIION     OF    A    HATIIINT    FOR 

KKCF.IVINO    AN     AN/ESlHtillC       WHAT    PKbCAUTIONS 

WOULD    VOL    lAKli    BhFORE    AM)    AFTKR? 

We  h:i\i'  jjleasurf  in  awnrdingf  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  Elizabctli  Martin,  Royal  In- 
lirmarv,  Halifax,  for  her  paper  on  the  above 
subject. 

PRIZE     HAPKR. 

Anaesthetics  are  drugs  which  suspend  con- 
sjiousness  or  sensation.  They  may  be  general 
or  local  in  action.  / 

The  preparation  of  a  patient  for  receiving  an 
anajsthetic  is  a  matter  of  very  great  import- 
ance, especially  when  the  anesthetic  is  a 
general  one. 

The  preparation  in  a  great  measure  depends 
upon  the  case  .about  to  receive  the  anaesthetic  ; 
but,    apart   from    absolute   general   cleanliness, 
special  .attention  should  always  be  paid  to  the 
Mouth, 
Stomach, 
Bowels. 

Tlie  mouth  should  be  absolutely  clean,  the 
patient  having  previoush  used  an  antiseptic 
mouth-wash.  The  teeth  should  receive  special 
attention,  care  being  taken  always  in  removing 
all  false  teeth  before  the  anaesthetic  is 
administered. 

rhe  stom.ich  should  be  in  as  good  a  con- 
dition as  possible ;  the  patient  should  not  be 
allowed  food  for  six  hours  before  operation, 
and  the  last  meal  given  should  be  of  a  very 
light  but  nourishing  character. 

The  bowels  should  be  emptied  by  means  of 
enemata,  the  patient  having  previously  had  a 
mild  aperient  daily  for  two  or  three  days  pre- 
ceding operation.  (This  does  not  apply  to 
urgent  anaesthetics.) 

The  patient  must  be  lightly  but  warmly  clad, 
and  all  garments  should  be  loosely  fastened  at 
the  neck  and  \\  rists  ;  the  extremities  may  also 
be  bound  up  in  cotton  wool ;  this  is  considered 
a  very  good  method,  and  greatly  prevents 
excessive  shock.  These  are  precautions  to  be 
taken  before  an  anaesthetic  is  given. 

The  nurse  may  hold  the  patient's  hands  at 
the  beginning  of  the  administration;  but, 
should  the  patient  begin  to  struggle,  the  arms 
should  l)e  held  above  the  elbow  and  the  legs 
above  the  knees.  The  patient  is  more  readily 
controlled  if  held  in  this  manner,  and  is  less 
likely  to  do  himself  injury. 

.•\fter  the  anaesthetic  the  patient  should  be 
put  back  into  bed  and  covered  with  a  warm 
blanket  over  which  the  bed-clothes  are  placed  ; 
the  head  should  be  placed  low  on  a  pillow,  or 
quite  flat,  and  turned  to  the  side. 


The  patient  must  be  watched  very  carefully 
until  consciousness  is  quite  recovered,  as  he 
may  choke  from  getting  vomited  matter  into 
his  larynx,  or,  being  restless,  may  disturb  the 
bandages  or  start  ha-morrhage. 

Asfyhyxia. — With  an  unconscious  patient  the 
danger  of  vomiting  is  that  he  will  suddenly 
inspire  and  inhale  vomited  matter  into  his 
trachea  and  rapidly  become  asphyxiated. 
When  a  patient  is  inclined  to  vomit,  the  head 
should  be  turned  on  one  side  and  the  jaw 
pushed  forwards,  by  the  thumb  being  pl.iccd 
under  the  angle  of  the  jaw.  If  this  is  not 
sufficient  to  relieve  the  breathing  the  mouth 
must  be  opened  and  the  tongue  pulled  for- 
wards, either  by  grasping  it  with  lint  or  linen, 
or  with  the  tongue  forceps. 

Great  care  must  be  taken  when  moving  the 
patient  from  the  operating  room  to  have  him 
warmly  clad  and  the  head  covered  in  such  a 
way  as  to  avoid  cold  and  draughts. 

Most  patients  are  susceptible  to  chest 
affections  after  an  .intesthetic,  which  are 
serious  post-operative  complications  and  also  a 
great  drawback  to  the  patient  generally,  how- 
ever slight  the  attack  may  be. 

HONOURABLE    MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honour- 
able mention  : — Miss  M.  Cullen,  Miss  B. 
Johnson,  Miss  A.  E.  Jahrens,  Miss  M.  Eaves, 
Miss  E.  Mackintosh,  Miss  J.  Robbins,  Miss  E. 
.Marshall. 

Miss  M.  Eaves  mentions  that  before  an 
operation  the  confidence  of  the  patient  should 
be  gained,  thus  helping  to  allay  fever  and 
diminish  shock.  Further,  guard  against  all 
chills,  allow  no  tight  clothing,  have  tongue 
forceps,  mouth-gag,  and  sponge-holders  ready 
for  use,  and  brandy,  .strychnine,  and  other 
stimulants  at  hand.  Ensure  that  hypodermic 
syringe  and  needle,  oxygen  cylinder  and 
electric  battery  are  in  good  working  order  by 
testing  them  beforehand. 

Miss  B.  Johnson  points  out  that  while  it  is 
the  duty  of  the  nurse,  to  ascertain  that  the 
bladder  has  been  emptied  before  the  patient's 
removal  to  the  theatre,  this  must  be  omitted 
when  the  operation  is  one  for  lithotrily,  other- 
wise fluid  will  have  to  be  injected. 

QUESTION    FOR     NE.XT     WEEK. 

Describe  your  practice  in  the  care  and 
administration  of  medicines ;  your  method  of 
identifying  dangerous  drugs,  and  of  distin- 
guishing medicines  to  be  administered  to 
patients  from  lotions  and  poisonous  solutions 
used  for  outward  application,  or  as  disin- 
fectants. 


176 


Z\K  Bvltisb  3ournal  of  H-lursmo 


August  31,   1912 


PRACTICAL  POINTS. 


The     Women's     ^lunicipal 
Please   Kill  that         League  of  Boston  have  issued 
Fly.  the    following     invitation    to 

the  public  : — 

Please  Kill  that  Flv  ! 
Why  ? 
Because  : 

1.  Flies  breed  in  manure  and  other  tilth. 

2.  Flies  walk  and  feed  on  excreta  and  sputa 
from  people  ill  with  typhoid  fever,  tuberculosis, 
diarrhocal  affections,  and  many  other  diseases. 

3.  One  fly  can  carry  and  may  deposit  on  our 
food  6,000,000  bacteria. 

4.  One  fly  in  one  summer  may  produce  normally 
195,312,500,000,000,000  descendants. 

5.  A  fly  is  an  enemy  to  health,  the  health  of  our 
children,  the  health  of  our  community. 

A  fly  cannot  develop  from  the  egg  in  less  than 
eight  days  ;  therefore,  if  we  clean  up  everything 
thoroughly  every  week,  and  keep  all  manure 
screened,  there  need  be  no  flies. 

Will  you  help  in  the  campaign  against  this 
pest  ? 


In  applying  adhesive  plaster 

Adhesive  to  retain  dressings  following 

Plaster  in  a  surgical  operation,  the  sur- 

Wound  Dressing,      gcon  is  frequently  annoyed  by 

the  failure  of  the  plaster  to 

stick  to  the  skin.     This  difficulty  can  readily  be 

overcome  by  spraying  with  ether  the  surface  to 

which  the  plaster  is  to   be   applied.      The  ether 

causes  the  skin  to  dry  quickly,  and  the  adhesive 

plaster  quickly  takes  hold.    Cotton  should  always 

be  placed  on  the  gauze.    By  so  doing,  the  plaster 

not  in  contact  with  the  skin  can  be  readily  turned 

back  bv  cutting  in  the  centre.   The  dressing  can  be 

changed,    and   by   the   use   of  tape   the   adhesive 

bandage    is    again    adjusted,    thus    avoiding    the 

annovance  and  pain  of  removing  the  plaster  at 

each  dressing. — Internat.  Hosp.  Record. 


Dr.  H.  H.  Killinger  and 
The  Vacuum  Bottle  Dr.  F.  O.  Touney  describe 
in   Infant  Feeding,     m  the  Journal  of  the  American 

Medical  Association  the  use 
of  the  vacuum  bottle  in  keeping  an  infant's  food 
warm  over  several  feeding  periods.  The  milk  was 
heated  to  a  temperature  of  150  degrees  Fahrenheit 
and  transferred  to  vacuum  bottles  which  had  been 
previously  warmed.  The  bottles  were  kept  at 
room  temperature  and  opened  at  intervals  for 
temperature  readings  and  bacterial  tests.  It  was 
found  that  this  method  of  treatment  was  quite 
as  eflicient  from  the  standpoint  of  elimination  of 
bacteria  as  the  best  pasteurising  processes  now 
in  use.  The  temperature  of  the  milk  remained 
germicidal  for  from  six  to  ten  hours,  depending  on 
the  temperature  of  the  place  in  which  the  bottle 
stood.  After  that  time  and  as  the  temperature 
fell   below    115    degrees   Fahrenheit   the   bacteria 


began  to  multiply  rapidly  and  soon  reached 
enormous  numbers. 

It  is  thus  evident  that  it  is  not  safe  to  heat 
the  milk  to  the  proper  temperature  for  feeding 
the  child  and  keep  it  in  tho  bottle  at  that  tempera- 
ture for  any  length  of  time. 

At  feeding  time  remove  the  cork  and  test  the 
milk  with  a  thermometer.  If  it  registers  above 
115  degrees,  fill  the  nursing  bottle  and  allow  it  to 
cool  to  the  proper  degree  of  warmth.  Should  it 
be  below  115  degrees  Fahrenheit  throw  it  away 
as  unfit  for  use,  as  bacteria  will  have  multiplied 
in  it.  If  the  bottle  is  placed  in  a  warm  place 
after  being  filled  with  milk  at  115  degrees  Fahren- 
heit it  will  retain  the  proper  heat  for  about  ten 
hours.  Milk  heated  to  only  loo  degrees  Fahrenheit 
becomes  dangerous  in  two  hours. 

APPOINTMENTS. 

MATRON. 

Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the  Throat,  Golden 
Square,  W. — Miss  iNIargaret  Burrows  has  been 
appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  East 
London  Hospital  for  Children,  Shadwell,  and  at 
Guy's  Hospital,  London,  and  has  held  the  position 
of  Sister  in  the  children's  ward  at  Addenbrooke's 
Hospital,  Cambridge,  Out-patient  Ward  and 
Home  Sister  at  the  East  London  Children's 
Hospital,  and  Sister- in-Charge  of  the  Convalescent 
Home  at  Bognor.  At  present  she  is'  Assistant 
Lady  Superintendent  at  the  East  London  Children's 
Hospital. 

Ashburton  and  Buckfastleigh  Cottage  Hospital. 
Ashburton. — Miss  Edith  Brown  has  been  appointed 
Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  General  In- 
firmary, Burton-on-Trent,  and  has  been  Staff 
Nurse  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Sheffield,  and  Sister 
at  the  Mctoria  Hospital,  Blackpool,  the  Royal 
Infirmary,  Oldham,  and  the  Hospital  for  Women 
and  Children,  Leeds. 

Victoria  Cottage  Hospital,  Guernsey — iNIiss  Rosa 
Kicke  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Devon  and  Exeter  Hospital.  Exeter  ; 
and  subsequently  held  there  the  positions  of 
Sister  and  Night  Superintendent  ;  after  which  she 
was  appointed  Matron  of  the  Cottage  Hospital,, 
Bridgend,  Glamorganshire. 

NURSE     MATRON. 

Isolation  Hospital,  Richmond,  Yorkshire. — Miss 
Anita  D.  Parnaby  has  been  appointed  Nurse 
Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Free 
Hospital,  London,  and  has  since  held  appoint- 
ments at  the  Brighton  Sanatorium,  the  Plaistow 
Hospital,  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  Rochester, 
St.  Peter's  Hospital,  London,  and  the  Isolation 
Hospital  at  Muswell  Hill. 

ASSISTANT    MATRON. 

■Western  District  Hospital,  Glasgow. — Miss  M.  E. 
Griffith  has  been  appointed  .\ssistant  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Town's  Hospital,  Glasgow, 
where  she  has  also  been  Charge  Nurse  and  Night 
Superintendent.  She  has  also  been  Night  Super- 
intendent at  the  Western  District  Hospital, 
Glasgow,  and  is  a  certified  midwife. 


August  31,    191 


Cbe  JBvltisb  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


'77 


SISTER. 

Royal  Victoria  and  West  Hants  Hospital,  Bourne- 
mouth.— Miss  Janet  Ford  luis  been  appointed  Day 
Sister  in  the  children's  ward.  She  was  trained  at 
Warrington  Infirmary,  and  has  since  been  Staff 
Nurse  at  the  City  Hospital,  T.odge  Moor,  Sheffield, 
Staff  Nurse  at  Mold  Cottage  Hospital,  where  she 
did  Matron's  holiday  and  temporary  duty,  and 
Night  Superintendent  at  Doncaster  Royal  In- 
firmary. 

SCHOOL    NURSE. 

Education  Committee,  Keighley. — Miss  Mary 
Adamson  has  been  appointed  School   Nurse. 

QUEEN  ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL     MILITARY* 
NURSING    SERVICE. 

Sister  Miss  K.  I'carsc  and  Staff  Nurse  Miss  .\.  (.. 
.\!rey  resign  their  appointments  ;  Miss  C.  M. 
Williams,  Staff'  Nurse,  to  be  Sister  (.\ugust  21st). 
QUEEN   VICTORIA'S   JUBILEE   INSTITUTE. 

Trausjcrs  cnid  A pp<>nilituiil<..  Miss  l-:lk'n  New- 
ton is  appointed  to  Chorlci,-  Wood  ;  .Miss  Laura 
Scott  to  Dcnaby  Main  ;  Mrs.  Smith,  to  Rishton  ; 
Miss  Mabel  Stocks  to  Kingston  ;  Miss  Mildred  K. 
Wheeler  to  'runbridtje  Wells. 

PRESENTATION     OF      MEDALS     AND 
CERTIFICATES. 

At  the  Royal  Infirmar}-,  Bradford,  the  Lady 
Mayoress,  Miss  Moorhouse,  last  week  presented 
the  medals  and  certificates  to  successful  candidates. 
.\t  the  ceremony  of  distribution,  at  which  the 
Lord  Mayor  presided,  the  Chairman  of  the  House 
Committee,  Mr.  G.  Priestman,  said  that  the  result 
of  the  year's  examinations  had  been  remarkably 
satisfactory.  Three  nurses  were  so  close  in  th^' 
senior  examination  that  the  House  Committee 
had  decided  to  award  two  silver  medals  as  well  as 
a  gold  one.  The  highest  marks  attainable  were 
100,  and  the  awards  were  :  — 

Skxior    E.X.^MI.NAriOX. 

Gold  Medal. — Miss  Barrett  (95  marks).  Silver 
Medals. — Miss  V.  Clarke  (94  i  marks)  and  Miss 
Middlemiss  {94  marks).  Special  mention  was 
made  of  Miss  Robinson,  who  gained  a  percentage 
of  90 J  marks. 

Junior  E.x.\mixation. 

Silver  Medals. — Miss  Preston  and  Miss  Raithby 
bracketed  equal  (86|  marks). 

Twelve  nurses  attended  classes  in  Sick  Cookery, 
and  were  presented  with  certificates.  Eight  of 
these  passed  the  examination  in  the  first  class. 

.•\fter  the  Lady  Mayoress  had  pinned  on  the 
medals,  suspended  by  a  blue  ribbon,  and  presented 
the  certificates  and  the  report  of  the  examiners 
had  been  read  by  Dr.  McKwan,  hearty  votes  of 
thanks  were  accorded  to  the  Lord  Mayor  and  the 
Lady  Mayoress,  the  examiners,  and  the  Matron, 
Miss   Hodges. 

WEDDINQ     BELLS. 

The  marriage  is  announced  of  the  Rev.  T.  C. 
I'"itzpatrick.  President  of  Queens'  College,  Cam- 
bridge, to  Miss  Annie  Rosa  Brooke,  who  recently 
nursed  him  through  a  severe  illness. 


NURSING    rCHOES. 

The  movement  on  foot  to  form  a  National 
Association  of  Registered  Nursing  Homes, 
initiated  by  Miss  L.  M.  -Slower,  i,  Noltingham 
Place,  \\'.,  is  being  actively  proceeded  with, 
and  the  above  title  registered  with  the  Board 
t)f  Trade.  The  main  objects  of  the  Association 
are  (i)  the  protection  of  the  good  name  of 
Nursing  Homes,  and  (2)  the  protection  of  the 
public  against  those  Homes  which  are  undesir- 
able. Only  approved  Nursing  Homes  of  good 
repute,  where  the  Principal  holds  a  three  years' 
certificate  from  a  recognized  .school,  where  the 
nurses  are  fully  trained,  and  where  no  proba- 
tioner is  ever  left  in  a  responsible  position,  are 
eligible  for  membership  of  the  As.sociation, 
which  hopes  to  prove,  both  to  the  medical  pro- 
fession and  the  public,  that  the  Homes  con- 
nected with  it  are  above  suspicion.  It  is  .also 
proposed  to  keep  a  register  of  the  fees  charged 
bv  affiliating  Homes. 


The  gratitude  of  those  who  have  been  cared 
for  in  hospitals  or  who  have  had  relatives  whose 
sufferings  have  been  relieved  sometimes  takes  a 
substantial  form,  and  the  Royal  Naval  Hospital, 
Haslar,  recently  benefited  to  the  extent  of 
;^7,ooo  under  the  will  of  the  widow  of  Com- 
mander Erroll,  R.N.,  which  expressly  states 
that  it  is  intended  not  only  as  a  memorial  of  her 
husband,  but  as  some  return  for  the  kindness 
he  received  while  a  patient  at  the  hospital.  No 
doubt,  therefore,  the  work  of  the  nursing  staff 
was  a  contributory  factor  in  gaining  this  legacy, 
for  it  is  on  the  nurses  that  patients  are  so  depen- 
dant, not  only  for  skilled  care,  but  also  for  the 
small  kindnesses  which  make  all  the  difference 
in  their  comfort,  and  therefore  happiness.  The 
building  erected  with  this  legacy,  the  control  of 
which  is  vested  in  the  Secretary  of  the  Ad- 
miralty, the  Medical  Director-General  of  the 
Navy,  and  the  Director  of  Works  at  the  Ad- 
miralty, is,  by  Mrs.  Erroll's  will,  reserved  for 
the  use  of  convalescent  patients,  and  consists 
of  two  wings — one  a  large  hall  for  entertain- 
ments, and  the  other  containing  a  library, 
writing-room,  and  reading-room. 

Nurses  who  adventure  on  work  abroad  often 
require  both  wisdom  and  pluck  to  carry  them 
over  the  difficulties  which  they  encounter.  One 
who  is  now  working  in  a  leper  .settlement  tells 
us  that  in  the  acute  wards  in  which  she  works 
the  cases  are  those  which  are  too  offensive  to  be 
allowed  to  remain  with  the  others.  Acute 
attacks  usually  take  the  form  either  of  diarrhoea 
and  sickness,  or  erysipelas.  In  other  cases  large- 


1/8 


<L\K  Bvitisb  journal  of  murc^tna 


:\i(^ust    'Ji,    iqi2 


ulcers  form  all  over  the  botlv,  and  in  some 
instances  all  three  conditions  are  present  to- 
sjether.  It  is  trying,  therefore,  to  find  such 
wards  painted  a  dark  colour,  and  serge  table- 
cloths used  for  the  tables  because  they  are  sup- 
posed not  to  show  the  dirt.  Added  to  this,  at 
night  the  patient's  friends  take  possession 
when  the  nurse  goes  off  duty,  and  close  up  the 
windows  until  morning.  The  atmosphere  is 
therefore  better  imagined  than  described. 


.\  nurse  evidently  wants  plenty  of  spirit 
and  courage  to  work  in  the  Bush.  Miss 
Michaelis,  a  member  of  the  Bush  Nursing  Com- 
mittee, speaking  at  Melbourne,  rekited  several 
stories  of  the  varied  calls  made  upon  the 
nurses.  Nurse  Tucker  (Beech  Forest)  and 
Nurse  Hearne  (Buchan)  gave  accounts  of  some 
of  the  cases  they  were  called  upon  to  attend. 
Forty  and  fifty  miles'  riding  astride  up  moun- 
tain tracks  2,000ft.  above  the  sea-level  was 
quite  an  ordinary  episode  in  the  experience  of 
Nurse  Hearne,  while  Nurse  Tucker  spoke  of 
having  on  one  occasion  walked  five  miles  in 
three-quarters  of  an  hour  to  attend  a  serious 
case.  

A\'e  regret  to  learn  that,  owing  to  prolonged 
ill-health.  Miss  Sarah  E.  Sly,  R.N.,  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  American  Nurses'  Association,  has 
been  compelled  to  resign  the  position.  The 
duties  of  the  office  will  now  be  discharged  by 
Miss  Isabel  Mclsaac,  R.N.,  the  first  \"ice-Presi- 
dent,  who,  it  will  be  remembered,  presided  at 
the  Internation.il  Congress  of  Nurses  at 
Buffalo  in  1901.       . 

It  is  with  pleasure  we  anni)unce  that  the 
nurses  of  Louisiana,  U.S.A.,  have  succeeded  in 
obtaining  the  passage  of  a  Registration  Bill  ; 
the  difficulty  soon  will  be  to  find  a  State  where  a 
Registration  Law  is  not  in  force. 


Miss  Jane  Bell,  Matron  of  the  Melbourne 
Hospital,  and  formerlv  Matron  of  the  Brisbane 
Hospital,  writing  to  the  Australasian  Nurses' 
Journal,  comments  on  the  fact  that  of  the  five 
members  of  the  Queensland  Registration  Board 
three  medical  men  are  already  appointed,  and 
it  is  only  zi'hen  nurses  are  regisiered  that  they 
are  to  have  the  privilege  of  electing  to  represent 
them  the  remaining  two  of  the  members  con- 
stituting the  Board.  W'e  agree  with  Miss  Bell 
as  to  the  importance  of  trained  nurses  taking 
part  in  the  administration  of  the  Act  while  the 
electorate  is  being  created.  In  the  Nurses' 
Registration  Bill  in  this  country  the  danger  of 
non-representation  during  this  important  period 
has  been  foreseen  and  provided  against. 


KLEINE     WEISSE     SKLAVEN* 

(WHITE     CHILD     SLAVES.) 

"  La  niisere  de  Vhomme  ?  II  jaut  voir  ceile  de 
la  femme.  La  misere  do  la  femme  ?  11  jaut 
I'oir   celle    de    l' enfant !  " 

With  these  words  from  Victor  Hugo's  "  L«s 
Miserables,"  Sister  Henriette  Arendt  opens  the 
introductory  lines  of  the  story  of  her  revelations 
of  child  slavery  in  our  so-called  Christian  lands 
to-day.  In  this,  the  century  which  has  been 
called  "  The  Century  of  the  Child,"  numberless 
children  are  living  in  a  hell  upon  earth,  their 
little  lives  spent  in  circumstances  of  agonising 
misery.  She  gives  a  brief  review  of  the  history 
of  philanthropic  and  governiental  child-rescue 
from  early  times.  Coming  down  to  our  day, 
she  closes  her  introductory  chapter  by  commenting 
on  asylums  for  foundlings.  Such  institutions,  it 
is  well  known,  are  falling  into  disrepute,  and  are 
being  discontinued  because  of  their — frequently — 
high  death  rate.  But  Sister  Henriette  also  shows 
that  their  existence  in  a  community  greatly- 
increases  the  numbers  of  abandoned  infants.  On 
the  other  hand,  in  countries  where  they  have  been 
quite  abolished,  infanticide  is  frequent,  and 
moreover,  a  lucrative  trade  in  abandoned  infants 
is  carried  on. 

The  White  Slave  Trade,  says  Sister  Henriette,  is 
now  the  subject  of  international  agitation,  and 
the  existence  of  a  traffic  in  girls  for  immoral 
purposes  is  universally  recognised,  while  the  duty 
of  society  to  extirpate  it  is  equally  acknowledged. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  traffic  in  children  is 
ignored,  either  intentionallv  or  otherwise,  botli 
by  public  authorities  and  bv  private  child-saving 
societies.! 

Thousands  of  wretched  white  children  of  all 
ages,  of  every  nationality  and  every  religion, 
pine  in  barbarous  slavery  unnoticed  by  officials 
or  volunteer  associations. 

"  I  will  not  assert,"  says  Sister  Henriette,  "  that 
child  slavery  equals  the  traffic  in  girls  in  dimension, 
as,  for  want  of  full  statistics,  1  could  not  prove 
such  an'  assertion."  But  that  the  child  slave 
trade  is  appallingly  extensive  she  knows  from 
personal  experience,  and  divides  this  trade  into 
four  branches  : — 

1.  The  most  familiar  form,  baby-farming 
(Engelmacherei). 

2.  Selling  children,  or  giving  them  awaj-,  and 
disposing  of  children  with  a  single  sum  of  money 
paid  down  with  them  at  the  time  they  are 
cast  oit. 

3.  Exploiting  children  for  immoral  purposes. 
-|.   Selling  or  renting  children  to  professional 

-beggars,  thieves,   &c. 

I .  The  victims  of  the  baby  farms  are  chiefly 
illegitimate,     yet     even     legitimate     infants     are 

*  By  Sister  Henriette  .Arendt,  formerly  Police  Assistant 
in  Stuttgart.     Deutsches  Verlagshaus,  Berlin. 

t  Sister  Henriette's  researches  have  been  made  ui>oii  the 
Continent,  and  her  accusations  are  made  against  European 
countries. 


August  31,    191. 


:\K  Britisb  3ournal  of  HAursina 


179 


sometimes  done  to  death  in  this  way,  for  the  most 
diverse  reasons.  Insuring  the  lives  of  babies 
has  resulted  in  the  death  through  neglect  of  many 
wretched  little  creatures.  Commercial  baby- 
farmers  bring  about  a  "  natural  death  "  by  the 
use  of  alcohol,  narcotics,  and  under-nourishment. 
Horrible  cases  of  baby-farming  appear  from  time 
to  time  in  the  daily  press. 

2.  In  the  disposition  of  older  children  by  sale, 
gift,  or  bribe  there  is  on  one  hand  the  pecuniary- 
advantage,  and,  on  the  other,  the  benefit  derived 
from  exploiting  the  child's  strength  in  some  form 
of  labour.     Tliat  children  so  di.sposed  of  are  used  ^ 


Sister  Henriette  has  unearthed  many  cases 
where  illegitimate  cliildren,  sometimes  of  "  good 
family,"  have  been  given  with  a  sum  of  money 
to  persons  with  a  criminal  record,  and  that  no 
trace  of  these  children  has  ever  been  found. 

She  refers,  with  righteous  indignation,  to  a 
hideous  sacrifice  made  in  the  name  of  science, 
namely,  the  bribing  of  pour  parents  to  allow  their 
children  to  be  made  the  objects  of  medical  experi- 
mentation, and  to  horril>!c  instances  of  waifs  in 
foundling  and  orphan  asylums  being  so  used,  with 
the  obliging  consent  of  these  in  charge.  She 
quotes  the  medical  report  of  a  set  of  such    cases 


for  illegal  purposes  is  c!ear  from  the  fact  that  the 
names  and  addresses  given  by  those  persons  who 
buy  or  take  them  are  proved  by  investigation  to 
be  false.  In  some  such  cases,  mothers  honestly 
believe  they  are  giving  their  children  for  adoption. 
In  others  the  most  sinister  motives  are  exposed,  as 
Sister  Henriette  has  proved  by  answering  the 
advertisements  of  those  purporting  to  wish  to 
give  away  their  own  children,  but  who  in  reality 
have  evidently  a  victim  to  sell.  The  extraordinar>- 
ihing  is  that  advertisements  of  tliis  kind,  mor  or 
less  frankly  expressed,  are  admitted  to  the  pages 
of  dailv  papers  !  Again,  persons  accepting  a 
child  given  away  with  a  quittance  sum  of 
money  often  bring  about  a  "  natural  death  " 
of  the  little  creature  by  starvation  and 
cruelty. 


(these  data  are  not  from  Germanv)  wherein  it  was 
shown  that  calves  could  not  be  used  for  the 
experiments  in  question,  as  they  contracted 
diarrhoea,  and  had  to  be  killed.*  •] 

Sister  Henriette  says  that  the  traffic  in  children 
is  active  in  all  the  larger  German  cities,  and  she 
describes  with  name  and  place  a  number  of 
societies  acting  under  the  mantle  of  charity  which 
conduct  this  traffic  under  the  ver>-  eyes  of  the 
police  and  public  authorities.  Advertisements  are 
inserted    in    the    papers,    which    she    reproduces 


dis- 


•  The  reviewer  personally  knows  a  nurse  of 
tinguished  character  who  pave  up  her  position  in  a 
Philadelphia,  U..S.A.,  hospital  only  two  years  aco  because 
of  her  powerlcssncss  to  prevent  similar  exp"rimentation  on 
certain  destitute  orphans  in  the  free  wards.  This  nurse  is 
now  living  in  England. 


i8o 


Jibe  ffiritlsb  3oiuual  of  IFlursiiiQ. 


August  3T,    191: 


textually  with  names  and  dates.  These  advertise- 
ments, probably  well  paid  for,  are,  alas  !  a 
stronghold  for  the  trade.  A  child  is  offered  for 
adoption  with  a  goodly  "  dot  "  from  £200  to  £300  ; 
then  all  persons  applying  are  to  send  5s.  to  cover 
cost  of  "  inquiries."  From  the  5s.  of  the  many' 
who  hope  to  win  he  prize,  enormous  profits  are 
reaped. 

"  Many  of  the  dupes  of  such  schemes  have 
complained  to  the  police  of  Berlin,"  says  Sister 
Henriette,  "  and  yet  the  traffic  in  children  increases 
steadily."  Well  does  she  say,  "  The  small  swindlers 
are  arrested,  while  big  ones  go  free." 

In  19H  a  German  paper  published  a  letter 
written  privately  by  one  of  the  children  traffickers, 
in  which  he  assured  a  client  that  his  office  had, 
in  six  moitths,  had  about  300  children  with  "  dots  " 
to  dispose  of  and  added,  "  The  Police  Department 
of  this  city  will  readily  confirm  my  statement,  if 
you  so  desire." 

After  showing  in  the  most  circumstantial 
manner  a  great  variety  of  documentary  evidence 
of  this  trade  in  children.  Sister  Henriette  says, 
♦  "  one  of  the  '  \'ermittlungsbureau  '  (placing 
office)  in  Berlin  wrote  to  me  in  answer  to  an 
inquiry  made  by  my  elf  that  it  could  supply  mc 
every  month  with  3,000  '  diskrete  '  children 
(i.e.,  illegitimate  children)  from  Germany.  France, 
IBelgium,  Holland  and  Switzerland,  each  one  with 
a  '  dot  '  !  " 

3.  In  another  book*  Sister  Henriette  has  gone 
thoroughly  into  the  ruin  of  children  for  immoral 
purposes.  She  there  tells  how  she  came  upon  the 
trail  of  a  trader  wlio  sold  German  children  to  the 
keepers  of  houses  of  ill-fame  ;  how,  after  this 
criminal  had  served  a  prison  sentence  for  this 
crime,  he  took  up  the  same  trade  again,  even  while 
he  was  still  under  the  surveillance  of  the  police. 
She  also  there  described  the  active  trade  going  on 
in  sending  German  children  to  America. 

In  "  Kleine  Weisse  Sklaven  "  she  gives  many 
terrible  details  of  this  branch  of  traffic  in  children, 
which  are  too  shocking  for  an  English  review  to 
reprint.  In  a  Berlin  Intelligence  Office  Sister 
Henriette  was  told  by  the  manager,  in  the  presence 
of  a  friend  whose  name  she  gives  (both  were,  of 
course,  disguised  and  pretending  to  be  other  than 
they  really  were)  that  the  office  supplied  foreign 
and  Berlin  children  to  other  countries,  especially 
to  Russia,  for  all  sorts  of  purposes,  at  prices 
ranging  from  £15  to  ;^5oo.  According  to  her 
statements,  neither  the  police  nor  the  Orphans' 
Court  (Gemeinde  Waisenrat)  nor  the  Court  of 
Guardianship  for  minor  children  (Vormund- 
schaftsgericht)  nor  the  child-saving  associations 
gave  her  the  smallest  trouble.  When  Sister 
Henriette,  in  her  assumed  character,  told  this 
woman  she  wanted  to  take  a  child  out  of  Germany, 
she  was  advised  to  select  a  foreign  child,  and  was 
offered  the  little  girl  of  a  Galician  maidservant, 
with  the  remark  that  "  it  was  as  easy  to  get  it 
over  the  frontier  as  a  German  child." 


'  Menschen,  die  den  Pfad  verloren  :    Publisher,  Kielman, 
Stuttgart. 


Various  midwives  whom  Sister  Henriette, 
always  in  her  assumed  .character,  interviewed  in 
regard  to  buying  little  girls  for  foreign  countries, 
told  her  that  /15  was  the  usual  sum  for  a  Bsrlin 
working-class  child.  Children  of  better  birth  and 
parentage  might  be  worth  as  high  as  £500.  Of 
these  sums  the  middlemen  get  half. 

Sister  Henriette's  investigations  in  child-slaverv 
in  Berlin  were  made  in  191 1,  under  the  auspices 
of  the  German  Association  for  the  Legal  Rights 
of  Mothers  and  Children  (Deutsche  Gesellschaft 
fiir  Mutter  und  Kindesrecht).  Tne  Police  Depart- 
ment, she  says,  had  naturally  no  knowledge  of  a 
traffic  in  children,  and  when  she  applied  to  it  for 
police  protection  whilst  making  her  investigations 
(which  were  naturally  of  a  most  perilous  nature) 
she  received  a  curt  reply  saving  that  her  request 
could  not  be  complied  with. 

4.  On  the  final  thenae,  selling  children  to  beggars, 
&c..  Sister  Henriette's  pages  make  reading  almost 
too  agonising  to  pursue. | '  Also  we  may  pass  over 
the  verified  facts  on  all  points  which  she  has 
accumulated  from  other  countries,  such  as  England 
and  America. 

We  have  dwelt  on  the  German  revelations, 
because  they  have  been  her  own  discoveries, 
proved  by  many  personal  visitations  to  make  which 
she  literally  took  her  life  in  her  hand.  Her  book 
closes  with  a  number  of  definite  proposals  for 
amending  and  amplifying  the  laws  and  for  adopting 
new  and  adequate  legislation.  But  chief  and 
most  urgent  comes  her  plea  for  women  to  take 
their  place  in  Government  and  sweep  away  these 
wrongs  against  children.  Women-  must  strive 
for  enfranchisement,  that  thev  may  make  their 
power  felt  through  prevention. 

It  is  no  wonder  one  feels,  after  reading  this 
book,  that  Sister  Henriette  is  detested  by  police 
and  bureaucrats,  even  though  no  shade  of  corrupt- 
ness attaches  to  them.  In  the  United  States  it 
would  be  quite  certain  that  the  police  shared  the 
unholv  profits  ;  in  Germany  it  is  quite  certain 
that  they  do  not,  vet  the  supreme  arrogahce  of 
m.an  will  not  tolerate  the  interference  of  women 
in  his  ordinances.  Sister  Henriette  is  regarded 
as  a  nuisance,  but  her  power  is  also  recognised. 
■ '  Be  absolutely  polite  to  Sister  Henriette,  and  give 
her  110  information,"  is  the  order  that  has  gone 
forth.  As  to  the  evil  powers,  what  they  think  of 
her  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  at  three  different 
times,  when  dealing  in  disguise  with  child' slaves, 
she  has  been  warned  against  herself  ! 

Nearly  1,200  children  have  been  rescued  so  . 
far  by  Sister  Henriette,  and  she  always  has  a 
group  in  her  own  care  and  expense^  while  waiting 
to  find  good  homes.  It  is  good  to  know  that  an 
International  Society  has  been  formed  to  combat 
child  slavery. 

L.  L.  Dock. 


t  It  should  bs  noted  that  such  data  come  from 
countries  of  Southern  Europe,  not  from  Germany,  where 
there  is  no  evidence  of  the  occurrence  of  this  traffic. 


August  31,    191: 


Cbc  BiitrC'l?  3ouvnal  of  H-liu'Slnci 


OLTilDE   THE   GATES. 


WOMEN. 

Mar.y  of  those  who  were  present  at  the  Queen's 
Hall  on  June  19th,  when  the  Bishop  of  Birmingliam 
jiresidcd,  and  spoke  on  "  The  Religious  Aspect 
of  the  Woman's  Movement,  "  will  be  glad  to  know 
that  the  addresses  given  both  on  the  afternoon 
and  evening  of  that  day,  arc  now  published  in 
pamphlet  form,  and  can  be  obtained,  post  free, 
price  yd.,  from  Miss  I.ucy  (iardncr,  232,  Evering 
Koad,  Clapton,  N.E.  Dr.  Core's  speech  will  long 
be  remembered,  not  only  for  its  eloquence,  but  for 
the  rarer  ([ualities  of  honesty  and  fearlessness. 
'■  I  am  ipiite  certain  that,  with  regard  to  any  large 
and  mixed  movement,  like  this  woman's  move- 
ment, it  is  our  duty  to  confront  it  with  a  ca:  did 
mind,  and  to  ask  what  is  right,  what  is  just,  and 
to  take  for  our  motto  nothing  but  '  Be  just  and 
fear  not."  "  After  a  s"y  reference  to  the  manji^ 
things  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  entrance  of 
women  into  new  Acids  of  activity  which  he  had 
heard  said  at  dilfcrent  times  by  his  "  grandmother 
l.ois  and  his  mother  Eunice,"  the  Bishop,  it  will 
be  remembered,  said,  "  As  it  presents  itself  to 
me,  the  entrance  of  the  \\'oman's  movement  into 
the  strictly  political  area,  and  the  demand  for  the 
suffrage,  has  been  part  of  the  movement  in  its 
essence.  It  has  been  necessary  for  the  securing 
of  that  ground  which  individual  initiative  has 
always  taken  the  first  part  in  securing,  but  which 
demands  something  which  at  the  last  can  only  be 
secured  by  legal  and  formal  action.  That  is  the 
way  in  almost  all  departments  of  human  activity. 
Where  individual  initiative  is  the  pioneer,  legal 
and  formal  action  has  to  follow." 

The  whole  of  the  speech  deserves  close 
attention,  and  we  advise  our  readers  to  secure  the 
pamphlet. 


Women  are  making  their  mark  in  the  legal 
world.  .According  to  the  Slan4ard,  Miss  Gladys 
.\deline  Taylor,  who  was  recently  admitted  to 
practise  as  a  barrister  and  solicitor  of  the  Victoria 
Supreme  Court,  made  her  first  appearance  in  court 
as  instructing  solicitor  in  a  case  connected  with 
the  application  of  trusts  for  educational  benefits. 
The  will  concerned  had  been  found  unworkable, 
and  the  scheme  submitted  by  Miss  Taylor,  whicli 
involved  considerable  legal  research,  was  adopted 
by  the  Chief  Justice. 


The  new  Emperor  of  Japan  has  already  taken 
steps  which  are  likely  to  improve  the  position  of 
women  in  that  country.  One  of  his  first  acts  was 
to  give  notice  to  the  Master  of  the  Hou.sehold  that 
in  future  the  Empress  will  ride  with  him  in  the 
Imperial  carriage.  It  was  noteworthy  that  at  the 
first  reception  of  the  new  Sovereign  the  Empress 
was  present,  and  that  the  wives  of  dignitaries 
and  officials  were  also  invited.  The  Emperor, 
when  Crown  Prince,  according  to  the  Tokio 
correspondent  of  the  Press  Association,  had  a 
dislike  for  officious  policemen,  and  he  has  already 


'orljidden  iraflic  on  tlie  Imperial  route  being 
stopped  for  twenty  or  thirty  minutes  previous  to 
and  subsequent  to  the  passage  of  the  Imperial 
procession. 

"  THE  RO.ADMENDER." 


"  The  Koadmender  "  is  a  favourite  book  with 
many  nurses,  but  few  know  the  conditions  under 
which  it  was  written,  and  they  cannot  fail  to  give 
it  an  additional  interest,  especially  to  nurses  who 
can  so  well  realise  the  brave  endurance  of  the 
-  writer.  We  reprint  therefore  from  Misericordia, 
the  organ  of  the  Guild  of  St.  Barnabas  for  Nurses, 
the  following  pathetic  story  : 

"  'The  Koadmender  '  took  two  years  to  write. 
When  Michael  Fairless  began  the  book  she  was 
in  fairly  good  health  ;  about  three  months  after- 
wards her  illness  came  upon  her.  She  was  then 
unable  to  stand,  and  her  right  hand  and  arm  were 
totally  disabled.  She  lay  on  a  couch,  sometimes 
on  her  back,  and  at  rare  intervals  on  her  side. 
Her  MS.  was  written  in  i)cncil  with  her  left  hand. 
T"he  pad  on  which  she  wrote  rested  on  her  breast. 
For  twenty  months  she  wrote  whenever  she  had 
the  strength  ;  during  much  of  the  time  she  was 
in  severe  pain.  Occasionally  she  would  go  into 
a  trance,  which  lasted  some  hours.  In  this 
condition  the  look  and  bloom  of  health  came  back 
to  her  wasted  face,  and  her  breathing,  which  was 
often  very  difficult,  became  easy  and  normal. 
When  she  regained  consciousness  she  seemed  to 
have  dipped  her  bucket  into  a  well  of  health,  and 
for  some  hours  all  appearance  of  pain  and  suffering 
left  her.  She  had  been,  she  said,  to  a  place  of 
unbroken  peace.  She  knew  what  it  was  to  go 
beyond  the  range  of  suffering.  ,  She  had  been 
led  into  blue  depths  of  unearthly  beauty,  where 
there  was  no  pain,  and  the  certainty  of  this 
freedom  had  been  given  to  her  .4fter  such  times 
she  wrote  with  greater .  facility  ;  at  all  times 
there  was  scarcely  an  erasure  in  her  MS.  or  the 
change  of  a  word. 

"  Her  book  was  nearly  finished — that  is  to  say, 
the  first  and  second  parts  were  complete,  and  the 
third  begun — when  her  illness  rapidlj'  increased. 
She  could  no  longer  take  any  food.  For  nine  days 
she  had  tasted  nothing  but  water,  and  her  weakness 
made  her  almost  unconscious. 

"  She  was  troubled  lest  .she  should  fail  to  finish 
her  task,  and  one  day  called  her  friend  to  her  and 
bade  her  fetch  pen  and  paper,  and  then  dictated 
in  a  whisper,  without  hesitating  for  a  word, 
except  when  she  paused  for  breath,  the  whole  of 
the  last  chapters  of  '  The  Koadmender,'  and  only 
as  she  whispered  the  last  words  did  she  again  fall 
into  unconsciousness. 

"  She  lived  for  twelve  days  more,  entirely 
without  food,  until  at  last  she  passed  out  through 
the  White  Gate." 


WORD     FOR     THE     WEEK. 

"  How  much  pain  tlie  evils  have  cost  us  which 
have  never  happened.  " 


l82 


^be  Biitisb  3ournaI  of  H^urstiuj. 


August  31,    191: 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  cominunications  upon 
ail  subjects  for  tlicse  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


A     CATHOLIC  NURSES'  UUILD. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dear  Madam, — Thank  you  so  much  for  kindly 
inserting  my  notice  regarding  the  Cathohc  Nurses' 
Guild.  You  will  be  pleased  to  hear  that  1  have 
already  received   several   cards. 

I   am,   yours  truly, 
»  A.   Petitt. 

City  Hospital, 
Seacroft,  Leeds. 


PRELIMINARY     TRAINING. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing, 
Dear  Madam, — It  is  very  interesting  to  know 
•  that  the  authorities  of  Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital 
have  found  it  necessary  to  establish  a  preliminary 
training  school  for  their  nurses.  One  realises  that 
pupils  must  be  hopelessl}'  confused  if  launched  at 
once  into  a  labour  ward,  or  a  maternity  ward,  where 
they  really  do  not  understand  what  is  going  on 
around  them,  or  what  theorj-  underlies  the  practical 
teaching  they  are  receiving.  But  the  point  which 
forcibly  presents  itself  to  me  is  :  If  preliminary 
training  is  necessary  at  Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital, 
it  is  necessary-  at  ever\'  other  maternity  hospital 
throughout  the  kingdom,  and  it  is  obtainable  in 
none  of  them.  Can  nothing  be  done  to  place  this 
preliminary  training  on  a  sure  foundation,  so  that 
it  shall  be  available  not  only  for  one  hospital,  but 
for  all  ? 

The  question  is  not  only  one  affecting  nursing 
and  midwifery  education.  It  cannot  be  for  the 
welfare  of  the  patients  that  continual  relays  of 
raw  probationers  should  be  drafted  into  the  wards 
e\-ery  few  months,  and  the  strain  on  Sisters 
responsible  for  the  nursing  of  the  patients,  only 
those  know  who  have  experienced  it.  In  London, 
at  any  rate,  and  in  large  provincial  centres, 
preliminary  training  schools,  once  established  on 
good  lines,  could  supply  many  hospitals  with 
pupils  to  the  benefit  of  both. 

I  am,  dear  Madam, 
Yours  faithfully, 

fA  Harassed  Sister. 


THE    AD.VIINISTRATION    OF    MEDICINES 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing- 
Dear  Madam, — The  sad  case  of  the  death  of  a 
patient  after  the  administration  of  a  disinfectant 
in  error  for  an  aperient,  colloquially  known  as 
"  house  medicine,"  raises  many  points  of  interest, 
such  as  the  custody  of  poisons,  the  precautions  as 
to  the  shape  of  bottles,  the  necessity  for  reading 
labels   before   administering  doses,   and   so   forth. 


But  one  point  was  not  raised  at  the  inquest,  as 
the  inquiry  did  not  bear  upon  that. 

The  house  surgeon  testified  that  the  deceased 
patient  had  been  in  an  extremely  weak  condition 
for  a  day  or  so — almost  tn  extremis — and  that  it 
was  doubtful  how  long  he  could  have  lasted,  apart 
from  this  misadventure.  On  the  morning  of  the 
day  of  his  death  the  Sister  was  thinking  of  having 
the  last  rites  of  the  Church  administered  to  him. 

Surely  it  is  unusual  to  give  house  physic  to 
a  patient  "  almost  in  extremis."  Is  it  permissible 
to  wonder  whether,  under  the  circumstances,  the 
dose  of  house  medicine  which  he  was  supposed  to 
have,  would  not  have  been  almost  as  pernicious 
as  the  creoline  (or  allied  substance)  which  he 
actually  did  drink  ?  The  necessity  for  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  last  rites  of  the  church  certainly 
sounds  incongruous  with  the  necessity  for  a  dose 
of  house  mixture. 

Yours  faithfully, 

Interested. 


REPLIES    TO    CORRESPONDENTS. 

Questioner,  Bradford. — Membership  of  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses  is  gained  through 'the 
National  Councils  of  Nurses  in  each  country. 
Associations  composed  of  graduates  of  Schools  of 
Nursing  connected  with  General  Hospitals  and 
Poor  Law  Infirmaries,  giving  three  years'  training 
in  the  wards,  and  professional  associations  of 
nurses,  formed  for  the  benefit  of  nurses,  the 
members  of  which  hold  qualifications  of  training 
acceptable  to  the  Council,  are  eligible  for  affiliation 
with  the  International  Council  of  ^Nurses. 


OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS. 

September  yth. — Describe  your  practice  in  the 
care  and  administration  of  medicines ;  your 
method  of  identifying  dangerous  drugs,  and  of 
distinguishing  medicines  to  be  administered  to 
patients  from  lotions  and  poisonous  solutions 
used  for  outward  application,  or  as  disinfectants. 

September  14/A. — How  would  you  deal  with  a 
case  of  croup  occurring  in  a  private  house  until 
the  arrival  of  the  doctor  ? 

September  zist. — How  would  you  care  for  a 
premature  infant  at  the  time  of  birth,  and  subse- 
quently ? 

September  28th. — Wliat  records  would  you  keep, 
and  what  points  would  you  observe  and  report 
upon,  as  a  routine  practice,  when  nursing  a  case, 
either  in  a  hospital  ward  or  in  a  private  house  ? 


NOTICE. 

BUSINESS    COMMUNICATIONS. 

The  Editor  will  be  obliged  if  all  business  com- 
munications, such  as  requiring  extra  journals,  &c., 
are  addressed  to  the  Manager,  The  British 
Journal  of  Nursing  Office,  431,  Oxford  Street, 
London,  W.,  and  not  to  the  editorial  office  at  20, 
Upper  Wimpole  Street,  W. 


August  31,  1912  Z\K  36ntii?b  3ournal  ot  IRuuyino  Siutplcmcnt.        .83 


THe   Midwife. 


THE    MATERNITY    HOSPITAL    AND 
SCHOOL   FOR   MIDWIVES,   COLOGNE. 


The  International  Nursing  Congress  was  over  ; 
nothing  was  left  of  it  but  a  few  stragglers,  who, 
maybe  from  necessity,  or  possibly  a  disinclination 
to  leave  the  scene  of  so  many  in'ipiring  impressions, 
had  lingered  behind.  Notliing  was  left  of  the 
Congress  !  The  readers  of  our  Journal  will 
resent  that  statement,  unless  1  qualify  it.  Well, 
then,  the  outward  and  visible  signs  of  it  had  dis- 
appeared ;  but  to  those  who  had  attended  this 
great  gathering  of  the  Nations  in  a  serious  mood, 
the  real  work — the  enduringKvork — had  only  begun. 

I   was  one  of  the  stragglers  ;    and  on  Sunday 


floors  and  walls  of  polished  concrete  are  to  be  seen 
everywhere.  There  is,  of  course,  a  cot  beside  each 
bed,  over  which  a  mosquito-curtain  is  spread. 
The  sanitary  towels  used  for  the  mothers  are  of 
sterilised  absorbent  wool  ;  the.se  are  taken  straight 
from  the  steriliser  by  the  pupil-midwife  with  a 
pair  of  forceps — the  hands  arc  not  used. 

There  are  excellent  bath-rooms   for  each   class 

/  of  patient — the  difference  appeared  to  be  merely 

that  of  name  !    One  room  contained  appliances  for 

mechanical  massage  for  patients  needing  muscular 

stimulation. 

In  quick  succession  I  was  shown  an  X-ray  room, 
a  laboratory,  consulting  rooms,  waiting  rooms,  and 
every  sort  of  luxurious  medical  requirement  for 
five  resident  obstetric  physicians. 


THE  MATERNITY  HOSPITAL  AND  SCHOOL  FOR  MIDWIVES.  COLOGNE. 


afternoon,  August  nth,  I  visited  one  of  the  most 
interesting  institutions — from  a  professional  point 
of  view — in  the  city.  The  Frauenklinik  u:d 
Hebammen-Lehranstalt  is  a  very  fine  State  Pro- 
vincial Hospital.  It  was  built  in  the  year  1909  ; 
and ,  consequently,  has  the  advantages  of  the  most 
modem  equipment  and  hygienic  treatment  that 
medical  science  can  devise — and,  as  a  scliool,  is 
probably  one  of  the  best  of  its  kind. 

The  Hospital 
This  contains  104  beds  for  Lying-in  Women  ; 
100  for  the  poor,  and  four  for  better  class  patients. 
If  patients  are  quite  unable  to  pay  anything 
towards  their  maintenance,  they  are  admitted 
free  ;  otherwise  there  is  a  charge  made  to  all.  The 
terms  are  classified  :  First-class  patients  pay 
eight  marks  a  day,  exclusive  of  medical  atten- 
dance ;  Second-class,  five  marks  ;  and  third  and 
lowest  cla.ss,  three  marks,  inclusive  of  medical 
attendance.  Wards  for  third-class  patients  con- 
tain four  beds  ;  for  second-class,  two  beds  ;  and 
first-class,  one  bed.  They  are  sufficiently  large, 
lofty,   and  have  plenty  of  window  space.     Tiled 


One  small  room  is  specially  fitted  up  as  a 
baptistr>'  for  the  infants,  to  accommodate  both  the 
Roman  Catholic  or  the  Protestant  faith. 

The  infants'  bath  and  dressing-room  is  worth 
describing.  In  rows  of  four,  porcelain  baths  are 
attached  to  two  walls  of  the  room,  each  furnished 
with  hot  and  cold  water  taps,  and  every  other 
convenience  necessary  for  the  washing  of  a  baby. 
I  was  fortunate  enough  to  be  able  to  watch  a  pupil 
dressing  a  human  atom  of  a  few  days'  old  !  The 
method  was  one  we  might  with  advantage  copy — 
and  abolish  for  ever  the  wrong  way  of  dressing  an 
infant  on  the  knees.  A  table  is  used  for  this  pur- 
pose— previously  padded  with  something  soft  and 
warm.  The  clothing  is  simplicity  itself.  Pins  and 
needles  are  anathema  !  The  little  thing  is  first  laid 
face  downwards,  with  nothing  on  but  a  little 
woollen  vest  with  long  sleeves,  reaching  to  the 
waist.  A     napkin-  presumably     of     sterilised 

muslin  or  butter-cloth  —followed  by  several  other 
soft  warm  cloths  ;  and  then  the  child  is  turned 
over,  and  the  napkin  crossed  over  and  wound 
round  each  little  leg,  serving  the  additional 
purpose  of  stockings  for  warmth  ;    the  cloths  are 


isi        Zbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRuremo  Supplement.  August  31, 


1912 


all  folded  neatly  over  and  kept  in  place  by  a 
binder,  which  comes  last.  The  mothers  are  kept 
in  the  hospital  ten  days.  On  the  ninth  day  they 
are  allowed  up,  when  they  lea\e  the  lying-in  ward 
for  a  "  rest  "  room,  furnished  with  comfortable 
couches  of  a  special  antiseptic  type. 
The   School. 

Accommodation  is  given  for  33  pupil-midwives 
at  the  same  time.  The  course  is  for  nine  months, 
during  which  time  they  receive  an  excellent 
practical  and  theoretical  training.  In  the  splendid 
lecture-room  lectures  arc  given  to  male  and 
female  students,  illustrated  by  the  cinematograph. 
The  head  midwife  gives  one  hour's  instruction 
every  day.  The  female  students  pay  600  marks 
{£30)  for  board,  lodging  and  instruction. 

The  pupils  appear  to  be  \ery  well  looked  after. 
Their  bedroom  accommodation  is  very  good. 
Midwifery  bags  are  not  used.  The  steriliser 
ser\-es  the  double  purpose  of  a  portable  case  fitted 
with  all  requisites  ;  this  is  placed  in  an  outside 
case  of  coarse  washable  canvas  with  handles  ; 
its  simplicity,  plus  usefulness,  is  commendable. 
Lysol  is  largely  used  as  an  antiseptic. 

I  was  interested  to  learn  that  there  is  a  National 
Association  of  Midwifery  Schools  in  Germany, 
of  which  there  are  ten  branches.  The  fact  that  tliis 
magnificent  institution  belongs  to  the  association 
is  ample  testimon}-  that  tlie  educational  standard 
is  a  high  one. 

One  of  the  finest  things,  in  connection  with  this 
hospital,  is  that  post-graduate  lectures  are  given 
to  doctors  and  nurses.  These  lectures  are  free. 
There  are  seven  trained  midwives,  besides  the 
thirtj--five  pupils. 

I  am  much  indebted  to  the  head  midwife,  who 
very  good-naturedly  gave  up  her  rest,  in  order  to 
gratify  my  wish  to  see  the  hospital  on  the  only  day 
possible  to  me.  I  had  almost  forgotten  to  mention 
what  will  undoubtedly  interest  midwives,  namely, 
that  the  babies  are  bathed  three  times  and  changed 
six  times  in  the  twenty-four  hours.  Happy 
babes,  happy  mothers,  who  find  themseh'es  under 
such  excellent  care  ! 

It  was  the  Association  of  Teachers  of  Midwives 
connected  wi'h  this  school  wh  se  greeting  was 
convej-ed  to  the  Congress  by  Dr.  Franke  on  the 
opening  day.  It  was  here  also  that  the  nuns 
responsible  for  the  housekeeping  stayed  up  all 
night  to  make  cakes  for  the  Congress  visitors. 
Be.\trice   Kent. 

RUPTURE    OF   THE    UTERUS. 

Ihe  following  notes  and  observations  on  a  case 
of  rupture  of  the  uterus,  as  reported  in  the  Lancet, 
were  communicated  by  Dr.  D.  Shannon  (Glasgow) 
in  the  Section  of  Gynaecologj-  and  Obstetrics  at 
the  recent  Annual  Meeting  of  the  British  Medical 
Association  at  Liverpool. 

The  patient,  aged  forty,  was  admitted  to  the 
Glasgow  Maternity  Hospital  in  a  collapsed  con- 
dition, and  presented  the  typical  picture  of 
concealed   accidental   haemorrhage.     Three   weeks 


previously  she  had  felt  ill,  but  her  condition  had 
not  been  considered  serious.  On  the  day  of  ad- 
mission she  was  seized  with  sudden  acute  ab- 
dominal pain  and  fell  to  the  ground.  Her  con- 
dition was  that  rather  of  profound  shock  than  of 
internal  haemorrhage.  Tlie  nine  months'  pregnant 
uterus  occupied  the  whole  abdomen,  was  rounded 
and  hard,  and  the  foetal  heart  was  inaudible.  Xo 
haemorrhage  had  occurred  into  the  vagina. 
Caesarean  section  with  subtotal  hysterectomy  was 
performed,  but  the  patient  never  recovered  from 
the  shock,  and  died  a  few  hours  after  operation. 
On  opening  the  abdomen  the  uterus  was  found 
ruptured — small  multiple  tears  extending  over  the 
peritoneal  coat  and  a  larger  laceration,  two  or 
three  inches  long,  situated  between  the  bladder 
and  uterus.  Here  and  there  blood  was  e.xtrava-  - 
sated  in  the  muscular  wall,  and  there  was  a  small 
rounded  haematoina  of  about  the  size  of  an  apple 
near  the  left  cornu.  Free  blood  was  also  present 
in  the  peritoneum.  Two  factors.  Dr.  Shannon 
said,  must  be  considered  in  connection  with  the 
case  :  (i)  The  condition  of  the  uterine  wall,  and 
(2)  the  effects  produced  by  the  haemorrhage.  In 
accidental  haemorrhage  the  uterus  was  usually 
abnormal,  inasmuch  as  the  fibrous  tissue  was 
increased  and  the  muscular  elements  diminished. 
The  placenta  was  also  possibly  the  seat  of  in- 
flammator\'  change  but  the  essential  lesion 
undoubtedly  lay  in  the  uterine  wall.  A  normal 
uterine  wall  was  capable  of  distention,  but  fibrous 
tissue  would  give  way,  as  had  occurred  in  this 
case.  The  uterine  sinuses, were  lacerated  and  the 
placenta  was  separated.  It  was  quite  possible 
that  the  uterine  wall  was  paralysed  a.s  a  result  of 
the  sudden  distension.  Similar  peritoneal  lacera- 
tions had  been  noted  in  ca.ses  of  volvulus  or 
ovarian  cyst  into  which  sudden  haemorrhage  had 
occurred.  The  blood  lost  was  about  two  and  a 
half  pints,  not  sufficient  to  cause  death.  The 
condition  was  quite  unlike  that  seen  in  placenta 
praevia,  post-partum  haemorrhage,  &c.,  and  was 
undoubtedly  due  to  shock,  which  might  have  been 
produced  by  interference  with  the  nervous 
plexuses  following  on  the  distension.  The  treat- 
ment of  concealed  accidental  haemorrhage  was 
always  difficult,  and  the  majority  of  the  patients 
died.  The  first  indication  was  to  remove  the 
shock,  and  this  might  be  done  by  removing  the 
pressure  by  rupture  of  the  membranes.  In  the 
present  case  saline  was  first  given,  and  it  did  more 
harm  than  good.  Saline  might  be  given  after  the 
membranes  had  been  ruptured.  It  was  well  to 
let  the  patient  rest  before  operation  was  performed, 
in  order  that  she  might  rally  from  the  shock.  The 
trend  of  modem  obstetrical  opinion  pointed  to 
Caesarean  section,  combined  with  supravaginal 
hysterectomy  as  the  procedure  of  choice." 


We  regret  to  record  the  death  of  Sir  William 
Japp  Sinclair,  Professor  of  Obstetrics  and  Gynec- 
cologj-  at  Victoria  Uni\ersity,  Manchester  ;  and 
who,  for  many  years,  was  a  member  of  the  Centra  1 
Midwives'  Board,  nominated  by  the  Privj'  Council 


THE 

L. 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,  SEPTEMBER  7,  1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


AN     INTERNATIONAL     MEMORIAL     TO 
FLORENCE     NIGHTINGALE. 

The  proposal  set  forth  at  the  Banquet 
given  by  the  members  of  the  Cologne 
Congress,  to  found,  under  the  auspices  anil 
direction  of  the  International  Council  of 
Nurses,  a  truly  significant  memorial  to 
Florence  Nightingale,  may  well  appear 
some  ilay  in  tiie  far  future  to  have  been  the 
most  fruitful  of  all  the  ideas  radiated  forth 
endorsed  bv  the  unanimous  approval  of  the 
members  of  the  International  Council  of 
Nurses. 

From  the  first  The  British  Journal  of 
Nursing  has  insisted  that  a  memorial  to 
Miss  Nightingale  should  be  commemorative 
of  her  great  work  for  nursing  education, 
and  with  the  clear  judgment,  and  pro- 
fessional self  respect  which  always  charac- 
terise its  pronouncements  deprecated  the 
proposal  to  make  a  world  wide  appeal  for 
financial  aid  for  indigent  British  nurses, 
as  undignified  and  unseemly  in  this  con- 
nection. The  view  that  the  memorial 
.should  be  of  an  educational  nature  found 
strong  endorsement  abroad,  and  it  was 
almost  inevitable  that  when  the  members  of 
the  International  Council  of  Nurses  met  in 
Cologne,  the  question  should  be  discussed 
informally,  and  that  as  a  logical  sequence  it 
should  be  agreed  that  the  Council  should 
raise  its  own  memorial  to  Miss  Nightingale. 

It  was  fitting  that  the  proposition  should 
be  made  publicly  by  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick, 
Honorary  President  and  Founder  of  that 
Council  of  Nurses  which  now  encircles  the 
globe  with  its  membership  of  nine  countries, 
while  twenty-three  nationalities,  and  at  least 
three  races,  were  represented  by  nurses 
who  sat  around  the  board  and  applauded 
the  proposition,  eloquently  seconded  bv 
Miss  M.  A.  Nutting,  to  endow  a  memorial 
which  should  be  of  an  educational  character, 


t^  the  honour  of  a  woman  whose  supreme 
weapon  was  knowledi^e. 

The  attempts  made  bv  men  in  high  places 
to  promote  memorials  to  Miss  Nightingale 
have  been  singularly  unfortunate,  and  the 
representatives  of  her  own  training  school 
appear  to  have  failed  wholly  to  perceive  the 
real  lesson  of  her  life,  failed  wholly  to  apply 
its  lesson. 

Nurses  have  disapproved  and  resented 
from  the  outset  the  entire  form  and  con- 
tent of  men's  proposals  for  a  Nightingale 
Memorial.  They  resent  the  egotistical 
attitude  which  led  the  Memorial  Committee 
to  ignore  the  rank  and  file  of  the  nursing 
profession,  to  seek  no  light  from  the 
organised  nurses,  who  would  naturally, 
because  of  their  lifework,  have  formed  a 
ripe  opinion  on  the  matter,  which  should 
have  received  consideration. 

They  resent  the  application  of  the 
wretched,  discredited  pretext  of  chanty- — 
refuge  of  mediaeval  minds — to  themselves, 
members  of  a  modern,  skilled,  trained  pro- 
fession, which  is  absolutely  indispensable  to 
society  in  its  present  form — absolutely  indis- 
pensable to  Government  Departments  con- 
cerned with  public  health  and  well-being — 
absolutely  indispensable  to  physicians  and 
surgeons  in  their  work  with  the  sick. 
Without  their  aid  all  the  fast-developing 
lines  of  preventive  medicine,  public  sanita- 
tion and  hygiene,  and  social  nursing  service 
could  not  make  one  iota  of  progress.  'I  o 
propose  to  make  these  expert  women  the 
objects  of  a  charitable  endowment  in  honour 
of  Florence  Nightinijalc,  who  foresaw  and 
foretold  all  these  lines  of  Health  Nursing 
before  any  one  else  in  England  did  so ! — 
the  very  idea  is  endlessly  ludicrous,  or 
would  be  so  if  it  were  not  sad,  and  sad  it 
is,  because  it  shows  the  colossal  obstacles 
which  women  must  overcome  in  lands  where 
all  power  is  obstinately  held  in  the  hands 
of  a  sex  oligarchy. 

a' 


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Z\)c  :^ritlcib  3ournal  of  'BAursino.      September  7,  igi2 


Even  the  promised  statiie  of  Miss 
Nightingale,  which  should  indeed  shine 
forth  among  England's  heroes,  cannot  be 
a  source  of  unmixed  satisfaction  to  nurses, 
because  of  the  frugal  expenditure  allowed 
for  it. 

No,  the  only  vital,  the  only  fitting 
memorial  to  Miss  Nightingale  is  one  that 
shall  embody  her  spirit,  shall  perpetuate 
her  energv,  shall  disseminate  her  principles, 
shall  raise  up  women  to  follow  in  her  foot- 
steps. Her  spirit  was  an  indomitable,  a 
militant  spirit,  not  a  meek  tractable  one. 
Her  energy  was  destructive  of  man's 
meddling  in  things  he  did  not  understand, 
and  constructive  on  lines  of  woman's  public 
duties.  Her  principles  are :  Knowledge, 
Training,  Authority  for  the  woman  in  the 
work  which  is  hers.  Women  will  be  pre- 
t  pared    to    follow    where    she    led,    only    bv 

knowledge,  culture,  fearlessness,  self- 
reliance. 

The  true  memorial  to  Miss  Nightingale 
will  be  an  educational  memorial,  and  to 
such  a  foundation  not  onlv  nurses,  but  all 
truth-loving  and  humanitv-loving  women 
and  men  should  gladly  contribute  according 
to  their  ability.  l,  l_  Qqck,  R.N. 


MEDICAL   MATTERS. 

THE     X-RAY     TREATMENT     OF     UTERINE 
FIBROID5. 

Dr.  G.  Fedor  Harnisch,  of  Hamburg-,  pre- 
sented, in  the  Section  of  Electro-Therapeutics 
and  Radiology,  at  the  recent  meeting  of  the 
British  Medical  Association,  an  interesting 
paper  on  the  X-ray  treatment  of  uterine 
fibroids,  which  is  published  in  full  in  the  British 
Mediciil  Journal.  He  said,  in  part  : — 
■  "In  undertaking  this  treatment  it  is  neces- 
sary to  have  a  complete  mastery  of  the  Rontgen 
technique,  not  only  generally,  but  also  in  its 
application  to  deeper  situations.  Just  as  im- 
portant is  the  correct  selection  of  suitable  cases. 
This  has  now  been  generally  agreed  upon  as  a 
result  of  the  work  done  by  many  investigators 
during  the  last  few  years.  In  every  case  it  is 
absolutely  necessary  that  a  gynaecologist  should 
have  made  a  thorough  examination,  in  order  to 
eliminate  a  mistake  in  diagnosis,  which  would, 
of  course,  entail  unnecessary  treatment.  In 
certain  cases  it  is  advisable  microscopically  to 
examine  the  tissue  removed  by  the  curette  or  to 
dilate  and  investigate  the  uterine  cavitv.  In 
other  words,  the  radiologist  should  have  the 
diaofnosis  and  later  condition  confirmed   bv   a 


gynajculogist.  On  the  otiier  hand,  should  the 
gynaecologist  undertake  the  treatment,  then  it 
is  his  duty  to  thoroughly  acquaint  himself  with 
the  general  physical  and  biological  properties 
of  the  X  rays,  and  also  the  necessary  special 
technique.    .    .    . 

"  The  indications  for  the  Rontgen  therapy 
are  as  follows  :  (i)  Fibroids  occurring  before  or 
during  the  climacteric,  w  ith  or  without  pressure 
complications,  such  as  those  affecting  the  heart, 
bladder,  or  rectum ;  (2)  in  haemorrhage  due  to 
fibroids  ;  (3)  for  climacteric  haemorrhage  ;  (4)  for 
metritic  bleeding  before  or  after  the  climacteric  ; 
(5)  to  relieve  dysmenorrhoea  and  other  climac- 
teric troubles. 

"  The  age  of  the  patient  is  a  particularly  im- 
portant factor.  The  older  they  are — that  is,  the 
nearer  thev  approach  50  vears  of  age  or  more — 
the  more  favourable  is  the  result ;  it  is  attained 
more  quickly  and  is  more  lasting.  The  vounger 
the  patient  is  below  45,  proportionally  longer 
is  the  treatment  and  the  greater  the  uncertainty 
of  the  result.  One  is  also  more  likely  to  meet 
with  a  recurrence.  In  my  opinion  women  under 
40  should  not  be  rayed  for  the  treatment  of 
these  conditions. 

"  Further  considerations  are  the  size  of  the 
tumour,  the  position,  and  the  rate  of  growth. 
The  smaller  the  fibroid,  the  more  favourable  is 
the  influence,  although,  as  my  own  cases  show, 
even  a  tumour  reaching  as  far  as  the  ribs  is 
by  no  means  a  contraindication  for  the  treat- 
ment, providing  it  is  not  of  too  long  duration. 
It  is  hardly  possible  to  cause  the  disappearance 
of  a  large  hard  tumour  which  has  existed  for 
ten  to  twenty  year.s,  although  this  mav  occa- 
sionally diminish  and  the  complications  may  be 
relieved.  Generally  speaking,  however,  the 
large,  old  myomata  do  not  lend  themselves  to 
favourable  treatment.  The  length  of  raying 
for  the  skin  is  also  a  serious  consideration.  .4s 
regards  the  situation  of  the  myoma,  the  inter- 
stitial and  the  intramural  are  the  most  easily 
influenced.  Most  authorities  agree  that  the 
treating  of  submucous  and  pedunculated 
fibroids  is  absolutely  contraindicated.  I  saw 
excessive  bleeding  follow  in  one  of  these  cases 
after  transient  improvement  had  been  attained. 
.\n  immediate  operation  was  necessary.  .  .  . 

"  Special  stress  must  be  laid  on  the  rapid 
improvement  of  the  general  health.  In  some 
cases  I  saw  rapid  disappearance  of  nervous 
symptoms,  mental  depression,  misery,  and  dis- 
content. The  constipation  which  frequently 
accompanies  the  large  tumours  improves  witli 
extraordinary  rapidity.  The  heart  strain  is 
relieved,  incidental  vomiting,  nausea,  and  feel- 
ing of  heaviness  disappear.  The  haemoglobin 
percentage  of  the  blood  increases." 


September  7,    igi; 


JTbe  Brltlsb  3ournal  of  murstno. 


187 


THE    OPSONIC    INDEX. 


THE    INTERNATIONAL    CONGRESS    OF 
NURSES. 


One  of  the  most  common  subjects  a  nurse 
meets  with  is  tliat  of  bacteriology.  It  is  cer- 
tainly interesting,  but  very  apt  to  be  briefly 
dismissed  because  of  the  technical  difficulties, 
so  I  am  going  to  explain  some  of  the  definitions 
which  you  meet  with  in  any  text  book  on  the 
subject. 

We  are  quite  used  to  saying  that  infectious 
diseases  will  "run  their  course";  we  can 
prophesy  the  duration  of  a  case  of  typhoid 
fever,  but  we  do  not  know  the  cause  of  the 
limitation — that  is  still  in  the  future.  It  may 
be  either  by  the  greater  power  of  resistance  of 
the  patient,  or  by  the  activity  of  the  invading 
bacteria,  and  indeed  we  can  render  various 
diseases  less  virulent  by  the  use  of  antitoxine, 
as  in  diphtheria,  or  provide  against  them — as 
in  the  case  of  small-pox ;  but  though  great 
progress  has  been  made  during  the  last  twenty- 
five  years,  we  are  by  no  means  at  the  end  of 
our  discoveries. 

When  the  infection  starts,  the  "  demand 
creates  the  supply,"  the  leucocytes  flock  to  the 
rescue,  and  the  condition  known  as  Icucocytosis 
results,  so  that  the  danger  instead  of  being 
hidden,  becomes  obvious.  It  has  been  a  known 
fact  for  some  time  now  that  leucocytes  devour 
and  digest  the  bacteria,  but  it  is  only  lately 
that  it  was  discovered  that  there  is  a  certain 
"appetizer  "  also  in  the  blood  serum  to  assist 
their  meals,  and  that,  even  when  all  the 
leucocytes  are  removed  from  a  given  specimen 
of  blood,  there  arc  left  certain  properties  which 
antagonize  bacteria  if  they  are  brought  in. 
contact  with  any.  These  are  known  as  the 
opsonins,  and  are  auxiliary  to  the  leucocytes, 
being  called  by  Mr.  Bernard  Shaw  "  What  you 
butter  your  germs  with  in  order  to  make  your 
white  blood  corpuscles  cat  them  "  ! 

The  opsonic  index  is  the  comparison  of  the 
activity  of  the  opsonin  in  a  patient  suffering 
from  a  given  germ,  and  thus  proving  the 
resisting  power  of  the  blood. 

Each  opsonin  acts  only  on  one  single  species 
of  bacteria,  and  therefore,  supposing  a  blood 
culture  shows  that  the  leucocvtes  readily  absorb 
the  tubercle  bacillus,  it  pro\es  that  the  O.I. 
is  high  for  Tub.  Rac.  while  it  might  be  loiv  for 
another  form  of  bacteria. 

In  order  to  use  the  opsonic  index  to  its 
greatest  advantage  in  treatment,  a  daily  blood 
count  is  often  taken  to  show  the  amount  of 
vaccine  to  be  used  and  to  note  the  effect. 

A.  ^\.  R. 


TUESDAY,   AUUUST   6th. 


Evening  Session. 
THE     SOCIAL    WORK     OF     NURSES. 

On  August  6th  the  Cologne  Congress  had  a 
strenuous  day,  for  not  only  to  the  very  great 
pleasure  of  many,  both  members  of  the  Congress 
and  residents  in  Cologne,  were  the  beautiful  living 
pictures  of  tlie  Pageant  repeated,  but  there  was 
also  an  evening  session  on  the  social  work  of 
nurses,  presided  over  by  Fraulein  Hcdwig  Busch, 
of  Hanover,  when  two  important  papers,  one  by 
Miss  Nutting  on  the  Department  of  Nursing  and 
Health  at  Teachers'  College,  Columbia  University, 
and  the  other  prepared  by  a  committee  of  the 
.\merican  Nurses'  Association,  wefe  presented  by 
Sister  Marie  Lustnauer,  of  the  City  Hospital, 
Louisville,  as  well  as  one  by  the  President,  Sister 
.\gnes  Karll. 

The  Work  at  Teachers'  College. 

Miss  Nutting  stated  that  the  Department  of 
.\ursing  and  Health  at  Teachers'  College,  Columbia 
f'nivcrsity,  in  the  City  of  New  York,  showed  the 
first  attempt  in  history  to  provide  higher  in- 
struction for  nurses,  beyond  that  offered  by  the 
ordinary  hospital  training  school.  For  this 
reason,  and  because  of  the  importance  of  the 
principles  on  which  it  was  founded,  a  brief 
presentation  of  its  history,  purpose  and  achieve- 
ment had  been  accorded  a  place  on  the  programme 
of  the  International  Congress,  as  worthy  the 
interest  and  attention  of  a  body  devoted  and 
pledged  to  a  consideration  of  educational  problems 
in  nursing  and  to  the  advancement  of  nursing 
education. 

It  was  part  of  the  statesmanlike  quality  of 
Isabel  Hampton  Robb's  mind  that  she  did  not 
think  in  individual  but  in  general  terms.  In 
looking  at  the  nurse  she  saw  always  an  army  of 
nurses,  reaching  far  back  into  the  past,  stretching 
forward  into  the  future,  spreading  and  growing 
and  presenting  for  the  world's  use  either  a  strong 
trained  and  united  body  of  workers  or  a  weak, 
undisciplined,  straggling  and  unserviceable  body. 
In  the  training  school  her  glance  swept  out  beyond 
tlie  special  school  which  slic  might  at  the  moment 
represent,  and  which  might  by  special  gifts  and 
o])portunities  rise  high  above  others,  and  took  in 
tlic  entire  nursing  system  of  the  country.  She 
saw  hospitals  and  training  schools  multiplying 
in  response  to  many  kinds  of  calls  and  impulses, 
charitable  and  humane,  or  purely  mercenary,  and 
slie  was  constantly  impressed  with  the  great 
diificiilty  of  maintaining  good  standards,  or, 
indeed,  any  standards  in  training  schools,  under 
so  many  and  such  diverse  forms  of  government, 
and  such  fundamentally  different  conditions  of 
life  and  work,  and  her  question  was.  How  can  we 
establish  definite  and  satisfactory  standards  of 
work  which  shall  be  attainable  bv  all  schools  ?   1 


f88 


^be  Brltlsb  3ournal  of  IHurstno.      September  7,  191: 


think  her  attitude  on  this  subject  is  nowhere  more 
clearly  showTi  than  in  a  few  words  she  once  used 
in  discussing  this  subject.  "  Surely,"  she  said, 
"  we  should  agree  that  where  the  sick  are  con- 
cerned there  should  be  no   '  best  schools.'  " 

To  see  all  schools  on  a  good  substantial  uniform 
level  of  work  and  effort,  rather  than  a  few  far  in 
the  lead  and  other  struggling  helplessly  against 
disabiiities — this  was  her  ideal,  and  to  this  end 
she  more  and  more  directed  her  energies,  fully  as 
she  recognised  the  part  that  legislation  and  State 
registration  must  ultimately  play  in  bringing 
about  a  more  rmiform  and  stable  system  of  nurses' 
education.  She  appears  to  have  become  strongly 
impressed  with  the  idea  that  a  very  considerable 
degree  of  uniformity  in  their  education  could  be 
brought  about  through  the  Superintendents  of 
Training  Schools.  This  thought  she  finally  em- 
bodied in  a  paper  of  which  the  substance  was  as 
follows  :  If  we  could  only  bring  together  in  one 
institution  the  future  Superintendents  of  Training 
Schools,  give  them  there  some  special  courses  of 
instruction  in  preparation  for  their  work,  inspire 
them  with  the  same  standards  and  ideals,  provide 
them  with  common  methods  of  teaching,  we 
might,  through  these  Superintendents  and  teachers, 
bring  about  a  considerable  degree  of  uniformity, 
and  plans  for  some  such  course  were  roughly 
sketched. 

The  Society  of  Superintendents,  before  whom 
this  paper  was  read,  cordially  endorsed  and 
pledged  material  aid  to  the  development  of  Mrs. 
Robb's  plan,  and  in  this  instance,  as  well  as  others, 
furnished  a  useful  demonstration  of  the  enormous 
value  of  such  an  organisation  in  initiating  and 
supporting  measures  of  educational  and  profes- 
sional advance. 

Miss  Nutting  then  detailed  how  Teachers' 
College  was  selected  for  the  experiment.  The 
interest  of  Dr.  James  Russell,  the  Dean,  was 
evident  from  the  outset  ;  his  advice  and  support 
were  invaluable,  and  eventually  arrangements  were 
made  to  admit  nurses  as  students  who  were 
graduates  of  high  schools,  and  also  of  training 
schools  for  nurses  approved  by  the  Society  and 
who  gave  satisfactory  evidence  of  experience 
and  personal  fitness. 

The  course  was  opened  with  two  students  in 
1899,  and  in  the  second  year  Miss  .\nna  L.  AUine, 
a  first  year  student,  was  appointed,  and  remained 
in  office  till  1906,  resigning  to  become  Inspector  of 
Training  Schools  in  New  York  State.  The 
expense  of  this  officer  was  met  by  the  Society,  not 
the  College,  and  the  special  lectures  in  hospital 
and  training  school  matters  were  contributed 
without  payment  for  several  years  by  members  of 
the  Society,  often  at  considerable  effort  and 
expense  to  themselves. 

Miss  Nutting  then  related  that  it  early  became 
very  clear  that  the  course  needed  a  good  deal  nrore 
than  the  College  could  give  it.  The  students  were 
asking  for  instruction  which  could  not  be  secured 
for  them.  Special  lecturers  and  teachers  in  subjects 
not   included    in    the  work    of    tlie  College  were 


needed.  In  fact,  to  handle  nursing  problems  satis- 
factorih-  an  organised  department  with  a  special 
Faculty,  force  and  equipment  was  necessary.  On 
the  staff  of  voluntary  lecturers,  and  familiar  with 
the  needs  of  the  course,  was  a  most  distinguished 
nurse.  Miss  Lillian  D.  Wald,  head  of  an  important 
nursing  settlement.  She  generously  drew  the 
attention  and  interest  of  a  wealthy  philanthropic 
woman,  Mrs.  Helen  Hartley  Jenkins,  to  the 
problems  confronting  the  supporters  of  the  course, 
with  the  result  that  in  December,  1909,  a  sub- 
stantial endowment  was  provided,  so  that  the 
work  might  be  carried  on  with  greater  efficiency 
and  be  enlarged  and  developed  in  certain  important 
directions. 

The  Department  of  Nursing  and  Health. 

A  regular  Department  of  the  College  was  there- 
upon established,  called  Nursing  and  Health,  and 
organised  to  embrace  new  activities.  Where  for 
years  there  was  but  part  of  the  time  of  one  super- 
visor there  was  now  a  staff  consisting  of  a 
Director  holding  the  University  appointment  of 
Professor  of  Nursing  and  Health,  two  regular 
assistants  on  full  salaries,  and  full  time  in  charge 
of  special  divisions,  one  responsible  for  the 
supervision  of  the  group  preparing  to  be  teachers, 
the  other  of  those  preparing  for  public  health 
work,  besides  eight  other  lecturers  and  teachers 
attached  to  the  Department.  It  had  been 
thought  best  to  put  the  resources  almost  wholly 
into  supplying  lecturers  and  teachers,  with  the 
result  that  it  was  now  somewhat  cramped  on  the 
administrati%e  side  and  needed  more  clerical  aid. 

A  Promising  (  )utlook. 
Miss  Nutting  then  showed  that  within  the  last 
two  years  the  number  of  students  had  more  than 
doubled,  and  the  outlook  for  the  future  in  that 
direction  was  promising.  The  aim,  however,  was 
not  to  attract  a  great  number  of  students,  but  to 
give  special  and  advanced  opportunities,  to  those 
who  had  demonstrated  their  ability  to  profit  by 
them,  and  who  were  likely  to  be  drawn  into  the 
more  important  and  responsible  posts  in  training 
schools  and  public  health  work.  One  hundred  and 
fourteen  students  had  received  diplomas  or 
certificates  from  the  College.  Five  nurses  had 
gone  further  and  obtained  the  degree  of  Bachelor 
of  Science,  and  two  were  working  for. the  degree 
of  Master  of  Arts. 

Miss  Nutting  then  went  into  detail  as  to  the 
scope  of  the  course  which,  most  interesting  as  it  is, 
it  is  impossible  to  publish  at  length  in  this  issue ; 
we  have  endeavoured  here  to  give  rather  the  more 
.  general  view. 

The  Results. 
Concerning  results  she  wrote  : — "  Perhaps  our 
most  tangible  asset  so  far  may  be  that  our  students 
may  have  conceived  a  new  respect  for  nursing,  a 
new  appreciation  of  its  value  in  the  genera!  scheme 
of  life,  an  awakening  to  the  weaknesses  and  defects 
of   our  present   structure,    an   acceptance   of  the 


September  7,  1912      zhc  Bvitisb  3oiu*nal  of  Ittursiiuj. 


189 


principles  upon  which  future  tle\elopmcnts  should 
be  based.  It  is  good  for  our  stutlcnts  to  have 
lived  even  one  year  in  the  College,  to  have 
mingled  with  students  of  man\-  kinds  preparing 
for  many  fields  of  work,  and  to  have  watched  the 
preparation  of  teachers  which  is  its  distinguishing 
feature.  And  I  think  we  ma\-  presently  see  a 
group  of  women  "emerging  animated  by  quite 
similar  ideals  and  standards,  and  establishing 
similar  methods  of  work,  and  that  Isabel  Robb's 
belief  in  the  value  of  these  college  courses  in  helping 
towards  uniformity  and  solidarity  in  our  worlv 
will  be  largely  justified. 

"  Against  the  confusions  and  contradictions  into 
which  nursing  has  been  thrown  bv  the  various 
institutions  and  individuals  controlling  or  utilizing 
the  educational  system  one  fact  stands  out 
sharply — there  is  an  imperative,  increasing  demand 
in  every  branch  of  nursing  for  better  educated 
and  more  liberally  trained  women.  If  we  cannot 
under  the  present  system  find  strength  to  pull 
ourselves  up  to  a  higher  plane  of  mental  power 
and  effort,  and  cease  to  look  upon  nursing  as  a 
purely  practical  work  requiring  hard  apprentice- 
ship, heroic  devotion,  and  little  or  no  foundations 
in  science  or  principles,  then  our  present  system 
must  pass,  and  a  worthier  and  freer  one  must 
replace  it.  And  while  it  is  true  that  nursing  must 
stand  or  fall  by  the  strength  of  the  average  nurse, 
yet  it  is  equally  true  that  into  the  hands  of  the 
teachers  and  Superintendents  of  our  Training 
Schools  is  largely  committed  the  making  of  that 
nurse — the  destiny',  in  fact,  of  the  entire  nursing 
bodies  upon  which  our  countries  are  coming  to 
lean  so  heavily.  For  our  encouragement  in  our 
difficult  upward  path  stands  the  picture  of  Isabel 
Robb,  bringing  our  problems  to  the  university — 
asking  merely  for  an  opportunity — empty-handed, 
but  with  an  idea  and  a  vision — and  also  with  a 
faith  in  nurses  that  they  would  make  their  own 
place,  and  shape  their  own  course,  and  that 
training  schools  would  discover  their  own  extreme 
need.  ' 

HEALTH    NURSING. 

The  paper  prepared  by  the  Committee  of  the 
American  Xurscs'  Association  dealt  chiefly  with 
the  development  of  social  or  preventive  work 
(Health  Nursing)  from  that  of  district  or  visiting 
nurses.  In  this  connection  Professor  Winslow, 
professor  of  biology  in  New  York,  said  at  a  nurses' 
meeting  in  Boston  in  igii  :  "In  my  judgment 
the  visiting  nurse  is  the  most  important  figure  in 
the  modern  movement  for  the  protection  of  the 
public  health";  and  Miss  Lent,  Superintendent 
of  the  Baltimore  Visiting  Nurses,  is  of  opinion  that 
"  the  most  valuable  work  of  nurses  to-day  is  to 
present  facts  to  the  public." 

Social  and  Preventive  Work. 

The  paper  stated  that  the  work  of  district  or 
visiting  nurses  has  had  much  to  do  with  the  deve- 
lopment of  varied  special  lines  of  work  on  social 
or  preventive  lines.  The  district  nurses'  work 
naturally  embraced  all  the  many  varieties  of  such 
work,  in  an  elemental  form  ;  and,  as,  in  the 
United  States',  sucli  nurses  enjoyed  a  considerable 


amount  of  freedom,  both  of  speech  and  action, 
tliey  have  been  able,  themselves,  to  take  inde- 
pendent steps  often,  and  to  urge  new  lines  of  work, 
instead  of  having  to  wait  to  be  called  upon  by 
their  managers  or  by  physicians. 

The  hnes  of  social  or  preventive  work,  "  Health 
Nursing,"  might  be  summed  up  as  follows  :— 

Source  or  Origin  ;  Visiting  or  District  Nursing. 
(Life  Insurance  Co.  Extension.) 

1.  Public  School  Nursing. — This  was  sometimes 
under  the  Board  of  Health,  sometimes  under  the 
Board  of  Education.     It  was  started  at  the  sugges- 

^tion  of  a  nurse.  Miss  Wald,  of  the  Nurses'  Settle- 
ment, in  New  Yotk  ;  and  a  Settlement  nurse  made 
a  one-month's  demonstration  without  cost  to  the 
city.  District  Nurses'  Associations  in  other 
cities  did  the  same  thing  in  the  beginning. 

2.  Anii-Tubsrculosis  Work. — This  was  sometimes 
under  Health  Departments,  again  under  Dis- 
pensaries or  Voluntary  Associations.  Much  of  it, 
as  everywhere,  was  instructive  work ;  but  the 
most  useful  was  in  exposing  bad  living  conditions, 
favourable  to   the   bacillus  ;     and   in   spying  out 

.weak  individuals  and  saving  them  before  they 
were  actually  infected. 

3.  Social  Service  in  Connection  with  Hospitals 
and  Dispensaries. — Tliis  was  described  in  London 
three  years  ago,  and  was  spreading  enormously. 
Both  nurses  and  laity  co-operate  in  following  the 
discharged  patient,  and  making  a  favourable 
environment  for  him  or  her,  until  entirely  able 
again  to  be  self-supporting.  Under  this  one  head 
many  specialties  were  developed,  and  prevention 
on  many  lines  followed.  Tiie  newest  branch  of 
this  work  was  that  of  Mental  Hygiene,  taking 
charge  of  mental  cases  who  were  not  yet  hospital 
cases,  or  had  been  discharged  from'  hospital  care. 

Welfare  Work. — By  this  we  meant  the  work  of 
the  nurse  employed  by  a  factory,  mill,  department 
store,  or  other  business  firm,  to  keep  a  general 
oversight  over  the  health  of  all  employees.  Tiiough 
the  Welfare  Nurse  was  ready  to  do  nursing  when 
required,  her  efficiency  was  best  shown  by  her 
watchfulness  and  her  success  in  building  up -the 
health  and  strength  of  the  people  in  her  care. 
The  latest  line  of  such  work  for  her  was  in  the 
public  telephone  companies. 

5.  Child  Welfare  Work. — This  embraced  Pure 
Milk  Stations,  with  all  the  related  details  of  the 
preparation  of  formulas,  .  teaching  of  mothers, 
house-to-house  visitation,  to  watch  and  attend 
infants,  and  supervise  their  diet  ;  the  special  work 
required  in  connection  with  prevention  of  summer 
diarrhoea  in  children  ;  the  care  of  infants'  eyes  ; 
the  avoidance  of  contagions  ;  and,  in  short, 
everything  which  might  promote  health  in  little 
children.  Under  this  came  work  for  the  nurse 
in  open-air  schools,  inspection  of  crfiches  and 
kindergartens,  playgrounds,  &c. 

6.  The  Care  of  Expectant  Mothers ;  or.  Pre- 
natal Work. — This  was  beginning  to  develop  a 
large  field.  It  meant  the  visiting,  observation, 
and  teaching  of  tho  mnilirr  l>cfore  her  accouche- 
ment. 


190 


Cbe  ffiiltisb  Journal  of  IRurstng.     September  7,  1912 


7.  special  visiting-nurse  'MOi'k  tinder  Health 
Departments  in  the  control  of  scarlet  fever,  measles, 
diphtheria  and  trachoma. 

8.  Teachers  of  .Hygiene  in  schools,  to  instruct 
children  on  general  hygiene,  and  also  on  the 
hygiene  of  sex.  Nurses  had  also  often  given  talks 
of  a  practical  nature  to  teachers  in  public  schools, 
and  they  were  called  on  continually  to  teach 
mothers'  classes  ^and  clubs  on  general  and  sex 
h>giene.  Their  services  were  also  called  for  in 
social  centres,  such  as  clubs,  playgrounds,  &c.,  for 
similar  teaching. 

g.  School  Visitors. — This  meant  a  special  kind 
of  work,  done  in  conference  with  and  by  request 
of  the  teachers,  to  solve  special  problems  and 
reach  special  cases  by  going  back  to  the  home 
surroundings.  It  was  a  work  requiring  great  tact 
and   understanding. 

10.  Inspection  of  Torment  House  or  General 
Housing  Conditions. — For  this  nurses  were 
especially  suitable  after  the\-  had  taken  special 
training. 

11.  Secretarial  Work  for  Associations. — Nurses 
made  most  excellent  and  efficient  working  secretar- 
ies for  Children's  Aid  Societies,  Societies  to  Prevent 
Blindness,  &c.  The  work  of  agent  under  charit- 
able societies  was  also  well  done  by  them. 

12.  Investigations  on  Special  Lines. — Notable 
work  had  been  done  in  making  original  researches 
and  gathering  material  for  report  on  committees 
of  inquiry  into  social  conditions.  Such  work  was 
usually  done  for  some  Association,  but  it  might 
be  done  independently  and  its  results  published, 
or  given  to  the  public  in  lectures.  There  was  no 
reason  why  large  societies  of  nurses  should  not 
carry  on  such  work.  The  best  done  yet  on  such 
lines  had  been  in  connection  with  midwifery, 
preventible  blindness,  and  almshouse  conditions. 

The  whole  number  of  Associations  in  the  United 
States  employing  nurses  in  social  service  was  1,042, 
and  the  number  of  nurses  employed  by  these 
Associations   2,777. 

The  Crown  of  the   Nursing   Profession. 

Sister  Agnes  Karll  said  that  if,  as  has  been 
claimed,  the  care  of  the  poor  was  the  crown  of 
deaconess  work,  surely  social  work  should  be  that 
of  the  nursing  profession.  Social  work  might  be 
regarded  as  the  extension  of  parish  nursing,  and 
in  so  far  as  it  pertained  to  bodily  safety  and  health, 
a  thorough  training  as  a  nurse  should  be  a  pre- 
liminars'  condition.  At  present  this  conception 
was  little  appreciated  in  Germany,  and  would 
only  slowlv  take  root,  as  the  intellectual  develop- 
ment of  nurses  in  regard  to  social  work  had  hitherto 
been  of  the  slightest.  That  which  religious  ■ 
institutions  furnished  by  practical  demonstration 
should  now  be  within  reach  of  secular  nurses, 
all  the  more  as  these  religious  bodies  were  no 
longer  able  to  supply  the  ever-increasing  demand 
made  on  them.  The  care  of  inebriates  had 
become  a  newly  specialised  branch  which  required 
an  even  higher  moral  force  than  that  brought  to 


bear  on  the  struggle  with  tuberculosis.  Not  only 
were  bacilli,  stupidity  and  ignorance  to  be 
encountered  but  hereditary  moral  taint  and 
weakness  of  will,  which  so  often  were  the  origin 
of  the  fatal  drinldng  habit. 

Another  link  in  the  endless  chain  was  the 
school  nurse  or  sister,  the  jiatural  sequence  of 
the  appointment  of  school  doctors.  She  was 
the  connecting  link  between  doctor,  school  and 
family.  The  duties  consisted  in  being  present 
at  the  doctor's  consulting  hours,  visiting!  the 
families  and  seeing  that  neither  through  ignorance 
nor  want  of  means  his  orders  were  neglected.  A 
well-trained  nurse  was  invaluable  in  many  branches 
— home  nursing,  itinerant  teaching,   &c. 

The  office  of  female  controller  of  a  sick  fund 
was  rare  and  yet — her  aye  sharpened  bv  long 
years  of  observation — a  sister  would  be  of  great 
use  in  detecting  cases  of  simulation  and  thus 
lessening  the  claims  made  on  the  fund.  An 
experienced  nurse  was  doubtless  highly  eligible 
for  the  post  of  female  house  inspector.  Her 
supervision  in  the  disinfection  of  houses  would 
be  invaluable. 

Sister  Karll  then  said  :  "A  personal  experience 
in  a  house  where  I  lived  for  twenty  years  shows 
me  how  valuable  a  nurse's  experience  in  these 
cases  is.  On  the  death  of  a  consumptive  seam- 
stress, I  drew  the  house  porter's  attention  to  the 
fact  that  the  dwelling  must  be  disinfected,  and 
received  the  answer  that  it  would  be  unnecessary, 
as  it  was  '  only  to  be  let  as  a  workshop.'  The 
upholstered  furniture  of  the  deceased  had  been 
bought  on  the  credit  system.  Not  having  been 
paid  for,  the  furniture  was  to  be  returned,  and  the 
few  remaining  pots  and  pans  were  to  be  sold  bv 
auction  towards  paying  the  rent.  Thus  bacilli 
were  being  scattered  wholesale.  To  simplifv 
matters,  I  sent  a  card  to  the  district  police,  and 
disinfection  at  once  followed.  As  I  had  once 
given  my  services  as  nurse  gratis  in  this  case,  I 
knew  the  dwelling,  and  on  passing  looked  in  to 
see  how  the  work  of  disinfection  had  been  carried 
out.  In  a  closet  I  found  a  bundle  of  clothes,  dirty 
towels  and  handkerchiefs,  quite  beyond  the  reach 
of  the  formalin  fumes.  An  energetic  telephonic 
communication  resulted  in  the  clothes  being  taken 
awav  for  disinfection.  This  shows  that  a  woman's 
eye  is  often  needed  to  achieve  •  a  spcedv  and 
thorough   result." 

A  modern  institution  was  the  hotel,  store  and 
ship  nurse.  In  some  hotels  and  on  some  ships 
there  was  a  hospital  room.  This  was  not  onlv 
for  the  convenience  of  the  guests,  but  also  for  the 
staff,  slight  accidents,  &c.,  being  frequent.  In 
provision  stores  a  nurse  as  inspector  might  often 
be  a  preventive  of  hygienic  abuses.  Factories 
now  had  nurses  who  cared  for  the  emplovees. 
The  duties  of  this  branch  were  most  varied.  In 
mines  where  only  men  were  emploj'ed  the  duties 
were  principally  the  care  of  the  disabled,  the 
widows  and  the  poor,  superintendence  of  home 
nursing,   lending  of  baby  clothes,    &c.,   a  sewing 


September  7,  191 2     Zlic  Brttlsb  301111131  of  IRursitig. 


191 


and  knitting  scliool  for  tlic  chililren,  a  mothers' 
meeting,  provision  of  Christmas  cheer  for  hundreds, 
organising  a  summer  trip,  &c.  In  chemical 
factories  where  women  were  employed,  the 
principal  duties  were  hygienic  consultations,  but 
slight  accidents  also  occurred.  As  in  other 
factories,  the  duties  included  care  for  the  welfare 
of  the  workers  and  their  families.'  How  much 
experience  and  training  was  necessary  to  fill  one 
of  these  posts  could  be  easily  imagined,  and  it 
would  be  a  blessing  if  funds  could  be  available  for 
those  who  had  had  five  years'  practical  nursing 
experience  and  did  not  possess  private  means, 
and  who  desired  to  attend  lectures  on  political 
economy,  hygiene,  and  above  all,  pedagogics, 
offered  by  the  Leipzic  Lyceum.  The  trying 
calling  of  a  nurse  often  rendered  her,  after  a  few 
years,  unable  to  continue  strenuous  hospital  or 
private  nursing,  but  her  experience  made  her 
most  eligible  for  one  of  these  posts  in  the  public 
service.  The  remuneration  was  generally  good, 
particularly  when  such  posts  had  been  created 
by  private  individuals  ;  less  so  when  depending  on 
the  State  or  municipal  control.  Salaries  ranged 
from  /50  to  ;^ioo  per  annum,  exclusive  of  board, 
lodging  and   uniform. 

This  concluded  the  third  Session  of  the  Con- 
gress on  Wednesday,  which  also  included  the  visit 
to  the  Lindc'ibura:  Municipal  Hospital,  and  the 
repetition  of  the  Pageant,  Nevertheless  the  large 
attendance  at  the  evening  Session  and  the  close 
interest  with  which  the  papers  were  followed 
justified  the  judgment  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Congress  in  arranging  so  full  a  day. 
■    ♦   » 

THE  CITY  OF  COLOGNE. 


To  the  average  person  the  name  of  Cologne 
suggests  two  things — its  scent  and  its  Cathedral. 
Nor  is  he  deceived  when  he  arrives  in  the  city. 
For  the  one  is  displayed  in  a  surprisingly  large 
number  of  shops  to  tempt  the  susceptible  visitor 
to  buy  samples  of  "  real  "  Cologne  water  for  his 
friends  at  home. 

And  the  other — the  Cathedral.  How  it 
dominates  the  city,  the  river,  and  the  surrounding 
country.  From  its  lofty  site  on  the  Rhine  bank 
it  towers  skywards,  grand  yet  graceful,  and  so 
impressive  in  its  regularity. 

But  almost  more  magnificent  than  the  Cathedral 
itself  is  the  view  from  its  lacework  pinnacles.  The 
Climb  up  six  hundred  dusty,  steep,  winding  steps 
seems  but  a  small  toil  in  view  of  the  reward. 
When  among  the  dizzy  heights  wonder  and 
admiration  comes  over  one  for  the  men  who  had 
the  courage  and  nerve  to  rear  the  building  to 
such  proportions,  and  a  nervous  glance  down 
upon  the  ancient  city  of  Cologne  with  its 
quaint  steeples,  towers  and  roofs,  and  its  narrow, 
busy  streets,  serves  only  to  increase  one's 
wonder.  Skirting  the  city  is  the  "  wide  and 
winding  Rhine,"  rolling  in  a  mighty  flood  far 
into  the  distance,  where  rise  the  Seven  Mountains 
with    their    wooded    slopes    and    vineyards,    and 


prominent  among  them  the  castled  crag  of 
Drachenfels. 

A  glance  to  the  left,  down  the  Rhine,  reveals 
Germany  in  its  more  modern  aspect — mighty 
factories  clinging  to  the  river  banks,  while  inland 
for  miles  stretches  the  Hat  agricultural  land  dotted 
here  and  there  with  clustermg  chimneys. 

Though  it  does  not  fall  to  the  lot  of  every  visitor 
to  Cologne  to  climb  to  the  Cathedral's  top,  none 
surely  fail  to  visit  its  interior  or  to  be  magnetised 
by  it.  Once  inside,  how  difficult  it  is  to  tear 
oneself  away.  One  visit  inspires  a  desire  for 
many  more. 

/  After  the  Cathedral,  the  building  in  Cologne 
that,  perhaps,  has,  the  most  interest,  at  any  rate 
for  Britishers,  is  the  Church  of  St.  Ursula,  with 
its  Golden  Room.  The  contents  of  this  room 
consist,  except  for  a  few  shrines  and  vessels, 
entirely  of  bones  and  skulls  with  their  proper 
embroidered  wrappings  and  ornaments.  Rather 
a  gruesome  sight,  but  suggestive  of  the  legend 
connected  with  the  place.  Though  it  would  be 
rather  a  stretch  of  imagination  to  suppose  that  all 
the  bones  here  are  those  of  St.  Ursula's  attendants, 
the  fact  remains  that  the  collection  includes  many 
female  Celtic  skulls,  pierced  with  spears,  cleft  with 
swords,  and  hammered  with  axes,  thus  proving 
that  some  massacre  of  British  pilgrims  took  place 
in  the  city. 

Of  the  museums  and  galleries  of  Cologne  the 
most  interesting  is  the  Wallraf-Richartz  Museum, 
and  of  its  contents  the  Roman  remains  are  the 
most  remarkable.  These  mosaic  pavements, 
rcnmants  of  buildings,  and  particularly  the 
soldiers'  tombstones,  serve  to  remind  one  forcibly 
of  the  city's  origin,  and  of  the  difference  between 
Cologne  at  its  beginning  and  the  Cologne  of  the 
Middle  Ages  and  of  modern  times. 

The  "  Colonia  "  of  the  Romans  existed  essentially 
for  military  purposes  as  a  stronghold  against  the 
Germans,  a  mighty  fortress  of  the  Caesars,  affording 
a  contrast  to  the  religious  and  commercial  atmo- 
sphere of  medieval  and  modern  Cologne.  Cologne, 
so  full  of  history,  takes  its  place  in  the  hustle  of 
life  to-day  with  the  same  ease  as  it  did  in  former 
times,  when  people  were  perhaps  almost  as  busy, 
though  they  went  about  their  work  in  rather  a 
different  way.  There  are  few  reminders  of  its 
ancient  life,  but  those  that  remain  are  very  potent. 

From  Cologne  it  is  easy  to  pass  on  to  other 
places  of  interest.  Eastwards  through  the  factory 
country  to  Hanover  and  I  fildesheim,  with  streets 
of  wonderful  old  fifteenlli-ccntury  houses,  then  on 
to  Goslar  and  the  beautiful  Harz  Mountains  ;  or 
northwards  to  Aix-la-ChapclIe,  full  of  history,  and 
from  there  to  the  famous  old  cities  of  Flanders, 
once  the  commercial  centre  of  the  world,  now 
small  and  busy  in  a  quiet  sort  of  \s'a)'.  Their 
quaint  streets  and  picturesque  buildings  are  the 
joy  of  every  visitor,  but  their  cobbles  and  smells 
the  bane,  surely.  Such  things  make  people  who 
live  in  dull,  ugly  towns  in  England  realise  that  if 
they  have  not  got  picturesqueness  they  liavc,  at 
any  rate,  something  to  make  up  for  it  in  the  way 
of  comfort.  Elfrida  Spexcer. 


Zbc  Biittsb  3ournal  df  Bursing      September 


7.  1912 


NURSING   WORK   OF  RELIGIOUS 
ORDERS. 


One  of  the  most  interesting  sections  at  the 
Cologne  Congress  Exhibition  of  Nursing  was  that 
showing  the  hospital  and  general  nursing  work  of 
the  Religious  Orders.  This  exhibit  had  previously 
been  shown  at  the  International  Congress  of 
Hygiene  at  Dresden,  and  was  very  kmdlv  sent 
from  there  to 
Cologne  by  the 
consent  of  the 
authorities  con- 
cerned. 

From  the 
splendid  photo- 
graphs and 
charts  there 
shown  it  was 
clear  that  the 
Religious  Orders 
of  Germany  arc 
advancing  stead- 
ily with  the  pro- 
gress of  modern 
ideas  in  sanita- 
tion, operative 
and  preventive 
medicine,  hos- 
pital construc- 
tion, and  out- 
door treatment. 
Among  the  fine 
groups  of  hos- 
pital buildings 
and  domains 
shown  we  may 
mention  that  at 
Waldbreitbach, 
Rheinland,  un- 
der the  care  of 
the  Franciscans  : 
that  at  Nonnen- 
werth,  under  the 
same  order ;  that 
of  the  Malteser 
hospital  in 
Trebnitz  ;  the 
institutions  at 
Mallersdorf  be- 
longing to  the 
Franciscans,  and 
those      of      the 

Sisters  of  Mercy  at  Bayenthal,  near  Cologne.  These 
possessions  all  show  ample,  beautiful  grounds  with 
admirable  hospital  or  other  institutional  buildings 
scattered,  village  fashion,  as  the  German  style  is, 
among  trees  and  gardens.  In  these  groups  are  to  be 
seen  modem  wards  and  operation  theatres  of  the 
most  up-to-date  construction,  out-of-door  pro- 
vision for  the  treatment  of  tuberculosis,  and  study 
and  class-rooms  fitted  with  skeleton,  manikin  and 
anatomical  charts  for  the  Sisters'  instruction. 
Tiie  numerous  beautiful  photographs  showing  the 


nuns  busy  at  their  work,  indicate  variations  made 
in  their  dress  according  to  the  demands  of  science. 
All  the  Orders  shown  wear  spotless  white  linen  from 
head  to  foot  in  the  operating  rooms,  and  to  some 
extent  in  hospital  wards  as  well,  while  others  have 
a  modified  uniform  with  a  great  deal  of  white, 
for  ward  work — as  white  oversleeves,  caps,  apron 
and  scapular.  There  is,  as  vet,  little  or  no  indica- 
tion in  exhibited  material  of  secular  training  school 


work    under    the    guidance    of 


GREY    ^UNS    OF    ST.    ELIZABETH.     BRESLAU. 


Religious  Orders, 
but  there  were 
charming  views 
of  the  nuns 
themselves  in 
class-room  work. 
There  were 
some  excellent 
ph  otographs 
of  "Mother 
Superiors," 
women  of  not- 
able presence, 
dignity,  and 

power  of  com- 
mand, such  as 
Mother  Camilla 
Schwedin,  head 
of  a  Franciscan 
( )rder  ;  Fran  M. 
Theresia  Scherer, 
head  of  one 
branch  of  the 
Sisters  of  Mercy 
(Barmherzigen 
Schwestern  v. 
heil.  Kreuz),  and 
the  Mother  of 
the  Order  of 
Sisters  of  Mere}- 
at  Innsbruck, 
with  her  un- 
usuallv  pictur- 
esque headdress, 
which  in  form 
recalled  the 
beautiful  caps 
of  peasant  holi- 
dav  dress  in  the 
Tyrol.  The 
Franciscans  ap- 
p 'e  a r  as  a 
specially  active 
hospital  order, 
and  have  medals 
irom  the  wars  of  1 864,  1 870,  and  South 
Africa.  A  large  chart  gave  the  names  and 
statistics  of  64  different  orders  of  Catholic 
Blasters  who  engage  in  nursing  (as  well  as  other 
work)  in  Germany  and  showed  that  they  had 
in  all,  in  the  year  1910,  an  army  of  ministering 
women  numbering  26,000.  Besides  the  work  of 
nuns,  eight  Catholic  secular  nursing  societies 
presented  statistics  showing  that,  between 
1892  and  1908,  they  had  trained  822  nurses. 
As  an  example  of  these   may  be  mentioned  the 


September  7,   igr?  Ci)e   36l1tl5b   30111*1131   Of  mUrSllUj 


193 


Association   for  Training  Secular  Catholic   Ninscs 
in  Berlin.  .^a 

THE    RED    CROSS. 

A  very  complete  and  interesting  section  was  that 
contributed  by  the  Red  Cross  Society,  showing  how 
many  things  ready  to  hand  can  be  used  in  emer- 
gency in  extemporising  necessary  appliances. 
Examples  of  this  were  to  be  found  in  the  stretchers 
often  improvised  with  rough  wood  for  the  frame, 
the  stretcher  itself  being  made  of  such  materials 
as  list,  plaited  straw,  tape,  string  and  wool, 
faggots,  wire  netting,  brush  wood,  and  the  tops  of 
fish  baskets.  Fish  spears  in  one  instance  were 
used  for  the  frame  work,  with  fish  netting  strained 
across  to  form  the  stretcher  ;  in  another  instance 
a  ladder  was  indicated  as  providing  a  usable 
expedient. 

Trucks  were  converted  into  field  ambulance 
waggons  and  boats  were  fitted  for  the  same  purpose. 
.\n  improvised  gangway  was  also  showoi.  Altogether 
the  section  afforded  an  admirable  demonstration 
both  of  the  work  of  the  German  Red  Cross  Society, 
and  of  methods  of  extemporizing  articles  required 
in  case  of  need. 

Those  who  attended  the  Exhibition  will  be 
glad  to  know  that  it  was  a  financial  as  well  as  a 
professional  success. 


A  QUEEN'S  INTEREST. 


It  vrill  be  remembered  that  Queen  Sophia  of 
Sweden  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  London 
Congress,  and  at  her  express  desire  Miss  Emmy 
I.indhagen,  on  her  return  to  Stockliolm  |  from 
Cologne,  attended  before  Her  Jlajesty  to  give  her 
an  account  of  the  proceedings  at  Cologne,  in  all  of 
which  the  Queen  expressed  great  interest. 


IMPRESSIONS  OF  THE  CONGRESS. 


You  ask  me  for  my  impressions  of  the  Congress. 
I  gladly  send  you  a  few  lines,  though  I  am  sorry 
that,  owing  to  the  pressure  of  official  duties, 
I  was  unable  to  attend  as  many  of  the  sessions 
as  I  should  like  to  have  done.  I  can  say,  however, 
that  from  the  proceedings  at  which  I  could  be 
present,  and  from  what  I  saw  and  heard  there  of 
the  members  of  the  Congress,  both  from  home  and 
abroad,  the  way  in  which  the  programme  was 
carried  out,  and  the  personalities  of  those  con- 
ducting the  meetings,  I  received  a  very  strong  im- 
pression that  able  and  energetic  women  have 
applied  themselves  to  the  task  of  solving  the 
difficult  problems  that  are  related  to  their  chosen 
work. 

I  saw  that  notable  achievements  in  nursing 
education  and  in  organisation  are  being  pushed 
forward  by  your  leaders,  and  I  am  fully  con\'inced 
that  the  excellent  service  of  Free  Sisters,  well 
taught  and   well  trained,   merits  its  full  reward. 


Should  your  members  succeed  in  amending  the 
untoward  circumstances  now  existing  in  nursing, 
and  mitigate  that  overburdening  which  now 
shortens  the  working  term  of  the  Sister's  life, 
they  will  help,  not  only  nurses,  but  also  the  com- 
munity, b)-  preserving  in  vigour  many  a  useful 
life  that  is  now  prematurely  shorn  of  its  strength 
and  efficiencv. 

From  Gchcimrat   Dr.  Ruhsack. 


I  had  only  one  grand  impression  of  the  Inter- 
national Congress  of  Nurses,  and  that  was  its 
wonderful  unity,  which  denotes  strength — both 
strength  of  will  and  strength  of  purpose. 

It  was  so  marvellous  that  representati\e 
nurses  from  so  many  difierent  countries  should 
meet  together  for  one  aim  and  purpose,  and  that 
that  grand  purpose  was  to  convey  to  their  col- 
leagues of  difierent  creeds  and  languages,  as  well 
as  workers  under  different  conditions,  the  best 
and  latest  methods  of  each  nation  for  caring  and 
tending  our  sick  and  suffering,  as  well  as  helping 
to  better  the  conditions  of  the  nurses  themselves. 

The  enthusiasm  of  the-  whole  week  was  very 
fine  and  the  organisation  was  carried  out  in  a 
most  masterly  and  efficient  way  by  our  German 
sisters  with  much  spirit  and  enterprise. 

It  was  a  week  that  will  never  be  forgotten  by 
those  present,  and  one  only  regrets  that  owing  to 
duty  so  many  were  unable  to  enjoy  and  benefit  by 
the  advantages  those  present  obtained. 

I  shall  live  on  the  memory  of  it  till  our  next 
meeting  in  San  Francisco. 

B.  Cutler. 

My  impressions  of  the  strenuous  week  of  the 
Nurses'  Congress  at  Cologne  were  so  many,  that  it  is 
difficult  to  state  them  shortly,  but  they  may  be 
crystallized  in  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick's  excla- 
mation during  her  speech  at  the  banquet  on 
Wednesday  evening :  "  In  nursing  there  is  no 
nationality  "  ;  it  was  what  I  had  been  longing 
to  say  myself  all  the  week. 

Differences  of  race,  of  speech,  of  country,  all 
seemed  small  before  the  uniting  tie  of  one  woman- 
hood, one  earnest  work  for  the  same  object — the 
cure,  and  also  the  prevention  of  sickness  of  both 
body  and  mind. 

How  fitting  it  was  that  so  great  a  gathering 
should  resolve  on  erecting  an  educational  memorial 
to  Florence  Nightingale.  May  the  watchword 
of  the  Congress,  given  us  by  Mrs.  Bedford 
Fenwick — "Aspiration" — receive  a  definite  form 
in  this  remembrance  when  Congress  meets  again. 

H.  L.  Pearse. 


The  mountain  fastnesses  of  Switzerland,  with 
its  wealth  and  magnificence  of  landscape,  arc  a 
suitable  environment  wherein  to  sift  one's 
thoughts  and  select  impressions  from  a  surging 
crowd  of  them. 

The  "  still  small  voices  "  of  Nature,  the  music 
of  the  spheres,  are  a  great  aid  to  clear  thinking. 


194 


Z\)c  36riti6b  3ournal  of  mursing.      September  7,  1912 


so  also  is  the  tumbling,  roaring,  boisterous  Tamina. 
as  it  rushes  in  such  hot  haste  over  its  rocky  bed 
in  the  beautiful  gorge.  The  sound  of  it  makes 
the  tongue  silent,  and  the  thoughts  active.  One 
is  just  flitting  through  my  brain  ;  I  must  arrest 
it,  for  there  is  symbolism  in  it  that  will  fit  my  im- 
pressions of  the  Congress.  Great  boulders  lie  in 
the  bed  of  the  Tamina  ;  the  water  cannot  flow  over 
them,  or  through  them  ;  but  it  flows  round  them. 
They  are  great  oBstacles  to  the  smooth  passage 
of  the  water,  but  they  do  not  stop  for  a  single 
instant  the  steady,  determined  flow  of  the  water 
onward.  This  life-giving  stream,  which  contains 
in  itself  special  healing  properties  (medicinal 
waters)  must  go  forw.\rd. 

I  won't  insult  the  intelligence  of  the  readers  of 
this  Journal  by  explaining  the  parable  !  Five 
hundred  and  fifty  women,  of  twenty-three  nation- 
aUties  and  maily  languages,  meeting  together  with 
one  aim  and  purpose — the  alle\-iation  of  sickness 
and  distress — is  a  thought  which  must  have  made 
the  hearts  of  all  who  attended  the  Congress, 
and  who  have  since  been  quietly  thinking  about  it, 
thrill  with  pleasure.  This  representative  number 
means,  of  course,  that  a  large  part  of  the  civilised 
world  approves  of  internationalism  among  trained 
nurses,  altruism  —  brotherly  love.  So  "  let 
brotherly  love  continue  " — and  continue  to  in- 
crease. 

Among  the  many  impressions  of  our  inspiring 
Congress  two  stand  out  vi\-idly  before  my  mental 
\dsion.  We  were  welcomed  by  a  representative 
of  the  Government  !  I  am  grateful  to  the  German 
Government  for  this  recognition.  It  is  a  great 
and  important  advance.  Three  years  ago,  when 
the  Congress  was  held  in  London,  no  such  act  of 
courtesy  was  extended  to  our  foreign  ^-isitors 
by  the  British  Government.  Without  wishing 
for  one  moment  to  minimise  so  gracious  an  act, 
one  cannot  but  feel  that  it  was  largely  due  to  the 
fact  that  German  nurses  enjoy  State  Registration, 
and  therefore  are  recognised  b\-  the  State  as  an 
important  entity  of  the  State,  so  all  nurses  were 
welcomed  for  their  sakes.  My  grateful  thanks 
are  also  due  to  the  organisers  of  the  Congress 
for  ha\Tng  given  Women's  Suffrage  a  prominent 
place  on  the  agenda  of  the  first  day's  session. 
That  a  resolution  in  favour  of  it  should  have  been 
passed  unanimously  by  an  international  assembly 
of  women  marks  great  and  most  encouraging  pro- 
gress, and  shows  the  trend  of  thought  of  women 
engaged  in  important  social  service,  and  verifies 
the  words  of  Sister  Henriette  Arendt  :  "  throughout 
the  world  all  women  are  asking  for  a  voice." 

Surely  the  highest  form  of  patriotism,  namely, 
the  care  of  the  sick,  should  be  rewarded  by  the 
granting  of  the  right  to  use  the  political  "  voice  " 
in  the  best  interests  of  humanity  at  large. 

In  conclusion,  I  would  like  to  record  my  deepest 
gratitude  to  Sister  Agnes. Karll  and  all  her  helpers, 
for  their  strenuous  labours  on  our  behalf.  The 
Congress  was  magnificent — was  inspiring. 

Beatrice  Kent. 


I  shall  keep  an  everlasting  remembrance  of  my 
short  sta}-  at  Cologne,  and  I  must  express  at  once 
my  admiration  for  the  methodical  and  practical 
direction  of  the  Congress. 

In  this  magnificent  pageant  of  the  "  Giirzenich," 
the  U\-ing  representation  of  nursing  throughout 
the  world  showed  its  remarkable  unity.  I  left 
the  room  greath"  impressed,  and  felt  a  sincere 
need  to  embrace  these  friendly  women  to  whom 
I  am  so  deeply  attached,  without  considering 
their  nationahtj',  who  ha\e  the  same  tasks  and 
the  same  ideals  as  mj^elf. 

I  am  ver^-  grateful  to  Sister  Agnes  Karll  and 
to  the  Cologne  nurses  for  having  organised  the 
touching  pilgrimage  to  the  spot  where  Florence 
Nightingale  studied,  and  my  monitresses  and  I 
will  e\-er  think  of  the  delightful  greeting  we 
received  at  the  Deaconesses'  House. 

(Mlle.)  Clement. 
Matron  of  the  Salpetriere' s  Trainiii-: 
School  for  Nurses.  Paris. 


Last  night  I  asked  my  Norwegian  comrades  at 
the  Congress  what  they  thought  about  it.  I 
am  afraid  I  shall  not  be  able  to  express  in  EngUsh 
all  the  warm  words  and  praise  I  heard  about  the 
delightful  and  interesting  time  we  had  in  Cologne, 
and  how  very  well  we  thought  everj-thing  ar- 
ranged and  done.  We  were  impressed  to  see 
what  a  wonderful  vitality-  the  mo\ement  has  had 
in  the  nursing  world.  After  haWng  been  at  this 
international  meeting  for  nurses,  and  heard 
of  the  standing  and  work  of  our  profession  in 
the  different  countries,  and  the  splendid  lectures 
and  discussions,  the  spirit  of  federation  must  enter 
everyone,  and  give  a  great  impetus  to  organi- 
sation. 

Every  nurse  in  the  world  must  be  grateful  to 
the  founders  of  tliis  great  movement. 

We   Norwegians   are   heartily   grateful   for   the 
needed  impetus,  and  for  all  that  we  have  learned. 
I  am,  sincerely  yours. 

Bergljot  Larsson. 


I  wcis  about  to  say,  "  Now  that  the  Congress  is 
over,"  but  to  say  so  would  be  an  error.  Such  an 
event  in  history'  can  ne\er  be  over.  I  should 
rather  say,  now  that  we  are  reading  the  accounts 
of  the  Congress  in  our  British  Journal  of 
Nursing,  we  reahse  what  a  grand  forward  move- 
ment has  been  made  in  the  nursing  world.  It  is 
impossible  to  give  the  atmosphere  that  en\-eloped 
the  fortunate  people  who  were  present  at  the 
Congress,  but  those  who  have  the  interest  of 
their  profession  at  heart  may  read  of  the  whole- 
hearted thoroughness  which  it  is  e\-ident  must 
have  characterised  the  arrangements  to  produce 
such  perfect  organisation  for  the  benefit  of  the 
representatives  of  the  world  s  nurses.  But,  as  Miss 
Dock  said  in  her  delightful  speech  on  the  night 
of  the  banquet  at  the  Hotel  Disch,  we  should  not 
be  surprised  that  Sister  Agnes  Karll  made  such 
a  complete  conquest  of  her  workers  for  the  Con- 


September  7,  191 2      ^be  Bdtlsb  Soumal  of  IRurslno. 


«95 


gress  to  bring  all  to  such  a  perfect  issue,  lor  is  she 
not  German,  and  are  not  the  Germans  thorough 
in  all  they  undertake  ? 

So,  in  my  estimation,  that  in  itself  is  a  great 
lesson  to  all  who  would  be  nurses,  or  organisers  of 
the  training  of  nurses.  Be  thorough,  and  you 
may  even  aspire  to  conducting  an  International 
Congress  of  Nurses.  For  myself,  I  feel  but  a 
small  atom  to  represent  South  Africa,  but  as  yet 
United  South  .\frica  is  young,  and  when  we 
consider  that  the  population  of  London  is  greater 
than  the  whole  of  South  Africa,  it  is  not  to  be 
wondered  at  that  we  should  consider  ourselves 
young.  But  1  feel  sure  that  at  no  great  distance  of 
time  we  shall  have  a  Society  of  Trained  Nurses 
to  form  a  Council,  and  so  give  the  keynote 
necessary  to  identify  South  African  trained  nurses. 

At  present  very'  few  matrons  of  hospitals  have 
been  trained  in  the  countrv,  and  each  matron  seems 
contented  to  remain  attached  to  her  mother 
country  or  training  school,  and  consequentlv  the 
nursing  profession  in  the  "  little  continent " 
cannot  at  present  consider  themselves  a  united 
profession.  The  one  great  help — at  least  to  the 
public — there,  is  that  it  is  a  country  demanding 
State  Registration,  and  {when  the  medical 
councils  of  the  various  States  once  unite  and 
secure  the  help  in  their  deliberations  for  the  good 
of  nurses  of  a  trained  matron  on  their  executive 
committee,  I  think  the  foundation  will  be  laid 
of  a  South  African  Matron's  Council,  which  will 
inspire  the  nurses  trained  in  that  country  to  be 
proud  of  their  profession  and  training  school. 

Therefore,  I  say  the  Congress  is  not  over,  for 
our  British  Journal  of  Nursing  will  carry  the 
news,  and  the  Watchword  given  by  our  founder, 
Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  will  be  read  even  in  so- 
called  "  Darkest  Africa,"  and  at  the  next  Congress 
I  trust  the  sunny  land  mav  be  represented  in 
greater  strength,  and  report  news  of  progress  in 
all  branches.  Before  closing  mv  letter  I  must 
again  state  that,  although  English  trained.  I  was 
vent'  proud  to  find  waiting  for  me  at  Cologne  an 
arnilet  of  white  satin,  w4th  "  Sud  Afrika " 
printed  thereon,  shewing  that  a  representative 
was  expected. 

I  am  with  you  in  all  vour  most  forward  desires. 
J.  C.  Child. 
Hon.  Vice-President  for  South  Africa. 


THE   FINANCIAL   SIDE. 


As  the  foreword  is  "Aspiration,"  the  whole 
spirit  of  the  Congress  was  aspiration.  The  result 
will  be  lasting  "  inspiration." 

Winifred  M.  Tait, 

Fraternal  Delegate, 

Australasian  Trained  Nurses  Association. 


Miss  Take  Hagiwara  is  now  staying  in  I-ondon, 
and  Miss  Watatani  and  Miss  Yamamato,  the  other 
fraternal  delegates  from  Japan  to  the  Cologne 
Congress,  are  staying  at  St.  Thomas'  Hospital  for 
a  few  weeks,  in  order  to  get  a  practical  insight 
into  English  nursing  methods. 


It  will  not  surprise  those  who  were  eye- 
witnesses of  the  organizing-  genius  of  the 
Cologne  ladies'  Committee  to  know  that  the 
Congress  was  a  great  financial  success. 
When  Sister  Agnes  Karll,  a  stranger  to 
Cologne  and  Its  citizens,  arrived  there  to  make 
arrangements  for  the  Congress  she  had  two 
assets — a  good  cause  to  plead  and  a  forceful 
and    charming    personality.      With    these    she 

(Succeeded  in  arousing  the  interest  of  influential 
ladies  in  Cologne,  and,  once  secured,  the  per- 
sonal and  financial  support  they  gave  was  un- 
bounded. They  began  by  raising  a  substantial 
fund  wherewith  to  finance  the  Congress,  and, 
at  the  close,  the  balance  derived  from  this  fund, 
from  the  sale  of  Congress  tickets,  and  from 
charges  for  admission  to  the  Exhibition, 
amounts  to  no  less  than  some  g,ooo  marks, 
i.e.,  ;£450,  which  has  been  handed  over  to 
Sister  Karll  towards  the  expenses  of  delegates 

.  to  San  Francisco.  .After  this  who  can  doubt 
the  genius  of  women  for  finance. 

CONGRESS   ALBUMS. 


Miss  Cutler  made  a  verv  interesting  sugges- 
tion at  Cologne.  She  proposes  to  compile  a 
Congress  Album,  inserting  postcards,  photos, 
and  other  items  which  will  in  the  future  remind 
her  of  things  and  people  met  at  Cologne 
specially  deserving  of  note.  What  a  pity  such 
a  record  has  not  been  kept  of  all  our  happ\ 
international  meetings  !  It  would  have  been  a 
great  asset  to  our  international  library. 

We  have  to  thank  several  of  those  present  at 
the  recent  Congress  for  copies  of  charming 
snapshots  taken.  Those  done  by  Miss  C.  A. 
Tait  McKay  are  specially  good,  and  she  has 
most  kindly  said  that  copies  of  these  photos  mav 
be  obtained  from  her  for  cost  of  printing.  A 
most  lifelike  picture  of  Miss  Dock  on  her  way  to 
the  Congress — laughing,  of  course — her  arms 
full  of  business  books,  Is  most  precious,  as  we 
have  never  seen  a  good  likeness  of  her  before, 
and  this  is  splendid. 

Miss  McGill  has  a  very  sweet  one  of  the 
grave  of  Friederike  Flicdner. 

Miss  R.  B.  Downing  has  an  excellent  picture 
of  the  block  at  the  Seminary  at  Kaiserswerth, 
with  the  decorated  windows  of  Miss  Night- 
ingale's room  ;  and  Miss  Child  has  also  some 
happy  results  from  her  snapshots. 

Nliss  Tait  McKay's  address  is  County  Super- 
intendent, Clifton  Villa,  Truro.  Her  pictures 
would  be  a  great  addition  to  any  album  of 
reminiscences. 


i()6 


Ctbc  36rlti9l)  3oiu*nal  of  IRuretno 


September  -,   1912 


Perhaps  Miss  McGill,  Miss  Child,  and  Miss 
Downing  will  let  usJkaow.it  they  can  supply 
copies  to  those  wishing-  for  them. 

To  make  a  Congress  Album  really  useful, 
little  descriptive  notes  and  personal  reminis- 
cences should  be  inserted  as  well  as  pictures. 

OLR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 

DESCRIBE  YOUR  PRACTICE  IN  THE  CARE  AND 
ADMINISTRATION  OF  MEDICINES  :  ^  OLR  METHOD 
OF  IDENTIFMNG  DANOEROl  S  DRLOS.  AND  OF 
DISTINQLISHING  MEDICINES.  TO  BE  ADMINISTERED 
TO  PATIENTS.  FKO.M  LOTIONS  AND  POISONOUS 
SOLUTIONS  USED  FOR  OUT«  ARD  APPLICATION 
OR     AS     DISINFECTANTS. 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  M.  Evans,  Clayton  Hospital, 
Wakefield,  for  her  paper  on  the  above  subject. 

PRIZE    PAPER. 

One  of  the  most  important  duties  in  the  care 
of  the  sick  is  the  regular  and  intelligent 
administration  of  medicines,  and  it  is  a  duty 
that  is  often  thought  too  lightly  of. 

The  nurse  responsible  should  know  enough 
about  the  after  effects  of  the  different  drugs  to 
recognize  any  symptoms  of  overdose,  or  if  the 
drug  in  question  is  doing  the  work  expected  of 
it;  also  the  time  of  day  certain  drugs  should 
be  given,  never  waking  up  a  patient  for  medi- 
cine unless  ordered  to  do  so.  Great  tact  is 
often  needed  when  dealing  with  young  children, 
a  powder  being  easily  disguised  in  jam  or 
syrup.  Most  common  drugs,  such  as  castor 
oil,  quinine,  iron,  &c.,  can  be  obtained  in  piU, 
capsule,  or  cachet  form,  and  this  will  often  pre- 
vent a  great  deal  of  unnecessary  suffering  to 
ner\-ous  women,  to  whom  the  taking  of 
nauseous  drugs  is  often  a  great  trial. 

All  medicines  should  be  carefully  labelled 
with  the  patient's  name  and  prescription,  and 
not  kept  near  the  bed,  but  in  a  cupboard  re- 
ser\ed  for  the  purpose. 

When  giving  medicine. 

Be  punctual,  give  at  stated  intervals  and 
with  regnlarity. 

Shake  the  bottle. 

Read  the  label.  ■    • 

Pour  out  from  the  unlabelled  side. 

Measure  accurately  and  in  a  graduated 
measure  glass,  doses  under  a  drachm  being 
measured  in  a  minim  glass  or  pipette. 

Give  the  medicine  yourself  and  stay  with 
patient  until  it  is  taken. 

Wash  glass  after  use. 

Never  use  stale  drugs. 

Report  at  once  any  bad  effect. 

Without  any  exception,  all  poisons  should  be 
kept  under  lock   and  key   in  charge   of   some 


responsible  person ;  this  rule  applies  to  all 
lotions,  liniments,  eye  drops,  some  gargles,  the 
various  stimulants  and  sedatives  in  tincture  or 
tabloid  form. 

The  bottles  they  are  kept  in  should  be  dark 
blue  or  green,  and  be  either  octagonal  or 
triangular  in  shape,  the  name  of  the  drug 
painted  and  varnished  on,  so  that  it  cannot  be 
washed  off,  every  part  being  visible  from  the 
front,  also  labelled  with  a  red  poison  and  "  Not 
to  be  taken  "  label. 

No  poisonous  drug  should  be  left  out  of  its 
place,  but  the  dose  measured  and  the  bottle 
returned  immediately. 

Have  the  dose  checked  by  a  second  person, 
and  never  pour  out  in  a  doubtful  light. 

HONOURABLE     MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honour- 
able mention  : — Miss  Emily  Marshall,  Miss  M. 
Dalton,  Miss  E.  Jahrens,  Miss  S.  A.  G.  Lett, 
Miss  P.  Fogarty,  Miss  B.  James,  Miss  E. 
Martin. 

Miss  Elizabeth  Martin  writes  : — 

"  I  prefer  all  medicines,  tabloids,  &-c.,  to  be 
kept  in  a  special  place  set  apart  for  the  purpose, 
and  nothing  of  this  description  Mould  I  allow  to 
be  kept  on  the  lockers  by  the  patient's  bedside. 

'■  Patients  have  been  known  to  help  them- 
selves to  their  OM-n  medicines ;  and,  of  course, 
an  overdose  of  any  medicine  might  prove  a  very 
serious  matter." 

Miss  A.  E.  Jahrens  states  that  d  nurse's  work 
in  connection  Mith  medicines  lies  chiefly  in  their 
punctual,  accurate,  and  skilful  administration. 
A  nurse  must  be  sure  that  she  thoroughly 
understands  how^  to  read  the  measure-glass. 
A  nurse  must  always  read  the  label,  no  matter 
how  familiar  she  may  imagine  she  is  with  it. 
If  an  error  occurs,  the  doctor  must  at  once  be 
informed  of  it.  The  bottle  should  always  be 
shaken,  whether  the  mixture  has  a  visible  sedi- 
ment or  not.  Mixtures  that  have  thick  sedi- 
ments at  the  bottom  must  not  be  poured  out 
until  the  patient's  bedside  is  reached  and  he  is 
quite  ready  to  swallow  the  dose.  If  the  dose 
has  been  poured  out  and  allowed  to  stand,  the 
sediment  will  be  left  in  the  glass,  and  the  patient 
will  not  have  the  benefit  of  the  drug  prescribed. 
If  the  nurse  fails  to  shake  up  the  mixture  at 
one  time  she  not  only  deprives  the  patient  of  i>t 
least  one  of  the  drugs  ordered,  but  she  gives  in 
subsequent  doses  a  much  larger  proportion  of 
that  drug  than  the  doctor  intended,  and  it  is 
easv  to  understand  that  this  may  do  positive 
harm. 

QUESTION     FOR     NEXT     WEEK. 

How  would  you  deal  w-ith  a  case  of  croup 
occurring  in  a  private  house  until  the  arrival  of 
the  doctor? 


September  7,    1912  CIK   KlltlC'b   SOUmal    Ot  1^11^110- 

APPOINTMENTS.  NURSING  ECHOES. 


197 


MATRON. 

St  Luke's  Hospital,  Old  Street,  London,  E.C. — 
Miss  Laura  A.  Hunt  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  St.  George's  Hospital,  London, 
where  she  has  also  held  the  position  of  Sister. 

Cameron  Hospital,  Cameron  Bridge,  Fife. — 
Miss  Margaret  Jack  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Western  Infi^mar^^  Glas- 
gow, and  the  City  Fever  Hospital,  Edinburgh, 
and  held  the  position  of  Matron  of  the  West  Fif  j 
Diseases  Hospital  previous  to  coming  to  London, 
where  for  si.K  years  she  worked  as  a  member  of 
the  Registered  Nurses'  Society.  For  the  last  eight 
months  she  has  been  Sister  at  the  Wemyss 
Memorial  Hospital.  Methill.  Fife. 

The  East  African  Nursinj;  Home,  Nairobi. — 
Miss  Alice  Shrimpton  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital, 
London,  and  subsequently  did  private  nursing  for 
some  years  in  connection  with  the  Registered 
Nurses  Society,  431,  Oxford  Street,  W. 

ASSISTANT    MATRON. 

Belvidere  Hospital,  Glasgow.  —  Miss  Isabella 
McGrowther  has  been  appointed  Second  .Assistant 
Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Union  Infirmary, 
Leeds,  and  held  the  position  of  Charge  Nurse  at 
the  Grove  Hospital,  Tooting,  and  Sister  at  St. 
Leonard's  Infirman,-,  Shorcditch. 

SISTER. 

Eye  Hospital,  Bristol. — Miss  Fuller  has  been 
appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the  Royal 
Infirmarj',  Bristol,  and  the  Hospital  for 
Sick  Children,  Great  Ormond  Street,  London, 
and  has  had  experience  in  district  nursing. 

SUPERINTENDENT    NURSE. 

Workhouse       Infirmary-,       Wisbech. — Miss     Alice 

Wright  has  been  appointed  Superintendent  Nurse. 
She  was  trained  at  Ecclesall  Bierlow  Union 
Infirmary,  where  she  has  held  the  position  of 
Sister.  She  has  also  been  Night  Sister  at  the 
Cardiff  L'nion  Infirman,-. 

QUEEN  ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL     MILITARY 
NURSING    SERVICE. 
Sister  Miss  K.  Coxon  resigns  her  appointment  ; 
Miss    E.    B.    Darnell.    Staff    Nurse,    to    be    Sister 
(Sept.  i). 
QUEEN   VICTORIAS    JUBILEE   INSTITUTE. 
Iransleis       and       AppoiiUments. — Miss        .\my 
Cochrane  is  appointed  to  Walmer,  Miss  Martha  K. 
Gibson     to     Newcastle-under-Lyne,     Miss     Mary 
Harvey  to  Harpenden,  Miss  Theophane  Mansfield 
to  Olton,  Miss  Alice  Pennington  to  Uttoxeter. 


Miss  E.  J.  Tillott's  many  friends  on  the 
Registered  Nurses'  Society  will  learn  with  great 
regret  tjiat  she  has  sustained  serious  injuries 
in  a  motor  'bus  accident.  She  was  taken  to 
Middlesex  Hospital,  where  she  is  receiving 
every  kindness  and  attention. 


.A.  knowledge  of  invalid  cookery  should  be 
part  of  tile  equipment  of  every  nurse,  and  the 
I  Universal  Cookery  and  Food  .A.ssociation  has 
done  much  to  stimulate  interest  in  the  subject, 
both  by  giving  generously  of  the  profits  derived 
from  exhibitions  which  it  has  organized  to 
London  Hospitals  and  other  charitable  institu- 
tions for  educational  purposes — some  _;^4,ooo 
having  been  donated  in  this  way — and  also  by 
arranging  special  classes  at  its  exhibitions  open 
only  to  trained  nurses. 

The  financial  aid  given  by  the  Association 
enables  hospitals,  which  would  otherwise  be 
unable  to  afford  the  expen.se,  to  provide  pro- 
perly equipped  practice  kitchens  for  the  nurses 
and  probationers  who  are  taking  the  sick-room 
cookery  course ;  and  the  exhibitions  held,  and 
the  generous  prizes  offered,  stimulate  these 
pupils  to  compete  with  those  of  other  hospitals. 
The  result  is  that  at  the  .Annual  Exhibition  of 
the  Association  there  are  always  a  number  of 
invalid  trays  on  view,  daintily  appointed  and 
arranged,  and  very  creditable  as  to  the  speci- 
mens of  invalid  food  exhibited. 

This  year  the  Cookery  and  Food  Exhibition 
is  to  be  held  at  the  Royal  Horticultural  Hall, 
Westminster,  S.W.,  from  October  29th  to 
November  2nd,  and  in  the  Invalid  Cookery 
Section  (Section  III)  Class  38  will  be  open  to 
trained  nurses  only.  Entries  must  be  sent  in 
before  October  7th,  and  the  Invalid  Trav  must 
contain  a  dish  of  fish  or  meat,  light  pudding  or 
jelly  or  custard,  and  two  beverages,  including 
beef  tea  or  a  soup  (four  dishes  in  all).  These 
exhibits  will  be  on  view  on  October  31st, 
November  ist,  and  November  2nd.  The  prizes 
to  be  awarded  are  one  gold  medal,  silver 
medals,  bronze  medals,  cash  prizes,  cookery 
books,  and  certificates  of  merit. 


THE  PASSING     BELL. 

We  regret  to  announce  the  death  of  Miss  C.  M. 
Riley,  for  many  years  Sister  Pitcaim  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  London.  Miss  Riley 
only  left  London  recently  for  a  holiday,  and 
contracted  double  pneumonia  while  away.  She 
died  at  Church  Stretton,  and  the  funeral  took 
place  at  Grange-over-Sands  on  Monday  last. 


Everyone  must  rejoice  that  the  floods  which 
have  devastated  the  city  of  Norwich  have  sub- 
sided, but  there  is  an  aftermath  of  trouble  for 
the  thousands  of  people  who  have  been  ren- 
dered homeless,  and  are  being  cared  for  in 
schools,  churches,  and  public  buildings,  which 
have  been  turned  into  relief  centres.  One  room 
in  each  of  the  shelters  is  set  apart  for  hospital 
purposes,  with  a  staff  of  trained  nurses.     The 


,98 


Cbc  Biitisb  3ournal  of  IRurstnci- 


September  7,    1912 


Medical  Officer  of  Health  for  the  City  has  issued 
a  necessary  warning  counselling  people  not  to 
return  to  their  houses  after  the  subsidence  of 
the  water,  or  at  any  rate  not  to  take  their 
children  there  till  the  houses  have  been 
thoroughly  cleaned  and  carefully  dried,  and 
that  too  hurried  occupation  of  dwellings  may 
give  rise  to  serious  illness.  Much  sympathy 
will  be  felt  for  I^r.  Louis  Tillett,  formerly 
Member  of  Parliament  for  Norwich,  who,  while 
carrying  a  nurse  through  five  feet  of  water  to 
the  assistance  of  a  woman  in  labour,  sustained 
a  severe  lacerated  wound  of  the  hand  from  the 
barbed  wire  surrounding  the  garden. 


Last  vear  a  member  of  the  Swedish  Lower 
House  of  Parliament  proposed  an  inquiry  into 
the  conditions  of  Swedish  nursing.  The  pro- 
posal was  confirmed  by  the  Parliament,  and 
two  months  ago  the  Government  named  the 
members  of  a  special  committee  to  make  such 
»  inquiry.  Three  nurses,  including  Sister  Emmy 
Lindhagen,  were  appointed  to  this  committee, 
all  of  whom  are  officers  of  the  Swedish  Nurses' 
Association. 


The  International  Hospital  Record  gives  ? 
word  of  salutary  advice  to  nurses  as  to  their 
responsibility  in  countenancing  unsatisfactory 
conditions  in  nursing  homes.  It  asks  :  "  Ought 
nurses  to  lend  themselves  to  the  continued  mis- 
management which  characterizes  many  of  these 
homes,  and  is  shown  most  conspicuously  in  the 
treatment  of  members  of  that  profession  with- 
out whose  aid  they  could  not  subsist  for  a 
week?  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  trained 
nurses  are  directlv  responsible  for  many  of  the 
abuses  which  occur  in  ill-managed  nursing 
homes,  for  without  their  countenance  it  would 
be  impossible  to  carry  them  on,  and  the  whole 
unsatisfactory  fabric  of  pretence  and  muddle 
would  inevitablv  crumble  away.  We  say  de- 
liberatelv  that  nurses  ought  not  to  allow  them- 
selves to  be  made  use  of  by  unscrupulous  pro- 
prietors of  nursing  homes,  who,  beneath  the 
good  certificates  of  one  or  two  of  the  staff,  take 
occasion  to  hide  the  deficiencies  of  half-qualified 
women  wholly  unfit  to  have  the  care  of 
patients." 


We  believe  that  many  nurses  will  be  glad  to 
know  that  the  exhaustive  report  on  the  Educa- 
tional Status  of  Nursing  prepared  by  MissM.  A. 
Nutting,  and  published  by  the  United  States 
Bureau  of  Education,  mav  be  obtained  gratis 
on  application  to  the  Bureau  at  Washington. 
The  number  of  the  Bulletin  which  should  be 
quoted  in  making  application  for  it,  is  Bulletin 
1912,  No.  7. 


REFLECTIONS. 

FROM  A  BOARD  ROOM  MIRROR. 
The  Report  of  King  Edward's  Hospital  Fund 
for  London  mentions  an  increase  in  the  expendi- 
ture of  the  hospitals.  It  attributes  this  to  the 
rise  in  the  cost  of  living,  and  to  expenditure  on 
new  treatment. 

.\t  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Governors  of  the 
Swansea  Hospital  a  letter  was  read  from  the 
honorary^  medical  staff,  stating  that  all  their 
members,  together  with  the  consulting  staff,  with 
one  exception,  had  taken  the  British  Medical 
Association's  pledge  under  the  Insurance  Act, 
refusing  to  render  professional  service  until  the 
terms,  conditions,  and  administration  of  medical 
benefit  had  been  approved. 


The  annual  report  to  Parliament  of  the  Board 
of  Superintendence  of  the  Dublin  Hospitals, 
which  receives  grants  from  Parliament,  states  that 
the  hospitals  under  the  superintendence  of  this 
Board  fulfil  in  an  economical  and  thorough  way 
the  objects  for  which  they  were  instituted. 


THE  ROYAL  SANITARY  INSTITUTE. 


LECTURES   FOR  WOMEN  HEALTH  VISITORS 
AND    SCHOOL    NURSES. 

A  course  of  lectures  to  assist  school  teachers  and 
other  students  entering  for  the  e.xaminations  in 
school  hygiene,  including  elementary  physiology, 
and  for  women  health  visitors  and  school  nurses, 
has  been  arranged  under  the  auspices  of  the 
Royal  Sanitary-  Institute,  90,  Buckingham  Palace 
Road,  London,  S.W.,  commencing  on  Monday, 
September  30th,  1912,  at  7  p.m. 

The  course  will  consist  of  lectures  and  practical 
demonstrations  on  physiology,  personal  hygiene, 
and  the  sanitation  of  school  buildings  and  dwellings. 
The  hygiene  of  child-life  and  educational  methods. 

Special  arrangements  will  be  made  for  each 
student  to  attend  a  course  of  six  infant  consulta- 
tions under  the  direction  of  Dr.  G.  Eric  C.  Prit- 
chard,  and  in  connection  with  these  opportunity 
will  be  afforded  for  students  to  follow  up  this 
instruction  by  visiting  the  infants  in  their  homes. 

A  fee  of  £1  IS.  will  be  charged  for  the  course. 

The  various  subjects  to  be  dealt  with  will  be 
given  by  well-known  authorities,'  and  will  be 
illustrated  with  diagrams,  drawings,  models,  and 
lantern  slides. 

The  museum  of  sanitary  appliances  and  the 
library  are  open  free  to  students  attending  the 
course.  Arrangements  are  made  by  which 
students  can  obtain  the  loan  of  books  for  a  small 
payment. 

Students  and  others  desirous  of  attending  the 
lectures  are  requested  to  send  in  their  names  at 
once  to  the  secretary^  of  the  institute,  E.  Wliite 
Wallis,  Esq. 

The  ne.xt  examination  for  Wortien  Health 
Visitors  and  School  Nurses  will  be  held  in  London 
on  December  6th  and  7th. 


September  7,    1912 


^be  Bvttlab  3oiu'nal  of  H-luvsinr, 


'99 


OUR  FOREIGN   LETTER. 


17  Dear  Mrs.  Fen  wick, — Ever  since  I  was  for- 
tunate enough  to  join  your  great  Convocation  I 
have  had  it  in 
my  heart  lo 
address  a  few 
words  to  yon. 
Will  yon 
kindly  give  nio 
a  few  moments 
of  your,  no 
doubt,  very 
precious  time  ? 

First  let  me 
thank  \-  o  u 
most  heartily 
for  sending  nic 
a  copv  of  your 
highly  interest- 
ing British 
Journal  oi' 
Nursing.  We 
have  read  it, 
and  quite  ap- 
preciated what 
you  have  said 
of  us  in  kind- 
ness and  love. 
We  have  felt 
your  s  y  m- 
pathetic  heart.  There  is  a  common  bond  that 
binds  us  together,  and  yet  there  is  a  world-wide 
difference  between  your  "  Sister-Nurses  "  and 
the  Kaiserswerth  Deaconesses.  Do  not  mis- 
understand me.  T  do  not  mean  personally  ;  the 
difference  is 
in  the  sys- 
tem, the 
manage- 
ment. 

I  cannot 
tell  y  o  11 
how  elate 
my  heart 
was,  how 
full  of  joy, 
when  I 
looked  at 
the  crowds 
of  nurses, 
w  hen  1 
t  h  o  u  g  li  t 
tliat  the 

w  o  r  1  d 
literally  the 
world  — 
had  con- 
vened tii- 
gether  t" 
help  "  siis- 
fering  hu- 
man i  t  V." 
But  if  1 
think     of 


OUR    SISTER5    AT    KAISERSWERTH. 


Florence  Nightingale,  your  celebrated  heroine' 
how  she  burnt  in  desire  to  help  those  that 
suffered,  to  alleviate  the  pain  of  the  wounded, 
how  she  had  no  time  to  think  of  herself, 
how  she  tried  to  teach    abnegation    of  self     and 

devotion  to 
others,  then  I 
could  not  help 
feeling  sorry 
that  her  great 
lesson  had  little 
in  common 
with  the 
questions  that 
\ou  discussed 
so  ardently  at 
Cologne,  i  do 
not  say  that 
[  disapprove- 
of  them.  That 
I  ould  not  be, 
lor  I  under- 
hand that  vou 
sadly  are  in 
need  of  some 
kind  of  organ- 
isation. And 
here  I  want  to 
point  out  the 
difference  be- 
tween the  Free 
Sisters  and  the 
Kaiserswerth  Deaconesses.  We  look  at  our 
calling  from  another  standpoint,  perhaps  from  a 
more  ideal  one.  With  you  it  is  not  only  a  question 
of  work,  but  also  a  question  of  remuneration. 
Thank  God,   we  have  nothing  to  do   with  money 

matters. 


jkAVH    OM     FRIKDKkIKH     IIJtiDMik.     K  AISKkSWER  I  H. 
WREATH    FROM    BRITISH    DELEGATES. 


CEbc  BrittsI)  3ournal  of  U^urslnQ. 


Se[>tt'iiibc 


191: 


And  what  is  )-oui-  reward  ? — I  serve  neither  for 
reward  nor  for  the  gratitude  of  man,  but  out  of 
gratitude  and  out  of  love.  My  reward  is  that  I 
am  allowed  to  serve. 

And  if  you  perish  in  doing  so  ? — "  If  I  perish, 
I  perish.""  So  said  Esther  the  Queen,  who  did 
not  know  Him  for  whose  dear  love  I  would  gladly 
perish,  but  Who  will  not  let  me. 

And  if  you  grow  old  in  your  service  ? — Then 
I  shall  be  like  a  grtfen  olive  "tree  in  the  House  of 
the  Lord.  My  God  will  satisfy  me  with  His 
mercy  and  grace.  I  go  my  way  in  peace  and  take 
no  thought. 

You  see,  there  breathes  the  spirit  of  utter 
devotion,  the  spirit  that  alone  enables  you  to  give 
up  self,  to  lose  your  life — ultimately  to  gain  it. 

With  politics  we  do  not  meddle  ;  our  duties 
take  up  our  time  and  thoughts.  Lately  I  have 
read  a  book  which  is  dedicated  to  Sister  Agnes 
Karll.  It  bears  the  somew^hat  strange  title  : 
"  More  Sunshine  in  the  Poor  Lives  of  the  Sisters." 
The  reader's  attention  is  called  to  a  series  of  facts, 
all  the  more  deplorable  as  they  seem  to  be  strictly 
♦  true.  Perhaps  a  little  exaggerated  here  and 
there,  but  on  the  \vhole  a  sad  reality.  The  poor 
Sisters  in  that  book  stand  in  need  of  all  our 
kindness  and  pity,  and  all  the  help  w'hich  we  can 
render  them,  but,  if  such  be  their  condition, 
why  do  they  remain  in  it  ? 

They  admit  that  the  Deaconesses,  who  are 
under  the  protection  of  a  mother-house,  Imow 
nothing  of  all  the  woeful  condition.  But  in  spite 
of  that,  they  cannot  make  up  their  minds  to  bind 
themselves  to  the  order  and  strict  regulations  of 
the  establishment.  They  fear  to  be  obliged  to 
give  up  their  personal  freedom,  perhaps  a  little 
bit  of  their  individual  originality.  Dear  Mrs. 
Fenwick,  if  those  poor  Sisters  only  Imew  how 
utterly  mistaken  they  are  ! 

I  was  young  when  I  joined  the  Sisterhood  ; 
now  I  am  getting  on  in  life — quite  aged,  as  you 
know — but  I  always  felt  perfectly  free,  at  least 
under  no  other  bondage  than  that  which  binds 
the  whole  human  race.  It  is  true  we  cannot,  out 
of  our  own  free  will,  give  up  a  place  in  ward  or 
iospital  as  soon  as  difficulties  arise,  but  nobody- 
can  do  that,  not  even  the  King,  his  Prime  Minister, 
the  officers  in  the  Army  or  Navy.  All  who  are 
entrusted  with  an  office,  whatever  it  is,  cannot 
go  and  leave  their  post  at  will,  but  have  to  stay 
faithful  and  true  ;  and  so  have  we.  Our  Superiors 
try  to  place  the  Sisters  so  that  their  personal 
inclinations  fall  in  with  their  duties.  They 
always  listen  to  complaints  ;  they  attend  to  the 
Sisters'  health,  send  them  to  bathing-places  or 
into  the  country,  or  to  their  friends  fcr  their 
holidays,  at  least  once  a  year.  What  more  should 
we  desire  ? 

But  one  thing  is  forbidden  to  us.  You  will  not 
find  the  Kaiserswerth  Deaconess  either  in  the 
ballroom  or  at  the  theatre,  or  at  large  assemblies, 
or  evening  parties,  however  select  they  may  be. 
We  cannot  bum  our  candle  at  both  ends  at  once. 
Nursing  duties  do  not  agree  with  the  world's 
-amusements,  and  there  it  is,  I  suppose,  where  the 


real  difference  lies.  If  your  Sister-Nurses  could 
make  up  their  minds  to  forego  all  these  pleasures 
they  would  soon  feel  the  benefit  of  it  in  their  own 
lives. 

More  sunshine  ?  Our  sunshine  is  the  Lord 
Jesus.  If  you  open  your  hearts  to  Him  He  will 
arise  as  the  Sun  of  Righteousness,  with  Healing 
on  His  Wings. 

Of  course,  I  had  much  more  to  tell  you,  but  I 
must  not  take  up  your  time.  If  you  think  that 
my  letter  will  be  of  interest  to  your  companions, 
or  perhaps  of  use  to  only  one  suffering  soul,  pray 
have  it  printed. 

At  any  rate,  convey  m\'  most  ardent  greetings 
to  them  all,  and  may  the  blessing  of  God  Almighty 
rest  upon  you  now  and  for  ever. 
I  am,  dear  Mrs.   Fenwick, 

Yours  most  sincerely, 

Sister  Julie  Borges. 

Kaiserswerth  Seminar. 

The  group  of  Sisters  i'lustrating  this  article  is 
from  a  photograph  by  Miss  Tait  RIcKay,  and  that 
of  Friederike  Fliedner's  gra\'e  from  one  by  Miss 
McGill. 

• — ♦— • 

THE    NURSES'    MEDICAL    DICTIONARY. 

It  is  with  much  pleasure  that  we  draw  attention 
to  "  The  Nurses'  Complete  Medical  Dictionary," 
just  published  by  Messrs.  Bailliere,  Tindall  &  Cox, 
8,  Henrietta  Street,  Covent  Garden,  London. 
W.C.,  and  compiled  by  Miss  M.  Theresa  Bryan. 
The  book  is  compact  in  form,  and  could  readily 
be  slipped  into  an  apron  pocket,  and  -concise  and 
clear  in  its  arrangement,  and  as  the  cost  is  only 
2s.  it  is  within  the  reach  of  most  probationers, 
to  whom  medical  terms  in  common  use  in  hospital 
wards  are  often  such  a  source  of  bewilderment. 
It  will  no  doubt  become  the  nurses'  "  Enquire 
Within  Upon  Everything,"  and  from  the  wide 
ground "  which  it  covers  it  seems  probable  that 
enquiry  will  be  fruitful  in  result. 

To  take  a  concrete  instance,  "  intussusception," 
a  word  often  heard  in  a  children's  ward.  We  find 
on  turning  to  it  first  the  pronunciation  indicated 
and  then  the  definition  :  "  The  slipping  of  one 
part  of  the  intestine  into  a  part  beyond.  It 
occurs  most  frequently  on  the  right  side,  the 
ileum  slipping  into  the  ascending  colon.  It  is 
most  common  in  the  young,  and  is  characterised 
by  pain,  straining,  frequent  small  blood-stained 
stools,  and  a  swelling  like  a  long  tumour  between 
the  ribs  and  the  ileum." 

These  are  just  the  salient  points  simply  told, 
which  a  nurse  needs  to  know.  The  book  is 
sure  to  be  ^popular,  and  its  popularity  will  be 
the  reward  of  much  painstaking  effort. 


Messrs.  W.  &  G.  Foyle,  with  whose  new  and 
secondhand  books  our  readers  are  well  acquainted, 
have  found  it  iiecessary,  owing  to  the  increase 
of  their  business,  to  take  larger  premises  at 
121  and  123,  Charing  Cross  Road,  where  they 
will  be  pleased  to  show  visitors  their  stock,  which 
includes  over  1,000,000  volumes. 


September  -,    1912 


Cbe  36ritt5b  3oiu-nal  of  murC'tna 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


WOMEN. 

The  Monthly  Record  of  the  Penal  Reform 
League,  the  object  of  whicli  is  to  interest  the 
public  in  the  right  treatment  of  criminals,  and  to 
promote  effective  measures  for  their  cure  and 
rehabihtation,  and  for  the  prevention  of  crime,  is 
always  full  of  articles  of  interest.  In  the  current 
issue  Mr.  W.  H.  Dickinson  discusses  "  Legislation 
for  the  Feeble-minded  "  and  "  Child  Helping  in 
New  South  Wales,"  and  other  articles  are  of  in- 
terest. Referring  to  a  book  on  this  subject  by  the 
Hon.  Sir  Charles  Mackellar,  President  of  the  State 
Children  Rehef  Board  of  New  South  Wales,  who 
is  now  in  Europe  on  a  Commission  to  enquire  into 
the  treatment  of  delinquent  and  neglected  children, 
the  following  extract  is  quoted  :  "  Every  criminal 
has  a  life  histon,-,  and  that  histor>'  is  verj-  often 
the  explanation  of  his  sinister  career." 

The  League  invites  help  in  connection  with  the 
circulation  of  a  pamphlet,  which  is  an  expansion 
of  a  memorandum  sent  to  the  members  of  the 
House  of  Commons  in  June,  when  the  Criminal 
Law  Amendment  Bill  was  before  it.  This  is  now 
published  under  the  title,  "  Prostitution,  its 
Nature  and  Cure,"  and  costs  2id.,  post  free,  from 
the  office  of  the  League,  l,  Harrington  Square,  N.W. 


This  year's  Presidential  election  in  the  I'nited 
States  will,  says  the  Standard,  be  a  very 
important  one  for  the  women  of  the  country'. 
Both  the  Democratic  party  and  the  new  Pro- 
gressive (Roosevelt)  part\-  are  coquetting  for  their 
votes.  The  Democratic  partv  has  no  official  woman 
suffrage  plank  in  its  platform,  but  it  is  sending  Mrs. 
Borden  Harriman,  a  prominent  political  cam- 
paigner, to  the  six  equal  suffrage  States  to  win 
over  the  women  with  promises  of  fiscal  reform, 
reduced  prices  on  food,  and  a  workman's  compensa- 
tion Act.  The  Progressive  .party  is  making 
woman  suffrage  one  of  its  main  issues,  and  the 
fact  that  Miss  Jane  Addams,  America's  foremost 
woman,  both  in  politics  and  social  reform,  has  given 
her  support  to  the  party  will  tremendously 
influence  the  women  voters  of  the  country,  even 
though  they  yet  have  little  faith  in  Mr.  Roosevelt's 
pledges. 


Mrs.  Chapman  Catt  contributes  some  \-erT|- 
interesting  articles  on  a  tour  in  the  East  to  Jus 
Suffragii,  the  organ  of  the  International  Woman 
Suffrage  Alliance  in  connection  with  Burmah. 
She  writes  that  when  in  Rangoon  she  asked  to  be 
directed  to  a  leader  among  women,  she  was  soon 
provided  with  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Ma  May  Hla  Oung. 
They  were  soon  fast  friends,  for  she  understood  as 
no  other  Eastern  woman  had  done,  the  mission 
for  women  of  Mrs.  Catt  and  her  friends.  There 
was  no  need  to  explain  to  her  the  ballot  for 
women,  for  she  had  voted  for  years.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  a  famous  Burmese  general,  and  the 
widow   of   the   Controller   of  the   Treasury-.     She 


has  two  schools  for  Buddhist  children,  in  which 
nearly  400  boys  and  girls  are  taught  together  in 
all  the  classes  in  true  co-educational  fashion. 

We  learn  that  "  among  the  Burmese  there  is 
little  intemperance,  a  small  amount  of  crime,  and 
almost  no  murder.  No  Society  for  the  Prevention 
of  Cruelty  to  animals  is  necessarj',  for  they  are 
as  gentle  as  can  be  with  all  tilings  that  live.  They 
are  astonishingly  tolerant,  and  when  education 
becomes  universal  and  has  conquered  the  supersti- 
tions of  the  ignorant  and  broadened  the  views  of 
all,  they  will  teach  the  rest  of  us  many  lessons, 
^leanwliile,  the  '  langour  of  the  East  '  is  upon  them. 
How  can  any  people  possess  the  qualities  which 
trace  new  paths,  disco\er  new  thoughts,  and  do 
new  things,  under  a  blistering,  relentless  sun  ?  To 
tread  the  old  paths,  to  think  the  old  thoughts,  and 
do  the  old  things  is  the  instinct  of  the  '  children  of 
the  sun.'  It  must  ever  take  a  thousand  years 
for  a  people  here  to  move  the  distance  a  northern 
people  would  compass  in  a  hundred.  Meanwhile, 
these  happy,  contented,  good-natured,  dear 
Burme"se  live  under  an  equality  of  rights  between 
the  sexes  in  Church  and  State,  for  which  we  Western 
people  must  still  struggle." 


VERSES. 

Our  common  Master  did  not  pen 
His  followers  up  from  other  men  ; 
His  sermons  were  the  healthful  talk 
That  shorter  made  the  mountain  walk. 
His  wayside  texts  were  flowers  and  birds. 
Where,  mingled  with  His  gracious  words. 
The  rustle  of  the  tamarisk  tree 
And  ripple-wash  of  Galilee. 

Whittier. 
Prize  what  is  yours,  but  be  not  quite  contented. 
There  is  a  healthful  restlessness  of  soul 
Bv  which  a  mighty  pirrpose  is  augmented 
In  urging  men  to  reach  a  higher  goal. 

Ella  Wheeler  Wilcox. 


COMING     EVENTS. 

October  2nd. — Meeting  at  the  Mansion  House  in 
support  of  the  Nurses'  Missionarj-  League. 

October  yd. — Conference  and  Farewell  ^leetings 
to  bid  Godspeed  to  members  of  the  Nursing 
Missionar^■  Ix;ague  leaving  for  the  foreign  field. 
University  Hall,  Gordon  Square,  W.C. 

October  22nd. — Central  Midwives'  Board  Exami- 
nation, London,  Birmingham,  Leeds,  Manchester, 
and  Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

October  2gth-Sovember  2nd. — Cookerv  and  Food 
E.xhibition,  Royal  Horticultural  Hall,  West- 
minster, S.W. 

WORD     FOR     THE     WEEK. 

Character  must  stand  behind  and  back  up 
everv'thing — the  sermon,  the  poem,  the  picture, 
the  play.  None  of  them  is  worth  a  straw  without 
it.— 7.  5.  Holland. 


Z]K  :i6i1ti5b  Journal  of  IRursino.      September 


191: 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  comimmications  upon 
ait  subjects  for  these  columns,  ti'e  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


as  to   the   International   Society   which   has   been 
formed  to  combat  child  slavery. 

Yours  lathfully. 
^Iember  National  Council  of  Nurses. 


THE     GENERAL     NURSING     COUNCIL. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  ]Madam, — The  letter  from  JNIiss  Jane  Bell, 
referred  to  in  your  last  issue,  referring  to  the 
fact  that  no  nurses  can  be  members  of  their 
Governing  Body  in  Queensland  until  a  consider- 
able number  of  nurses  have  been  registered,  shows 
the  foresight  of  our  leaders  in  this  country  in  pro- 
viding for  the  appointment  of  a  Provisional 
Council,  upon  which  representatives  of  the 
different  sections  of  nurses  shall  have  seats  until 
the  nurses,  who  will  eventually  form  the  electorate, 
,  have  been  registered.  It  is  highly  necessary  that 
the  advice  and  special  knowledge  of  nurses  should 
be  available  during  this  most  important  period. 

We  have,  therefore,  once  more  to  thank  those 
w-ho  have  drafted  our  BUI  with  such  care.  Once  it 
obtains  a  place  on  the  Statute  Book,  it  will,  I 
believe,  prove  itself  to  be  the  best  w-hich  has  yet 
been  framed,  as  experience  has  from  time  to  time 
shown  many  details  in  which  it  has  been  advisable 
to  amend  it,  until  now  we  ha\e  a  broad  and 
statesmanlike  measure  calculated  to  be  of  service 
both  to  the  public  and  to  nurses.  This  mav  be 
some  small  consolation  to  those  who  are  weary 
with  the  weariness  of  hope  long  deferred. 
I  am.   Dear  Madam, 

Yours  faithful!}-. 
An  Ardent  Registratioxist. 


WHITE     CHILD     SLAVES. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dear  Madam, — I  think  that  nurses  owe  a  debt 
of  gratitude  both  to  Sister  Henriette  Arendt  for 
describing  her  work  for  the  White  Child  Slaves, 
and  to  Miss  I..  Dock  for  bringing  that  work  to 
our  notice.  I  think  it  must  come  as  a  shock  to 
many  to  know  that  such  a  horrible  trade  is  possible, 
for  the  majority^  of  people  are  ignorant  of  its  very 
existence.  The  traffic  in  girls  is  horrible  enough. 
The  traffic  in  little  children  seems  the  lowest 
infamy  to  which  it  is  possible  to  descend.  I  tliink 
nurses  may  be  proud  that  a  member  of  their 
profession  should  be  willing  to  risk  her  life  to 
probe  the  secrets  of  this  infamous  trade  and  that 
she  should  be  devoting  her  energies  as  well  as 
her  substance  to  caring  for  the  children  she 
rescues.  Others  may  well  emulate  her  example 
in  taking  up  this  branch  of  social  service,  but  the 
trade  is  one  which  pre-eminenth-  should  be  put 
down  with  the  greatest  severity'  which  the  law  can 
devise.     Perhaps  we  might  ha\-e  some  information 


To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — Thanks  for  the  copy  of  The 
British  Journal  of  Nursing  forwarded  to  me. 

So  far  no  hint  has  reached  me  of  "  White  Child 
Slaves  "  in  England.  No  child  received  into  our 
Homes  has  been  subjected  to  this  awful  treatment, 
but  1  will  certainly  keep  a  look  out  for  any  indica- 
tions of  such  a  vile  traffic. 

The   ruining   of  children   is,    however,   of   wide 
extent,   and  our  Homes  for  these  little  ones  are 
full.  We  hope,  however,  to  be  able  to  raise  sufficient 
funds  to  open  at  least  two  more  before  long. 
Yours  truly, 

Thomas  Geo.  Cree, 
Hon.  Sec.  Church  Penitentiary  Assocn. 

REPLY    TO    CORRESPONDENT. 

Three  Years'  Certificate. — The  salaries  of  mem- 
bers of  Queen  Alexandra's  Imperial  Military 
Nursing  Service  are  good,  and  members  retire  with 
a  pension,  if  they  remain  in  the  Service  ;  but 
promotion  is  very  slow,  and  a  staff  nurse  cannot 
hope  to  be  appointed  .Sister  for  a  long  time.  You 
should,  therefore,  consider  whether  you  are 
willing  to  remain  a  staff  nurse  for  years  before 
applying  for  admission  to  the  Service.  . 


OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS. 

September  ij^ih. — How  would  you  deal  with  a 
case  of  croup  occurring  in  a  private  house  until 
the  arrival  of  the  doctor  ? 

September  21st. — How  would  you  care  for  a 
premature  infant  at  the  time  of  birth,  and  subse- 
quently ? 

September  28//;. — WTiat  records  would  you  keep, 
and  what  points  would  you  observe  and  report 
upon,  as  a  routine  practice,  when  nursing  a  case, 
either  in  a  hospital  ward  or  in  a  private  house  ? 


NOTICES. 

BUSINESS    COMAIUNICATIONS. 

The  Editor  will  be  obliged  if  all  business  com- 
niunications,  such  as  requiring  extra  journals,  &c.. 
are  addressed  to  the  Manager,  The  British 
Journal  of  Nursing  Office,  431,  Oxford  Street, 
London,  W.,  and  not  to  the  editorial  office  at  20, 
Upper  Wimpole  Street,  W. 


OUR     ADVERTISERS. 

We  would  remind  our  readers  that  they  can  help 
The  British  Journal  of  Nursing  by  dealing 
as  far  as  possible  with  advertisers  in  the  paper. 

Only  the  most  reliable  firms  are  accepted  by  the 
management. 


September  7,  1912  ^bc  Bvitisl)  3ournaI  of  fl-luv^iuG  Supplement.     203 


THe   Midwife. 


THE  PRENATAL  CARE  OF  BABIES. 


On  the  important  subject  of  the  Prenatal 
Care  of  Infants,  the  Dietetic  and  Hygienic 
Gazette  pubHshes  the  following  article  which  is 
of  interest  to  midwives,  who  often  come  in  touch 
with  poor  mothers  before  their  confinements  : — 

Excessive  infant  mortality  obtains  mostly 
among  the  poor,  when  the  prospective  mother 
is  ill-nourished  or  obliged  to  work  during  her 
pregnancy,  or  when  the  new-born  infant  suffers 
for  want  of  proper  sustenance  at  the  breast,  or 
from  the  mother's  ignorance  how  properly  to 
prepare  substitutes  for  her  own  milk.  The 
melancholy  handicap  under  which  such  babies 
are  oftentimes  born  is  increased  by  congenital 
malformations  (which  are  comparatively  many 
among  the  poor),  the  environment  in  which  the 
infant  is  born,  and  the  lack  of  means  for  its 
necessities. 

Dr.  Jacobi,  in  his  superb  presidential  address 
before  the  American  Medical  Association,  has 
considered  exhaustively  "The  Best  Means  of 
Combating  Infant  Mortality."  He  notes  that 
the  Committee  for  the  Reduction  of  Infant 
Mortality  of  the  New  York  .Milk  Committee  has 
arranged  with  the  Russell  Sage  Foundation  for 
providing  a  nurse  who  will  look  after  a  thousand 
pregnant  women,  with  a  view  to  enabling  them 
to  rear  infants  wi7/i  improved  resistance.  In 
Boston,  the  \\'oman's  Municipal  League  is 
seeking,  through  its  Committee  on  Infant  Social 
Service,  to  provide  for  babies  among  the  poor 
a  greater  capital  of  resistance.'  To  such  end 
the  aims  are  for  more  sanitary  housing  con- 
ditions, pure  milk,  the  prevention  of  eclampsia 
among  mothers,  the  education  of  the  body 
politic  (which  must  in  the  last  analysis  be  the 
power  behind  any  move  for  betterment),  and  the 
like.  The  Lying-in  Hospital  and  other  Boston 
charities  are  aiding  in  such  prenatal  work. 
Thus  are  philanthropic  associations  striving  to 
"care  for  babies  before  they  are  born." 

The  family  practitioner  may  well  play  a  help- 
ful part  in  this  work.  Were  his  admonitions  to 
would-be  parents  but  regarded,  there  would  be 
better  born  babies,  though  the  number  of  them 
would  be  diminished.  Pity  it  oftentimes  is  that 
one  cannot  take  advantage  of  the  advice  of 
Oliver  Wendell  Holmes  that  "  a  man  should  be 
careful  in  the  selection  of  his  ancestors." 


Indeed,  to  fortify  tiie  infant  against  the 
environmental  stresses  it  must  bear  and  against 
the  enemies,  bacterial  and  otherwise,  with  which 
it  must  cope  during  its  first  year  or  two,  we 
must  begin  long  before  its  birth  ;  nine  months 
before  its  birth,  observes  Dr.  Jacobi.  In 
Science,  birth  is  but  an  incident  in  a  succession 
of  biologic  processes ;  conception  is  but  a  trans- 
mutation of  older  cellular  elements  (such  as  arc 
contained  in  the  ovum  and  the  sperm)  into  .1 
new-  cellular  compound.  .'Vnd  it  is  essentially 
with  the  quality  and  the  virility  of  cells  that  we 
have  to  deal.  The  practical  deduction  would  be 
that  those  contemplating  marriage,  who  have 
the  sense  to  seek  the  physician's  advice,  should 
be  urged  to  proceed  with  the  utmost  circum- 
spection and  self-denial  if  they  are  conscious  of 
any  hereditary  or  acquired  stigmata.  Un- 
doubtedly, marriage,  with  the  possibility  of 
parentage  on  the  part  of  men  and  women  unfit 
for  this  tremendous  responsibility — on  the  part 
of  the  nearly  related,  couples  of  widely  diverse 
ages,  the  neurotic,  the  pervert,  the  insane,  the 
drug  habitue,  the  syphilitic,  the  consumptive, 
and,  above  all,  the  alcoholic,  besides  those 
whose  poverty  (with  all  its  dreadful  accorripani- 
ments)  would  bring  grievous  stress  into  the 
family  economy — marriage  among  such  as 
these  should  be  precluded  whenever  possible. 
Generally  speaking,  all  these  subjects  are  likely 
to  transmit  to  their  offspring  vitiated  tissues, 
susceptible  to  infection,  so  that  such  offspring 
is  unable  to  cope  fairly  with  the  agencies 
inimical  to  human  existence. 

We  recall  that  during  embryonic  life  the  cells 
of  the  body  become  differentiated  and  the 
organs  are  formed,  increase  in  size,  and  begin 
to  take  on  their  several  functions  ;  that  during 
this  period  the -organism  of  the  coming  infant 
is  most  acutely  sensitive  to  impressions  in  utero 
— variations  in  oxygen  supply,  warmth,  the 
constitution  of  the  mother's  blood,  and  the  like. 
Before  the  birth,  then,  the  mother  should  be 
safeguarded  to  the  fullest  possible  extent  for 
the  good  of  her  offspring ;  she  should,  even 
more  tjnan  in  the  pregnancies  of  normal  and 
well-circumstanced  women,  be  assured  whole- 
some diet,  sensible  and  hygienic  clothing ; 
should  rest  well  at  night  and  for  an  hour  in  the 
afternoon  ;  have  frequent  baths  in  tepid  water, 
and  the  other  familiar  measures.  Especially 
should  she,  if  it  is  possible,  be  spared  unusual 
care,  mental  strain  or  excitement. 


204      cTbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IHursino  Supplement.  September  7,  191 2 


MIDWIFE     V.    MONTHLY    NURSE. 

Frauleiii  Elizabeth.  Schmidt,  of  Bremen,  in  a 
paper  prepared  for  the  Cologne  Congress,  on  the 
"  Training  of  the  Matemits'  Nurse  and  her  Duties," 
said  that  in  no  branch  of  nursing  can  more  harm 
"  be  done  by  incompetence  than  in  maternity  cases  ; 
and  yet  it  is  not  possible,  in  the  large  hospitals, 
to  give  this  special  branch  its  due  importance, 
^latemity  nursing  should  be  learnt  in  a  maternity 
home  where  the  cases  are  principally  normal. 
The  fact  that  nurses  are  anxious  to  take  com- 
plicated cases  in  clinics  or  hospitals  proves  how 
little  they  understand  this  department.  It  is  a 
great  mistake  to  think  that  because  a  nurse  is 
experienced  and  capable  in  sick  nursing  she  is 
also  competent  to  undertake  a  confinement  case. 
Fraulein  Schmidt  further  directed  attention  tc  the 
dangers  attendant  on  an  ordinary  sick  nurse  who 
takes  confinement  cases  "  in  between  "  other 
work. 

Nowhere,  she  holds,  are  educated  women  more 
needed  than  in  this  branch,  where  so  much  super- 
«  stition  and  old  traditions  must  be  combated. 
It  would  be  well  if  nurses  recognised  this,  made 
maternity  nursing  the  object  of  their  careful  study, 
and  then  embraced  it  as  their  special  form  of 
nursing. 

There  are  still  (Fraulein  Schmidt  alleges)  a 
number  of  untrained  nurses  who  are  known  by 
the  name  of  "  monthly  nurses,"  as  well  as  the 
so-called  "  certificated  monthly  nurse,"  whose 
training  depends  on  the  means  she  can  spend  on 
it.  The  cost  of  four  weeks'  training  is  180-200 
mks.  ;  for  six  weeks,  150  mks.  ;  for  three  months, 
100  mks.  This  short  time  of  training  is  productive 
of  certificates  which  delude  the  public ;  but, 
instead  of  a  well-trained  maternity  nurse,  there 
goes  forth  one  who,  with  her  smattering  of  know- 
ledge, pushes  aside  the  midwife.  The  following 
figures  speak  for  themselves.  In  the  Rhine 
district,  in  4,000  cases  undertaken  by  doctors  and 
monthly  nurses,  8.22  per  cent,  of  the  children  died  ; 
whereas,  in  .29,000  cases,  undertaken  bj'  midwives 
alone,  only  1.38  per  cent,  of  such  deaths  occurred. 

In  order  that  such  abuses  may  be  reformed, 
Fraulein  Schmidt  suggests  : — 

1.  That  all  who  wish  to  undertake  matemiiy 

cases  should  submit  to  a  board  examina- 
tion. 

2.  That  they  be  subject  to  inspection  by  the 

medical  board,  and  to  the  same  rules  as 
the  midwives  regarding  disinfection. 

3.  That  only  such  houses  be  qualified  as  training 

estafjlishments  which  can  pro\-ide  courses 
of  at  least  six  months'  duration  for  pro- 
bationers, three  months  for  sick  nurses, 
and  a  sufficient  number  of  maternity 
cases,  from  500-600  a  year. 

4.  That  regular  theoretic  instruction  be  given' 

with  practical  demonstration  under  super- 
intendence of  a  salaried  head-sister,  who 
shall  also  be  required  to  furnish  proofs  of 
her  efficiency. 


5.  That  anatomy  and  bacteriology,  sls  far  as  it 

pertains  to  maternity  nursing,  be  taught 
by  the  house-doctor. 

6.  Domestic  training,  comprising  cooking,  &c., 

should  be  included. 
The  insufficiently  trained  monthly  nurse  is 
mostly  to  be  met  with  in  the  lower  middle  classes. 
Ignorant  of  such  things  as  puerperal  fever,  sepsis, 
and  infection,  she  cannot  be  made  answerable  for 
the  results  of  her  incompetency.  In  the  most 
earnest  language,  Fraulein  Schmidt  appealed  to 
the  State  to  help  in  regulating  these  abuses, 
and  to  all  cultured  women  to  follow  the  bright 
example  of  their  Empress,  who  shows  such  sym- 
pathy with  the  welfare  of  women  and  children. 


THE  CENTRAL   MIDWIVES    BOARD. 

The  next  examination  of  the  Central  Midwives 
Board  will  be  held  on  October  22nd  in  London, 
Birmingham,  Leeds,  Manchester,  and  Xewcastb-on- 
Tyne.  The  oral  examination  follows  a  few  days  later. 


THE    YORK     MATERNITY     HOSPITAL. 

Mr.  W.  \V.  Hargrove,  J. P.,  \\-riting  in  a  contem- 
porarjf  on  the  York  Maternity  Hospital,  describes 
the  system  of  baby  consultations  held  weekly  at 
the  dispensary'. 

"  By  this  means,"  he  points  out,  "  not  only  is 
the  feeding  and  general  management  of--  the 
infants  carefully  supervised  during  the  first  year 
of  their  lives,  but  the  mothers  receive  a  training 
in  the  management  of  their  babies  which  is  of 
inestimable  advantage  to  them.  This' system  of 
'  baby  consultations,'  which  deals  with  infants 
bom  in  the  outside  maternity  practice  of  the 
Dispensary  as  well  as  in  the  Hospital,  has  been  in 
existence  for  nearly  eighteen  months.  It  is  steadily 
growing,  and  many  mothers  gladU-  avail  them- 
selves of  it.  Its  value  and  its  effects  on  the  health 
of  the  community  can  hardly  be  over-estimated. 

"  During  the  time  the  ^latemity  Hospital  has 
been  in  existence  the  demands  on  its  help  have 
fully  justified  its  establishment,  and  it  has  been  of 
considerable  value  to  the  medical  men  of  the  citv 
and  district,  who  have  gladly  availed  themselves 
of  it  for  the  treatment  of  their  more  serious  cases 
which  required  the  constant  skilled  care  and  atten- 
tion they  could  not  receive  in  their  own  homes." 


LUPUS  OF  THE  FACE  IN  AN  INFANT. 

Baumet,  as  mentioned  in  the  Biitis/i  Medical 
Journal,  describes  a  case  of  a  child  of  1 1  months 
suftering  from  what  was  first  considered  to  be 
eczema.  Removal  of  the  crusts  by  warm  fomenta- 
tions revealed  deep  ulceration  with  a  purulent 
discharge.  The  submaxillar^'  glands  were  much 
enlarged.  The  treatment  consisted  of  daily 
applications  of  iodoform  ointment  (2  in  30), 
inunctions  of  mercurial  ointment  e\erj-  two  days 
to  the  glands,  and  s^Tup  of  Vacheron  (0.15  gram 
of  carbonate  of  guaiacol  in  20  grams  of  syTup),  a 
teaspoonful  morning  and  evening.  The  local 
condition  gradually  healed,  but  before  the  healing 
was  complete  the  child  died  of  convulsions.   . 


THE 


VlSilOUHiLo'lliSIiC 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.   1,276 


SATURDAY,     SEPTEMBER    14,    1912.      , 


EDITORIAL. 


THE     NURSE     AS     A     PIONEER. 

One  of  the  facts  which  are  being  most 
plainly  demonstrated  in  the  nursing  world 
is  that  the  entrance  of  the  trained  nurse 
into  social  service  imposes  on  her  the 
obligation  to  be  conversant  with  manv 
matters  formerly  considered  outside  her 
province.  Indeed,  it  is  evident  that,  if  she 
is  to  meet  the  demands  upon  her,  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  special  course  of  training 
similar  to  that  now  available  for  nurses  at 
Teachers'  College,  Columbia  University, 
New  York,  in  connection  with  the  Depart- 
ment of  Nursing  and  Health,  is  urgently 
necessary  in  this  country. 

At  the  recent  International  Congress  of 
Nurses  at  Cologne,  one  speaker  after 
another  emphasized  the  point  that  nurses 
needed  a  great  deal  more  than  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  their  own  professional  work 
if  they  were  to  be  effective  social  workers  ; 
indeed  Fraulein  Schubert  claimed  that,  in 
order  really  to  help,  nurses  should  know 
"  everything,"  and  that  it  was  of  vit:il 
importance  that  they  should  be  women  of 
education  and  refinement.  She  further 
pointed  out  that  in  pioneer  work,  such  as 
that  in  the  care  and  management  of  infants, 
now  being  undertaken  through  \arious 
agencies,  it  was  often  necessary,  in  order  to 
further  the  cause,  that  she  should  be  able 
to  speak  well  and  fluently  on  the  work  in 
hand. 

This  is  a  side  of  social  service  from  wiiich 
the  trained  nurse  often  shrinks.  She  knows 
her  own  work  ;  she  is  able  to  deal  witii 
patients,  and  to  cope  with  any  emergencies 
which  may  arise  from  day  to  day,  but  she 
thinks  it  asking  just  a  little  too  much  that 
she  should  be  e.xpected  to  give  addresses  in 
relation  to  that  work.  She  considers  that 
her  gifts   lie   in    other    directions,    and  that 


public    speaking    should    not    be    demanded 
Af  her. 

We  fully  admit  that  it  is  asking  a  great 
deal  of  nurses,  but  the  public,  by  their 
services  in  the  past,  has  come  to  believe 
that  nurses  will  rise  to  the  demands  of 
the  present  and  future,  and  we  do  not 
believe  that  it  will  be  disappointed. 

Undoubtedly  one  reason  why  nurses  feel 
confidence  when  at  work,  and  altot^ether 
incompetent  for  public  speaking,  is  that 
they  have  been  trained  for  the  former  and 
not  for  the  latter.  To  be  an  effective 
speaker  some  knowledge  of  the  rules 
governing  this  art,  and  of  voice  production 
are  necessary,  as  well  as  practice  in 
addressing  an  audience,  or  teaching  a  class, 
and  nurses  who  think  of  specialising  in  any 
branch  of  social  service  will  do  well  to 
acquire  some  elementary  knowledge  of 
these  subjects.  Most  Superintendents  of 
district  nurses  for  instance  ai:e  required 
from  time  to  time  to  give  public  addresses 
with  the  double  purpose  of  explaining  the 
work  in  order  to  interest  the  public  in  it, 
and  of  securing  financial  support.  To  do 
this  needs  no  small  ability,  and  the  same 
applies  still  more  forcibly  to  newer  branches 
which  are  constantly  opening  up  to  the 
trained  nurse,  and  appealing  for  her  work. 

Fraulein  Schubert  while  admitting  that 
"to  speak  well  and  fluently  on  the  subject 
in  hand  is  the  most  difficult  part  of  the 
nurse's  business,"  at  the  same  time  gives  an 
indication  of  the  motive  power  which  will 
inspire  her — "  when  her  heart  is  in  her 
calling,  her  tongue  will  be  eloquent  in  its 
service." 

Lastly,  if  the  trained  nurse  renders  such 
great  and  indispensable  services  to  the 
State,  surely  she  has  a  right  to  expect  from 
it  that  recognition  which  will  protect  her 
profession  from  charlatans,  and  so  raise  its 
status  and  add  to  its  influence  by  granting 
legal  status  to  its  accredited  members. 

A* 


3o6 


^be  Bvtttsb  3omnal  of  IRursino.     sct^tcmber  14,  1912 


MEDICAL  MATTERS. 


THE  TREATMENT  OF  FLAT  FOOT. 

Mr.  Paul  B.  Roth,  M.B.,  F.R.C.S.,  has  a 
most  instructive  and  useful  illustrated  article  in 
last  week's  Lancet  on  "  The  Treatment  of  Flat 
Foot,"  which  might  be  read  with  special  benefit 
by  nurses — many  9i  whom,  alas  !  know  well  the 
"  overstrain  "   of  feet. 

Mr.  Roth  states  that,  in  common  with 
many  other  acquired  deformities,  the  first 
change  is  a  postural  one ;  when  the  patient 
raises  his  heels  from  the  ground,  so  as  to  stand 
on  his  toes,  the  arch  is  restored.  It  is  only 
after  the  postural  change  has  existed  a  con- 
siderable time  that  structural  change  occurs. 
Thus  the  cases  can  be  at  once  divided  into  two 
classes  :  those  in  which  the  deformity  entirely 
disappears  when  the  patient  stands  with  his 
heels  raised,  and  those  in  which  some  or  all  of 
the  deformity  persists.  For  convenience,  these 
may  be  described  respectively  as  "  postural  " 
and  "  structural  "  cases,  though  it  must  be 
understood  that  in  the  "  structural  "'  ones  much 
of  the  deformity  may  be  "  postural." 

In  this  connexion  mention  must  be  made  ot 
those  unusual  cases  where  there  is  spasm  of  the 
peronei  muscles.  In  these  the  spasm  entirely 
disappears  after  a  week  of  absolute  rest  and  the 
foot  returns  to  its  normal  shape;  they  must, 
therefore,  be  put  in  the  "postural"  class. 
Flat  foot  complicated  by  spasm  of  the  peronei 
has  by  some  been  regarded  as  a  stage  through 
which  all  cases  must  inevitably  pass  as  thev 
progress  from  bad  to  worse,  but  I  am  convinced 
that  this  is  not  so.  Flat  feet  are  very  common  ; 
in  the  last  five  years  I  have  examined  very 
many  hundreds,  and  in  only  three  cases  was 
there  spasm  of  the  peronei  muscles.  It  must  be 
looked  upon  as  a  comparatively  rare  complica- 
tion. The  following  outline  of  treatment  may 
be  pursued  with  absolute  confidence,  resulting 
in  relief  to  the  patient  and  credit  to  the  surgeon. 

Object  of  the  treatment. — In  the  "  postural  " 
cases,  to  produce  complete  cure.  In  the 
"  structural  "  cases,  to  abolish  all  pain  and  dis- 
comfort, to  cure  the  "  postural  "  element  of  the 
deformity,  if  present,  and  to  arrest  further 
increase  in  the  "  structural  "  clement. 

The  treatment  consists  of  :  (i)  attention  to 
footwear  ;  (2)  attention  to  position  in  standing 
and  walking  ;  and  (3)  regular  daily  exercises. 

I.  Attention  to  footwear. — Whether  boots 
or  shoes  are  worn,  whether  they  button  or  lace, 
they  must  be  the  shape  of  the  feet.  If  this 
primary  essential  is  not  secured  the  whole  treat- 
ment may  as  well  be  abandoned.    To  bring  this 


about  it  is  not  at  all  necessary  to  wear  boots  of 
;ui  ugly  shape.  The  inner  side  of  the  boot, 
where  the  big  toe  lies,  is  kept  straight,  so  that 
the  end  of  the  boot  is  opposite  the  big  toe,  and 
not  opposite  the  second  or  third  toe.  This  is 
to  ensure  that  the  big  toe  is  not  pushed  out 
against  the  other  toes  and  has  plenty  of  room 
in  which  to  act.  The  soles  should  be  a  sixth  to 
a  fourth  of  an  inch  thick,  the  heels  broad,  an 
inch  or  less  in  height.  If  the  degree  of  flat 
foot  be  anything  more  than  the  merest  trace, 
mechanical  means  are  utilised  to  throw  the 
weight  of  the  body,  distributed  down  the  leg, 
slightly  outside  the  centre  of  the  ankle-joint. 
This  is  effected  by  thickening  the  sole  and  heel 
of  each  boot  along  its  inner  side  by  J,  J,  or 
i  inch,  the  amount  depending  upon  the  severit> 
of  the  case ;  the  worse  the  case  the  greater  the 
thickening.  The  additional  leather  is  in  the 
form  of  a  wedge,  with  its  base  to  the  inside  and 
its  apex  to  the  outside  of  the  foot,  so  that  the 
extra  thickness  on  the  inside  fades  off  to 
nothing  on  the  outside.  Not  only  docs  it  fade 
away  outwards  towards  the  outside,  but  also 
forwards  towards  the  tip  of  the  shoe,  from  a 
point  situated  about  an  inch  behind  the  tip. 
When  viewed  from  in  front  the  wedge  should 
scarcely  be  seen.  The  extra  thickening  is 
applied  by  a  bootmaker  to  a  boot  of  the  shape 
described  ;  there  is  no  need  to  have  a  surgical 
boot  made,  and  no  need  to  have  the  instep  filled 
in  by  a  continuation  forwards  of  the  heel. 

2.  Attention  to  position  in  standing  and 
walking. — Standing  :  The  patient  must  always 
stand  on  both  feet  with  the  toes  slightly  turned 
in  and  the  heels  slightly  turned  out.  He  must 
never  stand  with  the  toes  turned  out,  or  on  one 
foot  to  rest  the  other.  Every  now  and  then  he 
must  raise  the  heels  just  clear  of  the  ground — 
that  is,  stand  on  the  toes  sufficiently  to  bring 
all  the  muscles  of  the  foot  into  action.  When- 
ever the  feet  begin  to  ache  he  should  do  this. 
In  addition,  he  should  stand  with  the  feet  verv 
slightly  turned  over  on  their  outer  border. 
Walking  :  He  must  walk  with  the  feet  pointing 
straight  forwards — never  with  the  feet  turned 
out.  If  the  feet  are  hurting,  he  must  walk  all 
the  time  very  slightly  on  tip-toe — that  is,  with 
the  heels  just  off  the  ground.  It  is  a  good  plan 
while  indoors  to  walk  on  tip-toe  all  the  time. 

3.  Regular  daily  exercises.- — The  exercises, 
Jo  be  done  the  first  thing  every  morning,  prefer- 
ably with  the  shoes  off,  are  two  in  number  : 
I.  Standing,  alternately  heels  raising  and  toes 
raising.  To  steady  the  body,  both  hands  touch 
the  mantelpiece  or  W'ali.  The  heels  are  slowly 
raised  from  the  ground,  and  slowly  lowered  ; 
then    the    toes    are    slowly   raised    and    slowly 


September  14,  1912     ctbc  36i:tttsb  Soumal  of  IRursinfl. 


207 


lowered — the  exercise  thus  consisting-  ol  four 
distinct  movements.  The  feet  are  kept  shj,fhtly 
turned  in,  and  slightly  turned  over  on  their 
outer  border,  all  the  time.  The  exercise  is 
repeated  from  50  to  100  times.  2.  Sitting  on 
one  chair,  with  the  foot  projecting  over  the 
edge  of  another,  the  calf  of  the  log  resting  on 
the  seat.  Keeping  the  knee  still,  the  foot  is 
slowly  circuuidticted  to  its  full  extent  in  all 
directions,  down,  in,  up,  out,  50  times ;  then 
down,  out,  up,  in,  50  times.  If  possible,  the 
circumduction  is  to  be  done  with  the  foot  in  a 
slightly  varus  position  the  whole  time.  This 
is  repeated  with  the  other  foot. 

These  directions  must  be  followed  uninlcr- 
ruptedlv,  and  the  exercises  carried  out  daily, 
for  at  least  three  months,  and  as  long  after 
that  as  any  disability  is  felt  in  the  feet.  In  most 
cases  the  wedges  give  relief  at  once,  and  after 
three  months'  exercises  cease  to  be  necessary, 
but  the  directions  as  to  footwear  and  position  in 
standing  and  walking  must  be  adhered  to  for 
years.  The  wedges  may,  as  a  rule,  be  omitted 
after  a  year.  In  addition,  the  patient  should 
take  to  bicycling,  care  being  taken  that  only  the 
toes  rest  on  the  pedals. 


CLINIC.4L  NOTES  ON  SOME  COMMON 
AILMENTS. 

By  a.   Knvvett  Gordon,  M.B.   Cantab. 


TUBERCULOSIS     IN     CHILDREN- 
TREATMENT. 

We  come  now  to  the  treatment  of  tuber- 
culosis in  children,  and  it  will  simplify  matters 
somewhat  if  we  bear  in  mind  certain  points 
which  underlie  the  treatment  of  infectious 
diseases  in  general. 

Inasmuch  as  we  have  to  deal  with  a  fight 
between  the  germ  and  the  individual,  it  is 
obvious  that  we  have  to  try  both  to  hinder  the 
microbe  and  help  the  patient.  Always,  liow- 
ever,  we  should  begin  by  considering  whether 
the  disease  cannot  be  prevented,  and  to 
encompass  this  we  have  to  try,  firstly,  to 
remove  the  supply  of  germs  from  the  com- 
munity as  completely  as  possible ;  secondly,  to 
kill  any  microbes  that  may  have  got  there 
already  ;  and,  thirdly,  to  improve  the  natural 
resistance  of  susceptible  people  so  that  they 
may  be  more  readily  able  to  rid  themselves  of 
the  organisms  which  have  obtained  entrance  to 
their  bodies. 

When  the  patient  has  contracted  the  disease, 
that  is  to  say  when  the  fight  is  in  full  swing 


inside  his  body,  we  have  to  consider  whether 
we  ean  take  the  microbes  away  from  his 
system,  or  kill  them,  and  also  in  what  ways  we 
can  help  his  white  blood  corpuscles  in  their 
attempts  to  do  this  for  themselves.  In  some 
infections  we  can  use  all  these  methods,  but  in 
tuberculosis  we  have  to  rely  on  one  or  two  only. 
Formerly  it  used  to  be  thought  that  all  forms  of 
tuberculosis  were  incurable;  but  we  know  now 
that  very  much  may  be  done  to  help  the 
patient,  and  in  some  cases  we  can  eradicate  the 
disease  altogether. 

*  With  these  general  principles  in  view,  we  will 
take  the  treatment  of  tuberculosis  (always 
bearing  in  mind  that  we  are  talking  of  its 
effects  on  children  and  not  on  adults)  in  some 
detail. 

Firstly,  as  to  prevention.  Let  us  see  what 
the  conditions  are  under  which  children  con- 
tract tuberculosis.  All  over  the  country,  and 
especially  in  overcrowded  areas  in  our  big 
cities,  adult  consumptives  are  loading  the  air 
with  tubercle  bacilli,  which  they  expectorate  in 
myriads  whenever  they  have  a  fit  of  coughing. 
This  sputum  dries  up,  becomes  dust,  and  is 
ready  to  be  breathed  in  by  children,  espt'cially 
by  those  who  are  playing  about  on  the  floor  of 
a  room  where  a  consumptive  lives.  This,  as 
we  have  seen,  is  the  main  source  of  infection ; 
but  the  second,  namely,  tuberculous  milk,  is  by 
no  means  to  be  despised.  If,  in  the  case  of  a 
great  city,  the  trains  conveying  milk  for  con- 
sumption by  its  inhabitants  are  boarded  by 
inspectors  and  samples  are  taken, for  analysis 
of  the  milk  from  the  churns,  it  is  found  that 
when  these  samples  are  inoculated  into  suscep- 
tible animals — usually  guinea  pigs — very  many 
of  them  are  found  to  contain  tubercle  bacilli,  as 
shown  bv  the  development  of  tuberculosis  in 
the  animal.  When  the  farms  from  which  the 
infected  samples  have  been  taken  are  visited  by 
veterinary  inspectors,  it  is  common  to  find 
animals  suffering  from  tuberculosis  of  the 
udder. 

Now  all  this  is  preventible.  .Adult  consump- 
tives, if  they  are  not  able  to,  or  will  not,  take 
proper  precautions  to  prevent  their  sputum 
liecoming  dust,  should  undoubtedly  be  removed 
to  a  place  of  safety  in  an  isolation  hospital  or 
sanatorium.  The  main  point  is  that  they 
should  never  expectorate  into  the  atmosphere 
at  all,  but  rather  into  a  bottle  whose  contents 
can  be  afterwards  burnt.  Then  tubercle  bacilli 
should  be  removed  from  schools  and  places 
where  children  most  do  congregate,  by  spray- 
ing and  swabbing  the  walls  and  floors  with  an 
adequate  disinfectant^not,  incidentally,  with 
something  that  merely  smells  and  does  not  kill. 


2o8 


Z\K  Bdtlsb  3ournal  ot  iRursino.     September  14, 


1912 


When  disinfection  is  Iclt  to  the  discretion 
(or  otherwise)  of  the  patient's  relatives,  it  often 
happens  that  they  select  carbolic  acid.  Now 
this,  besides  being  very  poisonous  and  also 
expensive,  has  the  disadvantage  that  it  does 
not  kill  tubercle  bacilli  at  all  easily.  A  solution 
of  the  strength  of  one  part  in  twenty  parts  of 
water  takes  about  three'  hours  to  kill  tubercle 
bacilli  in  a  test  itube,  and  it  is  very  doubtful 
whether  tuberculous  sputum,  in  which  the 
bacilli  are  enveloped  in  sticky  mucous,  can  be 
rendered  harmless  in  four  hours.  On  the  other 
hand,  it  was  found  by  Prof.  Del^pine  that 
tuberculous  sputum  can  be  disinfected  in 
one  hour  by  being  mixed  with  an  emulsion  of 
Izal  containing  Izal  oil  in  the  proportion  of  i  in 
125.  Moreover,  Izal  is  not  poisonous,  and  is 
very  much  cheaper  than  carbolic  acid.  Tuber- 
cular dust  is,  incidentally,  not  nearly  sO  difficult 
to  destroy  as  the  moist  sputum,  so  a  solution  of 
I  in  200  Izal  suffices  for  the  disinfection  of  walls 
and  floors,  provided  that  it  be  thoroughly 
applied  by  spraying  or  swabbing. 

Disinfection  nowadays  is,  or  should  be,  per- 
formed by  the  sanitary  authorities  free  of  cost 
to  the  patient ;  but,  unfortunately,  the  efficiency 
and  quantity  of  the  work  depends  upon  the 
amount  which  the  particular  municipality  is 
prepared  to  spend,  and  this  again  is,  un- 
fortunately, often  decided  not  so  much  by  the 
requirements  of  the  population,  but  by  what 
the  authorities  think  of  the  importance  of 
sanitation  compared  with  other  matters,  such 
as  schemes  for  municipal  trading,  for  instance. 

Apart,  however,  from  the  action  of  public 
bodies,  very  much  spade-work  can  be  done  by 
the  quiet  and  gradual  education  of  the  com- 
munity, and  nurses,  in  particular,  can  often  do 
a  great  deal  of  good  in  this  sort  of  way. 
Though  this  is  treading  on  debatable  ground, 
I  am  personally  of  opinion  that  if  we  had  more 
women  on  our  City  Councils,  the  claims  of 
sanitation,  especially  as  it  affects  the  tuber- 
culous child,  would  receive  better  attention 
than  they  now  do. 

As  regards  measures  for  the  improvement  of 
the  resistance  of  the  community,  much  may  be 
expected  from  the  results  of  the  medical  inspec- 
tion of  school  children,  which  is  rapidly  edu- 
cating the  public  in  this  respect,  and  also  from 
the  recent  Town  Planning  and  Housing  Act, 
which  aims  at  the  eradication  of  unhealthy 
dwellings,  and  at  the  prevention  of  the  erection 
of  those  which  may  become  slums  in  the  future. 
Then  we  have  the  Act  which  enables  an 
authority  to  feed  necessitous  school -children 
who  come  to  school  without  any  breakfast.  All 
these  give  local  authorities  power  to  prevent 


private  individuals  endangering  the  health  of 
the  community,  and  will  be  of  great  value, 
especially  where  tuberculosis  is  concerned. 

But  we  must  come  now  to  the  individual 
child  who  is  suffering  from  tuberculosis  in  some 
form  or  other,  and  we  may  clear  the  ground 
somewhat  by  noting  at  once  that  we  cannot 
take  the  microbes  away  except  in  the  case  of 
accessible  infection  of  glands  or  bones,  when, 
of  course,  the  complete  removal  by  the  surgeon 
of  the  affected  parts  is  invaluable. 

In  the  case  of  tuberculosis  of  the  lung,  the 
difficulty  lies  in  reaching  the  affected  part,  and 
it  has  not  been  found  that  medication  of  the  air 
that  the  child  breathes  with  antiseptic  sub- 
stances is  of  any  real  valuo; 

Still,  the  main  factor  in  the  treatment  of 
tuberculosis  in  children  is  the  attempt  to  in- 
crease the  resistance  of  the  patient,  so  that  he 
is  enabled  to  deal  with  the  microbes  in  what- 
ever situation  they  may  be. 

General  Treatment. 

The  first  point  is  to  treat  the  patient  in  the 
open  air  as  far  as  possible,  and  in  healthy  sur- 
roundings. It  is  not  possible,  though  very 
much  more  is  being  done  in  this  direction  than 
formc-rlv,  to  send  every  tuberculous  child  from 
the  cities  to  the  seaside,  hut  I  certainly  think 
that  much  more  use  might  be  made  of  the 
country,  especially  amongst  the  hills.  Many 
cottagers  will  take  a  child  from  a  city  for  a  very 
small  sum,  and  open-air  treatment,  together 
with  an  almost  unlimited  supply  of  fresh  milk, 
can  be  easily  arranged.  The  cases  that  are 
most  suitable  for  this  kind  of  life  are  those  of 
abdominal   tuberculosis. 

The  next  essential  is  that  the  child  should 
take  large  quantities  of  pure  milk ;  but  this  is 
practically  impossible  in  a  city,  where  the  milk 
is  always  expensive,  and  frequently  itself  tuber- 
culous or  dirty  or  both.  Not  every  child, 
however,  can  take  large  quantities  of  milk,  at 
all  events  until  the  digestive  organs  are  in  good 
order,  as  they  very  seldom  are  in  a  city  child. 
It  is  usually  best,  therefore,  to'begin  by  giving 
small  quantities  of  milk,  which  may  profitably 
be  enriched  by  the  addition  of  an  extract  of 
bone  marrow.  This  latter  is  particularly  useful 
in  the  case  of  tuberculosis,  which,  as  we  have 
seen,  is  very  apt  to  attack  the  blood-forming 
organs.  It  is  also  necessary  that  the  diet  shall 
contain  an  extra  quantity  of  fat.  Cream  is 
useful,  but  is  practically  out  of  the  question 
amongst  the'  poorer  classes,  and  it  is,  more- 
over, often  adulterated  with  preservatives. 
The  usual  alternative  is  cod  liver  oil,  but  very 
many  children  cannot  take  this  at  all,  and  many 


September  14,  igi2     zbc  Biltisl)  Soumal  of  Bursimj. 


209 


more  strongly  dislike  it,  and  in  these  cases  it 
probably  does  them  very  little  good ;  usually 
children  do  very  well  on  Virol,  which  is  an 
emulsion  of  eggs,  malt  extract,  and  bone 
marrow  prepared  with  lemon  juice.  Perhaps 
the  strongest  point  in  its  favour  from  the 
medical  point  of  view  is  that  it  causes  an  in- 
crease in  the  quantity  of  white  blood  cells, 
which  means  an  increased  capacity  for  dealing 
with  micro-organisms,  including  the  bacilli  of 
tuberculosis.  Children  usually  take  it  with 
avidity,  as  its  flavour  is  distinctly  pleasing. 

Apart  from  these  general  measures,  it  is 
possible  to  act  directly  on  the  resistance  of  the 
patient  to  the  tubercle  bacillus  by  giving  tuber- 
culin hypodermically  from  time  to  time.  This 
consists  of  finely  ground  dead  tubercle  bacilli, 
and  it  is  found  that  the  effect  of  an  accurate 
dose  is  to  cause  the  patient's  leucocytes  to 
destroy  living  tubercle  bacilli  more  readily.  In 
all  probability  there  is  a  very  great  future 
before  this  remedy,  as  the  difficulties  in  the 
way  of  accurately  gauging  the  dose  and  the 
frequency  of  administration  that  were  apparent 
when  the  use  of  tuberculin  was  first  st.irted, 
have  now  been  removed.  In  most  of  the  large 
towns,  so-called  tuberculin  dispensaries  are 
being  started  for  the  use  of  this  remedy  under 
scientific  supervision. 

Loc.\L  Treat.ment. 

Such  are  the  general  measures  at  our  com- 
mand for  combating  tuberculosis ;  it  now 
remains  to  add  a  few  words  concerning  the 
local  treatment  of  the  special  forms.  We  need 
not  here  discuss  surgical  methods  for  the 
removal  of  diseased  bones  and  glands,  nor  is 
there  much  to  be  said  about  the  treatment  of 
pulmonary  tuberculosis,  which' practically  re- 
solves itself — apart  from  general  measures 
aforesaid — into  the  relief  of  cough,  diarrhoea, 
and  so  on,  but  the  abdominal  form  demands  a 
few  words. 

Curiously  enough,  abdomin:il  tuberculosis  in 
children  is  particularly  amenalile  to  treatment, 
though  this  may  have  to  be  kept  up  for  a  long 
time.  Complete  rest  is  essential,  and  the 
abdomen  should  be  supported  by  a  broad 
flannel  binder,  and  either  iodoform  or  mer- 
curial ointment  may  with  advantage  be  rubbed 
into  the  skin.  It  is  important  to  check 
diarrhoea,  and  to  give  as  much  Virol  as  the 
patient  can  take.  Cod  liver  oil  often  increases 
the  diarrhoea.  In  some  cases  simply  opening 
the  abdomen  and  afterwards  closing  it  up  again 
without  drainage,  has  a  very  marked  effect,  and 
it  probably  acts  by  causing  a  flow  of  healthy 
serum  to  the  affected  glands  ;  it  is  not  usually 
possible  to  remove  these  latter. 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 

HOW    WOULD    VOII    DKAL    WITH     A    CASK    OP    CROUI' 

OCCURRINO      IN      A      PRIVAH;      HOUSE      UNTIL     TML 

ARRIVAL  OK    llii;  DOCI  OR  ? 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize 
this  week  to  Miss  Emily  Marshall,  123,  New 
Bond  Street,   London.   VV. 

PRIZR     PAPIiR. 

Croup  may  mean  several  different  ailments. 
The  word  itself  means  "  a  noise  in  the  wind- 
ijjipe. "  The  most  common  kind  of  croup  is 
named  "false  croup,"  which  is  inflammatory 
laryngitis,  accompanied  by  a  hoarse,  noisy 
cough  and  difficulty  of  breathing.  In  the  event 
of  a  patient  becoming  suddenly  worse  and 
pending  the  arrival  of  the  doctor,  the  best  thing 
to  do  is  to  put  the  patient  into  a  warm  bath  and 
fit  up  a  steam  tent.  Hot  compresses  to  the  throat 
are  also  very  useful,  and  tickling  the  back 
of  the  throat  to  make  the  patient»sick  and  thus 
abort  a  spasm  may  relieve  the  symptoms.  No 
hot  water  being  to  hand,  cold  water  may  be 
applied  to  the  patient's  face  and  head. 

Spasmodic  croup  is  a  nervous  disease  without 
inflammation,  chiefly  attacking  children  during 
teething,  or  those  inclined  to  be  rickety  or 
troubled  with  worms.  The  attacks  are  spas- 
modic. The  symptoms  are  twitching  of  the 
hands  and  face  and  sudden  difficulty  of  breath- 
ing. It  is  in  reality  a  spasm,  and  often  ends  as 
suddenly  as  it  began,  with  a  loud  crowing  noise. 
The  medical  term  for  this  is  "  laryngismus 
stridulus." 

It  is  always  advisable  to  give  a  dose  of 
aperient  medicine  directly  a  child  shows 
symptoms  of  an  attack. 

True  croup,  or  membranous  croup,  is  a  much 
more  .serious  condition,  and  is  probably  genuine 
diphtheria  of  the  larynx.  It  resembles  the  other 
kinds  of  croup  in  the  shortness  of  breath  and 
crowing  cough,  and  as  long  as  the  patient  has 
this  noisy  cough  there  is  little  danger  of  suffo- 
cation. Directly  the  cough  becomes  feeble,  liie 
breathing  more  difficult,  and  the  patient  a  duskv 
colour,  send  at  once  for  the  doctor,  put  patient 
into  steam  tent,  and  prop  into  a  silling  posture 
with  pillows.  A  gentle  slap  on  the  back  with 
each  effort  of  coughing  may  dislodge  the  mem- 
brane, or  pieces  can  prohablv  be  removed  with 
forceps  from  the  back  of  the  throat. 

In  the  event  of  suffoc-ation  taking  place  and 
the  patient  becoming  livid,  the  oniv  chance  to 
save  life  may  be  to  open  the  windpipe  to  allow 
air  to  rush  into  the  lungs;  this  must  be  done 
quickly  in  order  to  save  the  patient's  life. 

It  may  also  be  necessary  to  give  artificial 
respiration  to  assist  the  passage  of  air  into  the 
lungs  and  restore  breathing  and  animation. 


nix  Brltisb  3oiu*nal  of  IRurslno-    September  14,  191 2 


Great  presence  of  mind  is  needed,  and,  of 
course,  it  would  only  be  in  cases  of  extreme 
emergency,  when  there  is  no  alternative,  that 
any  one  but  a  doctor  would  take  the  terrible 
responsibility  of  performing-  such  a  delicate  and 
dangerous  operation. 

HONOURABLE     MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honour- 
able mention  : — Miss  C.  Ryder,  Miss  K. 
Parry,  Miss  G.  Campling,  Miss  T.  Martin,  and 
Miss  R.  Temple. 

Miss  C.  Ryder  writes  : — 

"  If  the  attack  should  last,  give  a  drachm 
of  ipecacuanha  wine  in  water.  .  .  .  .As  the 
patient  may  perspire  freely,  the  room  must  be 
kept  warm  and  the  air  moist  by  means  of  a 
steam  kettle.  If  possible,  notes  of  tempera- 
ture, pulse,  and  respiration,  and  length  of 
attack  should  be  taken  in  readiness  for  the 
doctor  on  arrival." 

Miss  K.  Parry  states  :  "  If  a  child  has  pre- 
viously suffered  from  croup,  it  is  always  well 
to  have  a  spirit  lamp  and  all  other  necessaries 
in  readiness  in  its  room.  .  .  .  Also  when  in 
bed  after  a  hot  bath,  a  warm  drink  of  diluted 
milk  should  be  given  if  possible,  and  the  child 
encouraged  to  go  to  sleep." 

Miss  G.  Campling  writes  : — "  Children  liable 
to  croup  should  have  the  cure  of  their  attacks 
anticipated,  by  always  having  in  the  house 
ipecacuanha  wine  carefully  labelled  with  full 
directions  as  to  use  in  case  of  emergency. 
Send  immediately  for  the  doctor — in  the  mean- 
time quickly  prepare  a  hot  bath,  into  which 
lower  the  child  in  a  blanket  (some  children  are 
verv  nervous  of  water,  especially  the  very  poor, 
and  the  gradual  immersion  is  less  terrifying,  as 
the  bulk  of  the  water  is  not  then  realised),  and 
appiv  a  hot  sponge  to  the  throat  and  a  cold  one 
to  the  head." 

QUESTION     FOR     NEXT     WEEK. 

How  would  you  care  for  a  premature  infant 
at  the  time  of  birth,  and  subsequently? 

MEDICO- PSYCHOLOGICAL 
.ASSOCIATION. 

The  next  Nursing  Examinations  will  be  held 
on  the  following  dates  : — The  Preliminary  on  the 
first  Monday  in  November,  viz.,  November  4th. 
The  Final  Examination  takes  place  on  the  second 
Monday,  November  nth. 

Asylum  Neu's  publishes  this  month  a  list  of 
successful  candidates  for  the  nursing  certificates 
in  May.  Three  hundred  and  eighty-nine  passed 
the  Final,  and  368  the  Preliminary'.  How  sad  to 
think  that  the  ser\-ices  of  so  many  mental  nurses 
are  required  to  attend  the  saddest  of  all  human 
conditions  !  L  .  t-  — 


THE  INTERNATIONAL  CONGRESS  OF 
NURSES. 


WEDiNESDAV,    AUaCST    7th. 


^loRNiN'G  Session. 
THE     SOCIAL     WORK     OF     NURSES. 

On  August  7th  Miss  ^L  .\.  Snively,  first  President 
of  the  Canadian  National  .\ssociation  of  Trained 
Nurses,  presided  at  the  Morning  Session  of  the 
Cologne  Congress,  when  Sister  Karll  announced 
a  cable  from  Miss  Goodrich  in  reply  to  that 
offering  her  the  Presidency  of  the  International 
Council  of  Nurses  for  the  next  triennial  period. 
Miss  Goodrich's  answer,  "  Accept.  Honour  deeply 
appreciated,"  was  received  with  prolonged 
applause. 

The  Chairman  then  said  that  the  first  words 
attributed  to  man  after  he  was  turned  out  of 
Paradise — "  Am  I  my  brother's  keeper?  " — revealed 
the  depth  of  his  fall.  The  Man  Christ  Jesus  had 
Lived  and  died  in  this  world  to  demonstrate  the 
Divine  love  of  humanity.  "  Greater  love  hath  no 
man  than  this  that  a  man  lay  down  his  life  for 
his  friend."  The  duty  of  serving  humanity  was 
finely  incorporated  by  Charles  Kingsley  -in  the 
lines  : — 

"  I  must  headlong  into  seas  of  toil. 
Leap  far  from  self  and  spend  myself  on  others." 

Miss  Snively  then  called  on  Miss  Beatrice  Kent 
to  present  the  first  paper. 

TRAINED    NURSES    IN    SOCIAL   SERVICE. 

Miss  Kent,  who  read  her  most  interesting  and 
exhaustive  paper  in  fluent  and  faultless  German, 
introduced  it  by  saying  that,  in  liis  humorous 
essay  entitled  "  The  Two  Races  of  Men,"  Charles 
Lamb  described  them  as  the  men  who  borrow 
and  the  men  who  lend.  The  International  Council 
of  Nurses  met  triennially  to  lend  and  to  borrow 
ideas  from  one  another  corporately.  The  members 
gathered  seed  at  one  meeting,  and  at  the  next 
showed  the  frtiit  of  it.  She  hoped  to  be  able  to 
show  that  we  had  made  progress  since  the  last 
meeting  of  the  International  Council  in  London. 
District  Nursing. 

Dealing  first  with  district  nursing.  Miss  Kent 
showed  that  the  earhest  eflEorts  of  modem  times 
for  nursing  the  sick  poor  were  made  by  Elizabeth 
Fr\%  who  founded  the  Society  of  Sisters  of  Charity 
in  1840.  District  nursing  formed  a  considerable 
part  of  the  early  work  of  this  society,  but  was 
^dropped  with  the  organisation  of  regular  District 
Nursing  by  other  societies.  It  still  survived  under 
a  different  name  for  supplying  trained  nurses 
to  people  of  limited  means.  Miss  Kent  reminded 
her  audience  that  three  great  women — Elizabeth 
Fry,  Florence  Nightingale,  and  Agnes  Jones — drew 
their  inspiration  for  organised  tramed  nursing 
from  Kaiserswerth,  and  then  sketched  the  rise  of 
district  nursing  in  the  United  Kingdom.  . 


September  14,  1912     Gl?c  36i1tieb  30111*1131  Of  IHureino. 


School  Nursing. 
She  then  sp-'ke  of  the  beginning  of  school  nursing 
under  the  London  County  Council,  in  1904 ;  the  staff 
now  consisting  of  a  superintendent,  two  assistant 
Superintendents,  and  112  nurses.  She  showed 
tliat  school  nursing  was  brought  into  greater 
prominence  bv  the  passing  of  the  Administrative 
Provisions  Section  of  the  Education  Act  in  1907 
by  raising  it  to  the 
position  of  an  in- 
tegral part  of  school 
inspection.  The  Act 
provided  for  the  com- 
pulsory inspection  of 
school  children 
attendingelemcntarv 
schools,  vacation 
schools,  and  plav 
centres.  The  chief 
medical  officer  of  the 
Board  of  Education 
in  a  recent  report 
testified  forcefulli-  ^n 
the  invaluable  n  suits 
of  school  nursi  g. 
The  nurses  worked 
under  the  school 
doctor,  who  was 
usually  the  Medical 
Officer  of  Health,  by 
which  means  the 
Public  Health  and 
the  School  Medical 
services  were  co- 
ordinated. 

TUBERCtTLOSIS 

Nurses. 

The  notification  of 
tuberculosis  which 
came  into  operation 
on  Januarv  ist, 
1912,  included  the 
cleansing  and  disin- 
fection of  premises. 
and  aided  the  work 
of  prevention  of 
tuberculosis  to  a 
very  appreciable 
extent.  Edinburgh 
was  the  pioneer  city 
in  the  United  King- 
dom in  tubcrculiisis 
work,  and  the  dis- 
pensary system  started  there  so  admirably  by 
Dr.  Philip  had  served  as  a  model  for  other 
places.  The  Royal  Victoria  Hospital  for  Con- 
sumption established  in  that  citv  in  1 887  as 
a  memorial  of  Q  leen  Victoria's  Jubilee  had  now 
outgrown  its  name,  and  comprised  an  anti-tuber- 
culosis scheme,  including  a  group  of  institutions, 
namely  a  dispensary  and  hospital  for  advanced 
cases,  a  sanatorium,  and  a  farm  colony. 

A  large  number  of  duly  qualified  nurses  were 
constantly  at  work,  seeing  patients  at  the  Dispen- 


of    Ire- 
formed 
primary 
entering 


.MISS  L.  L.  DOCK    ON 
il.EFI)    AlISS 


sary,  taking  their  history,  and  preparing  them 
for  examination.  They  followed  this  up  by  visit- 
ing them  in  their  homes,  teaching  them  how  to 
live  the  opsn  air  life,  also  trying  to  persuade  all 
parsons  living  in  the  same  house  as  the  infected 
person  (known  as  "  contacts  ")  to  submit  to  an 
examination.  Three  years  ago  London  started 
dispensaries  for  tuberculosis  on  the  same  lines. 
In  the  year  1907 
the  Women's 
National  Health 

Association 
land  was 
with  the 
object     of 

upon  an  active  cru- 
sade against  tuber- 
culosis, and  in  1908 
the  Women's  Im- 
perial Health  Asso- 
ciation was  formed 
in  England  with  the 
very  appropriate 
motto,  "  The  power 
of  the  King  is  in  the 
health  of  his  people." 
The  chief  feature 
was  its  travelling 
Health  Caravan 
work,  in  connection 
with  which  lectures 
were  given  by  trained 
nurses,  illustrated  by 
lantern  slides  and 
also  by  the  cinemato- 
graph. In  the  Prin- 
cipality'of  Wales  an 
active  campaign  was 
also  being  carried  on 
against  tuberculosis. 

Health  Visitors 
AND  Sanitary 

Inspectors. 
The  Health  Visitor 
was  an  advisory 
officer  and  her  work 
preventative  and 
rducalional.  In  this 
she  differed  from 
the  Sanitary  In- 
spector, who  worked 
by  rules  laid  down 
in  Acts  of  Parlia- 
ment, and  so  had  the  power  to  enforce  compliance 
with  the  laws  relating  to  Public  Health. 

The  work  of  the  Health  Visitor  did  not  overlap 
that  of  the  District  Nurse  or  School  Nurse ; 
rather  she  co-operated  usefulh-  with  them.  The 
movement  was  the  outcome  of  a  suggestion  made 
by  Florence  Nightingale  and  had  steadily  and 
rapidly  developed. 

It  was  not  essential  that  Health  Visitors  or 
Sanitary  Inspectors  should  be  trained  nurses,  but 
many  of  them  added  these  qualifications  to  their 


WAV     TO     CONQRESS. 
DORRAN.   R.N.S. 


2±i 


^l?e  36ritisb  3ournal  of  H^nrsino     September  14,  191: 


own.  The  Medical  Officer  of  Health  for  Sheffield 
wrote  : — "  It  is  not  a  statutorv  qualification  of 
Health  Visitors  or  Women  Inspectors  that  they 
should  be  trained  nurses,  but  I  am  of  opinion  that 
a  nurse's  training  is  the  most  valuable  training  for 
a  Woman  Inspector  or  Health  Visitor." 

Mothers'  Welcomes  or  School  ofMothercraft. 

This  movement,  had  undoubtedly  been  the 
outcome  of  the  valuable  investigation  work  done 
bv  the  Health  Visitors.  Not  only  the  ignorance 
of  the  mothers,  but  bad  sanitary  conditions  in 
the  home  were  militating  factors  against  the  rearing 
of  healthy  infants.  It  was  France  which  first 
set  the  example  to  all  civilised  countries  of  giving 
greater  care  to  the  welfare  of  the  infant  population. 
In  1907  the  St.  Pancras  School  for  Mothers  was 
opened,  the  first  of  its  kind  to  be  established  in 
London.  There  were  now  i6o  Schools  for  Mothers, 
and  Infant  Consultation  Centres,  at  work  through- 
out the  United  Kingdom.  The  majority  were 
worked  bv  voluntary  agencies ;  only  about  twelve 
were  run  bv  the  municipalities. 

Factory  Nurses. 

Many  of  the  large  factories,  said  Miss  Kent, 
maintained  a  staff  of  trained  nurses  for  their 
employees.  For  the  purpose  of  the  present 
paper  she  had  visited  two  of  them,  the  Lever  Soap 
Factory,  and  Cadbury's  Cocoa  Factory.  In 
connection  with  the  former  there  was  a  well 
equipped  hospital  in  the  grounds,  besides  man\' 
dispensaries  for  dealing  wdth  minor  ailments, 
also  a  well-organised  St.  John's  Ambulance 
Brigade.  Organisation  in  connection  with  the 
second  factory  named  was  very  similar,  and 
equally  satisfactory.  Nurses  as  well  as  employees 
were  well  trained  and  well  paid. 

Cottage  and  Village  Nurses. 

It  was  regrettable  to  report  that  a  system  of 
nursing  had  been  established  in  various  parts  of 
England  by  which  the  poor  were  nursed  by  women 
who  had  undergone  a  very  short  period  of  training. 
They  were  primarilv  mid\\aves,  and  were  recruited 
from  the  same  class  as  their  patients.  The  organi- 
sation of  nurses  for  the  poor  in  rural  districts 
through  these  "Cottage  Nurses,"  and  "Village 
Nurses,"  was  to  be  deplored  as  an  undesirable 
substitute  for  the  fully  trained  nursing  which 
should  be  provided  for  the  sick  poor. 

The  Nurses'  Social  Union. 
The  Nurses'  Social  Union  was  founded  some 
twelve  years  ago.  Its  original  purpose  was 
to  be  of  assistance  to  nurses  working  singly  in 
lonely  districts,  but  it  was  subsequently  felt  that 
the  Union  must  widen  its  basis,  as  there  was  never 
more  need  than  to-day  for  nurses  to  meet  together 
to  discuss  the  social  questions  with  which  they 
were  so  intimately  concerned,  for  the  good  of  the 
community  whose  servants  they  were.  For  this 
reason  the  co-operation  of  all  branches  of  the 
profession  was  invited  that  thev  might  acquire 
from  one  another  a  knowledge  of  the  needs  of 
the  nation  in  respect  of  health. 


In  conclusion.  Miss  Kent  said  that  she  had 
only  been  able,  in  the  time  available,  to  touch 
on  the  principal  activities  of  trained  nurses  in 
the  United  Kingdom  in  connection  with  their 
social  service.  The  National  Council  of  Nurses 
advocated  further  extension — in  all  relations  of 
public  health — of  the  thoroughly  trained  and 
skilled  work  of  the  professional  nurse.  Its 
members  further  desired  that  only  the  highest 
standard  of  nursing  should  be  provided  for  the 
sick  of  all  classes,  and  looked  forward  hopefully 
to  the  dav  when  a  Ministry  of  Health  should  be 
established  in  all  ci\-ilised  countries  to  promote 
and  conserve  the  inalienable  right  of  Life  to 
Health. 

A    GROUP   OF  QERiVlAN    PAPERS. 

The  Nurse  as  Inspector  of  Orphans. 

Sister  Martha  Oesterlen,  Inspector  of  Orphans,  of 
Stuttgart,  said  that  as  soon  as  they  were  declared 
eligible  as  assistant  inspectors  of  the  poor,  women 
from  all  parts  of  the  Empire  offered  their  gratuitous 
services.  Their  work  was  of  incalculable  value, 
but  in  the  large  towns  it  had  become  evident 
that  the  number  of  honorary  members  was 
inadequate,  and  must  be  supplemented  by  paid 
workers ,  who  would  v/ork  hand  i.i  hand  with  the 
honorary  incmbers.  In  Stuttgart  the  suggestion 
came  from  the  latter,  and  already  two  female 
inspectors  and  one  assistant  had  been  appointed 
by  the  Town  Council.  They  were  answerable  to 
and  received  their  orders  from  the  Board  of 
Guardians  of  the  Poor.  Their  duties  comprised 
the  supervision  of  illegitimate  children  and 
orphans,  both  boys  and  girls  ;  also,  when  the 
Court  of  Ward  deemed  it  expedient,  children  of 
divorced  parents,  or  those  whose  safety  was 
endangered  by  a  stepfather ;  further,  children 
who  were  boarded  out,  whose  foster-parents,  in 
Wiirttemberg,  could  not  without  a  licence  take  any 
child  under  13  years  (in  the  other  federal  states 
the  age  limit  was  6)  ;  also  girls  from  reformatories 
and  other  homes  who  had  been  placed  with  families, 
allowed  to  return  to  their  parents  on  trial,  or  who 
had  entered  service,  the  law  requiring  that  they 
be  kept  under  supervision.  Besides  tliis,  the 
female  inspectors  were  expected  to  examine  cases 
on  application  from  other  boards.  Their  work 
comprised  5-6  hours'  visiting,  .and  2-3  hours' 
office  work  for  the  registering  of  cases,  the  drawing 
up  of  reports,  more  or  less  detailed,  and  the 
consideration  of  the  advisability  of  granting 
licences  to  applicants  for  foster-children. 

The  work  was  divided  into  districts,  and  it  was 
possible  to  pay  350  visits  a  month.  Five  to  six 
hundred  children  might  be  carefully  inspected, 
'but  a  larger  number  would  endanger  the  thorough- 
ness of  the  work.  This  work  brought  its  own 
rewards,  and  though  there  was  much  that  saddened, 
one  found  amongst  the  poor  noble  souls  and  often 
heroic  deeds.  In  a  workman's  family  where  there 
were  many  mouths  to  feed,  a  little  child  might  be 
found  being  fed  and  cared  for,  for  no  other  reason 
than  because  the  people  were  fond  of  it.  . 


September  14,  191 2     Cbc  Bvlttsb  3ournai  of  IRurstng. 


213 


Help  might  be  given  in  many  ways.     Temporary 
assistance   witli     money    or    milk,    medical    aid, 
admission  to  hospital  or  brine  baths,  the  lending 
of   cots,    which    if    given    would    be    pawned,    to 
children   who   were   otherwise   forced   to   share   a 
bed  with  some  invalid  adult.     A  daily  war  must 
be    waged    against    dirt,    ignorance,    neglect    and 
insanitary    habits,    unsuitable    nourishment    and 
the  use  of  alcohol,  the  causes  of  so  much  infant 
mortality.     Mothers  must  be  encouraged  to  suckle 
their   own   infants   and   be   given   some   idea   of 
pedagogics.     But  care  must  be  taken  not  to  let 
zeal  outrun  discretion.     For  example,   if  a  child 
was   loved   and   cared   for,    a   little   dirt  must   be 
overlooked,    for    surely  nothing    could    make   up 
for  the  lack  of  love  in  a  child's  life.     The  fact  that 
a  female  inspector  must  be  well  acquainted  with 
the  care  and  the  feeding  of  children,  hygiene,  &c., 
pointed  to  the  need  for  a  nurse  who  had  gained 
experience  by  working  in  diffcrdit  departments  of 
nursing  and  proved  herself  efficient  in  posts  of  trust. 
Sister   Ocstcrlen   cordially    agreed    with    Sister 
Agnes    Karll   that   three    years    training   was   in- 
dispensable  for   thorough   grounding   in   nursing, 
and  went  on  to  say  that  it  was  not  medical  and  social 
knowledge    alone    which    the     woman     inspector 
needed ;  the  wisdom  and  tact  gained  by  experience 
in  dealing  with  cases  of  mental  disorder  proved  of 
untold  value  when  face  to  face  with  drunkenness 
or  resistance  to  authority,  whilst  the  insight  into 
human  nature  thus  gained  would  guide  a  nurse, 
in    judging    a    child's    faults    or    vices,  to    trace 
hereditarj'  taint,  or  the  undermining  influence  of 
alcohol.     Tact  and  sympathy  were  two  necessary 
qualifications  to  draw  out  the  good  in  the  working 
classes,  and  the  inspector  who  would  gain  influence 
must  show  respect  for  the  worth  in  those  with 
whom  she  had  to  deal.    Many  a  well-meaning  worker 
split    upon    the    rock  of    condescension,    instead 
of  tactfully  imparting  her  superior  knowledge. 
[To  be  continued.) 

FIRST  STEpTtO  nursing. 


Miss  Cave,  the  Matron  of  the  Weslniinster 
Hospital,  has  a  much  needed  handbook  in  the 
press,  entitled  "First  Steps  to  .N'ursing-."  It 
deals  with  the  preparation  of  the  candidate, 
habits  to  be  acquired,  new  duties,  and  inci- 
dentally it  treats  of  the  necessary  clothing-  to 
be  provided  and  the  various  appointments 
which  are  open  to  certificated  nurses.  It  will 
be  published  by  Messrs.  Partridtje  &  Co.,  Ltd., 
at  IS.  net,  and  will,  we  feel  sure,  command  a 
wide  sale. 

Princess  Louise,  Duchess  of  .Arg-yll,  has  pro- 
visionallv  fixed  Friday,  Xovember  15th,  as  the 
date  on  which  she  will  open  the  new  ward  block 
at  the  Miller  fleneral  Hospital,  Greenwich.  Her 
Royal  Hij^hnoss  will  receive  purses  containing 
not  less  than  five  <ruineas. 


A  PILGRIMAGE  TO  EAST  WELLOW. 


It  was  my  privilege  to  accompany  Miss  Take 
Hagiwara,  Hon.  Vice-President  for  Japan  of 
the  International  Council  of  Nurses;  Mrs. 
Watatani,  Matron  and  Delegate  of  the  Mitsui 
Hospital,  Tokio;  and  Miss  Y'amamoto,  Dele- 
gate from  the  Red  Cross  Society  of  Japan,  on 
a  pilgrimage  to  East  Wellow  last  Saturday,  to 
lay  a  wreath  on  the  grave  of  Miss  F'lorence 
^Nightingale.  Mr.  K.  Hiraiwa  accompanied  the 
party,  and  interpreted  Miss  Hagiwara's  ques- 
tions and  speeches  in  the  kindest  way  possible. 

I  learnt  many  interesting  things  on  the 
journey  down  to  Romsey  ;  amongst  them  that 
the  employment  of  Red  Cross  Nurses  on  active 
service  during  the  war  with  China  was  due  to 
the  efforts  of  Baron  T.  Ostuguro,  Director- 
General  of  the  Medical  Service  of  the  Japanese 
Army,  who  insisted,  in  spite  of  opposition,  that 
the  nurses  should  be  so  utilized.  It  must  be 
satisfactory  to  him  that,  when  the  opportunity 
was  granted  to  them,  the  Red  Cross  nurses 
more  than  justified  his  trust  in  them,  and  their 
work  during  the  war  won  world-wide  admira- 
tion. 

It  will  also  gratify  British  nurses  to  know 
that  when  Miss  Nightingale  died  her  memory 
was  honoured  in  far-away  Japan  at  the  same 
time  that  memorial  services  were  held  in  this 
country,  and  that  in  the  Red  Cross  Hospital  at 
Tokio  Miss  Hagiwara  spoke  the  tribute  in  the 
presence  of  Princesses  of  the  {Jlood  Royal, 
Peeresses,  and  other  members  of  the  aristoc- 
racy, and  over  300  Red  Cross  Nurses. 

About  the  same  time  Baron  Ostuguro  insti- 
tuted a  Nightingale  medal  as  a  reward  of  merit 
for  Red  Cross  Nurses,  w  hich  is  decided  by  the 
lay  head  of  the  hospital,  the  principal  medical 
officer,  and  the  matron.  No  one  may  hold  it 
until,  in  addition  to  gaining  a  three-years' 
certificate  of  training,  she  has  been  a  sister  for 
at  least  two  years.  It  is  not  awarded  each  year, 
or  at  stated  intervals,  but  for  specially  meri- 
torious service.  The  medal  bears  the  repre- 
sentation of  a  nightingale,  of  which  bird  the 
Japanese  are  extremely  fond. 

Arrived  at  Romsey,  the  Delegates  first  visited 
the  fine  old  Abbey,  dating  back  for  a  thousand 
years,  and  after  lunching  at  the  While  Horse 
Hotel,  drove  out  to  Wellow  across  the  lovely 
river  Test,  through  Embley  Park,  and  close 
under  the  windows  of  Kmblev  House,  and  on 
helween  deep  hedgerows  scented  with  honev- 
suckle,  now  in  full  flower,  and  twined  with  wild 
convolvulus,  until  they  came  to  East  Wellow. 
Passing  through  the  little  turnstile  at  the  side 
of  the  Ivchgate,  they  at  once  went  to  the  Night- 


214 


<Ibe  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRurslnG-     sci^tember  ,4,  ,9,2 


ingale  tomb,  which  is  inscribed  on  the  three 
sides  with  the  names  of  Miss  Nightingale's 
father,  mother,  and  elder  sister  respectively. 
On  the  side  facing  the  church,  with  its  pic- 
turesque red-tiled  roof  and  black  wooden  tower, 
the  fourth  panel  bears  the  simple  inscription  : — 

t 
•     F.  X. 

Born  12  May,  1820. 
Died  13  August,  1910. 

Here  Miss  Hagiwara  knelt  and  placed  a 
lovely  wreath  of  heather,  bearing  a  clustered 
spray  of  choice  white  Mary  lilies  and  asparagus 
fern,  tied  with  soft  white  ribbon,  one  streamer 
of  which  bore,  inscribed  in  letters  of  gold,  the 
words  "  Japanese  Red  Cross  Society,"  and  the 
other  "  Representatives,  Miss  Take  Hagiwara, 
Miss  Yao  Yamamato,  Mrs.  Lily  Watatani." 
It  was  an  international  episode  of  the  greatest 
interest  and  significance. 

The  interior  of  the  little  church  where  Miss 
Nightingale  so  often  worshipped — picturesque 
in  the  extreme  outside — needs  restoration.  The 
frescoes  on  the  walls  have  been  plastered  over 
at  some  period  in  their  history,  and  the  plaster 
has  only  been  partially  removed,  giving  the 
walls  an  uncared-for  appearance.  It  should  be 
made  a  point  of  national  honour  to  restore  and 
beautify  this  simple  village  church. 

M.  B. 


APPOINTMENTS. 


THE  MATRONS'  COUNCIL 


The  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Matrons' 
Council  will  be  held  at  the  Royal  Albert  Edward 
Infirmary,  Wigan,  at  the  end  of  October,  by 
the  kind  invitation  of  the  Matron,  Miss 
Macintyre,  who  has  for  so  many  years  given 
her  warm  support  to  all  movements  for  the 
better  organization  of  the  nursing  profession  at 
home  and  abroad.  Though  Wigan  is  far  from 
London,  and  it  cannot  be  expected  that  a  large 
number  of  members  can  travel  from  London  for 
the  meeting,  it  is  hoped  that  those  in  the 
North  and  their  friends  will  muster  in  force. 
Thev  are  assured  of  a  most  kind  welcome. 

Miss  Macintvre  was  one  of  the  numerous 
matron  members  of  the  International  Council 
who  attended  the  Cologne  Congress,  and, 
with  others,  was  deeply  impressed  with  the 
vigorous  growth  of  the  Council  which  their 
support  has  helped  to  evolve. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Mary  Wood,  who  is  in  her 
72nd  year,  has  resigned  the  post  of  Matron  of 
the  Grenoside  Workhouse,  which  she  has  held 
for  thirty  years.  Everyone  regrets  her  depar- 
ture, as  she  has  been  a  most  valuable  officer. 


MATRON. 

Bradford  Royal  Infirmary. — Miss  Jessie  W. 
Da\ies  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Leicester,  under 
the  superintendence  of  Miss  G.  M.  Rogers,  and 
has  held  the  positions  in  that  institution  of  Ward 
Sister,  Assistant  Matron,  Home  Sister  and  In- 
structress to  the  preliminary  training  school. 

Infectious  Diseases  Hospital,  Croydon. — IMiss 
Marian  Stevenson  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Borough  Sanatorium, 
Huddersfield  and  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Dundee. 
She  has  previously  held  the  posts  of  JIatron  of 
the  Borough  Hospital,  Bolton,  and  of  Assistant 
Matron,  City  of  Glasgow  Fever  Hospital. 

Dunedin  and  Allied  Hospitals,  Dunedin,  New 
Zealand Miss  Margaret  Mvles  has  been  ap- 
pointed Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  South- 
wark  Infirmarv,  East  Dulwich,  and  has  held  the 
positions  of  Charge  Nurse  imder  the  Metropolitan 
Asylums  Board,  Night  Sister  and  third  Assistant 
Matron  at  the  St.  ]Marylebone  Infirmary,  and 
second  Assistant  iNIatron  at  the  Park  Hospital, 
Hither  Green.  She  has  also  worked  as  a  Queen's 
Nurse. 

NIGHT    SUPERINTENDENT. 

St.       Mary,       Islington,      Infirmary,       Highgate 

Miss  Dorothv  Lapham  has  been  appointed  Night 
Superintendent  in  the  ilale  Wards.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Infirmary,  Leeds,  and  has  held 
there  the  position  of  Sister,  and  has  also  been 
Sister  at  St.  Marv,  Islington,  Infirmarv. 

The  Infirmary,  Norwich, — Miss  Helen  Gower 
has  been  appointed  Night  Sister.  She  was  trained 
at  St.  Leonard's  Infirmary,  Shoreditch,  where  she 
has  held  the  position  of  Theatre  Sister. 

SISTER. 

Hornsey    Isolation    Hospital Miss   Nellie  Branch 

has  been  appointed  Ward  Sister.  She  was  trained 
at  the  Great  Northern  Central  Hospital,  and  has 
held  the  post  of  StaS  Nurse  at  the  Smallpox 
Branch  Hospital  of  the  Citv  Hospital,  Coventrv. 

Fever  Hospital,  Clatterbridge,  near  Birkenhead- 
— Miss  E.  C.  Heath  has  been  appointed 
Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the  .North  Evington 
Infirmary,  Leicester,  and  has  been  Staff  Nurse 
at  the  City  Hospital,  North  Liverpool,  and  Stag 
Nurse  at  the  Clatterbridge  Fever  Hospital.  She 
has  also  had  experience  in  Liverpool  in  private 
nursing,  and  as  a  District  Nurse  in  connection 
with  Queen  ^'ictoria's  Jubilee  Institute. 

City      Fever      Hospital,      Little      Bromwich — Miss 

'Mary   Hayden   has   been    appointed    Sister.     She 

was  trained    at  the  Crumpsall  Infirmary  and  the 

above  Fever  Hospital,  and  has  had  experience  of 

private  nursing. 

General     Infirmary,    Stamford IMiss   Alice    Uns- 

worth  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  has 
held  a  similar  position  at  the  Hospital,  Wallington, 
and  the  Devonshire  Hospital,  Buxton. 


September  14,  1912     Z\)C  Buttlsb  Boumal  of  11^iui?ino- 


215 


Northern  Fever  Hospital,  Liverpool.  —  Miss 
Constance  M.  Bauran  has  been  appointed  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  St.  Leonard's  Infirmary', 
Shoreditch,  and  at  the  Xorthem  Hospital,  Liver- 
pool. Miss  Gertrude  Gregor  has  also  been  ap- 
pointed Sister.  She  was  trained  in  the  same 
institutions  as  Miss  Barran. 

THEATRE     SISTER. 

Royal  Infirmar),  Halifax.  —  Miss  Helen  C. 
Ashlcv  has  been  appointed  Tlieatre  Sister.  She 
was  trained  for  two  years  at  the  Jessop  Hospital, 
SheflSeld,  and  for  four  years  at  the  Royal  Infirman.-, 
Liverpool,  the  last  of  which  she  spent  in  the 
theatres. 

CHARGE  NURSE. 

Jubilee  Infirmarv',  North  Shields. — Miss  Martha 
Walker  has  been  appointed  Senior  Charge  Nurse. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Hull,  and 
has  also  done  private  nursing  in  connection  with 
the  same  institiition.  She  has  also  had  mental 
training  at  the  District  Asvlum,    Inverness. 

The  Sanatorium,  Barrasford,  Northumberland. 
— Miss  Gertrude  Parker  has  been  appointed 
Charge  Nurse.  She  was  trained  at  Charing  Cross 
Hospital,  W.C.,  and  has  also  had  experience  of 
eye  work  at  the  Royal  Ophthalmic  Hospital,  City 
Road,  E.C.  She  has  been  a  member  of  Queen 
Alexandra's  Imperial  Militars'  Nursing  Service, 
and  has  also  had  experience  in  private  nursing. 

QUEEN    ALEXANDRA'S    MILITARY    NURSING 
SERVICE    FOR    INDIA. 

The  following  ladies  have  been  appointed 
Nursing  Sisters  (July  17th)  : — Miss  M.  McNeely, 
Miss   M.    A.    Wilson-Green. 

QUEEN  VICTORIA'S   JUBILEE  INSTITUTE. 

Transfers  and  Appoi'itm-nts. — Miss  Bacon  is 
appointed  to  Leicester  as  Superintendent  ;  Miss 
Harriet  Goodwin,  to  South  Wales  as  Assis'ant 
Superintendent  ;  Miss  Rosa  Wilkinson,  to  Wa'ford 
as  Senior  Nurse;  Miss  Gertride  Butterworth,  to 
Manchester,  Ardwick;  Miss  Adelaide  Hirons,  to 
Cr.ventry  ;  Miss  Olga  Leknesund,  to  Glossop ; 
Miss  Clarinda  Tymms,  to  Purlev. 

SUPERINTENDENT. 

Miss  A.  M.  Bacon  was  trained  m  general 
nursing  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Bristol,  and  in 
children's  nursing  at  Pendlebur\'.  and  he'd  an 
appointment  at  the  Western  Hospital,  Fulham 
(Fever),  for  four  years.  She  received  her  district 
training  at  Bloomsbury,  and  has  since  held  the 
following  posts  under  the  Queen's  Institute  : — 
Assistant  Superintendent,  Ireland,  Jan.  1900 — 
March  1907.  Inspector  (London  Area),  March 
i-9'^7 — August  1912.  Miss  Bacon  holds  the 
Certificate  of  the  C.M.B. 

ASSISTANT    SUPERINTENDENT. 

Miss  Harri.t  Goodwin  was  trained  in  general 
nursing  and  in  midwifery  at  the  Union  Infirmary, 
Bradford,  and  in  District  Training  at  St.  Helen's. 
She  has  since  been  Queen's  Nurse — St.  Helen's, 
Eccleshall,  Pontypridd  (Senior). 


NURSIiNG    ECHOES. 


Miss  J.  \y.  Davies,  so  well  known  as  Sister 
Jessie  at  the  Leicester  Royal  Infirmary,  has 
been  elected  Matron  of  the  Royal  Infirmary, 
Bradford,  and  the  commitiee  of  the  latter  insti- 
tution could  not  have  made  a  better  choice  than 
in  selecting  a  lady  trained  by  Miss  Rogers,  and 
whose  wide  experience  in  the  various  depart- 
ments of  hospital  and  training  school  work,  not 
|to  mention  her  qualities  of  mind  and  character, 
eminently  fit  her  for  the  responsible  position  to 
which  she  has  been  appointed.  We  hope  Miss 
Davies  will  find  time  in  the  future  to  continue 
her  practical  interest  in  everything  which 
touches  the  welfare  of  the  profession  at  large, 
as  public  spirit  in  a  matron  reflects  most  advan- 
tageously upon  the  standing  of  a  Nursing 
School.  There  is  no  doubt  that  in  this  connec- 
tion Bradford's  gain  is  Leicester's  loss. 


We  are  glad  to  find  that  trained  nurses  con- 
tinue to  avail  themselves  of  the  Trained  Women 
Nurses'  Friendly  Society  as  a  means  through 
which  to  comply  with  the  National  Insurance 
Act,  although  we  are  bound  to  report  the  strong 
objection  of  many  trained  nurses  to  compulsory 
insurance  for  so  small  a  weekly  sum  as  7s.  6d. 
and  5s.  The  principle  of  insurance  is  sound 
enough,  they  argue,  but  the  sum  awarded 
should  be  of  some  practical  use,  even  if  the  self- 
sacrifice  of  a  larger  contribution  becomes  neces- 
sary-. We  still  hear  nurses  state  "  I  mean  to 
evade  the  Act,"  and,  indeed,  it  will  be  ven.- 
difficult  to  enforce  it  in  individual  cases. 


The  question  of  underpaying  and  overwork- 
ing the  nursing  staff  in  the  employment  of  the 
Holborn  Union  came  under  discussion  at  last 
week's  meeting.  It  was  suggested  that  a  sub- 
scription of  ;^io  should  be  given  to  the  Metro- 
politan Nunsing  Association  (which  relieves  the 
infirmary  of  many  patients  through  the  good 
work  of  its  district  nurses  in  the  vicinitv),  when 
a  lady  guardian  suggested  that  if  there  was 
money  to  give  away  it  would  be  better  to  accede 
to  the  demand  of  their  own  nurses  for  increased 
pay.  Dr.  Lauzen-Brown  said  :  "  We  have 
much  need  of  charity  beginning  at  home  in 
regard  to  our  own  nurses.  You  will  see  from 
the  Infirmary  Committee's  report  that  two  of 
them  have  run  away,  and  we  do  not  know 
where  they  have  gone.  Vou  will  also  see  that 
there  are  applications  galore  for  an  increase  of 
salary.  Our  nurses  are  infinitely  underpaid  and 
infinitely  overw^orked.  No  wonder  they  are  dis- 
contented. Give  more  money  to  them,  and  then 
it  will  be  time  enough  to  consider  about  these 


2x6 


Cbe  36vUisb  3ounial  of  iHurslno.    September  14,  191 2 


other  nurses."  Ultimately  the  resolution  in 
favour  of  the  ;^io  subscription  was  carried  ;  and 
a  letter  signed  by  seven  charge  nurses  of  the 
iniirmary  asking  for  increases  of  salary  and  for 
more  time  off  duty  per  month  was  referred  to 
the  Infirmary  Committee. 

The  Local  Government  Board  assented  to  the 
Guardians'  proposal  to  appoint  four  additional 
nurses  at  the  Citv'Road  Workhouse. 


We  hear  from  many  parts  of  the  country  that 
the  overstrain  of  nurses  in  Poor  Law  institu- 
tions is  very  prevalent,  and  conditions  such  that 
the  patients  are  necessarily  neglected.  These 
nurses  are  officers  directly  serving  a  State 
Department — the  Local  Government  Board — 
and  there  is  no  excuse  for  the  overstrain  and 
underpay  of  women  nurses  where  their  Chief 
receives  a  salary  of  ;^5,ooo  a  year  !  and  his 
male  officials,  according  to  printed  lists, 
salaries  which  cost  the  taxpayers  (including 
women)  thousands  and  thousands  annually. 
We  heard  recentlv  of  one  poor  girl  who  had 
100  patients  to  attend  to  alone  during  the  night, 
her  salary  being  little  over  ;£'20  a  year  !  We 
don't  wonder  under  such  circumstances  that 
Poor  Law  nurses  run  away  and  leave  no  tracks 
behind  them. 

A  Nursing  Department,  -with  a  Matron-in- 
Chief,  has  long  been  urgently  needed  at  the 
Local  Government  Board.  We  urge  Mr.  John 
Burns  to  take  the  matter  into  consideration. 


The  large  hall  at  the  St.  Hilda's  Schools, 
East  Leeds,  presented  a  scene  of  unwonted 
noise,  bustle,  and  animation  last  Saturday 
afternoon.  Strange  gurglings  and  cooings  re- 
sounded through  the  school.  And  the  reason 
of  all  the  excitement  was  a  Baby  Show,  pro- 
moted by  the  ^Vest  Riding  Nursing  Associa- 
tion, which,  at  its  local  branch  at  St.  Hilda's, 
has  for  the  past  eighteen  months  being  doing  a 
grand  work  amongst  the  poorer  mothers  of  the 
district. 

Without  doubt  it  was  a  highly  successful 
show.  In  all  there  were  ninety-two  entrants  in 
the  three  classes,  and  almost  all  the  babes  had 
been  ushered  into  the  world  by  the  kindly  aid  of 
the  nursing  staff  attached  to  the  Association, 
of  which  Miss  Thurston  is  the  proud  and 
popular  matron.  The  judges — Dr.  Stokes,  of 
.Armley,  and  Miss  Sorsby,  of  the  District 
Nurses'  Home  at  Hunslet — spent  the  best  part 
of  three  hours  in  deciding  which  babies  should 
take  the  prizes. 

In  the  judging  room  the  babies  were  extri- 
cated from  the  wonderful  arr.iy  of  lace,  ribbon, 
flannel,  and  safety  pins,  which  had  served  to 
hide  their  natural  beauty,  and  "  mid  noddings 


on  "  they  were  placed  under  the  scrutiny  of  the 
judges. 

It  was  finally  announced,  after  much  calcula- 
tion, that  Baby  Burrow — they  were  all  "  Baby 
This  "  and  "  Baby  That  " — had  won  the  first 
prize,  a  silver-plated  teapot,  for  those  under  six 
months  old,  with  Baby  Firth  Dennis,  w^hose 
mother  obtained  a  silver-plated  jam  jar,  as 
second.  The  first  prize  for  babies  under  tw-elve 
months,  a  baby's  high  chair,  was  won  by  Baby 
Wallace,  the  second,  a  cut-glass  and  silver 
flower  vase,  by  Baby  Ernest  Crossley,  and  the 
third,  a  silver-plated  jam  jar,  by  Baby  George 
Dennis. 

The  first  prize  for  babies  under  two  years,  a 
workbox,  w'as  w-on  by  Baby  Kavanagh,  and  the 
prize  for  the  best  baby  in  St.  Hilda's  parish  was 
awarded  to  Baby  Alfred  Reynard.  Baby 
Hollings,  aged  nine  days,  easily  won  the  first 
prize  for  the  youngest  baby  in  the  show. 


A  New  Zealand  Matron  now  in  England 
writes  : — 

"  It  is  just  possible  that  you  might  like 
to  Itnow  a  few  details  for  the  benefit  of  applicants 
for  the  post  of  Matron  of  the  Auckland  Hospital. 
The  appointment  is  an  excellent  one.  The  Matron 
has  very  comfortable  quarters — a  very  large 
sitting-room,  pretty  bedroom,  with  bathroom,  &c., 
opening  off  the  bedroom.  She  has  her  own  maid, 
and  can  have  ever^^thing  she  wishes  iri  reason  from 
the  Board.  Thus  there  are  no  domestic  discom- 
forts to  endure,  and  although  one  does  not  wish  to 
lay  too  much  stress  on  creature  comforts,  it  does 
make  a  difference  to  have  nice  surroundings. 
There  are  difficulties  in  New  Zealand  as  elsewhere, 
and  to  an  England  trained  nurse  taking  a  Matron's 
post  there  the  independence  of  the  nurses  may 
be  one  of  them.  But  if  the  Matron  is  a  well- 
educated  gentlewoman  and  has  a  thorough  grasp 
of  organisation,  and  has  held  a  post  of  authority 
in  England,  her  life,  in  my  opinion,  is  infinitely 
pleasanter  than  that  of  a  Matron  in  England. 
There's  a  freshness  and  vim  about  life  in  the 
Dominion  which,  I  think,  is  larselv  climatic." 


REGISTERED  NURSING  HOMES. 


We  learn  that  the  association  formed  by 
Miss  L.  M.  Stower  for  the  protection  of  the 
public  and  standardising  of  nursing  homes  has 
practically  completed  the  work  of  registration 
w  ilh  the  Board  of  Trade. 

The  main  objects  of  the  association  are  to  see 
that  every  matron  of  a  home  holds  a  certificate 
of  a  recognized  training  school,  and  that  the 
nurses  are  also  certificated  ;  to  safeguard  the 
homes  from  unjust  comment,  and  to  protect  the 
public  against  undesirable  homes. 


September  14,  1912     iLl)c  Brlttsb  Souriial  of  IRursmc}. 


217 


Among  the  supporters  of  the  scheme,  which 
will  be  known  as  the  National  Association  of 
Registered  Nursing  Homes,  arc  the  Duchess  of 
Somerset,  the  Uuchess  of  Marlborough,  Lady 
Downshire,  Lord  Dunmore,  Lord  Roberts, 
V.C.,  K.G. ,  Lady  Kinnoull,  the  Bishop  of 
London,  Lady  St.  Hclier,  Mrs.  Bedford 
Fenwick,  Dr.  Christopher  Addison,  M.P.,  Dr. 
Mary  Scharlicb,  Dr.  Leonard  Dobson,  Mr.  B. 
Mower  White,  Dr.  T.  J.  Hordcr,  Mr.  Joseph 
Francis  (chairman  of  the  City  of  London  Lying- 
in  Hospital),  and  Mr.  Percy  Simmons,  L.C.C., 
who  is  carrying  through  the  work  of  registra- 
tion. 

There  will  be  a  small  subscription  payable  by 
members  of  the  association,  but  after  the  pay- 
ment of  the  administration  expenses  any  sur- 
plus of  income  over  expenditure  will  be  vested 
in  trustees  appointed  by  the  members  of  the 
association,  to  be  used  by  them  for  furthering 
'  the  objects  of  the  association. 

TriE  LEAGUE  OF  SCHOOL  NURSES. 


\t  a  meeting  of  the  above  League,  held  on 
Friday,  September  6th,  a  resolution  was  carried 
unanimously  in  favour  of  the  proposed  Nurses' 
International  Memorial  to  Miss  Florence  Nightin- 
gale. The  proposal  is  that  each  nurse  in  the 
world  shall,  sooner  or  later — sooner  the  better,  of 
course — give  one  day's  pay  towards  establishing 
an  Educational  Memorial  of  our  great  Teacher. 
Such  a  sum  would  not  tax  any  nurse  unduly. 


We  have  pleasure  in  announcing  that  Miss 
Nutting — Teachers'  College,  Columbia  University, 
New  York — has  promised  the  first  subscription, 
a  most  generous  one  of  £25.  We  want  to  found 
a  Nightingale  Chair  of  Nursing.  Why  not  ?  Let 
us  try. 


Miss  K.  15.  frowning,  the  lion,  secretary  of  the 
League  of  Scliool  Nurses,  has  most  kindly  pro- 
mised to  send  us  some  copies  of  the  charming 
little  snap-shot  that  she  took  at  Kaiscrswerth,  of 
the  decorated  windows  of  the  room  used  by  Miss 
Nightingale,  when  working  there  sixty  years  ago. 
Those  who  would  like  to  have  a  copy  will  oblige 
by  sending  a  stamped  envelope,  with  their  applica- 
tion, to  the  Hon.  Secretary,  N.C.N.,  .(31,  Oxford 
Street,  London.  W. 

POOR     LAW     REFORM. 

The  Departmental  Committee  of  the  I^ocal 
Government  Board  (Sir  J.  G.  Davy,  Assistant 
Secretary,  Sir  A.  H.  Dovvnes,  Medical  Inspector 
for  Poor  I>aw  purposes,  and  .Mrs.  T.  Smith,  with 
Mr.  H.  W.  S.  Francis,  as  Secretary)  entrusted 
with  the  difficult  task  of  reporting  upon  the 
revision  of  the  Poor  Law  Orders  have  prepared 
a  draft  for  an  Order  to  regulate  the  management 
of  Poor  Law  institutions. 


REFLECTIONS. 

FROM  A  BOARD  ROOM  MIRROR. 
The  new  Fever  Hospital  at  Cameron  Bridge, 
Fife,  to  be  known  as  the  Cameron  Hospital,  and 
of  which  Miss  Margaret  Jack  has  been  appointed 
Matron,  will  not  be  opened  to  patients  until  the 
end  of  October.  The  liurgh  of  Buckhaven, 
Mcthil,  and  Innerleven,  which  has  erected  the 
hospital,  has  wisely  chosen  a  most  beautiful  spot 
for  it,  and  has  spared  no  pains  in  making  it 
Conveniciitly  up-to-date  in  every  way.  With 
Miss  Jack  in  charge,  the  Town  Council  may  lest 
assured  that  the  patients  admitted  will  have  the 
best  of  conscientious  care. 


The  late  Mr.  Graham  Vivian,  of  Clyne  Castle, 
]31ackpyll,  Glamorgan,  has  left  ;/]io,ooo  to  Swansea 
Hospital. 


The  principal  remedies  which  the  committee 
appointed  by  King  Edward's  Hospital  Fund  for 
London  to  inquire  into  the  system  prevailing  with 
regard  to  the  admission  of  out-patients  suggest, 
for  the  removal  of  abuses  are  : — 

1.  The  development  of  the  almoner  system. 

2.  The  limitation  of  the  number  of  the  almoner 
patients. 

3.  The  development  of  provident  agencies.   And 

4.  The  development  of  co-ordination  among 
hospitals. 


Working  men  contribute  most  generously  to 
the  upkeep  of  the  Royal  Victoria  Hospital  at 
Newcastle-on-Tyne,  and  apparently  they  also 
wish  for  a  very  wide  measure  of  control.  The 
provocative  suggestion  made  at  a  recent  meeting 
that  the  miners  might  start  a  "  thank-offering  " 
movement  by  subscribing  the  ;^i,5oo  which  they 
would  have  given  but  for  the  strike,  naturally- 
met  with  the  prompt  reply  "  Let  the  owners  pay." 
However,  it  is  satisfactory  to  know  that  every 
colliery  in  the  county  contributes  to  the  infirmary. 


The  Dowager  Countess  of  Carlisle  has  sent 
;^i,ooo  for  the  endowment  of  a  bed  in  the  Cumbsr- 
land  Infirmary,  in  memory  of  her  late  husband, 
the  Earl  of  Carlisle.  Ladyr  Carlisle  wishes  the 
committee  to  have  placed  over  the  bed  the  follow- 
ing inscription  : — "  This  bed  is  dedicated  on  behalf 
of  George  James,  gth  liarl  of  Carlisle,  to  the  use 
of  sufferers  who  come  to  this  hospital  for  comfort 
and  healing."  Miss  Julia  Fleming,  of  Stanwix, 
has  also  sent  ;/^i,ooo  for  the  endowment  of  a  bed 
in  the  institution  in  memory  of  fier  late  father, 
who  for  a  long  time  carried  on  business  in  Carlisle. 


Under  the  will  of  the  late  Mr.  Job  Samuel 
Watson  Palethorpe,  retired  lithographer  and 
engraver,  the  Nottingham  General  Hospital  and 
the  Nottingham  Children's  Hospital  have  benefited 


>i8 


Cbc  Biltisb  3ourual  of  IRuretna 


September  14,    1912 


to  the  handsome  extent  of  £1,000  each.  So  far 
good,  but  wlicn  the  munificence  of  the  testator 
provides  that  on  the  death  of  the  last  of  his 
grandchildren  the  reversionaiy  interest  in  an  estate 
valued  for  probate  purposes  at  £'50,000  passes  to 
the  two  hospitals  in  equal  moieties,  we  cannot 
approve.  People  liave  no  right  to  disinherit  their 
descendants  in  support  of  charitable  institutions, 
however  well  managed  they  are. 

REGISTRATION   IN   QUEENSLAND. 

The  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Society  for  State 
Regfistration  has  received  the  following  letter  of 
thanks  from  Queensland  : — 

Dear  Madam, — Your  letter  of  the  15th  ult., 
containing  congratulations  to  the  Nurses  of 
Queensland,  duly  received. 

Please  convey  many  thanks  to  the  members  of 
your  Society  for  their  good  wishes.  A  remembrance 
such  as  they  have  sent  us  is  very  much  appreciated, 
and  serves  to  bring  us  more  in  touch  with  our 
fellow- workers  on  the  other  side  of  the  globe. 

You  have  the  good  wishes  of  the  nurses  of 
Australia  for  the  success  of  your  Society  and  the 
accomplishment  of  State  Registration  for  Nurses. 
As  far  as  we  can  judge  it  is  much  more  necessary 
in  Great  Britain  than  with  us. 
Again,  with  many  thanks, 
Believe  me, 

Faithfully  yours, 

E.  L.  Hunter, 
Hon.  Sec.  Queensland  Branch, 
Australasian  Trained  Nurses'  Association . 

NURSING  IN  VICTORIA. 


AN  INTERVIEW  WITH  MISS  GRETTA  LYONS. 

The  visit  to  this  country  of  Miss  Gretta 
Lyons,  a  prominent  member  of  the  Royal 
Victorian  Trained  Nurses'  Association,  has 
afforded  the  opportunity  of  hearing  in  detail 
something  of  the  position  of  nursing  matters  m 
that  Colony. 

\'0LUNT.\RV  REr.ISTR.ATIOX. 

In  the  first  place,  although  tlie  organization 
of  nursing  is  at  present  on  a  voluntary  basis, 
through  the  above  Association,  it  is  in  advance 
of  this  country  inasmuch  as  all  the  principal 
hospitals  in  the  Colony  have  adopted  the  stan- 
dard defined  by  the  Association,  and  proba- 
tioners have  to  pass  its  examination  before 
registration  so  that  there  is  uniformity  of 
training.  The  nursing  homes  also  are  regis- 
tered, and  a  condition  of  being  so  is  that  they 
only  employ  registered  nurses. 

EXAMIN.'VTION    FOR    MATRONS. 

Further  the  Association  has  also  established 
an  examination  for  matrons  and  housekeeping 


sisters  conducted  partly  viva-voce  by  a  matron, 
and  partly  on  paper,  including  questions  on 
finance,  supplies,  the  teaching  and  supervision 
of  nurses,  and  similar  subjects ;  and  it  has 
approached  the  hospitals  to  support  it  in  main- 
taining the  value  and  prestige  of  this  certificate 
when  making  appointments  to  IMatronships,  by 
selecting  a  candidate  who  holds  this  certificate  ; 
and  the  authorities  have  as  a  rule  conformed  to 
this  request  and  loyally  supported  the  Associa- 
tion in  its  effort  to  raise  the  standard  for 
Matrons  and  therefore  that  of  nursing  educa- 
tion. 

Nurses  .should  Preside. 

The  President  of  the  Association  is  Miss 
Ayres,  until  recently  Matron  of  the  Alfred 
Hospital,  Melbourne ;  but  on  her  resignation  of 
her  appointment  she  also  asked  the  Association 
for  leave  of  absence,  as  she  proposed  to  pav  a 
visit  to  South  Africa.  This  was  granted.  Dr. 
Featherstone,  the  Vice-President,  being  deput'^d 
to  act  as  Chairman  meanwhile.  It  is  much 
to  be  hoped,  however,  should  Miss  Ayres'  pro- 
longed absence  necessitate  the  appointment  of 
another  President,  that  it  will  realize  the 
advisability  of  appointing  a  nurse  member  of 
the  Association  to  this  office.  However  well 
disposed  members  of  the  medical  profession 
may  be  towards  nurses,  they  have  not  the  same 
outlook  on,  or  knowledge  of,  nursing  matters 
as  nurses  themselves  ;  moreover,  if  medical 
and  nursing  interests  happen  to  clash,  their 
sympathy  and  influence  is  naturally  with  their 
own  profession.  The  guiding  influence  and 
voting  power  in  the  hands  of  a  nurses' 
association  should  therefore  be  limited  to  the 
nurse  members  ;  members  of  the  medical  pro- 
fession acting  in  an  honorary  and  consultative 
capacity. 

Nurse  Editors. 

The  same  remarks  apply  with  equal  or,  if 
possible,  with  greater  force  to  the  control  A 
nurses'  journals.  We  have  often  wondered 
why  the  Journal  of  the  Victorian  Trained 
Nurses'  Association,  which  should  reflect  and 
voice  nursing  opinion,  seemed  so  colourless  and 
so  devoid  of  the  true  nursing  note.  But  the 
explanation  is  found  in  the  fact  that  it  is  not 
edited  by  a  nurse,  and  so  naturally  cannot  deal 
wjth  nursing  matters  from  a  nursing  stand- 
point. We  cannot  too  emphatically  counsel  all 
associations  of  nurses  to  keep  the  control  and 
ownership  of  their  journals  in  their  own  hands 
under  the  direction  of  a  professional  editor.  To 
possess  a  voice  in  the  Press  is  of  supreme  im- 
portance ;  and  the  only  means  of  doing  so  is  for 


September   14,    1912 


vTbe  36r(tisb  3ournal  of  H-lurstno 


.M9. 


nurses  to  keep  the  control  of  their  own  official 
organs  at  all  costs. 

A  Professional  Position. 

We  learn  from  Miss  Lyons  that  the  question 
of  Homes  for  private  nurses  between  their 
cases  is  just  now  being  discussed  in  Melbourne. 
At  present  private  nurses  pay  ss.  6d.  per  w-eek 
all  the  year  round  for  the  right  of  belonging  ;o 
a  home,  and  the  use  of  "  billheads  "  and  tele- 
phone. When  in  residence  they  pay  from  15s. 
to  ;Ci  a  week. 

Miss  Lyons  strongly  advocates  that  all  such 
homes  should  be  superintended  by  trained 
nurses,  both  because  she  considers  that  the 
nursing  profession  should  reserve  this  means 
of  making  a  livelihood  for  those  nurses  who 
for  various  reasons  cannot  undertake  active 
nursing  work,  and  also  because  of  the  im- 
portance of  having  doctors'  calls  and  messages 
taken  by  a  trained  nurse. 

While  in  London  Miss  Lyons  has  made  a 
point  of  seeing  the  Howard  de  Walden  Home 
belonging  to  the  Nurses'  Co-operation,  with 
which  she  is  delighted.  "  Surely,"  she  says, 
"those  walls  can  never  hear  the  whisper  of  a 
grumble." 

BuRE.\u  OF  Information. 

It  is  interesting  to  learn  from  Miss  Lyons 
that  a  Bureau  of  Information  has  been  opened 
in  Melbourne,  at  59,  Swanston  Street,  in 
charge  of  Miss  Crocker,  with  the  object  of 
enabling  nurses  to  obtain  posts  in  private  and 
public  hospitals,  and  hospitals  to  obtain  nurses. 
The  nurse  pays  is.  and  the  employer  55.  to  the 
Bureau.  It  is  hoped  also  to  supply  all  informa- 
tion as  to  visiting  and  resident  nurses,  and 
private  hospitals,  and  to  provide  .1  centre  to 
which  nurses  can  apply  if  they  need  informa- 
tion, or  when  visiting  Melbourne. 

BlSH    XlRSINC. 

In  regard  to  Bush  nursing,  Miss  Lyons,  who 
has  lived  in  the  Bush,  considers  it  is  beset  by 
difficult  problems,  prominent  amongst  them 
the  matrimonial  one.  Indeed,  it  appears  as  if 
a  prominent  feature  of  the  work  is  likely  to  be 
its  success  as  a  matrimonial  agency,  and  as 
trained  nurses  make  most  capable  helpmeets, 
this  need  not  be  deplored. 

After  all,  the  problems  of  nursing  at  the 
.Antipodes  appear  in  the  main  to  be  much  the 
same  as  those  in  this  country,  and  so  long  as 
the  nursing  profession  possesses  members  so 
devoted  to  its  interests  and  so  disinterested  as 
Miss  Lyons,  we  do  not  doubt  they  will  be  dealt 
with,  with  wisdom  and  success. 

M.  B. 


OLTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


WOMEN. 

Tlie  .\nnual  Conference  ;md  Meetings  of  the 
N'ational  Union  of  \\'omen  Workers  will  be  held, 
at  Oxford  in  the  Masonic  Buildings  from  September 
30th  to  October  4th,  and  a  large  attendance  is 
expected. 


The  .\nnual  Dinner  of  the  Society  of  Women 
Journalists  will  be  held  at  the  Criterion  Restaurant 
On  Saturday,  October  2nd.  Mrs.  Charles  Perrin, 
the  President,  will  be  in  the  Chair,  and  the  presenta- 
tion of  a  gift  \vill  bo  made  to  Mrs.  Willougliby 
Hodgson,  the  late  Hon.  Secretary.  Her  many 
friends  hope  she  will  be  well  enough  by  that  date 
to  be  present.  The  .\nnual  Meeting  will  take 
place  at  the  Society's  office,  10,  St.  Bride's 
.\ venue,  E.G.,  at  3  p.m.  on  Wednesday,  October 
6th. 


Many  prominent  members  of  the  British 
.Association  attended  a  women's  suffrage  meeting 
in  Dundee  last  week  and  condemned  forcible 
feeding.  Professor  Halliburton,  of  London,  said 
the  feeding  by  forcible  means  of  even  criminals 
would  not  be  tolerated  if  statesmen  knew  what 
it  was.  The  horror  and  disgust,  apart  from  the 
physical  injury,  were  a  punishment  whicli  recalled 
the  worst  days  of  medieval  cruelty.  In  tlie 
Lancet  forcible  feeding  is  condemned  by  177 
distinguished  medical  men  of  Great  Britain  as 
"  a  severe  physical  and  mental  torture."  It  is 
the  outrage  to  the  "  person  "  which  produces  so 
irradicable  a  sense  of  wrong,  such  deep  and  bitter 
indignation  and  resentment  amongst  prisoners 
and  self-respecting  women. 


Now  that  about  1,500  Suffragists  have  suffered 
imprisonment  in  this  country  in  their  fight  for 
citizenship,  people  are  beginning  to  wake  up  a  bit 
about  the  conditions  of  prison  life.  The  descrip- 
tion given  by  Mme.  Steinheil  of  St.  Lazare,  Paris, 
where  she  was  kept  awaiting  her  trial  for  nearly 
a  year,  reads  more  like  things  as  they  were  in  the 
Middle  -■^.ges  than  in  the  present  day,  and  it 
compares  very-  ill  with  a  description  of  the 
"  Maison  Central,"  the  women's  prison  at  Rennes, 
most  interestingly  described  by  a  lady  correspond- 
ent  in   Sunday's  Observer.         She   writes  :  — 

"  The  first  thing  that  struck  me  was  the  absence 
of  bars,  the  open  windows,  the  air,  and  the  light. 
My  idea  of  a  prison  was  something  sombre  and 
tiark.  But  the  sun  shone  into  the  huge  workrooms, 
where  rows  and  rows  of  women  in  little  white  caps, 
blue  and  white  checked  linen  skirts  and  fichus, 
thick  knitted  stockings  and  wooden  shoes,  were 
bending  over  their  work.  This  prison,  like  all 
others,  is  conducted  on  the  silent  system,  and  I 
was  prepared  to  be  impressed  by  the  awful  stillness 
of  which  I  had  heard  so  much.  But  here  was 
noise,  the  deafening  noise  of  hundreds  of  sewing 


il\K  Bvitlsb  3oumal  of  Burslng.     September  14,  1912 


machines  worked  by  motor  power,  provided  by 
thc  contractor  who  supplied  the  material  out  of 
which  these  women  were  making  the  underlinen 
that  is  sold  in  the  big  shops  of  Paris  and  France 
generally.-  Here  were  machines  for  embroidering, 
for  buttonholing,  for  festooning — all  on  the  latest 
principle,  such  as  might  be  found  in  any  of  the  big 
factories,  wliich  must  have  interested  the  women 
to  work  more  than  the  monotonous  plain  stitching. 
The  very  noise  of  the  machines  is  a  relief  to  the 
prisoners  after  the  silence  of  the  dormitories, 
refectories  and  the  exercising  yard.  The  im- 
pression here  was,  therefore,  not  painful. 

"  According  to  the  French  svstem  prisoners  can 
earn  money  by  their  work.  Good  workers  can 
make  tenpence  a  day,  but  only  a  certain  share 
comes  into  their  hands.  A  portion  of  these 
earnings  is  put  aside  by  the  authorities  to  be 
handed  to  the  women  on  their  release,  but  the 
greater  part  is  spent  by  them  in  the  purchase 
of  sugar,  coffee  and  a  few  apples,  to  vary  the 
prison  fare,  which  consists  of  vegetable  soup 
poured  over  bread,  and  everj-  other  day  a  bowl 
of  white  beans,  potatoes,  or  rice.  One  of  the 
punishments  for  infringement  of  the  prison  rules 
that  the  women  feel  keenly  is  the  temporary 
withdrawal  of  permission  to  bu^-  at  the  canteen. 

"  In  the  infirmary,  at  the  close  of  my  visit,  I 
came  upon  a  weird  collection  of  criminals,  some 
sitting  up  in  bed,  others  standing  disconsolately 
about  the  room.  Wliat  had  they  done,  these 
harmless-looking  old  women  ?  '  They  are  nearly- 
all  here  for  life,'  said  the  governor.  '  The  one 
nearest  to  you  has  killed  five  children.  That  one 
there  was  a  servant  who  murdered  her  mistress.' 
'  And  the  majority  of  these  here,'  I  asked,  '  what 
has  been  their  crime  ?  What  are  they  here  for  ? 
'  For  killing  their  husbands  !  '  came  the  answer." 


BOOK   OF   THE    WEEK. 


As  soon  as  women  have  political  power  they 
must  make  a  tremendous  assault  upon  the  penal 
laws  and  prison  system,  and  the  Suffragists  who 
ha\-e  been  behind  the  scenes  will  make  a  fine 
ad\-ance  guard.  Meanwhile,  women  who  have 
tmie  might  join  and  help  the  fine  work  of  the 
Penal  Reform  League,  which  is  doing  so  much  to 
interest  the  public  in  the  right  treatment  of 
criminals,  the  office  address  of  which  is  i,  Harring- 
ton Square,  London,  N.W. 

VERSE. 

Through  the  rich  man's  window- 
Joy  passed  one  day  ; 

He  passed  the  scholar's  alcove 
Though  bidden  there  to  stay. 

He  brushed  the  cheek  of  beauty 
Then  rested — foolish  joy — 

Beneath  the  ragged  jacket 
Of  a  little  beggar  boy. 

— Mary  F.  Bates. 


"THE     ADJUSTMENT."* 

This  book  chronicles  the  doings  of  Christina, 
daughter  of  Rachel  and  Rudolph  Massendon, 
whose  marriage  years  before  had  caused  conster- 
nation to  Rachel's  friends  and  well  wishers.  The 
consternation  was  justified  by  their  separation 
just  before  the  birth  of  Christina.  Father  and 
daughter  meet  in  her  first  season,  but  it  is  some 
time  before  she  leams  that  "  Mr.  Tennant  "  is 
her  parent. 

Christina  is  a  serious  girl,  with  a  fund  of  self- 
will  and  self-reliance.  Her  mother  leaves  her  on 
a  two  years'  visit  to  America  at  the  time  when 
she  most  needed  her,  and  Christina,  as  might  be 
expected,  throws  herself  away  on  an  invalid  man 
who  is  largely  a  crank,  and  who,  incidentally, 
has  undergone,  some  years  previously,  a  term 
of  imprisonment  for  forgery,  mainly  due  to  the 
bad  influence  of  Christina's  father.  But  somehow 
it  all  works  out  most  suitablv.  She  meets  Desmond 
Stressborn  for  the  first  time  in  a  furious  blizzard 
on  the  sea  shore. 

"  The  tide  rushed  on  in  a  foaming,  swirling 
torrent  over  the  level  sands  on  her  left  and  the 
rough  path  she  tried  to  follow  along  the  edge  of 
the  sand  dunes  became  every  moment  more 
obliterated.  Close  at  hand  amongst  the  reeds  she 
could  see  the  roof  of  a  hut,  and  decided  to  take 
rest  and  shelter  there.  She  was  for  a  n-ioment 
too  blinded  with  sand  and  too  exhausted  to  speak 
or  even  to  see,  but  she  knew  a  man  helped  her 
to  find  a  seat." 

This  is,  of  course,  Desmond,  and  the  description 
of  the  blizzard  is  one  of  the  best  things  in  the  book. 
Her  compulsory  detention  at  the  Castle  during 
the  storm,  which  lasts  for  some  days,  seals  her 
fate  ;  Desmond  tells  her  his  unfortunate  history 
and  owns  his  love  for  her. 

"  The  whole  horrible  ugly  tragedy  seemed  to 
rise  up  and  drag  from  remote  corners  shadows 
that  might  lie  in  wait  for  a  man's  soul.  She 
dared  not  look  at  him,  but  the  slow  tears  gathered 
in  her  eyes  and  dropped  one  by  one  on  her  dress. 
.\nd  he  did  not  look  at  her.  He  sat  so  still  that 
she  could  bear  it  no  longer,  but  sprang  up  and 
went  over  to  him  and  put  her  hands  on  his  shoulders- 
'  Oh  !  if  caring  could  help,  how  rriuch  I  could  do.' 
she  cried  in  a  shaking  voice. 

"  His  hands  stole  up  and  were  clasped  over 
hers.    She  felt  them  trembling. 

"  '  I  told  you  myself,'  he  said  slowly,  '  because 
I  love  you,  and  I  could  not  bear  that  anyone  else 
should  do  it.'  " 

,-  The  incident  of  her  unpremeditated  visit  to 
this  young  man's  home  naturally  gives  rise  to 
gossip,  wliich  her  friends  tactfully  cover,  so  it  is 
the  more  exasperating  that  she  insists  on  returning 
to   nurse   him   through   an   attack   of   rheumatic 

*  By  Marguerite  Bryant.  William  Heinemann, 
London. 


September   14,    191: 


Cbe  Biittob  Journal  of  mursina 


fever.  She  appears  to  have  combated  the  pain 
on  Christian  Science  principles. 

"  It  needed  all  her  strength  to  hold  her  pity 
and  fear  in  check  as  she  looked  down  at  Stressborn's 
pain-racked  face.  Then  as  she  looked,  there 
sprang  up  in  her  a  consciousness  of  force,  and  an 
assurance  of  that  well-being  we  call  health 
too  great  for  her  own  needs.  The  very  tips  of  her 
lingers  seemed  charged  with  pulsating  life. 

"  She  leant  over  him  and  laid  her  cool  trembling 
hands  on  his. 

"  '  Desmond,'  she  whispered,  '  I  am  going  to 
help  you.    The  pain  shall  go  !  '   .   .   . 

"  In  time  she  knew  those  fixed  lines  of  pain 
would  fade  ;  she  could  only  wait." 

One  is  not  surprised  after  this  to  hear  that  the 
heart  trouble  from  which  he  had  been  suffering 
for  years  in  the  language  of  the  doctor,  "  looked 
as  though  it  would  pass  away.  I  consider  it 
amazing.     You  may  well  be  proud." 

But  in  spite  of  these  figments  there  is  a  good 
deal  that  is  interesting  and  amusing  in  this 
story. 

H.   H. 
.— • — ► 

READ. 

"  Fanny  Burney  at  the  Court  of  Queen 
Charlotte,"  by  Constance  Hill. 

"  Sunsliiiie  Sketches  of  a  Little  Town,"  by 
Stephen  Leacock. 

COMING     EVENTS. 

September  30^/1  io  October  ^th. — Conference  of 
the  National  Union  of  Women  Workers  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland.  Masonic  Buildings,  Oxford. 
Meetings  of  the  National  Council  of  Women, 
October  2nd  and  3rd,  10.30  to  i  and  i  to  4. 

October  2nd. — Meeting  at  the  INIansion  House  in 
support  of  the  Nurses'  Missionary  League. 

October  ^rd. — Conference  and  Farewell  Meetings 
to  bid  Godspeed  to  members  of  the  Nurses 
Missionary  League  leaving  for  the  foreign  field. 
University  Hall,  Gordon  Square,  W.C. 

October  22nd. — Central  Midwives'  Board  Exami- 
nation, London,  Birmingham,  Bristol,  Leeds, 
Manchester  and  Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

October  2gth-N ovember  2)id. — Cookery  and  Food 
Exhibition,  Royal  Horticultural  Hall,  West- 
minster, S.W. 

A    HOSPITAL    LOVE    STORY. 

i  Messrs.  Hodder  &  Stoughton  will  publish  on 
September  30th  a  novel,  entitled  "  Dr.  Tuppy,"  by 
Mr.  Stephen  Townescnd,  author  of  "  A  Thorough- 
bred Mongrel."  From  what  we  hear,  "  Dr. 
Tuppy  "  should  prove  popular  with  nurses  who 
can  enjoy  a  clean  love  story  of  hospital  life. 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially '  inviting  commxinications  upon 
ail  subjects  for  these  columns,  me  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


THE    REGISTRATION    OP    NURSING   HOMES. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
De.\r  Madam, — The  public  owes  a  debt  of 
•  gratitude  to  Miss  L.  M.  Stower  for  coming  forward 
and  tackling  the  question  of  the  standard  of  nursing 
in  nursing  homes,  and  I  am  pleased  to  note  that 
she  is  meeting  with  success.  One  claim  made  by 
the  new  Association  is  all-important,  and  that  is 
that  nurses  employed  in  homes  where  the  public 
pay  high  fees  for  skilled  nursing  shall  be  cer- 
tificated. Private  nurses  like  myself  who  often 
work  in  homes  will  warmly  support  this  claim,  as 
our  position  is  a  very  invidious  and  thankless  one, 
when  we  find  serious  operations  we  may  have 
attended  in  the  day  handed  over  at  night, 
or  vice  versa  in  the  day,  to  totally  inexperienced  so- 
called  "  probationers."  Let  us  hope  the  new 
Association  will  also  put  a  stop  to  "  training  " 
nurses  in  homes,  and  especially  the  system  of 
charging  ignorant  and  hapless  girls  fees  for  a 
so-called  "  training  "  which  they  never  receive. 
Why  municipal  authorities  have  so  long  permitted 
the  many  abuses  to  flourish  in  connection  with 
unprofessional  nursing  homes  is  difficult  to  say. 
I  hope  the  new  Association  will  encourage  sanitary 
inspection.  Homes  well  conducted  will  then 
have  less  competition. 

I  am,   yours  truly, 

.\   1'rivate  Nurse. 


WORD 


WEEK. 


"  My  idea  of  a  real  rest  is  to  be  able  to  do  what 
I  want  to  do,  ivhen  1  want  to  do  it." 


WHITE     CHILD     SLAVES. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dear  Madam, — I  was  deeply  interested  in  your 
review  of  Sister  Henriette  Arendt's  work  amongst 
Wliite  Child  Slaves.  There  are  plenty  i.i  our  large 
cities,  and  hundreds  of  little  prostitutes  ten  years 
of  age  and  upwards.  Recently  at  our  Home  we 
were  talking  of  "  fallen  women."  There  are  very 
few — most  of  them  "  fell  "  as  quite  young  children. 
Then  there  is  the  stir  in  South  Africa  about  the 
"  Black  Peril,"  but  how  about  the  "  White 
Peril  "  at  home  ?  Two  cases  of  rape  of  little  girls 
of  seven  reported  in  the  press  ia  one  week — and 
the  press  is  very  lenient  in  not  reporting  these 
cases.  What  punishment  will  be  meted  out  ? 
As  little  as  possible  we  may  be  sure.  Fifty  years 
has  made  very  little  impression  on  the  Bench 
where  poor  "  Little  Cuckoo  Flower  "  is  concerned. 
Sentences  are  scandalously  inadequate.  If  Sister 
Henriette  Arendt  comes  to  England,  it  is  to  be 
hoped  she  will  receive  a  warm  welcome. 
Yours  truly, 

A  Penitentiary  Worker. 


Z\K  3Sriti6b  3ouvnal  of  murstno.     scptcuber  14, 


191; 


BLINDED    AND    GULLED. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  J  oi'rnal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — I  take  in  your  paper,  The 
British  Journal  of  Nursing,  regularly,  and  wish 
to  thank  you  for  such  a  splendid  helpful  paper. 

It  is  so  helpful  as  regards  the  excellent  lectures 
contained  therein,  though  at  times  you  hit  hard, 
especially  in  regard  to  "  village  nurses  "  like 
mvself,  though  1  have  done  town  work  also,  &c. 

May  I  point  out  that  we  so-called  "  village 
nurses  "  are  blinded  and  gulled  when  we  first  set 
out  on  our  nursing  "  career,"  if  that  name  is 
applicable  to  the  case.  I  speak  the  truth.  There 
was  no  friend  at  hand  in  my  early — quite  early — 
twenties  to  point  the  way  to  the  magic  goal  of 
the  ambitious  probationer,  i.e.,  fully-trained 
and  certificated  nurse,  so  that  to-day  in  my  early 
thirties  my  position  in  regard  to  my  training  is 
not  very  much  better. 

1  tliink  young  women  of  the  middle  class,  such 
as  myself,  should  be  warned  against  the  methods 
of  these  "  octopuses  "  known  as  county  associa- 
tions, at  present  so  prevalent  throughout  England. 
A  \'icTiM  OF  Same. 

"We  have  recently  received  sc\-eral  letters  from 
village  and  cottage  nurses,  deeply  regretting 
wasted  time — in  having  through  ignorance  gone 
through  a  quite  insufficient  training,  and  then 
being  compelled  to  fulfil  a  contract  of  three  years' 
service  at  a  very  small  wage.  One  writes  :  "  If  I  had 
gone  to  a  good  hospital  I  should  by  now  have 
gained  a  certificate  worth  having,  known  my  work 
and  felt  safe  of  the  future — now,  unless  I  start 
afresh,  I  shall  never  be  really  trained — or  able 
to  nurse  with  a  clear  conscience."  We  have  advised 
this  right-minded  woman  to  start  afresh  when  her 
contract  is  completed. — Ed.] 


STERILISED    TOWELS. 

To  the  Editor  of  Tiif.  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — I  read  with  much  inteiest  the 
account  of  the  Maternity  Hospital  and  School 
for  Midwives  at  Cologne,  and  especially  the  fact 
that  the  sanitary  towels  used  for  the  patients  are 
taken  from  the  steriliser  with  forceps  and  un- 
touched by  the  hands. 

It  is  not  so  many  years  ago  since  I  called  at  a 
large  maternity  hospital  in  London,  and  to  my 
surprise  saw  a  nurse  sitting  at  a  table  in  the  front 
central  hall,  maldng  sanitari,-  towels  of  butter 
muslin  or  some  such  material,  absorbent  wool 
and  tow,  and  steadily  increasing  the  pile  in  front 
of  her,  the  uses  of  which  must  have  been  perfectly 
obvious  to  all  who  passed  through  the  hall.  It 
seemed  to  me  neither  seemly  nor  safe,  and  I  can  only 
hope  that  with  a  fuller  knowledge  of  the  need  for 
asepsis  so  undesirable  a  custom  has  been  abolished. 

It  seems  to  me  also  that  it  is  desirable  to  adopt 
the  steriliser  as  a  portable  case  rather  than  the 
bag  which,  even  if  the  lining  can  be  boiled,  is 
hardly  large  enough  to  hold  a  useful-sized  steriliser, 
which  it  is  all  important  a  midwife  should  carry. 
Yours  faithfully, 

Certified  Midwife. 


REPLIES    TO    CORRESPONDENTS. 

S.  V.  T.,  London. — We  regret  we  have  so  little 
space  for  sketches  and  stories.  If  nurses  would 
take  notes  on  interesting  cases,  also  write  on 
practical  nursing  points,  their  contributions  would 
always  be  welcome. 

Sister  E.,  Manchester. — We  shall  be  pleased  to 
give  you  the  introduction  you  require.  Everyone 
knows  everyone,  here,  there  and  everywhere  in 
these  international  times.  There  is  more  domestic 
work  in  private  nursing  in  new  countries  than  at 
home. 

M.  S.,  Dublin. — Consult  the  medical  officer  in 
charge,  or  write  to  the  medical  press. 

Out-patient  Sister. — Am  glad  you  found  the 
mask  practical,  and  that  it  has  been  adopted  in 
your  hospital.  Write  to  Miss  Nutting,  Teachers 
College,  Columbia  University,  New  York.  The 
cost  of  journey  and  living  in  New  York  is  prohibi- 
tive unless  you  have  private  means.  We  are 
sadly  at  a  loss  without  such  a  curriculum  in 
London. 

Matron,  Scotland. — The  policy  is  to  prevent 
co-operation — a  disunited  profession  is  weak  and 
manageable — we  might  add  exploitable  ! 


OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS. 

September  mst. — How  would  you  care  for  a 
premature  infant  at  the  time  of  birth,  and  subse- 
quently ? 

September  iSth. — Wliat  records  would  you  keep, 
and  what  points  would  you  observe  and  report 
upon,  as  a  routine  practice,  when  ntirsing  a  case, 
cither  in  a  hospital  ward  or  in  a  private  house  ? 


NOTICES. 


BUSINESS    COMMUNICATIONS. 

The  Editor  will  be  obliged  if  all  business  com- 
munications, such  as  requiring  extra  journals,  &c.. 
are  addressed  to  the  Manager,  The  British 
Journal  of  Nursing  Office,  431,  Oxford  Street, 
London,  W.,  and  not  to  the  Editorial  office  at  20, 
Upper  Wimpole  Street,  W. 


OUR    ADVERTISERS. 

We  would  remind  our  readers  that  they  can  help 
The  British  Journal  of  Nursing  by  dealing 
as  far  as  possible  with  advertisers  in  the  paper. 

Only  advertisements  of  the  most  reliable  firms 
are  accepted  by  the  management. 


NEW    SUBSCRIBERS. 

The  Editor  hopes  that  every  reader  who  values 
The  British  Journal  of  Nursing,  will  get  one 
or  more  new  subscribers,  so  that  its  constructive 
work  for  the  profession  may  receive  ever  increasing 
support. 


September  .4,  1912  ^bc  JSviti^b  Soumal  of  1IAuvi?ino  SiUHilcmcnt.     -23 


THe   Midw^ife. 


THE  MIDWIVES  ACT  IN  MANCHESFER. 


The  report  of  the  operations  carried  on  in 
Manchester  during  191 1  under  the  Midwives  Act, 
1902,  presented  by  the  Midwives  Supervising 
Committee  to  the  city  council  is  interestingly 
summarized  in  the  Lancet,  which  states  that  the 
statement  of  the  supervising;  officer,  Dr.  Barbara 
Martin  Cunninirham,  shows  that  during  the  year 
lOO  midwives  <»ave  notice  of  their  intention  to 
practise  in  the  city,  and  that  they  attended 
10,937  labours.  Among  these  patients  there  were 
72  cases  of  puerperal  fever  with  7  deaths.  The 
percentage  of  the  occurrence  of  puerperal  fever 
among  all  the  cases  attended  was  o-66,  while 
that  among  cases  attended  by  midwives  having 
puerperal  fever  cases  in  their  practice  was  1.14. 
During  the  year  135  cases  of  puerperal  fever  in 
all  were  notified  among  18,583  births  registered 
in  the  city  of  Manchester,  which  has  a  prpulation 
of  716,734.  Of  these  135  cases,  26  died,  or  a 
case  mortality  of  19.2  per  cent.  In  44  of  these 
cases  midwives  alone  were  present  at  the  confine- 
ments. Thirty-eight  of  the  cases,  were  treated 
at  home,  and  of  these  28,  or  73.6  per  cent., 
recovered,  16  with  good  health  and  12  with  poor 
health  subsequently.  Eighty-five  were  treated 
at  the  Monsall  Hospital,  and  of  these  73,  or  85.8 
per  cent.,  recovered,  59  with  good  health  and  14 
with  poor  health.  In  10  of  the  cases  which 
recovered  in  the  hospital,  the  women  when  seen 
between  six  and  eight  months  after  the  attack 
were  again  pregnant,  an  interesting  proof  of  the 
completeness  of  their  recovery.  Dr.  Cunningham 
concludes  from  these  figures  that  hospital  treat- 
ment of  cases  of  puerperal  fever  leads  to  a  greater 
number  of  recoveries,  and  that  the.  recoveries 
are  more  complete.  No  doubt  the  adequate 
nursing  obtained  in  the  hospital,  and  the  longer 
and  more  rigorous  confinement  to  bed  is  the 
explanation  of  these  better  results.  In  67  cases 
during  the  year  it  was  found  necessary  to  suspend 
midwives.  Sixty  of  the  cases  were  in  connexion 
with  puerperal  fever,  and  the  women  were  only 
off  work  for  a  few  hours  while  personal  disinfection 
was  carried  out.  During  the  year  the  notification 
of  G43  stillbirths  was  obtained  through  the  returns 
from  the  cemeteries,  or  a  percentage  of  3.4  ;  of 
these  314  were  notified  by  midwives,  and  the 
stillbirth-rate  of  the  population  in  midwives' 
practice  was  calculated  as  0.44  per  1,000.  As 
Dr.  Cunningham  points  out,  the  large  number  of 
cases  of  stillbirths  in  breech  presentations  with 
perfect  full-tcnn  children — namely,  37 — indicates 
that  if  medical  assistance  had  been  forthcoming 
in  all  these  cases  a  large  number  of  the  children 
might  have  been  saved.  The  midwives  Supervis- 
ing Committee,  in  considering  the  reports  sub- 
mitted to  them,  decided  that  prima  facie  cases 
of  neghgencc  or  misconduct  had  been  established 


against  three  midwives,  and  reports  respecting 
these  were  forwarded  to  the  Central  Midwives 
Board.  In  addition  to  these,  15  midwives  were 
dealt  with  by  the  Supervising  Committee  them- 
selves for  various  breaches  of  the  regulations  of 
the  Board.  In  one  case  legal  proceedings  were 
taken  against  a  woman  for  practising  habitually 
and  for  gain  as  a  midwife  although  not  certified 
under  the  Act,  and  a  conviction  was  obtained  ;  a 
fine  of  £^  and  costs  being  imposed.  During  the 
year,  four  special  nurses  were  provided  by  the 
committee,  two  of  whom  dealt  exclusively  with 
cases  of  ophthalmia  neonatorum  with  most 
satisfactory  results.  The  others  were  employed 
in  cases  where  the  midwife  could  not  attend  for 
the  time  being  or  in  septic  cases.  The  report 
shows  that  the  work  has  been  very  completely 
carried  out  during  the  year,  and  the  results 
obtained  are  greatly  to  the  credit  of  the  supervising 
officer,  and  to  the  committee,  whose  help  and 
support  have  undoubtedly  been  of  the  utmost 
value. 

THE  CENTRAL  MIDWIVES  BOARD. 

The  next  exaniination  of  the  Central  Midwives 
Board  will  be  held  on  October  22nd,  in  London, 
Birmingham,  Bristol,  Leeds,  Manchester  and 
Ncwcastle-on-Tyne.  The  oral  examination  follows 
a  few  days  later. 

■    »    ■ 

A    RECOGNISED    SCHOOL    FOR 
MIDWIVES. 

The  Maternity  Nursing  Association,  03,  Myddel- 
ton  Square,  E.C.,  is  now  recognised  as  a  Training 
School  for  Midwives  by  the  Central  Midwives 
Board.  The  pupils  work  in  the  poor  districts  of 
Clerkenwell,  Islington,  etc.,  and  under  the  super- 
vision of  Miss  M.  L.  Muriel,  the  matron,  and  the 
district  midwives,  the  school  is  doing  excellent 
work  amongst  the  patients,  and  the  experience 
which  it  is  able  to  offer  affords  excellent  training 
in  the  work  of  district  midwifery. 

■    »    « 

TRAINED  NATIVE  NURSES  FOR  CHINA. 

Dear  Editor, — This  photo  may  interest 
vour  readers,  and  help  to.  impress  upon  them 
the  value  and  importance  of  giving  attention  to 
the  training  of  native  women  for  maternity  work, 
that  they  may  by  such  education  reach  their 
own  people. 

Hangchow  is  the  capital  of  the  Chekiang 
Province  of  China,  and  has  a  population  of  half 
to  three-quarters  of  a  million. 

The  only  hospital  is  that  of  the  Church  Mission- 
ary Society,  which  now  has  men's  and  women's 
wards,  a  maternity  hospital,  a  honie  for  untainted 
children  of  lepers  and  orphans,  a  leper  hospital, 
and  convalescent  homes.  There  are  in  all  about 
three  hundred  beds,  and  onlv  one  English  nurse. 


224 


^be  Brltisb  3ournaI  of  H-lursjinG  Supplement.  sef.«embe.  14,  1912 


The  maternity  hospital  was  started  in  1907. 
Some  Chinese  ladies  approached  Dr.  Duncan 
Main  as  to  the  possibility  of  starting  a  maternity 
hospital  with  a  training  school  for  native  women. 
At  iirst  he  refused,  as  he  had  no  lady  helper, 
for  the  English  nurse  was  then  studying  the 
language,  but  finally  a  midwifery  training  school 
was  opened,  the  ladies  having  promised  the 
greater  part  of  the  fund,  so  eager  were  they  to 
arrest  the  cruel  practices  of  the  "  bo-bos  "  or 
midwives.  • 

Ninety  applicants  sent  in  their  names  without 
delay,  and  twenty  were  chosen.  They  were 
not  prepossessing  in  appearance,  for  although 
all  came  from  respectable  homes,  they  were  far 
from  clean  in  person,  and  their  long  nails,  denoting 
superior  position,  presented  another  difficulty 
to  be  overcome.  The  first  lecture  was  necessarily 
on  personal 
cleanliness  and 
the  importance 
of  short  nails, 
and  for  quite  a 
long  time  it  was 
ludicrous  to  sec 
only  the  right 
hand  nails  cut. 
But  gradually, 
by  lectures,  and 
being  in  con- 
stant contact 
with  the  English 
doctor  and 
nurse,  the  nails 
of  both  hands 
were  shortened, 
and  the  all- 
important  point 
of  cleanliness 
was  observed. 

For  various 
reasons,  four  out 
of  the  twenty 
students  left, 
and  the  remain- 
ing sixteen 
passed   their 

examinations  very  creditably,  and  were  suc- 
ceeded by  others,  and  the  good  work  is  still 
progressing. 

At  the  completion  of  their  training  the  students 
return  to  their  own  towns  and  villages,  and  are 
able  to  carry  on  their  work  on  Western  lines. 
One  student  trained  as  a  nurse  and  midwife, 
and  later  came  to  England  to  perfect  her  training 
and  take  her  L.O.S.  certificate. 

It  is  delightful  to  think  of  the  useful  future 
of  such  well-equipped  women,  destined  to  attend 
ladies  and  women  of  all  classes  and  to  supplant 
the  old  "  bo-bos."  The  harm  these  ignorant 
women  have  done  with  their  terrible  practices, 
causing  such  suffering  of  women  in  their  confine- 
ments, is  beyond  our  imagination. 

Some  of   the   nurses   have   become   Christians ; 


and  may  they  be  endowed  with  power  to  live 
consistent  lives  and  draw  others  to  the  knowledge 
of  Christ  ! 

If  China  is  to  become  a  Christian  country,  the 
natives  themselves  will  have  to  make  the  great 
advance,  and  what  better  way  of  extending 
Christianity  than  by  training  those  who  desire 
to  enter  upon  this  form  of  Christian  work  ?  They 
have  shown  keen  interest,  and  it  is  encouraging 
to  hear  that  the  effect  of  the  teaching  is  seen  in 
their   patience   and   perseverance. 

The  natives  have  the  advantage  over  the 
foreigner,  although  it  is  our  duty  and  privilege 
to  help  and  guide  them  all  we  can.  We  labour 
under  difficulties  of  climate,  customs,  and  language, 
whereas  they  are  thoroughly  conversant  and  can 
more  clearly  explain  themselves  and  more  fully 
sympathise  in  their  joys  and  sorrows,  and  are  able 
to  penetrate 
into  the  homes, 
and  win  their 
way  to  the 
hearts  of  the 
people. 

With  a  sense 
of  thankfulness 
we  learn  of  the 
wonderful  pro- 
gress that  has 
been  made,  and 
know  it  is  all 
worth  while, 
but  how  much 
more  rapidly 
the  work  would 
spread  if  the 
supply  of 
workers  was 
more  adequate, 
and  if  we  recog- 
n  i  s  e  d  our 
mission  of 
passing  on  to 
those  who  are 
through  various 
circumstances 
more  fitted  than 
ourselves  to  carry  on  this  great  work  the 
knowledge  of  the  art  of  ministering  to  the  sick, 
through  which  Christ  is  often  revealed. 
Yours  faithfully, 

Rhoda  Metjierell. 

NATIONAL    MATERNITY    HOSPITAL, 
DUBLIN. 

The  eighteenth  annual  report  States  that  during 
the  past  year  the  work  of  the  Hospital  had  been 
well  maintained.  Of  Lord  Iveagh's  gift  to  the 
Dublin  Hospitals,  the  institution  has  received 
/i,56o,  which  it  was  intended  to  devote  to  the 
budding  of  new  labour  wards,  bathrooms,  and 
additional  sanitary  accommodation,  the  want  of 
which  had  long  been  felt. 


MATERNITY    HOSPITAL.  HANQCHOW.     MOTHERS  AND   NURSES. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

.  !railSIM€  MEC^i 

EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,     SEPTEMBER   21,   1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


PROFESSIO.NAL  LESSONS. 
From  the  report  of  the  Annual  Meeting-  of 
the  Australasian  Trained  Xurses'  Association, 
held  in  Sydney,  the  profession  at  large  may 
learn  some  useful  lessons,  which  it  would  be 
just  as  well  to  take  to  heart. 

St.vte  Registr.\tiox. 
The  Chairman,  Dr.  Sinclair  Gillies,  drew 
the  attention  of  the  meeting  to  the  fact  that 
Queensland,  their  oldest  branch,  had  succeeded 
in  securing  State  Registration  by  the  passing 
of  the  Health  Act  .Amendment  .Act.  They  had 
hoped  that  this  year  they  might  have  succeeded 
in  getting  a  Bill  through  Parliament,  but  in  the 
present  state  of  politics  he  thought  that  it 
might  be  advisable  to  leave  matters  as  they 
were  until  a  more  fitting  opportunity  presented 
itself. 

KiaiPKOcnv. 
The  Chairman  then  said  the  question  of 
reciprocity  was  an  all-important  one,  and  would 
require  careful  adjustment.  Already,  by  tht 
Midwives  .Act  in  Western  .Australia,  trained 
general  nurses  from  the  Eastern  States  with  a 
six  months'  midwifery  certificate,  were  de- 
barred from  registering,  or  practising  midwifery 
in  the  West,  although  Iinglish  midwives,  with 
a  C.M.B.  certificate  and  a  training  of  probably 
not  more  than  four  months,  could  register. 
Their  council  had  taken  action  in  the  matter, 
and  had  written  to  Western  Australia,  and  also 
to  \'ictoria,  with  the  view  of  getting  a  joint 
protest  of  the  nurses  of  .Australia  to  combat  the 
action  of  the  Western  Australian  Government. 
Xo  "  Qi  idProQio." 
It  was  stated  that  some  of  the  members  of 
the  .A.T.N.  .Association  had  been  concerned  in 
taking  a  stand  with  the  members  of  the  Medical 
Association,  by  refusing  to  work  with  unasso- 
ciate  doctors.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Council  of 
the  British  Medical  .Association  the  opinion  was 
expressed  that  the  nurses  should  not  identify 
themselves  with  any  quarrels  in  which  the 
doctors  were  involved.     They  should  do  their 


dlity  under  the  doctors,  no  matter  who  they 
were.  If  they  found  that  they  could  not  work 
conscientiously  under  the  supervision  of  any 
particular  doctor,  they  should  withdraw.  It 
was  felt  that  the  doctors  could  not  give  a 
guarantee  that  they  would  not  treat  cases  in 
which  nurses  other  than  those  belonging  to  the 
.A.T.X..A.  were  employed. 

.Al  riLI.XTION    WITH    THE    IXTEKNATIO.NAL    COUNCIL 

OF  Xlkses. 
Miss  Blomfield  proposed  :  "  That  it  is  desir- 
able that  the  Australasian  Trained  Nurses' 
AssiK-iation  should  affiliate  with  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses."  The  motion  was 
carried  unanimously. 

Lessons. 
(i)  There  can  be  no  just  dealing  without 
reciprocity  of  standards,  and  thus  the  regis- 
tered midwives  of  Western  .Australia,  who  have 
now  legal  status,  are  right  to  refuse  to  register 
unregistered  nurses  as  midwives,  h'owever  well 
trained  in  obstetric  work  they  may  be. 

(2)  The  registered  nurses  in  Queensland  will 
be  wise  to  take  the  same  attitude  towards  their 
unregistered  colleagues  from  sister  States.  It 
will  compel  the  Legislatures  of  such  States  to 
pass  just  Registration  .Acts  for  trained  nurses, 
and  our  advice  is  not  to  "  wait  upon  oppor- 
tunity " — ever  a  lagging  jade — but  to  insist 
upon  legislation. 

(3)  No  one  will  dispute  the  wisdom  of  the 
advice  that  nurses  should  keep  clear  of  doctors' 
professional  disputes,  at  le.ast  until  such  time 
as  the  laws  of  medical  etiquette  extend  to  the 
nursing  profession,  and  thus  a  substantial  quid 
pro  quo  is  given. 

(4)  We  are  very  glad  to  observe  that  the 
.Australasian  Trained  Nurses'  .Association  has 
voted  unanimously  to  apply  for  affiliation  with 
the  International  Council  of  Nurses,  the  funda- 
mental basis  of  which  is  that  the  affiliated  Asso- 
ciations shall  be  composed  of  graduate  nurses 
only.  \\'e  have  long  been  of  opinion  that  the 
National  Association  of  .Australasian  nurses 
should  be  self-governing.  The  question  will 
need  consideration  before  1915- 


22b 


sibc  Britisb  journal  of  H^uusmo.      September  21,  1912 


WHAT    NURSES    SHOULD     KNOW 

ABOUT     TREATMENT     WITH      SERUMS. 
VACCINES,    TOXINS,     AND     PHYLACOOENS.* 


By  Miss  Emma  Nixon 
[San  Francisco  County  Association). 

I  have  been  r;pquested  to  give  you  a  general 
talk  on  serums,  vaccines,  toxins,  and  phyla- 
cogens.  My  plan  is  to  arouse  your  interest  and 
wonder  in  these  marvellous  therapeutic  agents, 
point  out  some  of  the  practical  points  of  interest 
and  value  to  our  profession,  and  give  a  few- 
reasons  why  we  should  take  up  the  serious, 
intelligent,  consecutive  study  of  these  new 
remedies. 

Bacteriology,  that  wonderfully  fascinating 
branch  of  the  science  and  art  of  medicine,  now 
embraces  a  vast  fund  of  information  that  has 
been  accumulating  for  many  years,  but  it  is 
only  within  the  last  twenty  years  that  the  appli- 
cation of  these  facts  and  discoveries  has  been 
made  in  the  prevention  and  cure  of  disease. 
First  came  vaccine  virus ;  then  anti-diphtheric 
serum,  with  both  of  which  you  have  long  been 
familiar.  Soon  came  other  sera  vaccines,  and 
quite  recently  the  phylacogens.  Of  these  latter 
I  will  speak  more  in  detail,  as  I  have  had 
greater  experience  with  them. 

In  the  last  few  months  I  have  noticed  a 
number  of  articles  in  the  lay  press,  which  indi- 
cate the  extent  to  which  observing  lay  writers 
have  been  impressed  with  the  results  obtained 
in  the  prevention  and  cure  of  disease  by  the  use 
of  bacterial  derivatives.  One  article,  entitled 
"  The  Struggle  for  Immunity,"  appeared  in 
Harper's  Monthly,  December,  1911  ;  another, 
equallv  interesting  and  well  written,  entitled 
"  Our  Struggle  with  Germs,"  was  published  in 
the  Literary  Digest,  December,  191 1. 

The  inference  to  be  drawn  from  these  is  that 
the  general  public  is  alreadv  noticing,  soon  it 
will  be  interested,  and  before  long  it  will 
demand  to  be  treated  with  these  remedies.  If 
lavmen  are  already  acquiring  a  noticeable 
degree  of  confidence  in  the  results  that  accrue 
from  the  use  of  the  bacterial  derivatives  in  the 
prevention  and  cure  of  disease,  what  must  be 
the  belief  of  the  best-informed  medical  research 
workers?  Naturally,  they  are  very  conserva- 
tive in  expressing  themselves  on  paper,  but 
there  is  no  doubt  that  many  of  these  men. 
believe  it  will  be  possible  to  cure  pneumonia, 
typhoid,  influenza,  erysipelas,  scarlet  fever, 
measles,       whooping  -  cough,        rheumatism, 

*  Address  to  the  Califomian  State  Nurses  Associa- 
tion Convention.  Reprinted  from  the  Pacific  Coast 
Journal  of  Nursing. 


asthma,  tuberculosis,  and  other  acute  and 
chronic  infectious  diseases. 

Let  me  assure  you  that  a  cure  with  a  bac- 
terial derivative,  especially  a  phylacogen,  is  a 
cure  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word — in  a  largo 
percentage  of  cases  a  marvellous  cure ;  grave- 
cases  that  are  beyond  the  reach  of  ordinary 
methods  are  saved,  severe  cases  are  cured 
promptly,  and  ordinary  and  mild  cases  arc 
cured  so  quickly  as  to  be  dramatic ;  relapses 
and  complications  occur  but  seldom,  sequela- 
are  prevented,  and  the  patient  has  been  at  the 
same  time  fortified  against  a  numbur  of  morbid 
conditions  due  to  bacteria. 

What  chance  has  the  ordinary  pharma- 
ceutical agent  against  this  class  of  remedies? 
Think  it  over.  Personally,  I  have  seen  some 
most  excellent  cures  obtained  with  the  bacterial 
derivatives  after  all  other  approved,  up-to-date 
methods  have  produced  little  or  no  improve- 
ment. I  firmlv  believe  that  the  next  few  years 
will  show  a  universal  adoption  of  the  biologies 
in  treatment  of  many  acute  and  chronic  dis- 
eases, so  it  seems  reasonable  to  me  to  forecast 
that  with  this  development  the  biologies  will 
constitute  at  least  50  per  cent,  of  the  thera- 
peutic agents  used  by  doctors.  The  importance, 
therefore,  of  beginning  early  to  learn  some- 
thing of  the  real  facts. concerning  these  prepara- 
tions must  be  apparent  to  you  all. 

I  urge  all  nurses  to  acquire  a  w orking  know- 
ledge, that  they  may  intelligently  co-operate 
with  the  physician  when  he  is  employing  these 
wonderful  therapeutic  agents.  I  do  not  hesitate 
to  say  that  less  than  10  per  cent,  of  the  profes- 
sional nurses  know  the  nature  of  a  serum, 
vaccine,  toxin,  and  phylacogen.  You  may 
answer  that  these  remedies  are  new ;  there  is 
plenty  of  time.  I  grant  they  are  new,  but  their 
use  is  growing  so  rapidly  that  their  general 
employment  by  doctors  is  assured,  and  now  is 
the  time  to  begin  getting  acquainted  with  these 
preparations  and  learning  their  various  features, 
that  vou  may  understand  fully  their  rational 
application  when  these  products  come  up  for 
discussion  in  the  regular  routine  of  your  pro- 
fessional duties. 

Our  profession  is  fuUv  capable  of  acquiring 
a  working  knowledge  of  the  practical  points  in 
the  clinical  use  of  these  agents,  and  we  should 
lose  no  time  in  doing  so  if  we  are  to  keep 
abreast  of  the  new  ideas  and  methods  of  treat- 
ing disease.  This  means  careful,  well-directed, 
consecutive  studv.  What  is  necessarv  for  the 
nurse  to  know,  and  what  is  practical  and  easy 
for  her  to  learn  that  she  mav  intelligentlv  serve 
the  phvsician  when  he  is  treating  a  case  with 
the  bacteria!  derivatives? 


Septenihi 


1912      Cbc  iButtisb  3ournai  of  iRurstno. 


.'27 


First,  the  nature  of  these  preparations. 
Scrums  are  the  liquid  portion  (remaining  after 
the  clot  has  separated)  of  the  blood  of  animals, 
usually  horses,  that  have  been  treated  with 
i^radually  increased  doses  of  bacterial  toxins  or 
attenuated  or  killed  cultures  of  the  organisms 
themselves.  These  preparations  contain  the 
protective  substances  developed  in  the  bloud  of 
the  animal  so  treated. 

Bacterial  vaccines,  or  bacterins,  are  suspen- 
sions in  physiologic  salt  solution  of  pathogenic 
bacteria  whose  vitality  has  been  destroyed  by 
heat.  These  preparations  contain  the  dead 
germs  themselves. 

Toxins  are  products  of  pathogenic  bacterial 
growth.  These  preparations  contain  the  toxic 
substances  generated  by  the  germs  during  their 
life  in  artificial  culture  media. 

The  phylacogens  are  neither  bacterial  vac- 
cines, toxins,  nor  sera  as  ordinarily  understood. 
They  are  sterile  aqueous  solutions  of  the  meta- 
bolic substances  generated  by  bacteria  grown 
in  special  artificial  media.  The  bacteria,  first 
killed,  are  then  removed  by  filtration  through 
porcelain.  These  preparations  contain  the  sub- 
stances developed  by  the  germs  during  their  life 
in  artificial  culture  media.  These  are  so 
modified  by  sterilization  that  they  are  non-toxic. 
These  phylacogens,  of  which  there  are  several, 
show  every  indication  of  becoming  bv  far  the 
most  valuable  and  most  widely  used  of  the 
bacterial  derivatives.  Their  range  of  applic- 
ability is  great,  as  there  is  no  question  that  Ihev 
have  a  place  in  the  treatment  of  most  of  the 
acute  and  chronic  infectious  diseases. 

Second,  the  feature  of  the  container  in  which 
these  are  usually  supplied. 

The  glass-sealed  ampoule  which  needs  to  be 
broken  open,  and  for  which  a  sterile  stopper 
needs  to  be  provided  in  the  event  that  only  a 
part  of  the  contents  are  u.sed. 

The  rubber-stoppered  glass  ampoule,  ren- 
dered hermetic  with  paraffin  dipping  ;  this  is  bv 
far  the  most  practical  and  convenient  container, 
since  with  a  little  attention  to  antiseptic  detail 
the  rubber  stopper  can  be  easily  removed  and 
quite  easily  replaced,  thus  preserving  the 
sterility  of  the  contents  and  allowing  their  use 
at  w-ill.  The  syringe  container  is  ideal  when  the 
contents  are  to  be  given  at  one  dose. 

Third,  the  methods  of  administration. 

The  hvpoderm.-itic  method  is  the  method  com- 
monly u.sed  for  giviny  nnv  serum,  toxin,  va"- 
cine,  or  phylacogen.  This  is  the-  most  conserva- 
tive. 

The  intramuscular  is  used  but  little,  as  this 
method  is  followed  by  more  pain  and  danger  of 
injecting  directly  into  a  blood  vessel. 

The  intravenous  is  used   bv  those   who  are 


expert  in  the  use  of  bacterial  derivatives.  .At 
this  time  the  phylacogens  and  serums  are  the 
only  preparations  given  by  this  method. 

Fourth,  that  these  preparatior.s,  when  the 
dose  is  less  than  i  c.c,  may  be  admi.xed  with 
normal  salt  solution  to  facilitate  administratitjn. 

These  and  other  points  which  the  nurse  un- 
familiar -with  these  preparations  finds  specially 
adapted  and  necessary  for  her  individual  needs 
can  easily  be  compiled  in  a  small  book,  which 
can  be  carried  and  referred  to  as  occasion 
derfiands.  Some  of  you  may  consider  this 
application  of  time  and  energy  burdensome  and 
impractical,  but  I  can  assure  you  that  already 
there  are  those  who  see  the  increasing  value 
and  range  of  applicability  of  the  biologies  that 
are  devoting  their  entire  time  and  attention  to 
this  field  of  therapeutics. 

In  the  several  instances,  of  which  I  have  per- 
sonal knowledge,  opportunity  for  employment 
is  never  lacking,  and  the  remuneration  is  verv 
attractive. 

(To  he  concluded.) 

OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 

HOW  WOULD  VOU  CARE  FOR  A  PREMATURE  INFANT 
AT     THE     TIME     OF     BlkTH.     AND     SiUliSEOUENTLV  ? 

W'e  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  S.  A.  G.  Lett,  Exning,  New- 
market, for  her  paper  on  the  above  subject. 

PRIZE     PAPER. 

In  attending  a  case  of  premature  labour,  the 
nurse's  preparations  will  differ  somevVhat  from 
her  ordinary  routine  so  far  as  the  infant  is 
concerned. 

Instead  of  the  usual  bath  and  clothing,  it  will 
be  necessary  to  have  warm  olive  oil  and  plenty 
of  'warm  absorbent  wool  or  gamgee  tissue 
ready.  A  fire  and  hot  water  bottles  must  be  in 
readiness,  no  matter  how  warm  the  weather, 
and  it  is  well  to  have  two  warm  flannel 
receivers. 

As  soon  as  the  head  is  born,  the  eyes,  eyelids, 
and  mouth  must  be  carefully  cleansed  in  the 
usual  manner  with  warm  boracic  lotion,  and  if 
the  cord  is  round  the  neck  it  must  be  slipped 
over  the  head  or  dow-n  over  the  shoulders. 

One  of  the  warm  flannel  receivers  must  now 
be  placed  so  as  to  receive  the  baby's  body  as  it 
is  born,  and  to  cover  as  much  of  it  as  is  pos- 
sible to  exclude  the  cold  air  while  the  nurse 
ascertains  that  the  child  is  breathing  properly 
and  waits  for  the  cord  to  cease  pulsating. 

L'nless  there  is  any  severe  haimorrhage  it  is 
very  necessary  to  wait  until  there  is  no  trace 
whatever  of  pulsation,  as  every  drop  of  blood 
lost  by  severing  the  cord  too  soon  is  of  great 
importance  to  the  premature  infant. 


Ilbe  35rlttsb  3ouniaI  of  IRursino-     scptcwber  21,  191 2 


The  cord  being-  severed,  tlie  infani  ^huukl  \k- 
transferred  to  the  warm,  dry  receiver,  and 
placed  where  the  nurse  can  watch  it,  with  a 
hot  water  bottle  near  it. 

As  soon  as  the  mother  has  been  attended  to 
the  baby  should  be  gently  rubbed  with  warm 
olive  oil,  the  cord  should  be  ligatured  again  and 
dressed  in  the  usual  way,  the  dressing  being 
secured  with  a  warm,  soft  flannel  binder.  The 
rest  of  the  body  should  be  warmly  wrapped  in 
cotton  wool  or  gamgee  tissue,  a  good  pad  being 
placed  underneath  the  buttocks — to  absorb  all 
evacuations — and  in  such  a  manner  that  it  can 
be  changed  without  causing  much  movement. 
The  baby  should,  if  possible,  be  then  placed  in 
an  incubator  ;  but,  as  this  cannot  often  be  pro- 
cured, it  may  be  necessary  to  improvise  one. 

This  is  best  done  by  getting  a  large  wooden 
box  with  deep  sides,  placing  several  hot  water 
bottles  in  the  bottom  with  a  pillow  on  top  of 
them,  covered  with  warm  flannel  or  a  blanket, 
on  which  the  baby  is  placed  and  then  covered 
with  another  blanket. 

A  thermometer  should  be  hung  inside  the 
box,  and  should  never  register  less  than  70°, 
and  the  box  should  never  be  removed  from  the 
warm  room  till  after  the  baby  has  reached  the 
norTiial  weight  and  strength. 

For  the  first  two  weeks  the  baby  should  be 
fed  every  hour  day  and  night,  very  gradually 
increasing  the  length  between  the  feeds  until 
the  sixth  or  seventh  week,  when  it  should  be 
fed  every  two  hours. 

For  the  first  few  hours  it  should  have  '>'} 
sterile  water  hourly,  and  then  .ij  of  one  part 
milk  to  five  parts  water,  and  a  very  little  sugar 
of  milk  for  the  remainder  of  the  first  and  the 
whole  of  the  second  day.  During  the  remainder 
of  the  first  week  the  feeds  may  be  increased  to 
,5ij  and  the  water  decreased  to  J.  By  the  fifth 
week  the  baby  ought  to  be  having  .^j  of  one  part 
milk  and  three  water,  two-hourly.  If  cow's 
milk  is  not  digested,  whev  and  cream  may  be 
substituted,  "ij  of  cream  to  rij  of  whey.  Twice 
a  day  a  feed  of  warm  water  may  be  given 
instead  of  the  milk  mixture,  and  if  there  are 
any  symptoms  of  constipation,  "liiij  of  pure 
olive  oil  alternate  mornings  will  counteract  it. 

If  the  mother  has  sufficient  breast  milk,  it 
will  not  be  necessary  to  continue  art'ficial  feed- 
ing after  lactation  is  established,  for  the  milk 
can  be  drawn  off  with  a  breast-pump,  and  given- 
to  the  baby  by  means  of  a  spoon.  If  the  infant 
is  strong  enough  to  use  a  bottle,  the  usual 
attention  to  scrupulous  cleanliness  of  bottles 
and  teats  must  be  paid,  and  in  every  case  must 
the  baby's  mouth  be  carefully  cleansed  with 
warm  boracic  lotion  after  every  feed. 


If  very  weak,  a  normal  saline  injection — oni 
ounce — may  be  ordered  daily. 

When  the  normal  weight  is  gained,  the  lialjy 
mav  he  bathed  in  the  usual  manner,  and  after 
one  month  may  be  taken  out  of  doors  for  a 
short  time  each  day. 

Warmth  and  proper  feeding  are  the  two 
things  absolutely  necessary  for  success  with  a 
premature  infant. 

HONOURABLE    MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honour- 
able mention  : — Miss  M.  G.  AUbutt,  Miss  L. 
Holme  Buck,  Miss  A.  Smith,  Miss  S.  Kerr, 
and  Mrs.  Power. 

?\liss  AUbutt  writes  : — "  As  a  makeshift,  a 
small  clothes  basket,  with  a  pillow  placed  at  the 
bottom  and  lined  with  an  old  blanket,  will 
make  an  excellent  and  cosy  bed  for  a  prema- 
ture baby.  A  couple  of  hot  water  bags, 
securely  covered,  should  be  filled  and  placed" 
ready  in  the  basket.  ...  If  the  child  cries  at 
once,  all  the  blood  in  the  cord  may  be  squeezed 
along  toward  the  child  and  the  cord  ligatured 
and  cut.  .  .  .  Plenty  of  w^arm  sterile  water  may 
be  given  between  feeds." 

QUESTION     FOR     NE.XT     WEEK. 

What  records  would  you  keep,  and  what 
points  would  you  observe  and  report  upon,  a» 
a  routine  practice,  when  nursing  a  case,  either 
in  a  iiospital  ward  or  in  a  private  house? 


THE    PROGRESS    OF    STATE 
REGISTRATION. 


The  Bill  for  State  Registration  in  Louisiana,. 
U.S.A.,  was  signed  by  the  Governor  on 
Julv  loth,  and  is  an  Act  to  regulate  the  practice 
of  nursing;  to  create  a  Nurses'  Board  of 
Examiners ;  to  regulate  the  fees  and  emolu- 
ments thereof;  to  establish  a  class  to  be  known 
as  Registered  Nurses,  and  to  prohibit  the  use 
of  words  or  letters  or  other  means  of  identifica- 
tion by  unauthorized  persons  as  registered 
nurses,  and  to  provide  penalties  for  the  viola- 
tion of  the  provisions  of  this  Act. 

A  just  and  simple  measure  such  as  we  have 
been  asking  for  in  this  country,  and  which  has 
been  before  our  House  of  Commons  for  ten 
vears.  No  wonder  Englishwomen — at  least 
those  who  work  and  thus  contribute  to 
the  wealth  of  the  nation — feel  bitterly  the 
systematic  neglect  of  their  interests  by  an 
oligarchy  of  men  who  don't  understand  their 
needs,  and  don't  mean  to  trouble  themselves 
to  do  so.  Everv  day,  resentment  is  on  the 
increase. 


September  21,  1912     JTbc  Bvttlsb  3ounial  of  H-lursiny. 


239 


IHE    INTERNATIONAL    CONGRESS     OF 
NURSES. 


WEDNESDAY,   AUGUST   7th. 


MoKNiNG  Session. 

(Co>ttinue(i). 

Miss  .M.  A.  Snively  Presiding. 

A    (iROUP    OF    GERMAN    PAPERS. 

"  Female  Police-assistants." 

,  Sister  Henriette  Arendt  said  that  in  1868  the 
question  of  women  workers  in  municipal  govern- 
ment was  first  mooted;  to-day  12,000  women  were 
employed  in  all  its  branches.  The  fact  that  the 
supervision  of  prostitutes  was  now  in  the  hands  of 
female  police  might  be  looked  on  as  a  groat  step 
forvvards,  for  women  might  be  the  means  of 
reclaiming  women. 

In  1882  the  two  first  female  police  assistants 
were  appointed  in  Chicago  by  "  The  White 
Union,"  and  were  supported  by  private  subscrip- 
tion, with  such  good  results  that  municipal 
appointment  soon  followed.  In  January,  1907, 
there  were  80  female  police  assistants  iia  America  ; 
to-day  thev  were  to  be  found  there  in  almost  every 
large  town.  In  1903  the  first  female  police  assistant 
was  appointed  in  Stuttgart — Sister  Henriette 
Arendt— and  many  other  towns  quickly  followed 
Stuttgart's  example.  The  duties  of  the  female 
police  assistants  varied  according  to  the  towns. 
In  Stuttgart,  Sister  Henriette  Arendt's  duties 
were  as  follows  : — To  see  that  order  and  decency 
were  preserved  by  those  who  brought  women 
prisoners  to  the  police  courts  ;  to  superintend  all 
women  brought  to  the  police  courts,  whether  thev 
were  eventuallv  set  free,  sentenced  to  a  term  of 
imprisonment,  or  transfeired  to  other  courts. 
Also  to  attend  the  daily  medical  examination  by 
the  police  doctor,  at  which  she  was  permitted  to 
give  an  opinion  as  to  whether  an  examination  were 
advisable  or  could  be  omitted.  Sister  Henriette 
Arendt  considered  it  her  most  important  dutv  to 
make  pro\'ision  for  the  female  prisoners  on  their 
being  discharged,  the  greater  number  of  whom 
were  prostitutes,  barmaids,  factory  hands,  ser- 
vants, and  sometimes  girls  of  the  better  classes. 

It  was  rarelv  possible  to  reclaim  those  whose 
parents  were  criminals,  but  the  female  police 
assistant  might  obtain  influence  over — and,  thanks 
to  private  charity,  materially  aid — young  girls 
between  sixteen  and  eighteen  who  came  into  her 
hands  on  their  first  offence,  the  result  of  unfortu- 
nate circumstances,  levity  and  bad  company,  but 
who  were  not  yet  blunted  by  prison  life.  Sister 
Henriette  Arendt  considered  reformatories  and 
homes  of  refuge  to  be  the  most  expedient  means 
of  reclaiming  such  cases.  Her  attempts  at 
placing  these  girls  in  service  met  with  little 
success.  As  a  rule  the  girls  had  been  out  of  work 
for  some  time  and  found  domestic  service  irksome. 


whilst  the  mistresses  did  not  always  possess  the 
tact  and  patience  necessary  for  so  difficult  a  task. 
She  found  it  worse  than  useless  to  have  the  girls 
sent  home  to  parents  who  were  themselves  averse 
to  labour  or  too  weak-willed  to  keep  their  children 
in  the  right  path.  From  February,  1903,  to 
Januarj',  1909,  6,886  females  passed  through  her 
hands,  and,  with  the  aid  of  the  Evangelical  town 
mission,  the  Roman  Catholic  Union  of  the  Good 
Shepherd,  and  the  district  Kabbi,  1,620  women 
and  girls  were  either  placed  in  reformatories,  sent 
home,  or  placed  in  service.  .\s  soon  as  her  occupa- 
tion! became  known  in  Stuttgart,  girls  who  had 
been  cut  off  by  their  relations  or  dismissed  at  a 
moment's  notice  by  their  employers,  and  mothers 
with  their  illegitimate  children,  came  to  her  for 
help  and  advice. 

Sister  Henriette  Arendt  laid  stress  on  the  fact 
that  the  duties  of  the  woman  police  assistant 
must  not  be  restricted  to  the  care  of  prostitutes  in 
all  their  pitiable  weakness,  springing  from  moral 
hereditary  taint,  excessive  use  of  alcohol,  and 
weakness  of  will.  She  had  been  instrumental  in 
founding  a  home  of  refuge  in  Stuttgart  for  youths 
discharged  from  their  first  term  of  imprisonment, 
and  maintained  that  a  woman's  influence  is  of 
inestimable  value  in  restraining'  these  youths  in 
their  downward  career.  In  the  cause  of  temper- 
ance, but  most  particularly  in  the  rescuing  of 
abandoned,  endangered,  and  ill-treated  children, 
she  insisted  on  the  value  of  the  female  police 
assistant.  In  the  course  of  nine  years'  activit}-, 
she  was  able  to  alleviate  the  sufferings  of  several 
thousands  of  men  and  women  and  1,200  children. 
This  proved  that  the  career  of  a  police  assistant 
opened  to  women  workers  a  field  of  untold  possi- 
bilities in  the  cause  of  humanity.  It 'must  be 
added  that  the  duties  of  a  woman  police  assistant 
varied  according  to  the  different  towns.  For 
instance,  in  Freiburg  the  duties  of  the  police-nurse, 
as  she  is  called,  are  restricted  to  the  supervision  of 
children  who  are  boarded  out.  Until  now  there 
had  been  no  special  course  of  training  for  female 
police  assistants,  but  it  was  nnich  to  be  desired 
that  they  should  be  instructed  in  pedagogics, 
nursing  and  criminal  law.  Hospital  nurses 
especially  deaconesses,  had  proved  the  most  suit- 
able for  this  difficult  and  responsible  post. 

Reformatorv  Work. 

Sister  Alykc  von  Tiimpling  contributed  a  short 
description  of  the  reformatory  in  Gummersbach 
near  Cologne,  which,  founded  in  1900,  has  grown 
to  be  a  model  institution.  In  1900  the  law 
was  passed  in  Prussia  which  permitted  the  police 
to  remove  ruined  and  endangered  children  from 
their  surroundings  and  place  them  in  a  home 
of  refuge,  or  in  some  suitable  family  where,  up  to 
the  age  of  18,  they  could  be  educated  and  taught 
to  become  useful  members  of  society. 

Gummersbach  was  the  first  of  the  institutions 
which  embraced  factory  work  as  a  means  of 
education.  Seven  years  ago,  fifty  girls  had 
already  been  placed  at  work  at  the  spinning 
looms    there    eleven    hours    a    day,    girls    under 


230 


cEbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRurstno 


September  21,   1912 


fifteen  only  ten  hours.  The  girls  learnt  punctu- 
ality, order  and  conscientiousness  under  the 
guidance  of  the  factorj-  Sister.  The  first  two 
factory  Sisters  ia  Germany  were  appointed  in 
Gummersbach.  All  pioneer  work  was  hard  and 
demanded  self-sacrifice.  They  gave  it  nobly. 
One  was  invalided  before  she  reached  the  age  of 
thirty,  the  other  died  of  tuberculosis.  It  was 
worthy  of  notice  that  each  girl  working  in  the 
factory  received  a  fair  wage  with  a  prospect  of 
increase.  Very  industrious  spinners  received 
extra  pay.  Part  of  the  money  was  put  aside  for 
the  girl's  board,  the  remainder  was  placed  in  her 
name  in  the  savings  bank.  Besides  the  fifty 
employed  in  the  spinning-shed,  ten  to  fifteen  were 
employed  in  the  house  work  of  the  institution. 
These  were  changed  every  two  to  three  months, 
and  others  from  the  shed  took  their  place,  so  that 
during  the  year  each  girl  passed  through  a  course 
of  domestic  service — house-work,  cooking,  wash- 
ing, sewing,  &c.  A  great  principle  of  the  institu- 
tion was  that  the  girls  were  not  taught  to  look 
upon  the  factory  work  as  the  one  and  only  aim 
in  life,  but  were  encouraged  to  become  useful 
members  of  society,  and  it  was  encouraging  to 
know  that  many  girls  who  had  passed  through 
the  Sisters'  hands  were  now  clever  and  happy 
housewives,  whilst  others  who  were  still  working 
in  factories  were  helping  to  raise  the  tone  amongst 
their  fellow-workers.  True  education  must  always 
rest  on  a  religious  foundation,  free  from  narrow- 
ness, bigotry,  or  hypocrisy.  The  Sisters  who 
worked  in  the  house  and  factory  belonged  to  the 
Evangelical  Deaconesses'  Union,  Berhn-Zehlendorf . 
A  seminary  for  training  Sisters  in  Refuge  work 
was  in  connection  with  the  Institution. 

The  Nurse  with  Regard  to  Infant  Nursing 
AND  Her  Training  for  this  Work. 

Sister  Else  Knoerich  said  that  in  no  branch  of 
social  hygienic  provision  was  the  truth  more 
evident  of  the  saving  "  Prevention  is  better  than 
cure  "  than  in  the  care  of  infants.  Woman's 
work  in  factory  and  workshop  had  often  caused 
her  to  neglect  her  duties  as  wife  and  mother,  and 
this  had  resulted  in  increased  infant  mortality. 
Of  the  two  million  children  who  were  born  annually 
in  Germany,  about  400,000  died  before  the  com- 
pletion of  their  first  year.  Thanks  to  the  efforts 
of  the  health  officers  and  political  economists,  the 
care  of  infants  had,  since  the  eighties,  become  a 
specialised  branch  of  social  work  ;  and  during  the 
last  twenty  years  there  had  been  a  steady  decrease 
in  infant  mortality  in  the  large  towns.  Charlottcn- 
burg  was  a  most  striking  example.  From  1891- 
1901  inclusive  the  infant  mortality  sank  from 
24.98  per  cent,  to  12. 11  percent.  In  1909  Barmen, 
with  9.41  per  cent.,  Elberfeld,  with  10.40  per  cent., 
Kassel,  with  10.83  per  cent.,  Schomberg.  with  11.77 
per  cent.,  and  Bremen  with  12.02  per  cent.,  had 
a  still  lower  mortality  of  infants. 

In  the  country,  however,  infant  mortality  was 
on  the  increase,  from  8.1  per  cent  to  41.  i  per  cent. 
The  causes  were  :  (i)  insanitary  conditions ;  (2)  the 
sending   of   milk,    eggs,    vegetables   and   fruit   to 


towns  lor  sale,  to  the  detriment  of  the  country- 
people's  nutrition ;  (3)  the  departure  of  men  to 
the  towns,  leaving  the  field  work  to  be  done  by 
women,  not  to  speak  of  ignorance  and  unwilling- 
ness to  adopt  hygienic  measures.  Country 
districts  were  therefore  a  wide  field  of  activity 
for  the  district  nurse.  Her  first  and  most  difficult 
task  was  to  win  the  confidence  of  the  countr\' 
people.  This  could  only  be  done  by  visiting  them 
and  giving  them  help  and  advice  in  time  of  need. 
Her  duty  would  be  to  strictly  superintend  all 
foster-children  and  illegitimate  children  up  to 
the  completion  of  their  sixth  year,  who  were 
entrusted  to  the  care  of  relations.  Besides,  it 
should  be  her  aim  to  interest  women's  unions  in 
favour  of  infant  care  and  to  gain  their  support. 
The  most  important  part  of  the  country  care  of 
infants  were  the  mothers'  unions  ("  Beratungs- 
stellcn  "  ),  which,  owing  to  local  conditions  and 
lack  of  means,  were  at  present  difficult  of  attain- 
ment. 

The  work  of  a  district  nurse  necessitated  a 
threefold  training.  Firstly,  knowledge  of  nursing  "" 
work  in  general,  for  though  her  speciality  was 
care  of  infants,  yet  she  should  be  able  to  give 
advice  and  help  to  mothers  in  all  questions 
pertaining  to  health  or  sickness.  'Secondly,  the 
necessary  special  knowledge  of  the  modern  care 
and  feeding  of  infants,  which  could  best  be  ac- 
quired in  a  children's  clinic  or  infants'  home, 
managed  on  modern  lines.  Thirdly,  instruction  in 
social  work  by  attending  social  courses  for  women. 
In  order  to  superintend  foster  and  illegitimate 
children,  she  must  l<now  the  laws  and  regula- 
tions pertaining  to  them,  so  as  to  be  able  to  take 
the  necessary  measures  when  required.  Thus 
well  equipped,  the  laiowledge  that  she  was 
serving  her  fellow  creatures  and  the  comint; 
generation  would  give  her  support  and  encourage- 
ment. 

Nurses'  Work  in  the  Management  and  Care 
OF  Infants. 
In  speaking  of  social  work  in  general,  the 
management  and  care  of  infants  in  particular, 
Fraiilein  Schubert  laid  stress  on  the  indispcnsa- 
bility  of  hospital  training.  The  probationers 
were  brought  face  to  face  with  all  classes  and 
learnt  to  judge  life  from  an  aspect  not  possible 
to  be  seen  at  home,  and  e;very  earnest  worker 
learnt  not  only  the  technical  side  of  her  profession 
but  expanded  her  sympathies  and  power  of 
understanding  without  which  all  social  work  was 
useless.  Great  power  and  great  responsibility 
lay  in  the  hands  of  the  district  nurse.  By  teaching 
ignorant  mothers,  she  could  stem  the  tide  of  infant 
mortality  and  lay  the  foundation  for  a  healthy 
generation  in  the  future.  The  demand  for  such 
nurses  was  steadily  on  the  increase  and  it  was  our 
duty  to  see  that  trained,  cultured  women  were 
rendered  competent  to  fill  them  by  being  well 
grounded  and  thoroughly  trained  in  their  pro- 
fession. As  this  w^ork  brought  the  nurse  into 
contact  with  all  classes,  and  also  comprised  much 
secretarial  work,  it  was  of  vital  impprtance  that 


Si't'tenibi 


cTbe  36rttt£?l)  3ournal  of  muremo. 


231 


the  nurse  be  a  woman  of  education  and  refinement. 
With  regard  to  the  technical  part  of  the  work, 
Fraiilein  Schubert  was  of  opinion  that  a  longer 
time  than  the  probation  year  in  hospital  was 
necessary,  and  strongly  advocated  a  period  of 
work  in  maternity  wards,  and  tuberculosis  wards 
or  polyclinic,  where,  by  observing  the  numerous 
cases,  a  nurse  became  familiar  with  dangerous 
svmptoms,  and  acquired  the  power  of  judging 
when  medical  aid  was  advisable.  Further,  a 
course  of  training  in  the  care  of  infants  should  be 
taken  in  one  of  the  modern  children's  hospitals, 
under  the  guidance  of  a  good  instructor.  It  was 
further  advisable  for  the  probationer  to  attend 
the  consulting  hours  in  different  creches,  to  visit 
the  mothers  in  their  homes,  and  also  to  work  in 
the  creches  and  milk  kitchens. 

In  order  to  really  help,  the  outdoor  nurse  should 
know  "  everything."  She  must  be  able  to  answer 
all  the  questions  put  to  her  by  timid  mothers  and 
smooth  away  objections  by  straightforward  and 
clear  explanations.  Fraulein  Schubert  pointed 
out  that  the  outdoor  nurse  is  as  yet  a  pioneer  in 
this  special  branch  of  work  and  that  it  was  often 
necessary,  in  order  to  further  the  cause,  that  she 
should  be  able  to  speak  well  and  fluently  on  the 
work  in  hand.  This  was  the  most  difficult  part 
of  the  nurse's  business,  but  when  her  heart  was 
in  her  calling,  her  tongue  would  be  eloquent  in  its 
service.  In  order  to  aid  by  speaking,  she  must 
hqwever  know  her  subject  thoroughly  and  be 
cognisant  of  that  branch  of  legislation  bearing 
upon  it. 

The  Work  of  the  .\nti-Coxsumption  League 
IN  Germ.\ny. 

Sister  Taubert,  who  presented  the  paper  on 
the  work  of  the  Anti-Consumption  League  in 
Germany,  said  that  two  things  had  had  a  marked 
influence  on  the  tuberculosis  question  :  (i)  the 
discovery,  thirty  years  ago,  of  the  tuberculosis 
bacillus  by  the  great  German  investigator.  Doctor 
Robert  Koch  ;  (2)  the  social  laws  which  rendered 
the  struggle  with  tuberculosis  possible.  The 
hope  that  the  injection  of  tuberculin  would  prove 
sufficient  was  vain.  But  attention  had  been  aroused 
and  the  anti-consumption  movement  set  in.  The 
result  of  Dr.  Brchmer's  and  Dr.  Dettweiler's 
treatment  (hygienic  diet)  caused  a  number  of 
sanatoria  for  tuberculosis  to  be  opened  in  Northern 
Germany,  and  the  duty  of  providing  such  institu- 
tions for  those  with  small  means  became  evident. 
In  1895  a  comm.ittee  was  formed  by  the  Red  Cross 
Society,  which  founded  the  Anti-Consumption 
League.  In  the  same  year  the  consumptive 
homes  'of  the  Berlin- Brandenburg  Association 
and  Red  Cross  Society  were  erected.  The 
National  Insurance  Act  was  also  the  cause 
of  the  State  opening  consumptive  homes  for 
working  people,  in  order  to  lessen  the  burden 
incurred  by  eventual  pensioning.  In  1902  the 
first  international  Anti-Consumption  League  was 
formed.  Three  years  later  the  first  consump- 
tive home  for  women  was  opened  at  Vogelsang, 
near  Magdeburg,  and  at  the  same  time,  by  desire 


of  the  Empress,  one  for  children  at  Hohcnlychen, 
which  was  principally  occupied  by  children  from 
Berlin  and  Hamburg.  The  experience  thus  gained 
had  influence  on  the  Insurance  Act  of  1912  and 
that  which  was  to  come  into  force  next  year. 
."Vnnually  in  Germany  90,000  persons  died  of 
consumption.  Ten  times  as  many — 900,000 — 
suffered  from  ths  disease,  and  owing  to  legislation 
ten  per  cent,  received  gratis  medical  treatment, 
medicines  and  cures  in  consumptive  homes.  The 
German  Empire  owned  to-day  136  such  homes, 
23  specially  for  children,  with  accommodation  for 
i,4j)o  beds.  In  90  per  cent,  the  results  were 
favourable.  There  were  also  127  homes  for 
hopeless  cases,  with  a  tariff  of  i  mk.  20  to  1  mk.  80 
daily.  In  Silesia  there  were  the  most  "  Homes  for 
Observation  "  of  cases  threatened  with  consump- 
tion. There  were  many  other  means  of  combating 
the  disease,  such  as  outdoor  schools,  shelters,  &c. 
Ten  years  ago  "  Liingen  fursorgestcUen  "  were 
opened,  from  the  conviction  that  the  entire  sur- 
roundings and  work  of  the  patient  needed  super- 
vision. The  work  of  those  employed  in  these  was 
the  prevention  of  the  spread  of  tuberculosis  in 
the  home,  to  protect  the  healthy  from  infection 
and  to  teach  mothers  the  dangers  incurred  by 
lack  of  cleanliness  and  properly  cooked  food 
There  were  now  1,250  of  these  "  Lungen  fiir- 
sorgestellen  "  in  the  German  Empire.  In  each 
there  was  a  doctor  and  a  "  Fiirsorgeschwcster." 
After  the  doctor  had  examined  the  patient  he 
gave  directions  to  the  Sister  and  then  her  work 
began.  It  was  she  who  was  in  touch  with  all 
authorities  from  the  Board  of  Health  inspector 
down  to  the  midwife.  With  energy  and  endless 
j5atiencc  she  enforced  the  medical  directions  and 
brought  cleanliness  and  order  into  .the  home. 
If  the  patient  was  bed-ridden  she  procured,  when 
possible,  an  isolated  room,  the  rent  of  which  the 
family  mostly  paid.  Last  year  1,000  such  rooms 
were  rented  in  Berlin  alone.  She  was  responsible 
for  the  final,  as  well  as  the  daily,  disinfection. 
She  persuaded  invalid  pensioners  to  enter  a 
suitable  sick-home.  In  igii  only  40  per  cent,  of 
tuberculosis  patients  died  in  their  own  homes, 
in  contrast  to  80  per  cent,  of  ten  years  ago. 
Thorough  knowledge  of  the  science  of  nursing, 
political  economy  and  the  conditions  of  State 
insurance  were  necessary.  The  "  Fiirsorgcta- 
tigkeit  "  had  opened  a  new  field  for  women,  and 
the  well-trained  women  whose  jjrofession  it  was 
were  preferred  to  those  who  filled  honorary  posts 
and  gave  their  services  gratis.  The  Woman's 
National  Union  had  given  this  branch  of  woman's 
work  its  warm  support.  In  Solingen  a  tuberculosis 
fund  raised  at  the  time  of  the  Emperor's  Silver 
Wedding  rendered  assistance  to  applicants  for 
consumptive  homes,  brine  baths  and  milk  diet : 
lent  beds,  folding  chairs,  &c.  ;  and  provided  the 
parish  nurse  with  funds  to  pay  the  washerwoman 
and  charwoman.  It  was  owing  to  the  work  of 
regular  instruction  in  cleanliness  and  disinfection 
that  the  district  of  Solingen  had  now  only  a 
normal  death  rate. 


232  CI)c  asritisb  3ournal  ox  iMursinc*      September  21,  1912 

SAN    FRANCISCO,    1915.  A  FANCY  DRESS  DINNER. 


The  new  President,  Miss  Goodricli,  modest 
as  all  great  people  arc,  writes  how  deeply 
sensible  she  is  of  the  honour  that  has  come  to 
her.  Those  who  elected  her  know  how  greath 
she  honours  the  Council  by  accepting  office. 
Xo  woman  is  more  deeply  respected  throughout 
the  American  narsing  world,  and  those  who  met 
her  in  London  in  igog  realise  how  safe  is  the 
honour  of  the  International  Council  in  her 
keeping.  

It  may  appear  fickle  to  be  on  with  the  new 
love  before  we  are  off  with  the  old,  but  wc 
cannot  resist  publishing  a  picture  of  the  beauti- 


The  \\'omen  Writers'  Suffrage  League — of 
which  Miss  Elizabeth  Robins  is  President,  and 
which  can  count  amongst  its  \"ice-Presidents 
.Mrs.  Margaret  Woods,  Mrs.  Meynell,  Mrs. 
F.  .A..  Steel,  Miss  Beatrice  Harraden,  Dr. 
Margaret  Todd,  Mrs.  Baillie  Reynolds,  and 
the  great  Cicely  Hamilton — has  conceived  the 
brilliant  idea  of  a  Fancy  Dress  Dinner  in  the 
autumn,  special  tables  to  be  arranged  repre- 
sentative of  classes  of  women  who  claim 
political  enfranchisement.  Miss  Annesley 
Kenealv,    who    is    on    the    Committee,    has,    of 


A    WINTER     SCENE 'ATITHE     CALIFORNIA     HOSPITAL.     LOS     AStifcLb.-. 


ful  California  Hospital,  Los  Angeles,  which 
has  just  reached  us  with  interesting  enclosures, 
one  a  four-leaved  card  which  contains  Ten 
Commandments  for  the  Xurse  in  the  Sick 
Chamber,  and  a  Prayer  for  Doctors  and 
Nurses.  One  precept  reads,  "  I  will  strive  to 
be  always  prepared  for  the  very  best  that  can 
happen  to  me.  I  will  seek  to  be  ready  to  seize 
the  highest  opportunity,  to  do  the  noblest  work,' 
to  rise  to  the  loftiest  place  which  God  and  m\ 
abilities  permit."  The  nurse  is  enjoined, 
"  Thou  shall  let  in  the  sunshine  and  thyself  be 
a  sunbeam  and  a  messenger  of  cheer."  This 
Hospital  will  be  well  worth  a  visit  in  1915. 


course,  advocated  a  .\urses'  table,  and  Mrs. 
Bedford  Fenwick  has  consented  to  organize  it. 
We  see  great  possibilities  of  an  immense 
amount  of  fun  from  this  practical  object- 
lesson.  Xo  other  profession  but  ours  has  a 
Gamp,  a  Prig,  a  Corney,  nor  the  ubiquitous 
bogus  nurse,  to  contrast  with  all  the  noble 
pioneers,  men  and  women,  who  throughout  the 
ages  have  earned  the  Suffrage  over  and  over 
again  by  their  splendid,  self-sacrificing  services 
to  the  State.  The  X'urses'  Table  W'ill,  we  know, 
be  a  big  success ;  it  must  be  relieved  by 
Knights  of  the  X'ursing  Orders  and  Surgeons 
in  aseptic  operating  array. 


Septcwbcr  21 ,   1912 


Cbe  Bvttisb  3ournai  ot  iRiiretno. 


THE  MATRONSHIP  OF  THE  AUCKLAND 
HOSPITAL,  NEW  ZEALAND. 


PRACTICAL    POINTS. 


Miss  Jessie  M.  Orr  has  been  selected  in 
luijjl  ind  and  appointed  Matron  of  the  Auckland 
Hospital,  New  Zealand,  by  the  Auckland 
Hospital  and  Charitable  Aid  Board. 

Miss  Orr  was  trained  at  Guy's  Hospital,  and 
obtained  a  First  Class  Thrue  Years'  Certificate 
in  1900,  also  a  certificate  for  six  months' 
Fever  training.  She  remained  on  the  private 
staff  till  1904,  when  she  returned  to  Guy's 
Hospital  to  qualify  for  a  .Matron's  post.  She 
servt'd  with  distinction  as  Ward  Sister, 
Surgery  Sister,  Xight  Superintendent,  and 
Hospital  Housekeeper,  her  duties  including  the 
ordering  and  superintending  the  cooking  for 
upwards  of  500  patients,  35  sisters,  and  95 
servants,  work  in  the  Matron's  office,  in  the 
l-aundry,  and  classes  for  Probationers.  From 
Guy's,  Miss  Orr  was  appointed  Matron  of  the 
Taunton  and  Somerset  Hospital,  Taunton,  in 
1907,  a  position  she  has  held  to  date  to  the 
unqualified  satisfaction  of  the  authorities  and 
the  medical  and  nursing  staffs. 

Miss  Orr  also  holds  certificates  for  Maternity 
N'ursing  from  the  British  Lying-in  Hospital, 
London,  and  for  Massage  from  the  Incor- 
porated Society  of  Trained  ALisseuses. 

It  will  be  seen,  therefore,  that  Miss  Orr  has 
been  selected  for  the  responsible  position  of 
Matron  of  the  Auckland  Hospital  upon  verv 
high  and  thorough  professional  qualifications 
extending  over  a  period  of  fifteen  years'  active 
service. 

Miss  Orr  is  a  member  of  the  .Slatrons' 
Council  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and 
strongly  in  favour  of  the  organization  of  Nurs- 
ing by  statutory  Registration,  and  she  is  looking 
forward  to  the  privilege  of  Registration  in  New 
Zealand,  where  an  Act  has  been  in  force  for 
eleven  years. 

Of  her  personal  characteristics  it  netd  only 
be  said  that  her  very  excellent  testimonials  bear 
witness  to  strength  of  purpose,  devotion  to 
duty,  and  kindly  relations  with  fellow-workers 
in  every  degree — the  national  characteristics, 
we  mav  add,  of  Scottish  women.  In  the 
honourable  position  she  has  been  elected  to  fill 
we  wish  her  all  success,  and  that  her  relations 
with  her  fellow-workers  in  the  land  of  her 
adoption  may  be  as  happy  as  theyhave  been  at 
home.  We  feel  sure  she  will  do  all  in  her  power 
to  make  them  so. 

Miss  Orr  will  leave  for  New  Zealand  early  in 
November  ;  her  departure  from  Taunton  will  be 
much  regretted  by  many  friends. 


,   ,  iliss  r"oL\'  K'^es  the  follow- 

c'ups  b^iTJ"       '"S   ^'^'•'^'^   °"   **^^   P°'''*   '" 
Incineration.  ^*«     Ainerican     Journal     of 

.\«rst«g.  A  good  way  to 
dispose  of  sputum  cups  before  burning  them  is 
to  put  them  in  very  heavy  brown-paper  bags — the 
kind  used  in  wholesale  grocery  houses  to  deliver 
sugar  and  cereals  in.  The  sputum  will  not  soak 
through  these  bags  before  eight  to  twelve  hours 
and  that  is  long  enough  to  have  the  bags  around 
bqtfore  they  are  burned.  An  eastern  sanitorium 
has  the  cups  delivered  in  a  room  near  the  incine- 
rator tlvree  times  a  day  by  the  patients  using  them, 
and  iron\  a  barrel  of  sawdust  in  the  same  room 
each  patient  is  supposed  to  fill  the  cup  with  saw- 
dust. It  is  said  tliis  makes  them  burn  more  easily 
when  they  are  finally  incinerated.  A  much  better 
way  is  to  make  all  patients  carry  small  manilla 
paper  bags  and  use  paper  napkins  ;  bed  patients 
requiring  a  great  many  napkins  may  have  one  of 
the  large  stout  paper  bags  pinned  to  the  side  of 
the  bed  to  receive  the  napkins  after  they  ha%'e  been 
used.  These  bags  are  turnetl  down  a  few  inches  on 
either  side  and  when  properly  folded  they  may  be 
so  pinned  that  one  side  of  the  bag  folds  over  like 
a  lid,  and  so  there  will  be  no  danger  from  flies  if 
the  patient's  bed  happens  to  be  out  of  doors  on  an 
unscreened  porch.  If  the  cups  must  be  used,  I 
think  that  the  bags  or  the  sawdust  method  are 
both  good. 
.  „.      ,    „     .      .  In  the  Journal  of  the  Ameri- 

A  Simple  Device  for  „  Medical  Association.  Dr. 
Holding  a  4{etention  ,,.„■  c  t-i  ■  1  j  u 
Catheter  in  Place,  ^^'"'am  S.  Ehnch  describes 
a  device  for  keeping  a  reten- 
tion catheter  in  place.  The  finger  of  a  thick 
rubber  glove  is  divided  into  four  parts,  leaving 
about  half  an  inch  of  the  tip  intact.  A  very  small 
hole  is  made  in  the  centre  of  the  tip,  tlirough 
wliich  the  catheter  is  passed.  One-eighth  of  an 
inch  from  the  end  of  each  of  the  four  strips  a  small 
slit  is  made  in  it.  From  some  other  part  of  the 
glove  a  strip  of  rubber  six  inches  long  and  nearly 
half  an  inch  wide  is  cut,  one  end  being  a  little 
wider.  This  strip  is  then  threaded  through  the 
slits  in  the  four  long  strips  into  wliich  the  glove 
finger  was  divided.  To  fasten  the  strip  three 
slits  are  cut  crosswise  in  the  wide  end  and  the 
narrower  end  woven  through  it.  This  can  be 
drawn  fairly  tight  behind  the  corona  and  will  hold 
the  catheter  in  place.  It  can  be  made  in  a  minute 
and,  unlike  adhesive  straps,  can  be  removed, 
tightened,  or  loosened  without  loss  of  time  or 
discomfort  to  the  patient. 

An  outbreak  of  small  pox 

Small  Pox  and       is     reported     at     Kirkcaldy, 

Imported  Flax.       and,  as  on  previous  occasions, 

it  is  supposed  that  the  disease 

has  been  brought  to  the  district  by  infected  flax 

from    Russia.     One   young    married    woman    has 

died,    and    six    patients   have    been    removed    to 

hospital. 


234 


Gbe  ©ritiyb  3ournal  of  IHurslng.     scptcub, 


1912 


APPOINTMENTS. 

MATRON. 

The  Auckland  Hospital,  New  Zealand.  —  Miss 
Jessie  .M.  Orr  has  been  appointtd  Matron.  She 
was  trained  and  certificated  at  Guy's  Hospital, 
where  she  subsequently  held  positions  on  the 
Private  Staff,  and  as  Ward  Sister,  Surgery  Sister, 
Xight  Sister  and  Housekeeper.  From  Guy's  she 
was  appointed  Mat'ron  of  the  Taunton  and  Somer- 
set Hospital,  Taunton,  which  position  she  now 
holds. 

■Miss  Orr  also  holds  certificates  for  Maternity 
nursing  ;  for  sLx  months'  Fever  nursing  ;  and  that 
of  the  Incorporated  Society  of  Trained  Masseuses. 

Catherine-de-Barnes  Isolation  Hospital,  Solihull. 
— Miss  J.  Fergusson  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Fe^-er  Hospital,  Newport, 
Mon.,  and  the  Salop  Infirmary,  Shrewsbun',  and 
has  been  Sister-in-Charge  oi  the  enteric  and 
diphtheria  wards  at  the  Newport  Fever  Hospital. 

Hampton  Court  and  Molesey  Cottage  Hospital 
and  Nursing  Home. — Miss  Florence  Pitt  has  been 
appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Royal 
County  Hospital,  Ryde,  Isle  of  Wight,  and  has 
since  been  Sister  at  the  Royal  Hospital,  Richmond, 
Surrey  ;  Theatre  Sister  '  and  Assistant  Matron 
at  the  Infirmary,  Warrington  ;  and  Matron  at 
the  Cottage  Hospital,  ]Mold.  Flintshire. 

Salisbury  and  District  Joint  Isolation  Hospital. — 
Miss  C.  Alexander  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  has  held  positions  at  the  Croydon  Borough 
Hospital  and  the  Salisbur>-  Infirmary. 

NIGHT    SISTER. 

Northern  Infirmary,  Inverness. — Miss  Florence 
\V.  Harrison  has  been  appointed  Night  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Borough  Hospital,  Bootle. 
and  has  since  been  Staff  Nurse  at  the  Royal 
Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the  Chest,  City  Riad. 
London. 

SISTER. 

Clayton  Hospital,  Wakefield. — MissN.  Bamforth  has 
been  appointed  Sister  of  the  Theatre  and  Male 
Surgical  Ward.  She  was  trained  at  the  Rotherham 
Hospital  and  Dispensary,  where  she  has  held 
the  positions  of  Staff  Nurse,  temporary  Theatre 
and  Ward  Sister,  and  temporary  Night  Sister. 

QUEEN  ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING    SERVICE. 

The  following  ladies  ha\c  received  provisional 
appointments  as  Staff  Xiiisc  : — Miss  C.  A.  Ward, 
I\Iiss-A.  C.  V.  Morant,  Miss  P.  M.  Rhenius,  Miss 
E.  E.  O'Connell,  Miss  E.  S.  Riddall. 

Transfers  to  St.^tions  Abro^-d. 

Sisters  : — Miss  K.  A.  AUsop,  to  Gibraltar  from 
London. 

Staff  XiDses  : — Miss  E.  K.  Farker,  to  Malta, 
from  Dublin. 

^  Promotions. 

The  under-mentioned  Staff  Xurses  to  be  Sisters  : 
Miss  A.  M.  Phillips,  Miss 'C.  M.  Williams,  Miss 
E.  B.  Darnell. 


MlLIT.\RV    F.'iMILIES'  HOSPITALS. 

The  under-mentioned  appointments  have  been 
made  : — Miss  F.  Williams  to  Bulford,  Miss  A.  J. 
Baldwin  to  Woolwich.  Mi'^s  F.  M.  Weir  to  Shoc- 
buryness. 

QUEEN   VICTORIAS    JUBILEE   INSTITUTE. 

Transfers  and  Appointments. 
Miss   Hannah   Giddins   is   appointed    to    Fder.- 
brids:e. 


WEDDINQ     BELLS. 

The  resignation  of  ^liss  Mackenzie,  Lady 
Superintendent  of  the  Dunedin  Hospital,  says 
Kai  Tiaki,  was  received  with  much  regret  by  the 
Board.  Her  work  during  the  short  time  she  was 
in  Dunedin  was  of  the  highest  order.  Her  nurses 
worked  under  her  in  great  harmony,  and  are 
very  grieved  at  losing  her.  Her  marriage  to  the 
Rev.  Graham  Balfour,  of  the  First  Church,  Dunedin, 
is  the  cause  of  her  resignation,  and  all  wlio  know 
Miss  Mackenzie,  while  regretting  her  retirement 
from  her  sphere  of  useful  work,  join  in  wishing  her 
every  happiness. 

PRESENTATION.. 

In  recognition  of  long  and  valuable  labour  in 
connection  with  the  Barnsley  Becket  Hospital 
and  the  Hospital  Saturday  and  Sunday  Fund. 
Mr.  Alfred  Whitham,  who  recently  retired  from 
the  secretar\sliip,  has  been  made  the  recipient  <A 
a  handsome  presentation,  in  the  form  of  a  silver 
tea  and  coffee  service. 

Alderman  Rose  presided  over  a  large  gathering 
of  members  of  the  committee  of  the  fund  and 
others.  He  paid  a  high  tribute  to  the  work  of 
Mr.  Whitham  durirg  a  period  of  30  years. 


SCOTTISH  MATRONS'  .ASSOCIATION. 


The  quarterly  meeting  took  place  on  Satur- 
dav,  September  7th,  in  the  Board-room  of  the 
Edinburg-Ji  Roval  Infirmary  Convalescent 
Home,  Corstorphine.  The  President  was  in 
tile  chair.  ^Lany  apologies  for  absence  were 
received,  and,  although  the  day  was  cold  and 
wet,  there  was  an  attendance'  of  twenty-five. 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  business  part  of  the 
meeting.  Miss  Melrose,  Vice-President  of  the 
Association,  gave  an  interesting  account  of  her 
experience  as  a  representative  of  the  Associa- 
tion to  the  International  Congress  of  Nurses  at 
, -Cologne.  The  next  meeting  was  arranged  to 
he  held  in  the  \'ictoria  Infirmary,  Glasgow,  on 
December  7th.  A  plenteous  tea  was  provided 
by  Miss  Mitchey,  Matron  of  the  Convalescent 
Home.  -Afterwards  a  visit  was  paid  to  the 
different  departments  of  the  Home,  including 
the  poultry  runs. 


.se[>tcn,hcr  21,  iyi2     iLbc  Biltlsl)  Soumal  of  Bursfno. 


235 


NURSING    ECHOES. 


During  the  past  fortnig-ht  several  of  tlie 
Congress  delegates  have  been  in  London,  but 
alas  !  are  now  sailing  away.  Miss  Dock  left 
for  \ew  York  on  Sunday,  and  a  cheery  little 
group  of  friends  bid  her  goodbye  at  dinner  on 
Saturday  night,  some  of  whom  walked  her 
back  to  her  hotel  and  saw  her  disappear  up  the 
lift  shaft  with  very  dim  eyes.  Miss  Sniveley 
left  for  Canada  on  Saturday  last,  after  a  year's 
rest  in  liurope,  and  she  leaves  a  host  of  friends 
behind  her.  Miss  Sutherland  has  arrived  in 
Manitoba  on  her  journey  to  New  Zealand,  and 
soon  delightful  little  Mrs.  Holgate  will,  regret- 
fully we  are  pleased  to  know,  also  leave  our 
shores.  Miss  J.  C.  Child  is  away  to  far  Basuto- 
land,  determined  that  before  long  South  .\frica 
shall  have  a  voice  in  our  International  Councils, 
and  the  Japanese  delegation  will  soon  have 
turned  their  faces  to  the  Land  of  the  Rising 
Sun.  We  don't  want  to  part  with  any  of  them, 
but  after  such  a  happy  time  together  we  must 
not  repine. 


A  welcome  and  most  beautiful  gift  has  been 
sent  to  the  International  Library  at  431, 
Oxford  Street.  Nothing  less  than  a  complete 
set  of  seven  volumes,  dating  from  1901,  of 
Tidsskrift  -for  Sygepleje,  the  official  organ  of 
the  Danish  Council  of  Nurses,  exquisitely 
bound  in  green  with  gold  lettering.  This  con- 
tribution to  the  international  history  of  nursing 
is  indeed  most  valuable,  and  the  generosity  of 
the  Danish  nurses  in  donating  it  will  be  warmly 
appreciated.  The  thanks  of  the  Imcrnational 
Council  is  specially  due  to  the  President,  Mrs. 
Henny  Tscherning,  and  Miss  Maiken  Liitken,  . 
the  Hon.  Secretary,  for  the  handsome  manner 
in  which  the  gift  has  been  presented. 


Those  who  paid  a  visit  to  the  little  Garden 
House  at  Kaiserswerth  will  remember  the 
lovely  drawing  of  Friederike  Fliedner  hanging 
on  the  wall.  Now  comes  the  good  news  that 
Sister  Julie  Borges  will  most  generouslv  send 
us  20  printed  copies  of  this  exquisite  drawing  to 
he  distributed  to  those  who  would  value  them. 
We  propose  that  they  shall  be  sold  for  the 
benefit  of  the  good  work  at  Kaiserswerth,  at 
the  price  of  three  shillings  each.  The  place  for 
them  when  framed  should  be  in  the  Nurses' 
Homes,  so  thev  will  in  the  first  instance  be 
reserved  for  such  of  the  affiliated  Leagues  and 
Associations  of  Nurses  as  would  like  them, 
after  which  others  may  apply.  .Address,  Hon. 
Secretary,  N.C.N. ,  431,  Oxford  Street, 
London,  \\'. 


Sister  .Mary  Stanislaus  Joseph,  who  was 
l'"lorence  Nightingale's  right  hand  throughout 
the  noble  work  of  nursing  in  the  Crimea,  has 
just  celebrated  her  ninetieth  birthday  in  the 
Convent  of  St.  John  and  St.  Elizabeth,  at  St. 
John's  Wood,  London,  N.W.  In  self-sacrifice 
and  in  what  proved  far  more  useful — talent  for 
organisation  and  management — Sister  Stanis- 
laus was  not  far  behind  the  noble  woman  upon 
w  hose  name  has  been  showered  all  the  glory  of 
that  crusade  of  the  Crimea. 

J  She  arrived  with  Miss  Nightingale  at  Scutari 
the  day  before  Inkerman,  when  already  the 
hospitals  were  choked  with  wounded  and 
disease-stricken  soldiers. 

Sister  Stanislaus  remembers  a  touching 
episode  when  the  chaplain  read  in  each  ward  a 
letter  from  Queen  Victoria  to  the  Secretary  for 
War.  "  I  wish  Miss  Nightingale  and  the  ladies 
would  tell  those  poor  noble  wounded  and  sick 
men  that  no  one  takes  a  warmer  interest  or  feels 
for  their  sufferings,  or  admires  their  courage 
and  heroism  more  than  their  Queen.  Dav  and 
night  she  thinks  of  her  beloved  troops." 

She  stayed  in  the  Crimea  until  the  end  of  the 
war,  returning  to  England  in  1856.  She  soon 
found  a  fresh  outlet  for  her  energies,  for 
Cardinal  Wiseman  and  the  late  Duke  of 
Norfolk  invited  the  Sisters  of  St.  Elizabeth  to 
found  a  hospital  for  women  and  children.  This 
they  did,  with  Sister  Stanislaus  as  the  leading 
spirit  in  the  enterprise,  and  for  years  the  hos- 
pital did  good  work  in  Great  Ormond  Street. 

Later  the  hospital  of  St.  Elizabeth  associated 
with  the  Order  of  St.  John,  and  was  removed 
to  St.  John's  Wood,  where  for  many  years  she 
superintended  the  w^ork. 

One  of  Florence  Nightingale's  acts  on  reach- 
ing her  golden  jubilee  was  to  send  a  gift  of  ;^50 
lo  her  old  friend  of  the  Crimea,  and  Sister 
Stanislaus  devoted  the  money  to  the  orphan- 
age. She  is  now  the  sole  survivor  of  the 
English  Sisters  of  Mercy  who  accompanied 
Florence  Nightingale  to  the  Crimea. 


There  is  no  doubt  nursing  in  the  home  is  not 
so  popular  with  the  athletic,  pleasure-loving 
girl  of  the  period  as  it  was  with  our  "  aunties." 
Cannot  we  midd]e-aged  women  well  remember 
those  charming,  gentle,  spiritual  women, 
mostly  unmarried  daughters,  w  ho  attended  on 
"  grannie  "  with  the  sweetest  assuetude?  It 
may  have  been  such  memories  and  the  know- 
ledge that  home  nursing,  like  many  other 
domestic  virtues,  is  fast  dying  out,  that 
prompted  Lady  Esher  to  organize  classes  to 
instruct  women,  rich  and  poor,  in  home  nurs- 
ing. Those  interested  can  obtain  full  informa- 
tion from  her  at  Craig's  Court  House,  S.W. 


236 


Cbe  Biirii5i?  3onrnal  of  IRurslno.     September  21,  1912 


THE    HOSPITAL    WURLU. 

NOBLES     HOSPITAL,     ISLE     OF     MAN. 

The  new  Xoble's  Hospital,  Douglas,  Isle  of 

Man,     was     opened     with     all     ceremony     on 

Wednesday,    September    nth,    by    His    Excel- 
lency Lord  Raglan,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  the 

Island,  and  Lady  Raglan. 

The  old  hospital,  Kwhich  is  still  in  use,  was, 

as  most  people  know,  the  generous  gift  of  the 

late  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Bloom  Noble.     It  was 

in  the  year  1849  that  some  benevolent  ladies, 

through  a  sale  of  work,  raised  the  sum  of  /TjOO, 

which        formed       the 

nucleus     of      a      fund 

which    resulted    in   the 

opening  of  a   hospital 

in  Fort  Street  in  1850, 

which     did      excellent 

work     for     38     years. 

l"he  committee  by  that 
'    time     had     for     some 

years  been  faced  with 

the  inadequacy  of  the 

hospital    to    meet    the 

demands  upon  it,  and 

the   lack    of   funds    to 

provide   a   larger   one. 

It  was  then   that   Mr. 

and        Mrs.        Xoble 

stepped   in,    the    latter 

providing      the      land, 

and     the     former     the 

money  for  the  build- 
ing.    It  was  supposed 

that        the        hospital 

would  meet  the  needs 

of  the  town  and  neigh- 
bourhood for  many 
years  to  come,  but  Mr. 
Xoble  proved  not  only 
his     generosity,      but 

his  foresight,  when,  in  making  his  will,  he 
vested  in  trustees  a  large  sum  of  monev  with 
discretionary  powers,  leaving  a  direction 
that  they  should  apply  part  of  it  to  im- 
proving the  present  hospital,  or  building  a 
new  one.  When  it  became  necessary,  there- 
fore, to  consider  the  question  of  alterations  and 
extensions,  the  committee  came  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  the  most  satisfactory  method  of  meet- 
ing the  increased  need  would  be  bv  building  an 
entirelv  new  and  modern  hospital.  This  was 
made  possible  by  the  munificence  of  Mr. 
Xoble's  Trustees,  who  presented  an  ideal  site 
of  over  three  acres,  over  ;^20,ooo  to  build  and 
equip  the  hospital,  and  a  further  sum  of 
jQ20,oqo  as  an  endowment.     The  work  of  con- 


MISS      BRIDSON.      MATRON,      NOBLE'. 


struction  ha\ing  been  carried  out  to  the  com- 
plete satisfaction  of  the  architect,  Mr.  William 
Henman,  F.R.I.B.A.,  by  Mr.  Mark  Carine, 
building  contractor,  of  Douglas,  the  town  was 
cu  fi'te  last  week  to  formally  inaugurate  the 
good  work  by  the  opening  of  the  hospital  by 
Lord  and  Lady  Raglan. 

With  a  view  to  creating  as  much  public 
interest  as  possible — for,  in  spite  of  its  endow- 
ment, the  new  hospital  will  need  double  the 
amount  produced  annually  by  the  investment 
of  that  sum  for  its  support — a  procession  was 
formed  at  the  Town  Hall  representative  of  all 
sections  of  the  com- 
munity in  the  Island, 
including  the  Legisla- 
t  i  v  e  Council,  the 
Speaker  and  Members 
of  the  House  of  Keys, 
Justices  of  the  Peace, 
Officials  of  the  Insular 
Government  Boards, 
the  Mayor,  .Aldermen, 
and  Town  Councillors 
of  Douglas,  Clergv 
and  Ministers  of  all 
denominations,  repre- 
sentatives of  Friendly 
Societies,  \'olunteers, 
Boy  Scouts,  Educa- 
t  i  o  n  a  1  Authorities, 
Guardians  of  the 
Poor,  High  Bailiffs, 
the  President  and 
Council  of  the  Isle  of 
Man  Chamber  of 
Commerce,  Free- 
masons in  Masonic 
clothing,  with  Lord 
Raglan,  Pro\incial 
Grand  Master  of  the 
Isle  of  Man,  the 
Ladies'  Committee  of  the  Xursing  .Associa- 
tions of  the  various  Districts  of  the  Island, 
-Xoble's  Hospital  Committee,  and  the  Medical 
Staff,  and  many  others  too  numerous 
to  mention,  who  proceeded  to  the  hospital, 
thousands  of  spectators  lining  the  route,  in- 
cluding no  less  than  4,500  school  children,  who 
were  afterwards  feasted  at  the  Recreation 
Ground  by  the  Xoble  Trustees. 

The  Opening  Ceremony. 
The  Clerk  of  the  Rolls,  Mr.  Thomas  Kneen, 
Chairman  of  the  General  Committee  of  the 
Hospital,  presided  at  the  opening  ceremony, 
and  the  Bishop  of  Sodor  and  Man  conducted 
the    religious    part    of    the    ceremony.       Miss 


September  21,  19.2      Z\k  Bultisl)  Souriial  of  H-lnrsmG. 


237 


Pantin,  daughter  of  Dr.  C  S.  I'antin,  then  pre- 
sented a  bouquet  to  Lady  Raylan,  and  the 
architect  and  the  builder  having  offered  a  gold 
key,  suitably  inscribed,  to  Lord  and  Lady 
Raglan  for  their  acceptance,  the  latter  at  once 
unlocked  the  main  door  of  the  building. 

Lady  Raglan,  whose  speech  was  loudly 
applauded,  then  said  :  "  This  magnificent  hos- 
pital is  now  opened.  May  the  glorious  light  of 
everlasting  sunshine  enter  in  and  dwell  there 
with  those  who  are  sick  and  suffering,  and  mav 
it  shed  its  lustre  to  give  courage  and  joy  to 
them,  as  well  as  to  those  who  attend  them.  ' 
We  have  received  this  kev  with  a  very  great 
deal  of  pleasure.  It  is  a  most  lovely  key,  and 
will  always  be  treasured  by  us  as  a  souvenir  of 
our  most  happv  associations  with  Noble's  Hos- 
pital. I  thank  Miss  Panlin  for  mv  loveh 
bouquet. " 

Lord  Raglan  also  expressed  the  great  plea- 
sure it  had  been  to  him  and  Lad\  Raglan  to 
take  part  in  so  important  a  function,  and  re- 
minded those  present  that  the  expenses  of  the 
new  hospital  would  be  greater  than  those  of 
the  old  one,  and  generous  subscriptions  would 
be  needed. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  proceedings  the  new 
hospital  was  thrown  open  for  inspection,  and 
tea  was  served  to  the  general  public  at  a  cost  of 
one  shilling  each,  the  finances  benefiting  to  the 
extent  of  about  ;^5o  by  the  opening  ceremony. 

The  Hospiiai.. 

The  position  of  the  hospital  is  surely  second 
to  none  in  the  kingdom.  On  an  elevated  site, 
just  outside  the  town,  it  commands  extensive 
views  from  most  of  the  windows  of  the  lovely 
Braddan  Valley,  and  more  distant  mountain 
ranges  of  this  fertile  island,  including  just  at 
present  numerous  undulating  cornfields,  in 
which  sheaves  of  golden  corn  stand  readv  for 
carrying,  in  perfect  condition.  The  windows  of 
the  matron's  delightful  rooms,  as  well  as  some 
of  the  nurses'  quarters,  overlook  this  exquisite 
landscape,  which  must  be  a  c-ontinual  source  of 
enjoyment  to  all  lovers  of  beauty. 

The  hospital,  which  is  excellentlv  planned,  's 
built  of  local  stone,  rough-cast  externally,  and 
roofed  with  Westmoreland  green  slating.  The 
Administrative  Block  contains  the  house  sur- 
geon's rooms,  the  matron's  suite  of  sitting- 
room,  bedroom,  bathrooin,  and  oflfice, 
"  where,"  the  alert  and  smiling  porter  re- 
marked, "  wo  shall  come  when  we  have  to  be 
reprimanded."  "Oh,  ves,"  he  replied  in 
answer  to  an  interrogation,  "I'm  under  the 
Matron,  too,"  and  the  tone  in  which  he  said  it 
left  no  doubt  that  he  considered  his  lot  a  happy 


one.  The  night  nurses'  quarters  are  at  the  top 
of  the  building,  thoughtfully  shut  off  by  a  divid- 
ing door;  the  kitchen  and  annexes  light,  airy, 
and  models  of  their  kind  ;  the  corridors  and 
staircase  tesselated,  the  work  having  been 
carried  out  by  Italian  workmen. 

There  are  five  general  wards,  each  containing 
ten  beds,  for  male  and  female  medical  cases, 
male  and  female  surgical  cases,  and  children 
respectively.  They  are  flooded  with  light  and 
sunshine,  and  pleasanler  places  in  which  to  he 
ill,  it  would  be  diflficull  to  imagine.  In  addition 
there  are  seven  single  rooms  for  private 
patients,  and  a  complete  self-contained  isola- 
tion block.  The  X-ray  department  has  been 
fitted  up  in  the  most  complete  Inanner  bv  Dr. 
Hall-Edwards,  the  well-known  expert,  in  con- 
sultation with  Dr.  Pantin. 

The  operating  theatre  is  a  model  of  its  kind, 
w  ith  anresthetic  and  sterilizing  rooms  annexed  ; 
and  the  out-patient  department,  most  Con- 
veniently arranged,  includes  a  dentist's  room, 
w  ith  adjoining  recovery-room. 

.^n  Electric  Generating  Station,  which  works 
automatically,  supplies  the  necessary  current 
for  lighting  the  hospital,  working  the  lift,  and 
for  the  X-ray  requirements ;  an  alternative 
method  of  lighting  b}-  gas  is  provided,  rmd 
a  Mortuary,  Post-Mortem  Room,  and  Patho- 
logical Room  complete  the  departments  of  a 
hospital  which  must  take  its  place  in  the  front 
rank  of  hospitals  of  its  size,  and  which  reflects 
the  very  highest  credit  on  all  concerned. 

The  Matron,  Miss  Bridson,  \Cho  is  a  native 
of  the  island,  was  trained  at  the  Southern  Hos- 
pital, Manchester,  with  Miss  Mary  Gordon,  one 
of  the  trio  of  notable  Sisters  who  held  the 
-Matronships  of  St.  Thomas'  Hospital  and 
Charing  Cross  Hospital,  London,  and  the 
Southern  Hospital  respectively.  It  is  evident 
that  in  her  the  hospital  has  a  most  capable  and 
devoted,  as  well  as  charming,  Superintendent. 

The  move  from  the  new  hospital  to  the  old 
i.s  expected  to  take  place  in  about  a  month's 
time,  and  the  fate  of  the  old  one,  overlooking 
Douglas  Bay,  which  is  .in  excellent  condition, 
seems  still  uncertain.  Surely  it  .should  be 
secured  as  a  convalescent  home  for  one  of  the 
great  Lancashire  hospitals.  Does  someone 
whisper  "  Rather  bleak  for  convalescents  "? 
Let  no  one  think  it  of  this  sun-kissed  isle,  where 
palms,  yuccas,  and  tree  fuchsias  flourish  rm  1 
;ibound,  and  the  sun's  rays  caress  one  with 
their  warmth  as  if  to  atone  for  the  dull  and 
cheerless  English  summer.  It  is  a  lovely  and 
fertile  country  rejoicing  in  Home  Rule,  .ind 
apparently  prospering  under  it. 

M.  B. 


-^,38  CTbc  Bvltisb  !^ouunal  of  IRurslna      s.-ftouhcr  21,  1912 

REFLECTIONS.  SOCIAL   SERVICE. 


FROM   A   BOARD    ROOM   MIRROR. 

The  Queen  paid  a  surprise  visit,  much  to  the 
>  dehght  of  the  httle  patients,  to  tlie  Royal  Hospital 
for  Sick  Children,  Aberdeen,  last  week.  All  the 
surgeons  and  physicians  connected  with  the 
Institution,  and  the  Lady  Superintendent,  Miss 
Tattam.  were  presented  to  Her  Majesty,  and 
before  leaving  the  Queen  distributed  through 
the  wards  a  large  number  of  clioice  flowers  specially 
brought  from  the  royal  gardens  at  Balmoral. 
A  building  scheme  to  cost  £35,000  is  in  hand. 
Devoted  and  good  work  has  been  done  in  the 
old  building,  but  the  new  hospital  is  urgently 
needed. 


The  Third  Annual  Conference  of  the  British 
Hospitals  Association  is  being  held  this  week  in 
Birmingham.  Mr.  J.  B.  Clarke,  Chairman  of  the 
General  Hospital,  is  President,  and  the  Hon.  Local 
« Secretary  is  Mr.  Howard  J.  Colhns,  the  House 
Governor  of  that  Institution.  The  meetings  are 
being  held  at  the  Council  House,  where  a  civic 
welcome  was  extended  to  the  visitors  by  the  Lord 
IMayor  on  Thursday.  During  the  meetings,  papers 
on  hospital  administration  and  topics  bearing  on 
hospital  work  will  be  read,  and  the  opportunity 
will  be  taken  of  \^isiting  the  local  hospitals,  and 
some  of  the  leading  manufactories.  We  hope 
the  Birmingham  Matrons  will  take  the  opportunity 
of  inviting  the  support  of  the  Association  for 
State  Registration  of  Nurses. 


On  Thursday,  this  week,  the  Duchess  of  \\'est- 
minster  is  to  lay  the  foundation  stone  of  the  two 
new  wings  of  the  General  Infirmary,  Chester. 
Munificent  financial  support  has  been  given  to 
the  building  fund,  and  the  administrative  work, 
including  that  in  connection  with  the  nursing 
department,  will  be  greatly  facilitated  when  the 
additions  are  in  worldng  order.  Miss  L.  K. 
Blayney,  the  Lady  Superintendent,  with  other 
officers,  is  looking  forward  to  these  modern  im- 
provements. 

Four  generous  brothers,  three  of  whom  are 
bachelors,  have  donated  funds  to  the  Essex 
County  Hospital,  Colchester,  with  which  to  build 
a  new  Isolation  Block.  It  will  contain  two  wards, 
each  to  hold  two  beds,  a  nurses'  room,  kitchen, 
bathrooms  and  la\'atories.  The  site  was  se'ected 
on  Monday  last  w-eek,  and  the  work  put  in  hand 
the  following  day — very  commendable  expedition. 
The  Committee  has  of  late  made  several  im- 
provements in  connection  with  the  staff.  The 
Matron  has  been  allotted  a  new  bedroom  with 
batliroom  attached — the  ^•ery  greatest  comfort 
in  hospital  life — and  the  storing  chamber,  begun 
many  years  ago  for  mattresses,  has  been  finished 
and  nicely  arranged  for  the  original  purpose. 


ON     THE     PAVEMENT. 

"  Once  a  nurse,  always  a  nurse  " — so  runs  the 
saying,  and  true  it  is.  Nevertheless,  there  comes 
a  time  when — one's  first  passion  for  hospital 
service  over,  and  the  early  enthusiasm  for 
"  interesting  cases  "  and  "  hand-to-hand  grapples 
with  death  "  transformed  into  a  passion  for  health 
and  an  enthusiasm  for  avoiding  all  needless  and 
avoidable  misery — one  realizes  in  a  vivid  glare 
of  bright  light  that  the  whole  extent  of  nursing 
progress  and  development  is  simply  one  part  of 
the  whole  all-embracing  woman  movement,  and 
that  in  the  victorious  advance  of  the  latter  move- 
ment rests  all  hope  of  a  final  victory  over  disease, 
dirt,  poverty,  misery-,  preventible  suffering,  brutal 
industry,  brutal  war,  brutal  degradation  of  the 
sources  and  springs  of  human  life,  brutal  disregard 
of  the  rights  of  generations  yet  unborn.  When 
one  gets  tliis  impression,  one  goes  out  on  the 
pavement  to  sell  Votes  for  Women. 

Piccadilly  Circus — throngs  passing  by.  I  take  up 
my  "  pitch,"  armed  with  an  advertising  board  and 
with  a  green  bag  lettered  in  white  and  purple. 
Indifferent  tlirongs — heedless — rushing  by,  they 
overlook  my  bag  and  me,  though  holding  a  copy 
under  their  eyes.  They  must  be  jogged — reminded. 
"  Votes  for  Women  !  Buy  Votes  for  Women  !  " 
I  shout  in  loud  and  piercing  tones.  Now  I  get 
attention.  Nearly  everyone  looks  my  way  (perhaps 
the  American  accent  surprises  them)  and  now  the 
men,  who  ignore  me  as  long  as  I  keep  still,  show 
their  inmost  feelings  through  their  thin  outward 
\'eneer  of  good  manners.  One  turns  an  angry, 
contemptuous  face  :  "  No.  The  devil  take  them  ! 
Another  one  snaps  out  :  "I  should  think  not  ! 
Never  !  "  A  superior  male  person  comes  along  : 
"  Ah,  no.  I'm  on  the  other  side,  you  see."  A 
kindly  gentleman  half  stops,  looks  at  me  sorrow- 
fully :  "  Oh,  no,  your  methods  are  so  wrong  ;  so 
wrong,  yon  know."  His  tone  is  sad.  "  Five 
years  !  five  years  !  "  .shouts  a  burly  person,  looking 
back  at  me  with  vindictive,  triumphant  grin. 
"  Five  thousand  years!  "  I  yell,  and  chase  him 
with  the  paper.  Many  attempt  to  crush  and  wither 
me  bv  a  slow  look  of  scorn  and  disapproval, 
passing  slowly  and  inspecting  me  as  if  I  am  some 
monstrosity.  I  learn  to  abash  these  lordly  beings 
completely  by  pretending  that  1  thihk  they  want 
to  buy.  "  Only  a  penny,"  I  tell  them  in  reassuring 
tones,  as  if  their  pence  were  few,  and  step  toward 
them  with  a  paper.  They  are  completely  routed — 
their  countenances  change  and  they  look  every- 
wliere  else,  hurrying  disconcerted  away.  Occa- 
sionally comes  one  in  whose  eye  is  the  real,  cold 
gleam  of  hatred  and  aversion.  I  recognize  the 
type  that,  a  few  hundred  years  ago,  burned 
those  who  did  their  own  thinking,  whether  man 
or  woman.  This  is  the  kind  that  readily  treads 
woman  under  his  heel.  And  yet  some  woman 
gave  this  despot  life,  and  tended  him  in  .infancy. 
Had  it  not  been  for  woman's  care,  he  would  have 
died  before  his  second  year.     Extraordinary  state 


September  21, 1912     Zhc  Brlttsb  Soumal  of  mursino 


-i"} 


of  tilings  !  As  a  nurse,  I  reflect  on  the  debt  these 
men  owe  to  women,  and  as  they  pass  I  see  tliem  in 
imagination  liclplcss  babes,  never  left  outside 
the  mother's  arm  or  care  :  I  picture  those  faithful 
women  washing  the  little  limbs,  feeding,  warming, 
drj-ing,  rocking  them.  I  see  them  later  as  httle 
boys,  running  with  everj'  trouble  to  mother — 
now  here  they  are,  great,  strapping,  powerful 
animals,  reeking  with  egotism,  steeped  in  selfish- 
ness. By  tlicir  looks  to  other  and  younger  women 
I  see  that  their  debt  is  forgotten  and  that  they 
regard  women  as  con\enient  tools  for  their  own 
base  and  unmanly  purposes.  Strange  state  qf 
things  !     Wliose  is  the  fault  ? 

Here  passes  one  who  seems  excited  to  uncon- 
trollable fury  by  my  slirill  pipe  of  "  Votes  for 
Women."  He  turns  purple,  his  face  distorted, 
words  fail,  he  can  only  emit  a  harsh,  snarling 
growl,  as  if  he  were  some  kind  of  wild  beast,  he 
would  fain  rend  me,  but  passes  on.  "  You'll  never 
get  it  !  "  calls  back  a  smug  person,  pleased  with 
himself  and  all  the  world.  "  We'll  get  it  this 
winter  !  "  I  reply.  "  My  good  woman,  why  don't 
you  sell  '  The  Common  Cause  '  ?  "  inquires  a 
patronising,  mild-eyed  gentleman.  "  Because  I 
sell  Votes  for  Women  "  is  the  reply,  that  leaves 
liim  still  inquiring.  And  then  once  more  a 
purple  tyrant.  "  If  I  saw  m\-  wife  reading  that 
rag,"  he  shouts  "  I  would  cut  her  throat."  "  I 
hope  she  cuts  vours  first  "  I  cry  after  him. 

But  not  all  are  hostile.  Ever  and  anon  there 
lof)es  past  some  pleasant-faced,  clean,  set-up- 
youth — almost  always  a  young  lad,  who  buys  a 
paper,  or  saj's  in  passing,  w-ith  a  smile  :  "  I  belong 
to  the  M.P.U."  Son\etimes,  an  older  man  stops 
and  speaks  sympathetically  of  the  cause  ;  one  or 
two  have  been  in  prison  for  it.  .\nd  even  some 
of  the  enemy  are  quite  friendly.  "  Here,  give  me 
a  paper  ;  I'm  dead  against  you  all,  dead  against 
you,  but  I  like  your  pluck,  you  know  ;  I  like  your 
pluck."  So  spake  one  genial  John  Bull  and  paid 
his  penny. 

And  what  about  the  women  ?  Well,  nine- 
tenths  of  all  the  papers  I  sell,  are  bought  by 
women. 

L.  L.  Dock. 


OUR  FOREIGN' LETTER. 


THE     NATIONAL     UNION     OF     WOMEN 
WORKERS. 

.\s  already  announced,  the  Annual  Conference 
of  the  Xational  Union  of  Women  Workers  will 
meet  at  O.xford  from  September  30th  to  October 
4th,  when  questions  of  wide  general  interest, 
such  as  the  Work  of  Women  Inspectors,  Women 
Workers  and  the  Living  Wage,  Equipment  for 
Personal  Service,  will  be  abl)'  presented  and 
discussed.  The  National  Council  Meetings  take 
place  on  October  2nd  and  3rd,  and  various  Nursing 
-Associations  affiliated  to  the  Council  will  be 
represented.  Miss  B.  Cutler,  Hon.  Secretary, 
will  represent  the  National  Council  of  Nurses  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  and  Mrs.  Bedford 
Fenwick  the  Society'  for  the  State  Registration 
of  Nurses. 


THINGS     SANIfAUY— AND     THAT     KISS 
FOR     THR     BRIDE. 

Bv   l-hLI.X    J.    Kocii. 

Just  the  other  night  we  attended  a  wedding. 
Not  a  wedding  among  the  ultra-rich,  where  vou 
might  look  for  idiosyncracies,  where  such  things, 
as  the  bride's  favourite  lap-dog  might  be  occupving 
a  seat  at  the  bridal  table,  or  perhaps  the  same 
board  o*  honour  be  decked  in  garish  \eUow, 
simply  to  have  things  different  from  what  one 
might  expect.  Nor,  again,  was  the  wedding  one 
among  the  poor,  the  lowly,  the  ignorant. 

It  was  a  typical  Anglo-Saxon  home  wedding, 
one  with  a  hundred  odd  guests  or  so,  selected 
from  among  the  friends  of  bride  and  g^oom, 
bride's  parents,  groon^'s  parents,  and  in  one  case 
at  least,  a  ven.'  good  friend  of  the  bride's  sister, 
so  good  a  friend  that  we  are  already  saving  to  buv 
the  next  wedding  present. 

We  go  into  details  as  to  these  guests  a'purpose, 
because  they  are  most  relevant  to  the  point  we 
would  make. 

There  was  dear  old  Mrs.  Black — let  us  call  her — 
a  charming,  motherly  soul,  but,  as  she  wheezed 
under  the  exertion  of  climbing  the  stairs  to 
remove  her  wraps,  we  detected  asthma.  There 
was  once  joUy  "  Bob  "  Brown,  to  use  his  nick- 
name— "  Bob,"  who,  in  our  school  davs,  was 
liveliest  of  us  all.  But  Bob  had  overdone  his 
studies ;  he  was  tubercular,  and  he  knew  it. 
So  Bob,  with  just  a  short  term  lease  on  life,  had 
lost  his  buoyant  spirits,  and  is  wasting  awav,  to 
the  pity  of  all.  Then,  as  foil  to  him — for  weddings 
bring  together  strange  groupings — there  w-as 
\-oung  Mrs.  Green. 

"  Oh,  Bess  !  "  she  exclaimed,  on  greeting  the 
bride's  sister,  "  I  hardly  dared  to  come.  I  have 
such  an  awful  cold,  and  my  eyes  do  look  awful  ! 
Now  don't  tell  me  they  don't,  for  I  know  they 
do.  In  fact,"  and  she  turned  to  a  friend  near  bv, 
"  I'm  considerablv  worried.  There  is  so  much 
pneumonia  about." 

It  was  just  a  vignette,  that — out  of  the  doings 
of  the  crowd  of  a  hundred.  You  catch  the  idea  ? 
Our  friends  may  be  most  delightful  people — 
socially — but  (and  the  subject  is  a  rather  indelicate 
one)  we  really  wouldn't  want  to  Idss  them,  one 
after  another,  in  militaj-\-  arrav,  now  would  we  ? 

On,  though,  with  the  wedding.  Lohengrin, 
the  minister,  the  exchange  of  rings,  the  solemn 
\ows,  the  stepping  to  one  side,  and  then — that 
relic  of  barbaric  times — the  kiss  for  the  bride. 
Old  men,  young  men,  matrons,  maids,  each 
stepped  past  the  bride  to  congratulate  and  to 
plant  a  kiss  squarely  on  her  mouth. 

•  "  Oh,  I  don't  like  those  people  who  kiss  on  the 
cheek,"  someone  remarked  near  us.  "  It's  so 
cold,  so  W'ithout  heart.  A  kiss  is  a  kiss,  and  is 
to  be  lip  to  lip."  .\nd  then  we  heard  another 
smack  of  the  lips,  and  another,  and  another,  and 
another  person  still  kissed  our  poor  bride  sq\iare!v 
on  the  mouth. 


240 


Zl)C  IBi'itlsb  3oiiinal  of  fRursino.     September  21,  1912 


"  A  kiss  for  the  bndt;  1  " — and  what  may  not 
be  the  result. 

Latterly,  in  the  Middle  West,  some  few  of  us, 
you  know,  have  been  urging  abolishing  the  hand- 
shake— the  naked  hand,  that  is — for  reasons 
which  hardly  make  refined  reading,  but  which 
will  explain  themselves  on  reminding  oneself  of 
.  the  dozen  and  one  things  you  may  have  touched 
since  last  vou  washed,  your  hands.  You  hung 
on  a  strap  in  the  street-car — who  held  that  strap 
last,  pray  tell  ?  You  fumbled  }Our  mone\- — 
who  passed  it  to  you,  and  from  whose  pocket  had 
it  come  ?  You  know  and  I  know  where  sa\-ings 
are  kept,  very  often.  You  pressed  door-knobs, 
handled  this  and  that.  Then  you  meet  Smith, 
on  his  wav,  as  you  are,  to  lunch,  and  you  both 
shake  hands.  Smith  and  you  exchange  microbes 
as  vou  pass  on  to  dine.  Ko  chance  to  wash 
between  the  cafe  door  and  dinner,  so  you  put 
Smith's  gift  of  microbes  on  the  roll  you  will 
touch,  on  the  chicken  vou  must  finger  in  order  to 
eat,  on  the  pickle,  or  the  olive,  or  anything  else 
^\■ith  which  good  breeding  permits  a  hand  touch. 
Here  at  the  wedding  likewise.  With  white 
gloves  removed,  and  one  and  all  now  just  about 
to  sit  down  to  the  wedding  feast,  you  shake 
hands  with  the  bride — poor  little  bride  ! — and  give 
her  \-our  own  supply  of  microbes — the  heartier 
vour  clasp  of  good  wishes  the  more — and  then, 
adding  insult  to  injury,  plant  that  kiss  on  her 
mouth  ! 

A  few  vears  ago,  a  magazine  errand  sent  us  to 
the  little  village  of  Plevna,  about  which  the 
mightiest  battle  of  the  Russo-Turkish  War  had 
been  fought.  We  chanced  to  come  to  town  when 
a  funeral  was  in  progress,  and  as  everyone  in  the 
place  attends  such,  so  we.  Not  to  weary  with 
details  which,  while  interesting  are  not  pertinent, 
by  and  by  the  Pope,  or  priest,  of  the  orthodox 
faith  raised  a  square  little  Icon  from  its  place  on 
the  breast  of  the  dead — a  victim  of  scarlet  fever 
the  woman  had  been — put  it  to  the  lips  of  the 
corpse  that  "  they  might  once  again  have  the 
benefit  of  such  sacrament,"  and  then  kissed  it 
devoutlv  himself.  Returning  it  to  the  woman's 
breast,  he  was  followed  by  everyone  else  in  the 
church  then,  each  person  putting  the  Icon  to  the 
lips  of  the  dead,  then  to  his  own,  then  to  tiie  coffin 
once  more.  When  we  wrote  of  this  not  alone 
grisly  but  plague-spreading  rite,  medical  papers 
far  and  wide  commented  on  it  as  Europe's  most 
barbarous  custom,  and  as  a  relic  of  savagerjr  and 
the  like. 

That,  though,  is  in  a  benighted  up-countrv 
hamlet  in  Bulgaria,  a  land  where  brigandage  and 
rapine  and  murder  have  kept  do^vn  the  finer  arts. 
But  in  London,  Ottawa,  Washington,  San 
Francisco  you  will  find  in  vogue,  among  all  classes 
of  people,  a  custom  which  is  not  one  whit  less 
foolish. 

A  kiss  and  a  handclasp  for  the  bride,  and  then 
....  well,  maybe  physicians  are  all  of  them 
wrong  when  they  prate  of  the  spread  of  disease 
through  contagion.  But  maybe,  again,  they're 
not  ! 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


WOMEN. 


There  is  a  lively  correspondence  in  last  week's 
British  Medical  Journal,  aroused  by  the  "  Report 
on  the  Forcible  Feeding  of  Suffrage  Prisoners," 
signed  by  Sir  Victor  Horsley,  Mr.  Mansell  Moullin, 
and  Dr.  .\gnes  Savill.  Of  course,  it  presents 
the  opinions  of  those  for  and  against  this  special 
form  of  torture,  but  the  arguments  of  Dr.  Barbara 
Tcha\-hovsky  are  worthy  of  note,  as  she  claims 
that  forcible  feeding  does  not  fulfil  the  two-fold 
purpose  for  which  it  is  presumably  used  :  (i)  To 
prevent  starvation  ;  (2)  To  prevent  prisoners 
from  terminating  their  sentences.  She  considers 
that  the  time  is  ripe  for  the  medical  profession, 
tlu-ough  its  organisation,  to  protest  against  the 
imposition  on  its  members  of  duties  that  are 
distinctly  unprofessional,  for  it  is  probably 
difficult,  if  not  impossible,  for  any  indi\-idual 
medical  officer  to  refuse  to  carr\-  out  the  instruc- 
tions of  his  authority.  She  fails,  however,  to  recall 
in  this  connexion  any  other  branch  of  the  medical 
service  where  the  necessity  for  the  imposition  of 
any  form  of  medical  treatment  does  not  lie  solely 
with  the  medical  officer,  whose  decision  is  final. 
Apparently  in  the  case  under  consideration,  the 
prison  doctors  take  their  orders  for  this  special  form 
of  medical  treatment  from  their  lay  authority, 
which  is  surely  an  abrogation  of  their  privilege 
to  prescribe  or  withhold  treatment  unbiassed 
by  any  consideration  except  the  need  of  health. 

Dr.  Tchayhovsky-  asks  "  Are  prison  doctors 
called  upon  to  render  purely  medical  services, 
and  are  they  in  order,  as  members  of  the  medical 
profession,  in  administering  a  form  of  treatment 
to  the  patients  under  their  care  which  rapidlv 
reduces  these  to  a  serious  condition  of  invalidity  ? 
Even  in  Russia,  during  the  savage  flogging  of 
prisoners,  the  prison  doctor  stands  by  and  raises 
his  hand  when  in  his  opinion  the  prisoner  has 
had  enough.  Here,  apparently,  the  prison  doctor 
administers  the  torture  himself,  and  then  decides 
from  the  prisoner's  physical  condition  when  she 
has  had  enough  of  his  treatment. 

"  I  have  before  me,"  she  writes,  "  a  copy  of  the 
oath  taken  by  Arabian  doctors  at  the  Kasr-el- 
Aini  Hospital  at  Cairo,  wliich  begins  and  ends  : — 
I  swear  in  the  name  of  God,  the  Most  Sigh,  and  of 
His  Sublime  Prophet  Mohammed,  whose  Glory' may 
God  increase,  to  be  faithful  to  the  laws  of  honour, 
honesty,  and  benevolence  in  the  practice  of  medicine. 

****** 
May  I  be  respected  if  I   remain  faithful  to   my  vow. 
If  not,  may  I  be  covered  with  shame  and  be  despised. 
God  is  my  witness  to  what  I  have  said.      The  oath  is 
finished. 

"  Surely  the  doctors  of  the  West  will  not  jdeld 
to  their  colleagues  Of  the  East  in  high  aim  and 
purity  of  motive  !  "  ■ 

To  object  to  the  indignity  of  forcible  feeding 
is_  according  to  one  correspondent,  mere  "  sense- 
less sentimental  clamour  "  ! 


Scptouht 


191. 


CLbc  Ifivittijb  3ouvnal  of  muisino. 


24r 


BOOK   OF  THE    WEEK. 


THE     TURNSTILE.* 

This  interesting  and  clever  book  is  a  departure 
from  Mr.  A.  E.  W.  Mason's  ordinary  style.  It  is 
the  story  of  an  explorer,  who  became  a  politician 
with  less  aptitude  for  the  latter  than  for  the  former. 
While  his  enthusiasm  for  travel  and  adventure 
was  perfectly  genuine,  his  parliamentary  career 
was  embarked  upon  from  ambition  alone,  and  as 
such,  failed. 

Cynthia,  the  girl  he  ultimately  married,  foresaW| 
that  such  would  be  the  case.  "  I  don't  think," 
she  said,  "  that  I  believe  very  much  in  any  work 
which — I  don't  express  what  I  mean  very  well — 
which  hasn't  a  great  dream  at  the  heart  of  it." 

Kamcs  looked  up  into  her  face  quickly  and  grew 
suddenly  serious. 

Cynthia's  history'  is  ronrantic  and  well  conceived. 
She  is  the  adopted  daughter  of  a  wealthy  Argen- 
tine settler  and  his  wife,  they  having  no  children 
of  their  own.  The  nostalgia  for  the  greenery  of 
Warwickshire  caught  at  his  throat,  and  he  proposes 
to  return. 

"  1  find  it  lonely  here,  Joan,"  and  he  struck  the 
table  with  his  hand. 

"  Oh,  my  dear,  and  what  of  me  ?  "  The  wistful- 
ness  of  his  wife's  voice  struck  him  to  silence — a 
remorseful  silence.     After  all,  his  days  were  full. 

"  There  is  our  other  plan,"  she  suggested 
gently.  "  The  other  plan,"  to  mitigate  the 
loneliness,  was  to  go  to  Buenos  Ayres,  and  there 
to  select  for  adoption  a  little  child  from  the 
foundling  institution.  At  the  same  moment  that 
Daventry  and  his  wife  are  discussing  these  plans, 
a  terrific  earthquake  occurs  in  Valparaiso.  Among 
the  terrible  death  roll  was  reckoned  the  long- 
suffering  young  wife  of  worthless  James  Granville, 
who  himself  escapes  with  the  little  child,  who  is 
the  heroine  of  this  story.  Becoming  soon  wearied 
of  his  little  charge,  he  took  the  train,  and  in  a  night 
and  a  day  came  to  Buenos  Ayres.  In  the  train 
he  tied  an  old  bootlace  round  his  daughter's  arm. 
Sonre  way  up  the  hill,  he  stopped  in  front  of  one 
of  these  hou.ses,  noticeable  because  of  a  small 
turnstile  let  into  the  garden  wall.  He  placed  his 
child  upon  the  platform,  rang  the  bell,  and  turned 
the  stile,  ^'ears  after  we  meet  her  again  as  the 
idolized  adopted  child  of  the  Daventrys.  It  is 
not  hard  to  imagine  that  a  very  thrilling  romance 
could  be  constructed  out  of  this  material,  and  Mr. 
Mason  may  be  trusted  to  make  the  most  of  it. 
The  turnstile  always  remains  in  Cynthia's  mind 
in  an  indefinite  form.  And  in  after  life  she  makes 
a  sort  of  allegory  of  it  in  the  stirring  events  of 
her  experience.  Always  romantically  inclined, 
she  is  enamoured  with  the  accounts  of  the  explorer 
Kames,  and  in  the  far  Argentine  we  have  a  chann- 
ing  account  of  the  young  girl  sending  off  her 
telegram  of  congratulation  to  her  unknown  hero. 
"  She  wrote  it  without  alteration,  for  her  thoughts 

*  By  A.  E.  W.  Mason.  Hodder  &  Stoughton, 
London. 


had  run  fastidiously  on  the  wording  of  it  all 
through  breakfast  time.  She  handed  it  to  the 
operator  with  a  certain  trepidation  like  one  who 
has  done  some  daring  oi-  irrevocable  deed." 

After  the  death  of  her  kind  foster  parents, 
who  had  amply  provided  for  her,  she  lives  in 
England,  where  she  meets  the  hero  of  her  dreams. 
Marriage  and  a  certain  disillusionment  follow, 
but  not,  happily,  disaster ;  for  his  failure  as  a 
politician  revives  in  him  his  old  enthusiasm,  and 
with  it,  CjTithia's  love.  "  T  went  into  the  House 
of  Commons  without  ideas  ;  now  I  have  a  big  one, 
and  it  has  mastered  mc."  The  only  tjuarrel  we 
can  possibly  ha.ve  with  this  book,  is  the  rather 
disproportionate  share  that  politics  have  in  it. 
But  it  must  be  read. 

H.   H. 

VERSE. 

One  ship  drives  east  and  another  west. 

While  the  self-same  breezes  blow, 
It's  the  set  of  the  sails  and  not  the  gales 

That  bids  them  where  to  go. 
Like  the  winds  of  the  sea  are  the  ways  of  the  fates 

As  we  voyage  on  through  life  ; 
It's  the  set  of  the  soul  that  decides  the  goal, 

And  not  the  storms  and  the  .strife. 


COMINQ     EVENTS. 

September  30^/1  to  October  ^Ih. — Conference  of 
the  National  Union  of  Women  Workers  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland.  Masonic  Buildings,  Oxford. 
Meetings  of  the  National  Council  of  Women, 
October  2nd  and  3rd,   10.30  to  i  and  2  to  .\. 

October  2nd. — Meeting  at  the  Mansion  House  in 
support  of  the  Nurses'  Missionary  League. 

October  yd. — Conference  and  Farewell  Meetings 
to  bid  Godspeed  to  members  of  the  Nurses 
Missionary  League  leaving  for  the  foreign  field. 
University  Hall,  Gordon  Square,  W.C. 

October  nth. — Meeting  Executive  Committee 
Society  for  State  Registration  of  Nurses.  431, 
Oxford  Street.     4.30  p.m. 

October  igth. — British  Home  and  Hospital  for 
Incurables,  Streatham.  Lord  Strathcona  will  lay 
the  foundation  stone  of  the  Alexandra  wing. 

October  22nd. — Central  Mid  wives'  Board  Exami- 
nation, London,  Birmingham,  Bristol,  Leeds, 
Manchester  and  Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

October  2'^rd. — Mansion  House,  City  of  London. 
Public  Meeting  in  support  of  the  memorial  to  Lord 
Lister. 

October  26th. — Quarterly  Meeting  of  the  Matrons' 
Council.     Royal  Albert  Edward  Infirmary,  Wigan. 

October  2gth-November  2nd. — Cookery  and  Food 
Exhibition,  Royal  Horticultural  Hall,  West- 
minster, S.W. 

WORD     FOR     THE     WEEK. 

The  man  who  will  succeed  must  seek,  and  he 
must  see  ;  he  must  strike  ;  and  above  all  things, 
he  must  believe!  Nature  does  nothing  for 
doubters. 


^bc  36i1ti5b  3ournal  of  IRurstmj.     September  21,  191 2 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  coiniminicalions  upon 
all  subjects  for  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


"THE     NURSE     AS     PIONEER." 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — Your  interesting  editorial,  "  The 
Nurse  as  a  Pioneer,"  leads  me  to  trespass  once 
more  upon  your  space. 

It  is  possible  that  some  of  \-our  readers  do  not 
know  that  there  is  a  society  of  nurses  which  has 
come  into  existence  in  response  to  the  need 
with  which  your  article  deals. 

The  Nurses'  Social  Union  is  "a  Union  to 
maintain  the  highest  ideals  of  the  Nursing  Pro- 
fession as  a  branch  of  Social  Service,"  and  the 
first  tliree  "  Methods  "  mentioned  in  the  "  Con- 
•stitution  "  are  as  follows  : — 

1.  The  provision  of  facilities  for  Post-Graduate 

Instruction  and  the  study  of  Social  Ques- 
tions. 

2.  The  promotion  of  co-operation  between  the 

different  branches  of  the  Nursing  Profession. 

3.  The   encouragenrent   of   a   wide   outlook   by 

providing  opportunities  for  meeting  others 
interested  in  various  forms  of  Social  Work. 

The  founders  of  the  Nurses'  Social  Union 
recognised  that  the  ever-increasing  volume  of 
social  endeavour  must  lose  a  great  proportion  of 
its  power  unless  co-operation  and  synrpathy 
between  the  many  labourers  increased  along  with 
it.  They  realised  that  the  Nursing  profession  must 
always  be  in  the  forefront  of  Social  Service,  and 
formed  the  Union,  not  only  with  the  object  of 
uniting  the  many  branches  of  the  Profession  itself, 
but  also  of  bringing  its  members  into  touch 
with  other  forms  of  social  work. 

Passing  from  general  principles  to  the  practical 
point  to  which  your  article  refers — namely,  the 
need  of  training  in  Public  Speaking — a  Debating 
Class  was  started  last  winter  by  the  London 
Division  of  the  Nurses'  Social  Union. 

The  Union  is  spreading  daily.  We  hope  that 
eleven  new  branches  will  be  formed  in  various 
parts  of  England  before  Christmas.  I  take  this 
opportunity  of  asking  all  who  have  not  already 
joined  our  Union  to  do  so  before  the  year  has 
passed  away.  Then  1913  shall  find  us  all  working 
together  for  the  fuller  equipment  of  the  "  Pioneer." 
Faithfully  yours. 

Annie  E.  Barnes, 
Central  Secretary  Nurses'  Social  Union. 


ANOTHER     VICTIM. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dear  Madam, — I  read  a  letter  signed  by  "  A 
Victim  of  Same,"  with  sympathy.  I  am  a  village 
nurse,  and  also  feel  that  I  have  been  unjustly 
treated   bv   the   County   Nursing   Association.     I 


am  a  small  farmer's  daugliter,  and  have  some 
education — quite  enough,  I  think,  to  have  gone 
through  a  good  three  years'  training  and  passed 
exams.  It  seems  most  unfair  that  we  ignorant 
country-  girls,  as  far  as  nursing  is  concerned,  should 
be  so  misled  by  ladies  of  social  standing  who 
must  know  we  are  not  being  properly  framed  by 
their  system.  I  intend,  when  my  time  is  up,  to 
enter  a  hospital  for  a  real  training  ;  but  if  I  had 
been  well  advised  I  should  now  be  a  trained  nurse, 
instead  of  doing  work  wliich  I  have  no  knowledge 
for.  AU  through  Wales  this  bad  system  is  being 
supported  by  those  who  ought  to  know  better. 
It  seems  there  should  be  some  place  women  could 
get  good  advice  before  being  trained  as  nurses. 
I  am, 

.\nother  Victim. 


THE    REGISTRATION   OF   NURSING    HOMES. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — I  am  all  for  certificated  nurses 

Nursing  Homes.     I   have   worked   with  many 

incapable    probationers,    and    it    should    not    be 

possible    for    matrons    of    Homes    to    charge    for 

skilled  nursing  and  employ  such. 

Yours  truly, 

JIember  London  Co-op. 


A     DAY'S     PAY. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — I  think  your  suggestion  for  a 
Nurses'  International  Memorial  of  Miss  Florence 
Nightingale  as  our  great  teacher  will  meet  with 
approval,  and  a  day's  pay  would  be  an  excellent 
basis  for  the  collection.  Those  earning  little 
would  thus  give  little,  and  no  one  nurse  would 
gi\'e  much.  For  instance,  my  salary-  is  ;f35,  so 
my  contribution  wotild  be  under  two  shillings  ; 
the  majority  of  probationers  would  therefore  only 
pay  from  sixpence  to  a  shilling.  But  all  the  little 
sums  would  roll  up  and  we  should  soon  liave  a 
fine  amount.  I  am  ready  to  send  mine.  Write 
as  soon  as  the  Fund  is  organised. 
Yours  trul}-, 

A  Hospital  Sister. 

[As  soon  as  Miss  Dock  (hon.  sec.  I.C.N.)  arrives 
in  New  York  she  will  issue  a  short  statement  and 
suggestions  about  this  Fund.  Each  country  can 
then  organise. — Ed.] 

•— ♦ — • 

OUR     PRIZE     COMPETITIONS— OCTOBER. 

October  ^th. — Describe  a  case  of  Cerebro- Spinal 
Meningitis,  and  how  you  have  seen  it  treated. 

October  12th. — \Miat  is  Cataract?  How  would 
you  prepare  for  an  operation  for  its  removal  ? 

October  igth. — \Miat  would  you  consider  an 
efficient  curriculum  for  the  training  of  a  midwife  ? 

October  26th. — Describe  the  modern  management 
of  Scarlet  Fever. 


We  would  remind  our  readers  that  they  can  help 
The  British  Journal  of  Nursing  by  dealing 
as  far  as  possible  with  advertisers  in  the  paper. 


September  21,  1912  Zbc  Bviti^b  Boumal  of  IHureimj  Supplement.     2^3 


THe   Midwife. 


THE  DIFFICULTY  OF  TEDIOUS 
LABOLKS. 

The  patient,  aged  38,  had  one  daughter,  born 
i8i  years  ago.  The  pregnancy  was  quite 
normal.  Three  and  a  half  weeks  over  the  full 
time  the  patient  began  with  feeble  pains  every 
ten  minutes.  She  went  on  having  these  feeble 
pains  more  or  less  for  three  days  and  three 
nights,  bad  enough  to  prevent  her  from  sleep- 
ing but  not  bad  enough  to  do  any  good,  because 
at  the  end  of  the  third  day  the  cervix  was  only 
dilated  to  the  size  of  a  five-shilling  piece.  The 
doctor  decided  to  put  the  patient  under  chloro- 
form, which  he  did,  and  with  his  hand  stretched 
the  cervix  with  each  pain  for  three  hours. 
Forceps  were  then  put  on,  and  the  baby  was 
born  thirty  minutes  after.  Presentation  was 
quite  normal  first  vertex,  but  there  was  not  a 
drop  of  liquor  amnii.  The  after-birth  came 
away  forty  minutes  after  the  second  stage,  and 
the  mother  made  an  uninterrupted  recovery. 
As  the  mother  suffered  from  chronic  constipa- 
tion, she  expressed  a  wish  not  to  be  even  asked 
to  nurse  her  babv,  as  she  said  she  made  a  hope- 
less muddle  in  trying  to  feed  the  last  one.  The 
great  difficulty  was  in  getting  the  baby  to 
breathe  or  cry. 

.•\fter  the  usual  vigorous  measure's  had  been 
tried,  the  baby  started  a  weak  flutter  of  respira- 
tion, but  made  no  attempt  to  cry.  As  soon  as  I 
could,  I  gave  him  a  hot  bath.  He  measured 
22  inches,  weighed  ji  lb.,  but  had  not  a  bit  of 
flesh  on  his  poor  little  body.  I  did  not  dress 
him,  but  rolled  him  in  a  warm  blanket,  put  him 
in  his  cot,  and  surrounded  him  with  hot  bottles. 
Four  hours  after  he  was  born,  I  trickled  down 
his  throat  a  teaspoonful  of  warm  boiled  water; 
he  made  no  attempt  to  suck.  I  continued  to 
give  water  every  four  hours.  His  finger  nails 
and  his  lips  were  black,  and  I  thought  his  cir- 
culation would  never  get  established. 

When  he  was  twenty-four  hours  old, 
meconium  was  passed.  I  continued  the  warrr- 
water  feeds,  with  a  few  drops  of  milk  and  sugar 
of  milk  added.  He  passed  urine  when  he  was 
forty-eig^ht  hours  old.  Xow  when  he  was  six 
hours  old  he  came  out  in  a  thick  rash  of  raiscl 
spots  from  the  crown  of  his  head  to  the  soles  of 
his  feet.  The  height  of  this  rash  seemed  to  be 
reached  on  the  third  dav ;  then  it  bepan  to  fade, 
and  the  skin  came  off  in  casts,   iust  as  if  the 


child  had  had  scarlet  fever.  .\  skin  specialist 
and  a  child  specialist  saw  the  baby,  but  they 
did  not  order  any  treatment,  and  the  baby  lost 
i  lb.  the  first  three  days.  He  cried  well  on  the 
fourth  day,  and  when  he  was  on  his  proper 
'feeds  of  milk,  cream,  sugar  of  milk,  and  boiled 
water  he  gained  at  the  rate  of  li  oz.  each  day 
for  ten  days,  and  had  put  on  2  lb.  at  the  end  of 
the  first  four  weeks,  and  was  thoroughly  strong, 
healthy,  and  normal  in  every  way. 

I  hope  this  will  be  an  encouragement  lo 
nurses  not  to  be  depressed  when  a  weakly  new- 
born baby  comes  under  their  care,  as  I  know 
from  long  years  of  experience  how  depressed  a 
monthlv  nurse  feels  at  the  sight  of  a  thin, 
feeble,  new-born  baby. 

A  FfLLv  Trained  and  a  Monthly  Xirse. 


C.\N  THE  UNDELIVERED  FOETUS  CRY? 


The  following  interesting  remarks  appeared 
in  last  week's  British  Medical  Journal  : — 

There  has  recentlv  been  some  discussion  in 
French  and  Belgian  medical  papers  about  the 
nntur.e  of  the  vagitus  uterinus*  Is  it  the  foetus 
or  the  uterus  which  causes  the  remarkable 
phenomenon  occasionally  heard  before  the  foetus 
is  delivered?  Velpeau  once  said  that  even  if  he 
had  heard  them  he  would  not  believe  in  them — 
that  is  to  say,  he  would  not  ascribe  them  to  the 
foetus.  .Allard,  on  the  other  hand,  has  published 
an  observation  in  the  Xormandic  Medicale 
which  leads  him  to  believe  that  the  vagitus  is 
uttered  by  the  foetus.  Let  it  be  remembered, 
however,  that  the  forceps  were  used.  It  was 
a  seventh  labour  in  this  instance,  and  on  the 
three  previous  occasions  the  forceps  had  been 
applied,  apparently  on  account  of  inertia.  After 
a  first  attempt,  which  proved  unsuccessful,  he 
allowed  the  patient  to  rest  before  introducing 
the  instrument  once  more.  Suddenlv  he  heard 
stifled  cries,  just  like  those  of  a  new-born  infant 
under  the  bedclothes,  but  the  child  was  still 
undelivered.  .\t  the  same  time  the  nurse  who 
was  holding  the  patient's  leg  cried  out,  "  On 
voit  bien  quiil  s'ennuie,  il  pleure  !  "  and  the 
mother  drew  herself  up  and  exclaimed, 
"  What's  making  that  noise?  "    The  husband, 

*  Editorial  article  in  Joum.  d'accouchements  et  revu  s 
mid.  et  de  chir.  prat..  Liige.  May  26th.  1912. 


244      clbc  36i*iti9b  3ournaI  of  IRureino  Supplement,  scj^cmber  21,  191: 


apparently  a  uoclor  himsell,  ua>  prcsem,  and 
also  heard  the  vagitus,  which  was  repeated  four 
or  five  times.  The  child's  movements  were 
vigorous.  The  forceps  were  again  applied,  but 
the  child  was  born  asphyxiated.  It  weighed 
over  II  lb.  Unfortunately,  there  does  not 
appear  to  have  been  any  post-mortem  examina- 
tion. Sippel,  about  eight  years  ago,  reported 
^  case  of  his  own  in  Vhich  he  undertook 
version.  A  pain  occurred,  and  he  was  obliged 
to  stop  his  manoeuvres  without  withdrawing 
his  arm.  Immediately  two  high-pitched  notes 
were  heard,  clearly  arising  within  the  patient's 
abdomen.  They  precisely  simulated  the*  cries 
of  an  infant.  But  Sippel  noted  that  at  each  crv 
air  ran  along  his  forearm  engaged  in  turning, 
and  he  distinctly  felt  the  vibrations  of  a  fold  of 
mucous  membrane  closely  encircling  his  fore- 
arm. The  current  of  air  ran  not  from  below, 
but  from  above  downwards.  The  uterine  con- 
traction drove  it  out,  and  as  it  passed  the 
sligHtly  resistant  fold  the  sound  was  produced. 
Possibly  the  vaf:itiis  uteriniis  mav  be  explained 
in  a  similar  way  in  most,  if  not  all.  other  cases. 
There  seems  usually  to  be  a  flabby  uterus  on 
the  one  hand,  and  an  obstetrical  operation 
admitting  air  into  its  cavity  on  the  other. 

UNION    OF    MIDWIVES    .AND    TRAINED 
MATERNITY  NURSES'  ASSOCIATION. 

Dr.  C.  H.  Langford,  one  of  the  \ice-Presi- 
dents  of  the  T.M.X.A.,  kindly  consented  to 
give  a  Lecture  on  "  Correct  Breathing  "  at  the 
offices,  33,  Strand,  W.C,  on  Wednesdav, 
September  i8th,  at  6  p.m. 


THE    MATERNITY    HOSPITAL, 
CONSTANTINOPLE. 

Writing  to  the  Onarterlv  Record — the  organ  of 
the  Boston  General  Hospital  Xurses'  Association — 
from  the  Maternity  Hospital,  Constantinople, 
Matilda    Der\ishoglou    says  : — 

"  As  once  you  wished  to  have  more  idea  for  our 
Maternity  Hospital.  I  will  in  short  try  to  give  some 
information. 

'■  Three  years  ago  for  a  first  time  we  had 
Maternity  Hospital  and  Nursing  School  in  Constan- 
tinople. The  resident  physician,  Bessim  Enmer 
Pasha,  also  the  head  of  the  Faculty,  after  thirty 
years'  tiial,  succeeded  to  estabUsli  the  hospital 
as  soon  as  Hamid  was  sent  away  from  Constanti- 
nople. Xow  our  hospital  is  organised,  for  which  I 
am  grateful  to  our  Pasha,  for  when  'I  try  to  intro- 
duce the  superiority  of  wa\s  Americans  have  into 
my  hospital,  and  how  the  wise  American  nurses 
battle  with  disease  (which  I  found  very-  hard  with 
only  untrained  native  girls  to  work  \vith)  he  helps 
me,  being  always  kind  and  courteous,  considerate 


and  lull  of  zeal  and  care  whenever  nursing  interests- 
are  involved. 

"  His  interest  for  the  improvement  of  our 
^lidwifen,-  and  Nursing  School  is  great.  For  this 
Turkish  nation  must  be  proud  that  this  noble 
plnlosopher  from  books  of  liis  own  authorship 
teaches  Midwifery. 

"  We  found  it  very  diiiicult  to  change  their 
customs,  which  seems  sin  for  this  nation.  Thev 
say  '  \\'hat  I  have  seen  from  my  grandma,  I  must 
follow  her  way.'  For  example  :  they  fear  of 
leaving  a  confined  woman,  as  they  think  she  will 
be  changed  by  de\i]s  if  left  alone.  For  this  reason 
I  had  great  diflicult}'  to  have  babies'  ward  separate. 

"  Another  custom  is  bandaging  the  baby's  head 
very  tight  in  order  to  make  it  round  shape — to 
persuade  to  ha\e  babies'  bare  head  was  quite  a 
triumph. 

Before  we  had  the  midwifery  school,  mid  wives 
used  to  give  their  right  hands  to  their  daughters 
as  a  professional  diploma — that  means  the 
daughters  had  right  to  become  midwives.  just 
because  their  mothers  were  midwi\es,  without  an\- 
education  or  study  of  this  line,  and  thev  could  not 
e\en  read  and  wTite.  Among  those  midwives  there 
was  one  who  was  proud  to  show  a  pocket  knife 
unwashed  for  twenty  years,  as  a  result  of  her 
success.  She  said,  '  This  is  what  made  me 
famous. ' 

We  ha\e  fourteen  that  we  tr\-  to  train  with 
new  ideas  and  make  them  as  much  as  possible  near 
perfect  nurses,  though  they  are  ver\-  slow  and 
unused  to  hospital  life  and  to  unselfish  labour. 

Still  I  recognise  it  to  be  my  mission  n:>t  to  look 
for  defects  and  attempt  to  correct  them  bv 
criticism,  but  to  find  out  and  to  call  forth  all  that 
is  good  and  ennobling,  as  Mr.  Allen  said,  '  The 
latent  possibilities  of  the  spirit  of  the  nation 
must  be  used  in  the  cause  of  the  race.  ' 

I  think  it  will  interest  you,  when  you  hear  us. 
taking  the  history  of  a  patient.  \\'hen  asked  age, 
she  answers,  '  Must  I  know  mv  age  ?  '  When 
father's  name  is  inquired,  the  answer  is,  '  He  is 
dead,  and  I  don't  remember  liis  name  now.' 

"  ^^'hen  we  ask  the  period  of  her  pregnancy, 
she  says.  '  When  trees  were  blossoming.'  '  When 
cotton  was  gathered  from  the  field.'  ;  '  Wlien 
her  neighbour's  house  was  burned,'  etc.,  etc." 


MATERNITY     ENDOWMENT     IN 
NEW     SOUTH     WALES. 

A  maternity  endowment  scheme  for  New  South 
Wales,  pro\iding  free  medical  attendance  and 
skilled  nursing,  has  been  proposed  by  the  Govern- 
ment at  an  estimated  cost  Of  £60,000  annually. 
The  scheme  will  be  independent  of  the  Federal 
babv  bonus,  and  medical  treatment  and  nursing 
will  be  compulsory.  Patients  will  have  a  proper 
choice  of  doctors  where  the  State  pays  the  fees. 

This  scheme  sounds  like  a  real  maternity  benefit, 
and  not  as  that  desigied  through  our  National 
Insurance  Act — one  for  subsidizing  the  father 
instead  of  the  mother  ! 


No.   1.278 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

1M(E  MeEISIM€  MECORP 

eOlTED  BY  MRS  BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,     SEPTEMBER   28.   1912. 


Vol.  XLIX. 


EDITORIAL. 


THE     INCRE.ASED     COST     OF     LIVI.NG. 

We  are  constantly  hearing  of  the  in- 
creased cost  of  living,  and  of  recent  years 
the  cost  in  this  country  has  gone  up  bv 
leaps  and  bounds.  Yet,  so  far,  the  remunera- 
tion of  trained  nurses  remains  stationary. 
The  salaries  of  probationers  are  merely  a 
pocket  money  remuneration,  and  staff-nurses 
and  sisters  earn  little  more  than  from  £25 
to  £.35  per  annum.  This  we  know  is  a 
very  tight  fit.  In  private  nursing,  the  £2  2s. 
fee,  less  in  the  country,  is  still  the  same  as 
it  was  in  the  eighties — when  eyervthing 
was  far  less  costly.  Not  only  so,  but  as 
trained  nurses  have  been  denied  State  pro- 
tection, after  pleading  for  it  for  a  quarter  of 
a  century,  their  field  of  labour  has  been 
over  run  and  largely  absorbed  bv  the 
unqualified,  some  of  whoni  demand  the 
highest  fees  for  unskilled  work,  whilst 
others  are  content  to  undersell  at  beggarly 
rates,  the  remuneration  of  skilled  nurses. 
This  competition  being  very  keen  (especi- 
ally as  the  hospitals  most  inigenerouslv  look 
on  private  nursing  work  as  a  justifiable 
means  of  revenue),  there  is  little  prospect  in 
this  country  of  e\en  a  small  rise  in  salaries 
to  meet  the  increased  cost  which  will 
result  from  the  National  Insurance  Act  in 
every  particular.  The  policy  of  the 
"  charity  "  employer  to  keep  the  nursing 
profession  unprotected  and  disunited,  and 
the  apathy  of  the  nurses  in  condoning  such 
a  policy,  must  be  blamed  for  this  sorrv 
economic  condition. 

At  the  other  side  of  the  world,  where 
trained  nurses  appear  to  possess  a  keener 
sense  of  professional  feeling,  and  where,  at 
any  rate,  thev  are  alive  to  the  fact  that  the 
labourer  is  worthy  of  her  hire,  this  question 
of  increased  fees  for  private  nurses  is  noA' 
under  discussion.     The  initiative  was  taken 


bv  the  Roval  Victorian  Trained  Nurses 
Association,  which  after  consideration 
passed  the  following  resolution  : — "  That  the 
Council  of  the  Queensland  Branch  is  of 
opinion  that,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  many 
nurses  have  to  provide  for  old  age  out  of 
their  earnings,  and  that  their  employers  are 
frequently  wealthy,  and  of  the  greatly 
increased  cost  of  living,  and  of  wages  and 
salaries  in  general,  the  fees  of  private 
nurses  might  be  raised  without  injustice  or 
detriment  to  the  public,  and  with  a  further 
advantage  to  the  nurses  ;  and  that  this  rise 
should  be  on  the  basis  of  a  sliding  scale, 
allowing  for  a  smaller  fee  for  long  cases,  or 
when  two  nurses  are  employed,  or  other 
special  circumstances." 

This  resolution  was  forwarded  to  Sydney 
to  the  .\ustralasian  Trained  Nurses  Associa- 
tion, the  Council  of  which  decided  that  it 
should  be  submitted  to  the  members  them- 
selves at  the  Annual  Meeting,  and  that 
meanwhile  the  views  of  the  State  Councils 
of  the  Association  should  be  ascertained. 

The  Australasian  Xiirses  Journal  is  not 
sure  that  to  raise  their  fees  might  not  after 
all  be  injurious  to  the  average  private  nurse. 
It  argues,  not  without  reason,  that  as  at 
present  almost  all  nurses  engaged  in  private 
nursing  find  more  than  sufficient  work  the 
whole  year  round,  they  may  be  in  less 
request  by  the  public  if  more  has  to  be  paid 
for  their  services.  Many  families  will  be 
forced  to  do  without  nurses  during  sickness; 
and  if  trained  nursing  is  imperative,  either 
the  services  of  the  nurse  will  be  dispensed 
with  at  the  earliest  possible  date,  or  an 
untrained  woman  who  has  some  experience 
in  nursing  will  be  called  into  requisition  and 
thus  another  class  of  workers  in  the  nursing 
world  will  arise.  Again  many  people  will 
prefer  to  send  their  sick  to  the  private 
hospitals,  which  would  prove  less  expensive 
now  that  food  and  domestic  help  is  so  hard 
to  obtain.     So    that    the    private   hospitals 


m6 


vEbe  Brttieb  3onrnal  of  IHursino- 


Scptriiihcr  _'8,    191; 


would  ,Uain  at  tlic  expense  of  the  prnate 
nurse. 

The  Journal  suggests  an  increased  allow- 
ance for  washing — as  the  present  charge  of 
2J(>  onlv  covers  half  the  cost — also  a 
comprehensive  fee  to  embrace  suburban 
tram,    train   and   cab  "fares. 

When  all  is  said  and  done,  we  are  faced 
with  the  fact  that  in  the  I'nited  States 
of  America  onlv,  arc  private  nurses  fees 
calculated  on  a  schetlule  which  not  only 
pioxides  a  living  but  a  suTiiig  wage.  In  this 
country  there  is  still  a  prejudice  against 
nursing  as  a  livelihood — as  against  nursing 
as  charity.  A  few  more  Acts  of  Parliament 
such  as  the  National  Insurance  Act.  and 
private  nursing  will  be  taxed  out  of 
existence. 


WHAT     NURSES     SHOULD    KNOW, 

ABOUT     TREATMENT     WITH      5ERUMS, 
VACCINES,    10XINS,     AND     PHYLACOOENS. 


By  Miss  Emma  Xi.\on 

[Sdii  Francisco  County  Association). 

{Concluded  front   page   226.) 

Phvlacogkn. 

I  will  now  lake  up  the  consideration  of  the 
pliylacogen,  in  the  clinical  application  of  which 
I  have  had  the  most  experience,  and  because 
these  should  be  of  greater  interest,  inasmuch 
as  it  is  in  the  clinical  application  of  these 
remedies  that  the  services  of  the  professional 
nurse  are  more  often  required  than  with  any 
other  bacterial  preparation. 

These  preparations  were  originaled  1)\  Dr. 
A.  F.  Schafer,  of  Bakersfield,  California. 

Definition. — The  term  pliylacogen  mean.s  a 
guard  creator,  and  niav  hi',  as  in  the  case  of 
these  phylacogens,  inert  in  themselves,  but 
which,  on  injection  into  animals,  cause  defen- 
sive products,  probably  proleids,  to  develop. 

The  principle  upon  v\hioh  the  use  of  these 
phylacogens  is  founded  is  the  theory  of  multiple 
infections.  This  principle  is  supported  by 
an  extraordinary  practical  experience,  supple- 
mented by  exhaustive  and  long-continued 
laboratory  and  clinical  experimental  work  bv 
Dr.  Schafer. 

Three  facts  are  sit  forlli  by  Dr.  Schafer  as 
the  basis  of  this  new  thcTapy  : 


•  Address  to  the  Califomian  State  Nurses  Associa- 
tion Convention.  Reprinted  from  the  Pacific  Coast 
Journal  of  Nursing. 


I'irst.  Practically  all  acute  and  many  of  the 
chronic  diseases  are  caused  by  the  metabolic 
products  of  bacteria. 

Second.  The  himian  subject  is  the  host  of 
micro-organisms  that  are  pathologically  latent, 
but  capable  of  setting'  up  a  disease  process 
under  certain  conditions. 

Third.  The  growth  of  tlie  inficting  micro- 
organisms can  be  arrested  and  their  effects 
neutralized  by  products  derived  from  their 
development  in  artificial  culture  media. 

Safety.  The  degree  of  toxicity  of  the  phyla- 
cogens has  been  carefully  ascertained  by  means 
of  experiments  on  animals.  The  results  of 
these  tests  indicate  that  the  minimum  lethal 
dose  for  a  150  pound  man  is  645  c.c,  an 
amount  many  times  greater  than  the  maximum 
prescribed  dose  of  these  preparations. 

As  these  results  apply  to  healthy  animals 
they  cannot  serve  as  a  guide  when  using  the 
phylacogens  specifically,  as  in  the  treatment  of 
typhoid  fever  or  tuberculosis,  when  the  size  of 
the  initial  dose  must  be  carefully  considered 
and  always  be  comparatively  minute. 

Deterioration.  These  products  deteriorate 
\cry  slowly,  and  in  so  doing  simply  become 
inactive,  tlie\  do  not  develop  any  poisonous 
properties. 

I)idicntiiins.  The  phylacogens  are  indicated 
in  the  following  conditions,  in  all  of  which 
there  is  clinical  evidence  supporting  the 
curatiye  value  of  the  remedies  : 

Rheumatism,  surgical  infections,  erysipelas, 
sequeltt  of  gonorrheal  infections,  pneumonia, 
typhoid  fever,  localized  tubercular  disease. 

Others  could  be  included  in  this  list,  but  I 
wish  to  be  conservative.  This  gives  some  idea 
of  the  wide  range  of  use  for  these  agents  and 
the  great  possibility  of  nurses  having  to  meet 
with  them  in  the  field  of  their  professional 
endeavour. 

.idininis'ratio)!.  I'hyl.icogens  arc  given  sul)- 
cut;ineously  for  the  most  part,  but  may  be 
given  intravenously  by  those  experienced  in 
intravenous  work.  If  subcutaneous  method  is 
used,  the  injection  should  be  given  under  the 
skin  and  not  beneath  the  superficial  fascia,  or 
muscle,  the  point  of  injection  is  preferably  one 
where  there  is  considerable  loose  skin,  as  at 
the  insertion  of  the  deltoid  muscle,  or  in  the 
back  between  the  scapukc. 

The  interval  of  doses  is  from  eight  to  fortx - 
eight  hours,  depi:nding  upon  the  judgment  of 
physician. 

The  average  dose  is  from  5  to  20  c.c.  sub- 
cutaneously.  One-half  to  5  c.c.  intravenously. 
More,  if  the  judgment  of  the  physician  decides 
it  necessary. 


September  28, 1912      Qbc  Bvttlsb  Soumal  of  IRurstnfi. 


-M7 


Reaction.  This  is  the  fcati.irt;  that  is  im- 
portant from  the  standpoint  of  the  professional 
nurse ;  it  is  during  the  reaction  that  your  ser- 
vices are  required,  and  here  is  where  previous 
knowledge,  knowing  what  to  expect,  and 
preparedness  make  your  efforts  many  times 
more  effective,  both  in  serving  your  patients 
and  co-operating  with  the  doctor.  The  proper 
recognition,  interpretation  and  recording  of 
reaction  symptoms  has  largely  to  do  with  the 
result  which  can  be  achieved  in  any  given  cale, 
and  as  this  work  devolves  upon  the  nurse,  you 
will  no  doubt  agree  with  mc  that  thorough 
acquaintance  with  the  reaction  symptoms  is 
very  desirable. 

SuBCUT.^NEOfS    InJECTIO.N'. 

Local  Reaction.  First,  a  sensation  of  full- 
ness and  burning  followed  in  6  to  24  hours  by 
swelling,  redness,  pain,  stiffness  and  numbness 
— these  vary  in  intensity  from  slight  to  severe  ; 
if  very  severe  the  L  &  O  compresses  will  effec- 
tually relieve.  In  a  small  percentage  of  cases 
there  is  no  reaction. 

General  Reaction.  In  30  minutes  to  (>  hours 
there  comes  on  a  chilly  sensation,  which  may 
merge  into  a  distinct  chill ;  patients  may  have 
headache,  nausea,  pain  in  the  affected  parts, 
general  muscular  pain  and  free  sweating ; 
temperature  may  rise  i  to  5  degrees,  pulse  may 
rise  ID  to  50  beats  per  minute.  In  rare  cases 
vomiting  and  diarrhcea  occur,  occasionally 
stomatitis,  and  in  about  2  per  cent,  of  the  cases 
herpes  appears  around  the  mouth ;  the  lips 
crack  and  bleed.  This  may  occur  after  the  first 
dose,  though  usually  it  does  not  appear  until 
after  two  or  three  doses  have  been  given. 
Abdominal  pain,  severe  nausea,  repeated 
vomiting,  purging,  feeling  of  great  depression, 
bodily  weakness,  severe  prolonged  chills  are 
symptoms  indicating  too  large  and  too  frequent 
dosage,  or  accidental  injection  into  a  vein. 

None  of  these  symptoms  are  dangerous  and 
all  are  transitory.  They  can  easily  be  con- 
trolled by  regulating  the  size  and  interval  of 
dose. 

I.VTRAVENOUS     INJECTION. 

Local  Reaction.  There  is  no  local  reaction, 
unless  faulty  technique  permits  injection  into 
the  tissues  around  a  vein  or  into  the  wall  of  the 
vein ;  this  usually  gives  a  very  painful  local 
reaction  requiring  local  treatment  with  hot 
compresses  to  control  it. 

Rapid  Injection.  Where  phylacogcn  is  in- 
jected into  the  vein  too  rapidly,  it  results, 
immediately,  in  pronounced  circulatory  dis- 
turbances, evidenced  by  a  pinched  expression, 
blueness  of  the  lips,  a  slaty  blue  colour  rapidly 


spreading  over  the  face,  and  attended  with 
disturbed  heart  action  and  a  rapid,  feeble,  and 
at  times  intermittent  pulse,  and  rapid  shallo\\' 
respiration.  These  symptoms  will  never  appear 
if  the  injection  into  the  vein  be  made  verv 
slowly,  allowing  from  half  to  three  minutes  for 
doses  varying  from  ^  to  10  c.c. 

Reaction  Symptoms.  Usually,  within 
30  minutes  after  intravenous  injection,  thi 
patient  feels  chilly,  a  sensation  which  rapidK 
becomes  more  pronounced.  He  will  slip  down 
into  the  bed,  drawing  the  clothing  close  around 
the  neck,  turn  over  on  his  side,  tlex  the  thighs 
on  the  abdomen,  and  by  this  time  he  will  be  in 
a  decided  chill,  which  will  become  more  and 
more  pronounced  until  it  assumes  the  propor- 
tions of  a  severe  rigor. 

The  chill  will  be  so  violent  at  times  that  the 
movements  of  the  patient  will  vigorously  shake 
the  bed.  The  chill  usually  lasts  about  30 
minutes,  occasionally  60  minutes,  and  gradu- 
ally passes  off.  Headache,  nausea,  vomiting, 
pain  in  the  affected  part,  general  pain  in  the 
muscles  and  joints,  bowel  movement  may  occur 
at  this  time,  and  more  often  than  with  the  sub- 
cutaneous method.  Later  the  patient  becomes 
drowsy,  breaks  into  a  profuse  perspiration  and 
falls  asleep.  When  symptoms  described  under 
too  rapid  injections  come  on  at  this  time  and 
show  a  tendency  to  persist,  careful  record 
should  be  made  of  them,  the  usual  supportive 
measures  instituted,  external, heat,  internal  and 
hypodermic  stimulation,  absolute  quiet,  and  the 
attending  physician  notified. 

Contra-Indications. 

Subcutaneous  Method.  There  are  no  contra- 
indications to  the  subcutaneous  method. 

Intravenous  Method.  Terminal  cases,  those 
of  patients  already  dying ;  hopeless  cases ; 
cases  with  severe  and  dangerous  cardiac  in- 
volvement ;  cases  with  pronounced  arterio- 
sclerosis ;  chronic  alcoholics,  or  tho.se  suffering 
from  an  acute  attack  of  alcoholic  tremens 
should  not  be  injected  intravenously. 

Here  is  where  the  nurse  again  has  hard  work 
cut  out  for  her,  as  it  is  but  natural  that  the 
physician  will  use  new  and  wonderful  curative 
agents  to  treat  hopeless  and  terminal  cases  and 
dying  patients  in  the  effort  to  give  them  every 
chance,  and  with  the  idea  of  perhaps  getting  a 
wonderful  cure.  It  is  in  these  cases  where 
every  bit  of  strength,  heat  and  heart  action 
count  for  the  patient,  that  the  nurse  needs  to 
keep  doing  all  the  time  and  watching  very 
closely.  I  have  seen  terminal  cases,  especially 
of  acute  infectious  conditions,  where  for  some 
hours  after  an  injection,  the  careful  use  of  the 


248 


tibe  36rttt5l)  3ournal  ot  IRurslno.      September  28, 


1912 


stethoscope  was  required  to  determine  if  the 
patient  was  actually  alive ;  I  have  seen  such 
cases  get  well.  Physicians  hear  of  these  in- 
stances and  try  to  duplicate  them.  Naturally 
the  majority  of  such  cases  die  ;  but  those  that 
do  get  well  require  very  painstaking,  skilful 
nursing,  which  meansi  that  the  nurse  must  have 
confidence  in  the  treatment,  and  this  she  cannot 
have  unless  she  knows  something  about  it. 

Age.  Age  alone  does  not  contra-indicate  the 
use  of  phylacogens ;  infants  and  the  very  old 
stand  properly  adjusted  doses  very  well.  Dr. 
N.  N.  Brown,  of  Bakersfield,  has  given  a  man, 
92  years  of  age,  with  lobar  pneumonia,  the 
pneumonia  phylacogen  intravenouslv,  with  a 
rapid  cure.  The  patient  went  through  his 
reaction,  chill,  &c. ,  without  any  alarming 
symptoms  developing. 

Permanence  of  Cure. 

The  question  of  permanence  of  cure  comes  up 
with  regard  to  chronic  infectious  conditions, 
and  experience  warrants  the  statement  that  it 
depends  on  the  precise  diagnosis  of  the  actual 
cause  of  the  condition,  the  patient's  power  of 
resistance  and  sufficient  treatment. 

I  have  given  you  some  practical  points  all 
based  on  the  results  of  actual  experience,  which 
I  trust  have  appealed  to  you  as  worthy  of 
serious  consideration  and  given  you  a  measure 
of  confidence  in  the  present  great  value  and  the 
prospective  greater  value  of  the  biologies  and 
especially  the  phylacogens.  In  closing,  I  again 
urge  you  all  to  begin  now  acquiring  definite, 
precise  information  on  these  remedies,  that  we 
may  be  prepared  to  adjust  ourselves  and  our 
profession  to  the  rapidly  changing  methods  of 
therapeutics,  and  so  keep  abreast  of  the  pro- 
gress in  a  field  in  which  the  prospects  for 
honour  and  gain  to  our  profession  are  very 
allurinsf. 


MEDJCAL    AID    FOR    INDIAN    WOMEN. 

The  Standard  reports  that  to  commemorate  the 
visit  of  the  Queen  to  Kotah,  the  IMaliaraja  of  that 
State  has  given  Lady  Hardinge,  wife  of  the 
Viceroy,  a  lakh  of  rupees  for  the  benefit  of  the 
women  of  India.  It  has  been  determined  to 
devote  the  sum  to  the  provision  of  medical  aid 
and  to  found  a  woman's  medical  college  and 
hospital  at  Delhi,  where  Indian  women  of  the 
higher  classes  may  be  trained  for  the  medical 
profession.  The  women  of  these  classes  have 
hitherto  been  excluded  from  becoming  doctors 
owing  to  the  fact  that  the  necessary  instruction 
is  available  only  in  mixed  classes  of  men  and 
women.  Her  Majesty's  consent  will  be  sought 
for  the  naming  of  the  institution  the  "  Queen 
Mary  Medi.al  College  and  Hospital." 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 

WHAT  RECORDS  WOULD  YOU  KEEP,  AND  WHAT 
POINTS  WOULD  VOU  OBSERVE  AND  REPORT  UPON. 
AS  A  ROUIINE  PRACTICE,  WHEN  NURSING  A  CASE, 
EITHER  IN  A  HOSPI  I  AL  WARD  OR  IN  APRIVAIE  HOUSE? 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Mrs.  Dickson,  The  Grange,  Buxton, 
Derbyshire,  for  her  paper  on  the  above  subject. 

PRIZE     PAPER. 

The  records  kept  of  a  patient's  illness  would 
depend  to  a  great  extent  upon  the  nature  of  the 
disease. 

The  chart  would  contain  the  daily,  or,  if 
necessary,  the  more  frecjuent  record  of — 

(a)  Temperature. 

{b)  Pulse. 

(c)   Respiration. 

(J)  When  bowels  have  acted. 

(c)   Date  of  menstrual  period  in  women. 

(/)  Should  the  case  be  one  in  which  it  is 
necessary  to  save  and  measure  urine,  the  quan- 
tity of  urine  passed  will  also  be  entered  on  the 
chart. 

Further  points  to  observe  would  come  under 
various  headings,  as  follows  : — 

Sleep. — Amount  and  nature.  Whether  light, 
heavy,  restless,  easily  aroused,  talkative.  Ex- 
pression of  patient  during  sleep,  and  if  the 
patient  is  refreshed  or  lethargic  afterwards. 

Breathing. — Note  if  this  be  regular,  rapid, 
shallow,  painful,  stertorous.  In  some  illnesses 
the  "  Cheynes-Stokes  "  breathing  will  be  ob- 
served.    This  must  be  reported. 

Food. — The  amount  taken  by  the  patient, 
and  not  merely  the  amount  offered.  Note  if 
food  causes  pain,  and,  if  so,  how  long  after  the 
food  has  been  taken  and  the  exact  position  of 
the  pain.  Note  if  nausea  is  felt  or  vomiting  is 
caused.  Note  if  the  patient  shows  a  generally 
poor  appetite,  or  if  he  only  be  indifferent  to 
certain  invalid  foods. 

Vomit. — Should  there  be  any  doubt  as  to  its 
nature,  a  specimen  should  be  retained  for  the 
doctor's  inspection.  Note  if  the  vomiting  be 
merely  rejected  food,  or  if  it  contain  blood  or 
bile,  or  if  it  be  fjecal  vomit.  Note  if  the  quan- 
tity of  vomit  is  more  than  the  food  which  has 
been  taken. 

Urine. — It  is  a  safe  rule  with  a  new  patient 
to'always  put  up  a  specimen.  If  the  patient  is 
not  "  S.  and  M.  U. "  (in  which  case  the  doctor 
will  rhake  his  own  observations),  note  the 
(a)  quantity,  {b)  colour,  (c)  deposit,  (d)  odour, 
(e)  frequency  with  which  it  is  passed,  (/)  if  it  is 
painful  to  pass. 

Stools. — Note  anything  abnormal  in  quan- 
tity,   colour,    form,    frequency,    odour,    or    the 


September  2ii,  1912      cbc  Bclttsb  Souriial  of  murslny. 


249 


presence  of  undiyeslccl  fuod,  Ijlood,  pus,  worms, 
or  any  foreijjn  body.  Note  if  there  is  painful 
strainingf  or  if  ha-inorrhoids  are  present. 

Skill. — Note  if  this  is  hot,  dry,  cold,  clammy, 
or  if  the  patient  perspires  more  at  one  time  than 
another.  Note  any  rash,  eruption,  redness, 
discolouration,  swelling,  cuts,  or  scratches. 

Position. — Note  if  the  palienl  is  prone  to 
lying-  in  any  particular  position — with  knees 
drawn  up,  for  instance.  N'ole  the  face  :  if  the 
eyelids  are  full\  closed  during  .sleep,  if  tlje 
mouth  is  open,  and  if  the  hands  are  clenched. 
Note  any  twitching  or  grinding  of  the  teeth. 
Note  if  the  patient  is  particularly  sensitive  to 
light  or  sound,  and  winces  at  strong  light  or 
sudden  sound. 

Drugs. — Note  the  action  of  any  drugs  taken. 
Always  be  prepared  for  any  idiosyncrasy  on  the 
part  of  the  patient  towards  certain  drugs. 

Pain. — Notice  if  this  comes  on  at  staled 
intervals  or  is  irregular.  If  it  is  affected  by 
food  or  position  or  action.  Notice  the  patient's 
position  during  the  pain.  Note  if  the  pain  be 
sharp,  stabbing,  dull.  Note  the  effect  of  any 
drugs  or  other  means  used  to  alleviate  the  pain. 
Note  if  the  patient  is  flushed  or  pallid  during 
pain,  or  if  collapse  follows.  Note  expression 
of  the  patient's  face  during  pain.  Note  the 
exact  site  of  pain.  If  the  patient  is  a  child,  note 
the  cry — if  a  persistent  wail,  or  a  short,  sharp 
cry,  or  paroxysms  of  crying. 

Discharge. — Note  if  there  be  any  discharge 
from  uterus,  ears,  eyes,  nose.  The  nature  of 
the  discharge,  and  if  blood-streaked  or  offen- 
sive. 

Sputum. — This  must  be  noticed  and  its 
appearance  reported  on — whether  thick,  frothy, 
rusty-looking. 

Bedsores  must  be  looked  for  dailv,  and 
should  the  patient  suffer  from  bedsores,  this 
must  be  immcdiatelv  reported. 

]]'ounds. — The  nurse  must  look  out  for 
hsemorrhage.  She  should  keep  a  record  of  the 
date  of  operation ;  also  of  drainage  tubes 
removed  or  stitches  removed. 

Instruments  and  Appliances.- — It  must  be 
noted  that  these  are  kept  in  their  correct  posi- 
tion. Should  an  extension  be  used  it  must  I'-e 
noted  that  the  weight  is  properly  slung,  and  is 
not  allowed  to  rest  upon  the  bed. 

Weight. — Where  it  is  possible  the  patient 
should  be  weighed  weekly,  and  a  record  kept. 

In  nervous  diseases  the  after-effects  of  any 
mental  excitement  must  be  observed  and  re- 
ported on. 

Incoiitinenrr  nf  UMiir  nr  f-A-n-^  nin'-l  ::U\;,\< 
be  reported. 


HONOURAIiLE     MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honourable 
mention: — Miss  K.' Parry,  Miss  F.  L.  Pearce, 
Miss  C.  Ryder,  Miss  G.  Campling,  Miss  A. 
Fryer,  Miss  S.  Trew,  Miss  Emily  Marshall,  and 
Miss  F.  C.  Carter. 

Miss  K.  Parry  mentions  several  important 
points  :  Any  variation  of  temperature  when 
taken  at  different  times  and  in  different  places. 
Careful  observation  of  the  eyes  :  whether  pupils 
are  dilated,  unequal,  or  contracted ;  and  any 
movement  of  the  nostrils  (alae  nasi)  or  epis- 
taxis.  The  condition  of  the  mouth  :  if  foul, 
teeth  decayed,  tongue  furred,  dry,  cracked,  or 
tremulous,  and  if  straight  when  protruded. 
Also  if  breath  is  offensive,  and  condition  of 
throat — if  free  from  redness,  swelling,  ulcera- 
tion, and  patches.  Observe  if  there  is  any 
muscle  wasting,  paralysis,  or  pain  on  the  move- 
ment of  any  limb.  Any  deformity,  any. defect 
of  speech  or  want  of  comprehension,  any  deaf- 
ness or  discharge  from  ears. 

Miss  G.  Campling  writes  : — Phthisical  and 
nerve  patients  must  have  their  weight  regu- 
larly recorded,  sputum  disinfected,  and  special 
note  of  temperature  before  and  after  exercise. 
In  the  nursing  of  any  case,  besides  the  routine 
observations  a  nurse  should  always  be  ready  for 
possible  complications,  and  according  to 
diagnosis  keep  a  sharp  look-out  for  all  points 
connected  therewith,  reporting  effects  of  treat- 
ment, carefully  administering  medicines,  and 
noting    results. 

Miss  C.  Ryder  observes  that  in  nursing  in  a 
private  house  the  routine  may  be  different  than 
in  a  hospital  ward,  but  observation  must  be  as 
keen.  Everything  for  the  use  of  the  sick  must 
be  kept  separate  for  the  patient's  use,  and  the 
nurse  must  carefully  observe  economy,  and 
guard  against  extravagance  in  the  use  of  ex- 
pensive surgical  stores  and  medical  appliances. 
Patients  take  note  of  these  things. 

Miss  Emily  Marshall  writes  "  that  in  a 
private  house  the  points  to  observe  are  cleanli- 
ness, antiseptic  precautions,  thorough  and 
careful  ventilation,  special  care  as  to  the  keep- 
ing and  administration  of  medicines,  and 
special  care  as  regards  poisons,  which  latter 
should  always  be  under  lock  and  key.  .  .  . 
The  care  of  the  patient's  diet  tray  and  food 
makes  a  great  difference  to  the  patient's  com- 
fort and  well-being.  ...  In  a  private  house  it  is 
also  advisable  to  write  down  in  a  report  book 
the  doctor's  name,  address  and  telephone 
number,  and  telegraphic  address." 

QUESTION    FOR     NE.XT     WEEK. 

Describe  a  case  of  Cerebro-Spinal  Meningitis, 
and  how  vou  have  seen  it  treated. 


250 


Cbe  Brltisb  3ournal  of  inursino 


September  28,  191: 


THE    INTERNATIONAL    CONGRESS 
NURSES. 


OF 


WEDNESDAY.   AUOUST   7th. 


AiTERNOov  Session. 
THE    SOCIAL    WORK    OF    NURSES. 

The  last  Session  of  the  Cologne  Congress  was 
held  on  the  afternoon  of  August  7th,  Sister  Agnes 
Karll  presiding.  The  first  paper  read  was  that 
by  Miss  Lina  L.  Rogers,  R.N.,  Superintendent 
of  School  Nurses  at  Toronto,  Canada.  As  we 
propose  shortly  to  print  this  paper  in  full,  we  give 
here  only  a  brief  abstract. 

^  '  School  Nursinx.  in  Toro>;to. 

Miss  Rogers  said  that  when  the  Board  of 
Education  of  Toronto  began  medical  inspection 
of  its  public  schools  in  loio,  she  was  invited  to 
organise  a  School  Nursmg  Service.  The  first 
step  taken  was  to  locate  the  schools,  beginning 
with  those  in  the  poorer  localities,  to  visit  all 
the  hospitals;  dispensaries,  and  relief  societies, 
to  find  out  where  assistance  could  be  obtained, 
and  at  the  same  time  to  explain  the  object  of 
the  work.  This  interested  many  groups  of  people, 
and  when  the  nurses  started  work  they  were 
cheerfully  welcomed. 

Miss  Rogers  then  described  in  detail  the  methods 
employed  by  the  nurses  when  visiting  the  schools. 
Their  duties  also  included  visits  to  the  homes 
of  the  children,  and  it  was  during  these  visits 
that  the  nurse  had  such  splendid  opportunities 
for  constructive  work.  Many  a  whole  family 
had  been  saved  by  the  friendly  advice  and 
assistance  of  a  nurse,  and  the  nurses  felt  that 
their  opportunities  and  pri\Tleges  were  great. 

The  campaign  for  clean  teeth  also  formed  a 
big  part  of  inspection  work.  The  whole  aim 
of  this  was  prevention,  and  the  nurses  w-erc 
proceeding  along  the  lines  of  prophylaxis  rather 
than  waiting  for  disease  to  appear.  Adequate 
provision  for  feeble-minded  children  had  still 
to  be  made,  special  attention  was  being  given 
at  present  to  the  ana'mic,  poorly  developed 
children,  for  whom  an  open-air  school  had  been 
opened. 

Toronto  had  the  distinction  of  being  the  first 
city  to  give  a  post-graduate  course  to  nurses 
wishing  to  supplement  their  general  training  b\- 
a  course  of  school  nursing. 

Social  Wokk  in  HoLL.\Nn. 

Miss  Tilanus,  who  presented  the  paper  compiled 
on  behalf  of  the  Dutch  Nurses'  Association,  said 
that  they  had  collected  reports  from  those  nurses 
who  participated  in  social  work,  and  were  able 
to  make  the  following  statement. 

I.  Day  and  Night  Nurseries.  Such  an  establish- 
ment had  been  opened  at  Delft.  At  first  children 
were  only  taken  by  day  ;  at  present  they  were 
accepted   for   both    day    and   night   from   a   few- 


weeks  up  to  four  vears  old.  It  was  speciall\- 
intended  for  children  both  of  whose  parents  were 
absent  from  home  for  some  time.  In  favourable 
weather  most  of  the  time  was  passed  out  of 
doors.  The  food  was  very  plain,  costing  about 
2d.  per  day  per  child,  or  even  less  when  several 
children  were  taken  from  one  household,  but 
unexpectedly  good  results  were  obtained. 
Hygienic  conditions  were  carefully  observed, 
Every  child  had  his  own  wash-rag  and  towel, 
and  handkerchiefs  were  not  used,  but  small 
pieces  of  paper,  which  were  thrown  away  after 
use.  The  great  need  of  such  an  establishment 
was  demonstrated  by  the  fact  that  the  house 
was  alwavs  crowded. 

2.  A  Red  Cross  Ambulance.  An  Association 
of  Nurses  who  had  agreed  to  assist  in  time  of  war 
or  disaster. 

3.  The  Association  for  the  Prevention  and 
Suppression  of  Tuberculosis.  This  was  a  large 
Association,  occupying  several  nurses,  w-ho  visited 
the  homes  of  tuberculous  patients  and  gave  them 
advice. 

4.  The  Orange  Cross.  For  first  aid  in  em.ergenc\- 
and  shipwTeck.  Founded  by  the  Prince  Consort. 
Several  members  of  the  Dutch  Nurses'  Association 
were  alwavs  ready  to  assist  this  League. 

5.  Milk  Kitchens.  Dispensaries  where  mothers 
came  with  their  babies  to  obtain  advice  concerning 
food  and  care,  and  where  the  milk  for  the  infants' 
bottles  was  prepared  according  to  the  doctors' 
prescriptions. 

6.  District  Nursing.  From  its  character  this 
afforded  the  greatest  opportunity  for  social 
work.  All  cities  had  several  district  nurses, 
and  most  villages  had  at  least  one. 

7.  Workhouse  Nursing.  Where  the  nurses  took 
care  of  the  old  people  who  lived  there. 

8.  Infirmary  Nursing.     The  care  of  the  sick, 
g.  Homes    for    Neglected    Children   and    Adults. 

A  private  undertaking  in  Amsterdam,  which 
received  pecuniary-  aid  from  the  city  of  Amsterdam. 
About  400  patients  were  cared  for  by  several 
trained  nurses. 

10.  Homes  for  Feeble-minded  Children.  Where 
the  little  patients  w-ere  cared  for  by  nurses. 

11.  Clinics.  Consultation  offices  for  infants, 
where  nurses  assisted  the  doctors  during  .office 
hours  when  mothers  were  coming  for  advice. 

12.  Maternity  Nursing.  Undertaken  by  visiting 
nurses. 

13.  Convalescent  Homes.  Some  hospitals  had 
their  own  convalescent  jiomes  in  the  country, 
where  nurses  were  employed.  Several  private 
enterprises    also   existed. 

14.  Dispensary  Work.  In  connection  with  out- 
patient departments.  This  afforded  a  great 
opporttmity  for  social  work,  as  it  consisted  in 
caring  for  patients  some  time  after  they  had  left 
the  hospitals. 

15.  Orphan  Asylums.  These  also  afforded  an 
opportunity  for  the  work  of  trained  nurses.  • 


sci>tc,ni,er  2S,  19.2     Cbc  Bi'ltisb  3ouniaI  of  1I-liu'6ino- 


251 


16.  Clinic  for  Treating  Contagious  Head  Disease. 
Such  a  clinic  had  been  founded  in  Utrecht,  where 
children  could  be  treated  every  day  by  a  trained 
nurse  and  her  assistant.  In  addition  to  her 
professional  work,  the  nurse  had  here  great 
opportunity  for  social  service.  When  the  disease 
was  diagnosed  by  the  school  physicians  as  con- 
tagious the  child's  head  was  treated  and  bandaged 
to  prevent  contagion  to  his  school-mates.  If 
the  child  failed  to  return  for  treatment  the  parents 
were  informed  by  letter.  Failing  a  response,  the 
nurse  called  at  the  house  and  endeavoured  to 
discover  the  reason  for  the  child  not  being  sett. 
If  the  parents  objected,  and  the  nurse  could  not 
overcome  their  objection,  she  asked  the  Principal 
of  the  school  to  use  his  influence,  which  he  did 
in  combination  with  the  school  phy.sician.  These 
favus  cases  were  improving  immensely,  and  their 
number  diminishing  rapidly  during  the  last  three 
years.  Mothers  e\en  now  cleansed  their  children 
before  sending  them  for  treatment,  which  at  first 
used  to  be  the  work  of  the  trained  nurse,  and 
they  were  almost  too  dirty  to  touch.  When  a 
child  was  cured  it  had  to  remain  under  observation 
for  six  months,  and  no  patient  was  considered 
cured  so  long  as  any  other  members  of  the  house- 
hold were  suffering  from  the  same  disease.  It 
was  when  visiting  the  household  that  the  nurse 
found  opportunities  of  advising  the  mother 
concerning  prevention. 

18.  Homes  for  Crippled  Children.  A  private 
undertaking  in  Arnhcim. 

19.  "  Veldhuizen."  A  home  for  men  punished 
by  law,  who  were  compelled  to  work  there. 

20.  A  House  of  Correction  for  Boys.  In  which 
male  nurses  are  employed  in  the  caie  of  the  boys. 

In  addition,  a  trained  nurse  was  employed  in 
Holland  to  visit  the  different  dnployees  of  the 
railroad  companies,  and  help  by  her  advice  in 
the  prevention  of  consumption  amongst  them. 
She  was  appointed  by  the  companies. 

Up  to  the  present  time  these  were  the  principal 
branches  of  social  service  in  which  nurses  were 
employed  in  Holland.  As  circumstances  were 
improving,  it  was  hoped  at  the  next  International 
Congress  of  Nursing  to  report  a  great  extension 
of  the  inihiencc  of  trained  nur.ses  in  the  social 
work  of  the  countrv. 

Social  Work   in   Swi.uii.N. 

Sister  Emmy  Lindhagen,  President  of  the 
Swedish  Nurses'  Association,  reported  that  of 
late  years  nurses  were  devoting  themselves  in 
increasing  numbers  to  social  lines  of  service. 
The  manifold  varieties  of  such  specialties  might 
conveniently  be  grouped  under  the  following 
headings : — 

1.  Dispensary  Work  (Out-door  Patient  Depts.) 

2.  Child  Saving — Care  of  Children's  Health. 

3.  Care   of   the    Poor    under   many   forms   of 

service. 

4.  Providing  Work  for  Nurses. 

5.  Various  and  unclassified. 


1.  Dispensary  Service  was  far  the  most  promi- 
nent, both  because  of  the  numbers  of  nurses 
engaged  in  it,  and  of  the  special  education  for 
nurses  provided  in  the  courses  which  had  been 
instituted  annually  since  igio,  by  the  Swedish 
National  Anti-Tuberculosis  Society.  The  instruc- 
tion given  in  these  courses  covered  every  topic 
necessary  to  deal  with,  in  fitting  the  nurse  for  hor 
responsible  duties  as  a  public  health  guardian 
(Fiirsorge-Schwester).  The  work  was  many-sided. 
The  nurse  first  assisted  at  the  examination  and 
questioning  of  patients  in  the  Dispensary  ;  she 
then  visited  the  patients'  homes,  not  always  for 
the  sake  of  the  sick  one  alone,  but  also  in  the 
interests  of  the  rest  of  the  family.  She  then  saw 
whether  hygienic  conditions  prevailed,  taught 
principles  of  health  by  word  and  also  by  practical 
deed  and  denionstration,  and  in  repeated  visits 
kept  oversight  of  the  general  conditions.  She 
had  also  to  make  detailed  and  thorough  inquiry — 
according  to  a  regular  form  of  housing  and  labour 
conditions  and  the  family  history  of  her.  people. 
These  she  brought  to  the  dispensary  physician, 
who  was  guided  by  them  in  his  management  of 
the  cases. 

The  excellent  results  already  evident  in  the 
campaign  against  tuberculosis  were  to  be.  largely 
credited  to  this  dispensary  system,  and  it  was  to 
be  hoped  that  the  numbers  of  nurses  engaged  in  it 
would  increase  yet  further. 

2.  Protection  of  Children's  Health. — Work  in  this 
held  had  been  steadily  growing  in  importance  for 
the  last  ten  years,  and  nurses  were  conspicuously 
useful  as  Superintendents  in  educational  establish- 
ments, orphanages.  Day  Nurseries,  Milk  Dispen- 
saries (Gouttes  de  Lait)  and  as  inspectors  or 
visitors  of  dependent  children  who  were  placed  in 
private  fami.ies. 

3.  Work  .4nwng  the  Poor.  This  was  most  closely 
related  to  nursing  pure  and  simple,  and  in  district 
nursing,  both  in  town  and  country,  nurses  as  well 
as  deaconesses  were  actively  at  work.  Some  nurses 
have  believed  they  could  be  most  useful  on  such 
lines  by  allying  themselves  with  the  Salvation  Army 
and  devoting  themselves  to  "  Slum  "  work.  Nurses 
also  succeeded,  if  they  possessed  fine  tact  and 
delicate  feeling,  as  visitors  for  private  benevolent 
societies.  Nurses  were  also  at  work  in  rescue  work 
of  various  kinds  and  in  that  of  caring  for  the 
aged.  The  Prison  Nurse  was  one  of  the  most 
important  who  could  be  mentioned. 

4.  Providing  Work  for  Nurses.  For  some  years 
nurses  had  been  in  charge  of  offices  of  this  kind. 
In  i88g  the  Fredcrika- Bremer  Association  extended 
its  activities  to  include  this  field.  Its  offices  con- 
tinued unchanged  until  1902,  when  a  reorganisation 
took  place,  as  needed  by  the  increased  demands 
for  thorough  professional  training  and  personal 
culture  for  the  nurse,  xm  one  h md,  and  on  the 
other  for  efficient  supervision  and  control  of  the 
women  sent  forth  from  the  bureau.  The  Frederika- 
i^remer  offices  were  now  taken  over  by  a  special 
department,  affiliated  to  the  older  society,  and 
called  :  "  The  Nursing  Department  of  the  Frederika- 


252 


Cbe  Britisb  3ournaI  of  ll'lursino. 


Set^tcnibcr  28,   1912 


Bremer  Society  in  Stockholm,"  and  with  it  was 
united,  in  igog,  a  similar  bureau  which  had  been 
founded,  in  1903,  in  Gothenburg,  by  the  Medical 
Society  as  a  Nursing  Directorj'.  Both  were  now 
managed  by  trained  nurses,  and  in  consequence  a 
more  expert  assignment  of  nurses  to  suitable 
positions  was  made,  and  the  educational  qualilica- 
tions  demanded  of  woni/pn  registering  with  the 
bureau  were  raised. 

The  number  of  nurses  so  registered  was  over  400 : 
about  half  this  number  were  engaged  in  private 
duty,  while  the  others  sought  permanent  positions. 
These  two  Bureaus,  in  Stockholm  and  Gothenburg, 
were  the  first,  the  largest,  and  in  their  way  the 
only  groups  which,  possessing  no  hospital  facilities 
for  training,  nev-ertheless  exerted  a  profound 
influence  in  elevating  educational  standards  and 
promoting  the  well-being  of  nurses. 

5.  I'arious  and  Unclassified.  Among  the  various 
lines  coming  under  this  heading  were  the  following  : 

Within  the  last  four  years  women  police  assis- 
tarjts  had  been  appointed  in  Stockholm  and 
Gothenburg,  and  several  nurses  had  entered  this 
career. 

For  twelve  years  nurses  have  been  successfully 
engaged  in  giving  simple  popular  talks  on  hygiene, 
nuijing  and  the  care  of  children,  to  circles  of 
private  pupils,  young  girls  and  older  women  of 
the  educated  classes. 

As  inspectors  of  housing  conditions  and  managers 
of  working-class  dwellings  they  had  also  made 
their  way. 

Midwifery  was  taken  up  as  a  speciality'  by 
numbers  of  nurses. 

Mission  work  called  some,  and  required  special 
study  and  preparation. 

Four  years  ago  the  Swedish  Nursing  paper 
Svensk  S;.  kskot.rsketianing  was  called  into  exist- 
ence by  nurses,  and  from  its  inception  had  been 
edited  and  managed  by  nurses. 

Nurses  occupied  positions  as  officers  of  the 
"  General  Pension  Fund  for  Swedish  Nurses  " 
and  of  the  "  Nurses  Sick  Benefit  Fimd." 

A  nurse  has  also  been  recently  made  member 
of  the  "  Stadtbevollmachtigten  Stockholms." 
[To  be  continued.) 


GREETINGS     FROM     INDIA. 


AN     OPEN     LETTER. 

De.\r  Mad.am, — At  last  it  is  an  accomplished 
fact,  and  India  is  "  Affiliated  "  !  A  new, 
young,  but  steady,  sincere,  true  and  gfrowing 
member  of  the  body  of  the  International 
Council  of  Nurses.  For  two  years  we  have 
been  working-  for,  aiming  at  this  consumma- 
tion, and  now  at  the  Conference  to  be  held  at 
Bangalore  on  November  13th,  14th,  15th,  we 
shall  have  the  pleasure  of  announcing  the  fact, 
;md  experience  the  energising  sensation  of  no 
longer    standing   alone,    but   of   now    having   a 


strong  vital  mother,  who  has  fought  her 
battles  for  her  own  existence,  and  therefore 
will  know  how  to  sympathise  and  help  the 
youngest  daughter,  who  has  tackled  a  task 
bristling  with  Oriental  difficulties,  and — worse 
than  any  open  enemy — lethargy. 

The  only  sorrowful  thought  is  that  the  hopes 
and  earnest  desire  of  last  year,  the  planning  to 
be  present  at  Cologne  on  the  great  day,  came 
to  nought,  and  the  combined  pleasure  and  duty 
had  to  be  delegated  to  others.  For  several 
weeks  before  August  5th  I  had  determined  to 
cable  greetings  from  the  members  of  the 
Associations  in  India  to  tell  our  comrades  that, 
although  absent  in  the  body,  we  were  with 
them  in  spirit,  and  wondering  during  the  days 
of  the  "  Great  Meeting  "  just  what  was  going 
on.  But  alas  !  the  cable  seems  to  have  mis- 
carried. It  was  addressed  "President,  Nurs- 
ing Conference,  Cologne,"  and  said,  "  India's 
greetings. — Tindall,  Tippetts,  Presidents."  I 
sent  it  off  between  12  and  i  o'clock  midday, 
hoping  thereby  to  secure  its  delivery  before  or 
actuallv  at  the  morning  session  on  Monday, 
5th. 

I  know  it  would  have  added  an  extra  cheer 
to  our  friends  and  delegates  to  have  had  the 
assurance  of  our  thoughts  and  wishes  through- 
out the  inspiring  hours  of  communion  with 
kindred  spirits,  for  I  think,  of  all  lands,  India 
is  the  one  where  one  feels  loneliness  more  than 
anywhere  else ;  its  distances  are  so  vast,  its 
British  community  so  infinitesimal  compared 
with  the  native  millions  ;  the  nursing  profession 
so  young,  the  true  nursing  spirit  almost  non- 
existent; and  we  have  fought  so  many  battles 
side  by  side  ;  we  know  how  each  one's  daily 
work — the  constant  fight  to  maintain  its  ideals, 
to  get  the  work  properly  done,  to  instil  the,  as 
vet  (but  to  be  remedied,  I  hope,  at  the  coming 
Conference)  unwritten  ethics  of  our  profession 
— taxes  our  strength  and  every  nerve ;  and, 
therefore,  in  the  midst  of  joyful  reunion  "  At 
Home,"  surrounded  by  the  atmosphere  of  all 
that  is  best  in  the  world's  nursing,  we  should 
have  loved  to  add  the  final  pleasure  of  their 
being  remembered  by  their  fellow-workers  in 
India. 

Forgive,  Dear  Founder,  ihe  shortcomings  of 
this    hasty    line,     sent    to     tell    you     and     our 
thou'sands    of   colleagues    of    the    joy    it    is    to 
be  able  to  sign  ourselves. 
United  to  the  International  Council  of  Nurses. 

S.   G.   TlND.\LL, 

President. 
Cama  Hospital, 

Bombay. 


Scptrnihcr  jS,   igi:: 


Che  r>ittt£>l5  3oiirnai  ot  iRursmo. 


253 


NURSING    IN    NEW  ZEALAND. 


\\'lu-n  Mij<s  |.  M.  Orr  arrives  in  New 
Zealand  she  is  quite  prepared  to  find  the  pro- 
fession in  a  more  org-anizcd  condition  than  it 
is  at  home.  The  Xurses'  Registration  Art  has 
been  in  force  since  igoi,  and  althoufj^li  there  is 
ample  scope  for  fine  individual  work  upon  the 
part  of  e  a  c  Ii 
Matron,  her  pupils 
m  u  s  t  attain  a 
certain  minimum 
of  efficiency  and 
give  proof,  by 
State  Examina- 
tion, that  they 
liave  altained  tliis 
standard.  Whole- 
some rivalry  is 
thus  encouraged 
in  the  training 
schools,  and  every 
matron  naturally 
desires  that  her 
pupils  should 
attain  not  only  the 
minimum,  but  tlie 
m  a  X  i  m  u  m  of 
skill ;  and  tho^e 
who  are  keen  edu- 
cationalists work 
to  attain  it  —  a 
laudable  ambition 
consistently  fos- 
tered by  Miss 
Helen  Maclean, 
Deputy  -  Regis- 
trar of  Nurses 
and  M  i  d  w  i  v  e  s 
throughout  t  h  e 
Dominion,  whose 
welcome  to  Miss 
Orr  will,  we  feel 
sure,  he  of  th( 
kindliest  nature. 


MISS    J.    Al.    ORR. 
MATRON.    AUCKLAND    HOSPITAL,     NBW    ZEALAND. 


NURSES  OF   NOTE. 


Miss   Hester  Macle.an,    R.X. 

.Miss  Hester  Maclean,  the  President  of  the 
New  Zealand  Trained  Nurses'  Association, 
which  has  recently  been  affiliated  with  the  Inter- 
national CounciJ  of  Nurses,  holds  the  position 
of  Deputy-Registrar  of  Nurses  and  .Midwives 
in  New  Zealand. 

Miss  Maclean  was  trained  for  three  years  at 
the  Prince  .Alfred  Hospital,  Sydney,  afterwards 


obtaining  experience  in  private  nursing.  .Slie 
returned  to  hospital  work  as  Matron  of  St. 
(jeorge's  Hospital;  Sydney,  and  later  took  the 
position  of  Sister-in-Charge  of  the  Gyn.'cco- 
logical  Department  of  the  Women's  Hospital, 
Melbourne,  afterw.irds  acting  as  Superinten- 
dent of  District  Nursing  in  the  same  city.  She 
w.is  then  appointed  to  the  Matronship  of  a 
new  hospil.il-  the  Oueen  \ictoria  Hospital  for 
Women  and  Chil- 
dren, Melbourne 
— and  having 
organized  the  staff 
there,  accepted 
the  position  of 
Matron  of  the 
Women's  H  o  s  - 
pital,  ;ind  after 
holding  office 
there  for  four 
years  came  to 
fiingland  and 
gained  the  certifi- 
cate of  the  Lon- 
don  Obstetrical 
.Society. 

On  returning  to 
Sydney,  Miss 
-M  a  c  1  ca  n  took 
charge  of  a  large 
private  M  e  n  t  a  1 
I  lospital,  and  was 
ihen  invited  by  the 
Committee  of  the 
District  Nursing 
Association  i  n 

.Sydney  to  lake 
charge  of  the  first 
Home  established 
lor  the  nurses,  and 
to  organize  the 
work  which,  pre- 
viously, had  been 
carried  on  by  each 
n  u  r  s  e  indepen- 
dently in  her  own 
district,  witii  no 
responsible  Sisler-in-Charge.  In  igo6  Miss 
Maclean  was  appointed  Deputy-Registrar  of 
Xurses  and  .Midwixes  and  .Assistant  Inspector 
of  Hospit.'ds  in  New  Zealand,  in  which  influen- 
tial position  her  \aried  experience  has  proved 
most  valuable. 

.Miss  Maclean  has  hern  connected  with 
various  professional  .Associations  of  Xurses, 
including  the  .Austnilian  Trained  Nurses' 
.Association,  and  she  was  a  member  of  the 
first  Council  of  the  Victorian  Trained  Nurses' 
.Association.     She  has  special  knowledge,  there- 


^54 


Cbc  36riti5b  3oiunal  of  IHursincj. 


September  28,  igi2 


fore,  to  qualify  her  for  the  honourable  position 
which  she  has  been  called  upon  to  fill  of  Presi- 
dent of  the  New  Zealand  Trained  Nurses' 
Association,  consisting  of  four  branches,  at 
Wellington,  Auckland,  Canterbury,  and  Otago. 
Associated  with  her  as  Hon.  Secretary  is  Miss 
Bicknell,  of  the  Hospital  Department,  Welling- 
ton. 

In  addition  to  her  other  numerous  duties, 
Miss  Maclean  is  editor  of  Kai-Tiaki,  the  profes- 
sional journal  of  the  nurses  of  New  Zealand. 

THE  MATRONS'  COUNCIL  OF  GREAT 
BRITAIN  AND  IRELAND. 


\\"ill  members  of  the  Matrons'  Council  please 
note  that  the  date  of  meeting  at  Wigan  has 
been  changed  from  October  26th  to  Novem- 
ber 2nd?  This  latter  date  will  be  more  con- 
venient to  our  kind  hostess.  Miss  Macintyre, 
who  is  anxious  to  give  the  Council  the  most 
hospitable  welcome  possible.  Any  resolutions 
or  suggestions  for  the  Business  Agenda  should 
reach  Miss  Mollett,  hon.  secretary,  at  an  early 
date.  Mrs.  Fenwick  will  propose  that  "  The 
Matrons'  Council  adopt  a  Banner."  As  the 
Council  fostered  in  this  country  so  many  pro- 
gressive nursing  movements,  all  now  happily 
united  in  the  National  Council  of  Nurses,  we 
think  its  Banner  should  be  somewhat  resplen- 
dent, and  take  precedence  on  great  occasions 
when  in  International  Meeting  assembled. 

SNAPSHOTS. 


Charming  little  Congress  snapshots  keep 
arriving.  This  week  we  have  to  thank  Miss 
Agnes  L.  Ross,  of  the  Irish  contingent,  for 
several,  best  amongst  them  a  group  of  the  Irish 
party  on  the  steamer  crossing  to  Calais ;  Miss 
Sniveley  is  specially  good.  Then  Miss  Alice 
Lee-Smith  has  a  group  she  names  "  Three 
Countries" — Miss  Mollett  in  the  centre;  to 
right  Miss  Sutherland,  New  Zealand,  to  left 
Miss  Creighton,  India — each  holding  the  lovely 
bouquet  of  Mary  lilies  presented  to  them  at  the 
affiliation  ceremony  bv  the  President,  .Sister 
Agnes  Karll. 

A     DESIRABLE     APPOINTMENT. 

Our  readers  will  observe  that  the  Matron's 
post  at  the  Taunton  and  Somerset  Hospital  is 
now  vacant,  as  notified  in  our  advertising 
supplement.  W'e  hear  on  the  best  authority 
that  the  hospital  is  thoroughly  up-to-date  in 
every  way,  and  the  position  a  most  desirable 
one. 


APPOINTMENTS. 


MATRON. 

HoitKBopathic  Hospital,  Southport. — Miss  Susie 
Claphain  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
tramed  at  the-  Koyal  Hospital,  Portsmouth,  and 
the  Royal  National  Hospital,  Ventnor.  She  has 
held  the  positions  of  Night  Sister  and  Ward  Sister 
at  the  Wakefield  Infirmary,  and  also  been  Sister 
at  the  Homa'opathic  Hospital,  Birmingham. 
Miss  Clapham  has  experience  in  private  nursing, 
and  holds  the  C.M.B.  certificate. 

ASSISTANT    KAATRON. 

Rotunda  Hospital,  Dublin, — Miss  M.  E.  Carre 
has  been  appointed  Assistant  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  Hospital,  Dublin, 
and  at  the  East  End  Mothers'  Home,  London. 
She  has  been  Theatre  Sister  and  had  experience  in 
houseke  ping  at  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  Hospital,  and 
Sister  at  Ivanhoc  Nursing  Home,  Dublin. 

SISTER. 

Accident  Hospital,  Mansfield.  —  ^Miss  Dorothy 
Graham  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Derbyshire  Royal  Infirmary,  has 
been  on  -the  private  staff  of  the  Royal  Hospital, 
Portsmouth,  and  Night  Sister  at  the  Infirmary 
for  Sick  Children,  Lower  Sydenham. 

Highfield    Infirmary,    Knotty    Ash,    near  Liverpool. 

— ^Miss  Edith  Alice  Draper  has  been  appointed 
Sister.  She  was  trained  at  Bolton  Workhouse 
Infirmary,  where  she  has  been  Staff  Nurse. 

Walsall  Hospital. — Miss  F.  E.  Burke  has  been 
appointed  Massage  Sister.  She  was  trained  at 
the  North  Derbyshu-e  Hospital,  Chesterfield,  and 
received  training  in  massage  and  X-ray  work 
at  the  National  Hospital.  Ouecn  Square.  London. 

QUEEN  ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING    SERVICE. 

Staff-Nurse  Miss  M.  A.  W.  Green  resigns  her 
appointment  (September  20th). 

QUEEN  VICTORIAS   JUBILEE  INSTITUTE. 

Transjers  and  Appointments. — Miss  Elizabeth 
Ransom  is  appointed  to  Hertfordshire,  as  Assistant 
Superintendent  and  School  Nurse  ;  Miss  Gwen- 
doline Denison,  to  Woolton  ;  ]\Iiss  Agnes  F*ark, 
to  Yeovil  ;  Miss  Alice  Rigby,  to  Langwith  ; 
^liss  Elizabeth  van  Dam,  to  Sick  Room  Helps. 

Evamination     for     the    Roll     of     Queen's     Nurses, 
September  19th,  1912. 

1.  ^ilentioii  the  more  important  diseases  that  may 
be  spread  by  contaminated  drinking  water,  and 
describe  some  of  the  means  by  which  drinking  water 
can  be  purified. 

2.  What  would  be  your  work  at  a  paralysed  case 
(very  poor  patient),  with  bedsores,  at  your  first 
visit  ? 

3.  Wliat  is  Ophthalmia  Neonatorum  ?  How 
caused  ?     How  would  vou  attend  to  such  a  case  ? 


sepicnber  2»,  1912      Zbc  ISi'ttisI)  3ournaI  of  H-lurstng. 


255 


Wliat  precautions  are  to  be  used  with  regard  to  tlie 
patient,  the  family,  and  yourself  ? 

4.  What  sjTnptoms  appear  before  the  appearance 
of  the  rash  in  measles  ?  Name  the  principal  com- 
plications. 

5.  How  would  you  prepare  in  a  working  man's 
home  for  an  abdominal  section,  (i)  at  short  notice, 
(2)  knowing  a  few  days  beforehand  ? 

0.  (a)  What  is  meant  by  "  Domestic "  over- 
crowding ?  \Miat  are  the  evils,  physical  and  moral  ? 
Wliat  could  you  do  if  such  a  case  came  under  your 
observation  ?  or,  (b)  How  may  a  town  be  benefited 
by  the  work  of  a  Tubercular  Dispensary  ?  Describe 
the  work  of  a  Tubercular  Dispensary.  Question  6  is 
alternative  ;  only  (a)  or  (b)  is  to  be  answered.  Three 
hours  is  allowed  for  the  examination. 


A  TOUCHING  APPEAL. 

The  Hon.  Albinia  Brodrick,  of  Ballincoona, 
Cahir  Daniel,  County  Kerry,  has  written  to  the 
Lord  Mayor  in  support  of  her  little  hospital. 
She  says  : — - 

"  We  have  built  it  here  in  this  poor  and  rugged 
district  of  Kerry  in  one  of  the  spots  recommended 
by  fhe  Viceregal  Commission  for  the  poorest  of 
our  people — and  very  poor  they  are.  For  their 
sakes  I  have  trained  and  become  certificated  as 
medical  and  surgical  nurse,  midwife,  and  sanitary 
inspector,  and  settled  down  here  to  help  our 
people  in  every  way  I  can.  Their  tiny  homes 
are  overcrowded  and  lack  the  first  necessaries 
in  sickness,  so  that  nursing  in  them,  in  any 
adequate  sense,  is  impossible.  '  They  suffer  most 
unnecessarily  in  sickness,  and  constantly  die 
from  preventible  causes.  We  are  24  miles  from 
town  and  stations,  and  80  from  the  nearest 
general  hospital.  It  is  heartbreaking  to  see  the 
suffering  which  results.  Our  hospital  is  built 
and  roofed,  but  we  have  not  the  funds  to  finish 
and  open  it.  1  have  done  my  utmost,  living  the 
simplest  of  simple  lives  in  my  tiny  farm  cottage 
upon  about  5s.  a  week.  I  have  sold  my  beauti- 
ful old  furniture,  my  china,  knick-knacks  and 
jewellery,  but  still  we  cannot  get  sufficient  money, 
and  I  am  obliged  to  beg.  We  hope  to  be  a  centre 
of  education  and  domestic  economy,  hygiene, 
small  industries,  and  agriculture.  Already  we 
have  brought  down  the  exhorbitant  prices  of 
provisions  and  supplied  tested  seeds  and  guaranteed 
manures  for  our  farmers.  This  is  a  time  of  much 
possible  improvement ;  owing  to  being  the  owners 
of  their  little  holdings,  our  farmers  are  awakening, 
and  we  are  anxious  to  take  advantage  of  the 
opportunity.  Ijut  the  lack  of  money  fetters  us 
continually." 

We  do  hope  those  who  have  the  means  to 
help  Miss  Brodrick  in  her  really  national  bit 
of  work,  will  be  moved  to  do  so  by  this  touching- 
appeal. 


NURSING    ECHOES. 


Sir  Thomas  Burnett,  Chairman  of  the  Direc- 
tors of  the  Royal  Hospital  for  Sick  Children, 
.'Vberdeen,  has  received  a  letter  sent  to  him  by 
command  of  the  Queen,  in  which  the  following 
passages  occur  : — 

1    am   desired   to   express   Her    Majesty's 

appreciation   of  the   excellent   arrangements 

made    for   her  visit   to   the   Sick   Children's 

Hospital. 

Tiie  Queen  was  much  interested  in  all  that 

she  saw,   and   she   hopes  that  the  directors 

may  soon  be  in  a  position  to  proceed  with  the 

erection  of  a   more   suitable   building  on   a 

better  site. 

Her  Majesty  will  always  retain  a  pleasant 

recollection  of  her  visit  to  Aberdeen  yester- 

dav. 


As  the  natural  result  of  the  Queen's  visit, 
interest  has  been  aroused  in  the  hospital. 
Someone  proposes  all  "  Marys  "  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood shall  make  a  personal  effort  in  sup- 
port of  the  Building  Fund,  and  Miss  Margaret 
Grant  Smith  reminds  the  community  of  the 
great  debt  of  gratitude  owed  to  those  remark- 
able sisters,  ]\Iiss  Rachel  .and  Miss  Katherine 
M.  Lumsden,  for  their  devotion  to  the  sick 
children  in  the  district,  through  years  of 
honorary  superintendence  of  the  Children's 
Hospital.  Miss  Smith  writes  :  "  Might  not 
all,  with  other  names  than  '  Mary,'  who  bear 
a  kindly  feeling  towards  the  sick  young  folks, 
unite  in  contributing  their  sovereigns  or  their 
shillings  towards  the  Building  Fund  of  the  Sick 
Children's  Hospital,  in  recognition  of  the 
labours  of  its  two  first  honorary,  superin- 
tendents— Miss  Rachel  Frances  and  Miss 
Katherine  M.  Lumsden."  She  considers  that 
their  pioneer  work  has  never  been  sufficiently 
recognised  by  the  citizens  of  Aberdeen. 


A  correspondent  writes  : — 

"On  Tuesday,.  September  17th,  about 
7.30  p.m.,  news  came  to  Liverpool  that  there 
had  been  a  railway  accident  at  Ditton  Junction, 
and  probablv  some  of  the  injured  would  be  sent 
to  the  Royal  Infirmary. 

"  Members  of  our  medical  staff  hurried  to  the 
scene  of  the  disaster,  and  others  remained  in 
readiness  for  the  arrival  of  the  victims. 

"  Directions  were  at  once  given  and  all  pre- 
parations made  by  the  nurses,  so  that  when  the 
sufferers  were  brought  in  about  9  o'clock  a 
band  of  willing  workers,  composed  of  doctors 
and  nurses,  were  ready  to  give  every  possible 
care  and  attention  to  alleviate  their  pain.     Oh  ! 


s=;6 


Cbe  Brittsi?  3ournal  of  IRurslno      September  ^s, 


UJI2 


what  a  sorrowful  procession  it  was,  as  one 
after  another  was  carried  in.  The  scene  was 
one  never  to  be  blotted  out  from  the  memory  of 
all  who  w  itnessed  it. 

"  The  policemen,  with  their  kindly  sym- 
pathetic faces,  moving  the  injured  with  the 
gfreatest  tenderness  and  care ;  the  rapid  medical 
examination  to  ascertain  "the  extent  of  injury, 
and  prompt  treatment,  and  the  sad  and  pitiable 
condition  of  the  patients. 

"  Very  noticeable  was  the  fact  that,  with 
scarcely  an  exception,  they  were  all  mute ;  so 
great  had  been  the  shock  they  appeared  unable 
to  speak  or  think.  The  more  critical  cases  were 
first  dealt  with  and  removed  to  the  wards,  but 
as  several  were  so  collapsed,  no  examination 
was  able  to  be  made  until  thev  had  somewhat 
recovered. 

"  It  was  surprising  how  soon  all  were  in  bed 
getting  warmed,  and  their  pains  in  most  cases 
relieved  by  sedatives.  Sixteen  patients  were 
admitted  to  different  wards,  and  others  were 
able  to  go  to  their  homes  or  to  the  care  of 
friends.  A  dear  little  baby,  tenderly  wrapped 
in  a  gentleman's  overcoat,  was  among  the 
latter.  It  had  a  wonderful  escape,  being 
covered  with  bruises.  One  girl  was  burnt,  in 
addition  to  other  injuries,  and  died  soon  after 
admission,  and  both  her  father  and  mother 
remain  in  a  serious  condition.  A  man  who  had 
sustained  a  compound  fracture  was  operated 
upon  immediatelv. 

"  Soon  the  relatives  and  friends  were 
anxiously  seeking  and  inquiring,  and  the  press 
men  soliciting  all  information  possible.  None 
of  the  dav  nurses  helping  seemed  to  want  to  go 
to  bed,  each  being  eager  to  have  a  share  in  the 
relief  of  the  sufferers.  Since  earlv  on  \\'ednes- 
day  morning  there  have  been  countless  inquiries 
by  wire  and  telephone  and  numerous  callers, 
and,  as  most  of  the  patients  are  doing  verv  well, 
one  is  very  glad  indeed  to  think  the  anxious 
ones  gain  such  comfort  in  the  replies." 


Xo  doubt  the  result  of  the  Insurance  tax  will 
be  the  raising  of  probationers'  salaries.  They 
now  have  only  a  pocket-money  wage  in  cash, 
as  training,  board,  lodging,  uniform,  and 
washing  is  regarded  as  remuneration  for  un- 
skilled work.  The  North  Brierly  Board  of 
Guardians  have  already  raised  the  salaries  of 
their  probationers  from  ;^io  to  ;£ii  annually. 
Xo  doubt  other  Boards  will  follow,  and  thus 
counteract  the  intention  of  the  Act  that  it 
should  maintain  the  contributory  principle  and 
inculcate  thrift.  But  where  a  living  wage  is 
not  paid  there  is  nothing  to  be  done  but  to 
raise  wages.     "  Thirteen  shillings  a  vear  means 


my  pair  of  winter  boots,  or  my  warm  winter 
underclothes,  or  something  else  as  indis- 
pensable," a  probationer  said  to  us  lately.  It 
IS  not  realised  by  many  well-to-do  people  that 
there  are  probationers  who  have  not  a  penny 
but  what  thev  earn  ! 


Mrs.  Paston  Brown,  the  Chairman  of  the 
Kingston-on-Thames  Guardians,  had  the  plea- 
sure of  presenting  to  her  colleagues  an  extract 
from  the  report  of  Miss  Todd,  one  of  the  Local 
Government  Board  ladv  inspectors,  in  which 
she  said,  after  making  a  detailed  inspection  of 
the  infirmary,  that  she  found  the  administration 
excellent,  and  the  Sisters  and  Nurses  a  superior 
body  of  women.  Mrs.  Paston  Brown  said  it 
was  most  gratifving  to  have  such  high  testi- 
mony to  the  efficiency  of  the  infirmary,  remarks 
which  were  evidently  approved  by  the  members 
present. 


A  question  which  has  agitated  the  Camber- 
well  Guardians"  minds  and  tempers  for  more 
than  six  months  has  now  reached  an  ultimatum 
upon  their  part  to  the  head  nurses  at  the  Cam- 
berwell  Workhouse.  The  nurses  have  been 
ordered  to  carry  a  patrol  watchman's  "tell 
tale  "  clock  on  their  night  rounds.  This  they 
very  rightly  consider  beneath  the  dignity  of 
professional  women,  and  on  this  ground  they 
have  refused  to  obey  the  instruction. 

At  a  recent  meeting  some  of  the  Guardians 
realised  they  had  made  themselves  ridiculous, 
but  instead  of  acting  upon  the  suggestion  that 
a  false  step  had  been  made,  and  wiselv  retrac- 
ing' it,  a  resolution  was  carried  that,  failing 
obedience  to  the  Board's  requirements,  the 
nurses  should  be  asked  to  resign.  This,  no 
doubt,  they  will  do. 

If  only  there  was  a  Matron  in  Chief  at  the 
Local  Government  Board,  Boards  of  Guardians 
might  be  wise  enough  to  seek  expert  advice 
where  nursing  etiquette  and  ethics  were  con- 
cerned, and  thus  many  tactless  suggestions 
might  be  nipped  in  the  bud.  Anyway,  we  are 
entirelv  in  svmpathv  with  the  nurses  in  their 
objection  to  pedometers  on  duty.  Without  con- 
fidence in  their  sense  of  dutv,  the  Guardians  will 
find  that  no  amount  of  sneakv  dodges  will  result 
in  honest  service  upon  the  part  of  their  officials. 


Invited  to  give  her  reasons  for  resignation  b\" 
the  Falmouth  Guardians,  Xurse  Blower  re- 
marked that  there  were  a  great  many  senile 
cases  in  the  infirmarv,  and  that  meant  working 
15  or  16  hours  a  day.  To  have  to  nurse  the 
poor  old  women,  who  must  not  be  left  alone, 
called  for  great  attention,  especiallv  in  the  case^ 


Scl>tcwbcr  28,   igi: 


Cbc  3Butti5l)  3ournal  of  H-lursino. 


^57 


of  more  feeble  patients.  The  nurses  had  been 
really  working-  by  night  as  well  as  by  day.  It 
was  absolute  nigger-driving.  She  had  not  had 
an  hour  off  since  she  had  been  there.  She  had 
40  patients.  There  was  a  peculiar  tone  amongst 
the  inmates — a  want  of  respect  for  the  nurses. 
They  seemed  to  think  that  the  nurses  were  their 
general  servants,  and  would  like  to  order  them 
out.  She  had  no  complaint  whatever  against 
the  officers. 

Let  us  hope  the  Guardians  will  prevent  such 
"  nigger-driving  "  in  future.  < 


The  bazaar  at  Jedburgh  for  extending  the 
Cottage  Hospital  and  making-  additional  pro- 
vision for  the  Queen's  nurse  has,  with  contribu- 
tions from  other  sources,   produced   a   fund   of 

;^808.  _ 

A  large  number  of  the  members  of  the 
Catholic  \urses'  Association  were  present  at 
Lourdes  House  at  a  recent  meeting,  when  it 
was  decided  that  a  badge  should  be  worn  bv  the 
members  in  the  form  of  a  cross,  \\  ith  the  arms 
of  Ulster,  Leinster,  Munster,  and  Connaught, 
corresponding  to  the  flag  which  represented  the 
Association  at  the  recent  Nurses'  Congress 
at  Cologne,  with  the  inscription,  "  Catholic 
Nurses'  Association,"  on  it.  The  annual  meet- 
ing will  be  held  on  October  15th,  at  which  the 
election  of  a  new  Executive  Committee  w  ill  take 
place.  

The  nurses  in  California  seem  as  delighted 
that  the  International  Council  of  Nurses  has 
accepted  their  kind  invitation  for  1915  as  the 
Council  was  to  receive  it,  to  judge  from  the 
editorial  remarks  in  this  month's  Pacific  Coast 
Journal  of  Nursing.     It  says  : — 

"  According  to  press  dispatches  of  August  6th 
from  Cologne,  the  representatives  of  the  nursing 
profession  there  in  international  session  voted  to 
hold  the  next  Congress  in  San  Francisco  in  1915. 
This  is  indeed  glad  tidings,  and  will  rejoice  the 
hearts  of  nurses  in  the  Coast  States,  and  will  be 
received  with  equal  pleasure  by  nurses  through 
the  United  States.  t3l 

"  Only  those  who  have  had  the  good  fortune 
to  attend  one  of  these  great  and  inspiring  sessions 
can  appreciate  what  this  will  mean — what  it  can 
be  made  to  mean — for  nursing  education  in 
California  and  the  other  States  of  the  Coast. 
It  now  devolves  upon  the  1015  Committee,  of 
wliich  Theresa  Earles  McCarthy  is  Chairman,  to 
bend  to  the  work  and  map  out  plans  that  will  give 
the  greatest  returns  in  education  and  enthusiasm 
to  Coast  workers  as  well  as  to  the  national  and 
foreign  visitors. 

"  The  women  who  have  the  cause  of  nursing 
education  close  at  heart  are  the  women  who  from 
every  country  attend  these  sessions.  What  joy 
it  will  be  to  greet  again  on  our  own  shores  some 


of  the  splendid  workers  whom  we  met  in  I'aris 
in  1907  ! 

"  Dear,  quiet,  modest  Mme.  Gillot,  and  faithful 
Dr.  Anna  Hamilton,  of  France  ;  Sister  .\gncs  Karll. 
one  of  the  most  esteemed  workers  in  Germany  ; 
Mile.  \'an  Lanschot-Hubrecht,  leader  among  the 
nurses  of  Holland  ;  Miss  Wortabet,  from  Syria  ; 
Barone.ss  Mannerheim,  from  Finland,  and  the 
skilled  general  who  founded  the  great  International 
organisation,  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  of  London. 
These  arc  just  a  few  of  the  foreign  leaders  whom 
we  trust  mav  be  with  us,  to  say  nothing  of  the 
many^  splendid  leaders  and  teachers  in  our  own 
country.  As  the  time  for  the  Congress  approaches 
we  shall  aim  to  give  a  short  sketch  of  the  life  and 
work  of  some  of  the  distinguished  members  of 
the  profession  who  will  \isit  San  Francisco. 

"  When  we  look  ahead  there  seems  no  legitimate 
idle  moment  for  the  nurses  of  California  if  we  arc 
to  accomplish  all  the  improvements  we  should' 
accomplish  before  we  open  our  doors  in  welcome 
to  the  nurses  of  the  world  !  The  bugle  call  must 
sound  assembly,  and  every  nurse  in  this  great 
State  should  fall  into  line  for  the  three  years" 
hard  service  before  her." 


THE   HOUSE   OF   WATCHINQ. 


Late  on  a  November  night  I  was  passing 
homewards,  buffeted  by  violent  gusts  of  rain 
and  wind.  I  was  alone,  and  there  was  about 
me  no  sign  of  life  save  the  few  remaining  lights 
in  the  upper  windows  of  houses. 

A  great  building  loomed  up,  wrapped  in 
complete  darkness.  As  I  continued  on  my  way 
a  part  of  the  building,  hitherto  concealed  bv 
projecting  wings,  came  into  view. 

Two  windows  threw  from  thence  yellow 
shafts  of  light.  On  the  inner  side  of  one  a 
blind  had  been  partly  drawn.  The  other  was 
without  blind  and  curtain. 

I  stopped  in  my  walk  and  looked  up,  but, 
being  so  far  beneath,  I  could  see  little  of  what 
lay  within. 

Vet  I  saw  enough.  .Against  a  white  back- 
ground, which  I  took  to  be  the  ceiling  of  a 
room,  there  stood  out  in  strong  relief  a 
woman's  graceful .  figure.  She  was  looking 
downwards  and  inwards,  and  engaged  in  some 
active  work,  to  judge  by  the  movement  of  her 
arms. 

The  strong  light  shone  upon  her  white  cap 
and  pink  gown,  burnishing  her  hair  to  vivid 
gold. 

She  was  a  nur.se,  and  this  great  building  a 
hospital.  These  two  bright  spots  in  the  sur- 
rounding gloom  seemed  to  me  like  the  yello\\ 
eyes  of  some  monster,  which,  though  to  all 
appearance  asleep,  yet  kept  a  keen  watch 
through  the  night. 

Within  .ilso  watch  was  kept. 


2=^8 


Cbc  Brttlsb  journal  of  Buretna      September  zs,  191: 


As  I  g-azed,  the  woman's  ligurc  vanished 
from  view,  and  in  spirit  I  went  with  her  into 
the  silent,  darkened  ward. 

Could  it  have  been  imagination  or  did  I 
reallv  hear  a  fluttering  of  wings  as  she  entered  ? 
Did  death  and  disease,  like  foul  bats,  leave 
their  evil  work  and  flee  at  this  woman's 
approach  ?  * 

Silently  I  followed  her  from  cot  to  cot,  and 
watched  her  as  with  gentle  hands  she  tended 
the  suffering  ones,  smoothing  a  ruffled  pillow 
here  and  reversing  it  under  a  burning  cheek,  or 
placing  a  cool  palm  upon  some  fevered  brow. 

Here,  too,  I  found  the  same  silent  watching 
as  I  followed  my  soft-footed  guide.  Sleep  had 
come  to  some  few,  but  in  the  main  they  lay 
awake,  gazing  into  vacancy. 

Had  they  also  heard  the  flutter  of  wings, 
and  seen  those  dark  spirits  at  their  fell  work? 
The  dim  li^ht  was  reflected  in  many  a  watching 
eye. 

I  was  reminded  of  a  great  silent  camp.  The 
nurse,  a  solitary  sentry,  kept  guard  over  com- 
rades lying  around.  Many  of  these  lay  awake, 
the  light  of  the  camp  fire  glinting  -n  their  eyes. 
Was  it  a  presage  of  coming  death  that 
banished  sleep  from  the  weary  lids? 

Each  great  ward  was  silent,  save  for  a 
murmur  or  weary  sigh  from  those  who  battled 
with  invisible  foes.  Each  had  its  sentinel, 
alert  to  guard  against  surprise  or  sudden 
attack. 

Again  I  seemed  to  hear  the  whirl  of  wings. 
My  guide  passed  to  a  bed  upon  which  lay  one 
very  nigh  the  end.  The  evil  things,  sure  of 
their  prey,  did  not  fear  her  coming  then,  but 
finished  their  work. 

Weary  and  saddened  at  last  by  such  scenes 
I  turned,  and,  for  the  first  time,  studied  my 
guide. 

Brave  soul,  so  young  and  fair,  to  pass  long 
hours  in  such  dread  companv,  alert  and  un- 
afraid. I  wonder  can  you  hear,  above  that 
sinister  fluttering,  the  sounds  of  angel  wings, 
banishing  your  fears? 

Prostrate,  suffering  forms,  sickness,  disease, 
and  death — all  that  men  most  dread — about 
vou,  do  vou  not  fear  their  dreadful  presence? 

While  men  sleep  in  their  beds,  forgfetful  of 
the  terrors  vou  are  witnessing,  you  keep  your 
heroic  watch  and  euard,  alone  in  the  quiet  and 
darkness  of  the  night. 

A  squall  of  wind  and  rain,  more  violent  than 
most,  struck  me,  and,  remembering  my  posi- 
tion, I  too  went  home,  but  not  to  sleep. 
Memories  of  what  I  had  seen,  and  thoughts 
of  the  many  brave  women  who  keot  eunrd 
against  such  unseen  foes,  banished  slumber 
from  me.  Ai.i.an  Jamhs  Ei.phinstone. 


REFLECTIONS. 


FROM  A  BOARD  ROOM  MIRROR. 
The  cot  in  the  children's  ward  of  the  West 
London  Hospital,  endowed  by  a  fund  raised  by 
the  Mayor  of  Hammersmith.  Councillor  F.  Mayle, 
will,  by  permission  of  the  King,  be  known  as  the 
"  King  Edward  VH.  Memorial  Cot."  His  Majesty 
has  also  granted  permission  for  the  surmounting 
with  the  Royal  Arms  of  the  tablet  which  will  be 
placed  over  the  cot. 


The  treasurers  of  the  Middlesex  Hospital  have 
received  from  Lord  Howard  de  Walden  liis  annual 
subscription  of  /300. 


The  Duchess  of  Westminster  at  Chester  on  the 
iqth  inst..  laid  the  memorial-stone  of  two  new 
wings  wliich  form  an  important  part  of  the  great 
scheme  for  the  renovation  and  extension  of  Chester 
General  Infirmary  as  a  memorial  of  King  Edward. 
Mr.  Albert  Wood,  of  Bodlondeb,  Conway,  North 
Wales,  an  old  friend  of  tlie  Infirmary,  gave  a 
donation  of  ^12,000  for  the  two  wings.  The  coni- 
plete  scheme  will,  it  is  estimated,  involve  an 
outlay  of  about  1^40, 500.  Towards  this  about 
;£28,ooo   already   has  been  subscribed. 

The  Duchess,  with  Countess  Grosvenor,  was 
received  by  the  Chairman  (Mr.  J.  R.  Thomson), 
members  of  the  Board  of  ISIanagenaent,  the  Lady 
Superintendent  (Miss  E.  K.  Blayney),  and  some 
of  the  nursing  staff. 

After  the  ceremony  and  tea,  which  was  served 
in  the  old  Hall,  the  Duchess  went  round  the 
different  wards,  and  spoke  to  each  pitient.  She 
was  particularly  interested  in  the  Claildren's  Ward, 
when  one  small  boy  was  heard  to  call  out,  "  Hey, 
Missus,  give  us  your  feather  !" 

Dr.  Elliott  (the  Senior  Physician),  in  his  speech, 
gave  an  interesting  account  of  two  of  the  nurses 
of  120  years  ago,  who  nursed  typhus  fever  in 
the  top  ward  of  the  present  building,  in  the  year 
17S3.  One  nurse,  named  Lowry  Thomas,  had 
typhus  fever  five  times  ;  and  in  the  fifth  attack, 
she  died  in  the  ward,  in  the  year  1795.  The  other 
nurse,  named  Jane  Bird,    had    typhus  fever  twice. 

Dr.  Elliott  hoped  that  when  those  wards  were 
restored,  they  should  be  called  after  those  two 
brave  women,  who  freely  gave  their  lives'in  order 
to  relieve  human  suffering. 


The  State  Sickness  Insurance  Committee  of 
the  British  JNIedical  Association  have  resolved 
that  the  resignations  of  contract  practice  appoint- 
ments, in  so  far  as  they  extend  to  insured  persons, 
shall  be  sent  in  on  or  before  September  29th. 


Dr.  D.  G.. Macintosh,  Medical  Superintendent  of 
the  Western  Infirmary,  Glasgow,  was  elected  at 
Birmingham,  Chairman  for  th3  ensuing  year,  of 
the  British  Hospitals'  Association.  Mr.  Coni-ad  W. 
Thies  succeeded  Dr.  Macintosh,  as  hon.  secretary. 
The  recent  meeting  in  the  midlands  was  a  great 
success. 


September  2S,  1912      (Tbc  Bi*ltl5b  30111*1^1  of  H^iu'sino 


259 


SOCIAL   SERVICE. 


TRAINED  NURSINCJ  IN  PRISONS. 

Criminality  and  trained  nurses — is  there  anv 
connection  ?  1  fancy  1  hear  an  indignant  negative 
from  a  chorus  of  professional  voices  !  Let  me  put 
it  another  way  :  "  Prisons  and  Trained  Nursing." 
Should  there  not  be  some  relation  ?  A  chorus  of 
international  \oiccs  answers — yes  !  One  reform 
leads  to  another  ;  this  is  the  law  of  progress. 

The  Philanthropist- — Klizabcth  Fry — in  her  work 
of  prison  reform,  soon  discovered  that  insanitary 
conditions  of  home  life,  the  lack  of  all  comforts, 
and  many  necessities,  were  some  of  the  obvious 
causes  of  crime.  This  led  her  to  establish  the 
pioneer  Nursing  Institution  for  District  Nursing 
in  Devonshire  Square,  Bishopsgate.  Here  we 
trace  the  connection  between  prisons  and  the 
Nursing  Profession.  Her  practical  mind  grasped  the 
truth  that  prevention  is  better  than  cure.  That 
great  truth  is  the  gospel  of  the  modem  nurse, 
who  enjoys  so  many  greater  facilities  for  the 
practical  demonstration  of  it  in  her  social  work. 

The  Women's  Prison  in  Cologne. 

It  can  scarcely  be  doubted  by  thoughtful 
people  that  the  nurse  as  a  Health  Missioner — 
otherwise  a  District  Nurse — is  a  factor  in  the 
prevention  of  crime  in  some  degree,  but  we  must 
go  further.  The  place  for  the  trained  nurse  is 
inside  the  Infirmary  Wards  of  our  prisons.  As  a 
proof  that  nurses  are  interested  in  prison  con- 
ditions, some  two  or  three  hundred  of  the  Congress 
visitors  went  to  inspect  the  Women's  Prison  in 
Cologne.  Our  numbers  being  large,  and  the 
passages  small,  made  it  extremelv  difficult  to 
approach,  and  question  the  harassed  Matron 
who  kindly  conducted  us  through  the  building. 
I  endeavoured,  however,  to  keep  mv  eves  and  ears 
as  wide  open  as  possible,  and  I  should  like  to 
recall  and  record  the  results  of  nay  observations. 

The  prison  is  for  women  undergoing  short 
sentences  only,  usually  not  exceeding  three  months. 
Being  my  first  \'isit  to  a  prison  of  any  sort,  I  am 
unable  to  make  any  comparisons  from  personal 
knowledge.  It  would  appear,  however,  that  this 
one  is  built  on  the  structural  principle  of  other 
prisons.  Several  long  galleries  of  cells,  with  a 
narrow  passage  running  along  outside,  just  wide 
enough  for  the  wardress  to  pass  on  her  tour  of 
inspection.  A  small  aperture  in  the  door,  which 
can  be  closed  from  the  outside,  enables  the  wardress 
to  watch  the  prisoner  without  being  seen  by  her. 
The  bolts  and  bars  on  the  door  were  of  sufficient 
size  and  strength  for  the  cage  of  a  wild  beast. 
Inside,  the  prisoner  walked  up  and  down  restlessly. 
No  work  appeared  to  be  given  to  her  to  relieve 
the  torture  of  solitary  confinement.  I  ^vas  amazed 
to  hear  that  this  was  the  punishment  for  all  who 
entered  here — a  prison  for  short  sentences  ! — 
therefore,  obviously  for  small  offences  !  They 
were  never  allowed  out  except  for  a  little  exercise 
each  day.    Associated  labour  for  the  relief  of  the 


mind  was  not  permitted  here.  These  poor  creatures 
were  not  even  allowed  the  undoubted  human 
right  of  going  to  the  lavatory.  Very  objectionable 
arrangements  were  made  to  obviate  this  necessit\-. 
The  cells  were  of  a  fair  size,  and  the  window 
appeared  to  be  low  enough  to  enable  the  prisoner 
to  look  out.  Three  meals  in  the  day  are  provided, 
and  the  food,  consisting  of  wholesome  rye  bread, 
soup,  coffee  and  occasionally  meat  and  fish, 
seemed  to  be  plentiful  and  nourishing.  I  tasted 
the  bread  and  found  it  quite  palatable.  The 
domestic  work  of  the  prison  is  done  by  the  prisoners 
who  arc  serving  the  end  of  their  sentences.  With 
this  exception — and  this  number  wotild  constitute 
only  a  small  proportion  of  the  whole — none  are 
released,  as  I  have  explained,  from  solitary  con- 
finement. 

There  did  not  appear  to  be  any  Infirmary 
Wards  for  the  sick  prisoners,  but  merely  solitarv 
cells,  somewhat  larger  and  better  than  the  rest ; 
others  contained  cots  for  confinement  cases. 
Upon  enquiry  I  learnt  that  there  were  no  trained 
nurses  for  the  sick,  who  were  tended  by  women 
who  had  some  knowledge  of  sickness.  What  this 
precisely  meant  I  cannot  say,  but  it  would  probabh' 
be  some  course  of  instruction  corresponding  witli 
our  St.  John's  Ambulance  lectures. 

My  visit  to  this  prison  at  once  interested  and 
depressed  me. 

In  the  midst  of  all  the  splendid  philanthropy 
of  the  civilized  world  we  still  have  barbarism  ! 
A  strange  paradox  !  Prison  reform  is  urgcnth- 
needed,  and  with  it  must  come  the  entrance  of  the 
trained  nurse  into  the  sick  room  of  prisoners, 
who  are  humanly  entitled  to  her  ministrations. 
Mrs.  Bedford  Fcnwick,  in  her  beautiful  "  Watch- 
w-ord,"  reminded  us  that  "  high  aspirations  are 
the  best  incentives  to  high  endeaimurs."  May  this 
inspire  us  with  tender  pity  "  for  all  prisoners 
and  captives  "  and  lead  us  to  associate  ourselves 
with  the  Prison  Reform  Movement,  so  that  when 
the  International  Nursing  Council  next  holds  its 
Congress  at  San  Francisco  we  shall  be  able  to 
report  upon  the  work  of  our  respective  Leagues  of 
Prison  Nurses,  with  Elizabeth  Fry  as  the  Patron 
Saint. 

Beathici-;  Kr;NT. 


THE     PRO(iRE5S     OF     STATE 
REGISTRATION. 

The  Council  of  the  Queensland  Branch  of  the 
Australasian  Trained  Nurses'  Association  have 
unanimously  approved  of  Miss  E.  L.  Hunter  and 
Miss  Florence  Chatfield  (joint  hon.  secretaries), 
as  desirable  representatives  of  the  nursing  pro- 
fession on  the  Nurses'  Registration  Board,  called 
into  existence  by  the  Act  providing  for  State 
Registration  of  Nurses  ;  and  the  members  are 
urged  to  vote  for  these  two  ladies. 

Now  that  Queensland  has  granted  legal  status 
to  its  nurses,  there  is  little  doubt  that  if  there  is  to 
be  reciprocity  between  the  nurses  in  the  Common- 
wealth— other  States  must  do  likewise. 


36o 


Cbc  BritisI)  3ouvnal  of  Bursino.      September 


191; 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


WOAIEN. 

The  Duchess  of  Portland  has  been  pleading  in 
the  Press  for  a  less  cniel  method  of  trapping 
rabbits.  We  do  not  wonder — the  law  as  it  exists 
is  \-ery  cruel.  Have  you  ewer  slept  near  a  wood 
where  traps  are  set  o'  nights  ?  If  not,  don't. 
The  piteous  cries  of  these  poor  little  creatures 
often  left  to  struggle  in  pain  all  night,  n^akes  sleep 
impossible.  We  once  knew  a  little  girl  who,  at 
the  sound  of  such  suffering,  slipped  out  of  the 
night  nursery  into  Siich  a  lonesome,  fearsome, 
gruesome  wood.  Not  onl)-  did  she  let  loo.se  all 
the  little  captives,  but  she  gathered  up  the  traps 
and  pitched  them  down  a  well  '.  \Mien  her 
crime  was  discovered  she  was  tlioroughly  well 
skelped  (she  was  a  Scottish  lassie),  but  she  felt 
all  the  better  for  it  ;  as  she  realised  a  price  has 
to   be    paid    for    all    inflicted    wi^ongs. 


The  moon  was  up. 

Two  lovers  sat  together  under  an  acacia 
tree,  their  feet  half  hidden  in  the  white  carpet  of 
fallen  blossoms.  The  niomsnt  of  avowal  and 
petition  had  passed,  he  awaited  her  answer. 
From  a  copse  near  b^-  came  a  sound  of  agon}-. 
The  girl  sprang  to  her  feet. 

"  Oh  !  "  she  cried,  "  what  was  it  ?  Something  is 
in  pain  ?    " 

'■  Only  a  bunny  in  a  trap,"  he  answered,  smiling. 

Something  in  the  girl's  white  face  froze  that 
smile. 

"  Never,  never  !  "  she  flashed  back  at  hini,  as 
she  ran  to  the  rescue. 


The  release  of  Mrs.  Mary  Leigh  from  Mountjoy 
Prison,  Dublin,  after  having  been  forcibly  fed  for 
forty-two  days,  came  as  an  immense  relief  to 
all  those  who  realise  that,  whatever  her  niethods, 
ne\'er  did  human  body  contain  a  more  unconquer- 
able spirit — or  one  more  conscientiously  inspired 
with  a  sense  of  human  justice.  Before  her  release 
from  torture  !Mrs.  Leigh  was  reduced  to  the  last 
degree  of  physical  weakness  and  emaciation.  She 
is  now  being  restored,  let  us  hope,  to  health  in  a 
Dublin  nursing  home. 


.'\t  the  recent  Nursing  Congress  at  Cologne  an 
enfranchised  Scandinavian  woman,  speaking  inci- 
dentally of  civilisation,  remarked  :  "  We  consider 
Russia  the  most  barbarous  country  in  Europe,  but 
England  now  runs  it  very  close."  And  this 
opinion  was  expressed  before  the  Welsh  horrors  at 
Wrexham  and  Llanystymdwy,  where  single  w'omen 
were  most  bestially  and  obscenely  mauled  and 
insulted  by  male  mobs,  where  they  were  struck  on 
the  head,  their  hair  torn  out  by  the  roots  in  hand- 
luls  (later  to  be  exhibited  as  a  trophy  of  prowess 
by  gallant  Taffies),  where  they  were  thrown  to  the 
ground,  trampled  on,  and  then  pitched  over  the 
hedge  ! 

Welsh  mobs  may  be  relied  upon  to  crash,  smash, 
and    mash    where    cash    is    concerned    (and    the 


enfranchisement  of  women  is  a  financial  question — 
it  means  that  their  cash  cannot  be  taken  and  used 
by  men  without  their  consent),  but  the  m  st 
significant  lesson  in  barbarism  is  to  be  deduced 
from  the  silence  of  our  "  ennobled  "  Press  ;  more, 
in  its  covert  approval  of,  and  incitement  to,  these 
murderous  attacks  on  women,  when  using  perfectlv 
constitutional  m^ethods  of  revolt  against  their 
degradation  in  the  body  politic.  The  women  of  the 
world  will  not  forget  the  infamies  of  this  hideous 
exhibition  of  Welsh  barbarism  for  manv  a  dav. 


"  After  Wrexham,"  one  turns  to  the  report  of 
the  meeting  held  recently  at  Johannesburg  to 
consider  the  case  prepared  for  presentation  to  the 
commission  now  sitting  to  inquire  into  the  causes, 
and  means  of  preventing,  the  growing  evil  of 
criminal  assaults  by  natives  upon  white  women 
and  children.  The  reports  considered  by  repre- 
sentatives of  the  coloured  people  were  unanimous 
in  condemning  the  illicit  liquor  traffic,  the  system 
of  employing  full-grow  natives  as  house-boys, 
and  in  favour  of  rendering  assaults  by  white  men 
upon  native  women  not  less  criminal  than  similar 
assaults  bj-  native  men  upon  white  women.  The 
recommendations  of  the  native  and  coloured 
delegates  were  in  the  main  accepted,  but  it  is 
noteworthy  that  the  meeting  decided  that  the 
abolition  of  the  house-boy  was  impracticable 
under  present  conditions. 


The  truth  is,  the  coloured  men  are  well  aware 
that  white  women  have  no  political  status  under 
the  South  African  Constitution,  and  thai  they  have 
heen  left  in  the  position  oj  slaves  by  white  men. 
White  women  will  be  treated  as  such  by  coloured 
men  until  this  criminal  Constitution  is  amended, 
and  they  are  recognised  as  amongst  those  who 
govern,  not  merely  amongst  those  wdio  serve. 
"  Wrexham  and  Llanystvmdwy  "  must  be  pretty 
reading  for  the  native  house-boy  1 


If  you  want  to  read  a  really  interesting  and 
bracing  book,  order  "  Thirteen  Years  of  a  Busy 
Woman's  Life,"  by  I\Irs.  Alec  Tweedie.  In  it  you 
can  peep  at  Ibsen,  Nansen,  Bismarck,  Roosevelt. 
I^ord  Li  Ching  Fong,  General  Diez,  Whistler,  and 
Cecil  Rhodes,  and  many  women  fanrous  for  one 
thing  or  another.  Mrs.  Alec  Tweedie'  is  the 
daughter  of  the  late  celebrated  Dr.  Harley,  of 
Harley  Street,  and  her  versatile  pen  is  wielded  by 
the  lo\'eliest  little  hand  in  the  world. 


SANTA    THERESA'S    BOOKMARK. 

Let  notliing  disturb  thee. 
Nothing  affright  thee  ; 
.\11  things  are  passing  ; 
God  never  changeth  ; 
Patient  endurance 
Attaineth  to  all  things  ; 
Who  God  possesseth 
In  nothing  is  wanting  ; 
.Mone  God  sufiiceth. 


September  28,  191 2 


ClK  Biitiob  3ournal  of  murstncj 


261 


BOOK   OF  THE    WEEK. 


THE    RAKE'S   PROGRESS.* 

We  have  no  doubt  that  this  book  will  become 
widely  popular.  It  is  written  with  all  the  charm 
with  which  its  gifted  authoress  knows  so  well 
how  to  su  round  her  description  of  persons  and 
places.  A  romance  in  which  many  persons  are 
involved,  inexpressibly  sad,  and  clothed  in  the 
glamour  of  a  hundred  and  fifty  years  ago. 

It  is  well,  as  the  titl  shows,  that  Rose  Lyndwood 
was  recognised  for  what  he  really  was,  otherwise 
his  exceedingly  attractive  personality  might  have 
blinded  the  reader  to  his  true  character.  In  spite 
of  it  all,  every  one  was  in  love  with  him — save  liis 
wife — and  it  is  difficult  to  lay  down  the  book 
with  an  adequate  resentment  towards  such  a 
really  worthless  person. 

His  cousin  Susannah,  writing  to  her  friend 
Selina  Boyle,  says  to  her  :  "If  youth,  beauty, 
a  fine  name,  the  lightest  spirits,  are  to  be  ruined 
by  the  common  lures  of  the  world  ;  if  ordinary 
vices  are  to  tarnish  a  character  so  bright — But 
no!  I  will  not  think  it,  nor  must  you.  Remember 
Rose  as  all  nobility,  virtue  and  discretion — the 
sweetest  gentleman  in  England." 

Both  these  wcmcn  broke  their  hearts  for  him. 
"  He  leant  against  the  wall  by  the  fireplace.  His 
light  brown  hair  was  unpowdered,  and  tied  with  a 
turquoise  ribbon.  At  the  corner  of  his  full  lower 
lip  a  patch  of  vc'vet,  cunningly  cut  into  the  shape 
of  a  bat,  showed  in  contrast  with  it.  His  delicate 
fair  brows  were  slightly  frowning,  and  his  languid 
lids  almost  concealed  his  eyes. 

'"  I  have  been  looking  into  my  affairs,'  he  said. 
This  remark  meant  nothing  to  Marius,  and  his 
brother  saw  it.  '  It's  a  damned  unpleasant  tiling 
to  say,'  he  added,  with  a  half-insolent  smile, 
'  but — ^^its  ruin.'  " 

Ostensibly  to  save  his  ancient  house,  and  his 
brother's  prospects,  but  in  reality  to  pleasure 
himself,  he  offers  himself  and  his  title  to  the 
daughter  of  a  wealthy  parvenu,  Lavinia  Hilton. 
His  callous  trea'ment  of  her  hardly  accords  with 
a  nature  in  which  traces  of  sweetness  are  still 
left. 

"He  crossed  to  Miss  Hilton  and  took 
her  hand.  She  trembled  a  curtsey.  '  I  come 
as  a  suitor,  madam,'  he  said,  as  he  kissed 
her  finger  tips.  '  Would  it  mightily  dis- 
please you  to  become  Countess  of  Lyndwood  ?  ' 
Then  he  looked  at  the  girl  ;  he  found  her  pale, 
fair,  very  young  ;  to  him,  at  least,  without  charm 
or  savour.  Her  large  eyes  seemed  to  widen 
with  fright  ;    her  lips  quivered. 

'"I  am  honoured,'  she  said,  and  glanced  at. 
her  father." 

She  repays  his  unstudied  contempt  with  a 
hatred  that  knew  no  abatement  during  their  un- 
happy union.  She  herself  was  of  an  unlovable, 
vindictive  disposition,  and  her  ultimate  aim  was  to 

♦By  Marjorie  Bowen.     (Rider  &  Son).  London. 


humble  his  pride,  by  sacrificing  her  own  good 
name.  The  closing  scenes  of  their  lives  is  told 
with  much  dramatic  force  and  realistic  colouring. 
Rose  Lyndwood  loses  his  life  in  a  street  brawl, 
and  liis  beautiful  person,  along  with  his  beautiful 
house,  is  in  death  displayed  for  money  to  pay  his 
creditors.  "  There  were  two  servants  inside 
the  door,  standing  quietly,  the  blinds  were  drawn 
and  the  room  close  with  the  perfume  of  flowers. 
The  thing  was  decorously  done,  Susannah  told 
herself,   with  passionate  bitterness." 

"  '  Did  anyone  tell  you'  asked  Miss  Chressham 
'  what  he  said  ?  "  I  always  believed  in  the  im- 
mortality of  the  soul."  A  strange  thing  for  him 
to  believe  ;    but  I  am  glad,  arc  v<>u  not  ?  '  " 

II.  H. 


READ. 

"  Valscrine,"  by  Marguerite  Ardoux  {Marie 
Claire) . 

"  General  Mallock's  Shadow,"  by  W,  B.  Max- 
well. 

"  London  Lavender,"  by  E.  V.  Lucas. 


COMING     EVENTS. 


September  ^olh  to  October  ^th. — Conference  of 
the  National  Union  of  Women  Workers  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland.  Masonic  Buildings,  Oxford. 
Meetings  of  the  National  Council  of  Women. 
October  2nd  and  3rd,  10.30  to  i  and  2  to  4. 

October  2nd. — Meeting  at  the  Mansion  House  in 
support  of  the  Nurses'  Missionary  League. 

October  ^rd. — Conference  and  Farewell  Meetings 
to  bid  Godspeed  to  members  of  the  Nurses' 
Missionary  League  leaying  for  the  foreign  field. 
University  Hall,  Gordon  Square,  W.C. 

October  nth. — Meeting  Executive  Committee 
Society  for  State  Registration  of  Nurses.  _  431, 
Oxford  Street.     4.30  p.m.  f*  !►■  «, 

October  15th. — Catholic  Nurses'  Association 
(Ireland),  Annual  Meeting.  Lourdes  House, 
Dublin. 

October  igth. — British  Home  and  Hospital  for 
Incurables,  Streatham.  Lord  Stralhcona  will  lay 
the  foundation  stone  of  the  Alexandra  wing. 

October  22nd. — Central  Midwives  Board  Exami- 
nation, London,  .Birmingham,  Bristol,  Leeds, 
Manchester  and  Newcastle-on^Tyne. 

October  2yfd. — Mansion  House,  City  of  London. 
Public  Meeting  in  support  of  the  memorial  to  Lord 
Lister. 

October  2gt!i-November  2nd. — Cookery  and  Food 
Exhibition,  Royal  Horticultural  Hall,  West- 
minster, S.W. 

November  2nd. — Quarterly  Meeting  of  '  the 
Matrons'  Council.  Royal  Albert  Edward  In- 
firmary, Wigan. 

WORD     FOR     THE     WEEK. 

Be  not  simply  good,  but  good  for  something. 
— Thoreaii. 


202 


^be  JSritisb  3ouvnaI  of  H^urstiiG. 


Sfptcnibci 


1912 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
ail  subjects  for  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents.  , 


ONE      DAY'S     PAY. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — What  a  splendid  suggestion  for 
a  Xurses'  International  Memorial  to  Miss  Nightin- 
gale, that  each  nurse  should  give  one  day's  pay. 

As  soon  as  the  scheme  is  published  in  our  real 
Xursing,  educational  British  Journal  of 
Nursing,  where  we  look  for,  and  find,  all  the 
nursing  news  we  care  to  know,  I  will  send  my  one 
day's  pay. 

H.   C.   Sadher 
(A    Private  Nurse.) 

Danby-on-Yore. 

(At  the  meeting  of  the  National  Council  of 
Nurses,  to  be  held  in  I^ondon  in  November,  it  is 
probable  that  a  sub-committee  will  be  formed  to 
carry  out  the  scheme  in  this  country,  and  wc  hope 
the  "  one  day's  pay  "  will  commend  itself  to  nurses 
generally. — En.) 


NURSES     AND     PUBLIC     HEALTH     WORK. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursinc,. 

Dear  Madam, — May  I  ask  your  readers'  opinion 
on  the  subject  of  "  Nurses  and  Public  Health 
Work."  Is  "  a  little  knowledge  a  dangerous 
thing  "  still,  or  is  it  considered  by  some  Public 
Health  Authorities  a  most  desirable  thing,  as 
evidenced  by  their  almost  systematic  rejection 
of  women  trained  as  nurses  and  possessing  the 
very  necessary  knowledge  of  the  conditions  under 
which  working  people  live  and  the  best  way  to 
approach  them  ? 

Both  as  a  district  nurse  and  health  visitor  1 
have  repeatedh'  come  across  decent  working 
people  who  strongly  object  to  "  ladies  "  having 
no  knowledge  of  nursing,  or  practical  experience 
with  infants,  coming  to  their  houses  and  criticising 
the  upbringing  of  their  children.  Also  another 
frequent  objection  is  that  "  bits  of  girls  "  are  so 
often   sent  to   "  advise." 

1  could  only  inwardly  sympathise,  and  wonder 
liow  such  people  dare  take  on  their  shoulders  the 
responsibility  of  the  nation's  future  health.  In 
these  days  most  people  are  agreed  that  the  proper 
care  of  infants  and  young  children  is  one  of  the 
most  important  assets  of  the  nation.  Therefore, 
why  is  it  that  most  often  a  woman  who  can  cycle, 
or  a  woman  who  admits  she  has  learned  all  her 
knowledge  of  infants  from  books,  or  has  attended 
a  course  of  lectures  on  the  subject,  is  chosen 
instead  of  those  whose  lives  have  been  spent 
in  gaining  practical  knowledge  and  experience, 
and  who  have  entered  on  this  special  work, 
realising  the  necessity  and  importance  of  sucli 
work  being  tvTll  done. 


I  ,  hope  by  opening  a  drscussion  on  the  subject 
wc  may  help  and  enlighten  others  who  intend  to 
become   Health   Visitors. 

Sanitary  Inspector. 

ICHABOD. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursinc. 

Dear  Madam, — (i)  In  the  centre  of  the  town  is 
a  wine  shop,  where  is  sold  a  malted  wine.  A 
"  nurse  "  in  indoor  uniform  (except  cap)  is  in 
charge  of  that  department. 

(2)  A  little  Surrey  church,  famous  for  its 
number  of  cyclists  attending  the  evening  service  ; 
constant  annoyance  caused  by  misbehaviour  of 
some  girls  ;  Vicar's  wife  at  last  leaves  her  seat 
and  reprimands  a  girl  in  brown  nurse's  dress — veil, 
strings  (dirty  white)  and  all  complete,  uncovered 
hands,  dirty  nails,  and  behaviour  to  match. 

(3)  Cab  arrives  at  Infirmary  ;    received  at  the 
House  "   by  officials  in  nurses'   indoor  uniform 

(complete)  bringing  a  woman  in  labour,  in  full 
nurse's  uniform  in  (and  outdoor),  addressed  as 
nurse  by  cabman  and  matron. 

Surely  something  should  be  possible  to  prevent 
the  degradation  of  our  uniform.  Nurses  do  not 
go  for  much  in  Surrey,  which  is  over-run  with 
Cottage  Nurses  ;  and  really,  when  such  things 
arc  done  as  above,  it  is  no  wonder.  But  the  last 
scene  stirred  us  all  to  wrath  and  indignation. 
Queen's  Nurse. 

REPLIES    TO    CORRESPONDENTS. 

-1.  717.  W.,  Leamington  (Queen  .-Ucxandra's  Imperial 
.Military  Nursing  Service). — The  minimum  training 
which  qualifies  a  nurse  for  service  in  Queen 
Alexandra's  Imperial  Mihtary  Nursing  Service  is  : — 
"  A  certificate  of  three  years'  training  and  service  in 
medical  and  surgical  nursing  in  a  civil  hospital  having 
not  less  than  100  beds."  The  unfortunate  inclusion 
of  the  words  "  and  service  "  makes  it  possible  to 
admit  nurses  with  certificates  of  two  years'  training 
only,  but  who  may  have  "  served  "  a  hospital,  pre-  ' 
sumibly  as  a  private  nurse  for  profit,  as  at  the 
London  Hospital.  It  is  high  time  the  term  of  three 
years'  training,  and  the  value  of  a  certificate  for  such 
was  protected  by  making  it  compulsory  for  those 
admitted  to  this  Government  service  to  possess  it. 

Queen  Alexandra's  Royal  Naval  Nursing  Service. — 
Minimum  qualification  is  a  certificate  for'  at  least 
tlu'ee  years'  training  in  a  civil  hospital  in  the  United 
Kingdom. 

The  Territorial  Nursing  Service. — The  qualification 
is  a  certificate  of  tliree  years'  training  in  a  general 
hospital  or  Poor  Law  infirmary. 

OUR  '  PRIZE     COMPETITIONS— OCTOBER. 

October  ^th. — Describe  a  case  of  Cerebro-Spinal 
Meningitis,  and  how  you  have  seen  it  treated. 

October  12th. — What  is  Cataract  ?  How  would 
you  prepare  for  an  operation  for  its  removal  ? 

October  igth. — What  would  you  consider  an 
efficient  curriculum  for  the  training  of  a  midwife  ? 

October  26th. — Describe  the  modern  management 
of  Scarlet  Fever. 


set>tc,nbcr  28,  .91-  ^bc  Bvitlsb  301111131  of  IRuusino  Supplcnicnt.     263 

The   Midwife. 


SURGICAL    TREATMENI     OF    UTERINE 

H/EMORRHAQE  DURING  PREGNANCY, 

DELIVtRY,  AND  CHILDBED. 


'I'lie  International  Congress  of  Obstetrics 
and  Gynecology,  which  has  just  held  its  sikth 
meeting  in  Berlin,  under  the  patronage  of  the 
Empress,  seems  to  have  experienced  the  same 
delightful  hospitality  in  the  German  capital  as 
the  nurses  did  at  Cologne.  The  Lancet  reports 
the  Congress  as  a  brilliant  success,  and  in  his 
opening  address,  Professor  Bumm  pointed  out 
the  importance  of  international  congresses, 
where  the  work  of  the  individual  can  be  dis- 
cussed and  criticised.  In  medicine  as  well  as 
in  any  other  science  one  has  to  come  forward 
with  one's  ideas,  and  this  is  done  best  in  inter- 
national congresses.  Men  like  McOowell,  who 
performed  the  first  ovariotomy,  and  Semmcl- 
wcis,  who  discovered  the  origin  of  puerperal 
fever,  were  not  appreciated  by  their  contem- 
poraries, and  had  to  fight  hard  battles  for  their 
ideas.  Nowadays  those  men  would  not  have  to 
go  through  such  ordeals  ;  they  need  oiil\  appear 
before  a  congress,  where  their  work  would  at 
least  be  received  by  open-minded  hearers.  A 
further  advantage  of  the  congresses  is  the  fact 
that  one  hears  a  man  talk  about  his  work,  and 
can  form  a  much  better  opinion  than  any 
reading  of  his  articles  can  give.  It  may  be 
true  that  every  congress  cannot  show  any 
epoch-marking  discovery,  but  the  stimulus  to 
new  and  better  work  remains. 

The  most  interesting  subjects  discussed  were 
the  Treatment  of  Peritoneal  Wounds,  and  the 
Surgical  Treatment  of  Uterine  H;eniorrhage 
during  Pregnancy,  Delivery,  and  Childbed. 

Dr.  Couvelaire  (Paris)  summarised  the 
present  state  of  the  principles  and  practice  of 
French  accoucheurs  respecting  the  surgical 
treatment  of  hemorrhages  due  to  insertion  of 
the  placenta  on  the  inferior  segment  and  of 
retro-placentary  h;emorrhages.  Under  the 
general  term  "  surgical  treatment  "  he  included 
direct  surgical  h<emostasis  by  hysterectomy  and 
hajmostasis  produced  automatically  by  the 
uterine  muscle  after  evacuation  of  its  contents 
by  hysterotomy.  In  ha-morrhages  arising  from 
detachment  of  the  placenta  inserted  on  the 
inferior  segment,  most  French  obstetricians 
have  up  to  the  present  remained  faithful  to  the 
purely  obstetric  methods  :  (i)  wide  rupture  of 
the  membranes;  (2)  eventually,  introduction  of 


an  incompressible  or  Champetier  de  Ribcs  ball, 
or  simple  turning  without  immediate  extrac- 
tion (Braxton  Hicks).  The  complete  statistics 
published  at  Paris,  Lyons,  and  Toulouse  in  the 
last  few  years  render  it  possible  to  form  an 
exact  idea  of  the  results  obtained  by  the  execu- 
tion of  this  therapeutic  method  : — • 

Pinard      ; 162  ....  10  women  died. 

Champetier  de  Ribcs    67  ...  .     t) 

Bas 153 14 

Maternity  Hospitals 

of  Lyons     . .      . .  167  ....  13 

Ferre        35 i 

Or  a  gross  mortality  of  8.2  per  cent.  Infection 
and  violence  during  the  evacution  of  the  uterus 
are  responsible  for  three-fifths  of  the  cases  of 
death.  The  extremely  small  risk  of  death  by 
hemorrhage  (1.2  per  cent.)  does  not  justify 
either  the  prophylactic  practice  of  Cesarean 
premature  delivery  or  the  systematic  practice  of 
the  evacuation  of  the  uterus  by  hysterotomy 
during  labour.  The  total  foetal  mortality  oscil- 
lates with  the  obstetric  methods  between  44  and 
60  per  cent.  It  is  generally  due  to  debility  caused 
by  prematuration.  French  accoucheurs  have  in 
general  preserved,  with  regard  to  obstetrical 
hemorrhages,  the  pre-eminence  given  to  the 
non-surgical  methods  of  hemostasis.  They 
have  endeavoured  to  define  the  real  indications 
of  the  surgical  methods,  which  must  be  reserved 
for  the  relatively  rare  cases  in  which  obstetrical 
methods  are  powerless  or  dangerous.  The 
surgical  solutions  are  certainly  often  more 
rapidly  and  easily  realised.  But  the  price  paid 
for  their  success,  which,  moreover,  cannot  be 
constant,  is  the  definitive  mutilation  or  the 
decrease  of  the  obstetrical  value  of  the  woman 
operated  on.  Except  for  the  rare  cases  in 
which  surgical  action  must  be  preferred,  it  must 
be  recognised  that  the  improvement  of  the 
therapeutic  results  will  be  the  consequence  not 
of  an  unjustified  extension  of  the  indications  of 
surgical  methods,  but  of  the  perfcctioning  of 
the  obstetrical  education  of  physicians  and 
accoucheurs. 

Dr.  Ph.  Jung  (Gcittingcn)  laid  down  rules  for 
the  treatment  of  hiemorrh.ige  during  preg- 
nancy, labour,  and  the  puerperium.  With 
regard  to  compression  of  the  aorta,  he  con- 
sidered that  in  cases  of  acute  hemorrhages 
caused  by  lacerations  of  the  uterus,  placenta 
previa,  uterine  inertia,  when  the  usual  methods 


264      ^bc  Britieb  3ournal  of  IRursitiG  Supplement.  September  28, 191 


fail,  temporary  compression  of  the  aorta  may 
save  some  lives.  Compression  by  finger  is 
generally  not  sufficient.  Momburg's  constric- 
tion is  at  present  the  best  method  of  compress- 
ing the  aorta  ;  it  is  far  superior  to  the  other 
complicated  apparatus. 

Dr.  -A.  Mayer  (Tubingen)  regarded  compres- 
sion of  the  aorta  with  Ithe  Momburg  bag  as 
serious  to  a  diseased  cardiac  and  vascular 
system.  It  highly  strains  even  the  healthy 
heart  and  vascular  system,  and  it  may  become 
dangerous  to  it.  If  by  an  incorrect  application 
of  the  bag  the  venous  reflux  should  be  entirely 
barred — the  arterial  afflux  being,  however,  only 
partially  interrupted  —  a  sort  of  deadly 
lia?morrhage  into  the  veins  may  take  place.  In 
case  of  considerable  nephroptosis  the  discon- 
nection of  the  kidney  from  the  circulation 
caused  by  compression  of  the  renal  artery  is  to 
be  feared,  which  may  injure  the  kidney  in  its 
structure  and  its  functions. 


LECTURES    TO   MIDWIVE5. 

The  Kensington  Board  of  Guardians  have 
referred  the  following  letter,  which  they  have 
received  from  the  Central  Midwives'  Board,  to 
the  Infirmary  Committee  for  consideration  : — 
"  The  Central  Mid  wives'  Board  has  under  con- 
sideration the  question  of  centralising  the  in- 
struction of  pupil  midwives,  so  far  as  possible.  In 
the  Board's  opinion,  while  large  classes  are  not 
suitable  for  teaching  practical  work,  they  are 
suitable  for  lecturing,  and  it  ought  to  be  possible, 
by  collecting  pupils  into  a  few  centres,  to  secure 
first-rate  teaching  for  them,  the  collective  fees 
probably  making  it  worth  the  wliile  of  highly 
skilled  persons  to  undertake  the  duty  of  lecturing. 
With  this  object  the  Board  would  be  glad  to  know 
whether  the  Guardians  of  the  Kensington  Parish 
would  be  prepared  to  facilitate  this  arrangement 
by  admitting  outside  pupils  to  the  lectures  given 
to  their  candidates  for  the  C.M.B.  Examination. 
If  so,  I  shall  be  obliged  if  you  will  kindly  state 
how  many  such  pupils  it  would  be  possible  to 
acccmtnodate  at  the  lectures,  and  what  fees  would 
be  charged." 


— who  had  never  been  consulted  as  a  body  in  the 
matter — that  in  the  framing  of  rules  and  regula- 
tions under  the  Act  dealing  with  women  who  had 
already  recei\ed  certificates  from  recognised 
examining  bodies  as  to  their  proper  practical 
training,  as  well  as  with  those  who  did  not  possess 
such  certificates,  the  medical  profession  should 
be  given  an  opportunity  of  stating  their  views, 
and  also  should  have  official  representation  on 
the  committee  appointed  to  deal  with  the  matter. 
Sir  John  Byers  and  Dr.  H.  J.  Ritchie  having,  on 
behalf  of  the  deputation,  addressed  the  committee, 
a  long  discussion  followed,  after  wliich  the  chairman 
said  the  matters  brought  before  them  would  be 
fully  and  carefully  considered.  The  discussion 
brought  out  the  fact  that  originally  there  were 
clauses  in  the  Bill  to  appoint  a  Belfast  Midwives' 
Board  on  which  the  profession  would  have  been 
fully  represented  ;  tliis  was,  however  (in  com- 
mittee), deleted  and  other  clauses  substituted, 
under  which  the  most  varied  authorities  are  given 
powers.  Under  these  curious  and  apparently 
unforeseen  conditions  the  profession  in  Belfast 
suggested  to  the  corporation  (tlirough  their  local 
health  committee)  that  some  of  their  representa- 
tives should  be  associated  with  whatever  sub- 
committee may  be  appointed  to  draw  up  regula- 
tions for  the  certification,  registration,  and  super- 
vision of  midwives  in  Belfast." 

How  about  the  midwives  themselves  ?  The 
most  important  point  in  question  is  that  they 
should  be  directly  represented  on  any  com- 
mittee suggesting  legislation  for  their  professional 
control. 


QLASQOW    MATERNITY    HOSPITAL. 

Satisfactory  progress  is  being  made  with  the 
arrangements  for  the  fancy  dress  ball  which  will 
be  held  in  St.  Andrew's  Hall,  on  November  27th, 
in  aid  of  the  Glasgow  Maternity  and  Women's 
Hospital.  The  ball  will  be  under  the  patronage 
of  Her  Royal  Highness  Princess  Louise,  and  of 
many  well-known  ladies  in  the  W^est  of  Scotland. 
An  influential  committee  has  charge  of  the 
arrangements,  and  in  view  of  the  urgent  need  of 
funds  and  of  the  claims  of  the  Hospital,  it  is  hoped 
that  the  public  will  give  their  support  so  as  to 
ensure  the  success  of  the  function. 


THE  REGISTRATION  AND  SUPERVISION 

OF    MIDWIVES    IN    BELFAST. 

The  Lancet  reports  that : — "  On  September 
12th  a  large  and  representative  deputation  of 
Belfast  medical  men  waited  upon  the  public 
health  ccmmittee  of  the  city  of  Belfast  in  reference 
to  the  enforcement  of  the  provisions  of  the  Belfast 
Corporation  Act,  191 1,  dealing  with  the  certifica- 
tion, registration,  and  supervision  of  midwives 
practising  in  Belfast,  and  asked,  as  this  was  a 
matter  of  great  importance  not  only  to  the  public, 
but  also  to  the  members  of  the  medical  profession 


A    STRANGE    FATALITY. 

The  Infanta  Maria  Teresa,  only  survivmg  sister 
of  the  King  of  Spain,  died  suddenly,  from  em- 
bolisrrr,  on  Monday.  Her  fourth  cliild  was  born 
on  the  15th  inst.  ;  and  she  was  about  to  rise  for 
the  first  time  since  her  confinement,  when  she 
fainted,  and  at  once  passed  away.  It  is  a  strange 
coincidence  that  her  elder  sister,  the  Infanta 
;Maria  de  las  Mercedes,  died  in  1904,  the  day  after 
she  had  given  birth  to  the  Infanta  Isabella.  The 
Queen  Dowager  Christina — a  most  devoted  mother 
— is  overpowered  with  grief. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,    OCTOBER   5,    1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


TRAININ(i     AND     SERVICE. 

In  our  reply  to  a  correspondent  last  week 
who  desired  to  know  the  minimum  term  of 
/ra;H»n^  required  bv  a  candidate  in  the  Armj', 
Navy,  and  Territorial  Nursing  Services,  and 
referring  to  the  standard  ilemanded  for 
Oueen  Alexandra's  Imperial  Military  Nurs- 
ing Service,  we  expressed  the  opinion  that 
"  it  is  high  time  that  the  term  of  three  vears' 
training,  and  the  value  of  a  certificate  for 
such,  was  protected  by  making  it  compulsory 
for  those  admitted  to  this  Government 
Service,  to  possess  it." 

At  present  a  candidate  is  required  to  have 
"  a  certificate  of  not  less  than  three  years' 
training  and  service  in  medical  and  surgical 
nursing  in  a  civil  hospital  recognised  bv  the 
Advisory  Board." 

This  cuts  at  the  root  of  the  three  years' 
standard  of  Iraining. 

We  added  "  that  the  unfortunate  inclusion 
of  the  words  '  and  service  '  makes  it  possible 
to  admit  nurses  with  certificates  of  two 
years'  training  only,  but  who  may  have 
served  a  hospital,  presumably  as  a  private 
nurse  for  profit,  as  at  the  London  Hospital." 

Miss  Keer,  a  former  Matron-in-Chief,  m  a 
letter  to  be  found  in  another  column  argues 
that  such  a  contingency  is  not  "  pcjssible," 
"  as  although  the  certificate  of  the  London 
Hospital  is  nominally  a  two  years'  one,  yet, 
all  candidates  from  that  Hospital  for  the 
O.A.I.M.N.S.,  must  be  certified  to  have  a 
third  year  (out  of  four  years)  training  in  the 
wards  of  the  Hospital." 

Our  contention  is  that  the  term  of  training 
for  which  a  certificate  is  awarded  at  the 
London  Hospital  is  two  years,  as  stated  in 
the  regulations,  and  that  the  third  and  fourth 
years  exacted  by  contract  are  years  uf  ser- 
vice only,  and  as  the  term  "  service  "  is  not 


defined  in  the  regulations  of  Q.A.I. M.N.S., 
it  is  possible,  even  if  not  probable,  to  in- 
clude private  nursing,  clerical  and  domestic 
work,  in  all  of  which  certificated  nurses  at 
the  London  Hospital  are  employed,  at  the 
discretion  of  the  Advisory  and  Nursing 
Committees. 

So  important  is  this  question  to  the 
status  and  quality  of  military  nursing — 
that  we  may  well  consider  it  at  some 
length. 

When  the  re-organization  of  the  Army 
Nursing  Service  took  place  after  the  South 
African  War^a  reform  we  had  publicly 
advocated  for  many  years — justifiable  dis- 
appointment w-as  felt  by  the  Matrons' 
Council,  that  an  important  recommendation 
embodied  in  the  Memorandum  it  had  been 
permitted  to  present  personally  to  the  then 
.Secretary  of  State  for  War^-viz.,  that  the 
qualification  for  the  Army  Nursing  Service 
should  be  a  certificate  of  Three  Years' 
Iraining  in  the  wards  after  examination, 
was  not  adopted  ;  and,  in  its  stead,  the  pre- 
sent ambiguous  standard  was  substituted. 
Further,  that  there  was  absolutely  no 
tlefinition  in  the  regulations  of  the  term 
"  service." 

The  London  Hospital,  the  only  large 
hospital  in  the  Kingdom  which  certificates 
its  nurses  as  "  trained "  after  a  two 
years'  course,  had,  it  was  found,  undue 
representation  and  power  on  the  Nursing 
Committee  of  the  reorganized  .\rmv  Nursing 
Service,  in  comparison  with  other  hospitals 
of  like  standing.  Mr.  Sidney  Holland, 
Chairman,  anil  Sir  Frederick  Treves  were 
both  members,  whilst  St.  Barthoknnew's 
Hospital  was  excluded  from  representation  ; 
and  it  became  well  understood  throughout 
the  nursing  profession  that  the  wording 
of  the  qualification  for  military  nurses 
opened  the  door  to  women  trained  at  the 
London  Hospital,  who  did  not,  and  do  not, 

A  ' 


266 


Z\K  Britieb  3ournal  of  IRiusino 


Ociobc 


191: 


possess  a  certificate  of  three  years'  training. 
Tlic  regulations  of  this  institution  state 
definitely — (i)  "Probationers  are  received 
free  of  charge  for  a  full  term  of  two  years' 
training.  Two  years  of  service  are  required 
after  two  years  of  training/^ 

(4)  "  Probationers  who  enter  for  the  full 
term  of  two  years'  cpntinuous  training.  .  . 
will  at  the  end  of  tliat  period  receive  a 
Certificate.  " 

So  that  it  is  quite  clear  that  the  term  of 
two  years'  training  is  not  "  nominal  "  but 
actual,  and  that  further  experience  obtain- 
able is  "  service,"  and  cannot  therefore  be 
classed  as  systematic  nursing  education. 

That  is  our  point. 

Moreover,  as  the  regulations  of  the 
Q..-\.I.M.N.S.  do  not  define  service,  it 
would  be  possible  at  any  time  for  the 
j\dvisory  and  Nursing  Committees  which 
governs  it,  to  accept  as  service  private 
nursing,  clerical  work,  and  domestic  work, 
in  all  of  which  activities  certificated  London 
Hospital  nurses  must  engage  at  the  dis- 
cretion of  the  matron,  during  the  further 
two  years  they  have  contracted  to  serve 
the  hospital. 

A  few  weeks  ago  in  the  Standard,  Mr. 
Holland  in  opposing  Registration,  and  in 
support  of  his  short  term  training,  boasted 
that  the  three  senior  and  most  lucrative 
posts  in  Oueen  Alexandra's  Imperial  Military 
Nursing  Service — viz.,  the  Matron-in-Chief, 
and  the  two  Principal  Matrons,  at  Home, 
and  in  South  Africa  are  at  present  held  by 
London  Hospital  nurses  !  That  is  bv  ladies 
with  certificates  of  Two  and  not  of  Three 
Years'  Training. 

It  is  this  depreciation  of  the  three  years' 
standard,  \vhich  we,  and  many  others  con- 
sider unfair  to  the  profession  at  large,  and 
most  injurious  to  the  status  of  military 
nursing  in  particular. 

We  commend  this  matter  to  the  verv 
serious  consideration  of  the  Secretary  of 
State  for  War,  if  the  services  of  the  most 
efficiently  trained  nurses  are  to  he  secured 
for  our  sick  soldiers.  Bv  the  adoption  of  the 
three  years'  standard  of  training  and  certifi- 
cate, it  would  be  made  evident  to  such 
nurses  that  the  highest  professional  efficiency 
and  personal  merit — as  apart  from  subterfuge 
and  social  influence,  would  in  the  future 
command  promotion  in  Oueen  Alexandra's 
Imperial  Military  Nursing  Service. 


CLINIC.4L  NOTES  ON  SOME  COMMON 
AILMENTS. 

Hv   A.    Knv\i;tt   Gokdox,    .M.B.    C  amab. 


SMALL    POX. 

Most  of  the  readers  of  this  Journal,  on 
seeing-  the  title  of  this  paper,  will  probably 
wonder  why  small  pox  is  described  as  a 
common  ailment.  Fortunately,  many  nurses 
go  through  their  whole  career  without  coming 
across  a  single  case  of  the  disease,  but  my 
reason  for  including  a  short  description  of 
small  pox  in  this  series  is  that,  owing  to  the 
steady  increase  that  has  been  taking  place  of 
late  years  in  the  number  of  unvaccinated 
persons,  on  account  of  the  introduction  of  the 
so-called  "  conscientious  objection  "  clause  in 
the  Vaccination  Acts,  it  is  practically  certain 
that  when  an  epidemic  of  small  pox  does  arise 
in  this  country,  it  will  attack  a  considerable 
number  of  people.  I  shall,  however,  have 
occasion  to  return  to  the  question  of  vaccina- 
tion later. 

Small  pox  is  a  disease  of  great  antiquity  ;  it 
was  prevalent  in  China  many  centuries  before 
Christ,  and  a  very  clear  description  of  the  erup- 
tion and  course  of  the  disease  is  given  in  the 
book  of  Leviticus,  where  rules  are  laid  down 
for  the  guidance  of  the  priest  in  distinguishing 
it  from  leprosy. 

It  attacks  persons  of  all  ages,  from  the 
unborn  child  of  an  infected  mother  to  people  of 
advanced  age.  Practically  complete  protec- 
tion is,  however,  afforded  bv  adequate  vaccina- 
tion, or  by  a  previous  attack  of  small  pox 
itself.  The  average  death-rate  amongst  white 
races  is  about  30  per  cent.,  but  is  much  higher 
— from  40  to  80  per  cent. — in  aboriginal  races, 
such  as  Red  Indians  and  some  of  the  Mexican 
tribes.  In  this  country  its  incidence  and 
fatality  depend,  practically,  entirely  on  the 
number  of  insufficiently  vaccinated  people  in 
the  locality  of  the  originating  case. 

I  do  not  intend  to  give  a  detailed  description 
of  the  eruption,  such  as  can  be  found  in  any 
text-book  of  medicine,  but  I  shall  endeavour 
to  point  out  what  commonly  happens  when 
small  pox  is  introduced  into  a  community. 

It  is  generally  started  In  an  unrecognized 
case,  which  mav,  in  a  town,  have  found  its  way 
into  a  common  lodging-house,  or  similar  place 
where  the  tr;imp  population  most  does  con- 
gregate ;  frequently  the  original  patient  is  a 
sailor  from  a  foreign  port  where  the  disease  is 
prevalent. 

The  incubation  period  is  most  commonly  ten 
or  twelve  days,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  the 


(.Jctober  5,    191: 


Cbe  asrltisb  3ouriiai  oi  ll-lursmo 


267 


patient  feels  very  ill,  hut  has  uo  SYiii[>toiii 
whatever  to  make  lis  suspect  small  pox  unless 
we  have  it  in  our  minds.  He  is  attacivcd,  quite 
suddenly  as  a  rule,  with  headache,  and  a  severe 
pain  across  the  loins,  with  a  feeling-  of  chilli- 
ness, or  perhaps  a  shivering;  fit.  His  tempera- 
ture is  high,  perhaps  103°  or  more,  and  he 
g-enerally  thinks  that  he  has  lumbago  or 
influenza,  if  he  thinks  at  all.  He  remains  in 
this  state  for  another  day,  and  then — on  the 
third  day  of  illness,  that  is  to  say — he  feels 
much  better.  Now  it  does  not  follow  that  he 
or  anyone  else  will  look  at  his  face  at  this  tirfte, 
and  so  the  rash  of  small  pox  mav  escape  notice. 
It  is  there,  however,  in  the  form  (jf  hard, 
shotty,  raised  spots  on  the  forehead  and  on  the 
back  of  the  wrists.  With  the  appearance  of 
the  rash,  the  temperature  usually  falls  to 
normal,  and  the  patient  not  infrequently  gets 
up  and  walks  about.  Two  days  later,  on  the 
fifth  or  sixth  day  of  the  disease,  the  spots 
soften  and  become  filled  with  a  clear  fluid, 
which  on  the  eighth  or  ninth  day  of  illness  has 
become  converted  into  pus.  With  this  sup- 
puration, the  fever  and  general  symptoms 
return  for  one  or  two  da)  s,  but  quickly  pass 
off  as  the  pocks  dry  up  and  are  covered  with 
scabs,  which  fall  off  about  the  end  of  the  third 
or  fourth  week,  when  the  patient  is  practicallv 
well. 

Such  is  the  history  of  an  ordinary  attack  of 
small  pox,  and  it  will  be  at  once  apparent  that, 
unless  the  disease  is  prevalent  at  the  lime,  the 
illness  may  be  very  easily  diagnosed  as 
influenza,  or,  if  the  temperature  be  not  taken, 
as  lumbago,  and  others  may  be  infected  from 
the    lack    of    tlie    necessary    precautions.  I 

remember  an  example  of  this  in  one  of  the 
recent  epidemics.  A  man  of  the  tramp  class 
came  to  a  common  lodging-house  late  one 
night,  and  the  next  morning  did  not  get  up 
because  his  back  was  painful ;  he  vomited,  and 
was  rather  confused  in  his  mind,  which  latter 
symptoms  were,  of  course,  attributed  to  drink, 
which,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  he  had  not  rccciitlv 
taken.  On  the  third  day,  feeling  much  better, 
he  got  up,  and  made  up  for  his  previous 
abstinence  by  going  the  round  of  his  favourite 
hostelries.  At  the  third  beerhouse,  the  pro- 
prietor called  his  attention  to  some  spots  on 
his  face,  which,  as  it  was  not  yet  time  for  his 
weekly  ablutions,  had  previously  escaped  the 
notice  of  the  patient.  After  visiting  two  more 
public-houses,  he  returned  to  his  lodging 
until  the  pocks  began  to  suppurate,  when  he 
went  to  a  general  hospital,  where  the  real 
nature  of  his  illness  was  diagnosed,  and  he  was 
removed  to  a  place  of  safety  in  the  small  pox 


liospiial  lor  the  city.  Now  this  man  literally 
left  a  track  of  fresh  cases  wherever  he  went, 
for  people  not  only  in  the  lodging-house,  but 
in  every  public-house  that  he  visited,  were 
infected,  and  ultimately  about  fifty  cases  were 
traced,  directly  or  indirectly,  to  infection  from 
him. 

In  addition  to  the  ordinary  kind  of  small 
pox,  there  arc  certain  modifications  of  the 
disease  which  deserve  notice  :  the  first  of  these 
is  the 

Confluent  type. — Here  the  symptoms  of  the 
onset  are  generally,  though  not  invariably, 
more  severe,  and  the  eruption  is  rather  more 
profuse,  but  no  very  definite  difference  is  seen 
until  the  pustular  stage  .sets  in,  when,  instead 
of  the  pocks  remaining  separate,  they  run 
together,  and  the  skin  between  them  swells 
greatly,  so  that  the  face,  and  often  the  hands 
and  feet  also,  are  practically  superficial 
abscesses;  the  fever  is  high,  and  the  patient 
is  delirious  and  semi-conscious.  In  fatal  cases 
the  patient  dies  of  exhaustion  usually  on  the 
eleventh  or  twelfth  day  of  disease.  If,  how- 
ever, he  recovers,  he  is  marked  for  the  rest  of 
his  life  by  the  scarring  and  pitting  that  results 
from  the  healing  of  the  suppurating  pocks ;  the 
skin  of  the  hands  and  feet  may  be  shed  entire. 

Another  variety  is  hfemorrhagic  small  pox — 
the  so-called  black  pox— -which  is  invariably 
fatal.  Here,  after  very  intense  symptoms  of 
onset,  a  purplish  rash,  consisting  of  fine 
haemorrhages  in  the  skin,  appears,  at  first  in 
the  groins,  but  soon  spreads  to  the  trunk  and 
face.  Bleeding  takes  place  from  mucous 
membranes,  and  the  urine  is  full  of  blood,  and 
there  are  effusions  of  blood  into  the  eyes.  The 
patient  soon  becomes  plum-coloured  all  over, 
and  death  occurs  from  the  third  to  the  sixth 
day.  There  is  another  type  of  hjemorrhagic 
small  pox  from  which  a  few  recover  (the  mor- 
tality being  ;d)out  85  per  cent.),  where  the 
patient  progresses  as  an  ordinary  case  of  ordi- 
nary small  pox  until  the  spots  arc  just  about 
to  become  pustular  :  blood  is  then  poured  out 
into  the  spots  themselves,  and  from  the 
mucous  membranes,  and  death  usually  results 
on  the  ninth  or  tenth  dav  from  exhaustion. 

The  third  type  is  known  as  modified  small 
pox,  or  varioloid,  and  occurs  only  in  those  who 
have  been  vaccinated,  but  not  efficiently.  The 
onset  may  be  severe,  but  only  a  few  spots 
develop,  and  these  only  on  the  face,  hands,  or 
feet.  They  pass  rapidly  through  their  various 
stages  without  any  fever  or  constitutional  dis- 
turbance, and  the  patient  is  very  soon  well. 
(■/■,)    hr   rnuchuted.) 


268 


Zbc  36vltt5b  3omnal  of  IHurstno. 


October 


191. 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 

The  prize  will  not  be  awarded  this  week,  as 
of  the  papers  sent  in  none  are  sufficiently  good 
for  publication.  As  Cerebro-Spinal  Meningitis 
and  its  treatment  is  of  unusual  interest — as  it 
is  an  infectious  disease' — for  the  sake  of  the 
public,  trained  nurses  should  learn  all  they 
possibly  can  concerning  it. 

In  a  recent  number  of  the  American  Journal 
of  Nursing,  a  little  paper  by  Miss  Anna  Patt 
and  -Miss  Militz  is  instructive  from  the  nurse's 
point  of  view  : — 

CEREBRO=SPINAL     MENINGITIS. 

"  Cerebro-spinal  meningitis  is  an  acute  in- 
fectious disease  characterized  by  inflammation 
of  the  membranes  covering  the  brain  and  spinal 
cord.  The  epidemic  form  is  caused  by  the 
Diplococcus  celluJaris  of  Weichselbaum.  The 
disease  is  most  common  in  thickly-settled 
districts. 

"  The  period  of  incubation  is  uncertain — pro- 
bably short,  but  one  patient  became  ill  two 
weeks  after  having  been  exposed.  The  onset 
is  very  sudden,  usually  with  a  chill,  intense 
pain  in  head,  neck,  back,  and  joints,  and  un- 
controllable vomiting.  This,  however,  lasts 
only  a  short  time.  The  muscles  become  rigid, 
and  those  of  the  face  may  be  contracted.  The 
opisthotonus  may  or  may  not  be  marked.  (In 
one  case,  the  patient  was  compelled  to  lie  on 
his  abdomen.)  Eye  conditions,  such  as  in- 
equality, strabismus,  photophobia,  or  conjunc- 
tivitis, and  ear  conditions  may  also  be  present. 
Occasionally  herpes  occur  on  the  lips  and  erup- 
tions on  the  skin.  These  eruptions  give  the 
name  of  '  spotted  fever.'  The  bowels  are  very 
constipated,  the  stools  are  usually  a  greenish 
brown  mucus.  Retention  or  incontinence  of 
urine  is  not  uncommon.  The  temperature  and 
pulse  vary.  The  pulse  may  be  either  very  slow, 
normal,  or  rapid.  The  temperature  may  be 
subnormal  and  there  is  usually  an  extreme  rise- 
shortly  before  death.  Kernig's  sign  is  prac- 
tically a  positive  symptom. 

"  Treatment. — As  soon  as  pcissible  a  lumbar 
puncture  is  done.  If  the  fluid  withdrawn  is 
purulent  or  other  symptoms  are  positive, 
40  c.c.  of  Flexner's  antimeningitis  serum  are 
injected  into  the  spinal  canal.  The  serum  is 
injected  very  slowly,  as  it  at  first  stimulates 
respiration  and  later  depresses  both  the  respira- 
tory and  circulatory  systems.  After  the  injec- 
tions, the  patient  usually  complains  of  severe 
pain  in  the  head,  which  lasts  several  hours. 
Spinal  fluid  is  measured  and  a  laboratory  ex- 
amination  is   made.      Alf  hough     the    diplococci 


may  not  be  present  in  the  early  stages,  the- 
treatment  is  continued  if  other  symptoms  are 
positive.  The  typical  fluid  is  very  purulent  and 
comes  under  unusual  pressure,  but  in  the  first 
stages  it  may  be  as  clear  as  the  normal. 

"  Three  injections  of  40  c.c.  each  of  anti- 
meningitis  serum  are  given  the  first  twenty-four 
hours.  Usually  the  same  amount  of  serum  is 
injected  as  fluid  withdrawn,  but  this  may  be 
varied.  If  the  fluid  drops  slowly  and  without 
pressure,  an  aspirating  syringe  is  used,  or  if 
none  is  withdrawn  the  spinal  canal  may  be 
flushed  with  sterile  normal  saline  solution  before 
the  serum  is  injected.  In  the  early  stages  of 
the  disease  patients  are  usually  delirious,  but 
the  delirium  should  cease  after  the  first  three 
injections  or  after  the  second  day.  According 
to  the  severity  of  the  attack  and  the  age  of  the 
patient,  40  c.c.  are  given  daily;  about  200  c.c. 
is  the  usual  amount.  .\  general  anaesthetic  of 
chloroform  or  ethyl  chloride  is  given  to  chil- 
dren or  delirious  patients.  A  daily  cleansing 
bath  and  temperature  baths  are  given,  but  the 
latter  have  no  apparent  effect  on  the  tempera- 
ture. Irrigations  of  warm  boric  acid  solutions 
are  given  for  the  various  conditions  of  the  eyes, 
ears,  nose,  and  throat.  Hypnotics  are  also 
given. 

"  The  diet  consists  of  plenty  of  light  nourish- 
ing food  unless  the  fever  is  unusually,  high, 
when  fluids  are  given.  Convalescence  may  be 
rapid  or  slow.  The  patient  should  be  watched 
closely  for  any  untoward  symptoms,  as  a  re- 
lapse may  occur. 

"  The  patient  should  be  strictly  isolated,  in 
a  dark,  well-ventilated  room.  '  Absolute  quiet 
is  imperative.  All  excreta  and  linen  used  about 
the  patient  should  be  disinfected  and  all  utensils 
sterilized.  All  personj  coming"  in  contact  with 
the  patient  should  wear  hoods  and  gowns  to 
protect  the  hair  and  clothing.  The  nurse 
should  spray  her  nose  and  throat  about  every 
four  hours  with  an  antiseptic  solution,  and  use 
small  gauze  squares  for  handkerchiefs.  These 
are  to  be  burned  or  disinfected  inimediately 
and  should  not  be  used  twice,  as  infection  is 
chiefly  through  the  mucous  membrane  of  the 
nose  and  throat.  After  touching  the  patient 
the  hands  should  be  disinfected  and  a  daily 
carbolic  or  bichloride  bath  taken.  Sufficient 
rest  and  a  daily  walk  in  the  fresh  air  are  also 
necessary." 

From  more  than  one  paper  received,  it  would 
appear  that  district  nurses  are  not  always 
instructed  how  important  it  is  to  disinfect  when 
attending  a  case  of  cerebro-spinal  meningitis. 

QLIESTION     FOR     NE.XT     WEEK. 

A\'hat  is  Cataract?  How  would  you  prepare 
lor  an  operation  for  its  removal? 


October  5,    191: 


Cbe  Britieb  3ouninl  of  HAurc^no- 


269 


THE 


INTERNATIONAL    CONGRESS     OF 
NURSES. 


WEDNESDAY,   ALOLST   7lh. 


Afternoon  Session. 

(Continued. 

THE    SOCIAL    WORK    OF    NLRSES. 

Sister  Agnes  Karll  presidinr. 

Social  Work  bv  Coloured  Xvrses. 

>Irs.  Rosa  L.  Williams,  whose  most  interesting 
paper  we  hope  shortly  to  print  fully,  said  that 
she  brought  greetings  from  the  National  Associa- 
tion of  Coloured  Graduate  Nurses  of  North 
America,  and  pre- 
sented a  report  of  the  — 
social  work  done  by 
the  nurses  of  the 
Association.  She  said 
that  the  phrase  social 
work  now  so  much 
employed,  did  not 
represent  a  new  thing. 
The  Christian  negro 
woman  had  alway^ 
been  much  concerned 
with  the  condition  of 
her  neighbour.  His- 
tory- recorded  but  few 
of  the  sacrifices  made 
b^-  women  of  her  race  : 
these  had  neither 
education,  money  nor 
influence,  but,  with 
their  unlimited  faith 
in  the  power  of  prayer 
they  gaveunreser\-edly 
all  they  possessed  to 
help  to  make  things 
possible  for  the  upUft 
of  the  younger  mem- 
bers of  their  race. 

But     the     coloured 
races     realized      that 

trained  negro  women  were  now  needed  to  cope 
with  existing  conditions  among  their  people,  and 
with  this  realization  in  mind  the  body  of  coloured 
graduate  nurses  met  in  New  York  in  1908  to  adopt 
some  plan  by  which  they  might,  with  united 
strength,  help  to  alleviate  the  ignorance  and 
suffering  among  their  people.  They  had  high 
ideals  for  they  could  see  the  needs  of  their  people 
as  no  one  else  could.  The  expression  of  interest 
in  the  work  of  the  National  Association  of  Coloured 
Graduate  Nurses,  which  was  still  in  its  infancy, 
on  the  part  of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses 
was  an  inspiration  to  them,  and  they  looked  forward 
with  great  hope  to  that  which  in  the  beginning 
seemed  impossible. 

Mrs.  Williams  then  outlined  the  social  work 
being  done  by  the  Association  in  the  Southern 
towns  including  \Tsiting  nursing,  preventive  work. 


MISS  J.  C.  CHILD.   DELEGATE   FROM  SOUTH   AFRICA 
A  Souvenir  of  the  Cologme  BadRcs. 


work  for  the  reduction  of  infant  mortality  and  the 
prevention  of  blindness,  deafness,  &c.,  the  relief 
of  destitution,  the  teaching  of  hygiene,  the 
institution  of  a  day  camp  for  tubercular  jjatients, 
and  work  in  schools  and  orphan  asylums. 

The  Care  of  Syphilitic  Children. 
Sister  Emma  Koberlin  said  that  she  would  like 
to  describe  a  most  important  and  recent  branch 
of  social  work — that  of  the  care  of  children  with 
hereditarv  disease.  An  institution  with  this 
object  was  opened  three  years  ago  at  Friedrich- 
shagen,  near  Berlin,  by  noble-minded  doctors  and 
philanthropic  friends,  on  the  lines  of  one  inaugu- 
rated in  1 900  by  Professor  Welander  in  Stockholm. 
The  Home,  pleasantly  situated  in  a  large  garden 
by  the  Miirzel  lake  was  so  far  the  only  one  of  its 
kind  in  Germany.   For 

the  three  years  of  its 

I  existence  it  was 
possible  to  present  a 
most  hopeful,  report 
of  this  young  institu- 
tion. 

Children  s>-philiti- 
cally  affected  were 
especially  to  be  pitied 
as  the  Biblical  saying 
that  the  sins  of  the 
fathers  were  %Tsited 
upon  the  children 
proved  to  be  true. 
Sister  KoberUn  said 
that  she  was  alwa\-s 
filled  with  great  joy 
and  satisfaction  when, 
looking  on  the  little 
group  which  played 
happily  about  in  the 
garden,  she  recdized 
that  these  were  all 
saved  human  Uves, 
for,  without  suitable 
treatment  and  careful 
nursing,  these  child- 
ren, if  they  sur\dved, 
would  grow  up  into 
bodily  and  spiritual  cripples,  and  become  a  burden 
to  the  State  and  its  citizens,  adding  greatly  to  the 
number  of  the  spiritually  incompetent  and  the 
criminal  classes.  Also'  there  wa.s  constant  danger 
of  the  infection  of  healthy  children  by  these 
diseased  children  if  thev  associated  with  them. 
She  therefore  appealed  for  help  in  this  great  social 
work  to  the  representatives  of  the  various  countries 
present.  Sin  was,  said  Sister  Koberlin,  powerful, 
and  these  deplorable  children  everv-where.  Parishes 
and  the  State  would,  she  thought,  soon  be  con- 
\"inced  that  it  was  to  their  own  interest  to  take 
up  this  branch  of  social  work. 

Thank  God  that  medical  science  was  so  advanced 
that  it  was  possible  to  rear,  out  of  these  miserable 
helpless  creatures,  perfectly  healthy  and  useful 
citizens.  Up  to  the  present  such  cliildren  had  been 
taken  to  hospital  when  their  condition  was  noticed. 


al)c  3Siiti£'b  3oiunal  of  IRurstno 


October 


I9I^ 


but  between  times  they  received  neither  treatment 
nor  care.  Thus  the  greater  number  perished  eitlier 
from  the  effects  of  their  condition  or  from  other 
current  complaints  to  which,  owing  to  their 
weakness,  they  were  specially  prone. 

In  the  Home  for  the  first  four  years  of  lite  they 
received  constant  care  a^d  kindness.  Up  to  the 
present  twenty-six  children  had  been  received,  and 
already  one-third  who  were  subjected  to  the  well- 
known  blood  examination  of  Wasserman,  gave  a 
negative  result.  The  others  were  on  the  road  to 
convalescence.  The  condition  of  the  children  was 
excellent,  they  throve  splendidly.  A  new  building, 
equipped  with  all  the  newest  hygienic  appliances, 
had  now  been  erected  to  hold  forty  children. 
This  was,  of  course,  only  "  a  drop  on  a  hot  stone  " 
in  relation  to  the  terrifying  number  of  such 
children.  Their  treatment  in  the  Home  was  in  the 
hands  of  Dr.  O.  Rosenthal,  of  Berlin,  a  derma- 
tologist well  known  in  scientific  circles. 

The  children,  as  above  stated,  remained  in  the 
Home  until  they  reached  the  age  of  five.  The  sooner 
they  came  in,  the  better  were  the  prospects  for 
their  complete  cure.  The  mothers  of  the  children 
were  also  received  so  long  as  they  were  able  to 
nurse  their  infants,  for  their  natural  nourishment 
proved  the  most  satisfactory  for  these  children 
with  hereditary  disease.  Great  success  had 
however,  also  been  acliieved  with  cow's  milk, 
affording  a  proof  that  children  afflicted  with 
hereditary  syphilis  could  thrive  on  artificial 
treatment  when  carefully  carried  out. 

RESOLUTION. 

Sister  Maria  Koellner  then  offered  a  resolution 
which,  after  some  discussion,  was  seconded  by 
Miss  Dock,  in  the  following  form  and  unanimously 
adopted  :  "  This  Congress  requests  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses  to  use  its  influence  to 
stimulate  enquiries  into  the  Social  Condition  of 
Xurses  in  the  affiliated  countries." 

This  concluded  the  business  of  the  last  session 
of  the  Cologne  Congress,  a  most  memorable  one  in 
the  annals  of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses. 

Our  report  will  conclude  next  week  with  the 
Official  Votes  of  Thanks  to  Sister  Agnes  Karll, 
the  President,  and  to  all  those  eminent  people  who 
entertained  the  Nurses'  International  Congress, 
with  such  gracious  hospitality. 

TUBERCULOSIS     NURSIN(j     AND 
COOKERY     EXHIBITION. 

Arrangements  have  been  made  for  holding  a 
Tuberculosis  Nursing  and  Cookery  Exhibition 
at  the  Shire  Hall,  Gloucester,  which  will  be 
opened  by  the  Duchess  of  Beaufort  on  Monday, 
October  7th,  at  2  p.m.,  at  which  ceremony  the 
Chairman  of  the  County  Council  (Mr.  M.  W. 
Colchester- Wemyss)  will  preside.  The  public  will 
be  able  to  view  the  ver^•  instructive  exhibits  by 
the  National  Association  for  the  Prevention  of 
Consumption,  also  to  attend  the  cookery  demon- 
stration by  the  Gloucester  School  of  Domestic 
Science.  It  is  hoped  the  practical  lessonsin  hygiene 
may  have  lasting  results  on  the  health  of  the  county. 


THE  INTERNATIONAL  COUNCIL 
OF  NURSES. 


REPORT     FROM     ITALY. 

At  the  London  International  Congress  we  were 
able  to  announce  the  approaching  opening  of  a 
Training  School  for  Italian  Nurses  at  the  Poli- 
clinico  Hospital,  Rome. 

Thanks  to  unwearying  and  undaunted  efforts 
on  the  part  of  Princess  Doria  and  Mme. 
Maraini  the  hospital  authorities  had  arranged  for 
the  immediate  building  of  a  Convitto — nurses' 
home — the  first  in  Italy.  The  Queen  Elena  was 
interesting  herself  actively  u^  the  scheme,  and  the 
great  surgeon.  Prof.  Bastianelli,  wished  that  the 
school  should  commence  in  his  wards. 

In  March  of  the  following  year  (1910)  this 
Training  School  was  opened.  ^liss  Dorothy  A.  Snell 
accepted  the  post  of  matron,  and  with  a  staff  of 
twelve  English  certificated  nurses  and  fourteen 
Italian  probationers  took  over  the  entire  nursing 
of  sonre  seventy-six  to  eighty  patients,  the  Suora 
of  each  ward  retaining  the  economic  departments 
(charge  of  linen  and  food). 

In  the  following  December  (i<3io)  Miss  Snell 
increased  her  staff  to  twenty-one  English  certifi- 
cated nurses  and  twenty-seven  Italian  proba- 
tioners, and  the  nursing  of  a  medical  block 
containing  seventy-six  to  eighty  male  and  female 
patients  was  entrusted  to  her. 

We  were  thus  able  to  offer  pupils  from  the 
beginning  a  training  according  to  fundamental 
principles  ;  in  wards  both  surgical  and  medical, 
in  the  operating  theatre  and  dressing  room 
(medicheria),  all  under  the  direction  of  trained 
nurses.  We  were  also  able  to  exact — though  few 
in  Italy  understood  the  necessity — that  the 
duration  of  training  should  be  not  less  than  two 
years,  whilst  a  third  year  was  impressed  as  really 
essential  for  the  acquisition  of  experience. 

That  pioneer  work  is  inevitably  difiicult  va  sans 
dire,  and  had  Providence  granted  Italy  any  less 
"  ordained  instruments  "  than  our  President, 
Vice-President  and  Matron,  this  work  of  reform 
would  have  been  de  facto  impossible. 

In  the  first  place,  the  idea  that  "  signorine  " 
could  work  at  all  in  hospitals  was  not  easily 
accepted.  "  In  other  countries,  j-es,  but  in  Italy 
we  are  not  ready  for  it,"  was  repeated  ad  tiauseam^ 
It  entailed  "  too  much  liberty  "  for  girls  who  had 
been  educated  on  more  or  less  conventual  or 
harem  lines — accustomed  to  constant  chaperonage 
and  surveillance.  Few  were  the  parents — of  the 
well-to-do  middle  classes — who  in  the  beginning 
had-  the  faith  and  courage  to  consent  to  their 
daughters  embarking  on  so  venturesome  a  career. 
And  then  the  idea  of  working  really  hard — "  like 
servants  " — was  hard  of  acceptation.  A  training 
school  to  perhaps  the  majority  of  the  "  profane  "^ 
means  lectures  and  demonstration  classes.  "  We 
have  learnt  how  to  give  bed-ba'hs,  how  to 
carbolize,  &c.,  &c.,  and  therefore  need  not  con- 
tinue doing  them,"  was  the  real  point  of  view  of, 
at    any    rate,    a    good    minority.     Others — good 


October  5,    igi2 


Clbe  JBrtttsh  3ouma!  of  ItturemG. 


271 


Catholics — feared  that  lay  muses'  intervention  in 
hospitals  would,  directly  or  indirectly,  injure  the 
position  of  the  religious  nursing  orders. 

But  after  two  and  a-half  years  we  can  claim  to 
have  successfully  combatted  these  and  many  other 
difficulties,  for  the  original  thirteen  probationers 
(collected  with  such  effort  bv  the  comniittee)  have 
now  grown  into  thirty-eight,  whilst  many  others 
are  accepted  and  await  vacancies,  and  still  other 
applications  are  coming  from  every  part  of  the 
peninsula. 

Seventeen  of  the 
senior  probationers 
passed  examina- 
tions conducted  by 
six  professors  last 
June,  several  of 
them  doing  quite 
brilliantly.  As  these 
nurses  complete 
their  two  years' 
practical  training 
(seven  have  done 
so).  Matron  pro- 
motes them  to  staff 
nurses'  posts  in  the 
wards  and  to  the 
white  •  uniform  of 
the  staff  nurse. 

In  the  autumn 
their  diploma  certi- 
ficates will  be  given 
them  by  S.M.  Queen 
Elena,  also  a  medal 
■which  she  herself 
designed. 

As  the  first  year 
probationers  pass 
their  exams,  and 
finish  a  year's  work 
in  the  wards  they 
are  promoted  to 
"green  belts  " 
■(their  print  gown 
is  a  pretty  small 
green  and  white 
stripe),  and  will 
attend  the  second 
year's  course  oi 
lectures  in  Novem- 
ber. 

Regarding  the 
■capacity  for  nursing 

of  the  Italian  woman,  experience  has  proved  the 
correctness  of  Miss  Nightingale's  high  appreciation 
of  their  aptitude,  thovigh  the  majority  do  not 
possess  the  resistance  to  fatigue  and  the  determined 
thoroughness  of  the  Saxon  races. 

But  they  are  realising  already,  now  that  respon- 
sibilitv  is  beginning  to  be  given  them,  that  a 
"  nursing  school  "  is  not  a  studio  or  an  academy 
of  fine  arts,  but  that  system  and  organised  ward 
work,  the  acquiring  of  hospital  manners  and 
observing  of  hospital  etiquette,  and,  above  all,  of 
hospital  discipline,  make  up  the  real  training  of 


ENQI.ISH    STArr   Nllk.Sl:    WITH   TWO  ITALIAN  PROBATIONbRS 
SCUI.O    CONVITTO    KEGINA    ELKNA,     KOMB. 


the  ideal  nurse,  completing  the  knowledge  of 
technique  and  theory  which  at  first  was  deemed 
the  only  requisite. 

The  Home  is  already  enlarged,  and  further 
improvements  are  to  be  carried  out  this  summer, 
especially  the  building  of  a  large  dining-hall, 
which  the  increasing  numbers  render  necessarv, 
and  an  increase  of  twenty  bedrooms.  So  soon  as 
these  improvements  are  completed  Matron  will 
take  over  new  wards — possiblv  in  November. 

When  I  look 
back  on  what  the 
wards  were  here 
before,  and  in  the 
early  days  of,  our 
advent,  and  see 
what  they  have 
now  become  under 
the  direction  of 
Matron  and  Sisters, 
I  realise  what 
ground  we  have 
gained  in  these 
three  years.   '■' 

At  what  cost  the 
order  and  comfort 
and  smartness  have 
licen  obtained,  onlv 
those      who      have 
laboured     and    en- 
dured   and    fought 
can     quite      know. 
Many   who   started 
to  put  their  hands 
to   the    plough    re- 
moved     them,      in 
some      period       of 
discouragement     or 
especial     difficulty. 
But     the     sick     of 
Italy        and        her 
daughters  who  have 
the  nurse  vocation 
owe      (and      many 
already  express  it) 
an  unpayable  debt 
of      gratitude       to 
those  who  have  held 
high   the    standard 
through  storm  and 
stress,      and     have 
succeeded  in  layi ig 
firmly  the  founda- 
tion stone  of  "  trained  nursing,"  f  iremost  amongst 
whom  must  ever  remain  the  names  of  President, 
Vice-President  and  Matron. 
Naples. 
From  Naples  Aliss  Baxter  sends  the  list  of  her 
graduates.     It    comprises     two    DireUrici    in    the 
Hospitals    of    Chieti   and    Teramo,    two    idem   in 
Nursing  Homes  in  Naples,  eleven  head  nurses  in 
hospitals  and  G<jvcrnmcnt  cliniques.     Others  have 
adopted  massage  and  obtained  posts,  others  again 
have    become    certificated    obstetric    nurses    and 
devote  themselves  to  these  branches  of  nursing. 


273 


Cbe  36ritisl)  3oiu-nal  of  mursino 


October 


191: 


One  nurse  is  in  a  sanatorium  in  Switzerland ; 
another  training  at  King's  College,  London  ;  three 
have  died,  eight  have  married  ;  the  rest  are  doing 
private  nursing. 

Before  the  war  broke  out  the  Neapolitan  Red 
Cross  ladies  (amongst  whom  was  the  Ducliessa 
d'Aosta)  obtained  a  course  of  practical  training 
at  the  Gesu  e  Maria  Hospital,  and  many  of  the 
sick  and  wounded  soldiers  must  have  echoed  the 
ladies  who  expressed  sincerest  gratitude  to  "  the 
Dirittrice  who  had  taught  them  so  much  that 
enabled  them  to  relieve  suffering." 

M.  A.  TuRTOX 

(Hon.    Vice-President). 

»— ♦ — • 

THE  TERRITORIAL  NURSING    FORCE. 

The  Lady  Mayoress  will  give  a  reception  at 
the  Mansion  House  on  Thursday,  October  31st, 
from  8  to  10.30  p.m.,  to  meet  the  members  of 
the  Territorial  Force  Nursing  Service  of  the 
Cit*y'  and  County  of  London. 

This  reception  has  now  become  an  annual 
function  at  the  Mansion  House,  and  is  greatly 
enjoyed  by  the  members  of  the  Service  able  to 
be  present. 

THE   TRAINED    WOMEN    NURSES' 
FRIENDLY    SOCIETY. 

A  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  Management 
will  be  held  at  431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  \\'.,. 
on  \^^ednesday,  October  gth,  at  4.30  p.m. 
A  good  attendance  is  hoped  for,  as  important 
business  will  be  transacted.  The  sub-com- 
mittee will  present  a  report. 

MISS    ORR   SAILS    ON    "  ATHENIC.  " 

Miss  J.  M.  Orr  will  leave  England  on 
November  15th,  on  the  "  Athenic,"  which  is 
booked  to  arrive  in  New  Zealand  on  Decem- 
ber 31st.  Owing  to  the  keen  advance  booking 
on  all  lines  going  to  Australia  and  New  Zea- 
land, she  could  not  obtain  a  berth  before  this 
date.  Miss  Orr  will  therefore  spend  Christmas 
Day  at  sea — which  is  always  kept  in  a  very 
cheerv  fashion  on  board  ship — and  will  enter 
upon  her  new  duties  with  the  New  Year. 

COMMON    SENSE    COOKERY. 

Dr.  F.  S.  Toogood,  medical  superintendent 
of  the  Lewisham  Infirmary,  will  begin  a  course 
of  lectures  on  Common  Sense  Cookery  in 
Health  and  Disease  in  the  lecture  hall  of  the 
.Society  of  Medical  Officers  of  Health,  i.  Upper 
Montague  Street,  Russell  Square,  London,  on 
Wednesday,  October  i6th,  at  2  p.m.  The  chair 
will  be  taken  by  Sir  William  Collins.  The 
lectures  are  intended  primarily  for  health 
visitors,  nurses,  and  health  workers.  Admis- 
sion will  be  by  ticket  only. 


THE    NURSES'    MISSIONARY   LEAGUE. 


.\s  we  go  to  press  a  meeting  is  being  iield 
at  the  Mansion  House,  the  Lord  Mavor  pre- 
siding, in  support  of  the  good  work  of  the 
Nurses'  Missionary  League.  It  has  been 
arranged  that  nurses  in  uniform  will  take  the 
collection,  and  we  hope  there  ma}"  be  a 
generous  response  from  the  public.  On 
Thursday,  Farewell  Meetings  will  be  held  at 
LInlverslty  Hall,  Gordon  Square.  The  after- 
noon conversazione  w^ill  be  a  good  opportunity 
for  introducing  nurses  who  are  not  memhers  of 
the  League. 

The  following  Is  .1  list  of  members  who  have 
already  sailed  for  the  mission  field  since 
April  1st  or  who  go  forth  during  the  autumn  : 

-Miss  .A.llinson  (trained  at  Brownlow  Hill 
Inlirmarv),  proceeding  to  Benares  under  the 
Z.B.M.M. 

Miss  H.  .\nthony  (trained  at  the  Royal 
Infirmary,  Derby),  under  the  C.M.S.  (detained 
for  lack  of  funds). 

.Miss  Bertha  Brownrlgg  (trained  at  the 
Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh),  to  Ispahan, 
Persia,  under  the  C.^I.S. 

Miss  J.  A.  Clouting  (trained  at  the  London 
Hospital),  to  Mienchuh,  \\'.  China,  under  the 
C.M.S. 

.Miss  Mary  Godfrey  (trained  at  Bolton  In- 
firmary), to  Toro,  Uganda,  under  the  C.M.S. 

Miss  E.  \'.  Krauss  (trained  at  Guy's  Hos- 
pital), to  Hing  Hwa,  China,  under  the  C.M.S. 

.Miss  Margaret  Laurie  (trained  at  the  Eastern 
District  Hospital,  Glasgow),  to  Brazil,  under 
the  M.C.M. 

Miss  McMurtrle  (trained  at  the  Royal  In- 
firmarv,  Edinburgh),  to  Kikuyu,  E.  -Africa, 
under  the  Church  of  Scotland. 

Miss  Mabel  Martin  (trained  at  the  Royal 
Free  Hospital),  to  Slao  Kan,  China,  under  the 
L.M.S. 

.Miss  L.  K.  Rayner  (trained  at  the  Middlesex 
Hospital),  to  Hong  Kong,  under  the  L.RI.S. 

Miss  Ida  Thomas  (trained  at  the  London 
Hospital),   to  Delhi,  under  the  S.P.G. 

Miss  C.  L.  Thompson  (trained  at  the  Taun- 
ton and  Somerset  Hospital),  to  Borneo,  under 
the  S.P.G. 

.\  course  of  Five  Lectures  on  Hinduism  and 
Islarn  will  be  given  by  the  Rev.  Canon 
Wertbrecht,  D.D.,  at  LInlverslty  Hall,  W.C, 
on  October  gth,  i6th,  and  23rd,  and  on 
November  6th  and  13th.  All  members  of  the 
nursing  profession  and  their  friends  will  be 
welcome.  The  Syllabus  can  be  obtained  from 
Miss  Richardson,  52,  Lower  Sloane  Street, 
S.W. 


October. 5.    1912 


UK  iJSntiC'h  3ournal  ot  IRurfMiuj 


273 


PRESENTATION  TO  MISS  Q.  A.  ROGERS. 


With  some  ceremony,  and  many  expressions  of 
appreciation  and  kind  feeling,  Miss  G.  A.  Rogers, 
late  Lady  Superintendent  of  the  Leicester  Royal 
Infirmary,  was,  on  Wednesday  the  25th  ult., 
presented  with  an  annuity  and  an  illuminated 
address  by  the  members  of  the  Board  and  medical 
and  surgical  staff  in  recognition  of  the  great  ser- 
vices she  rendered  the  institution  durin;;  a  period 
of  tliirty-three  years.  Sir  Edward  Wood  (chair- 
man of  the  Board)  presided,  supported  by  a  I^rge 
number  of  governors  and  the  medical  staff.  Miss 
Vincent,  Lady  Superintendent,  and  Miss  Jessie  W. 
Davies,  the  Home  Sister,  were  also  present. 

The  presentation  was  made  in  the  Board  Room, 
and  Sir  Edward  Wood  said  he  was  sure  they  were 
all  delighted  to  have  Miss  Rogers  with  them  to 
give  her  an  expression  of  their  high  appreciation 
of  the  very  valuable  work  she  had  done  in  connec- 
tion with  that  institution.  It  was  impossible  to 
review  the  history-  of  the  Leicestershire  Infxrmarj' 
without  feeling  how  much  they  owed  to  the  work 
Miss  Rogers  had  done  for  a  period  of  thirt>--three 
years.  All  who  had  been  associated  with  the 
institution  in  any  capaciti.-  during  that  long  period 
were  the  better,  and  their  work  had  been  made 
easier,  by  the  help  and  guidance  of  Miss  Rogers. 
His  own  experience,  and  that  of  his  predecessor, 
Mr.  Fielding  Johnson,  as  well  as  the  medical  and 
surgical  staff,  had  been  tliat  whatever  difficulties 
might  arise  in  managing  the  aSairs  of  the  Infir- 
mary-, whenever  they  had  sought  the  help  or 
advice  of  Miss  Rogers,  she  had  by  her  cabn, 
sound  judgment,  been  able  to  render  them  the 
greatest  assistance.  To  the  patients  he  knew  she 
had  always  been  a  source  of  great  comfort,  her 
words  of  kindness  and  encouragement  during 
hours  of  great  trial  and  weakness  having  done 
much  to  further  their  restoration  to  health.  Then 
the  young  medical  men  who  were  resident  in  the 
institution  had  always  found  in  Miss  Rogers  a  very 
staunch  and  true  friend,  and  she  had  often  been 
their  ad\-iser  and  counsellor.  With  the  nursing 
staff  she  had  always  been  held  in  the  highest 
esteem.  It  must  be  a  source  of  gratification  to 
her  to  bear  in  mind  that  those  who  had  been 
trained  by  her  were  scattered  abroad  in  many  of 
the  important  places  of  the  earth,  and  were 
rendering  useful  ser\-ice  to  humanity.  Many  of 
her  old  students  had  since  been  appointed  to  high 
positions  in  connection  with  large  institutions 
throughout  the  country.  The  Board  had  on 
several  occasions  endeavoured  to  show  their  appre- 
ciation of  Miss  Rogers'  work.  When  the  Nurses' 
Home  was  built  she  was  asked  to  lay  the  memorial 
stone,  upon  which  her  name  would  be  inscribed  for 
all  time.  Subsequently  the  Board  were  anxious 
still  further  to  associate  her  name  with  the  institu- 
tion, and  at  their  urgent  request  she  verv"  reluc- 
tantly consented  to  allow  one  of  the  wards  of  the 
new  wing  to  be  called  the  "  Gertrude  Rogers  " 
Ward.  They  were  deeply  grateful  to  her  for  her 
interest  in  the  Infirmary  and    for    the  influence 


she  had  undoubtedly  exercised  upon  the  nursing 
world.  The  Board  and  staff  felt  they  could  not* 
allow  Miss  Rogers  to  leave  them  without  some 
expression  of  their  heartfelt  affection  and  regard, 
and  as  the  result  of  a  private  subscription  a  sum 
had  been  raised  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing  an 
annuity  for  her.  In  addition  to  this  the  resolution 
pjissed  by  the  Board  had  been  engrossed  upon 
vellum,  and  of  this  he  now  asked  her  acceptance. 

Illumin-.\t[;d  Address. 
The  following  was  the  resolution,  unanimously 
passed  by  the  Board  of  Governors  at  their  meeting 
held  on  ^lay  15th,  1912  : — 

That  this  Board  receives  with  regret  the 
letter  from  ^liss  Gertrude  .\.  Rogers,  the  lady 
superintendent,  announcing  her  wish  to  resign 
her  office  after  33  y-ears'  service,  29  of  which 
have  been  passed  as  lady  superintendent  of  . 
the  institution. 

The  Board  accept  the  resignation  with 
reluctance,  as  it  was  their  wish  to  make  such 
arrangements  as  would  enable  Miss  Rogers  to 
continue  her  devoted  senice  for  a  few  more 
years.  As,  however,  Miss  Rogers  feels  that  the 
duties  become  more  onerous  with  the  advance 
of  time,  the  Board  have  agreed  to  accede  to 
her  request,  and  in  so  doing  desire  to  place 
on  record  their  sincere  appreciation  of  the  sound 
judgment,  great  abilitj-,  and  unfailing  courtesy 
which  have  alway-s  characterised  her  work ; 
also  their  indebtedness  for  the  fidelity  and 
zeal  with  which  she  has  administered  the  affairs 
of  the  institution  during  this  long  period. 
Especially  the  Board  acknowledge  Miss  Rogers' 
great  work  in  the  development  of  the  training 
school  for  nurses  in  connection  with  the  In- 
firmary-. They  realise  that  it  is  in  a  large 
measure  due  to  her  ability  and  personality 
that  Leicester  has  become  a  prominent  training 
school,  and  has  built  up  for  itself  a  high  reputa- 
tion in  the  hospital  world.  The  Board  hope 
that  in  the  rest  and  retirement  which  come  to 
Miss  Rogers  after  a  Ufe  so  unselfishly  devoted 
to  her  profession,  she  will  have  many  years  of 
health  and  happiness,  and  that  memories  of 
her  life's  work,  and  the  numerous  friendships 
which  ha%'e  been  formed  in  the  training  of  her 
students,  many  of  whom  hold  responsible 
positions  in  the  nursing  world,  may  be  sources 
of  constant  joy  and  gratification  to  her. 

Edward  Wood,  Chairman. 

Arthur  Grey  Hazlerigg, 

Vice-Chai:-man. 

S.  F.  Stone,  Hon.  Treasurer. 

Harry  Johnson",  House  Govsrnor. 

Speaking  with  some  emotion.  Sir  Edward  added 
that  they  desired  Miss  Rogers'  acceptance  of  the 
bond  for  the  life  annuity  which  had  been  obtained 
for  her.  In  addition,  there  was  a  cheque  for 
£y2,  the  balance  of  the  fund  raised  for  the  purchase 
of  the  annuity,  and  this  he  also  asked  her  to  accept. 

Others  having  borne  testimony  to  the  devotion 
to  duty  which  had  been  the  marked  characteristic 


374 


Z\K  JSritisb  Journal  or  IHursino. 


October  5,   191 2 


of  Miss  Rogers'  work  at  Leicester,  she  was  greeted 
with  much  applause  when  she  expressed  thanks 
to  those  who  had  given  practical  expression  to 
their  kind  feeling  towards  her,  and  to  all  with 
whom  she  had  been  associated  during  the  twenty- 
nine  years  in  which  she  had  been  Matron  of  the 
Iniirmarjf,  years  which  she  would  remember  as 
some  of  the  best  and  happiest  of  her  life. 

The  proceedings  then  concluded. 

Let  us  hope  that  there  are  j-et  many  happy  and 
busy  years  to  come  in  which  Miss  Rogers  may 
enjoy  comparative  rest  and  yet  keep  in  touch 
with  her  colleagues,  who  can  ill  afford  to  lose 
women  of  her  strength  of  purpose  and  power 
for  good  from  acti\'e  participation  in  the  moulding 
of  modem  nursing. 

PRACTICAL    POINTS. 

In  a  most  interesting  article 
The  Ice  Bag  by  Mr.  A.  M.  Fauntleroy, 
in  Appendicitis.  surgeon  of  the  United  States 
Navy,  says  the  International 
Hospital  Record,  the  fact  is  brought  out,  basing 
the  same  upon  a  large  number  of  cases  of  appen- 
dicitis operated,  that  the  ice  bag  is  positively 
harmful  in  tliis  condition.  In  fifty  per  cent,  of 
the  cases  operated,  where  the  ice  bag  was  used, 
the  condition  seemed  to  indicate  that  there  was  a 
noticeable  lack  of  effort  on  the  part  of  nature  to 
wall  off,  from  the  rest  of  the  abdominal  cavity, 
the  appendix,  which  was  frequently  very  much 
congested,  gangrenous  or  perforated.  He  also 
observed  that  in  the  ice  bag  cases  there  was  a 
surprisingly  low  wliite  cell  count  when  one  took 
into  consideration  the  condtion  found  in  the 
abdomen  at  the  time  of  the  operation.  From 
8,000  to  11,000  white  cells  was  the  rule  in  these 
ice  bag  cases  when  one  would  be  justified  in  saying 
that  the  pathological  condition  warranted  a  con- 
stitutional reaction  of  from  20,000  to  30,000 
leucocytes,  or  even  liigher. 

On  the  other  hand,  in  those  cases  in  which  the 
liot  water  bag  or  morphine  had  been  used  prior 
to  operation  (the  ice  bag  not  being  used  at  all), 
the  white  count  corresponded  to  what  one  would 
expect.  Dr.  Fauntleroy  advances  from  his  findings 
the  logic  that  while  the  ice  bag  causes  numbness, 
practically  the  same  as  in  the  condition  of  frost- 
bitten ear  or  toe,  it  also  decreases  hypermia, 
leucocytosis  and  stasis  in  the  part  to  which  it  is 
applied.  That  heat  is  the  direct  antithesis  of  cold 
in  encouraging  favourable  physiological  action  in 
inflammatory  processes,  whether  superficial  or 
peritoneal,  seems  to  be  from  his  report  most 
logically  and  conclusively  proven. 


APPOINTMENTS. 


Medical 
Appliances. 


At  the  London  Medical  Exhi- 
bition now  open  at  the  Royal 
Horticultural  Hall,  one  of  the 
novelties  show^n  is  an  obesity 
reducing  apparatus  invented  by  Professor  Ber- 
goine,  of  Paris,  and  exhibited  bv  the  Medical 
Supply  Association.  The  invention  consists  in 
the   application   of  electricity. 


MATRON. 

Isolation  Hospital,  Hinckley. — Miss  Ellen  Holdon 
has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at 
the  Royal  County  Hospital,  Winchester,  and  has 
held  the  following  positions  :  Night  Sister  and 
Home  Sister,  Warrington  ;  Night  Sister,  Baguley 
Sanatorium  ;  Sister-in-Charge,  Pateley  Cottage 
Hospital  ;  Sister  of  Diphtheria  and  Tubercle 
Wards,  also  Home  Sister  at  the  Isolation  Hospital, 
East  Ham. 

Central      London      Throat      and      Ear      Hospital. 

Gray's    Inn    Road,    London Miss    E.    A.  Lee    has 

been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the 
London  Hospital.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Army 
Nursing  Service  Reserve,  and  has  worked  in  South 
Africa. 

Crewkerne  Hospital,  Somerset. — Miss  Julia 
Swallow  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  General  Hospital,  Northampton, 
and  has  been  Matron  at  Cockermouth  Cottage 
Hospital  and  Xursing  Home. 

SISTER. 

Newport     and     Monmouth     Hospital,     Newport. — 

Miss  Edith  Hatcher  has  been  appointed  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  Uni\-ersity  College  Hospital, 
London,  and  hopes  to  take  the  C.M.B.  certificate 
this  month. 

Royal  Victoria  and  West  Hants  Hospital,  Bourne- 
mouth.— Miss  S.  Bayliss  has  been  appointed 
Night  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the  General 
Infirmary,  Worcester. 

CHARGE  NURSE. 

Caterbam  Cottage  Hospital. — Miss  T.  Wood  has 
been  appointed  Charge  Nurse.  She  was  trained 
at  Bethnal  Green  Infirmary',  and  has  had  experi- 
ence of  private  nursing.  ^liss  M.  D.  Seager  has 
also  been  appointed  Charge  Nurse  at  the  same 
hospital.  She  was  trained  at  the  Kent  and 
Canterbury  Hospital. 

QUEEN  VICTORIA'S    JUBILEE   INSTITUTE. 

Transfers  and  Appointments. — Miss  Katharine 
Child  is  appointed  to  Boxgrove  ;  Miss  Louisa 
Clarke,  to  Malvern  Link ;  Miss  Elizabeth  A. 
Morris,  to  Chatham  ;  Miss  EfBe  Preston,  to  Marl- 
borough ;   Miss  Lizzie  Varley,  to  Horwich. 

WEDDING     BELLS. 

A  number  of  presentations  were  made  to.  Miss 
Hodges  on  Tuesday  on  the  occasion  of  her  retire- 
ment from  the  position  of  matron  of  the  Roj-al 
Infirman,-,  Bradford,  on  her  approaching  marriage. 
The  gifts  comprised  a  mahogany  writing-table,  a 
fitted  dressing-case,  a  gold  watch-bracelet,  and  an 
opal_  and  diamond  ring,  all  presented  by  the 
Infirmary  Board  and  Ladies'  Committee.  A 
number  of  silver  table  requisites  were  given  by 
members  of  the  Infirmary  staff.  The  ceremony 
of  presentation  was  performed  by  the  Lord  Ma3'or 
of  Bradford  (Alderman  J.  B.  Moorhouse),  who  was 
accompanied  by  the  Lady  Mayoress  (Miss  Moor- 
house) . 


ih t.hcr  5,  1912         ilDe  ffiritisb  3ournal  of  H-lurstno. 

THE   PASSING  BELL  NURSING    ECHOES. 


275 


LOUISA     TWINING. 

By  the  death  of  Miss  I,ouisa  Twining,  which 
took  place  on  September  26th,  in  London,  one 
of  the  great  social  reformers  of  the  nineteenth 
century  has  passed  away.  Her  name  was  a 
household  word  throughout  the  Poor  I-aw  world, 
and  to  her  keen  foresight,  enormous  energy,  and 
practical  mind,  much  of  the  reform  in  the  conduct 
of  institutions  governed  by  it,  must  be  granted, 
especially  in  alleviating  the  terrible  sufiEering 
inflicted  through  ignorance,  of  the  sick  in  \*)rk- 
houses  and  infirmaries.  When  finst  she  began, 
half  a  century  ago,  to  visit  such  institutions- 
lady  guardians  and  trained  nursing  were  unknown. 
How  terrible  was  the  condition  of  the  inmates 
few  of  us  can  now  realise,  and  to  Miss  Twining's 
devotion  to  bettering  their  condition,  much  of  the 
marvellous  improvement  now  apparent  throughout 
the  country  must  for  ever  be  gratefully  ascribed. 

It  would  reipiirc  many  columns  to  describe  in 
detail  the  wonderful  life's  work  of  Louisa  Twining  ; 
suffice  it  to  say  that  she  published  in  1855  a 
pamphlet  "  A  Few  Words  about  the  Inmates  of 
our  Union  Workhouses,"  and  in  1857  contributed 
a  paper  to  the  Social  Science  Congress  in  Birming- 
ham on  "  The  Condition  of  our  Workhouses," 
the  majority  of  which  she  had  visited  up  and  down 
the  land.  In  1858  she  attacked  the  Nursing 
question  in  a  letter  to  the  Times,  and  in  1859 
organised  the  Workhouse  Visiting  Society.  Later 
came  the  Workhouse  Infirmary  Nursing  Society, 
with  a  view  (i)  to  raising  the  standard  of  public 
opinion  on  the  whole  question  of  worlchouse 
nursing,  (2)  to  .securing  the  appointment  of  trained 
ladies  as  matrons  in  all  separate  infirmaries,  and 
(3)  to  training  and  supplying  nurses  to  workhouse 
infirmaries  in  London  and  the  provinces.  Miss 
Twining  accepted  the  post  of  hon.  Secretary, 
subsequently  becoming  one  of  the  Vice-1'residcnts. 
The  training  of  nurses  was  carried  on  by  the 
Association  until  1900,  the  number  which  it  had 
so  trained  and  supplied  up  to  that  date  being  844. 
In  cholera  nursing  and  district  nursing  she  also 
took  an  active  interest,  and  until  the  day  of  her 
death  never  ceased  to  work  for  the  happiness  of 
her  kind. 

riie  funeral  of  this  truly  great  woman  took 
place  on  Saturday  last  at  Kensal  Green  Cemetery, 
and  amongst  those  who  attended  were  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Local  Government  Board,  and  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Central  Poor  Law  Committee, 
the  Women's  Local  Government  Society,  and  the 
Midwivcs  Institute. 


£1,500   FOR   A    NURSE. 

Mr.  Francis  Albert  Reddie,  of  Brockcnhurst, 
Hants,  and  Great  St.  Helens,  E.G.,  East  India 
merchant,  has  bequeathed  £1,500  to  Miss  Rose 
Boakes,  in  recognition  of  her  successful  nursing 
of  him  during  a  dangerous  illness  at  Bombay 
in  1907. 


Although  the  subscription  list  for  the 
Nurses'  International  Memorial  to  Miss 
.\'ighting;alc  is  not  yet  opened,  we  have  to 
thank  .Miss  Beatrice  Kent  for  sending,  with 
her  usual  generosity,  £1  towards  it.  The 
(^harming  illustrati<jn  on  page  276  is  repro- 
duced from  a  photograph  taken  by  Miss 
Downing,  secretary  of  the  School  Nurses' 
League,  at  Kaiserswerth.  The  window  draped 
with  ribbons  of  British  colours  denotes  the 
room  used  by  Miss  Nighting.ilc  during  her 
visits  there,  and  is  in  the  block  now  used  as 
the  Seminary  for  teachers,  over  which  Sister 
Julie  Borgcs  presides.  For  many  years  Sister 
Julie  occupied  Miss  Nightingale's  room. 


Miss  Christina  Forrest  most  kindly  .sends  £2 
to  the  funds  of  the  Society  for  State  Registra- 
tion, for  which  we  intend  to  make  a  special 
appeal,  so  that  in  the  near  future  this  question 
may  be  publicly  and  persistently  agitated.  Ex- 
perience proves  that  absolutely  nothing  is  to  be 
gained  by  waiting  for  the  Government  to  take 
the  initiative  on  questions  which  affect  the  well- 
being  of  women.  Our  Bill  has  now  been 
before  Parliament  for  ten  years.  We  have 
pleaded  constitutionally  and  with  "  perfect 
propriety  "  quite  long  enough.  We  must  now 
make  ourselves  heard.  When  all  is  said  and 
done,  the  Registration  of  Nurses  is  not  merely 
a  woman's  question,  it  is  a  question  of  national 
health,  ,ind  must  be  fought  for  as  such. 


There  has  been  a  movement  amongst  Poor 
Law  officials  in  London  for  the  institution  of 
a  central  examination  for  nurses  trained  in 
Poor  Law  institutions,  and  at  the  meeting 
at  Southport,  last  Saturday,  of  the  North- 
western Poor  Law  District  Conference, 
Mr.  R.  A.  Leach,  clerk  to  tlie  Rochdale  Union, 
read  a  paper  on  "  Co-operation  between  Boards 
of  Guardians."  Mr.  Leach  urged  that  a 
standard  curriculum  for  workhouse  nurses 
should  be  established.  In  Lancashire  alone, 
he  said,  there  were  600  probationers  in  train- 
ing as  nurses,  and  the  number  was  on  the 
increase.  There  was  no  standard  curriculum 
or  examination  or  certificate  for  these  pro- 
bationers. 


We  are  all  in  favour  of  standardising  nurs- 
ing education  and  ex.iminations,  but  we  are  not 
at  all  sure — neither  are  the  Poor  Law  infirmary 
matrons  we  have  consulted — that  the  definition 
of  a  standard  and  special  examination  for  Poor 
Law  nurses  is  a  wise  step  to  take.     The  Bill 


376 


<L\K  Brltiel)  3oiu'nal  of  H^urstno- 


October 


igi2 


for  i1k-  Ri'gislration  ul  Trained  XursL-s  iidw 
before  rarliament  pro\klc'.s  uniform  consitk'ia- 
tion  for  all  nurses  trained  in  voluntary  hos- 
pitals and  Local  Government  Board  hospitals,' 
and  any  line  of  demarcation  between  the  two 
will,  in  our  opinion,  still  further  emphasise  the 
present  distinctions,  whi(,-h  are  injurious  to  the 
status  of  th(!  Poor  Law  nurse.  Let  Clerks  and 
Boards  of  Guardians  brings  pressure  to  bear  on 
the  I'resident  of  the  Loral  tio\crnnient  Board 
to  give  active 
support  to  the 
Nurses'  Registra- 
tion Bill.  Such 
an  Act  would 
soon  solve  the 
present  difficul- 
ties. 


iniale  gift.  'I'he  portrait  is  characterised  as  a 
striking-  likeness.  It  has  been  hung  in  the 
board  room  at  the  Infirmary,  where  the  super- 
intendent, Dr.  Sinclair,  will  have  pleasure  in 
showinsr  it  to  anyone  interested. 


L^pon  the  re- 
quest of  the  East 
Preston  G  u  a  r  - 
dians,  the  Local 
Government 
Board  have  sanc- 
tioned the  pro- 
vision of  recrea- 
tion for  the  nur- 
sing staff.  They 
may  have  a  piano, 
a  bagatelle  board, 
and  a  croquet 
lawn.  Quite  nice  ! 
But  the  L.G.B. 
are  unable  to 
sanction  the  pro- 
posal to  subscribe 
to  a  circulating 
library.  The 
Clerk,  however, 
acting  upon  the 
suggestion  of  the 
Committee,  has 
already  paid  the 
subscription,  and 
the  L.G.B.  are  to 
be  asked  to  sanc- 
tion the  payment  for  one  year. 


A  nurse  sends  us  the  follow  ing'  little  story  : — 
A  missionary  friend  working-  in  East  Africa 
started  from  Endeji  on  an  itinerating  tour, 
purpDsing-  to  visit  various  stations  in  the 
reniote  districts, 
w-hen  she  came 
~^^  across  a  dispen- 
sary where  she 
learned  the  fol- 
lowing  simple 
method  for  the 
treatment  of 
patients  was 
adopted:  — 
Lotions  were  pre- 
scribed for  any 
ailment  from  the 
toes  to  the  thigh, 
mixtures  for 
troubles  from  that 
neighbourhood  to 
the  throat,  and 
pills  over  that  ! 
The  treatment  is 
certainly  simple, 
although  some- 
what monotonous, 
and  one  wonders 
if  the  patients 
were  cured.  It 
proves  how  in- 
valuable are  our 
medical  missions 
amongst  the  sick 
of  these  primitive 
people. 


KAISERSWERTH. 


Window  of  Mi 


Miss  Louisa  Innes  Lumsden,  LL.U.,  Dal- 
beattie, Murtle,  having  expressed  a  desire  to 
present  to  the  Infirmary  a  portrait  of  her  late 
sister.  Miss  Rachel  Frances  Lumsden,  who  was 
for  nearly  twelve  years  honorary  superinten- 
dent of  the  institution,  the  board  of  directors, 
at  their  last  meeting,  accepted  the  portrait,  and 
instructed  the  clerk  to  convey  their  cordial 
thanks  to  Miss  Louisa  Lumsden  for  her  appro- 


We  are  glad  to 

note       that       the 

om  draped  witli  British  colours  S  O  U  t  h        African 

Medical  Record  is 
f|uite  of  our  opinion  that,  so  long  as  the 
nurses  do  not  object  to  nurse  the  native  races, 
the  agitation  enunciated  in  the  Provincial 
Council  that  "  black  or  coloured  patients 
should  be  nursed  onlv  by  coloured  nurses  "  is 
absurd.  -  We  know  nurses  who  have  worked 
for  years  amongst  all  sorts  of  outlandish 
natives,  and  have  received  in  return  nothing 
but  respect  and  gratitude.  That  such  work 
upon  the  part  of  our  nurses  encourages  "  black 
peril  "  is  a  baseless  fear. 


October 


1912 


ITbe  Brttisb  3ournal  of  IRiirsmo. 


-77 


Discussing  the  Enema  in  the  Eighteenth 
Century,  the  British  Medical  Jourual  gives  the 
following  amusing  information  : — 

As  we  know,  the  enema  syringe  in  the  seven- 
teenth and  eighteenth  centuries  was  the  symbol 
of  medicine  in  France.  The  august  body  of 
Louis  XIV  was  washed  out  by  means  of  it  some 
thousands  of  times,  and  it  is  recorded  of  a  royal 
duchess  that  she  had  the  remade,  as  it  was  politely 
called,  furtively  administered  to  her  even  in  the 
presence  of  the  Court.  It  was  used  by  e\'erybody 
who  could  afford  it,  and  it  was  a  considerffolc 
source  of  income  to  the  apothecaries.  Naturally 
it  did  not  escape  the  keen  eye  of  Moliere,  who 
introduces  it  several  times.  He  represents  M.  de 
Pourceaugnac  being  pursued  with  the  instrument 
by  a  number  of  apothecaries,  assuring  liim  that 
it  is  benign,  and  in  the  ballet  which  concludes  the 
Malade  Imaginaire  the  apothecaries  carryang  the 
emblem  play  a  conspicuous  part.  There  is  a 
curious  record  of  an  action  brought  in  1 746  against 
a  canon  of  Troyes,  Francois  Hourgeois,  by  what 
may  be  called  a  nurse  specialist  in  the  administra- 
tion of  enemas.  This  lady,  who  had  the  very 
appropriate  name  of  Etiennctte  Boyeau,  brought 
an  action  for  recovery  of  monej^s  due  to  her  for  the 
innumerable  enemas  she  had  given  the  patient. 
As  he  would  not  pay,  she  put  her  case  into  the 
hands  of  an  advocate  named  Grosley.  His 
pleading,  which  is  given  in  French  memoirs  in  all 
seriousness  but  which  reads  like  an  elaborate  jest, 
set  forth  that  tlie  canon  had  for  some  time  been 
"  vexed  by  a  heated  state  of  the  viscera  of  that 
enormous  acrimony  which  causes  the  generative 
parts  to  be  extra vasated."  (Doubtless  the  writer 
meant  piles.)  Having  consulted  his  physician,  the 
canon  was  ordered  the  frequent  use  of  "  a  kind  of 
lenitive  commonly  known  under  the  name  of 
clyster."  Etiennette  Boyeau,  who  was  in  high 
repute  for  her  skill  in  the  administration  of  that 
remedy,  was  called  in,  and  she  attended  ori  the 
canon  two  whole  years,  officiating  at  least  once, 
sometimes  as  often  as  six  times,  a  day.  But, 
though  she  served  him  well  and  her  fee  was  small, 
she  could  get  no  money  out  of  the  canon.  "  Three 
hundred  times,  at  the  most  interesting  moments 
and  in  the  most  supplicating  position,  she  begged 
him  to  relieve  her  needs,  without  his  allowing 
himself  to  be  softened."  At  length,  in  1746,  she 
brought  an  action  against  him.  In  the  pleading 
it  is  stated  that  "  the  Sieur  Bourgeois  took  at 
least  one  enema  a  day  and  often  six,  thus,  taking 
the  whole  together  on  an  average,  three  enemas  a 
daj-  gives  a  total  of  2.190  enemas,  which  at  2  sols 
6  deniers  make  up  the  big  figure  of  273  livres  i  j  sols. 
Etiennette  consents  to  reduce  the  total  number  of 
enemas  to  2,000,  and  to  reduce  her  bill  to  150 
li\Tes  instead  of  273  livres  15  sols."  The  canon 
resisted,  but  ultimately  paid  up. 

PRESERVATIVES  IN  MILK  AND  CREAM. 

The  new  regulations  prohibiting  the  use  of 
preservatives  in  milk  and  regulating  their  use 
in  cream  came  into  force  on  Tuesday. 


REFLECTIONS 

FRO.M    A    BOARD    ROOM    .MIRROR. 


The  Duke  of  Norfolk  (Lord  Lieutenant  i>t 
Sussex)  will  inaugurate  the  Brighton  and  Hove 
Memorial  to  King  Edward,  and  has  fi.xed  October 
12th  for  the  purpose.  After  unveiling,  on  the 
Esplanade  at  the  borough  boundary,  the  beautiful 
monument  entitled  "  Peace,"  executed  by  Mr. 
Newbury  Trent,  the  Duke  will  open  the  new 
Central  Home  for  the  Brighton  and  Ho\-e  Queen's 
Nurses  at  Wellington  Road,  which  forms  part  of 
the  memorial  of  the  two  boroughs.  Money  is 
greativ  needed  in  support  of  the  Queens'  Nurses 
Home. 


The  new  wing  which  has  been  attached  to  the 
Wolverhampton  and  Staffordshire  General  Hos- 
pital as  a  memorial  to  the  late  King  Edward  VII. 
is  Hearing  completion,  and  the  official  opening  has 
been  fixed  for  Wednesday,  November  13th,  and 
the  ceremony  will  be  conducted  in  Masonic  form 
by  the  Provincial  Grand  Lodge  of  Staffordshire, 
the  Right  Hon.  Earl  of  Dartmouth,  Provincial 
Grand  Master,  officiating.  A  public  luncheon  will 
take  place  in  honour  of  the  occasion,  and  the 
opportunity^  will  be  seized  to  give  publicity  to  the 
general  reconstruction  scheme  of  the  hospital. 
The  two  wards  composing  the  new  wing  are 
thoroughly  modern  in  every  respect,  and  embody- 
practically  every  improvement  and  requisite  that 
surgical  and  architectural  science  can  suggest. 
They  will  be  used  exclusively  for  women's  surgical 
and  accident  cases.  They  are  lofty,  airy,  and 
splendidly  lighted.  The  walls  are  treated  with 
white  enamel,  with  a  dado  of  light  green  tiles,  and 
the  heating  will  be  by  hot  water  radiators  and  cen- 
trally situated  fireplaces  with  down  draughts.  The 
floors  are  constructed  of  teak  blocks,  and  the  doors 
are  made  of  the  same  kind  of  wood.  At  the  end  of 
both  wards  are  balconies  approached  by  swing- 
doors  for  the  special  benefit  of  patients  needing 
open-air  treatment.  It  should  be  mentioned  that 
about  ;^2,30o  is  still  required  to  complete  the 
building  and  equipment  of  the  wing.  The  object 
is  a  deser\-ing  one.  It  is  surprising  the  amount 
of  work  which  the  hospital  does  in  the  treatment 
of  women's  cases.  Something  between  900  and 
1,000  patients  are  dealt  with  in  the  course  of  a 
year,  and  in  the  new  wards  thirty-six  more  beds 
will  be  available  (eighteen  in  each  ward),  making 
a  total  in  the  whole  institution  of  about  seventy- 
one  for  women. 


The  National  Insurance  Commissioners  have 
issued  a  draft  of  the  Regulations  relating  to 
medical  benefit  under  the  Insurance  Act. 

The  question  of  remuneration  for  medical 
attendance  is  left  to  the  local  health  committees, 
who  have  the  option  of  arranging  payment  on  any 
of  the  four  following  bases  : — 

(i)  Capitation  only. 


278 


dbc  Bultisb  Journal  of  IRurslno 


October  5,    1912 


(2)  A  small  capitation  fee  with  some  payment 
for  special  services. 

f?  (3)  Payment  for  special  services  with  a  small 
capitation  fee. 

(4)  Payment  by  attendance  only. 

The  difierence  between  (2)  and  (3),  it  is  ex- 
plained, is  that  in  the  former  the  capitation  fee, 
though  small,  is  the  main  basis  of  the  proposal  ; 
in  the  other  the  main  bg,sis  is  the  payment  for 
special  services. 

In    the   memtime,  the  medical    profession     are 
standing  firm  for  just  conditions  of  work  and  pay. 
•— ♦ — »-    - 

THE  GRESHAM  LECTURES,   1912. 


The  four  lectures  to  be  delivered  by  Dr.  F.  M. 
Sandwith,  Gresham  Professor  of  Physic,  on  the 
Relief  of  the  Sick  and  Wounded  in  Time  of  War, 
should  be  of  unusual  interest  to  nurses — and  as 
they  are  given  free  in  the  City  of  London  School, 
Victoria  Embankment.  H.C.,  at  6  p.m.,  many  will 
no  (doubt  attend. 

Syllabus  of  Llctures. 
LECTURE  I. — Tuesday,  October  i^ih. 

E.-VRLY  History,  b.c.  450-A.D.  1854. 

Early  records  of  standing  armies  and  of  military 
surgeons.  The  field  hospitals  of  Queen  Isabella  I. 
in  1487.  Surgeons,  like  Ambroise  Pare,  voluntarily 
attached  to  the  French  army.  Little  care  for  the 
wounded  in  Napoleonic  wars.  General  Marbot's 
account  of  his  own  gun-shot  wound.  Inefficiency 
in  London  and  at  he  front  at  the  outbreak  of 
the  Crimean  war.  Russell's  fearless  letters  to  the 
Times. 

LECTURE  IJ. — Wednesday,  October  16th. 
Modern  History,  a.d.  1855-1871. 

Introduction  of  women  into  military  hospitals 
by  Mr.  Sidney  Herbert.  The  crusade  of  Miss 
Florence  Nightingale  and  other  ladies.  Red- 
tapeism  yielding  to  permanent  reforms.  Reduction 
of  army  mortahty.  Mr.  Dunant's  visit  to  Solferino 
in  1859.  His  organization  after  the  battle  and 
his  book.  Valuable  aid  rendered  to  wounded  by 
volunteers  during  the  American  Civil  War.  The 
International  Congress  at  Geneva  in  1864.  The 
Schleswig-Holstein  campaign  and  the  war  between 
Prussia  and  Austria.  British  Red  Cross  assistance 
in  the  Franco-Prussian  war. 
LECTURE  in. — Thursday,  October  17th. 
Recent  History,  a.d.  1876-1912. 
National  Aid  Society's  surgeons  in  the  Turko- 
Servian  war,  1876.  Stafford  House  Surgeons  in  the 
Russo-Turkish  war,  1877-8  ;  Zulu  war,  1879- 
1881.  The  Egyptian  campaigns.  The  war  between 
Greece  and  Turkey,  1897.  Sudan  Expedition, 
1898.  The  South  African  war,  1899-1902.  The 
Italo-Turkish  war.  St.  John  ,\mbulance  Associa- 
tion. The  British  Red  Cross  Society.  Foreign  Red 
Cross  Societies. 

LECTURE  IV. ^Friday,  October  18th, 
will  be  devoted  to  showing  lantern  slides  which 
iUuslrate  the  previous  lectures. 


TWENTY=ONE  YEARS'  GOOD  WORK. 


PRESHNTATION    TO    MISS    RICHARDSON. 

There  have  been  many  delightful  gathering.s 
at  the  London  Temperance  Hospital,  Hampstead 
Road,  but  Saturdav,  September  29th,  was  indeed 
a  unique  occasion,  for  a  goodly  number  of  past 
and  present  Nurses  gathered  together  in  the 
Out-patient  Hall  to  do  honour  to  their  Matron, 
Miss  Richardson,  on  the  completion  of  her  twenty- 
first  year's  work  among  them. 

For  many  weeks  Sister  Dora,  the  Senior  Sister, 
whose  own  record  of  work  in  this  hospital  is  an 
unbroken  one  of  over  twenty  years,  had  been 
working  to  bring  as  manv  nurses  as  possible  into 
touch  with  the  suggestion  of  commemorating  the 
event  by  a  Party,  and  a  Presentation  to  Miss 
Richardson.  The  result  was  a  wonderful  gathering 
at  which  Miss  Orme,  the  first  Matron,  and  Miss 
Lucas,  her  successor,  were  present,  and  a  large 
number  of  past  Sisters  and  Nurses,  including 
several  Matrons  of  important  hospitals.  Many 
of  the  guests  wore  indoor  uniform,  which  greatly 
added  to  the  interest.  The  hall  was  most  delight- 
fully decorated  with  autumn  leaves  and  berries, 
and  lovely  chrysanthem\mis,  and  over  the  little 
stage  on  which  the  two  former  Matrons  were 
supported  bv  Miss  Richardson  and  the  Sisters, 
hung  a  beautiful  device  :  "  Long  live  our  Matron, 
1891-1912."  After  the  singing  of  a  specially 
adapted  glee  by  a  choir  of  nurses  trained  by 
Sister  Rose,  called  "  Follow  on,  our  Matrons 
Lead,"  two  beautiful  bouquets  made  by  Sister 
Mildred  were  presented  to  Miss  Orme,  and  Miss 
Lucas  b\'  Sister  Dora,  who  in  a  few  words  empha- 
sized the  unusual  character  of  the  proceedings, 
and  the  wonderful  response -to  her  letters  from 
the  old  nurses.  Letters  and  telegrams  from  many 
others  unavoidably  detained  were  read,  and 
Sister  Dora  then  presented  ]\Iiss  Richardson  with 
a  book,  illuminated  by  Sister  Helen,  containing 
the  names  of  all  who  had  contributed  to  the 
gifts.  An  address,  specially  written  by  a  former 
Sister,  now  a  Matron,  was  then  read,  thanking 
Miss  Richardson  for  all  she  had  been  and  done, 
reminding  her  that  to  live  in  the  hearts  and  lives 
of  those  she  had  trained  w-as  to  live  for  ever,  and 
that  her  work  would  go  on  long  after  her  own 
hands  were  folded  in  stillness,  and  asking  her 
acceptance  of  some  gifts  which  were  to  speak  of 
love  and  gratitude  which  were  eternal. 

Sister  Helen  then  stepped  forward  and  presented 
a  beautiful  gold  watch  suitably  inscribed,  a  silver 
cream  jug  and  sugar  basin,  a  cruet  and  butter 
dish,  and  a  travelling  tnmk  were  in  turn  presented 
bv  Sisters  Mildred,  Adeline,  Florence  and  Iris. 
This  was  followed  by  the  presentation  of  a  beautiful 
tea  tray  by  the  cook  in  the  name  of  the  household 
staff,  "  in  recognition  of  your  justness  and  kindness 
to  us  at  all  times." 

Miss  Richardson,  who  seemed  quite  overcome, 
said  a  few  words  of  thanks,  and  Miss  Orme  spoke 
of  the  pride  she  felt  in  seeing  one  of  her  own 


October  5,    1912 


<L\K  BritisI)  3ournal  of  H-luvsiiui 


^7') 


Nurses  in  so  honoured  a  position,  ;inti  inyctl  lliose 
present  to  strive  after  the  ideal  so  unceasingly 
put  before  them  at  the  Temperance  Hospital. 

Tea,  and  a  delightful  renewal  of  old  friendships 
and  much  happv  talk  of  bygone  days  followed. 
The  Nurses  sang  "  Comrades  in  Arms  "  with  much 
feeling,  and  after  many  good-byes  and  the  singing 
of  "  Auld  Lang  Svne,"  we  scattered  to  our  various 
works  and  duties,  with  a  memory  and  an  inspiration 
the  fragrance  of  which  will  outlive  many  dark 
and  dreary  days,  and  serve  as  an  additional  bond 
of  union  with  mir  beloved  hospital. 

Mary  Sti.wart  T'oxaidson. 


OUR  FOREIGN   LETTER. 


THE  AMERICAN   MISSION,  ASSlOU  I",   tOYPT. 

.■Xbotit  the  tiid  of  May  our  schools  closed  for 
the  summer,  and,  after  seeing  our  600  boarders 
off  to  their  various  homes,  we  packed  our  own 
boxes  and  sought  a  cooler  place,  for  Assiout  was 
then  almost  unbearably  hot.  Some,  who  were 
in  need  of  a  complete  change,  went  to  Switzerland  ; 
some  to  Syria,  while  others  of  us  unable  to  afford 
so  much,  were  glad  enough  to  get  as  far  as  Kamleh, 
a  little  place  by  the  sea,  seven  miles  from  Alex- 
andria. Here  some  few  years  ago  Miss  A.  Van 
Sommer,  of  England,  after  interesting  friends  at 
home,  had  a  charming  home  of  rest  built  for 
mi.ssionarics,  with  accommodation  for  about  28, 
,ind  though  during  the  winter  months  friends 
from  England  are  gladly  welcomed  and  made  at 
home,  Pairhaven  during  the  summer  is  kept  for 
missionaries  from  Egypt  and  the  Soudan.  Need- 
less to  say,  it  is  much  appreciated  and  taken  full 
advantage  of.  To  a  tired  nurse,  and  especially 
a  missionary  nurse,  after  the  rush  and  anxiety  of 
a  year's  work,  be  it  in  the  villages,  the  mission 
hospitals,  or  the  schools,  Eairhaven,  with  its  air 
of  restfulness,  its  large  bright  sitting-rooms  and 
very  dainty  bedrooms,  looking  away  out  over 
the  Mediterranean,  its  long  verandahs,  its  gardens 
and  tennis  court,  and,  above  all,  the  kindly  care 
and  interest  shown  to  each  and  every  visitor,  is 
a  haven  of  rest  indeed. 

Unfortunately  Mi.ss  Van  Sonvmcr  had  to  return 
to  England  this  year,  but  left  the  house  m  charge 
of  Miss  Miller  and  Miss  Wood. 

Miss  Wood  has  been  there  since  it  wa-s  first 
opened,  and  right  glad  we  were  to  see  her  again, 
for  well  we  remembered  how  in  former  years  she  won 
our  hearts  by  her  iumt  tiring  kindness  and 
love. 

Of  Miss  Miller,  who  had  just  come  out  from 
home  during  Miss  Van  Sommer's  absence,  it  is 
almost  enough  to  say  she  is  the  sister  of  the  late 
Miss  Kathleen  Miller,  who,  as  practically  the 
founder  and  the  first  secretary  of  the  Nurses' 
Missionary  League,  was  so  well-known  and  .so 
dearly  loved  by  hundreds  of  nurses  now  scattered 
the  wide  world  over. 


As  all  know,  tins  League  has  as  one  of  its  chief 
objects  the  raising  of  the  standard  of  nursing 
throughout  the  mission  field  by  supplying  fully 
/rained  nurses  to  all  missionary  societies,  nor  did 
she  only  send  others  forth,  but  gladly — when  the 
call  came  to  her — she  sailed,  just  four  short  years 
ago,  for  India,  from  where  only  last  November 
she  was  again  "  called,"  this  time  to  higher 
service  in  the  presence  of  Him  who  was  far  more 
precious  to  her  than  life  itself.  To  meet  a  sister  of 
hers  was  a  great  privilege,  though  right  .soon  wc 
learned  to  lo\e  Miss  W.  Miller  for  her  own  sake 
also.  Indeed,  we  doubt  if  any  could  stay  long 
at  Fairhaven  and  not  love  both  Miss  Miller  and 
Miss  Wood  very  truly.  There  was  plenty  of 
sea  bathing  for  those  who  cared  for  it. 

Some  played  tennis  daily,  and  those  froni  Upi)cr 
Egypt  rejoiced  in  the  electric  trana  and  the  French 
shops  at  .\lexandria,  to  say  nothing  of  the  ice- 
cream rooms  !  while  all  enjoyed  the  picnics 
which  Miss  Miller  so  constantly  and  untiringly 
planned  for  us,  always  accompanying  us,  and 
looking  well  after  our  comfort  herself.  Some- 
times it  was  to  "  Spouting  Rock  "  we  went — quite 
a  little  distance  off — where,  sitting  on  the  rocks, 
wc  could  watch  the  glorious  Mediterranean  or 
sec  the  waters  spouting  up  from  a  huge  cavit\- 
in  the  centre  of  the  rocks  ;  or,  again,  to  the  Housa 
Gardens,  well  worth  a  visit  ;  and  somctime-s — 
several  times  indeed  during  the  summer — to  Abukir 
Bay,  a  place  of  great  historical  interest,  for  was  it 
not  here  that  Nelson,  in  1798,  fought  his  great 
fight  and  won  his  great  victory  over  the  French 
fleet,  destroying  thirteen  of  their  seventeen 
vessels  ?  Also,  in  1799,  Napoleon  defeated  the 
lurkish  army  at  .\bukir,  though,  but  two  years 
later,  his  own  was  defeated  in  the  same  place  bv 
Sir  Ralph  .\bcrcromby.  .\nd  while  some  loved 
to  gaze  on  the  great  fort,  standing  grim  and  bold 
and  strong,  with  its  huge  cannons  still  lying  strewn 
around,  and  its  quiet  suggestion  of  the  awful  scenes 
once  witnessed  there,  or  to  stroll  a  little  farther 
along  and  visit  the  remains  of  Canopus,  once — in 
Ptolemaic  times — one  of  the  greatest  and  richest 
and  wickedest  cities  of  the  world,  even  the  ruins 
of  which  arc  to  this  day  awe  inspiring  ;  others  lay 
on  the  sands  and  gathered  the  dearest  tiny  green 
shells  which,  when  strung  together,  make  a 
charming  necklet. 

Doubtless,  as  this  summer's  visitors  in  the  years  to 
come  look  back  on  those  days  at  Abukir,  they  will 
again  remember  how  deeply  they  were  stirred  by- 
thoughts  of  an  age  gone  by,  and  a  glory  long  since 
departed,  and  how  their  very  beings  were  thrilled 
^us  they  lived  over,  in  intagination,  the  great  battles 
which  troubled  those  mighty  waters,  making  the 
rocks  resound,  and  sending  brave  men  to  their 
doom.  Yet  somehow,  we  fear — though  low  be  it 
spoken — that  some,  just  some  of  their  number 
whoso  souls  can't,  perhaps,  soar  quite  .so  high,  will 
always  think  of  Abukir  first  of  all  as  the  place 
where  they  had  the  most  delightful  picnics  and 
gathered   "  little   green  shells." 

Frances  L.  J.  Bennett. 


28o 


Cbe  Buitlsb  3ouvnal  of  U^urstiiQ.         October  5,  1912 

OITSIDE   THE   GATES.  THE   BOOK   OF  THE    WEEK. 


WOMEN. 

The  event  ol  the  week  amongst  wonien  s 
organisations  is  the  Conference  at  Oxford  of  the 
Kational  Union  of  Women  Workers,  and  of  the 
National  Council  of  Women  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland.  Hundreds  of  women  have  flocked  to 
this  ancient  seat  of  learning  and  are  busy  dis- 
cussing innumerable  questions  of  importance  to 
the  communitv-  in  general,  mosth"  on  social  reform 
lines. 

The  delegates  of  the  National  Council  ha\c 
before  them  several  resolutions  of  which  the 
following  are  the  most  important  : — Proposed  on 
behalf  of  the  Executive  Committee  :  "  That  the 
National  Council  of  Nurses  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland  be  accorded  two  representatives  instead 
of,  as  at  present,  one,  upon  the  National  Council 
of  Women." 

Tb  be  proposed  on  behalf  of  the  Industrial 
Sectional  Committee  :  "  That,  in  view  of  the  low 
wages  and  falling  prices  in  many  women's  trades, 
the  National  Council  of  Women  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland  urges  upon  His  Majesty's  Government 
the  desirabOity  of  extending  the  Trade  Boards 
Act  to  other  trades  than  those  already  scheduled." 

On  behalf  of  the  Public  Service  Sectional 
Committee  :  "  That  the  National  Council  of 
^\'omen  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  desires  to 
express  its  gratitude  to  the  Government  for  intro- 
ducing the  Bill  dealing  with  Mental  Deficiency, 
although  they  arc  of  opinion  that  the  Bill  as  it 
now  stands  requires  considerable  amendment." 

On  behalf  of  the  Public  Service  Sectional  Com- 
mittee :  "  That  on  any  committee  which  may  be 
formed  to  deal  with  women  and  children  under 
the  INIental  Deficiency  Bill,  at  least  one  woman 
shall  be  appointed  to  serve." 

The  members  of  the  Conference  are  being  most 
hospitably  entertained  throughout  the  week,  and 
are  enjoying  a  delightful  social  time  between  the 
sessions. 


A  letter  has  been  widely  signed  by  humane 
persons  who  love  animals,  in  connection  with  the 
National  Canine  Defence  League,  urging  that  the 
dog  should  be  exempted  from  "  all  vivisectional, 
inoculative,  and  other  experiments."  The  letter 
proceeds  : — "  The  friendship  wlrich  has  existed 
tliroughout  the  ages  between  man  and  the  dog 
places  their  relations  on  a  footing  without  parallel 
in  the. histor>-  of  the  world,  and  there  is  a  perfectly 
natural  desire  on  the  part  of  a  great  number  of 
men  and  women  in  tliis  country  to  give  effect  to 
tlris  feeling  of  regard  for  these  faithful  and  intelli- 
gent creatures,  so  far  as  the  vivisection  question 
is  concerned." 

Please  do  all  you  can  to  help  this  movement. 
It  is  terrible  that  these  dear  creatures  should 
still  be  used  for  experimental  purposes.  Are  any 
■  of  us  worth  it  ?    We  doubt  it. 


THE    DAUGHTER   OF    BRAHMA* 

David  Hurst  was  born  m  India  on  the  night  of 
his  father's  assassination.  At  the  age  of  twelve 
he  overheard  his  adored  mother's  real  opinion  of 
him.  "  You  say  he  is  a  dreamer,  he  is  merely 
stupid  ;  you  say  he  is  delicate,  he  is  a  weakling  ; 
you  say  he  is  nervous,  he  is  a  coward  ;  he  is 
ugly  into  the  bargain  and  a  cripple.  I  hate  my 
son  !  "  One  need  not  be  hyper-sensitive  to  be 
crushed  by  such  cruel  words,  and  they  embitter 
the  boy's  whole  youth,  but  he  lived  to  refute  it  all. 

During  his  lonely  wanderings  he  stumbled  by 
chance  upon  a  heathen  temple,  and  at  great 
peril  to  his  life,  he  witnessed  the  rite  in  which 
the  lovely  child  Sarasvati,  the  daughter  of  Brahma, 
is  given  as  bride  to  the  idol  Sivra. 

Twelve  years  later  he  rescues  her  from  the 
funeral  pyre,  and  the  same  night  is  married  to 
her  by  the  rites  of  the  Roman  Church.  Almost 
immediately  he  learns  of  the  death  of  his  cousin 
and  his  accession  to  his  title  and  property.  His 
homecoming  with  his  Eastern  bride,  for  which  his 
tenantry  are  quite  unprepared,  raises  a  storm  of 
indignation. 

Here  in  this  commonplace  English  drawing- 
room,  haunted  with  the  shades  of  honourable  but 
stiff  unromantic  Englishwomen,  this  child  of 
Eastern  splendour  had  no  place.  The  firelight 
and  the  coming  night  shades  alone  brought  her 
understanding.  They  bore  her  like  a  jewel  in  a 
natural  and  perfect  setting.  To-morrow  the 
daylight  would  destroy  it,  and  all  the  loveliness 
be  lost  in  glaring  piteous  disharmony." 

Against  his  better  judgment,  David  leaves  the 
seclusion  of  his  home,  into,  which  at  first  he 
defiantly  withdraws,  and  is  persuaded  to  stand 
for  the  constituency.  As  may  be  imagined, 
publicity  brought  him  through  his  wife  many 
bitter  humiliations.  "  Who  the  devil  was  that  ? 
David  heard.  "  What,  Eady  Hurst  !  Great 
heaven,  you  don't  say  so  !  I  didn't  know  it  was 
as  bad  as  that.  \^liat,  man  alive,  one  doesn't 
marrv  that  sort  of  thing." 

"  There  was  a  laugh.  David  Hurst  came  out 
of  the  alcove.  Through  an  unsteady,  shifting  mist 
he  saw  Lord  Salby  standing  in  the  doorway 
against  a  background  of  frock-coated,  followers, 
and  he  went  up  to  him  and  struck  the  red,  smiling 
face  with  a  calculated,  swift  precision."  By 
rapid  degrees  David  realises  his  fatal  mistake, 
and  the  tender  romance  dies  in  the  awakening. 

Those  who  know  anything  of  the  Eastern 
character  will  understand  that  the  disappearance 
of  the_  bride  of  Sivra  from  the  temple  was  not 
allowed  to  go  unavenged.  Rama  Pal  follows  them 
to  England,  and  in  the  closing  scene  of  the  book 
we  find  Sara\asti  enthroned  once  more  in  the 
heathen  temple,  whither  David  follows  her. 
She  is  stabbed  in  her  attempt  to  shield  lifm. 

"The  Daughter  of  Brahma  slept.  Peacefully, 
her  dark  head  pillowed  on  a  white  heap  of  fresh 

*^By  T.  A.  R.  Wylie.     (Mills  &  Boon.  London.) 


October 


1912 


<L\K  Bvitisb  3ournal  of  H^urstna 


:8i 


lotus  blossoms  she  lay  beneath  the  shadow 
of  the  great  idol,  and  no  trace  of  the  darker 
shadow  clouded  the  serene  loveliness  which  in 
that  hour  had  been  given  back  to  her.  In  her 
own  beauty  alone  the  Daughter  of  Brahma  had 
gone  forth  in  the  search  of  God. 

"  Gently  David  Hurst  lifted  one  frail  hand 
and  slipped  the  ring  of  their  short  union  back 
on  the  empty  finger.  The  turmoil  of  life  into 
which  he  liad  drawn  her  had  hidden  her  from 
him  ;  now  he  saw  her  as  she  was,  as  she  would 
remain  to  him  to  the  end  of  time — as  the  minor 
of  his  soul. 

"  Ife  bent  and  kissed  her.  Her  lips  were  faintly 
parted  no  longer  in  breathless  longing,  but  very 
peacefully,  and  the  same  peace  was  in  his  own 
heart." 

This  vivid  and  romantic  storv  should  find 
many  admirers.  H .   II. 

AUTUMN   IN  THE  ISLANDS. 

After  the  wind  in  the  wood, 

Peace  and  the  night  ; 

After  the  bond  and  the  brood. 

Flight. 

After  tfie  height  and  the  hush 

Wliere  the  wild  hawk  swings. 

Heart  of  the  earth-loving  thrush 

Shaken  with  wings. 

After  the  bloom  and  the  leaf, 

Rain  on  the  nest ; 

After  the  splendour  and  grief. 

Rest. 

After  the  hills,  and  the  far 

Glories  and  gleams. 

Cloud,  and  the  dawn  of  a  star, 

And  dreams. 

— Marjorie    I..    C.    Pickthall,    in   the 
"  Atlantic  Monthly." 

COMING     EVENTS. 

October  (jth.-  T\\e  Trained  Women  Nurses 
Friendly  Society,  431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W. 
4.30  p.m. 

October  gth,  i6th,  23rd  ;  November  6th  and  13//J. — 
Nurses'  Missionary  League.  The  Autumn  pro- 
gramme. Lectures  on  Hinduism  and  Islam, 
ITniversity  Hall,  W.C,  by  Canon  Weitbrccht. 

October  nth. — Meeting  Executive  Committee 
Society  for  State  Registration  of  Nurses.  431, 
Oxford  Street.     4.30  p.m. 

October  15th.  —  Catholic  Nurses'  Association 
(Ireland),  .Annual  Meeting.  Lourdes  Hou.sc, 
Dublin. 

October  igth. — British  Home  and  Hospital  for 
Incurables,  Strcatham.  Lord  Strathcona  will  lay 
the  foimdation  stone  of  the  Alexandra  wing. 

October  22nd. — Central  Midwives  Board  Exami- 
nation, London,  Birmingham,  Bristol,  Leeds, 
Manchester  and  Nowcastle-on-Tyne. 

October  2yd. — Mansion  House,  City  of  London. 
Public  Meeting  in  support  of  the  memorial  to  Lord 
Lister. 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  for  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  he 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


TRAINING    AND   SURVICE. 

/'()  the  Editor  oj  TiiK  British  Journal  ok  Nursi.ng. 

Dear  Editor, — I  take  in  The  British  Journal 
OF  Nursing  and  have  read  with  some  .surprise 
your  statement  that  "  the  unfortunate  inclusion 
of  the  words  '  and  service  '  "  makes  it  possible 
to  admit  nur.ics  with  certificates  of  tw.)  years' 
training  only,  but  who  may  have  served  a  hospital 
presumably  as  a  private  nurse  for  profit,  as  at  the 
London  Hospital." 

The  word  service  does  not  render  it  possible 
for  a  candidate  to  be  admitted  into  the  Queen 
Alexandra  Imperial  Military  Nursing  Ser\-icc  with 
less  than  three  years'  training  in  the  wards  of  a 
hospital. 

Although  the  certificate  of  the  London  Hospital 
is  nominally  a  two  years'  one,  yet,  all  candidates 
from  that  hospital  for  the  Q..\.I.M.N.S.  must  be 
certified  to  liave  a  third  year  (out  of  four  years') 
training  in  the  wards  of  that  hospital. 

I  know  of  no  exception  to  this  regulation. 
I  am,  dear  Madam, 

Yours  faithfully, 

('.    II.   Keer 
[late  Malron-in-Chief  Q.A .  f. M.X.S.). 

(ilensidc, 

1 7,  .Mbany  Road, 
Stroud  Green,  N. 

(We  thank  our  corresptmdcnt  for  her  letter — 
knowing  that  it  was  always  her  earnest  endeavour 
during  her  term  of  office  as  Matron-in-Chicf  of 
(j.A.i.M.N.S.  to  maintain  the  highest  nursing  stand- 
ards possible  under  the  regulations.  And  as  this 
question  of  educational  and  professional  standards 
for  military  nurses  is  one  which  is  agitating  many 
trained  nurses,  holding  certificates  for  Three  Years' 
Training  in  the  wards  of  the  leading  hospitals, 
and  who  will  not  join  the  Service  under  existing 
regulations  and  conditions,  we  have  given  due 
consideration  to  Miss  Jvcer's  letter  in  our  oriitorial 
article. — Ed.). 


THE     ROSARY     OF     INTERNATIONALISM. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  oe  Nursinc,' 
Dear  Madam, — To  those  who  have  never 
attended  one  of  the  International  Nursing  Con- 
gresses, and  who  from  want  of  knowledge  speak 
of  such  meetings  as  a  pleasant  picnic,  a  fleeting 
excitement,  a  nice  week's  holiday,  I  want  to 
address  one  word — "  Durability."  It  is  the 
touchstone  of  all  successful  work.  It  is  the  very 
essence  of  the  International  Nursing  Congress. 

I    have    attended    three    Congresses    in    Paris, 
London,  and  Cologne,  with  a  three  years'  interval 


282 


Z\)C  36ritisb  3ournal  of  IHurstiiG. 


October  5,    1912 


between  each.  As  I  count  the  beads  in  the 
Rosary  of  my  years,  the  larger  beads  on  the  chain 
seem  to  represent  those  Congress  years,  knitting 
up,  consolidating,  and  making  epochs  in  tlie 
chain  of  daily,  yearly  toil  and  work. 

That  bright  and  stimulating  meeting  in  Pans 
six  years  ago  under  a  sunnier  sky  than  ours  ! 
The  eagerness  of  the  French  to  learn  from  us  ! 
The  courtesy  and  hospitality  preferred  to  us  ! 
Six  j-ears  have  come  and  gone  since  then,  and  in 
Cologne  I  met  and  renewed  acquaintance  with 
a  young  French  nurse  who  told  me  with  pride 
and  reverence  "  Moi  j'ai  connu  votre  Mile.  Isla 
Stewart."  And  French  and  English  clasp  hands 
in  her  memory  and  pass  on  again. 

Cela  dure  !     Cela  diirera  ! 

Yes,    the    impressions    formed,    the    resolutions 
made,  the  friendships   cemented   during   Congress 
week  are  like  tlie  snapshots  taken  by  the  Congress 
members.     Taken   and   put   on   one   side   for  the 
moment,    brought   out   and     developed   later   on, 
and  finally  printed  in  our  hearts. 
"  And,  when  at  eventide  we  are  alone, 
\\>  bring  them  out  and  live  with  them  again 
The  years  all  pass  away  which  since  have  ifown." 

And  thus  we  tell  our  beads  of  working  days, 
gladdened  by  the  memory  of  good  seed  sown, 
good  work  accomplished,  quickened  and 
strengthened  bv  sympathy  and  good-fellowship, 
looking  forward  to  the  rivetting  in  the  near  future 
at  San  Francisco,  fresh  links  in  the  international 
chain. 

Yes,    dear    readers,    the    International   Nursing 
Congresses  have  been  tested  on  the  touchstone  of 
durability,  and  they  have  not  been  found  wanting. 
Annie  E.  Hulme. 

Colosseum  Terrace.  X.W. 


A     GOOD     SUQQESTION. 

Til  the  Editor  oj  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dear  Madam, — May  I  second  a  suggestion 
thrown  out  by  "  Another  Victim  "  in  last  week's 
issue  ?  She  writes,  "  It  seems  there  should  be  some 
place  women  could  get  good  advice  before  being 
trained  as  nurses."  From  personal  experience  I 
can  speak  most  feelingly  of  the  loss  I  have  sustained 
from  being  trained  in  the  wrong  way.  I  am  now 
too  old  to  begin  afresh,  and  shall  never  be  able 
to  hold  any  position  of  responsibility  in  the 
profession,  which  I  might  ha\'e  done  if  I  had  been 
properly  trained.  I  have  read  The  British 
Journal  of  Nursing  for  many  years,  and  think 
far  from  its  policy  being  hard  on  village  nurses. 
It  is  the  best  friend  of  women,  who  for  the  sake 
of  cheap  labour  are  enticed  by  County  Nursing 
Societies  of  society  people,  to  sell  their  birthright 
(efficient  training  and  reasonable  remuneration) 
for  a  mess  of  pottage  (cottage  nursing).  If  there 
was  a  Central  Nursing  Board,  training  would  be 
defined  for  all,  and  we  ignorant  ones  would  be 
put  in  the  right  way  from  the  first,  as  medical 
students  are,  but  as  this  Government  means  to 
keep  women's  labour  cheap,  and  as  there  is  no 
hope  for  working  women  so  long  as  it  is  in  power. 


could  not  the  Matrons'  Council  or  some  such  body- 
consider  the  question  of  drawing  up  a  course  of 
action  concerning  training,  &c.,  for  women 
willing  to  become  efficient  nurses.  Every  day 
more  incompetents  are  encouraged  by  County 
and  Cottage  Nursing  Associations  to  undertake 
responsible  work  for  which  they  are  not  trained, 
and  many  of  them  with  systematic  training  would 
become  valuable  nurses,  so  greatly  needed  for 
rich  and  poor, 

I  am,  yours  truly, 

:\  Forty  Pound  Nurse. 


A    STRANGE    FATALITY. 

Dear  Madam, — Under  the  above  heading,  I  notice 
a  paragraph  in  the  Journal,  referring  to  the  sad 
death  of  the  Infanta  Maria  Teresa.  But  is  it  so 
strange,  if  we  remember  that  her  baby  was  born 
on  September  15th,  and  that,  according  to  the 
accounts  published  in  the  press,  the  mother  was 
getting  up  on  the  23rd  ;  that  is  to  say,  the  eighth 
day  after  (and  including)  that  of  the  confinement. 
We  teach  all  our  working  women  patients  that 
it  is  essential  for  their  safety  that  they  should 
remain  at  rest  in  bed  until  the  tenth  day  after  the 
confinement,  if  it  has  been  normal  ;  and  for  those 
who  can  afford  it  counsel  the  wisdonr  of  a  longer 
rest.  We  know,  of  course,  that  the  rule  is  broken 
in  some  instances  in  our  absence  ;  but,  so  strongly 
do  we  believe  in  its  necessity,  for  the  welfare  of  our 
patients,  that  we  warn  them  that  if  we  find  them 
out  of  bed  we  shall  repudiate  further  responsi- 
bility for  them,  and  cease  attendance.  The  rule 
is,  no  doubt,  a  rough  and  ready  one,  as  the  time 
for  getting  up  really  depends  upon  the  involution 
of  the  uterus  ;  but  it  is  safe  to  say  that  involution 
is  not  complete  before  the  tenth  day. 

If  then,  this  is  the  case  with  women  accustomed 
to  a  hard  life,  surely  more  rather  than  less  time  in 
bed  should  be  the  rule  for  a  patient  accustomed 
to  every  luxury,  and  for  whom  the  necessity  for 
hastening  convalescence,  in  order  that  bread 
may  be  earned  for  the  family,  is  not  of  paramount 
importance. 

Yours   faithfuUv, 

Certified   Midwife. 

REPLIES    TO    CORRESPONDENTS. 

_F.  M.  T.,  Clifton. — Write  to  the  matron  of  the 
Kasr-el-Aini  Hospital,  Cairo,  and  ask  her  to  advise 
you.  It  is  by  no  means  easy  to  work  on  your  own 
account  and  be  sure  of  constant  employment, 
as  so  many  nurses  go  to  Egypt,  especially  to  Cairo, 
for  the  winter  months. 


OUR     PRIZE     COMPETITIONS— OCTOBER. 

October  12th. — Wliat  is  Cataract  ?  How  would 
you  prepare  for  an  operation  for  its  removal  ? 

October  igth. — W'hat  would  you  consider  an 
eflicient  curriculum  for  the  training  of  a  midwife  ? 

October  26th. — Describe  the  modern  management 
of  Scarlet  Fever. 


October  5,  1912      cThc  Biitieb  3ournal  of  H-lurf'ino  Supplement.     283 


THe   Midwife. 


THE  ADMINISTRATION  OF  MATERNITY 
BENEFITS. 


Miss  M.  Llewelyn  Davies  has  a  verv  admir- 
able article  on  "  The  Administration  of  Mater- 
nity Benefit  "  in  a  recent  issue  of  the 
ll'cslntinstcr  Ga::e'tte.     She  writes  : —  i 

In  recent  years  we  have  begun  to  sec  the  results 
of  neglecting,  both  in  Economics  and  Pohtics, 
to  recognise  the  married  woman's  position  in  the 
home.  The  Insurance  Act,  witli  its  omission  of 
sick  benefit  for  married  non-wage-earning  women, 
and  with  its  inclusion  of  maternity  benefit,  is  an 
example  of  tlie  present  transitional  state  of  tlie 
public  mind. 

The  central  recurring  fact  of  family  life — the 
birtli  of  children — has  been  invariably  overlooked 
when  such  questions  as  the  cost  of  living,  budgets, 
and  minimum  wages  are  considered.  Even  in  a 
book  like  Mr.  Seebohm  Kowntrec's  "  Poverty," 
in  estimating  the  wages  necessary  for  bare  economic 
efficiency,  no  account  is  taken  of  the  additional 
£3  fo  £5  periodically  needed,  if  an^^thing  hke 
adequate  provision  for  tlie  mother  and  child  is 
to  be  made,  ^^^lere  enough  money  is  set  aside, 
it  means  there  is  less  to  spend  over  many  long 
weeks  ;  but  the  fact  is  that  very  little,  and  in 
many  cases  nothing,  can  be  saved  by  the  two 
million  families  whose  wages  is  about  19s.  6d.  a 
week  or  out  of  the  30s.  wages  of  7,300,000  workers. 

It  is  remarkable  that  so  new  a  departure  as 
State  assistance  for  maternity  should  have  been 
brought  about  with  so  little  public  hostility.  A 
few  persons  seem  really  to  believe  that  the 
Maternity-  Benefit  is  an  encouragement  to  im- 
morality, and  that  the  prospect  of  receiving  30s. 
would  be  a  determining  factor  in  the  number  of 
illegitimate  births.  But,  on  the  whole,  no  part 
of  the  Insurance  .Act  has  met  with  less  opposition 
than  that  which  deals  with  Maternity  Benefit. 

Now  that  a  beginning,  however  small,  has  been 
made  to  replace  organised  or  unorganised  charity 
by  corporate  responsibility  and  action,  it  is 
important  that  the  administration  of  Maternity 
Benefit  should  not  be  contrary  to  the  workers' 
sense  of  independence.  It  will  be  generally 
admitted  that  the  Maternity  Benefit  is  quite 
different  in  character  from  charity,  and  that  its 
administration  .should  be  entirely  free  from 
anything  that  could  stamp  it  with  any  semblance 
of  philanthropy.  The  Maternity  Benefit  will 
belong  by  right  to  the  people  ;  they  will  have 
contributed  to  it  directly  and  indirectly  :  it  will 
be  universal  as  far  as  the  Act  is  so  ;  and  it  will  be 
certain. 

The  Act  says  that  the  benefit  may  be  given 
"  in  cash  or  otherwise,"  and  it  is  under  "  other- 


wise "  that  the  opportunity  might  arise  for  the 
introduction  of  views  and  actions  which  would  be 
out  of  place  in  connexion  with  a  State  benefit. 

Probably  most  people  would  agree  as  regards 
the  need  for  building  up  further  schemes,  and  it  is 
very  desirable  that  future  developments  should 
be  kept  in  view  from  the  first.  To  .some  of  us 
it  has  seemed  that  it  would  have  been  much- better 
to  have  placed  maternity  benefit  under  the 
Health  Authorities,  so  that  by  means  of  national 
grants  municipalities  might  gradually  construct 
schemes  wliich  would  include  maternity  homes, 
such  as  those  existing  in  New  Zealand  ;  baby 
clinics,  similar  to  the  "  Mothers'  Welcomes  " 
now  spreading  so  fast  over  England  ;  milk  depots, 
by  means  of  which  good  cheap  milk  could  take 
the  place  of  tinned  milk  ;  and  other  plans,  covering 
periods  both  before  and  after  childbirth.  Even 
now,  co-operation  as  far  as  possible  should  be 
attempted  between  Insurance  and  Health  Com- 
mittees, as,  for  example,  by  Insurance  visitors 
giving  information  about  the  institutions  in 
existence. 

But  as  y^et  no  suggestion  has  been  made  for 
State-aided  municipal  schemes,  and  the  feeling 
of  the  great  majority  of  co-operative  and  trade- 
unionist  women  is  strongly  in  favour  of  the 
present  small  benefit  being  given  in  cash.  They 
know  that  the  mother  is  lierself,  in  the  over- 
whelming number  of  cases,  the  person  able  to  use 
the  benefit  to  the  greatest  advantage  in  her  special 
circumstances.  The  ordinary  working-woman  is 
an  expert  in  the  art  of  making  a  little  go  as  far  as 
possible,  all  inquiries  showing  this  with  pathetic 
clearness.  Wlien  larger  schemes  arc  forthcoming 
women  will  undoubtedly  welconie  them,  but  they 
would  rightly  consider  a  certain  amount  of  money 
for  home  needs  always  desirable,  just  as  it  is  seen 
to  be  in  the  case  of  consumptives  who  are  receiving 
other  forms  of  benefit. 

There  is,  however,  no  .serious  rea.son  against  an 
allocation  of  part  of  the  benefit  being  made  to 
doctor  or  midwife's  fee.  Such  an  allocation  would 
be  applicable  to  all  alike  who  come  under  the  -Act. 
and  the  skill  of  doctor  or  midwife  is  a  necessity  to 
all.  But  the  amount  allocated  should  never  be 
above  the  present  minimum  medical  fees  of 
doctors,  which  vary-  in  different  districts  from 
los.  6d.  to  30s.,  and  it  would  be  desirable  to  fix 
a  maximum,  say,  of  10s.  6d.  or  15s.,  the  remainder 
of  the  fee  being  paid  by-  arrangement  between 
mother  and  doctor.  It  would  greatly  lessen  the 
value  of  the  benefit  if  higher  fees  are  charged  in 
consequence  of  it. 

\n  allocation  to  doctor  or  midwife  would  have 
the  advantage  of  preventing  the  idea  that  any 
enlargement  of  the  benefit  in  the  future  must 
necessarily  be  in  cash.  It  would  also  meet  the  fear 
(though  I  cannot  help  feeling  the  apprehension  will 


:84      ^be  Britisb  3ounial  of  IHureino  Supplement.     October  5,  191: 


prove  groundless)  that  the  Act  will  cause  valuable 
organisa  lions  like  the  Rural  Mid  wives'  Association 
(for  the  supply  of  niidwives)  and  District  Nursing 
Associations  to  decline,  owing  to  subscriptions 
falling  oif .  \\Tiether  an  amount  were  allocated  or 
not,  an  association  would  now  be  able  to  charge 
full  fees,  instead  of  the  small  subscriptions  often 
asked. 

The  stipulations  as  r(?gards  allocation  w-hich 
co-operative  women  desire  to  make  are  (i)  that 
any  allocation  made  by  Insurance  Committees  or 
Appro\ed  Societies  shall  be  universal  where 
adopted  ;  with  the  converse  of  tliis,  that  there 
shall  be  no  allocation  which  should  entail  inquiry 
or  differentiation  of  classes  or  persons  ;  (2)  that 
anj-  allocation  (other  than  to  doctor  or  midwife) 
should  be  only  at  the  request  of  the  mother  or 
fatlier. 

If  it  w-ere  thought  desirable  to  give  women  and 
men  the  chance  of  protection  from  one  another,  it 
would  be  possible  to  supply  a  form,  whenever  asked 
for,  on  which  could  be  specified  the  kind  of  help 
desfred — e.g.,  maternity  homes,  nursing,  help  in 
the  home,  mUk,  &c.  The  form  might  be  taken  to 
cases  by  a  member  of  a  \isiting  committee  or  sick 
visitors. 


CERTIFIED    MIDWIVES    AND    THE 
INSURANCE   ACT. 

In  reply  to  several  correspondents  as  to  the 
position  of  midwives  under  the  Insurance  Act, 
the  Insurance  Commissioners  have  decided  that  : 
"  A  certified  midwife  engaged  by  various  patients, 
who  performs  her  duties  without  the  supervision 
of  a  qualified  medical  practitioner,  is  not  employed 
under  a  contract  of  service,  and  is  not  required  to 
be  insured." 


MIDWIFERY    IN    THE    MISSION    FIELD. 

It  is  announced  in  Nurses  Xear  and  Far,  the 
organ  of  the  Nurses'  Missionary  League,  that 
money  kindly  given  to  the  League  to  help  members 
to  gain  additional  training  in  midwifery,  with  a 
view  to  work  in  the  Mission  field,  has  now  been 
returned  by  those  to  whom  it  was  lent  and  it  is 
available  for  use  by  any  member  desiring  it. 
Anyone  wishing  to  borrow  it  should  write  to  Miss 
Richardson,  on  the  subject,  at  52,  Lower  Sloane 
Street,  London,  W. 


THE    AUSTRALIAN     MATERNITY    BILL. 

The  Federal  House  of  Representatives,  on  the 
26th  inst.,  passed  without  a  division  the  second 
reading  of  the  BUI  providing  a  maternity  allow- 
ance in  respect  of  any  child  bom  in  Australia. 
Mothers  will  receive  a  maximum  benefit  of  £^. 
which  must  be  claimed  within  three  months  from 
the  birth  of  a  child. 

The  measure  excludes  aborigines  and  Asiatics 


MATERNITY     HOSPITALS. 

Dr.  Thomas  \\'.  Huntington,  wxiting  in  the 
International  Hospital  Record,  says  that  in  recent 
years  the  public  has  learned  to  place  a  correct 
estimate  ou  the  maternity  hospital,  and  there 
is  already  a  keen  appreciation  of  its  appropriate- 
ness. Slowly  but  surely  the  institution  is  sup- 
planting the  residential  lymg-in  room,  and  for 
manifold  reasons  this  tendency  should  be  warmly 
encouraged  by  the  medical  profession. 

Well-regulated  maternity  hospitals  offer  a 
maximum  of  comfort  and  safety  at  a  minimum 
outlay.  In  point  of  efficiency,  the  affluent  and 
the  poverty-stricken  are  on  parity.  Such  hospitals 
constitute  the  best  possible  schools  for  the  at- 
tendant and  the  nurse,  and  in  them  is  being  reared 
a  Irv-pe  of  men  aiid  women  who  are  willing  to  work 
efficiently  and  exclusively  in  this  specialty'. 

At  every  stage  of  deliven,"  the  attendant  is  in 
full  command  of  an  adequate  equipment.  Emer- 
gencies may  be  met  promptly  and  without  em- 
barrassment, and  not  infrequently  a  calamity  is 
avertv^d.  Serious  compUcations  in  this  department 
of  medicine   possess   a   peculiar  significance. 

The  maternity  hospital  which  is  worthy  of  the 
name  is  intolerant  of  loose  methods,  of  shabby 
subterfuge  or  ill-masked  pretence,  and  is  insistent 
on  strict  observance  of  scientific  law.  With  rare 
though  conspicuous  exceptions  this  phase  of  our 
hospital  system  seems  not  to  have  elicited  the 
interest  and  support  w-hich  it  merits 

The  lying-in  wards  of  county  and  municipal 
hospitals  have  been  much  neglected,  and  the 
service  rendered  therein  is  too  often  indifferent, 
if  not  unsafe.  Some  of  the  so-called  private 
hospitals  which  in\ite  tliis  character  of  w-otk  are 
of  low  standard  and  without  reason  or  justifica- 
tion for  their  existence. 

Society  needs  to  be  reminded  that  the  highest 
obligation  of  man  to  w'oman  lies  in  his  safeguarding 
and  protecting  her  during  that  trj-ing  period  of 
approaching  motherhood. 


MATERNITY    INSURANCE    IN    AUSTRIA. 

The  Austrian  Protection  of  ^Motherhood  Society, 
reports  The  Standard,  is  petitioning  the  Austiian 
Reichsrat  through  one  of  its  members.  Dr.  Julius 
Of ner,  to  include  a  maternit\'  insurance  in  •  the 
Insurance  Reform  Bill,  which  is  to  be  brought 
before  the  House  this  coming  session.  The 
Reform  Bill  embodies  a  scheme  for  the  broadening 
of  the  present  invalidity,  sickness,  and  old  age 
insurance,  but  makes  no  mention  of  a  maternity 
insurance  which  the  society  were  given  to  under- 
stand' would  be  embodied  in  this  Bill.  The 
Austrian  Socict\-,  like  the  well-known  German 
League,  founded  by. Dr.  Helen  Stoecker,  has  for 
its  ultimate  aim  the  procurement  of  the  State 
endowment  of  motherhood. 

In  France,  there  is  a  Bill  before  the  Chamber  of 
Deputies  for  the  payment  of  /20  to  every  mother 
on  the  birth  of  her  fourth  child. 


1^  THE 

'imsiloi«iiL®f««Ki, 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.    1,280 


SATURDAY,    OCTOBER    12.   1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


A  SCHOOL  HOR  SPECIAL  TRAININU   IN  THE 
NL'RSINQ  OF  TUBERCULOSIS. 

The  demand  for  nurses  possessing  experi- 
ence in  the  treatment  and  care  of  tuber- 
culosis, in  ail  its  forms,  is  steadily  increasing, 
and  there  is  everv  likelihood  that  it  will 
continue  to  do  so. 

The  Sanatoria  to  be  built,  to  meet  the 
requirements  of  the  National  Insurance  Act, 
will  make  a  large  demand  on  the  profession 
for  trained  nurses  having  this  special 
experience  to  fill  the  posts  of  Matrons, 
sisters,  and  nurses. 

The  Local  Health  Committees  and  Tuber- 
culosis Dispensaries  make  the  same  demand, 
and  all  report  difficulty  in  obtaining  nurses 
possessing  anv  definite  training  in  tuber- 
culosis work. 

With  a  knowledge  of  tliese  conditions, 
and  a  commendable  realization  of  the 
opportunities  thus  presented  to  nurses,  the 
authorities  of  the  Roval  Hospital  for 
Diseases  of  the  Chest,  Citv  Road,  E.C.,  have 
upon  the  suggestion  of  the  Matron,  Miss 
M.  S.  Rundle,  initiated  a  School  for  special 
training  in  the  Nursing  of  Tuberculosis  in 
all  Its  forms,  the  framing  to  be  divided  into 
three  sections,  as  follows  : 

A  Post  Graduate  Course  of  one  vear  for 
nurses  possessing  a  certificate  of  general 
training.  Nurses  to  reside  in  the  hospital, 
taking  the  position  of  staff  nurses,  and  to 
receive  a  salarv  as  such. 

A  Preliminary  Course  of  two  years  for 
probationers  not  possessing  a  certificate. 
Nurses  to  reside  in  the  hospital,  taking  the 
position  of  probationers,  and  to  receive  a 
salarv  as  such. 

A  Post  Graduate  Course  of  three  or  six 
months  for  trained  nurses  not  attached  to 
the  Royal  Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the 
Chest.  For  this  course  a  fee  will  be  charged. 
In  each   instance   a    verv   thorough  training 


will  be  given  in  practical  work,  by  means 
of  lectures  and  demonstrations,  on  tubercu- 
losis in  relation  to  the  hospital,  sanatorium, 
tuberculosis  dispensarv,  and  home,  by  the 
Medical  Officer  of  Health,  members  of  the 
Medical  Staff  and  the  Matron.  The  nurses 
will  spend  a  certain  time  in  the  new 
tuberculosis  dispensary  attached  to  the 
hospital,  and  also  in  district  work,  studying 
the  hygienic  and  sanitary  conditions  of  the 
homes  visited,  from  the  point  of  view  of 
public  health  in  relation  to  tuberculosis. 

The  system  of  health  visiting  already 
established  at  the  hospital,  and  carried  on 
by  two  resident  sisters,  affords  exceptional 
opportunities  for  giving  this  training.  In 
each  course  the  nurses  will  be  required  to 
pass  an  examination  in  the  subjects  studied, 
and  to  prove  themselves  able  to  write  up 
reports  on  the  social  and  sanitary  conditions 
of  the  homes  visited,  for  the  Medical  Officer 
of  Health,  and  it  is  the  intention  of  the 
authorities,  that  the  certificate  granted 
shall  be  one  of  high  merit. 

A  Register  of  nurses  who  have  gained  the 
certificate  of  the  hospital  will  be  kept,  and 
recommendations  made  to  committees  and 
others  applving  for  nurses  to  fill  posts  in 
which  a  special  knowledge  of  the  nursing 
and  care  of  tuberculosis  patients  is  required. 

Applications  for  particulars  of  Courses  i 
and  2  should  be  made  to  the  Matron. 
Notices  will  appear  in-  due  course  as  to  the 
conditions  connected  with  Course  3. 

We  congratulate  the  authorities  of  the 
Roval  Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the  Chest  on 
the  inauguration  of  these  courses  Their 
organization  and  the  supervision  of  the 
nurses  will,  we  are  sure,  be  a  most 
congenial  task  to  the  Matron,  Miss  M.  S. 
Rundle,  who  as  Isia  Stewart  scholar  at 
Teachers'  College,  Columbia  University, 
has  had  exceptional  opportunities  for  study- 
ing the  best  and  most  up  to  date  methods  of 
teaching. 

A  * 


286 


Z\K  36nti5b  journal  of  IRursino 


Ocfotyer    12,    igi2 


CLINICAL  NOTES  ON  SOME  COMMON 
AILMENTS. 

Bv  A.    Knvvett  Gordon,   M.B.   Cantab. 


SMALL    POX. 

{Concluded  from  page  267.) 
Small  pox  is  perhaps  the  most  infectious 
disease  that  is  met  with  in  this  country,  and 
it  is  not  only  highly  contagious  from  person  to 
person,  and  through  the  medium  of  infected 
clothing,  but  is  also  transmitted  through  the 
air  over  a  considerable  distance,  especially  in 
the  direction  of  prevalent  winds.  It  has,  for 
instance,  been  found  that  the  incidence  of  small 
pox  during  an  epidemic  is  much  greater  in 
houses  that  are  situated  near  a  hospital  where 
the  patients  are  being  treated,  and  diminishes 
with  increased  distance  from  it.  That  this  is 
due  to  the  diffusion  of  particles  of  skin  is 
shown  by  the  fact  that  dissemination  can  be 
prevented  by  anointing  of  the  skin  of  the 
patients  in  the  hospital  with  oil.  The  infec- 
tivity  of  a  patient  bears  no  relation  whatever 
to  the  severity  of  his  illness  ;  modified  cases,  for 
instance,  being  just  as  infectious  as  the  ordi- 
nary or  hsemorrhagic  variety. 

We  come  now  to  the  influence  of  vaccination 
on  the  incidence  and  mortality  of  small  pox. 
On  this  point  there  is  an  immense  amount  of 
literature,  and  carefully  compiled  statistics  arc 
numerous.  I  do  not  propose  to  discuss  these 
in  detail,  but  it  will  be  well  to  mention  certain 
points  which  bear  on  the  medical  side  of  the 
question.  Practically  speaking,  we  may  say 
that  a  person  who  has  been  vaccinated  in 
infancy,  and  again  at  the  age  of  ten  or  there- 
abouts, and  subsequently  on  the  first  appear- 
ance of  small  pox  in  his  locality,  cannot 
contract  small  pox,  except  in  an  exceedingly 
mild  form,  and  certainly  cannot  either  die  from 
or  be  permanently  marked  by  it.  Then,  if  we 
take  those  who  have  been  efficiently  vaccinated 
in  infancy  only,  the  chances  are  that  complete 
protection  is  afforded  for  seven  years,  and  that 
after  that  they  will  probably  have  it,  if  at  all, 
in  a  mild  or  modified  form  only  ;  complete  pro- 
tection, however,  is  only  afforded  by  re- 
vaccination  as  previously  described.  Thus, 
amongst  unvaccinated  persons,  the  mortality 
is  at  least  35  per  cent.,  while  in  those  vac- 
cinated in  infancy  only  it  is  6  to  8  per  cent. 
Again,  in  these  last,  the  mortality  amongst 
those  who  show  only  one  or  two  vaccination 
marks  is  7  per  cent.,  while  with  four  marks  it 
is  only  2.4  per  cent. 

The    prejudice    against    vaccination,    which 
amonjrst  some  has  been  exalted  into  an  article 


of  pseudo-religious  belief,  depends  upon  the 
undoubted  fact  that,  in  the  past,  certain 
diseases,  notably  syphilis  and  erysipelas,  have 
been  inoculated  into  previously  healthy  children 
with  vaccination,  and  deaths  have  occurred 
also  from  septic  infection  similarly  introduced. 
It  must  be  borne  in  mind,  however,  that  vac- 
cination was  then  commonly  performed  directly 
from  arm  to  arm,  and  that,  too,  without  any 
attempts  at  asepsis.  When  a  child  who  was 
suffering  from  syphilis,  for  instance,  was 
selected  for  vaccinating  others  from,  disease 
was  frequently  introduced  in  this  way,  and 
abscesses  and  pyaemia  similarly  resulted  from 
the  absence  of  aseptic,  or  antiseptic,  technique. 
Nowadays  vaccination  from  arm  to  arm  is 
obsolete,  and  the  operation  is  usually  per- 
formed with  calf  lymph  prepared  in  the  Govern- 
ment laboratory  with  glycerine,  which  kills  all 
organisms  except  those  of  vaccinia  itself. 
Consequently,  if  this  lymph  is  used  with  the 
precautions  usual  for  a  surgical  operation, 
namely,  sterilisation  of  the  skin  and  instru- 
ments, followed  by  covering  up  the  site  of 
inoculation  with  an  aseptic  pad,  the  procedure 
is  practically  free  from  the  risks  mentioned 
above.  When  instances  are  given,  by  those 
opposed  to  vaccination,  of  these  disasters,  it 
will  practically  always  be  found,  on  inquiry, 
that  they  took  place  in  the  days  of  arm-to-arm 
inoculation,  or  that  the  operation  was  not  per- 
formed aseptically. 

Two  instances  mav  be  given  of  the  practical 
effect  of  vaccination  in  practice.  In  Montreal, 
from  1870  to  1875,  there  was  an  epidemic  of 
small  pox,  which  was  followed  by  a  wave  of 
prejudice  against  (arm-to-arm)  vaccination  on 
account  of  the  existence  of  several  instances  of 
inoculated  syphilis  :  there  were,  indeed,  anti- 
vaccination  riots.  Consequently,  a  large  un- 
vaccinated population  grew  up.  In  1885  a  case 
of  small  pox  appeared,  having  been  imported 
from  Chicago,  and  in  the  next  ten  months 
many  thousands  were  attacked  with  this 
disease,  and  3,164  died  of  it. 

Another  instance  is  interesting.  In  Germany, 
re-vaccination  is  compulsory,  as  well  as  in- 
fantile vaccination,  with  the  result  that  small 
pox  has  been  stamped  out  completely  in 
the  German  army,  and,  indeed,  practically 
J:hroughout  Germany  itself.  Now  this  was 
attributed,  by  some  anti-vaccinators  in  this 
country,  to  the  extreme  care  that  was  taken 
to  isolate  cases  of  the  disease  whenever  it  has 
been  imported,  so  an  investigator  went  to 
Germany  to  see  how  they  did  it.  He  found  that 
the  "extreme  care"  resolved  itself  into  the 
fact  that  there  was  no  isolation  of  small  pox 


October  ,2,  ,912        Gbe  Buttlsb  Sournal  of  H-lurslnG. 


287 


whatever,  but  that,  feeling  secure  in  the  pro- 
tection alfordcd  by  compulsory  re-vaccination, 
they  actually  nursed  cases  of  small  pox  in  the 
ordinary  wards  of  the  general  hospitals  side  by 
side  with  those  suffering  from  other  medical 
diseases  !  No  case  of  infection  with  small  pox 
could  be  discovered. 

In  this  country  we  have,  of  course,  a  "con- 
science clause  "  wliich  exempts  from  infantile 
vaccination  any  child  whose  parents  conscien- 
tiously believe  that  vaccination  would  be 
prejudicial  to  its  health.  Now,  the  effect  of 
vaccination  is  not  a  matter  of  conscience,  but' 
of  statistics,  and  these  tend  all  the  other  way. 
Moreover,  by  this  clause  a  parent  is  allowed 
not  only  to  run  the  risk  of  small  pox  as  regards 
his  own  child,  but  also  to  assist  in  the  infection 
of  others  whenever  small  pox  is  prevalent  ! 
Every  unvaccinated  child  is  really  a  danger  to 
the  community. 

The  treatment  of  small  pox  is  not  very  satis- 
factory. All  patients  should  be  removed  to 
hospital,  as  it  is  practically  impossible  to 
isolate  them  satisfactorily  at  home  so  long  as 
we  have  a  partially  unvaccinated  population. 
There  is  no  specific  for  the  disease,  but  we 
treat  symptoms  as  they  occur  on  the  usual 
general  lines.  It  is  best  to  cover  the  face  and 
hands,  when  the  eruption  is  at  all  profuse,  with 
lint  soaked  in  a  mild  antiseptic  lotion  contain- 
ing glycerine,  and  the  whole  body  should  be 
anointed  with  oil  in  order  to  prevent  dissemina- 
tion of  infective  matter  through  the  air.  If 
the  temperature  be  high,  cool  baths  are  useful, 
and  sedatives  may  be  required  to  allay  rest- 
lessness and  delirium.  There  is  no  evidence 
that  pitting  can  be  prevented,  or  modified  by 
treatment,  as  this  depends  simply  on  the  depth 
of  the  pustules,  which  cannot  be  controlled. 

I  have  not  touched  on  the  question  of  the 
diagnosis  of  small  pox,  as  this  is  hardly  within 
the  compass  of  this  type  of  paper ;  but,  in  the 
time  of  an  epidemic,  accurate  diagnosis  is 
essential  for  the  public  safety,  as  almost  all 
the  spreading  takes  place  from  unrecognized 
cases.  It  is  usual  at  these  times  to  make 
chicken  pox  (a  disease  with  which  small  pox 
is  most  likely,  to  he  confused)  a  notifiable 
disease  in  order  that  the  public  health  authori- 
ties may  have  the  opportunity  of  tracing  all 
probable  sources  of  infection. 


LIVING  PICTURES  AT  COLOGNE. 


Nurses  have  many  opportunities  of  explain- 
ing to  those  who  do  not  understand  the  true 
nature  of  vaccination,  its  importance  and 
benefits,  and  can  do  much  to  instil  the  belief 
that,  with  the  precautions  taken  at  the  present 
day,  the  risks  of  the  past  are  non-existent. 


Our  reproductions  of  the  living  pictures  of 
the  Cologne  Pageant,  designed  by  Frl.  Alexe 
Altenkirch,  cannot  fail  to  give  pleasure  to  our 
readers,  both  those  who  saw  the  originals,  and 
those  who  did  not  have  the  good  fortune  to  be 
present  in  the  Giirzenich  on  August  4lh,  but 
who,  we  know,  desire  to  get  some  impression 
of  these  wonderful  pictures,  which  we  described 
in  detail  in  our  issue  of  August  loth. 

In  No.  I  St.  Elizabeth  of  Hungary  (repre- 
senting a  Royal  nurse,  in  religion,  of  the  thir- 
teenth century)  was  depicted  by  Frl.  Klein  as 
a  figure  carved  in  wood.  No.  2  presented  the 
Founders  of  the  Revilien  Hospital  at  Cologne 
(living  in  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century) — 
Daman  von  Lowen,  his  wife  Mechtild,  and 
their  daughter.  In  the  forefront  were  two 
B^guines,  members  of  the  Order  by  which  the 
hospital  was  nursed.  The  B^guines  may  be 
regarded  as  typical  of  nurses  living  in  the 
world,  as,  although  they  live  in  communities, 
they  have  maintained  their  individual  freedom. 

No.  3  represented  a  dead  warrior  as  a  bronze 
relief  (date  1813),  supported  by  a  military  nurse 
and  surrounded  by  sorrowing  comrades ;  and 
No.  4,  Modern  Nursing,  showed  the  Triumph 
of  Hygeia.  Hygeia  was  presented  by  Frau  Dr. 
Tierbach  as  a  marble  statue.  Holding  a  laurel 
wreath  before  her  were  graduates  from 
America.  Then  the  nurses  of  all  ages  ascended 
the  platform,  each  offering  to  Hygeia  a  rose, 
and  placing  it  in  a  bowl  before  her  until  it  was 
filled  with  these  fragrant  trophies.  Conspicuous 
amongst  the  modern  nurses  were  the  repre- 
sentatives of  English  Leagues  with  their 
banners.  On  the  right  (from  left  to  right)  the 
League  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  Nurses 
(Miss  E.  M.  Hunter),  the  Chelsea  Infirmary 
Nurses'  League  (Miss  E.  Barton),  the  Central 
London  Sick  Asylum,  Hcndon  Branch,  Nurses' 
League  (Miss  Comber),  the  Irish  Nurses'  Asso- 
ciation (Miss  A.  Carson  Rae),  and  the  General 
Hospital,  Birmingham,  Nurses'  League  (Miss 
Macfarlane). 

On  the  left  of  Hygeia  (from  right  to  left)  were 
the  banners  of  the  League  of  St.  John's  House 
Nurses  (Miss  M.  Burr),  the  Victoria  and 
Bournemouth  Nurses'  League  (Miss  R.  Fer- 
gusson),  the  Royal  South  Hants  Nurses' 
League  (Miss  A.  Lee-Smith),  and  the  League 
of  SJchool  Nurses  (Miss  Downing). 

Amongst  the  beautiful  representations  of 
nurses  of  bygone  days  Queen  Philippa  of 
Hainault  (Mrs.  Manson)  and  Alyke  von 
Tumpling  (13B0  a.d.),  personated  by  her  name- 
sake and  descendant,  were  specially  noticeable. 


288 


Zl)c  36rtti6b  3ournal  of  Bursino.        October  12,  1912 


THE  INTERNATIONAL  CONGRESS  OF 
NURSES. 

WEDNESDAY,   AUGUST   7th. 

Afternoon  Session. 

Sister  Agnes  Karll  presiding. 

VOTES     OF     THANKS. 

The  business  of  tha Congress  having  terminated, 
Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  President  National  Council 
of  Nurses  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  rose  to  con- 
vey to  Sister  Agnes  Karll, 
the  President  of  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses, 
the  thanks  of  the  British 
Council,  from  all  the  mem- 
bers who  had  the  happi- 
ness to  be  present,  and 
from  those  at  home,  for 
her  wonderful  organisation 
of  the  Congress,  which 
'  had  been  such  a  splendid 
success  throughout. 

^Irs.  Fenwick  said  it 
was  impossible  to  express 
in  words  the  happiness 
she  had  experienced  during 
the  international  associa- 
tion of  the  world's  devoted 
and  public-spirited  nurses 
in  Germanv.  One  had 
but  to  watch  the  earnest 
faces  day  by  day  to 
realise  what  an  impetus 
the  Congress  would  give 
to  nursing  in  Germany — 
and,  indeed,  throughout 
the  world. 

Thirteen  years  ago, 
when  a  few  nurses  met 
together  in  London  to 
found  the  International 
Council  of  Nurses,  it 
would  have  been  almost 
impossible  to  imagine 
that  thousands  of  nurses 
throughout  the  world 
would  be  so  warmly  in 
sympathy  with  its  aims, 
and  so  wonderfully 
inspired  with  the  spirit 
of  solidarity'  that  in  so 
short  a  time  they  would 
corrie  from  the  ends  of 
the  earth  to  take  part 
in  its  deliberations.  Such 
a  Congress  helped  the  nursing  profession  to  realise 
not  only  their  influence,  but  to  appreciate  their 
responsibility. 

In  conclusion,  Mrs.  Fenwick  offered  a  warm 
tribute  of  affection  and  admiration  to  Sister 
Agnes  Karll,  from  the  British  delegates,  and 
members  of  the  Congress,  not  only  for  the  wonder- 


DIE     HEILIGE 


ful  stimulus  to  intellectual  endeavour  they  had 
received  from  association  with  their  German 
colleagues,  but  also  for  the  generous  hospitality 
and  charming  kindness  extended  to  them  during 
the  never-to-be-forgotten  visit  to  the  lovely 
Rhineland,  and  the  fascinating  City  of  Cologne. 

A  Flor.\l  Tribute. 

A     very     pretty    impromptu     ceremony     then 

followed,  when  Sister  Hulda  Barlen  ascended  the 

platform,   and  on  behalf  of  the   German  Nurses 

Association,   presented    to 

Sister      Agnes       Karll     a 

magnificent      basket       of 

llowers, lilies.  Guelder  roses, 

red  and  pink  blooms,  and 

deep  red  leaves,  tied  with 

the  German    colours,  with 

the  following  words  — 

"  In  tjie  name  of  the  Ger- 
man Nurses'  Association 
I  offer  you,  dear  Sister 
.\gnes,  our  warmest  thanks. 
( )ur  thanks  for  the  self- 
forgetting  devotion  with 
which  you  have,  for  the 
last  ten  years,  given 
yourself  to  the  work  of 
the  organisation.  Our 
thanks  for  the  singleness 
I  if  purpose  with  which 
vou  have  laboured  to  im- 
lirove  the  disadvantages 
under  which  we  nurses 
have  struggled,  by  your 
Ntri\-ing  to  shape  a  future 
for  us  in  which  we, 
like  our  foreign  Sisters, 
shall  be  protected  against 
in-er-burdening  and  ex- 
liaustion  and  be  enabled 
to  devote  ourselves  wholly 
and  buoyantly  to  our 
beloved  work. 

"  We  all  know  with 
%\hat  extraordinary  energy 
and  success  yoii  have 
devoted  yourself  to  the 
preparations  for  this  Con- 
gress, and  how  completely 
the  desire  to  help  us 
dominated  you.  You  have 
already  led  us  onward  for 
a  part  of  the  way,  and, 
if  it  should  be  gratifying 
to  you  to  rea'ize  that 
you  have  won  for  your- 
self a  lasting  fame  in  the 
history  of  nursing,  it  may  give  you  even  more 
happiness  to  loiow  that  you  hold  a  secure  place  in 
the  hearts  of  .German  Sisters  the  world  over. 
In  these,  our  supreme  days  of  meeting,  each  Sister 
holds  you  dear  with  heartfelt  gratitude.  I  ask  the 
meeting  to  unite  with  me  in  offering  this  token 
of  our  honour  of,  and  love  for.  Sister  Agnes  Karll." 


ELIZABETH 

IK    HlSr.AKV. 


October   i: 


1912 


Cbe  Brltisb  3ournal  of  IRursinG. 


289 


After  the  German  nurses  came  Sister  Emmy 
Lindhagcn  who,  in  the  name  of  the  Swedish  nurses 
present,  asked  Sister  Karll  to  accept  a  bouquet 
of  white  roses,  tied  with  the  Swedish  colours, 
blue  and  yellow.  The  Danish  National  Council 
presented  lemon  and  white  roses,  a  note  of  stronger 
colour  being  added  by  the  red  and  white  ribbons. 
From  the  Dutch  Nurses'  Association  Guelder  roses 
formed  an  approi)riate  offering,  the  Norwegian 
nurses  present  brought  sweet  peas  ;  Mrs.  Lackstrom 
(editor  of  Epinne).  lilies  and  marigolds,  till  the 
platform  seemed  a  bower  of  sweet  scented  blooms. 

Miss  Nutting, 
speaking  on  behalf  of 
the  American  Nur.scs' 
Association,  said 
that  she  only  wished 
the  far  country  of 
America  had  been 
able  to  .send  a  much 
larger  delegation. 
No  one  appreciated 
the  great  German 
nation  and  its  possi- 
bilities more  than 
America,  and  on  be- 
half of  the  delegation 
from  the  United 
States  she  desired 
to  express  heartfelt 
admiration  of  the 
organization  of  the 
Congress,  and  warm 
thanks  for  the  kind- 
ness the  delegates 
had  received. 

Miss  Creighton, 
delegate  of  the 
National  Associa- 
tions of  Superin- 
tendents and  Nurses 
of  India,  expressed 
the  thanks  of  Indian 
nurses  to  the  nurses 
of  other  nations  for 
all  the  ideas  and 
inspiration  they  had 
received.  In  the 
Empire  of  India  they 
had  sometimes  to 
travel  over  a  thou- 
sand miles  to  attend 
Conferences,  and    to 

•Germany  it  was  much  farther,  but  it  was  worth 
travelling  round  the  world  to  be  present  at  this 
Congress.  All  Indian  nurses  would  be  glad  to 
know  that  some  of  their  number  had  been 
privileged  to  participate  in  it. 

Mrs.  Holgate,  delegate  from  New  Zealand, 
said  that  she  wished  to  express  the  heartiest  thanks 
for  all  that  she  had  learnt,  and  for  the  pleasure 
of  these  Congress  days.  If  all  passed  on  the  know- 
ledge they  had  gained  the  nurses  of  the  world 
would  soon  have  votes  for  women.  She  thought 
"the  members  of  the  Congress  were  deeply  indebted 


THi;    loiNiihk.s   01     nil;    ki;\iM 

COLOONH. 


to  Sister  Karll,  and  the  members  of  the  German 
Nurses'  Association,  and  others  who  had  made  it 
such  a  splendid  success.  She  hoped  to  have  the 
pleasure  of  seeing  many  of  the  nurses  she  liad  met 
and  the  friends  she  had  made  in  Cologne,  in 
California,  in  1915. 

Official  Votes  of  Thanks. 
Sister  Karll,  having  warmly  thanked  the  various 
speakers  for  their  expressions  of  goodwill  and  for 
the  lovely  flowers  presented  to  her,  then  pro- 
posed officially  a  number  of  votes  of  thanks 
t  on  I  behalf     of     the 

International   Coun- 

<  il  of  Nurses,  and 
of  the  German 
Nurses'  [Association, 
which  organized  the 
Congress.  These 
included  votes  of 
thanks  to  the  Ger- 
man cities  and  socie- 
t  i  e  s  which  sent 
delegates,  to  the 
foreign  National 
Councils  and  Socie- 
ties of /Nurses,  and 
especially  to  the 
National   Council  of 

<  ".rcat  Britain  and 
Ireland  for  arousing 
the  interest  which 
c  a  u  s  c  d  so  many 
British  Societies  to 
send  representatives ; 
ti)  the  Belgian  Gov- 
irnmcdt  and  to  the 
cities  of  Brussels 
and  Antwerp,  and 
to  the  societies  in 
Itelgium,  which  sent 
doctors,  lay  repre- 
sentatives, and 
nurses  as  their  dele- 
gates ;  and  to  the 
Japanese  Red  Cross 
Society  and  the 
Mitsui  Hospital,  for 
sending  three  dis- 
tinguished nurses  to 
rcju'esent  them. 

To  those  foreigners 
who  presented  their 
reports  in  German,  thus  enabling  the  German  mem- 
bers of  the  Congress  to  follow  their  papers  ;  to  the 
families  of  the  Cologne  ladies,  the  mothers  and 
husbands,  wIkj  spared  them  to  devote  so  much 
time  to  the  service  of  the  Congress  ;  to  the  press 
who  throughout  the  Congress  days  had  constantly 
attended  and  devoted  so  much  time  to  their 
arduous  work.  Never  before,  said  Sister  Karll, 
had  so  many  and  such  good  reports  been  published 
over  the  whole  country  on  nursing' matters.  Last 
year  at  the  Dresden  Congress  only  eighteen  papers 
published     reports,     although     splendid     printed 


HOSPITALS. 


290 


Cbc  36i1ti5b  journal  of  IRursinci. 


October  12,   1912 


abstracts  had  been  prepared  for  the  representa- 
tives of  the  press. 

The  members  of  the  Congress  then  reluctantly 
took  their  leave  of  the  Gurzenich,  where  so  many- 
happy  hours  had  been  spent,  but  not  of  the 
friends  they  had  made  there,  as  they  were  to  meet 
shortly  at  the  Banquet  at  the  Hotel  Disch,  which 
we  have  already  described  in  detail — and  on  the 
organisation  of  wliith  the  management  of  the 
hotel  is  to  be  greatl}'  congratulated — ^and  on 
the  two  following  days  during  the  never-to-be- 
forgotten  visits  to  Kaiserswerth,  Neuenahr,  and 
Ahrweiler. 

The  ladies  of  Cologne  who  worked  on  the 
various  Committees  in  connection  with  the  Con- 


valuable  time  to  share  in  the  work  of  the  Exliibition 
Committee  will  always  be  remembered  with  warm 
regard  by  the  many  nurses  who  enjoyed  the 
fruit  of  their  work. 

A  noticeable  feature  of  the  Congress  was  the 
camaraderie  and  good  fellowship  prevailing  between 
the  members  of  the  professional  press.  Of  course, 
our  dear  Hon.  Secetary,  Miss  L.  L.  Dock,  was  ready 
to  assist  any  representatives  of  nursing  journals 
in  countries  affiliated  to  the  International  Council 
to  the  utmost  of  her  power,  and  The  British 
Journal  of  Nursing  is  indebted,  not  only  to  her 
for  much  valuable  help,  but  also  to  Sister  Agnes 
Karll  for  English  abstracts  of  many  of  the  German 
papers,    and   to   Sister   Else   Weiser,    for  help   in. 


gress,  and  insured  its  splendid  success,  are  too 
numerous  to  mention  by  name,  but  a  few  of  those 
belonging  to  the  Arbeitskomitee  (working  com- 
mittee) must  be  enumerated  :  Frau  A.  Meurer, 
Fraulein  L.  Wenzel,  Frau  M.  Bachem-Sieger, 
Frl.  C.  Biirgers,  Frau  Falck  (Treasurer),  Frau 
A.  Hofer,  Frau  Alf.  Tietz,  Frau  Decker, 
Frl.  M.  V.  Wittgenstein  and  Frau  H.  Gruen- 
wald.  Nor  must  we  omit  Frau  Adele  Zschirnt, 
who  undertook  so  large  a  share  of  the  office 
work,  and  Frau  Grabau,  who  accompanied 
the  members  of  the  Congress  to  Kaiserswerth, 
and  once  more  we  must  record  our  deep  indebted- 
ness to  Frl.  Alexe  AHenkirch,  the  artist  who 
designed  and  arranged  the  Pageant  pictures.  All 
these  and  many  more  including  Geh  Reg-Rat,  Dr. 
Rusack    and    Professor   Czaplewski,    who    spared 


translating  speeches.  The  atmosphere  of  mutual 
goodwill  and  helpfulness  made-  relations  with 
representatives  of  the  professional  press  most 
inspiring  and  delightful. 

Thus  on  our  Rosary  of  Internationalism — the 
German  dispensation  has  slipped  by ;  in  the 
coming  years  we  turn  our  faces  to  the  far  and 
glorious  West  —  Aiif  Wiedersehen  San  Francisco, 

-1915- 

• — ♦— • 

EPILOaUE. 

Be  not  ashamed  to  be  helped  ;  for  it  is  thy 
business  to  do  thy  duty  like  a  soldier  in  the 
assault  on  the  town.  How  then,  if,  being  lame, 
thou  canst  not  mount  up  on  the  battlement  alone, 
but  with  the  help  of  another  it  is  possible. 

Marcus  Aurelius. 


October 


ilbe  JBvltlC'b  Journal  of  IRursino. 


291 


CONGRATULATIONS   TO  NORWAY. 

Congratulations  to  our  colleagues  in  Norway. 
The  good  news  reaches  us  that  the  Norwegian 
Nurses  have  met  in  Christiania  and  founded  their 
National  Council.  Thus  another  link  is  being 
forged  to  strengthen  our  International  Chain  at 
San  Francisco  !  The  following  letter  conveys  the 
message  : — 

»  Christiania, 

To    Mrs.    Bedford    Fcnwick.  Norway. 

["  Dear  Madam, — I  am  very  glad  that  I  am  able 
to  tell  you  that  trained  nurses  in  Norway  have 
founded  their  Nurses'  Association. 


federation  must  enter  everyone  and  give  a  great 
impetus  to  organization. 

"  Every  nurse  in  the  world  must  be  grateful 
to  the  founders  of  this  great  movement." 

A  letter  of  congratulation  has  been  sent  from 
our  National  Council  to  Miss  Hergljot  Larsson — 
who,  it  will  be  remembered,  attended  at  Cologne 
as  one  of  the  fraternal  delegates  from  Norway, 
and  who  promised  at  the  banquet  that  as  Nor- 
wegian nurses  were  not  organized  they  would  go 
home  and  work    for  it. 

As  this  news  is  conveyed  by  The  British 
Journal  of  Nursing  to  the  sister  Jour.ials 
throughout  the  world,  it  will  arouse,  we  know, 
a  lively  sense  of  satisfaction  and  pleasure. 


The   Banners  of    Lea} 


>\(U)I  kN     \l  K.SING— THti    TRIUMPH 
afiiliated   tii  the   Njtional   Council   of    I  rair 


Ltt    Uri'ain  and  Ireland 


On  September  24th,  this  year,  nurses  had  a 
meeting  in  Christiania.  There  came  delegates 
from  different  parts  of  Norway.  Everything  was 
ready  for  it,  and  '  Ni>rsk  Sykepleicrskeforbund  " 
was  founded  the  same  night. 
I  am,  sincerely  yours, 

Bergljot  Larsson, 
President  of  "  Norsk  Sykepleierskejorbund. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  impression  of  the 
"  interesting  time  "  at  Cologne  deeply  impressed 
the  Norwegian  delegation.  They  put  on  record  : 
"  We  were  impressed  to  see  the  wonderful  vitality 
the  movement  has  had  in  the  nursing  world.  After 
having  been  at  this  international  meeting  for 
nurses,  and  heard  of  the  standing  and  work  of  our 
profession  in  the  different  countries,  and  the 
splendid    lectures  and  discussions,  the    spirit    of 


Miss  L.  L.  Dock,  International  Secretary,  has 
received  a  most  kind  letter  from  Mr.  J.  A.  Barr, 
secretary  for  Conventions  and  Learned  Societies,  of 
the  Panama-Pacific  International  Exposition.  Sm 
Francisco,  1915,  in  which  he  says  : — "  The 
Exposition  authorities  were  greatly  pleased  on 
receiving  your  message  that  the  International 
Council  of  Trained  Nurses  have  decided  to  meet  in 
San  Francisco  in  1915.  .  .  .  The  Exposition 
will  be  very  glad  indeed  to  provide  suitable 
meeting  places  for  the  Coimcil.  When  you  know 
the  exact  dates  of  the  meetings  it  might  be  well 
for  you  to  inform  me  at  once,  so  that  proper  halls 
may  be  reserved  for  you.  .  ,  .  Assuring  you 
that  the  Exposition  management  is  very  pleased 
over  tlie  splendid  work  you  did  at  the  late  meeting 
at  Cologne." 


292 


Cbc  Britisb  3ouninl  of  HAurstno 


October    12,    1912 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 

WHAT  IS  CATARACT?  HOW  WOULD  VOU  PRLPARK 
KOR  AN  OPERATION   FOR   ITS   RHIHOVAL  ? 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  Lottie  S.  Nunnerley,  Registered 
Nurses'  Society,  431,  Oxford  Street,  London, 
\\'.,  for  her  paper  on  the  above  subject. 

Cataract,  from  the  word  "  Cataracta,"  a 
waterfall  or  portcullis,  is  an  opacity  of  the 
crystalline  lens  of  the  eye  more  or  less  com- 
pletely obscuring  vision. 

Senile  Cataract  is  the  most  common  form  ; 
eyes  which  have  been  quite  healthy  up  to  the 
age  of  50  years  may  develop  it.  Heredity  has 
very  little  to  do  with  its  causation,  as  is  often 
supposed.  In  every  eye  the  lens,  from  child- 
hood onwards,  slowly  hardens  and  loses  its 
power  of  focussing  for  near  objects,  and  in  the 
cataractous  eye  there  is  a  special  hardening  and 
rapid  shrinking  at  the  centre  of  the  lens,  which 
leads  to  splitting  up  and  gradual  disintegra- 
tion of  the  lens,  with  consequent  loss  of  trans- 
parency. 

Diabetic  Cataract  appears  sometimes  in  per- 
sons suffering  from  diabetes ;  it  is  quite  an 
ordinary  cataract,  and  results  from  operations 
are  often  successful,  bearing  in  mind  the  risk 
run  from  operating  on  a  patient  in  this  con- 
dition. 

Black  Cataract  is  one  in  which  the  lens  is 
black  in  colour  from  blood  pigment.  Owing 
to  there  being  a  likelihood  of  disease  of  other 
parts  of  the  eye,  operating  is  often  unsuccess- 
ful. 

Posterior  Polar  Cataract  is  one  at  the  back 
of  the  lens  and  is  a  rare  form,  which  is  im- 
portant because  it  follows  disease  in  the  back 
of  the  eye,  and,  though  the  vision  is  impaired, 
this  is  not  due  to  cataract  nor  cured  by  its 
removal.     It  often  occurs  in  young  persons. 

Cataract  from  injury  is  caused  by  almost  any 
wound  to  the  lens  and  sometimes  by  severe 
blows  on  the  eye. 

The  Preparation  of  Room. — The  room 
should  be  cleaned,  but  it  is  not  necessary  to 
strip  it  as  in  the  case  of  an  abdominal  opera- 
tion, but  everything  for  the  surgeon's  use 
should  be  prepared  by  strictly  antiseptic 
methods.  In  a  private  house  the  operation  is 
often  performed  on  the  bed,  which  should  be 
drawn  into  a  good  light  unless  artificial  light  is 
used.  A  table  should  be  prepared  for  the 
surgeon  with  sterilized  towels,  dressings, 
boracic  lotion,  and  instrument  trays ;  of  the 
latter  there  should  be  two,  one  containing 
absolute  alcohol  and  the  other  sterilized  water  ; 
the  instruments  are  then  placed  in  the  alcohol 


and  allowed  to  remain  until  ready  for  use, 
when  they  arc  changed  into  the  water.  Should, 
however,  the  surgeon  prefer  to  have  his  eye 
instruments  sterilized,  this  obviates  the  neces- 
sity of  placing  them  in  alcohol. 

In  preparing  the  patient  for  operation,  it  is 
well  that  he  should  be  confined  to  bed  for  a  day 
previous  to  the  operation,  and  the  night  before 
a  purgative  should  be  administered,  followed 
by  an  enema  in  the  morning  if  necessary.  A 
short  time  before  the  operation  the  eye  should 
be  thoroughly  bathed  with  perchloride  of 
mercury  lotion  1-5,000,  and  then  cocaine  about 
4  per  cent,  is  instilled  into  the  eye  in  either 
fluid  or  disc  form,  at  intervals  of  about  two 
minutes,  until  the  cornea  becomes  insensitive. 

The  patient  should  lie  on  his  back,  with  his 
head  supported  by  firm  pillows,  and  directed  to 
look  at  some  object,  such  as  a  lighted  candle, 
held  high  above  his  head  by  the  nurse.  The 
operation  is  then  performed,  the  eyes  closed 
and  a  bandage  applied,  or  a  good  method  of 
closing  the  eyes  is  to  use  isinglass  plaster  cut 
in  the  form  of  a  dumb-bell,  the  broad  parts 
covering  the  upper  and  lower  eyelids.  The 
patient  should  keep  the  eyes  gently  closed  and 
told  not  to  squeeze  them  tightly  or  touch  them 
with  his  hands ;  he  should  lie  perfectly  still  and 
the  room  be  well  darkened. 

Light  diet  should  be  given  at  first,  and  the 
bowels  attended  to.  The  wound  should  not  be 
inspected  for  a  week,  and  the  plasters  must  on 
no  account  be  removed. 

The  bandage  may  be  removed  and  the  out- 
side of  the  lids  gently  wiped  with  damp  cotton- 
wool if  necessary,  but  most  surgeons  prefer  to 
leave  the  eye  absolutely  alone.  After  a  few- 
days  the  patient  is  allowed  to  sit  up. 

HONOURAHLE     MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honourable 
mention  : — Mrs.  F.  E.  Dickson,  Miss  J.  G. 
Gilchrist,  Miss  Mabel  O'Donoghue,  Miss  M. 
James,  Miss  P.  Lyons,  and  Miss  K.  Taylor. 

Mrs.  Dickson  writes  that  "  one  of  the  neces- 
sary conditions  for  the  eye  to  properly  carry  out 
its  work  is  that  certain  media  by  means  of 
which  light  is  enabled  to  reach  the  retina  shall 
be  transparent.  The  crystalline  lens  is  one  of 
those  media,  and  therefore  when  opacity 
(cataract)  develops,  the  sight  is  seriously 
jeopardized,  and  blindness  will  ensue.  The 
'patient,  however,  can  distinguish  light  from 
darkness. 

Cataract  usually  develops  in  elderly  people. 
It  may  be  the  result  of  some  injury  to  the  eye, 
but  more  frequently  no  cause  can  be  traced.^ 

The  patient  complains  of  gradually  failing 
sight,    and   as   the  cataract  develops,    the  eye 


i)ctober   12,    191; 


cue  3Siltii5l)  3ouniai  ot  Bursino. 


293 


presents  a  milky  white  appearance.  Cataract 
in  children  is  comparatively  rare,  and  the 
opacity  is  less  dense  than  in  the  case  of  an 
adult.  The  cataract  may  be  partial  or  com- 
plete. The  treatment  in  these  cases  is  to  dis- 
solve the  lens.  This  is  done  by  opening  the 
capsule  which  surrounds  the  lens,  thereby 
allowing  the  aqueous  humour  to  reach  it,  and 
this  has  the  power  of  gradually  dissolving  the 
lens. 

The  general  treatment  for  cataract  is  to 
extract  the  lens.  After  this  has  been  done  it  is 
necessary  for  the  patient  to  use  a  spectacle  ler^ 
to  supply  the  deficiency." 

Miss  J.  Gilchrist  describes  cataract  as  a 
disorder  of  the  eye  causing  opacity  of  the 
crystalline  lens,  which,  if  not  removed,  results 
in  blindness.  When  the  hardening  process  is 
complete,  the  lens  presenting  a  milky  white 
appearance,  the  cataract  is  termed  ripe,  and 
may  be  extracted  wholly  by  the  operation  of 
iridectomy.  This  form  is  frequently  met  w'ith 
in  "  senile  "  cataract  occurring  in  old  age.  In 
young  persons,  or  when  the  cataract  does  not 
ripen  and  become  solid,  the  process  of 
"  needling  "  is  performed  to  bring  about 
gradual  dispersion. 

Miss  O'Donaghue  gives  the  following  method 
for  preparing  the  patient  : — 

Prepare  the  patient  by  giving  him  an  aperient 
the  night  before  the  operation.  Then  when 
the  patient  is  in  bed  shave  the  eyebrow,  if 
necessary,  and  then  gently  irrigate  the  eye  with 
boracic  lotion,  or  i  in  S,ooo  perchloride  of  mer- 
cury, and  clean  the  outer  eyelid  and  its  sur- 
rounding with  ether  soap,  and  then  pad  both 
eyes  with  sterile  pads  moistened  in  i  in  5,000 
perchloride  lotion,  and  applv  a  double  eye- 
bandage.  On  the  morning  of  operation  change 
the  pad  and  irrigate  the  eye  and  its  surround- 
ing with  perchloride  1  in  5,000  as  before,  and 
then  half-hour  before  the  operation  is  booked, 
change  the  pads  again  and  irrigate.  To 
cocainise  the  eye  let  the  patient  throw  his  head 
well  hack,  and  the  nurse,  standing  in  front  of 
patient,  slightly  draws  down  the  lower  lid  and 
drops  into  the  socket  thus  formed  one  drop  of 
cocaine,  and  repeats  this  until  the  patient's  eye 
is  an.-rsthctised  ;  generally  about  ib  or  15  drops 
applied  during  ten  minutes  suffices.  A  4-per- 
cent, solution  of  cocaine  is  generallv  used,  and 
the  patient  meanwhile  gentlv  keeps  his  eyes 
closed.  To  test  the  anaesthesia  of  the  eye,  just 
gently  pass  a  sterile  swab  over  the  cornea,  and 
the  patient  will  tell  you  if  he  feels  it  or  not. 

QUESTION     FOR     NEXT     WEEK. 

What  would  you  consider  an  eflRcient  cur- 
riculum for  the  training  of  a  midwife? 


THE  NATIONAL  COUNCIL   OF    NURSES. 

Proposed  on  behalf  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee the  National  Council  of  Women  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  at  its  meeting  at 
Oxford  last  week,  and  unanimously  agreed,  that 
the  National  Council  of  Nurses  be  accorded 
two  representatives  instead  of  one.  Miss  B. 
Cutler  is  at  present  the  one  representative. 

THE    SCOTTISH    SOCIETY  OF 
TRAINED    NURSES. 

The  Annual  Business  Meeting  of  members  of 
the  above  Society  was  held  in  Aberdeen  on 
Saturday,  the  28th  ult.  The  President,  Miss 
Alexander,  occupied  the  chair,  and  there  was  a 
good  attendance  of  Northern  members. 

The  annual  report  and  statement  of  accounts 
were  submitted  by  the  Hon.  Secretary  and 
Treasurer.  While  the  former  recounts  a  useful 
and  successful  year  as  regards  work,  the  latter 
shows  a  satisfactory  balance  in  hand.  Both 
were  unanimously  adopted. 

Office  bearers  and  members  of  Council  for 
the  current  year  were  elected  as  follows  : — 
President,  Miss  Alexander,  Royal  Alexandra 
Infirmary,  Paisley;  Vice-Presidents,  Miss 
Boyd,  Aberdeen  Eye  Institution ;  Miss  Tod, 
County  Hospital,  Ayr;  and  Miss  McDougall, 
the  Maternity  Hospital,  Aberdeen  ;  Hon.  Secre- 
tary and  Treasurer,  Miss  Stevenson  ;  members 
of  Council,  Miss  Lyon,  Miss  Macleod,  and  Miss 
Donald. 

A  resolution  to  the  effect  that  the  Society,  in 
supporting  the  State  Registration  of  Trained 
Nurses,  is  of  opinion  that  delay  in  the  passing 
of  a  Registration  Act  is  detrimental  to  the 
interests  of  British  nurses  at  home  and  abroad, 
was  carried  nem.  con. 

Several  questions  of  interest,  and  proposi- 
tions of  importance  to  nurses,  were  under 
consideration  by  the  meeting. 

A  number  of  members  have  adopted  the 
badge  of  the  Society,  which  is  St.  Andrew's 
Cross  in  dim  silver,  with  the  monogram 
S.S.T.N.  in  highly  polished  letters. 

THE     NURSES'     SOCIAL     UNION. 

The  Central  Secretary  of  the  Nurses'  Social 
Union  has  pleasure  in  announcing  that  Miss 
Gibson  (late  Matron,  Birmingham  Infirmary) 
has  most  kindly  consented  to  act  as  Hon. 
Organizer  to  the  London  Division  of  the  Union, 
Miss  Egorstorff,  who  has  generouslv  given  her 
services  in  the  capacity  hitherto,  having  found 
herself  compelled  to  resign  owing  to  increase 
of  work.  Miss  Gibson's  address  is  32,  Culming- 
ton  Road,  Ealing. 


^94 


ClDC  36riti0b  3ournal  or  mursinQ.        October  12,  1912 


THE   NURSES'    MISSIONARY   LEAGUE. 


The  Valedictory  Meetings  of  the  Nurses' 
Missionary  League  were  held  at  University  Hall, 
Gordon  Square,  London,  W.C,  on  Thursday, 
October  3rci,  to  bid  God-speed  to  thirteen  members 
sailing  for  the  foreign  mission  field.  The  Hall 
was  beautifully  decorj.ted,  and  there  was  a  good 
attendance  of  members  throughout  the  day. 

Morning  Session. 
F  Miss  E.  E.  Overton  presided  at  the  Morning 
Session,  the  first  part  of  which  was  d  voted  to  a 
devotional  address  and  a  demonstration  Bible 
Circle.  The  chairman,  who  briefly  introduced 
M  s.  Grace,  the  first  speaker,  said  that  the  League 
would  begin  its  meetings  in  the  confidence  and 
expectation  that  God  would  meet  them  there  as 
as  He  had  done  before.  They  came  to  speak 
again  to  one  anoher  of  the  thoughts  which 
inspired  them  to  think  of  God's  love.  God's  hope, 
and  they  realised  that  it  was  not  by  machinery 
'or  organisation  that  they  were  moved  to  be  there, 
but  by  a  higher  influence. 

Devotional  Address. 

Mrs.  Grace,  who  spoke  on  the  first  chapter  of 
the  Epistle  to  the  Ephesians,  referring  to  St.  Paul's 
description  of  himself  as  an  apostle  "  by  the  will 
of  God,"  said  that  each  one  of  those  going  out  to 
•the  mission  field  went  as  an  apostle,  in  the  sense 
that  an  apostle  meant  "  a  sent  one,"  and  that  they 
went  because  they  believed  it  to  be  the  will  of 
God  for  them.  They  would  not  dare  to  go  other- 
wise. Strength  of  will  was  a  great  force.  We 
were  accustomed  to  say  of  a  person  with  a  strong 
will  he  or  she  will  get  what  he  wants  by  strength 
of  vrill.  In  the  same  way  the  Will  of  God  was  a 
force,  a  terrible  might,  directing  a  purpose  so 
powerful  that  it  had  never  waned  from  the 
"beginning.  God's  will  was  love  in  action  going 
forward  to  the  accomplishment  of  the  desire 
which  had  never  wavered.  His  desire  was  that 
all  men  should  be  sa^•ed  and  come  to  a  knowledge 
of  the  truth,  and  His  will  was  a  mighty  thing  to 
lay  hold  of,  imparting  the  strength  to  co-operate 
with  the  desire.  His  purpose  was  that  we  should 
be  His  children,  holy  and  without  blame,  born 
not  only  by  the  will  of  man  but  of  God,  conformed 
to  the  image  of  our  pattern  Jesus  Christ.  This 
was  the  fulfilment  of  our  being.  There  was  only 
one  place  in  the  world  for  us,  the  place  where  He 
wished  us  to  be,  and  where  God  could  work  through 
us.  Then,  though  we  might  not  see  great  results 
of  our  work  we  were  in  the  plan. 

But  even  when  we  were  living  according  to 
the  purpose  of  His  will  there  would  come  tempta- 
tions wh:ch  had  to  be  met  by  faith.  The  fiery 
darts  of  the  evil  one  must  be  met  with  the  ^hield 
of  faith — faith  in  the  living  God.  In  the  assurance 
of  that  faith  our  sisters  might  go  forth  strong  in 
the  knowledge  "  If  I  take  the  wings  of  the  morning 
and  flee  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth,  even 
there  Thy  right  hand  shall  hold  me." 


Bible  Circle. 

The  ne.xt  thing  was  a  demonstration  of  a  Bible 
Circle  led  by  Miss  J.  iMacfee,  B.A.  First  the 
subject  to  be  studied  was  read  round  verse  by 
verse,  and  then  the  leader  endeavoured  to  find 
out  how  the  verses  struck  the  members  of  the 
circle,  each  of  whom,  with  one  exception,  had 
studied  the  passage  beforehand.  It  was  interesting 
to  notice  that  almost  ever)-  member  of  the  circle 
had  a  different  point  to  bring  to  the  notice  of  her 
colleagues.  Each  was  noted  by  the  leader,  and  at 
the  end  of  the  half-hour's  study  Miss  MacFee 
summ  irised  the  result,  mentioning  all  the  different 
points  brought  out. 

The  audience  was  then  in\'ited  to  criticise  and 
discuss  the  model  demonstration  given,  the 
purpose  of  which  was  to  show  those  who  con- 
ducted Bible  Circles,  or  were  desirous  of  doing  so, 
in  various  hospitals,  the  best  methods  of  pro- 
cedure. Miss  Overton  remarked  that  the  members 
were  unhurried,  up  to  time,  and  definite,  all 
points  worthy  of  observation  and  imitation. 

After  a  short  interval  for  tea  and  coffee  two 
addresses  were  given  by  members  of  the  League. 
The  Work  to  be  Done. 

iliss  E.  C.  H.  Cooke,  trained  at  the  Royal 
Infirmary,  Edinburgh,  and  now  working  in  the 
Punjab,  spoke  on  the  Medical  Need  and  the 
Spiritual  Need.  On  the  first  point  she  said  that 
while  working  in  the  Moultan  Hospital,  where  she 
was  first  placed,  the  need  seemed  extreme.  People 
were  often  brought  200  miles  in  bullock  carts,  or 
on  camels,  suffering  frightfully,  for  the  assistance 
which  the  hospital  could  give  them.  Then  she 
went  on  to  another  station,  Montgomerj-walla, 
where  there  was  only  a  small  dispensary,  and  she 
was  forty  miles  frorri  the  nearest  doctor,  and  where 
patients  had  to  go  across  a  jungle,  or  one  hundred 
miles  by  train.  There  the  need  seemed  even 
worse.  From  there  she  went  temporarily  to 
Bangalore  to  fill  a  vacanc)''  where  a  nurse  was 
urgently  needed. 

Again,  when  in  the  hospital  at  Dera  Ghazi  Mian, 
a  woman  came  in  with  a  tubercular  knee,  in  a  far 
advanced  condition  of  the  disease.  It  had  been 
bad  for  seven  years  ;  and  on  being  asked  why  she 
had  not  come  before,  the  patient  replied  that  it 
had  taken  months  to  get  to  the  hospital,  and  she 
could  not  find  anvone  before  to  bring  her. 

On  he  spiritual  side,  the  difficulties  to  be  com- 
bated, in  connection  with  Mohammedanism,  were 
that  it  was  not  only  a  non-Christian  but  an  anti- 
Christian  'eligion.  IMohammedans  were  taught 
that  a  Mohammedan  who  killed  a  Christian  had 
the  right  to  go  to  Paradise.  Then,  it  was  asserted 
that  I  lam  was  good  enough  for  and  suited  to  the 
people.  Englishwomen  had  no  idea  of  a  Moham- 
medan woman's  position.  It  was  impossible  to 
describe  it.  It  was  almost  that  of  animals.  She 
had  no  rights.  The  girls,  up  to  the  age  of  eleven, 
were  free  to  go  about  and  play  in  the  streets. 
They  were  then  shut  up,  and  high-spirited  children 
naturally  rebelled,  till  at  last  they  realised  that  they 
were  prisoners  for  the  rest  of  their  lives,  except 


October   12,    igi2 


<rbe  ffirttisb  3onrnal  of  IRursfno. 


295 


when  they  went  out  thick  veiled.  Tlie  only 
exemptions  from  the  rule  of  Purdah  were  the 
Pathans  ;  from  the  nature  of  their  lives  the 
seclusion  of  the  women  was  impossible,  but  the 
amount  of  immorality  was  indescribable,  so  that 
it  was  really  difficult  to  decide  which  was  the  worse 
— the  freedom  of  the  Pathan  women,  or  the 
Purdah  system,  with  all  its  attendant  evils. 

Miss  Co  ke  said  that  one  of  the  greatest  factors 
in  the  conversion  of  Moslems  was  the  lives  of  the 
Christian  missionaries.  At  a  great  conf  rence 
among  Moslems,  at  Lucknow,  one  convert  after 
another  bore  testimony  to  this  fact.  n  con- 
clusion, she  asked  :  "  Is  there  any  work  in  •  he 
world  which  gives  such  opportunities  as  our 
own   for  bearing  testimony  for  the  Master  ?  "  ^< 

Why  We  Should  Do  It. 

Miss  I.  Frodsham,  trained  at  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital,  and  also  working  in  the  Punjab,  dis- 
cussing why  nurses  should  do  missionary  work, 
said  that  the  longing  to  help  was  p  ompted  in 
various  ways.  With  some  the  desire  grew  up 
with  them  ;  they  could  scarcely  t  II  when  it 
began.  Others  were  influenced  by  hearing,  read- 
ing, and  knowing  of  the  condition  of  the  women 
of  the  East.  They  were  moved  by  a  love  of 
humanity  ;  1  he  physical  need  of  women  appealed 
when  they  heard  of  the  ignorant  hakeems  of  the 
East,  and  of  the  witch  doctors  of  Africa  ;  and  they 
felt  they  must  consecrate  their  gift  of  nursing 
to  God. 

At  the  pre  ent  time,  in  every  part  of  India, 
people  were  looking  and  longin;  for  something — 
they  did  not  quite  know  what — and  were  endeav- 
ouring to  purify  their  own  religions.  Here  was 
opportunity.  If  God  opened  the  way,  how  glad 
we  were  to  respond  to  it.  The  compelling  force 
was  that  which  prompted  St.  Paul.  "  The  love 
of  Christ  constraineth  (grips)  us." 

The  best  judges  of  missionaries  were  the  natives 
themselves,  and  they  showed  their  knowledge  in 
the  apt  nicknames  which  they  bestowed.  Thus, 
one  missionarj'  was  called  "  the  loving  Sahib." 

Miss  Frodsham  concluded,  by  referring  to  the 
responsibility  which  love  brings.  "  Feed  my 
sheep  "  ;  and  especially  to  the  responsibility  of 
the  nursing  profession  for  work  and  prayer,  that 
power  of  intercession  so  important  and  so  little 
used.  "  Draw  through  all  failure  to  the  perfect 
flower." 

Calls  for  Service. 

Miss  Richardson  then  announced  four  urgent 
calls  for  fully  trained  nurses  for  service  in  the 
mission  field,  one  for  a  nurse  to  work  in  Sierra 
Leone  under  Bishop  Walmsley ;  another  for  a 
Matron  for  a  hospital  at  Pekm ;  and  lastly  for 
two  nurses  for  work  in  Cairo.  Of  the  last-mentioned 
requirement,  a  letter  just  received  said  "  the  need 
is  desperate."  Miss  Richardson  will  be  glad  to 
supply  information  to  nurses  desiring  to  know 
mon>  about  the  e  posts.  The  passage  and  outfit 
money  are  ready :  it  is  the  ofiers  of  service 
which  are  needed. 


.Vkternoon  Session. 

The  afternoon  session  took  the  form  of  a  Conver- 
sazione when  Mrs.  J.  C.  Hoare  and  Mrs.  McAdam 
Eccles  ac.ed  as  hostesses.  Little  tables  were 
scattered  about  the  room,  round  which  nurses 
grouped  themselves  for  tea  and  talk.  Many  were 
glad  of  tha  opportunity  of  last  words  with  the 
sailing  members,  and  with  the  members  present 
from  many  parts  of  the  foreign  field.  During  the 
afternoon  Miss  M.  Macfce,  Miss  Siumarez  Smith 
and  Miss  D.  Thompson  sang  delightfully,  and 
addresses  were  given  by  Miss  E.  Home  of  the 
Universities  Mission  to  Cen'ral  Africa,  Miss 
McCracken  from  Tangier,  and  Dr.  G.  W.  Guinness 
from  China. 

Miss  Home,  who  has  recently  been  working  up 
country  at  Masasi,  where  there  are  two  hospitals, 
one  for  men,  with  fourteen  beds,  and  one  for  women 
with  five  or  six,  where,  nevertheless,  there  are 
sometimes  eleven  or  twelve  patients,  exclusive 
of  babie;,  referred  to  the  difficulty  in  getting 
medicines  administer  d  regularly  to  out-patients 
owing  to  their  lack  of  any  idea  of  time.  The 
endeavou  was  made  to  get  the  patient  •;  to  pay 
something  for  their  medicines ;  payment  was 
gene  ally  in  kind,  in  flour,  eggs,  &c.  ;  when  one 
grateful  patient  brought  an  oflfering  of  fried 
flies  she  thought  it  expedient  to  intimate  that 
something  else  would  be  moro  acceptable.  The 
hospitals  were  built  of  bamboo,  with  mud  floors  and 
grass  roofs.  The  medical  work  was  good,  and, 
when  they  had  a  doctor,  there  would  be  plenty  of 
surgical  work  also. 

Miss  McCracken,  describing  the  work  in  Tangier, 
said  that  many  patients  unfortunately  came  too 
late  to  be  helped  physically.  Cataracts  and 
different  kinds  of  growths  were  numerous.  One 
cataract  patient  was  so  delighted  that  his  sight 
was  restored  tha  he  collected  all  the  old  blind 
people  he  could  find  and  brought  them  to  the 
doctor. 

Many  of  the  Christian  converts  had  endured 
great  persecutions,  but  had  stood  true.  In  the 
heathen  world  the  fight  against  principalities  and 
powers  was  a  very  real  o  le. 

Dr.  Guinness  referred  to  the  fact  that  every 
fourth  woman  in  the  world  is  a  Chinese,  he  also 
spoke  highly  in  appreciation  of  the  noble  qualities 
of  the  Chinese  character.  Speaking  of  the  perse- 
cution endured  by  native  Christians,  he  told  of  one 
man  who  during  the.  Boxer  riots  wjis  suspended 
by  his  thumbs,  and  then,  after  an  hour's  agony, 
was  asked  to  renounce  his  religion.  Because  he 
would  not  do  so  he  was  cruelly  beaten  and  h  r.  house 
burnt  down.  When  Dr.  Guinness  met  him  eighteen 
months  afterwards,  and  asked  him  if  he  had 
found  it  worth  while,  his  reply,  as  his  face  lighted 
up,  was  "  Worth  while  !  I  would  go  through  it  all 
again  to-morrow  for  Jesus'  sake." 

The  spe  ker  also  described  the  sad  lot  of  Chinese 
women  and  the  scant  welcome  awaiting  girl 
babies  ("  Another  guest  has  come  to  my  house  " 
is  the  Chinese  way  of  referring  to  the  birth  of  a 
daughter).  Nevertheless,  Nurse  Dives,  of  the  China 


3()6 


<L\K  ffivltisi?  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


October   12,    igi: 


Inland  IMission,  trained  at  the  London  Hospital, 
wrote  brightly  of  her  work.  The  speaker  said  that 
there  was  a  deeper  joy  in  missionary  work  abroad 
than  in  any  at  home.  It  was  hoped  soon  to  start 
a  Chinese  Nursing  School  in  connection  with  the 
China  Inland  Mission,  and  also  to  train  students 
for  five  years.  At  the  present  time  Cliina  needed 
help  in  all  directions  from  both  doctors  and  nurses. 
The  evening  session  will  be  reported  next  week. 

WEDDING   BELLS. 

How  they  do  ring  !  Now  comes  the  news  from 
India  that  Miss  Lilian  Mar\-  Tippetts,  President 
of  the  Association  of  Nursing  Superintendents 
of  India,  is  to  be  married  at  an  early  date. 
Miss  Tippetts  was  trained  at  Guy's  Hospital, 
where  she  was  Assistant  jMatron,  and  gained 
the  Guy's  Medal.  She  has  had  a  most  interesting 
nursing  career.  As  a  member  of  the  Army  Nursing 
Ser\-ice  Reserve  she  went  to  South  Africa  in  1899, 
and  worked  there  till  1902,  and  for  her  excellent 
sendees  was  awarded  the  South  African  ^^'ar 
M^al. 

In  igo6  she  became  Lady  Superintendent  of  the 
Mayo  Hospital,  Lahore,  which  post  she  resigned  in 
1909  to  start  the  high-class  Marlborough  Home  at 
Lahore  and  Simla,  which  has  been  a  great  success 
under  her  management. 

Miss  Tippetts  has  taken  a  most  active  part  in 
public  ser\-ice  to  her  profession  in  India,  encou- 
raging organisation  and  international  federation. 

■The  British  Journal  of  Nursing  ofiers  warm 
congratulations  for  a  happy  future,  and  feels  sure 
that  after  marriage  ^Nliss  Tippetts  will  find  time  to 
support  the  forward  movement  of  training  nurses 
in  India. 

EXAMINATIONS    AND    MEDAL5. 

On  the  2nd  inst  the  IMayoress  of  Exeter,  Mrs. 
C.  J.  \nieland,  presented  the  gold  and  silver 
medals,  and  the  certificates  to  the  successful 
nurses  at  the  Royal  Devon  and  Exeter  Hospital, 
who  had  completed  the  four  years'  training. 

The  gold  medallist  was  iliss  Daniels,  and  the 
silver  medallist  Miss  Bice,  whilst  certificates  were 
obtained  by  Misses  Martin,  Gibbs,  Thomas,  Jones, 
Swain,  Mooney,  Le:-h3-,  and  Nixon. 

The  Mayoress  said  she  was  glad  to  do  honour 
to  the  nursing  profession,  especially  to  the  nurses 
at  the  Royal  Devon  and  Exeter  Hospital.  The 
citizens  fully  appreciated  having  such  an  efficient 
and  well-disciplined  staff  of  nurses  at  hand,  and 
the  medical  profession  would  agree  that  the 
training  given  in  the  hospital  at  Exeter  was  second 
to  none  in  the  kingdom.  The  nursing  profession 
was  one  of  the  noblest  any  woman  could  undertake. 

Mr.  Trema^me  Buller  (President)  proposed  a 
vote  of  thanks  to  the  ^layoress. 

The  Mayor,  acknowledging  the  vote,  said  he  had 
had  experience  of  a  good  many  nurses  of  the 
hospital,  and  he  had  never  been  anji^hing  but 
absolutelv  satisfied  with  their  knowledge  and 
ability  and  their  kindness  and  thoughtfulness  for 
the  patients. 


.\PPOINTMENTS. 


LADY      SUPERINTENDENT. 

Home  fur  Children,  Great  Barr  Hall,  near 
Birmingham.  —  Miss  Anna  Sinclair  has  been 
appointed  Lady  Superintendent.  She  was  trained 
at  the  Western  Infirman,-,  Glasgow,  and  has  been 
Assistant  ilatron  at  the  \"ictoria  Hospital,  Las 
Palmas,  Sister  at  the  Deaconess  Hospital,  Edin- 
burgh, and  Matron  of  a  Children's  Shelter  in  the 
same  city,  and  Matron  of  the  iSIanor  Valley 
Sanatorium,  Peebles,  besides  having  charge  for  a 
time  of  a  surgical  home  in  Glasgow,  and  holding 
the  position  of  Alexandra  Nursing  Sister.  She  is 
a  certified  midwife. 

Convalescent  Home,  New  Brighton. — Miss  Bolton 
has  been  appointed  Ladv  Superintendent.  She 
was  trained  at  the  Borough  Hospital,  Birken- 
head, and  has  held  the  position  of  Assistant 
Matron  at  the  Hospital  for  Incurables  at  Liverpool. 

MATRON. 

Her   Majesty's     Hospital,    Stepney    Causeway,   E. — 

Miss  Marj'  Stanford  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  St.  Thomas'  Hospital  and  the 
Brompton  Hospital,  and  has  been  Staff  Nurse  at 
L'niversity  College  Hospital,  Sister  at  the  Royal 
Infirmarj-,  Bristol,  and  Matron  of  the  Blackheath 
and  Charlton  Hospital. 

Cuckfleld  Isolation  Hospital,  Hurstpieii)oint, 
Sussex.  —  Miss  Annie  T.  Oldhani  has  been 
appointed  Alatron.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Victoria  Infirman.-,  Glasgow,  and  has  been  Night 
Superintendent  at  Greenock  General  Hospital, 
and  Matron  of  the  Infectious  District  Hospital, 
Worksop,  and  of  the  Infectious  Diseases  Hospital, 
Rawmarsh,  Yorks. 

Children's  Hospital,  Finglass,  Dublin.  —  Miss 
M.  Kennedy  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She 
was  trained  at  the  Lewishaiii  Infirmary,  S.E.,  and 
the  Grove  Hospital,  Tooting,  and  has  held  the 
positions  of  Ward  Sister  and  Night  Superintendent 
in  the  former  institution.  She  has  also  been 
Ward  Sister  a  St.  James'  Infirmary-,  Balham. 
.  She  is  a  m  niber  of  the  Armv  Nursing  Service 
Reserve. 

ASSISTANT    MATRON. 

The      Workhouse,      Ladywell,      Lewisham,     S.E 

Miss  Edith  M.  Holstead  has  been  appointed 
Assistant  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Hunslet 
Union  Infirmary-,  and  has  been  Charge  Nurse  at 
Prestwich  L"nion,  and  Basford  Sanatorium,  and 
Head  Nurse  at  Camberwell  Parish. 

NIGHT     SUPERINTENDENT. 

Lambeth  Infirmarj. — Miss  E.  ^I.  Bumpas  has 
been  appointed  Night  Superintendent.  She  was 
trained  at  Ryde  County  Hospital,  and  the  Chil- 
dreti's  Hospital,  Paddington  Green,  and  has  since 
been  Sister  at  Ryde  County  Hospital  and  Lambeth 
Infirmary.  iNIiss  Bumpas  has  other  nursing 
experience,  and  has  been  Assistant  Matron  at  the 
Friends'  Convalescent  Home,  Worthing. 

SUPERINTENDENT     NURSE. 

Bethnal  Green  Infirmary,  London. — Miss  Evelyn 
H.  E.  ^\'ebb  has  been  appointed  Superintendent 


October   12,    1912 


tibe  36riti£ib  3ournal  of  IHursing. 


-97 


Nurse.  She  was  trained,  and  has  been  Sister,  at 
Bethnal  Green  Infirma'-y,  also  Night  Super- 
intendent at  St.  Pancras  \.  Infirmarj',  London. 

HEALTH     VISITOR. 

Somerset  County  Council. — The  following  ladies 
have  been  appointed  Health  Visitors  : — 

Miss  Mabel  Wood,  trained  at  the  Royal  In- 
firmary, Edinburgh. 

Miss  Ethel  A.  Coates,  trained  at  the  Royal 
Berks  Hospital,  Reading. 

Miss  Hilda  Seward,  trained  at  the  .\ston 
Infirmary. 

It  is  most  satisfactory  that  trained  nurses  Jjave 
been  selected  to  fill  these  positions,  as  we  consider 
unless  so  trained  women  have  not  the  knowledge 
to  perform  the  responsible  duties  efficiently. 

QUEEN  VICTORIAS    JUBILEE   INSTITUTE. 
SUPERINTENDENT. 

Miss  Annie  Barlow  is  appointed  to  Liverjjool 
(Williamson  Home)  as  Superintendent.  She  was 
trained  in  general  nursing  at  the  Liverpool 
Roval  Infirmarv,  in  midwifery  at  Cheltenham,  in 
district  nursing  at  West  Home,  Liverpool,  and  has 
since  held  the  following  appointments  :— Queen's 
Nurse,  Liverpool  ;  Senior  Nurse,  Widnes  and 
Superintendent,  Widnes. 

ASSISTANT    SUPERINTENDENT. 

Miss  Leila  Wlieeley  is  appointed  to  Stafford- 
shire as  Assistant  Superintendent.  She  was 
trained  in  general  nursing  at  Brownlow  Hill 
Infirmarv.  Liverpool,  in  midwifer\-  at  Durham 
Place,  Chelsea,  and  district  nursing  at  the  Salford 
Home,  Manchester.  She  has  also  held  the  follow- 
ing appointments  : — Nurse  at  Great  Ormond  Street 
Hospital,  King's  College  Hospital,  and  Wliitchurch 
Cottage  Hospital  ;  District  Nurse  at  King's 
Langley  and  Stamford  Hill ;  Midwife  at  Pembroke 
Dock  ;  and  Queen's  Nurse  at  Uttoxeter. 
Transfers  and  Appointments. 

Miss  Margaret  Cretnev  is  appointed  to  Accring- 
ton  as  Senior  Nurse,  Jliss  Elizabeth  McClymont 
to  Manchester  (Harpurhey  Home)  as  Senior  Nurse, 
Miss  Edith  Aldis  to  St.  Just,  Miss  Edith  Ashton  to 
Street,  Miss  Ellen  Evans  to  Weston-super-Mare, 
Miss  Elizabeth  Groenevelt  to  Leicester,  Sliss  Jane 
Henderson  to  Burnley,  Miss  Ellen  Ketley  to 
Cirencester,  Miss  NeUie  Lewis  to  Southall-Norwood, 
Miss  Margaret  Robinson  to  Crook,  Miss  Clara  Still 
to  Newhaven,  Miss  Clara  Webster  to  Halesowen. 


THE    IRISH    NURSES  ASSOCIATION. 

The  opening  meeting  of  the  Winter  Session  of 
the  Irish  Nurses'  Association  was  held  at  the 
ofl&ce,  34,  St.  Stephen's  Green,  on  October  5th. 
Ten  new  members  were  admitted,  and  letters  were 
received  frorn  Miss  Lamont  and  Miss  Hampson 
regretfully  resigning  their  seats  on  the  Executive 
Committee.  It  was  unanimously  decided  to  ask 
them  to  continue  as  Hon.  Members.  Suggestions 
were  considered  for  the  Lectures  to  l)c  held  during 
the  coming  session,  and  as  soon  as  these  arc  finally 
arranged,  the  syllabus  will  be  announced. 


NURSING    ECHOES. 


When  we  recently  mentioned  uu:  uueirnun 
of  dealing  with  a  subject  in  our  editorial 
columns,  we  were  told  that  "  no  one  reads 
editorials  ;  what  they  like  are  short  pars  !  "  We 
therefore  draw  attention  in  this  par  to  the  im- 
portant announcement  made  in  our  editorial 
columns  this  week. 


The  League  of  School  Nurses  enjoyed  a  very 
successful  Whist  Drive  at  St.  Bride's  Institute 
on  Saturday,  October  5th.  There  were  27 
tables.  These  gatherings  of  the  nurses  and 
their  friends  are  becoming  quite  an  institution, 
and,  judging  from  appearances,  give  indication 
of  a  great  deal  of  enjoyment.  The  counting  of 
scores  and  prize  giving  was,  as  usual,  an  excit- 
ing time.  -Mr.  Gee  most  kindly  and  efficiently 
acted  as  M.C.,  his  services  being  much  appre- 
ciated by  the  League. 


On  Tuesday  last,  Sir  .Anthony  Bowlby, 
C.M.G.,  opened  a  new-  nursing  home  in  Bur- 
lington Lane,  Chiswick.  The  Home,  which  is 
arranged  on  the  most  modern  lines,  and  accom- 
modates six  patients,  forms  part  of  St.  Mary's 
Convent,  and  is  known  as  St.  Mary's.  It  is 
hoped  by  means  of  the  Home  to  help  to  sup- 
port St.  Joseph's  Hospital  for  Incurables  also 
attached  to  the  Convent.  The  Matron  is  Miss 
Thompson,  who  was  for  20  years  at  Fitzroy 
House,  and  Dr.  Shuter  has  been  appointed 
medical  officer.  An  up-to-date  operating  room 
with  sterilizing  room  attached,  as  well  as  a 
room  for  electric  and  massage  treatment,  are 
provided. 


Miss  Jessie  W.  Davies  took  up  the  duties  of 
Matron  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Bradford,  last 
week,  and  was  welcomed  at  the  gathering  at 
which  Miss  Hodges,  her  popular  predecessor, 
received  so  many  lovely  gifts  from  all  her 
friends.  Bradford  is  a  very  busy  place,  and  the 
Infirmary  a  centre  of  beneficent  work.  That 
being  so.  Miss  Davies  will  find  herself  in  a  very 
sympathetic  environment. 


-As  the  outcome  of  a  paper  read  at  the 
Northern  District  Poor  Law-  Conference,  at 
Tynemouth,  on  July  loth,  by  Dr.  Samuel  S. 
Whillis,  of  Newcastle,  on  "  Nursing  in  Work- 
houses and  the  Need  for  Standardization  of 
Examinations,"  a  conference  on  the  training 
of  nurses  in  workhouses  is  to  be  held  in  New- 
castle about  the  middle  of  the  present  month. 

The  arrangements  are  being  made  by  a  small 
committee  of  the  Newcastle  Board  of  Guar- 
dians,  with   Mr.   Gladstone  W'alker,   the  clerk 


:98 


abe  Brittsb  3oiiniaI  of  H-lur^lna 


October   12,    1912 


to  the  Board,  as  honorary  secretary  pro  teiu. 
Of  the  Poor  Law  Unions  in  the  conference  area, 
embracing  the  counties  of  Northumberland, 
Durham,  Cumberland,  and  Westmorland, 
which  train  nurses,  Newcastle  is  the  largest, 
and  under  the  proposed  standardization  scheme 
it  is  intended  to  have  a  syllabus  or  course  of 
lectures  for  probationers,  who  would  be 
examined  by  a  representative  examination 
board,  appointed  or  nominated  by  the  Unions 
affected  in  the  conference  area.  A  supplemen- 
tary suggestion  is  that  there  should  also  be  a 
grading  or  grouping  of  hospitals  for  certain 
periods  of  training.  The  idea  is  to  try  and 
introduce  a  system  of  training  not  at  present 
available  in  the  smaller  Unions.  It  is  asserted 
that  probationers  in  the  small  Unions  are  little 
more  than  attendants  after  three  years'  train- 
ing, and  thus  they  are  precluded  from  securing 
the  best  posts  in  the  large  Unions.  The  coming 
conference  is  being  anticipated  with  interest 
among  Guardians  in  the  four  northern  counties. 


REFLECTIONS 

FROM    A    BOARD    ROOM    MIRROR. 


Mr.  William  M'Donald  (president)  occupied 
the  chair  at  the  quarterly  meeting  of  delegates 
of  the  Edinburgh,  Leith,  and  District  Friendly 
Societies  Council  recently  held  in  Edinburgh. 
Mr.  P.  S.  T.  Linkie  submitted  details  of  a  pro- 
posed working  scheme  for  a  Scottish  Branch  of 
the  Queen's  Jubilee  Nursing  Institution.  The 
scheme  provides  that  all  those  producing  in- 
surance books  showing  membership  in  societies 
assenting  to  the  scheme  would  be  attended, 
except  in  midwifery  cases,  by  nurses  of  the 
nursing  associations  who  came  into  the  scheme, 
under  the  directions — after  the  first  visit — of 
registered  medical  practitioners.  Such  societies 
would  pay  3d.  a  year  in  respect  of  each  of  their 
members  resident  in  areas  covered  by  the 
assenting  nursing  associations.  The  moneys 
so  paid  would  be  administered  by  a.  Committee 
for  each  county  or  county  burgh,  who  would 
distribute  the  money  so  received  among  the 
nursing  associations  assenting  to  the  scheme, 
in  proportion  to  the  net  cost  of  the  work  done 
on  behalf  of  insured  persons,  or  to  the  total 
expenditure  by  the  different  associations.  The 
assenting  societies  would  be  entitled  to  repre- 
sentation on  the  special  committee  for  each 
county  or  county  burgh,  provided  that  a  certain 
number  of  members  were  being  paid  for. 


The  Corporation  of  Glasgow  will,  at  the 
Town  Council  Meeting  to  be  held  on  Novem- 
ber 5th,  consider  a  motion  by  Councillor  Lyon, 
who  will  propose  that  the  hours  of  the  nurses 
employed  in  the  various  Corporation  Hospitals 
be  reduced  from  a  twelve-hours'  to  a  ten-hours' 
shift. 


Presiding  at  the  Annual  Dinner  at  the  Waldorf 
Hotel,  of  the  Westminster  Hospital  Medical 
Students'  Club,  Mr.  Walter  J.  Spencer,  F.R.C.S., 
said  that  the  question  of  whether  the  Westminster 
Hospital  would  have  to  be  rebuilt  on  its  present 
site  and  maintain  its  present  gcoiwill,  or  whether 
t  would  have  to  be  moved  e  sewhere — and,  if  so, 
whether  it  would  lose  its  name,  or  what  would 
happen  to  it — had  to  be  seriously  considered  by 
the  House  Committee  and  the  hospital  staff. 


The  treasurers  of  the  Middlesex  Hospital 
Cancer  Charity  have  received  a  further  anonymous 
donation  of  ;ii25. 


The  Chelsea  Hospital  for  Women  has  received 
£2^  los.  towards  the  Rebuilding  Fund  from 
Messrs.  David  Sassoon  &  Co.,  Ltd. 


Dr.  Jane  Walker  has  been  demanding  a  new 
form  of  celebration  for  the  King's  birthday.  In 
the  course  of  her  address  at  the  opening  of  the 
winter  session  of  the  London  (Royal  Free  Hospital) 
School  of  Medicine  for  Women,  she  expressed  the 
view  that  the  authorities  of  the  King's  Fund  ought 
to  make  a  bonfire  on  His  Majesty's  Birthday  of 
all  hospital  letters.  Such  letters,  she  said,  assumed 
the  vanity  of  the  small  subscriber  and  played  up 
to  it.  They  were  a  survival  of  the  bad  Georgian 
days  of  patronising  the  poor,  and  nothing'  could 
justify  them  unless  it  were  the  existence  of  people 
who  would  not  subscribe  for  the  maintenance  of 
Heaven  without  an  annual  report  and  the  right  to 
recommend  four  souls  for  immediate  admission. 


A  scheme  is  being  prepared,  and  a  public  appeal 
for  funds  will  shortly  be  made,  for  the  foundation 
in  Birmingham  of  a  hospital  for  the  treatment  of 
diseases  of  the  nervous  system,  paralysis,  and 
epil  psy.  A  committee  have  been  at  work  for  some 
time  making  the  preliminary  arrangements. 

The  promoters  of  the  scheme  state  that  a  new 
hospital  of  this  kind  is  necessary  to  meet  the  rapid 
growth  of  nervous  complaints,  diily  becoming 
more  numerous  owing  to  the  exigencies  of  modern 
life,  and  to  afford  greater  opportunities, for  treat- 
ment which  is  difficult  and  almost  impossible 
without  a  special  hospital.  London,  it  is  pointed 
out,  has  three  special  nerve  hospitals,  each  one 
being  largely  attended  without  interference  with 
any  of  the  important  and  powerful  general 
hospitals,  and  as  many  of  the  patients  come  from 
the  provinces  it  is  felt  by  the  promoter  that 
Birmingham  should  not  be  behind  London  or  any 
other  large  town  in  hospital  accommodation  of  this 
kind. 


As  the  result  of  the  generous  benefaction  of 
a  local  resident  who  desires  to  remain  anonymous, 
Chiswick  has  been  equipped  with  a  general 
hospital  on  the  most  up-to-date  lines. 


October   12,    1912 


^be  Brltlsb  3oiirnal  of  llAursino 


299 


PRESENTATION. 

Sister  Mullally,  of  Dr.  Stcevcns'  Hospital, 
Dublin,  who  has  resigned  to  accept  a  partnership 
and  matronship  of  Alma  House  Private  Hospital, 
Mountjoy  Square,  Dublin,  was  recently  the 
recipient  of  presentations  from  the  Governors 
and  from  the  staff  of  Dr.  Steevens'  Hospital — 
a  cheque  from  the  Governors  and  a  handsome 
silver  tea  service  and  case  of  spoons  from  tlie 
staff.  Miss  B.  M.  Kelly,  Lady  Superintendent,  in 
a  very  complimentary  speech,  acknowledged  Sister 
MuUally's  meritorious  work  in  the  hospital.  The 
Governors,  slie  said,  regretted  very  much  the 
loss  of  her  services,  and  at  the  same  time  wished 
her  every  success,  and  in  making  the  presentation 
from  the  staff  slie  conveyed  to  Sister  Mul'ally  the 
unqualified  good  feeling  which  she  carried  with 
her.  Sister  Mullallv  replied  briefly,  expressing  her 
thanks  to  the  Governors  and  staff,  aid  her  regret 
at  severi.ig  her  connecti  n  with  the  hospital. 


HOW     THE     POOR     SUFFER. 

The  inquiry  held  by  Mr.  S.  Ingleby  Oddie, 
Coroner  for  the  South-West  District  of  London, 
into  the  death  of  two  babies  at  a  Home  at  Lessing- 
ham  Avenue,  Upper  Tooting,  a  branch  of  the 
Walworth  Creche,  elicited  the  facts  that  four 
children  had  died  at  the  Home  within  a  week 
(one  from  broncho-pneumonia)  and  that  n-ithir 
of  the  "  nursis  "  w:/<:  t.-ain  d. 

Mrs.  Kinghorne,  Hon.  Secretary  and  Super- 
intendent, admitted  that  she  had  told  Mrs. 
Bailey  to  keep  expenses  down,  but  she  did  not 
mean  in  regard  to  firing  and  food.  Mrs.  Bailey,  the 
Assistant  M;itron,  said  she  was  not  a  trained  nurse 
and  had  had  no  experience  in  looking  after  children, 
and  Mrs.  Millican,  a  "  nurse,"  in  her  evidence 
said  that  her  wages  were  6s.  a  week,  out  of  which 
she  had  to  buy  her  own  food  and  get  her  washing 
done.  Miss  O'Donnell,  L.C.C.  Inspector  said  she 
was  told  by  Mrs.  Bail'y  that  Mrs.  Kinghorne  did 
not  allow  fires,  and  she  was  paying  for  fuel  out  of 
her  own  pocket. 

Dr.  Legge,  of  Lessingham  Avenue,  gave  evidence 
that  he  became  doctor  to  the  Home  some  weeks 
ago,  on  an  invitation,  by  letter,  from  Mrs.  King- 
horne. He  had  never  been  called  upon  to  inspect  the 
Home.  He  considered  a  Home  of  the  kind  should 
be  inspected  regularly  by  a  medical  man,  and  have 
at  least  one  trained  nurse. 

The  jury  in  their  verdict  said  that  Mrs.  King- 
horne was  deserving  of  the  severest  censure,  and 
that  the  doctor  should  have  paid  more  attention 
to  the  Home  after  accepting  the  post,  with  which 
the  Coroner  concurred. 

We  agree  with  the  verdict,  and  consider  that 
before  accepting  the  post  the  doctor  should  have 
visited  the  Home,  and  satisfied  himself  tliat  it 
was  in  the  charge  of  a  trained  n\irse.  The  poor 
and  their  children  suffer  because  there  is  at  present 
no  legal  standard  of  trained  nursing,  so  that 
totally  ignorant  persons  can  assume  not  only  the 
title  but  the  responsible  duties  of  the  trained  nurse. 


For  this  perilous  condition  the  Legislature 
which  fails  to  deal  with  the  question  of  nurses' 
Registration  and  the  opponents  of  the  Bill  with 
that  object,  are  primarily  to  blame. 

BE0UE5T.S   TO    NURSES. 

A  number  of  bequests  to  nurses  and  others  were 
made  by  Mr.  James  C.  Russell,  of  Hislemere, 
who  left  estate  of  the  value  of  £166.305. 

An  annuity  of  £2^,  as  well  as  £1^,  goes  to  liis 
nurse,  Harriet  Spooner,  annuities  of  £z~,,  £1^,  and 
£11  respectively  to  Nurses  Agnes  Micdonald, 
Winifred  Crown,  and  Mildred  Turner.  £^0  is  left 
to  Hilda  Scrase,  Sister,  of  St.  Bxrthalomew's 
Hospital,  and  a  silver  watcli  to  Nurse  Walton.  ^\ 

SOCIAL   SERVICE. 


A    PLEA     TO    NURSI:.'>,     FOR    THE 
ILLEOni  VIA  IE. 

This  is  a  subject  generally  ignored  by  the  general 
public,  and  no  pity  is  wasted  on  the  poor,  ignorant 
and  frightened  mothers  whose  tragedies  are 
reported  daily  in  the  ncwsp  ipers,  which  occur 
when  they  are  confronted  with  the  double  necessity 
of  earning  their  own  living  and  supporting,  some- 
where and  somehow,  the  being  whose  needs  are 
a  sealed  book  to  them.  The  mother  is  too  often 
mentally  or  morally  defective.  Even  when  normal 
she  is  warped  seriously  in  character  by  resort  to 
concealment  and  subterfuge  for  an  extended 
period.  A  hundred  influences  for  ill  are  at  hand 
to  drag  her  down,  and  to  prejudice  her  against 
those  who  could  help  her  effectu  illy.  The  natural 
instincts  of  motherhood,  so  strongly  fortified  in 
family  life,  are  exposed  to  more  violent  impulses  of 
fear  and  self-preservation,  with  the  result  that  in 
too  many  instances  they  are  weakened,  if  not 
overwhelmed  ;    all  this  reacts  for  ill  on  the  infant. 

The  defective  mother  must  continue,  until  the 
State  consents  to  recognise  her  existence,  to  con- 
tribute to  the  ills  of  society  ;  for  her,  under 
existing  conditions,  little  can  be  done,  save  keep 
an  eye  on  her  and  her  unhappy  infant. 

But  for  the  normal  mother  who  has  missed 
marriage  something  may,  and  must,  be  attempted. 
She  needs  instruction,  and  such  help  as  she  can  be 
brought,  on  regaining  a  niche  in  the  world  as  a 
breadwinner.  The  tie  between  her  and  her  infant 
needs  to  be  fostered,  and  the  interests  of  the  child 
require  safeguarding  at  the  same  time  that  the 
burden  on  the  mother  is  lessened.  It  cannot  be 
doubted  that  the  influence  of  women  who  work 
assiduously  in  the  hospital  and  on  the  district 
where  these  children  are  born  is  responsible,  to  a 
great  extent,  for  the  decline  in  the  illegitimate  birth- 
rate, for  it  is  mainly  ignorance  which  lures  these 
girls  to  surrender  their  natural  guerdon  as  wives. 

Of  the  child,  it  must  be  said  that,  generally 
born  sickly  and  removed  from  the  protection  of 
family  life,  he  is,  at  best,  a  grievous  burden  to  be 
borne,  instead  of  a  source  of  pride,  and  at  the 
worst  he  is  hustled  out  by  ignorance,  neglect,  or 
intention. 


300 


Cbc  36rittsb  3ournaI  of  IRursdiQ. 


October   12,    1912 


The  influence  for  evil  on  the  lather  who 
repudiates  his  responsibility  towards  his  offspring 
needs  no  indication.  Then  whj'  should  men  who 
are  leaders  of  the  countn,'  encourage  such  shirking 
of  responsibility,  which  is  proved  when  we  get  the 
information  that  though  the  women  who  have 
husbands  to  support  them  are  to  be  allowed 
so-called  Maternity  Benefits  of  30s.  a  month  from 
the  State,  the  girl  who  capnot  show  this  mark  of 
respectability  cannot  claim  this  grant  through 
the  father  of  her  child,  and  it  is  left  to  the 
merciful  members  of  her  own  sex  to  fight  for 
the  salvation  of  her  body  and  soul.  It  is  this 
that  makes  women  say  they  ought  to  have 
a  word  in  the  management  of  State  affairs. 

It  is  a  disgrace  to  our  country  that  France  can 
have  men  at  the  head  of  their  State  to  realise  the 
crying  need  of  such  help,  and  therefore  avert  the 
ghastly  catastrophe  that  we  so  often  read  of  in  our 
newspapers  of  a  girl  driven  out  of  her  mind  to  do 
a  desperate  thing  because  she  has  no  other  alter- 
native. And,  to  add  to  tliis  sin,  is  it  human  that 
a  mjin  should  be  allowed  to  condemn  a  girl  to  the 
gallowi — aye,  and  don  the  Black  Cap  in  doing  it — 

for  what ?     And  where  is  her  companion,  who 

is  as  much  to  blame,  and  more,  for  he  knew  the 
consequences  ?  "  Let  him  who  is  amongst  you 
cast  the  first  stone."  How  many  times  are  we 
told  in  Scripture  to  forgive  ?  and  especially  are 
we  told  to  be  merciful  to  that  sin.  Yet  we  find 
the  greatest  of  our  leading  men  excluding  all 
possible  help,  on  the  one  hand,  and  on  the  other 
holding  meetings  to  discuss  the  abolition  of  the 
White  Slave  Traffic.  But  do  they  pause  to  ask 
how  many  are  drifting  to  that  traffic  for  the  very 
reason  that  they  are  condemned  when  they  have 
sinned  through  men  ?  Some  time  ago  it  was 
stated  in  a  weekly  paper  that  help  in  this  cause 
only  increased  the  number.  Tliis,  it  can  be 
proved,  is  voi  the  case,  for  the  simple  reason  that 
the  number  of  illegitimate  births  in  Great  Britain 
is  steadily  declining,  both  in  actual  numbers  and 
also  in  proportion  to  the  population. 

Whereas  in  England  and  Wales  there  were 
43,693  illegitimate  births  in  i860,  there  were  only 
36,189  in  1907.  Out  of  every  thousand  births  in 
England  and  Wales  in  i860  as  many  as  64  were 
illegitimate  ;  in  1907  the  proportion  had  sunk  to 
39.  In  Scotland,  during  a  slightly  longer  period, 
the  illegitimate  births  had  sunk  from  84  to  64  per 
thousand.  In  Ireland  the  rate  per  thousand  has 
always  been  the  lowest,  being  only  24. 

In  France  the  State  not  only  provides  funds, 
but  the  actual  building,  where  the  child  is  received 
without  money  or  votes,  or  questions  as  to  parent- 
age, &c.,  and  is  gently  nurtured  by  gentlewomen 
untU  of  age  to  go  out  into  the  world.  True,  we 
have  our  Foundling  Hospital  and  Dr.  Barnardo's 
great  Home,  but  these  are  not  the  same  ;  we 
should  have  help  from  the  State,  for  the  mother's 
future  as  well  as  the  baby's.  Of  what  use  is  a 
girl's  life  after  she  has  had  the  environment  of  prison 
for  months,  perhaps  years  ?  Yet  tliis  is  to  be 
avoided,  and  is  avoided,  in  France. 

E.  Dana. 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


WOMEN. 

The  Society  of  Women  Journalists  will  hold 
their  Annual  Dinner  at  the  Criterion  Restaurant 
on  Saturday,  November  2nd.  The  President,  Mrs. 
Charles  Perrin,  will  take  the  chair,  and  a  number 
of  distinguished  guests  will  attend.  The  dinner 
will  be  followed  by  a  Conversazione. 


At  a  united  demonstration  of  the  Churches 
and  Synagogues,  held  last  Sunday  in  the  Lyceum 
Theatre,  London,  a  resolution  was  passed  un- 
animously asking  that  the  Criminal  Law  Amend- 
ment (White  Slave  Traffic)  Bill  be  passed  in  its 
original  form,  at  which  meeting  we  are  glad  to 
note  that  the  Bishop  of  London  took  an  active 
and  fearless  part. 

The  Bishop  said  he  did  not  believe  that  one 
person  in  ten  knew  how  this  awful  traffic  had 
spread  all  over  the  world.  It  was  computed  that 
for  one  great  city  alone  5,000  girls  were  procured 
every  year.  Did  the  public  realise  that  every 
railway  station  was  watched,  that  every  steamboat 
was  watched,  that  a  body  of  men  existed  for 
nothing  else  than  to  procure  girls  for  the  traflttc — 
a  perfectly  well-paid,  organised  traffic  throughout 
the  world  ? 

If  they  were  going  to  defeat  it  they  must  have 
the  hosts  of  God  as  carefully  organised  and  as 
energetic  as  were  their  enemies. 

The  Bishop  gave  instances  of  the  "  ruthless 
cruelty  "  of  the  traffic,  and  remarked  that  we 
were  doing  practically  nothing  to  stop  it.  Even 
when  a  Bill  was  brought  in  it  was  watered  and 
whittled  down  until  it  was  practically  useless. 
Observing  that  he  was  prepared  to  risk  arrest  on 
a  false  charge,  the  Bishop  said  the  police  knew 
the  men  engaged  in  the  traffic  well. 

Mr.  Claude  Montefiore  declared  that  London 
was  "  a  sort  of  clearing-house  for  the  white  slave 
trade." . 

The  National  Council  of  Women  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland,  upon  the  proposal  of  Lady 
Laura  Ridding,  carried  unanimously  the  urgency 
resolution  which  approved  of  the  necessity  for 
Clause  I.  of  the  Act  to  be  passed  in  its  original 
form,  and  of  the  amendment  of  Clause  3,  so  that 
its  provisions  should  apply  to  all  premises 
habitually  used  for  immoral  purposes. 

In  seconding  the  resolution  Mrs.  James  Gow 
said  she  attended  the  debate  in  the  House  of 
Commons,  and  was  appalled  by  the  ignorance 
of  the  subject  amongst  the  Members  who  spoke. 
Since  then  nothing  had  been  more  striking  than 
the  apathy  shown  by  the  Committee  to  which 
the  Bill  was  referred. 

Mrs.  Alice  Baker,  of  the  National  Council  of 
Women  of  Victoria,  said  this  was  a  question 
which  had  got  to  be  decided  by  women.  The 
Bill  as  it  had  passed  through  committee  was 
practically  worthless.  They  must  have  a  much 
stronger  measure. 


October   12,    1912 


Cbe  Britiob  3oiunal  of  murstncj- 


THE    BOOK  OF   THE    WEEK. 


"A     CORN     OF     WHEAT."* 

r  This  is  a  two  years'  record  of  a  primitive  woman, 
whose  home  was  in  a  prosaic  country  parsonage. 
Of  the  charm  of  its  telling  we  have  nothing  but 
praise  ;  and  of  its  unusual  heroine,  we  can  only 
hope  that  her  type  is  rare.  With  all  its  delightful 
description  and  character  drawing,  it  is  not  a 
pleasant  book  to  read,  though  its  fascination  is 
indisputable. 

Judith's  sister-in-law,  the  bustling,  common- 
place, little  vicaress,  with  whom  she  lived,  saysjto 
her  husband  : 

"  I'm  afraid  I  haven't  the  Christian  spirit, 
Charles,  but  Judith  riles  mc  ;  if  she  only  would 
behave   like  oilier  people." 

Bessie's  chief  source  of  complaint  against  her 
was  her  fierce  love  of  the  open-air,  which  she 
indulged  in  to  the  extent  of  sleeping  out  of  doors 
in  a  tent  ;  and  it  was  on  her  wanderings,  clad  in  a 
dressing-gown,  with  her  hair  down,  that  she  first 
meets  the  man  who  was  her  downfall,  though  she, 
herself,  ealled  it  by  another  name. 

She  rcfv.ses  the  reparation  that  he  is  eager  to 
offer  her  ;  and  the  love  or  desire  that  she  felt  for 
him  turns  to  loathing — not,  be  it  understood, 
from  shame  or  anger,  but  simply  that  he  had  ful- 
filled all  the  need  that  she  had  of  him.  For  she 
glories  in  the  thought  of  the  child  she  is  to  bear. 

"My  dear,  my  dear  1"  He  knelt  down  beside 
her,  and  took  her  hands.  "  You  and  I  have 
suffered  a  great  deal  for  each  other  ;  let  us  suffer 
a  little  n\ore  for  that  poor  child." 

"  Don't  call  her  that,"  she  whispered,  angrily  ; 
"  she  isn't  poor,  she's  mitte." 

"  And  mine." 

"  No  I"  She  raised  her  clenched  fist,  and 
seemed  about  to  strike  him.  "  O  !  I  could  kill 
yon,"  she  said,  softly,  "  when  you  say  that. 
I'm  rather  a  stupid  woman,  but  I  feel  sure  about 
this  ;  it  would  spoil  my  life,  and  it  would  spoil 
yours." 

When  she  asks  him,  "  Have  we  been  very  wicked, 
Roger  ?"  he  makes  the  extraordinary  reply  that 
he  doesn't  think  so.  "  It  was  different  for  me, 
and  well,  you  see,  I  had  been  in  love  before  ; 
but  to  you  it  was  all  new,  and,  well,  you  come  of  a 
race  of  clergymen." 

Judith  takes  advantage  of  the  absence  of  her 
brother  and  his  wife,  to  leave  the  quiet  parsonage, 
that  had  tx'cn  her  home  for  many  years  ;  and  in  a 
letter  tells  them  that  it  is  for  reasons  they  would 
rather  not  hear,  but  of  which  she  is  not  ashamed. 

Alone,  in  an  isolated  countrv  village,  she  becomes 
a  prev  to  morbid  fears  and  fancies,  which  threaten 
her  with  madness. 

"  The  past  months  had  taught  her  that  as  yet  the 
world  has  no  place  for  those  who  have  sinned  in 
its  eyes  ;  and  the  child  of  sin  woidd  suffer  too. 
She  clapped  her  hands  violently  together.  No  ; 
•he  had  not  really  sinned  ;   she  would  never  admit 

•  E.  H.  Young.     (Heinemann  :    London.) 


that,  for  she  had  left  Roger,  when  her  love  had 
turned  to  loathing.  Poor  little  thing  I  oh  I  poor 
little  thing  !  what  could  she  do  to  make  amends." 

The  most  inexplicable  part  of  the  story  is  that, 
shortly  before  the  child's  birth,  she  falls  under 
the  religious  influence  of  an  impossible  Baptist 
minister  in  the  drapery  business,  and  marries 
him. 

"  When  I  think  you  are  coming,"  she  said,. 
"  I  am  not  so  much  afraid." 

"  But  I  can't  stay  'ere  for  ever." 

"  Oh  1"  Judith  drew  in  her  breath.  "  No  ; 
you  can't ;    what  shall  I  do  ?" 

The  man's  eyes  glistened,  his  mouth  twitched. 

"  Let  me  take  you  home  with  me,"  he  said. 
"  I'll  take  care  of  you,  and  it  will  be  better  for  the 
child." 

"  Will  it  ?  are  you  sure  ?"  she  cried  ;  and  hope 
lit  up  her  weary  eyes.  "  I  don't  care  where  I  go. 
Oh  !  I  am  tired,  tired,  tired  ;  take  me  where  I  can 
be  at  peace." 

Of  this  unfortunate  man's  experience  and  her 
subsequent  desertion  of  him  we  have  no  space  to 
write.  Judith  was,  no  doubt,  unmoral;  rather 
than  immoral.  Though  this  volume  should  not 
find  its  way  into  the  hands  of  the  jeune  fille,  nurses, 
who  have  the  critical  faculty,  will  find  in  it  the 
interesting  psychological  study  of  an  abnormal 
personality.  And  what  study  can  be  more 
absorbing  than  the  complexities  of  human  nature  ? 
But  it  should  be  read  by  the  discerning  only. 

H.  H. 


"DR.     TUPPV." 

Next  week,  in  our  Autumn  Special  Number,  we 
intend  to  review  "  Dr.  Tuppy,"  by  Mr.  Stephen 
Townesend.  It  would  appear  that  his  new  work 
will  rival  in  popularity  that  remarkable  book, 
"  A  Thoroughbred  Mongrel."  We  learn  that  the 
first  colonial  edition  of  "  Dr.  Tuppv,"  consisting 
of  5,000  copies,  was  immediately  sold  out. 


COMING     EVENTS. 

October  i6lh,  2yd;  November  Olh  and  i^th. — • 
Nurses'  Missionary  League.  The  Autumn  pro- 
gramme. Lectures  on  Hinduism  and  Islam, 
University  Hall,  W.C,  by  Canon  Weitbrecht. 

October  nth. — Meeting  Executive  Committee 
Society  for  State  Registration  of  Nurses.  431, 
Oxford  Street.     4.30  p.m. 

October  15th. — Catholic  Nurses'  Association 
(Ireland),  Annual  Meeting.  Lourdes  House, 
Dublin. 

October  22nd. — Central  Midwives  Board  Exami- 
nation, London,  Birmingham,  Bristol,  Leeds, 
Manchester  and  Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

October  ^ist. — The  Territorial  Force  Nursing 
Service  (City  and  County  of  I^ondon)  Reception 
at  the  Mansion  House  by  the  Lady  Mayoress. 
8  to  10.30  p.m. 

November  2nd. — Quarterly  Meeting  of  the 
Matrons'  Council.  Royal  Albert  Edward  In- 
firmary, Wigan. 


302 


Zhe  36i1ticib  3ournal  of  IRurstng.       October  12,  191 2 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
alt  subjects  for  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


TRAINING     /VND     SERVICE. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dear  Madam, — Trained  nurses  who  have  com- 
pleted a  three  years'  term  of  training  in  the  wards 
of  a  leading  hospital,  will  be  grateful  for  the 
straight  way  in  which  you  have  dealt  in  last  week's 
issue  with  the  present  standard  for  those  admitted 
to  Queen  Alexandra's  Imperial  Military  Nursing 
Ser\'ice.  It  is  felt  by  those  of  us  who  have 
passed  through  a  three  years'  systematic  train- 
ing and  been  certified  after  examination,  a 
great  injustice  upon  the  part  of  the  War 
Office  t-o  depreciate  the  value  of  our  certifi- 
cate bv  substituting'  the  word  "  service  "  for 
"  training,"  and  thus  making  it  possible  for  those 
who  are  certificated  after  two  years'  work  at  the 
London  Hospital  to  compete  with  us  on  equal 
terms.  There  should  be  the  minimum  certificate 
for  all.  Moreover,  many  desirable  women  will 
not  enter  the  Service  so  long  as  this  injustice 
prevails. 

I  am,  vours  faithfuUv, 

A  Member  Bart's  League. 


To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
1^-  Dear  Madam, — A  connection  of  mine  has  been 
a  staff  nurse  in  Queen  Alexandra's  Imperial 
Military  Nursing  Service  for  a  number  of  years. 
She  holds  a  certificate  for  three  years'  training  at 
one  of  the  largest  London  hospitals,  and  a  staff 
nurse  she  will  probably  remain.  Women  with 
inferior  qualifications,  and  less  experience,  arc 
constantly  promoted  over  her  head,  and  there  is  a 
strong  feeling  sub-rosa  in  many  military  hospitals 
that  without  "  a  friend  at  Court  "  there  is  little 
hope  of  promotion.  It  is  only  at  her  earnest 
request  that  I  have  not  wTitten  to  the  Secretary 
of  State  for  War  on  this  matter.  In  my  opinion 
it  is  nothing  less  than  a  scandal  that  the  three 
senior  posts  in  the  Servdce  have  been  secured  to 
ladies  trained  in  the  one  hospital  where  the 
standard  vmdermines  that  of  every  reputable 
School  for  Nurses  in  the  Kingdom.  I  hope  this 
matter  will  receive  the  publicity  it  deserves. 
Yours  sincerely, 

A  Lover  of  Justice. 


To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nur.sing. 
Madam, — I  am  glad  to  see  the  standard  of 
Military'  Nursing  under  discussion.  As  vou  say, 
it  is  high  time  that  Queen  Alexandra's  Imperial 
Military  Nursing  Service  was  brought  up  to  date 
and  a  certificate  of  Three  Years'  Training  made 
obligatory.  After  working  at  home  and  abroad 
for    years    I    resigned,     as    promotion     appeared 


to  be  the  perquisite  of  one  hospital  in  particular. 
Let  us  hope  the  Secretary  of  State  for  War  will 
look  into  this  question.  Merit  alone  should  secure 
promotion,  and  we  do  not  believe  there  is  "  a  fair 
field  and  no  favour  "  at  present. 

A  list  of  those  who  hold  office  as  Matrons  and 
Sisters  with  their  training  schools  attached  might 
be  published  to  allay  suspicion.  We  know  that 
the  three  senior  and  best  paid  posts  in  the  Service 
are  at  present  held  by  Londoners ;  the  Hon. 
Sydney  Holland,  Chairman  of  that  Hospital,  and 
a  member  of  the  Nursing  Committee  of 
Q.A. I.M.N. S.,  has  told  us  so. 

Yours  gratefully. 
One  Who  has  Served  Her  Country 
AT  Home  and  Abroad. 


To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — The  injustice  of  the  two  years 
term  of  training  at  the  London  does  not  only 
injure  those  trained  in  other  schools,  but  many 
of  us  as  well.  I  should  much  like  to  have  put  in 
a  third  year  in  the  wards  to  get  into  the  Army 
Nursing,  but  was  compelled,  according  to  my 
agreement,  to  do  private  nursing  for  two  years, 
and  thus  become  disqualified  for  promotion  in 
many  ways.  Many  of  us  realise  that  only  by 
Registration  can  we  hope  for  equality  with  others, 
and  a  just  system.  Our  work  is  far  too  lucrative 
as  at  present  arranged.  We  ought  to  be  protected 
bv  law,  as  other  women  workers  are. 
Yours  trulv. 

Suffragist. 

[Letters  on  this  question  are  unavoidably  held 
over. — Ed.] 

REPLIES   TO    CORRESPONDENTS. 

F.  N.  B.,  Lo}idon. — "  A.  History  of  Nursing," 
by  Miss  Nutting  and  Miss'  Dock,  should  be  in 
every  nurse's  library — it  is  a  work  of  genius. 
Price  £1  is.,  2  vols.  Published  by  Putnam's  Sons, 
24,  Bedford  Street,  W.C. 

Miss  Dock  is  now  correcting  proofs  of  the  third 
and  fourth  volumes,  wliich  bring  the  history  of 
nursing  up  to  date. 

Miss  Grace  Campling,  Brighton. — Write  to  Miss 
Emma  Nixon,  c.o.  Editor  Pacific  Coast  Journal  of 
Nursing,  1143,  Leavenworth  Street,  San  Francisco, 
Cal.,  U.S.A.,  and  ask  her  for  the  information. 
The  publishing  address  of  The  American  Journal 
of  Nursing  (a  monthly  journal)  is  J.  B.  Lippincott 
Co.,  227-231,  South  Sixth  Street,  Philadelphia, 
Penn.,  U.S.A.  Subscription  price,  two  dollars 
a  year. 


OUR     PRIZE     COMPETITIONS— OCTOBER. 

October    igth. — Wliat    would    you    consider 


an 


efficient  curriculum  for  the  training  of  a  m.idwLfe  ? 
October  26th. — Describe  the  modern  management 
of  Scarlet  Fever. 

OUR    ADVERTISERS. 

Only  advertisements  of  the  most  reliable  firms 
are  accepted  by  the  management. 


October  12,  1912    Z\K  36viti9b  Sournal  of  IRiu'sino  Supplement.     ^,03 


TKe   Midwife. 


THE    FUTURE   OF   MIDWIVES. 


One  of  the  sL-rious  questions  which  womun 
who  are  thinking  of  training'  as  niidwives  have 
to  face  is  tlic  prospect  of  self-support  after 
they  have  passed  the  examination  of  the 
Central  Midwives'  Board  and  become  certified 
niidwives.  It  must  be  confessed  that  tti(' 
prospects  are  of  the  poorest.  As  Matron  of  a 
Maternity  Hospital,  as  Head  Nurse  or  Sister, 
it  is  possible  to  maintain  oneself  in  a  fair 
amount  of  comfort,  and  to  obtain  a  salary 
sufficient  to  meet  modest  needs,  though  not 
sullicient  to  save  an  adequate  income  for  the 
time  when  working  days  are  over.  But  such 
posts  are  usually,  and  rightly,  reserved  for 
trained  nurses  who  have  taken  midwifery  as  an 
additional  qualification,  for,  to  assume  the 
responsible  duties  involved,  considerably  more 
experience  is  needed  than  the  three  months' 
training  on  which,  at  present,  midwives  can 
obtain  their  legal  status. 

We  have  no  desire  to  underrate  the  value  of 
the  services  of  midwives  to  the  community  ;  on 
the  contrary,  we  believe  no  section  of  workers 
can  render  services  of  greater  value.  For  this 
reason  we  hold  it  to  be  essential  that  their  train- 
ing should  be  thorough  and  of  sufficient  length 
to  give  that  confidence  which  can  only  be 
obtained  through  experience.  Fully  trained 
nurses  have  many  times  assured  us  that  not 
until  after  a  year's  continuous  midwifery  work 
can  they  attend  a  lying-in  case  confident  that, 
whatever  emergency  arises,  they  will  be  able  to 
deal  with  it  satisfactorily. 

If  this  is  the  case  with  nurses  whose  general 
training  has  taught  them  to  meet  emer- 
gencies with  readiness  and  resourcefulness, 
what  is  the  position  of  a  midwife  with  only 
three  months'  special  training?  We  are  some- 
times told  that  the  three  months'  midwife  is 
better  and  less  diffident  than  the  one  who  is 
also  a  trained  nurse,  who  has  been  taught  to 
refer  to  the  doctor  in  all  difficulties,  and  is 
therefore  unwilling  to  assume  responsibility. 

We  say  unhesitatingly  that  the  assurance  of 
the  short  term  midwife  is  most  frequently  the 
assurance  of  ignorance.  -She  does  not  compre- 
hend the  seriousness  of  the  issues  involved,  and 
is,  in  short,  an  illustration  of  the  proverb  con- 
cerning those  who  "  step  in  where  angels  fear 
to  tread." 

Those  concerned  in  the  training  of  midwives 
are  ready  enough  to  concede  the  three  months 
iisuallv    allotted    to    such    training    as    quite 


insufficient,  and  the  results  unsatisfactory, 
although  experienced  teachers  may  be  able  to 
impart  sufficient  knowledge  to  their  pupils  to 
enable  them  to  pass  the  examination  of  the 
Central  Midwives'  Board.  Why,  then,  do  not 
the  maternity  hospitals  lengthen  their  term  of 
training?  The  question  is  mainly  one  of 
tinance.  If  one  hospital,  in  the  interest  of  more 
thorough  education,  lengthened  its  term  of 
training,  and  consequently  raised  its  fees,  other 
hospitals  would  still  take  pupils  for  the  shorter 
term,  and  the  probability  is  tliat  the  pupils,  not 
realizing  the  ultimate  advantage  which  they 
would  gain  by  entering  for  the  longer  period, 
would  enter  the  short-term  training-schools. 
Therefore,  unless  all  the  hospitals  lengthened 
their  training  at  the  same  time,  the  result  must 
be  unsatisfactory  to  those  giving  the  more 
thorough  training. 

The  way  in  which  a  change  for  the  better 
could  be  most  readily  effected  would  be  by  the 
Central  Midwives'  Board  raising  its  require- 
ment as  to  the  length  of  tlie  period  of  training, 
not  necessarily  the  number  of  deliveries  re- 
quired of  each  pupil,  because  the  difficulty  at 
the  present  time  is  that  pupils  have  to  learn 
so  much  theory  and  do  so  much  practical  work 
in  a  short  time  that  they  become  bewildered, 
and  grasp  neither  thoroughly.  To  be  able  to 
give  a  definite  time  to  preliminary  training  in 
anatomv  and  physiology,  and  details  of  prac- 
tical nursing,  such  as  bedmaking,  &c.,  before 
being  entrusted  with  the  care  of  patients,  as  is 
now  the  rule  at  Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital, 
and  to  serve  for  a  certain  period  as  maternity 
nurses  in  the  ordinary  wards  learning,  and  by 
practice  becoming  skilful  in,  the  care  of  mothers 
and  infants,  before  going  on  to  the  midwifery 
department,  would  certainly  be  productive  of 
greater  practical  efficiency  than  is  the  case  at 
present.  As  an  ideal  to  be  aimed  at,  at  the 
present  time,  we  suggest  that  one  year  at  least 
should  be  spent  in  trJiining  by  a  woman  with  no 
previous  experience  in  general  nursing.  For  a 
nurse  with  three  years'  general  training,  six 
months'  special  training  in  midwiferv  might 
suffice. 

But  what  prospects  are  there  for  the  midwife 
when  trained  and  certified.  Frankly  they  are 
verv  poor  for  one  engaged  in  general  practice 
on  her  own  account.  We  hear  of  women 
raisinc  their  fees  for  training  with  difficulty, 
and  going  out  into  the  world  with  high  hopes 
to  earn  their  living  as  certified  midwives,  onlv 
to  find  after  a  prolonged  struggle  that  work  is 
scarce  and  fees  low,  so  that  self-support  is  im- 


304      ^be^ffiritisb  3ournal  of  IRursina  Supplement.    October  12,  igi 


possible.  Associations  which  supply  midwives 
to  the  poor  tell  the  same  story  :  "  it  is  impos- 
sible for  a  district  midwife  to  earn  a  living 
wage  unless  she  combines  midwifery  with 
general  nursing,"  and  there  being  no  standard 
of  training  for  general  nursing,  that  adopted  in 
connection  with  midwifery  is  frequently  most 
inadequate. 

If  the  midwife  of  the  future  is  to  command 
both  public  confidence  and  adequate  remunera- 
tion, it  is  probable  that  she  must  seek  recogni- 
tion as  a  public  official. 

It  is  unquestionable  that  a  sphere  in  which 
midwives  would  be  of  great  use  is  as  officials 
employed  by  Boards  of  Guardians,  to  attend 
Poor  Law  outdoor  maternity  cases ;  in  connec- 
tion with  the  National  Insurance  Act  therp  is 
certainly  work  before  them ;  they  might  do 
useful  service  in  connection  with  the  Infant 
Life  Protection  Act,  Schools  for  Mothers,  and, 
with  other  qualifications  in  addition,  as  Health 
Vjsitors.  But  if  they  are  to  be  valued  and 
indispensable  members  of  the  community  as 
social  service  workers,  they  must  be  well 
educated,  well  trained,  competent  to  write 
intelligent  reports  for  public  authorities,  or  to 
present  them  personally.  It  should  be  the  aim 
of  all  midwives  to  endeavour  to  raise  the  stan- 
dard of  their  profession,  to  impress  upon  the 
public  its  onerous  and  honourable  character, 
and  to  secure  for  their  work  remuneration 
which  bears  some  proportion  to  its  value. 

THE    AD/MINI5TRATION     OF 
MATERNITY  BENEFIT. 

In  a  circular  issued  by  the  Women's  Co-operative 
Guild  the  administration  of  maternity  benefit 
under  the  Insurance  Act  is  discussed  from  many 
points  of  view. 

The  circular  recalls  the  fact  that  the  maternity 
benefit  shall  be  given  in  "  cash  or  otherwise,"  and 
proceeds  : — 

It   seems   to   us   very  important  that   these 

alternatives  should  not  be  used  to  differentiate 

between  individuals  and  classes  of  persons,  nor 

to  lead  to  inquiries  into  character. 

Any  person  receiving  the  beneiit  in  kind  under 
•  these  circumstances  would  be  publicly  exposed 

as  unfit  to  handle  a  sum  of  30s. 

For  the  same  reason  we  earnestly  trust  that 

no  differentiation  be  made  between  married  and 

unmarried  mothers  in  the  administration  of  the 

benefit. 

The  circu'ar  also  ?ets  out  that  the  giving  of 
the  benefit  in  ^'ouchers  or  tickets  for  goods  is  in 
every  way  undesirable.  This  method  is  connected 
with  the  idea  of  cha  ity  or  relief,  and  is  out  of 
place  in  connection  with  a  fund  that  is  largely 
provided  by  the  persons  concerned. 

The  circular  does  not,  however,  bar  out  any 
universal  form    of  allocation  such  as  the   direct 


payment  of  doctor  or  midwife  out  of  the  grant. 
Such  allocation  should  always  leave  a  substantial 
sum  to  be  given  in  cash.  "  We  hope,"  say  the 
signatories,  "  that  any  other  form  of  allocation 
would  only  be  made  at  the  request  of  the  woman 
herself." 


"PASSING  RICH   ON  £40  A  YEAR." 

The  Education  Committee  of  the  Staffordshire 
Count}'  Council  have  decided  to  grant  ;£3oo  to  the 
County  Nursing  Association  for  the  purpose  of 
providing  scholarships  for  the  training  of  village 
midwives  and  nurses,  the  training  to  consist  of 
six  months  in  niidwiferj',  and  six  months  in  general 
nursing,  the  latter  term  being,  of  course,  insufficient 
to  gain  more  than  a  smattering  of  knowledge  of 
nursing.  The  cost  of  training  each  candidate  is 
estimated  at  £50  per  annum,  and  when  trained 
the  midwife  will  receive  a  salary  of  1 6s.  per  week. 
We  could  wish  that  County  Councils  would  turn 
their  attention  to  granting  scholarsliips  in  mid- 
wifery- to  nurses  who  are  already  trained,  rathei 
than  expending  money  on  increasing  a  class  of 
workers  who  earn  such  infinitesmal  salaries  that 
their  work  must  be  included  in  that  of  sweated 
labour. 

NURSES    AND    MIDWIVE5    IN 
EAST    SOMER>ET. 

On  the  invitation  of  Mrs.  Hobhouse  a  well- 
attended  meeting  of  those  interested  in  the 
Somerset  County  Nursing  Association,  at  which 
the  Right  Hon.  Henry  Hobhouse  presided,  was 
held  at  Hadspen  House,  Castle  Carey,  last  week. 
The  object  of  the  meeting  was  to  consider  the 
nursing  and  midwifer\-  needs  of  East  Somerset, 
with  special  reference  to  the  Insurance  Act  and 
the  Midwives  Act. 

The  chairman  explained  the  many  directions  in 
which  the  responsibilities  of  the  Somerset  County 
Council  brought  it  into  contact  with  the  work  of 
nurses  and  midwives,  and  iliss  Norah  Fry  spoke 
on  the  work  of  the  County  Nursing  Association. 
In  regard  to  midwives,  she  said  that  it  was  of  the 
utmost  importance  that  the  patients  should  be 
attended  by  thoroughly  trained  persons  who  could 
not  onlv  look  after  the  infants,  but  also  educate 
the  young  mothers.  Dr.  Savage,  County  Medical 
Officer  of  Health,  spoke  on  the  relationship  of 
public  bodies  to  nurses  and  nurses'  associations, 
and  Miss  du  Sautoy,  County  Superintendent  and 
Inspector  of  Midwives,  spoke  ably  on  the  work  of 
midwives. 

»    »    ■ 

Miss  Chadwick,  who  on  ner  resignation  of  the 
post  of  Assistant  Matron  of  the  Kotunda  Hospital, 
D  Islin,  has  been  presented  with  a  very  handsome 
si'ver  tea-se'x'ic:;  from  the  p'e  ent  nursing  stag 
ff  the  hospital  and  also  man>- f  Tmer  nurses  of 
the  instituti  n.  desires,  through  the  medium  of 
this  paper,  to  thank  most  cordially  all  those  who 
have  contributed  to  the  same,  as  it  is  impossible 
for  her  to  write  to  each  one  separately. 


EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,    OCTOBER   19,   1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


THE     M  RSE     AT     HOME. 

Probablv  in  no  department  of  our  hospitals 
has  greater  adwuice  been  made  in  the  last 
quarter  of  a  centurv  than  in  the  accommoda- 
tion provided  for  the  nurses.  Althougli  in 
connection  with  some  institutions  the 
nursing  homes  still  need  to  be  rebuilt,  the 
majority  of  committees  recognise  that  they 
cannot  hope  to  attract  a  good  class  of  pro- 
bationers, or  to  maintain  their  nurses  in  the 
condition  of  physical  efficiency  necessary  to 
secure  the  best  work,  unless  thought  and 
care  are  expended  on  the  nursing  staff. 

So,  in  connection  with  our  best  hospitals 
nurses'  homes  are  now  to  be  found  in 
which  provision  is  made  for  the  comfort  of 
the  nursing  staff  when  off  dutv,  including 
separate  bedrooms,  restful  sitting-rooms, 
attractive  dining-rooms,  as  well  as  class- 
rooms for  the  instruction  of  probationers. 
Most  nurses  have  a  love  of  home  stronglv 
developed.  Is  not  the  art  of  home-making 
an  underlying  principle  of  all  good  nursing  ? 
And  therefore  thev,  more  than  most  people, 
appreciate  a  domain  of  their  own,  where 
they  can  relax  in  a  way  impossible  in  the 
hospital,  and  obtain  the  rest  which  will 
enable  them  to  return  to  dutv  refreshed  aYid 
competent. 

This  is  one  reason  whv  it  is  important 
that  the  nurses'  home  should  be  separated 
from  the  hospital  proper,  for  there  is  alwavs 
a  certain  amount  of  tension,  a  sense  of 
being  "  on  duty  "  inseparable  from  residence 
in  the  hospital  building,  but  there  are 
other  reasons  equally  forceful  :  proximity  to 
a  ward  means  disturbed  rest  at  night,  for 
which  reason,  while  Sisters  should  have 
their  duty  rooms  off  the  wards,  where  tliey 
can  do  their  clerical  work,  interview 
members  of  the  staff,  and  patients'  friends, 


they  should  reside  and  sleep  in  the  home, 
and  the  only  meal  permissible  in  the  duty- 
room  should  be  tea  in  the  afternoon.  The 
principal  meals  should  always  be  taken 
awav  from  the  ward  atmosphere. 

Some  Sisters  who  have  become  accus- 
tomed to  the  method  of  sleeping  in  small 
rooms  off  the  wards  may  be  inclined  to 
question  this  statement,  and  to  think  that  it 
is  impracticable  thev  should  be  awav  from 
their  wards  at  night.  If,  however,  a 
certificated  nurse  is  left  in  charge,  and  there 
is  a  Xight  Sister  on  dutv  to  whom  she  can 
refer,  there  is  no  reason  whv  the  Dav  Sister 
should  sleep  with  "  one  eve  open."" 

The  same  principle  applies  to  the  nurses. 
Do  we  not  all  remember  nurses  in  days  gone 
by  who  slept  in  bedrooms  off  hospital  wards, 
where  little  fresh  air.  and  less  sunlight,  ever 
penetrated,  for  the  arrangements  for  lighting 
and  ventilating  were  of  the  tnost  primitive 
description,  and  the  rattle  of  stretchers,  and 
tramp  of  porters  as  a  new  case  was  brought 
up  to  a  vvard,  wove  themselves  into  their 
dreams  ?  They  were  pale,  weary,  and 
anaemic  women  who  dragged  themselves 
down  to  an  early  breakfast,  and  we  arc- 
glad  that  committees  for  the  most  part  are 
wiser  now,  and  realize  the  folly — the 
criminal  folly  is  scarcely  too  strong  a  word 
— of  destroying  the  health  of  one  set  of 
people  in  order  to  restore  that  of  another. 

Bad  air,  bad  odour's  inevitably  ascend  to 
the  top  of  the  building,  and  the  nurses" 
quarters,  if  thev  are  housed  in  a  hospital 
building,  are  generally  placed  at  the  top  of 
a  block  of  wards. 

It  should  be  a  sine-qiia-iioii  in  all  plans 
accepted  for  the  erection  of  new  hospitals 
that  the  nurses'  quarters  should  be  in  a 
block  apart  from  the  main  building.  Luxury 
is  neither  necessary  nor  in  place,  but  comfort, 
rest,  serenity,  are  the  due  of  a  class  of 
workers  who  give  freely  and  ungrudgingly 
of  their  health  and  strength  when  on  duty. 


5o6 


ZlK  Britisb  3ournal  of  H^ursino.        October  19,  1912 


HE  PREVENTION  OF  DEAFNESS. 


l\v  Macleod  Vearslev,  F.R.C.S. 

Seiiiui-   Surgeon   to    the   Royal   Ear   Hospital; 
Consulting    Aural   Surgeon   to    the    lioynl 
School  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  Margate; 
Visiting  Aural  Surgeon  to  the  Association 
for  the  Oral  Instruction  of  the  Deaf  and 
Dumb;   Otologist   to   the  London   County 
Council  Deaf  Schools,  &c. 
As  the  science  and  art  of  medicine  progress 
and  knowledge  is  enlarged  by  research,  so  does 
the    treatment   of    disease   become    preventive 
rather  than  curative.     Two  hundred  years  ago, 
and    even    less,    we    were    treating    infectious 
fevers,  suppurations,  and  the  like  by  frequent 
bleedings,     severe    purgations    and    nauseous 
mixtures,  and  those  who  survived  only  did  so 
by   means  of  a   strong  constitution  combined 
^vith  a  faith  which  was  in  direct  proportion  to 
the  drastic  nature  of  the  treatment.     Now  the 
patient  research  of  the  scientific  physician  has 
shown  us  upon  what  diseases  depend,  and  we 
endeavour  to  prevent  them  by  isolation,  anti- 
sepsis, asepsis,  and  vaccines.     A  hundred  years 
ago   ophthalmia   neonatorum    was    a    common 
cause  of  blindness,  but,  by  the  preventive  treat- 
ment  now   organised   and   working,    the   next 
century  will  scarcely  know  it. 

With  advance  in  other  branches  of  medicine 
and  surgery,  our  knowledge  of  the  causes 
which  lead  to  deafness  in  children  and  adults 
has  gone  forward  with  equal  strides,  and  the 
aural  surgery  of  the  year  1887,  when  I  first 
began  to  study  the  subject,  is  as  different  from 
the  otology  of  to-day  as  is  pre-Listerian  surgery 
to  that  of  modern  times.  And  this  progress, 
like  that  in  ()ther  departments  of  the  healing, 
art,  has  led  towards  a  similar  goal — prevention. 
The  prevention  of  deafness  and  diseases  of  the 
ear  lies  in  the  hands  of  our  profession  as  readily 
as  does  the  prevention  of  small-pox,  and  once 
that  fact  is  realised  and  the  inertia  of  con- 
servatism in  treatment  has  been  overcome,  a 
reduction  in  the  number  of  acquired  deaf-mutes 
and  of  adults  suffering  from  incapacitating 
deafness  can  be  but  a  matter  of  time. 

The  vast  majority  of  cases  of  chronic  sup- 
purative and  chronic  catarrhal  middle  ear 
disease  begin  in  childhood  ;  it  is,  therefore,  in 
infancy  and  childhood  that  they  can  be  pre- 
vented. There  are,  of  course,  other  forms  of 
deafness  and  ear  disease  beside  these  two. 
Tuberculosis,  for  instance,  attacks  the  ear  in 
both  voung  and  old,  although  it  is  more 
frequenllv   Ihc   infant   thai    falls   a   \irlim;   con- 


genital syphilis  causes  one  of  the  most  serious 
forms  of  nerve  deafness ;  mumps  is  another 
disease  which  may  be  rapidly  destructive  of 
hearing,  although  this  complication  is,  happily, 
rare.  It  is,  however,  chronic  discharge  and 
chronic  catarrh  that  are  the  most  common 
causes  of  loss  of  hearing,  and,  as  these  are 
eminently  preventable  in  the  light  of  modern 
scientific  medicine,  it  is  to  them  that  I  shall 
devote  this  paper  exclusively. 

Let  us  take  middle  ear  suppuration  first. 
Chronic  discharge  from  the  ear  is  practically 
always  the  result  of  an  acute  suppuration 
caused  either  by  one  of  the  infectious  fevers  (of 
which  scarlet  fever,  measles  and  diphtheria  are 
the  most  often  to  blame)  or  to  some  other  infec- 
tion spreading  from  the  post-nasal  space.  In 
the  latter  case  it  begins  as  an  inflammation  of 
the  mucous  lining  of  the  middle  ear,  whilst  in 
the  infectious  fevers  it  may  commence  in  the 
same  way  or  as  an  osteitis  of  the  temporal 
bone.  It  is  this  infective  osteitis  of  the  tem- 
poral bone  that  makes  some  of  the  ear  com- 
plications of  scarlet  fever  and  diphtheria  so 
serious  and  destructive.  Nothing  but  prompt 
surgical  treatment  can  be  of  any  avail  in  these 
bad  cases.  They  probably  arise  through  the 
bloodstream,  and  their  prevention  is  bound  up 
with  the  prevention  of  the  infectious  diseases 
in  which  they  occur,  ^^'hen,  on  the  other  hand, 
the  suppuration  starts  as  an  inflammation  of  the 
tympanic  lining  membrane,  the  complication 
can  be  prevented  by  proper  attention  to  the 
nose,  nasopharynx  and  throat.  Even  when  the 
condition  has  become  established  in  the  middle 
car,  serious  consequences  can  be  averted  by 
timely  incision  of  the  drum.  The  treatment  of 
these  complications  of  the  infectious  fevers 
can  rcallv  only  be  carried  out  with  perfect 
efficiency  by  a  skilled  specialist,  and,  therefore, 
it  would  be  a  forward  step  of  great  value  if  such 
an  officer  were  attached  to  every  fever  hospital. 
;\  unanimous  resolution  to  this  effect  was  sent 
up  by  the  Otological  Section  at  the  Liverpool 
meeting  of  the  British  Medical  Association  this 
year.  If  this  were  done  many  children- might 
be  saved  from  severe  deafness  either  during 
childhood  or  on  attaining  to  adult  age.  At  the 
present  time  the  infectious  fevers  are  respon- 
sible for  a  large  number  of  such  cases.  In  a 
recent  article*  I  showed  that,  out  of  592  cases 
ofchildren  whose  acquired  deafness  was  of  such 
severity  as  to  necessitate  special  methods  of 
education,  26.3.  per  cent.,  or  more  than  a 
quarter,  owed  their  condition  to  the  exanthe- 

* "  The  Causes  Leading  to  Educational  Deafness  in 
Cliildren  "   {Lancet,  July  2otli  and  27th,  1912). 


October   ig,    igi 


Zl)C  IBrttteb  3ournal  ot  IRursing. 


307 


niatous    fevers ;    measles,    scarlet    fever,    and 
diphtheria  figfuring-  most  highly  among  them. 

When  middle  ear  suppuration  or  catarrh 
occur  from  causes  in  the  upper  air  passages  in 
children,  those  causes  are,  in  the  vast  majority 
of  cases,  due  to  the  presence  of  adenoids.  In 
the  article  just  referred  to,  14.3  per  cent,  of 
the  592  acquired  deaf  cases  were  due  to 
middle  ear  suppuration  (not  counting  those 
cases  of  discharge  which  followed  an  infectious 
fever)  and  15.0  per  cent,  were  due  to  middle 
ear  catarrh.  The  suppurative  and  catarrhal  I 
cases  taken  together  numbered  175,  and  of 
these  130  were  directly  traceable  to  nasal  con- 
ditions, the  vast  majority  being  adenoid  in 
origin.  This  means  that  these  cases  were  pre- 
ventable. In  order  properly  to  understand  how 
such  cases  are  due  to  preventable  means,  the 
way  in  which  adenoids  act  must  be  briefly 
described.  Adenoids  are  due  to  an  hypertrophy 
of  Luschka's  tonsil,  a  collection  of  lymphoid 
tissue  in  the  roof  of  the  naso-pharynx.  This 
lymphoid  tissue  extends  laterally  into  the  re- 
cesses which  lie  behind  the  openings  of  the 
Eustachian  tubes,  which  form-  the  communica- 
tion between  the  middle  ear  and  the  post- 
nasal space.  The  nasopharynx,  lying  as  it 
does  behind  the  nose,  above  the  oropharynx, 
larynx,  and  oesophagus,  and  having  opening 
into  it  the  Eustachian  tubes,  forms  a  most  con- 
venient centre  for  the  dissemination  of  infec- 
tion. The  hypertrophy  which  forms  adenoid 
growths  may  result  in  several  ways,  probably 
nearly  always  from  infection.  Thev  may  be  left 
by  one  of  the  infectious  fevers;  they  may  be 
tuberculous ;  they  may  arise  from  repeated 
colds,  from  infection  by  that  sadly  misnamed 
instrument  of  baleful  influence,  the  "  com- 
forter," or  from  improper  artificial  feed- 
ing (as  Barraud,  of  Lausanne,  has  pointed 
but).  Once  present,  they,  with  their  deep  clefts 
and  thick  mucous  secretion,  form  a  very 
fertile  source  for  infecting  nose,  larvnx,  and 
Eustachian  tube,  so  that  rhinitis,  laryngitis, 
and  middle  ear  inflammation  may  be  the  result. 
Probably  the  infective  part  of  the  process  is  the 
most  important,  but  adenoids  also  act,  when 
sufficiently  large,  by  preventing  the  proper 
ventilating  action  of  the  Eustachian  tubes  by 
pressure.  Nor  does  it  always  need  a  large 
adenoid  mass  to  act  thus  mechanically,  for  an 
enlargement  of  the  lateral  extension  of  the 
lymphoid  tissue  behind  the  openings  of  the 
tubes  is  quite  sufficient  to  interfere  with  their 
normal  movements. 

It  is  only  by  skilled  removal  of  the  offending 
growths,  when  adenoids  are  once  established, 
that  ear  complications  and   resulting  deafness 


can  be  prevented.  Anything  short  of  removal 
leaves  the  patient  menaced  by  the  first  fresh 
infection.  It  will  be  noted  that  I  have  laid 
special  stress  upon  the  fact  that  the  removal 
of  adenoids  must  be  skilled.  Adenoids  arc 
often  removed  very  badly.  It  is  an  easy  opera- 
tion once  the  knowledge  of  how  to  perform  it 
has  been  acquired,  but  very  difficult  in  un- 
skilled hands.  It  cannot  be  too  well  borne  ■'.•i 
mind  that  efficient  removal  does  not  mean  the 
mere  ablation  of  a  large  central  mass ;  lateral 
extensions  must  be  equally  well  eradicated.  If 
these  are  left,  infection  and  mechanical  obstruc- 
tion of  the  Eustachian  tubes  will  continue,  and 
this  explains  the  failures  of  adenoid  operations. 
.Moreover,  one  of  the  most  common  causes  of 
middle  ear  catarrhal  deafness  arising  in  early 
adult  life  is  that  the  lateral  extensions,  when 
they  retrogress  at  puberty,  leave  behind  them 
adhesions  which  effectually  interfere  with  the 
Eustachian  tubes.  Therefore,  the  efficient 
treatment  of  adenoids  may  mean  not  only  the 
prevention  of  deafness  in  childhood,  but  the 
prevention  of  deafness  in  later  life.  The  im- 
portance of  this  cannot  be  over-estimated. 

Leaving  for  one  moment  the  causes  of  deaf- 
ness which  lie  in  the  middle  ear,  reference  njust 
be  made  to  another  very  frequent  cause  of 
serious  defect  of  hearing — meningitis.  Menin- 
gitis may  extend  to  the  internal  ear  and  cause 
very  serious  nerve  deafness.  Now  meningitis 
is  a  condition  which  may  be  due  to  a  variety  of 
causes,  and,  until  these  causes  are  studied  and 
meningitis  is  made  clearer  by  the  light  of 
research,  we  shall  not  be  able  to  do  much  to 
prevent  the  deafness  which  it  may  cause. 
Hence  every  case  of  meningitis  should  be  noti- 
fied, so  that  its  study  may  be  facilitated  for 
research. 

These  are,  briefly,  the  facts  as  to  the  preven- 
tion of  the  common  forms  of  deafness  in  chil- 
dren and  adults.  They  are  facts  which  cannot 
be  too  widely  known.  It  is  not  realised,  even 
by  the  medical  profession,  how  many  cases  of 
adult  deafness  are  preventable  in  childhood. 
Otology  has  been  too  long  the  neglected  Cin- 
derella of  the  medical  sciences.  It  is  time  that 
a  practical  knowledge  of  ears  should  not  merely 
be  inserted  in  the  syllabus  of  the  qualifying 
examinations,  but  insisted  upon  by  forming  the 
subject  of  frequent  questions  in  such  examina- 
tions. Then,  and  then  only,  will  the  bulk  of 
the  profession  wake  to  a  sense  of  its  responsi- 
bilities in  the  prevention  of  deafness.  Until 
then  the  facts  I  have  endeavoured  to  set  forth 
in  this  short  article  should  be  as  widely  dis- 
seminated as  possible  by  all  who  appreciate 
them.      Nurses,   especially   school   nurses,   can 


^o8 


<Ibe  Britisb  3oiunal  of  1Hur£iinc$ 


October   19,    1912 


do  much  lo  inlkiLncc  treatment  where  it  i--. 
needed.  School  doctors,  health  workers,  school 
teachers,  can  help.  Many  of  the  seeds  of 
deafness  are  laid  before  school  age,  and,  there- 
fore, it  is  highly  important  that  the  mothers 
should  be  influenced.  Lectures  should  be 
organised  on  the  subject  to  health  \isitors  and 
health  workers  of  all  kinds,  so  that  they  may 
acquire  the  requisite  knowledge  to  enable  them 
directly  to  influence  the  mothers  with  whom 
they  come  in  contact.  Similar  lectures,  in 
which  the  causation  of  deafness  is  described  in 
simple  language  and  advice  given  as  to  the 
proper  care  of  the  ear,  nose  and  throat,  should 
be  given  to  elementary  school  teachers.  Lastly, 
"  talks  to  mothers  "  upon  the  same  subject 
should  be  organised  by  local  health  societies. 
These  talks  to  mothers  have  already  given  ex- 
cellent results  in  other  departments  of  pre- 
ventive medicine,  as  the  valuable  report  of  the 
St.  Marylebone  Health  Society  has  demon- 
strated. Mothers  are,  in  the  majority  of  cases, 
only  too  grateful  for  the  advice  which  they  re- 
ceive, and  only  too  pleased  to  use  their  best 
endeavours  to  put  into  practice  suggestions 
which  they  know  to  be  offered  for  the  good  of 
their  children.  This  year  I  was  privileged  to 
give  an  address  to  mothers,  under  the  auspices 
of  the  St.  Marylebone  Health  Society,  and  I 
was  much  impressed  by  the  appreciative  and 
earnest  manner  in  which  my  words  were 
received.  In  matters  concerning  the  health  of 
the  child  our  profession  can  give  valuable  ad- 
vice, but  it  is  upon  the  mothers  that  we  have  lo 
depend  to  make  that  advice  bear  good  fruit. 
Without  the  co-operation  of  the  mother  we  aie 
helpless,  but  that  co-operation  is  easily  secured 
if  we  go  the  right  way  to  obtain  it. 

OUR   CHRISTMAS   COMPETITION. 

Four  Five  .Shilling  Prizes  will  hv  awarded  in 
December  for  the  best  toys  made  at  the  cost  of 
not  more  than  sixpence.  The  toys  must  be  sent 
to  the  Editorial  Office,  20,  L'pper  Wimpole 
.Street,  London,  VV.,  by  December  14th,  with 
the  coupon  which  will  appear  in  the  issue  of 
December  7th.  .Ml  the  toys  will  be  distributed 
to  poor  children  under  five  years  of  age,  so  they 
should  be  made  to  meet  ta^te^^  of  tinies. 

OUR  PRIZE^MPETITION. 

The  papers  received  in  connection  with  our 
prize  competition,  although  some  are  interest- 
ing from  the  general  standpoint,  do  not  directly 
answer  the  question.  The  prize  will,  therefore, 
not  be  awarded  this  week. 

QUESTION     FOR     NEXT     WEEK. 

Describe  the  modern  management  of  scarlet 
fever. 


NURSING  IN  THE  NEAR  EAST, 


The  probability  of  war  in  the  Near  East  Js 
causing  much  interest  in  nursing  circles  as  to 
the  provision  to  be  made  for  the  sick  and 
wounded.  It  is  natural  that  Queen  Alexandra, 
whose  favourite  brother  is  King  of  the 
Hellenes,  should  take  a  deep  interest  in  the 
question,  and  we  understand  that  Her  Majesty, 
through  the  British  Red  Cross  Society,  of 
which  she  is  President,  has  offered  assistance 
in  the  event  of  war.  The  Russian  Red  Cross 
Society  is  also  equipping  a  Service  to  proceed 
to  Montenegro  and  the  other  Balkan  States, 
consisting  of  250  beds,  and  there  is  no  doubt 
that  other  countries  will  offer  similar  service. 

Nor  must  it  be  forgotten  that  the  Greek 
ladies  are  extremely  patriotic,  and  that  in  the 
Grseco-Turkish  war  in  1897  the  Queen  took  the 
greatest  interest  in  the  condition  and  comfort 
of  the  wounded,  and  personally  visited  the  hos- 
pitals ;  and  the  Crown  Princess  actively  con- 
cerned herself  in  the  provision  of  doctors  and 
thoroughly  trained  nurses,  and  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  military  and  civil  hospitals. 

At  that  time  our  national  Red  Cross  Society 
was  somewhat  dormant,  and  the  organization 
of  the  aid  of  British  nurses  was  carried  out  bv 
Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  and  the  Daily  Chronicle  ; 
the  Red  Cross  Society's  aid  was  not  forth- 
coming till  the  conclusion  of  the  war,  when  it 
nad  to  be  distributed  to  the  refugees.  To 
the  Daily  Chronicle  belongs  the  credit  of  raising 
the  funds  by  means  of  which  thoroughly  trained 
nurses  were  sent  out  to  the  seat  of  war,  and, 
with  the  invaluable  assistance  of  manv  Greek 
ladies,  well-equipped  hospital  accommodation 
was  speedly  organized  under  Mrs.  Fenwick's 
superintendence  in  four  different  centres. 

We  learn  from  the  British  Red  Cross  Society 
that  the  members  of  the  \'oluntarv  .Aid  Detach- 
ments will  have  the  "  first  chance  "  of  being 
sent  out  with  the  doctors  who  will  be  detailed 
for  active  service,  and  It  was  expressly  stated, 
as  we  are  of  course  aware,  that  "  thev  are  not 
tnoroughlv  trained  nurses."  The  women  mem- 
ners  are  not  to  be  sent  in  the  first  instance. 
We  understand  that  offers  of  service  will  he 
considered  from  trained  nurses.  A  statement 
]s  to  be  issued  by  the  Red  Cross  Society  as  we 
go  to  press.  \^oluntarv  .Aid  Detachments  may, 
no  doubt,  have  their  uses,  but  no  one  can  take 
the  place  of  the  fully  trained  nurse  in  the  care 
of  the  sick  and  wounded  in  war.  Here  in 
England  she  is  ready  and  waiting.  We  hope 
her  services  will  be  commanded  by  the  medic.d 
facultv  from  the  first. 


October  19,    191 


Cbc  36ritii?b  3ournal  of  ll-lursinc}. 


309 


THE  MATRONS'  COUNCIL   OF  GREAT 
BRITAIN  AND  IRELAND. 


The  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Matrons' 
Council  will  be  held,  by  the  courtesy  of  the 
Governors,  at  the  Royal  Albert  Edward 
Infirmary,  Wigan,  on  Saturday,  Novem- 
ber 2nd,  at  3.30 
p.m.  The  meeting 
will  receive  a  Re- 
port from  Miss 
Mollett,  the  repre- 
sentative of  the 
Council  to  the 
Cologne  Congress, 
and  a  proposal 
from  Mrs.  Fen- 
wick  that  the 
Council  adopt  a 
Banner. 

At  5  p.m.  there 
will  be  an  open 
meeting,  when  the 
Bill  for  the  Regis- 
tration of  Trained 
Nurses  will  be 
considered,  the 
discussion  to  be 
opened  by  Mrs. 
Fenwick.  Miss 
Macintvre  has 
issued  invitations 
to  many  of  the 
Council  coming 
from  London  to 
stay  the  week-end, 
and  several  mem- 
bers have  accepted 
her  kind  hos- 
pitality. Amongst 
those  who  will 
form  the  London 
party  are  Mis> 
Heather-Bigg  (the 
President),  Mrs. 
l'"enuick,  M  i  s  > 
Mollett,  Mrs. 
Walter  Spencer, 
-Miss     B.     Cutler. 

Miss   Elma    Smith,    and    Miss    W'inmill,    all   of 
whom  are  anticipating  a  very  pleasant  time. 

One  of  the  pleasantest  features  of  the  visits 
of  the  Matrons'  Council  to  provincial  hospitals 
has  been  the  cordiality  of  the  governors  and 
secretaries  of  the  institutions  where  their  meet- 
ings have  been  held,  which  seems  to  prove  that 
where  a  Matron,  such  as  the  hostess  of  the 
Council     at     its    forthcoming     meeting.     Miss 


AlISS'  K.    V 
HOSTESS  OF  THE 


MACINTVKE. 
MATRONS'  COUNCIL. 


Macinlyre,  is  a  convinced  supporter  of  nursing 
organization  and  progress,  she  is  able  as  a 
rule  to  interest  her  committee  in  the  aspirations 
of  the  nursing  profession,  and  to  enlist  their 
sympathy.  If  more  Matrons  made  a  point  of 
speaking  to  members  of  their  committees,  indi- 
viduallv  and  collectively,  on  these  matters,  we 
should  not  so  often  hear  nurses  lament  that 
their  committees 
are  out  of  touch 
with  their  ideals 
and  do  not  under- 
stand them.  Miss 
Macintyre  is  to 
be  congratulated 
upon  working 
under  a  committee 
s  o  sympathetic 
with  its  Matron, 
and  the  committee 
of  the  Royal 
.'\lbert  Edward  In- 
firmary, Wigan, 
is  to  be  congratu- 
lated on  so  effi- 
cient and  loyal  an 
officer,  whose  pro- 
fessional work  is 
known  and  appre- 
ciated far  bevond 
the  limits  of  her 
own  hospital. 


A  very  prac- 
tical result  of  the 
Internal  i  onal 
Congress  of 
Nurses,  in  which 
the  pre-eminence 
of  Miss  Florence 
Nightingale  as  an 
educationalist  was 
insisted  upon,  has 
been  that  Miss 
Barton,  Matron  of 
the  Chelsea  In- 
firmary, has  de- 
cided to  give  a 
prize  twice  a  year, 
after  each  third  year  examination,  to  the  best 
all-round  nurse,  and  a  book  after  each  first  year 
examination,  to  the  probationer  who  obtains 
the  most  marks,  as  a  memorial  to  Miss 
Nightingale  and  an  outcome  of  the  Congress. 
These  prizes  will  be  given  until  the  next  Inter- 
national Nursing  Congress  takes  place  in  San 
Francisco  in  1915.  The  first  prize  will  take 
the  form  of  the  League  Badge  in  silver. 


THE   SOCIETY   FOR   STATE  REQIS= 
TKATION  OF  TRAINED  NURSES. 


Jibe  Britisb  3ournal  ot  Burstnci.       October  19,  .912 


A  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
Society  for  the  State  Registration  of  Trained 
Nurses  was  held  at  431,  Oxford  Street,  on 
Friday,  October  ijth.  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick, 
President,  was  in  the  chair. 

The  Hon.   Secket.-vry's  Report. 

The  principal  points  mentioned  in  the  report 
presented  by  Miss  M.  Breay,  Hon.  Secretary, 
were  that  since  the  last  meeting  of  the  Execu- 
tive the  Resolution  relative  to  State  Registra- 
tion of  Nurses  passed  at  the  Annual  Meeting 
had  been  forwarded  to  the  Prime  Minister  and 
the  members  of  the  Cabinet ;  that,  by  the  kind 
invitation  of  the  Right  Hon.  R.  C.  and  the 
Lady  Helen  Munro  Ferguson,  a  number  of 
Matrons  and  Members  of  Parliament  had  met 
at  46,  Cadogan  Square,  S.W.,  to  discuss  the 
question  of  State  Registration ;  that  on  two 
occasions  questions  on  that  subject  had  been 
asked  in  the  House  of  Commons  by  Dr.  W.  \. 
Chappie,  Member  for  Stirlingshire.  She  also 
drew  attention  to  the  fact  that  at  the  meeting 
of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses  at 
Cologne  a  Resolution  emphatically  endorsing 
the  State  Registration  of  Nurses  had  been 
unanimously  adopted  by  the  Council,  represent- 
ing nine  nationalities,  and  that  wherever  nurses 
were  organized,  professional  opinion  was 
unanimous  in  favour  of  State  Registration  ;  and 
that  the  Resolution  which  "  called  upon  those 
Governments  that  have  so  far  denied  this 
obviously  just  demand  of  nurses,  and  of  public 
bodies,  to  reverse  their  attitude  of  inaction  and 
to  legislate  in  protection  of  the  sick  against 
fraudulent  and  incompetent  nursing  care,"  had 
since  been  forwarded  to  the  Prime  Minister  and 
the  Lord  President  of  the  Council  in  this 
country,  and  to  the  Ministers  primarily  con- 
cerned, in  the  other  countries  affiliated  to  the 
International  Council  of  Nurses.  The  Report 
also  mentioned  that  considerable  time  was 
devoted  to  receiving  reports  from  affiliated 
countries  on  Organization  and  Registration, 
that  from  the  Society  for  the  State  Registration 
of  Trained  Nurses  being  presented  by  Miss 
Christina  Forrest,  Treasurer  of  the  National 
Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of  Great  Britain  and 
Ireland. 

It  further  drew  attention  to  the  fact  that, 
whereas  the  President  and  Hon.  Secretary  of 
the  Council,  and  delegates  and  members  from 
Germany,  the  United  States,  Canada,  New 
Zealand,  South  Africa,  and  Belgium  were  pre- 
sent as  registered  nurses,  the  officers  and  dele- 


gates from  the  United  Kingdom  had  no  such 
status. 

Lastly,  that  since  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
Society  in  June  the  nurses  of  Louisiana  had 
obtained  their  legal  status. 

The  adoption  of  the  Report,  which  was 
carried  unanimously,  was  moved  by  Miss  E.  S. 
Haldane,  LL.D.,  seconded  by  Miss  Marquardt. 

Correspondence. 
The  correspondence  received  included  ac- 
knowledgments of  communications  from  the 
Prime  Minister  and  the  Lord  President  of  the 
Council,  and  from  the  Countess  of  Dudley. 
Also  letters  from  Miss  Sara  Londen,  Secretary 
to  the  Rhode  Island  Association  of  Graduate 
Nurses,  and  Miss  E.  L.  Hunter,  Hon.  Secre- 
tary of  the  Queensland  Branch  of  the  Austral- 
asian Trained  Nurses'  Association,  acknow- 
ledging in  cordial  terms  the  letters  of  congratu- 
lation on  the  attainment  of  their  legal  status 
sent  from  the  Annual  Meeting. 

Suggestions  for  the  Parliamentary 
Campaign. 
The   Parliamentary   position   was   then   con- 
sidered,      and      suggestions      discussed      for 
streng'thening  it. 

-Applications  for  Membership. 
The     following     new     members     were     then 
elected  : — 
No.  Name.  Where  Trained. 

3186.  Miss  L.  Routledge,  cert.    Prince  of  Wales 

Hcsp.,  Tottenham. 

3187.  Miss  M.    H.    Davis,    cert.    Royal    Hants. 

County  Hosp.,  Winchester. 

3188.  Miss  A.  L.  J.  Morris,  cert.  Prince  of  Wales 

Hosp.,  Tottenham. 

3189.  Miss  J.  Jackson,  cert.  Wandsworth  Inf. 

3190.  Miss  E.  Slade,  ce'-t.  Taunton  and  Somerset 

Hosp. 

3191.  Miss     E.    A.    Crissell,     cert.    Poplar    and 

Stepney  Sick  Asylum. 

3192.  Miss  A.  Harding,  cert.  Kingston  Inf. 

3193.  Miss  L.     Hill,     cert.     Warneford     Hosp., 

Leamington. 

3194.  Miss  E.  M.  Miller,  cert.  Warneford  Hosp., 

Leamington.        • 

3195.  Miss  A.  A.  Lokier,  cert.  Guy's  Hosp.,  S.E. 

3196.  Miss  A.  E.  Thacker,  cert.  Great  Yarmouth 

Hosp. 

3197.  Miss  J.  Hopton,  cert.  Roy.  Free  Hosp. 

3198.  Miss  S.  F.  Norfield,  cert.  Chelsea  Inf. 
3199      Miss  S.     Simpson,     cert,     ^^^li,ston     Int., 

Prescot. 

3200.  Miss  E.  Willis,  cert,  Roy-.   Inf.,  Leicester. 

3201.  Miss  D.  E.  M.  Golding,  cert.  Wandsworth 

Inf. 

3202.  Miss  F.   G.    Stevens,    cert.   Firvale   Hosp., 

Sheffield. 

3203.  Miss  M.  Graham,  cert.  South  Manchester 

Hosps.,  West  Didsbury. 


October  ig,   1912 


JTbe  British  3ournal  of  IRursmo. 


3204.  Miss    C.    M.    Turner,    cert.    Guest    Hosp., 

Dudley. 

3205.  Miss  S.  J.  Beaumont,  cert.  Bradford  Union 

Inf.  , 

3200.     Miss  K.  I^imincr,  cert.  Lewisham  Inf. 

3207.  Miss  R.     E.     Clist,     cert.     Highfield    Inf.. 

Liverpool. 

3208.  Miss  M.  M,  Whale,  cert.  The  Inf.,  Reading. 

3209.  Miss  L.  Toft,  cert.  Fulham  Inf. 

3210.  Miss    T.    M.    M.    Rowse.   cert.    Warneford 

Hosp.,  Leamington. 

321 1.  Miss  S.  M.  Lightfoot,  cert.  City  of  London 

Inf. 

3212.  Miss  M.  A.  Carter,  cert.  City  of  London  Inf. 

3213.  Miss  G.  E.  Campling,  cert.  London  Hosp.,E. 

3214.  Miss  E.  Jeffries,  cert.  Nortli  Staffordshire 

Inf. 

3215.  .Miss  M.  Holmes,  cert.  St.  George's  Hosp. 
3210.     Miss  L.  W.  Stott,  cert.   St.   Bart's  Hosp. 

3217.  Miss  C.  E.  Todd,  cert.  Guy's  Hosp.,  Matron 

St.  James'  Inf.,  Wandsworth. 

3218.  Miss  E.   L.  Tate,  cert.  Warneford  Hosp., 

Leamington. 

3219.  Miss  E.  K.  Bracher,  cert.  The  Inf.,  Wands- 

worth. 

3220.  Miss  S.  Dougherty,  cert.  Roy.  Inf.,  Glasgow. 

3221.  Miss    H.    A.    M.    Kremer,    cert.    C.L.S.A., 

Hendon. 

3222.  Miss  F.   L.   Jarvis,  cert.   St.  Bart's  Hosp. 

3223.  Miss  A.   A.   Brown,   cert.   Kingston  Inf. 

3224.  Miss  E.  Lee,  cert.   Kingston  Inf. 

3225.  Miss  M.  R.  Helgesen,  cert.   Kingston  Inf. 

3226.  Miss  E.  Grant,  cert.   Kingston  Inf. 

3227.  Miss  E.   Hughes,   cert.    Kmgston   Inf. 

3228.  Miss  M.  T.  Maricni,  cert.  St.  Bart's  Hosp. 

3229.  Miss  M.  Cookson,  cert.  Windsor  and   Eton 

Inf. 


The  meeting  then  terminated. 

Margaret  Breay,  Hon.  Secrrtur 


STATE    REGISTRATION    IN  THE 
HOUSE  OF  COMMONS. 


In  the  House  uf  Commons  last  week  Dr. 
Chappie,  Member  for  Stirlingshire,  asked  the 
Prime  Minister  whether  hi.s  attention  had  been 
drawn  to  the  deaths  of  four  infants,  within  a 
week,  in  a  babies'  home  in  Tooting,  where  none 
of  the  nurses  in  attendance  were  qualified,  and 
what  steps,  if  any,  he  was  prepared  to  take  to 
ensure  that  protection  to  the  sick  which  in 
many  other  countries  was  provided  bv  State 
Registration  of  Trained  Nurses 

Mr.  McKenna,  who  replied,  said  that  the 
home  was  a  creche,  not  an  institution  for 
sick  children,  and  the  per.sons  described  as 
"  nurses  "  were  not  sick  nurses,  but  the  ordi- 
nary attendants  on  the  children.  The  case  was 
a  serious  one,  but  he  did  not  think  it  had  anv 


direct    bearing   on    the   question    of   the    State 
Registration  of  Nurses. 

The  Home  Secretary  seems  to  have  over- 
looked the  opinion  of  the  medical  officer  that  a 
home  of  that  kind  should  have  at  least  one 
trained  nurse.  Further,  surely  a  responsible 
Minister  of  the  Crown  should  know  that  it  is 
dangerous  to  segregate  young  children  in  com- 
munities, apart  from  their  natural  surround- 
ings, without  placing  them  in  the  charge  of  a 
skilled  person,  who  understands  the  care  neces- 
sary to  keep  them  healthy,  warm,  and  properlv 
dieted.  Certainly  the  institution  was  not  onct 
for  sick  children,  but  four  entru.stcd  to  it  were 
not  only  sick,  but  moribund,  within  a  week. 
These  lives  might  probably  have  been  saved  by 
trained  nursing.   ■ 


NEW  YORK  THE  EDUCATIONAL  CENTRE. 


It   will  surprise  no  one  who  knows  the  Hon. 
Albinia    Brodrick,    and    the    thorough    way    in 
which  she  has  prepared  herself  for  the  service 
of    the    sick    poor,    especially    her    poor    Irish 
friends  at   Ballincoona,    that   she  has  gone  to 
New   York,   to  avail   herself  of  the  course  in 
Nursing    and    Health    provided    at    Teachers' 
College,  Columbia  University,  under  the  super- 
intendence of  Miss   M.   Adelaide   Nutting.     A 
warm  welcome  is  assured  to  Miss  Brodrick  in 
New   York,   for  at   the   International   Nursing 
Congress  in  London  in    1909  no  one  made  a 
deeper    impression    on    the    Congress    and    the 
.\merican  delegates,  and  she  cannot  fail  to  be  a 
most  acceptable  student.     Miss  Brodrick  states 
her    opinion    that    the    nursing    profession    in 
America  is  far  ahead  of  that  of  the  United  King- 
dom, and  she  desires  to  obtain  all  the  knowledge 
she  can  get  there  in  order  to  utilize  it  for  the 
benefit   of   her   hospital   at    Ballincoona.      New 
York  has  now  become  the  nursing  educational 
centre  of  the  world,  and  the  Teachers'  College 
course   has   attracted    nurses   from    the    United 
Kingdom,  Germany,  Finland,  China,  Japan,  and 
other  countries.  The  American  Superintendents 
and  nurses  have  earned  this  distinction  :   thev 
founded    the    Teachers'    College    course,    sup- 
ported it  financially,  and  gave  gratuitous  ser- 
vice to  make  it  a  success,  until  Miss  Waid,  the 
founder  of  the  Nurses'   Settlement,  obtained  a 
liberal  endowment  for  it,  and  now  the  brightesi 
nursing  intellects  of  the  world  are  gravitating 
to  New  York  to  avail  themselves  of  its  advan- 
tages.     But   what   of   Florence    Nightingale's 
country?     Truly  the  suggestion  for  an  educa- 
tional   memorial    to    the    Founder    of    modern 
nursing,  to  be  located  in  London,  is  well  timed. 


312 


Cbe  Brltisb  3ournal  of  IRursino.       October  19,  1912 


THE    TRAINED    WOMEN    NURSES' 
FRIENDLY    SOCIETY. 


During  the  past  week  the  whole  nursing  worid 
has  been  fussing  about  the  Insurance  Act,  and  to 
judge  from  the  experience  of  the  officials  of  the 
Trained  Women  Kurses'  Friendly  Societj'-  a  few 
hints  will  not  perhags  come  amiss. 

I.  \\'hen  forwarding  the  insurance  card  see 
that  each  compartment  is  filled  with  the 
special  sixpenny  stamp,  or  that  stamps  to 
the  amount  of  6s.  6d.  are  affixed.  See  that 
each     stamp     is 


dated,  and  that 
the  card  is 
signed  by  the 
contributor,  and 
sent  to  the  office 
of  the  Approved 
Society  before 
the  26th  Octo- 
ber. 

2.  Do  not  forget  to 
stamp  the  en- 
velope in  which 
it  is  sent  to  the 
office. 

3.  Do  not  worr\-  if 
card  No.  2  is 
not  forwarded 
by  return  of  post 
— as  there  is  so 
much  clerical 
work  connected 
w  i  t  h  booking, 
and  card  in- 
scribing, in  com- 
piling the  first 
quarter's  lists, 
that  reasonable 
time  must  be 
allowed  for  the 
enormous  labour 
entailed  by  the 
regulations  of 
the  Insurance 
Act. 

4.  Don't  be  dis- 
appointed    that 

after  paying  3d.  a  week  for  thirteen   weeks. 

a     life's    pension    of     /i     a     week     is   not 

immediately  forthcoming  ! 
The  Committee  of  Management  of  the  T.W.N. F.S. 
met  on  the  9th  inst.  and  there  were  present  Mrs. 
Fenwick,  President,  Mrs.  Paston  Brown,  Vice- 
President,  Mr.  T.  W.  Craig,  Treasurer,  Miss 
Waind,  Trustee,  Miss  Mollett,  Miss  Cutler,  Miss 
Finch,  !Miss  H.  L.  Pearse,  ISIiss  Elma  Smith, 
Miss  Annie  Smith,  Miss  Morgan,  Miss  Boge,  iliss 
B.  Kent,  Miss  M.  Breaj-,  Miss  E.  Foivler,  and  Miss 
O'Brien.  A  satisfactory'  report  was  presented. 
Miss  Mollett  having  previously  notified  that  owing 
to  distance  from  London  she  would  be  unable  to  act 
as  Secretary,  the  Committee  learnt  with  \-er\-  great 


pleasure  that  Miss  G.  A.  Rogers,  late  of  the  Royal 
Infirmary,  Leicester,  was  prepared  to  accept  the 
office  of  Secretary  on  trial.  It  was  recognised  that 
her  appointment  would  be  universally  popular 
with  the  members,  and  would  encourage  many 
nurses  to  join  a  society  which  could  command  in 
their  interests  her  great  administrative  ability. 
It  was  unanimously  agreed  that  arrangements 
should  be  made  for  Miss  Rogers  to  assume 
office  on  October  15th.  at  431,  Oxford  Street,  W.. 
where  the  work  of  the  Society  will  be  carried 
on  for  the  next  few  months,  until  it  is  thoroughlj- 
established. 

The  Society  was 
started  to  emphasise 
the  necessity  for  pro- 
fessional women  con- 
trolling their  own 
State  Insurance  and 
financial  affairs  —  of 
course,  with  the  best 
expert  ad\ace  avail- 
able, and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  the  more 
intelligent  members  of 
the  profession  will 
come  to  realise  more 
and  more  that  they 
can  do  so  efficientlv, 
and  much  more 
economically  than 
financiers,  whose  busi- 
ness is  profit,  are  pre- 
pared to  do  it  for 
them. 

The  members  of  the 
Society  will  be  glad 
to  become  acquainted, 
through  the  medium 
of  this  paper,  with 
their  Treasurer,  Mr. 
T.  W.  Craig,  and  we 
think  they  are  to  be 
congratulated  on 

having  secured  the 
services  of  one  who 
is  not  onlv  possessed 
of  business  acumen, 
but  is  keenlv  inter- 
ested in  nurses  and 
their  work,  and  in  all  that  make^  for  nursing 
progress.  Mr.  Craig  is  a  firm  believer  in  the 
principle  of  insurance,  and,  in  regard  to  the 
insurance  of  nurses  under  the  National  Insurance 
Act,  he  has  publicly  expressed  his  belief  that  the 
Trained  Women  Nurses'  Friendly  Society  offers 
them  advantages  supetior  to  anv  other.  At  the 
Same  time,  he  is  strongly  of  opinion  the  future  of 
the  Society  rests  largely  with  the  members  them- 
selves, and  considers  that  each  one  who  realises 
the  advantage  of  belonging  to  the  onlv  Societv 
of  which  the  membership  is  limited  to  trained 
hospital  and  infirmar\f  nurses,  or  those  who  are 
in  training,  should  attract  to  its  ranks  other 
nurses  of  good  standing  and  health. 


TREASLKKR.      TR.AI.NED 
FRIENDLY     50CIETV. 


October  19,    1912 


Cbe  Bitnsb  3ournai  of  IHurstng. 


313 


THE  NURSES'  MISSIONARY  LEAGUE. 


Last  week  \vc  rciKjited  tlir  .Moiiiing  and  After- 
noon Sessions  of  the  recent  Valedictory  Meetings 
of  the  Nurses'  Missionary  League  held  at 
I'nivcrsity  Hall.  Gordon  Square,  W.C.  The  day 
•closed  with  the  dismissal  of  the  sailing  members. 

EvicxiNG  Session. 

Mr.  F.  Marcus  Wood,  Secretary  of  the  China 
Inland  Mission,  presided  at  the  evening  meeting. 
The  first  speaker  was  Miss  Richardson,  Secretary 
of  the  League,  who  said  there  was  great  cause 
for  thankfulness  as  to  the  work  in  the  past,  and  tht 
league  might  indeed  thank  God  and  take  courage 
to  meet  the  unknown  future  as  it  bid  God  speed 
to  its  real  friends  who  were  proceeding  abroad, 
committing  each  one  to  the  care  of  her  Heavenly 
Father.  She  invited  the  home  members  to  bear 
.in  mind  that  their  colleague?  were  depending  on 
them  for  faithful  remembrance  at  the  Throne  of 
Grace,  and  to  regard  the  opportunity  as  a  sacred 
privilege. 

Miss  J.  Macfee,  B.A.,  Editor  of  Nurses  Near  and 
Far,  then  said  that  the  League  was  now  gj  years 
old.  It  had  1,846  members,  588  of  whom  were 
volunteers  for  active  ser\-ice,  204  of  these  being 
already  abroad,  and  that  day  the  League  was 
saying  farewell  to  tliirteen  more  of  its  number. 
It  was  well  tliat  the  League  should  try  to  get  an 
idea  of  what  it  had  meant  to  the  world  that  all 
these  nurses  should  go  out.  Miss  Macfee  referred 
also  to  the  urgent  necessity  for  enlarged  head- 
•  quarters  if  the  development  of  the  work  was  not 
to  be  hindered.  It  was  estimated  that  an  additional 
income  of  at  least  £350  per  annum  was  required. 

The  Chairman  emphasised  Miss  Macfee  s  remarks 
and  said  that  the  League  was  really  suffering  from 
its  success.  More  extensive  premises  were  necessary 
and  more  office  help.  He  also  enlarged  on  the 
necessity  for  fully  trained  nurses  in  the  Mission 
Field,  and  said  what  a  tremendous  support  they 
were  to  the  doctors  and  to  mission  work  as  a 
whole. 

Each  of  the  sailing  members  present  then  said 
a  few  words :  the  first.  Miss  Hilda  Anthony 
(Royal  Infirmarj-,  Derby),  is  at  present  detained 
for  lack  of  funds.  She  said  that  when  she  first 
went  to  hospital  the  Nurses'  Missionary  League 
was  a  great  help  to  her,  and  the  Chairman  subse- 
quently pointed  out  to  the  members  what  they 
might  do  for  the  new  nurse,  a  little  kindness  to  a 
new  pro.  went  a  long  way  towards  establishing  a 
friendship.  Of  course,  when  speaking  on  religious 
subjects  tact  was  needed,  and  in  illustration  of 
this  he  told  the  storj'  of  a  young  man  who.  desirous 
of  devoting  his  life  to  God's  ser\'ice.  promised  to 
speak  to  the  fjrst  person  he  met  the  next  day  on 
the  subject.  He  happened  to  be  a  butcher's 
assistant  and  the  first  person  he  came  across 
was  a  little  girl  who  came  in  to  the  shop  for  a 
joint  of  meat.  To  her  he  said,  while  sharpening 
his  big  knife  preparatory-  to  ser\ing  her  :  "  My 
dear,  are  you  ready  to  die  ?  "  That  was  a  true 
story. 


-Miss  J.  .\.  Clouting  (London  Hospital),  pro 
ceeding  to  Mien-chuh.  was  the  next  speaker.  She 
said  that  her  departure  had  been  deferred  for  a 
year  ;  and  it  had  been  a  comfort  to  her  to  remem- 
ber the  teaching  of  the  cloud,  which  went  before 
the  Children  of  Israel,  in  the  wilderness — when 
it  stopped,  they  stopped  ;  when  it  moved  on,  they 
followed.  Reckoning  up  the  gains  and  losses  of 
the  past  year,  she  could  think  of  nothing  but 
gains.  She  had  been  spending  the  year  with  a 
lady,  formerly  a  missionary  in  West  China,  and 
had  had  some  lessons  in  the  Chinese  language  ; 
she  had  had  another  Keswick  ;  she  had  had  useful 
work — very  ;  two  more  nurses,  great  friends  of 
hers,  from  her  own  hospital,  had  volunteered  for 
missionary-  work  ;  and  she  had  been  adopted  by 
a  home  parish,  which  she  had  always  greatly 
desired,  so  that  she  might  be  backed  up  by  a  real 
bank  of  prayer. 

Miss  Marv  Godfrey  {General  Infirmary, 
Bolton),  proceeding  to  Toro,  Uganda,  said  that 
she  was  going  to  a  new  hospital  of  seventy-  beds, 
where  there  was  only  one  English  sister,  who,  on 
her  arrival,  would  be  coming  home  on  furlough. 
She  would,  therefore,  have  to  train  the  native 
nurses,  who,  she  understood,  were  lovable  but 
irresponsible. 

Miss  E.  V.  Krauss  (Guy's  Hospital),  proceed- 
ing to  Hing-hwa,  commended  the  League  to  any 
who  had  not  already  joined  it.  that  they  might 
have  the  strength  in  unity  afforded  by  the  cor- 
porate life.  She  asked  the  prayers  of  the  League 
for  herself  and   the   others   who   were  going  out 

at  His  word,"  in  simple  obedience,  truth  and 
faith.     They  needed  this  support. 

Miss  Mabel  Martin  (Royal  Free  Hospital), 
proceeding  to  Siao  Kau,  who  was  unable  to  be 
present,  wTote,  saj'ing  that  she  'owed  more  than 
she  could  e\-er  tell  to  the  Nurses'  Missionary 
League. 

Miss  Ida  Thomas  (London  Hospital),  proceed- 
ing to  Delhi,  emphasised  the  fact  that  those  at 
home  and  those  abroad  all  depended  so  much  upon 
one  another. 

Addresses  from  the  Re\-.  Montague  Beecham 
(of  the  China  Inland  Mission),  and  the  Rev. 
Dugald  Macfadyen,  M.A..  concluded  a  most 
interesting  and  lielpful  dav. 


LECTURES   ON    HINDUISA\    AND    ISLAM. 

The  first  of  the  five  lectures  arranged  by  the 
Nurses'  Missionary  League  was  delivered  at 
University  Hall,  Gordon  Square,  on  Wednesday, 
October  gth.  The  chair  was  taken  by  Miss  K. 
Webb  (Home  Sister,  Guy's  Hospital),  who  spoke 
of  the  great  interest  of  the  subject  of  the  lectures, 
Hinduism  and  Islam.  The  lecturer,  Canon 
Weitbrecht  (Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Missionary- 
Study),  dealt  with  the  origin  and  historic  develop- 
ment of  Hinduism,  tracing  its  jirogress  from  the 
far-ofi  days  some  2,000  years  B.C.,  when  the  early 
Aryan  tribes  poured  into  India  from  the  North, 
enslaving  the  still  earlier  inhabitants  of  the  land, 
the  present  "  out-castes."     He  showed  how  caste 


)M 


Sbe  36riti3b  3ournal  of  IHui'slng.       October  19,  191: 


was  the  root  foundation  oi  Hiiuluism.  not  a  mere 
social  distinction,  but  an  absolutely  rigid  division 
dooming  evcr\-  man  to  a  certain  trade  and  pre- 
venting him  from  ever  entering  any  other  sphere 
in  life.  He  also  dealt  with  the  fundamental  ideas 
of  Hindu  thought,  pantheism,  the  necessity  for 
stamping  out  all  desire,  and  thus  attaining  to 
their  ideal  of  losing  all  consciousness  in  the  final 
Nirvana.  , 

The  lecture  was  most  interesting  and  gave  a 
vi\id  impression  of  the  thought  of  hundreds  of  our 
fellow  subjects  in  India.  At  the  second  lecture, 
on  October  i6th.  at  3  p.m..  Canon  Weitbrecht 
described  the  present-day  aspects  of  Hinduism. 


THE    NURSES'    LODGE. 

Mtmbers  of  the  Nursing  profession  will  be 
mterested  to  learn  that  Miss  Hulme,  of  the 
Nurses'  Lodge,  q.  10.  11,  Colosseum  Terrace,  and 
i7,  Albany  Street,  Regent's  Park,  N.W.,  has  been 
joined  in  "her  enterprise  by  Miss  F.  Holman  and 
,Miss  H.  FUnn,  for  many  years  Ward  Sisters  at 
the  Hospital  for  Sick  Children,  Great  Ormond 
Street,  W.C.  In  choosing  trained  nurses.  Miss 
Hulme  has  acted  wisely,  and  we  feel  sure  that  the 
interests  and  comforts  of  the  Nurses  will  be 
studied  in  the  future  in  the  same  way  they  ha\e 
been  in  the  past.  We  wish  Miss  Holman  and  Miss 
Flinn  e\erx  success  in  their  new  work. 


.APPOINTMENTS. 


WEDDING  BELLS. 

The  marriage  arranged  between  Mr.  John 
Davidson,  Indian  Finance  Department.  Assam, 
son  of  the  late  General  Davidson,  R.E.,  and  Miss 
Lilian  Mary  Tippetts,  eldest  daughter  of  the  late 
Surgeon  Major-General  A.  M.  Tippetts,  A.M.S., 
which  we  announced  last  week,  will  take  place  at 
Lahore  on  October  24th. 

An  Indian  correspondent  writes :  "  Miss 
Tippetts,  the  President  of  the  Association 
of  Nursing  Superintendents  of  India,  which  is 
now  affiliated  with  the  Trained  Nurses'  Association 
under  the  joint  title  of  '  The  National  Association 
of  Trained  Nurses  of  India,'  was  one  of  the  original 
members  of  both  Associations,  and  all  through 
their  early  days  helped  to  fight  their  battles. 
and  by  her  broad-minded  views  and  adherence 
to  the  ethics  of  the  profession,  and  the  main- 
tenance of  the  highest  ideals  in  nursing  has  done 
much  to  set  a  high  standard  of  work  and  conduct 
among  all  the  nurses  with  whom  she  has  come 
in   contact. 

"  To  say  that  the  Associations  wiU  miss  her  is 
a  poor  w-av  of  expressing  our  feelings.  The  best 
wishes  of  everv-  nurse  in  India  who  knows  her  go 
out  to  her.  in  the  belief  that  there  are  many  years 
of  blessed  happiness  in  store  for  her  who  has  never 
grudged  her  days  and  nights,  her  health  and  her 
cultured  mind  to  the  sick  and  suffering  who  have 
been  fortunate  enough  to  come  under  her  care. 

"  Will  England  send  us  many  sucl>  of  her  best 
to  fill  such  vacancies  as  this  ?  " 


Taunton      and      Somerset      Hospital,      Taunton. — 

Miss  Isabel  Callaghan  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital. 
London,  and  has  held  the  positions  of  SurgicaJ 
Out-patient  Sister  and  Ward  Sister  at  the  Royal 
Hospital  for  Sick  Children,  Edinburgh  ;  Night 
Superintendent  at  the  Royal  Hospital  lor  Diseases 
of  the  Chest,  City  Road,  E.C.  ;  Assistant  Matron 
at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Liverpool  ;  for  six 
months  in  charge  of  the  Nurses'  Home ;  and 
is  now  Matron  of  the  Victoria  Hospital,  Keighley. 

General  Hospital,!  Ramsgate. — Miss  j  Alice"]  Edgar 
has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at 
St.  Thomas'  Hospital  and  the  Brompton  Hospital, 
and  has  been  Night  Superintendent  at  the  Royal 
Eye  Hospital,  Sister  at  the  British  Hospital,  Paris, 
Sister  and  Assistant  Matron  at  the  Westminster 
Ophthalmic  Hospital,  and  Assistant  Matron  for 
the  past  two  years  at  the  Royal  Infirman.-,  Hudders- 
field. 

Blackheath  and  Charlton  Hospital — Miss  E. 
I'urdy  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  West  London  Hospital,  Hammer- 
smith, and  subsequently  held  the  position  of 
Sister  in  the  same  hospital.  She  has  also  been 
Matron  of  the  Government  Hospital.  Northern 
Nigeria. 

ASSISTANT    MATRON. 

Royal  Waterloo  Hospital  for  Children  and 
Women,  Waterloo  Bridge  Road,  S.E. — Miss  Edith 
I'lllcn  .\lderman  has  been  appointed  Assistant 
Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Dreadnought 
Hospital,  Greenwich,  for  three  and  a  half  years, 
and  at  the  Roval  Waterloo  Hospital  for  one  year, 
and  has  been  Theatre  Sister  at  the  Dreadnought 
Hospital  for  eight  months,  and  a  member  of  the 
Galen  House,  Guildford.  Private  Nursing  Staff 
since  February,  1909. 

Stirling  I  District  Asylum,  Larbert. — Miss  Oace 
labbiner  has  been  appointed  Sister  and  Assistant 
Matron.  She  was  trained  at  St.  Bartholomew's- 
Hospital,  Rochester,  where  she  has  taken  Ward 
Sister's  holiday  duty.  She  obtained  her  mental 
training  at  the  Canterbury  Borough  Asylum,  and 
holds  the  Medico-Psychological  certificate. 

SISTER. 

St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  E.C. — The  following 
appointments  have  been  made  at  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital,  E.C.  : — 

Mss  E.  V.  Gascoigne.  Sister  of  Harley  Ward, 
to  be  Sister  of  Pitcaim  Ward. 

,Miss  H.  M.  Hollyer,  Theatre  Sister,  to  be  Sister 
of  Harley  Ward. 

Miss  Irvine,  Night  Superintendent,  to  be  Sister 
of  Theatres. 

Miss  E.  Milne,  Gold  ^Medallist,  October  191 1,  to 
be  Night  Superintendent. 

Miss  F.  Mann,  Sister  of  Luke  Ward,  has  resigned 
her  appointment. 


October  If),  19,2        <rbc  Brttlsb  3oiirnaI  of  D^iirelno. 


3'5 


queen  alexandra's    imperial  military 
Nursing  service. 

Slat;  .Viititi.-  1  Ik-  tolliiuinj;  ladies  have  re- 
ccivcfi  provisional  appointments  as  Staff  Nurses  : 
Miss  C.  L.  A.  Robinson,  Miss  W.  B.  Allen,  Miss 
1'.  A.  Pearsc. 

Transfkks  to  Stations  Abroad. 

Mairon. — Miss  E.  C.  Humphreys,  to  Gibraltar, 
from  Cork. 

Sister. — Miss  .\.  Rown,  to  Gibraltar,  from 
Dublin. 

Staff  Nurses. — Miss  M.  McBride,  to  South 
.Vfrica,  from  Curragh  ;  Miss  N.  Parke,  to  South 
.Vfrica,  from  Shomclifle.  1 

Military  Families'   Hospit.\ls. 

The    undermentioned    appointment    has    been 
made  : — Miss  M.  H.  I.ockver,  to  Shornclitfe. 
QUEEN    VICTORIA'S    JUBILEE    INSTITUTE. 

Transfers  aud  AppouUmeu'.s  : — .Miss  Hardman 
(Inspector),  to  London  area ;  Miss  Annie  Houghton, 
to  Todmorden,  as  Senior  Nurse  ;  Miss  Dora 
Cheverton,  to  Hereford  ;  Miss  Henrietta  Murray, 
to  Todmorden  ;  Miss  Gertrude  O'FIvnn,  to  Nelson  ; 
.Miss  Jane  Simpson,  to  Scarborougli  ;  Miss  Marion 
Ward,  to  Cheadle  Hulmc. 

PRESENTATION. 

Sister  Green,  who  for  the  last  three  and  a  half 
years  has  been  Home  Sister  and  Assistant  at  the 
Mount  Vernon  Sanatorium,  Northwood,  is  leaving 
shortly  to  take  up  her  duties  as  Matron  of  the 
Southern  Sanatorium,  Pinewood,  Hastings.  On 
Saturdav,  October  12th,  a  delightful  gathering 
took  place  in  the  big  Dining  Hall,  at  Northwood, 
to  take  farewell  of  Sister  Green,  and  to  wish  her 
every  success  in  her  new  work.  The  Nursing  Staff, 
in  fancv  dress  costumes,  were  entertained  by  the 
Matron,  Miss  Stuart  Donaldson,  to  tea,  during 
which  they  gave  a  musical  programme.  The 
Medical  Superintendent  (Dr.  W.  G.  Kinton\  in  a 
delightful  speech,  offered  the  congratulations  of 
all  present  on  Sister  Green's  promotion,  and  spoke 
of  her  splendid  example  of  "  Duty  faithfulh 
done."  He  then  presented  her,  on  behalf  of  the 
Nursing  Staflf,  with  a  beautiful  clock  suitably 
inscribed,  an  afternoon  tea-set  from  the  Medical 
Superintendent  and  Mrs.  Kinton,  a  writing  case 
and  note  pad  from  the  Matron  and  the  Sisters, 
with  two  exquisite  scent  bottles.  The  Head 
Laundry  Maid,  in  a  graceful  little  speech  on  behalf 
of  the  Domestic  Staff,  thanked  Sister  for  her 
patient  kindness,  and  asked  her  acceptance  of  a 
\)cauliful  dressing-gown.  Dancing  and  games 
brought  a  delightful  evening  to  a  close. 

Dame  Fanny  Lucy  Cecilia  Eden,-  of  HUcote, 
Ascot,  has  bequeathed  /i,ooo  to  her  nurse,  Edith 
Flizabeth  Coutts. 


NURSING    ECHOES. 


Miss  Minnie  Lamb,  a  trained  nurse,  lost  her 
life  at  Cohv>-n  Bay  on  Monday,  in  a  heroic 
attempt  to  save  her  patient,  who  fell  into  the 
sea  from  the  promenade.  The  patient  was 
subsequently   rescued. 


\\e  are  pleased  to  learn  that  the  suggestion 
of  "  One  Day's  Pay  "  from  every  nurse 
towards  the  International  Nurses'  Memorial  to 
Miss  Nightingale  is  finding  favour  in  manv 
countries. 


The  .Imerican  Journal  of  Nursing,  ri-firring 
editorially  to  the  proposal  made  by  the  Inter- 
national Congress  of  Nurses  at  Cologne  to 
found  an  international  memorial  to  Miss 
Nightingale  of  an  educational  character,  says  : 
"  To  us  it  seems  that  no  other  memorial  is  so 
fitting  and  expressive  coming  from  nurses  to 
honour  their  great  leader,  as  one  of  a  living 
character,  founded  on  educational  lines,  whicli 
makes  it  possible  for  oncoming  women  to  gain 
the  best  in  professional  knowledge  and  wide 
culture  and  to  perfect  themselves  in  advanced 
or  special  spheres  of  work.  Miss  Nightingale 
was  prepared  for  her  life  work  by  an  unusually 
liberal  and  scholarly  culture,  by  a  rich  know- 
ledge of  the  world,  by  knowledge  of  foreign 
languages,  by  wide  reading.  Upon  this 
foundation  she  built  her  years  of  study  of 
hospital  and  nursing  conditions ;  with  her, 
truly,  knowledge  was  power,  and  it  must  I)e 
equally  so  with  the  great  nurses  of  the 
future.  ... 

"  The  plan  for  an  international  memorial, 
as  presented  by  Mrs.  Fenwick,  would  be  to 
found  a  chair  of  nursing  in  connection  with 
some  educational  institution  in  London,  a 
scheme  so  in  harmony  with  the  genius  of  Miss 
.Nightingale  that  it  should  be  carried  to 
triumphant  completeness." 

.A.fter  remarking  that  "  the  work  of  ihe 
Florence  Nightingale  Memorial  Fund,  a  com- 
mittee composed  of  prominent  I'-nglish  men  and 
women,  has  not  been  truly  acceptable  to 
nurses.  ...  It  is  therefore  doubly  important 
that  nurses  should  initiate  a  truly  enlightened 
and  w-orthy  memorial  to  the  woman  whose 
work  they  are  to  carry,  on.  Their  memorial 
should  emphasize  the  social  importance  of  that 
work,  and  the  professional  dignity  of  their  own 
status.  We  trust  that  nurses  all  over  the  world 
will  vie  in  exciting  interest  in  a  Florence 
Nightingale  chair  of  nursing,  open  to  nurses 
from  every  country,  .and  in  bringing  to  it  their 
own.  contributiot 
general  public." 


Many  of  our  readers  will  be  glad  to  have  the 
portrait  of  Miss  J.  W.  Davies,  Matron  of  the 
Roval  Infirmary,  Bradford.     During  a  long  and 


3i6 


Cbe  British  3oiuiial  of  Tl^urstiiQ. 


October   19,    1912 


honourable  career  in  connection  with  the 
Leicester  Infirmary  Miss  Davies  has  made 
many  friends,  and  won  the  respect  and  affection 
of  succeeding  generations  of  nurses.  She  has 
also  been  brought  into  touch  with  her  colleagues 
outside  her  own  training  school  by  her  interest 
in  all  that  concerns  the  welfare  of  her  profes- 
sion, and  by  her  genius  for  the  ortjanization 
of  practical  nursing  exhibits.  The  exhibits  of 
the  Leicester 
Infirmary 
Nurses'  League 
at  the  Inter- 
national Nurs- 
ing Congress 
in  London  in 
1909,  and  at 
the  Royal  Hor- 
ticultural Hall, 
W  e  s  tminster, 
in  the  spring  of 
'  this  year,  in  the 
arrangement  of 
which  M  i  s  s 
Davies  took  a 
leading  part, 
were  most  in- 
structive, and 
d  e  m  onstrated 
both  great  pro- 
fessional know- 
ledge and  prac- 
tical skill  of  the 
hig-hest  order. 


A  new  branch  of  the  Nurses'  Social  Union 
has  been  formed  in  Leeds.  The  inaugural 
meeting  was  held  at  the  West  Riding  Nurses' 
Home  on  September  i8th,  when  Miss  Fry, 
Hon.  Treasurer  of  the  Bristol  Branch,  kindly 
gave  an  address  on  the  work  and  aims  of  the 
Union.  Nineteen  new  members  were  enrolled 
and  a  Committee  was  elected  representing  the 
Leeds  Infirmary,  the  District  nurses,  and  the 
M  e  a  n  w  o  o  d 
C  o  n  V  alescent 


The  Journal 
of  the  Victoria 
and  Bourne- 
mouth Nurses' 
League  has  an 
excellent  ac- 
count of  the 
Cologne  Con- 
gress,  and 
eight  members 
of  the  League, 
amongst  others 
who  attended 
the  meeting,  have  \\  ritten  their  impressions  in 
their  own  journal.  \\'e  are  pleased  to  know  how 
thoroughly  they  appreciated  the  significance  of 
this  great  international  conference,  and  that 
they  enioye;d  both  work  and  play  so  thoroughly. 
The  National  and  International  Councils  are 
trained  nurses'  organizaiions,  and  the  more 
they  realize  this  fact,  and  take  individual 
interest  in  the  work  being  accomplished 
through  professional  co-operation,  the  safer 
and  sounder  the  Councils  will  become. 


At  a  meeting 
jf  the  Com- 
mittee of  Man- 
agement of  the 
South  Wales 
Nursing'  Asso- 
ciation, held  at 
Cardiff  last 
week.  Lady  St. 
Davids  reported 
that  new  asso- 
ciations had 
been  formed 
employing 
Queen's  Nurses 
at  Duftryn,  Bryncoch,  Rhyddins,  and  Pontar- 
dawe,  making  a  total  of  sixty  local  district 
nursing  associations  now  affiliated  to  the  .Asso- 
ciation. ^ 

The  quarlerh  ineeling  of  King  Edward's 
Coronation  F'und  for  Nurses  was  held  last 
week  at  86,  Lower  Leeson  Street,  Dublin,  when 
.Sir  Andrew  Reed,  K.C.B.,  C.V.O.,  presided. 
Fourteen  applications  from  nurses  for  member- 
ship were  accepted. 


DAVIES.     MATRON.     ROYAL     INFIRMARY 
BRADFORD. 


Home, 
meeting 


The 
w  a  s 

by 
post- 

lec- 
a  n  d 


followed 
tea,  and 
graduate 
t  u  r  e  s 
future  Debates 
on  nursing  sub- 
j  e  c  t  s  were 
planned.  The 
Secretary  (Miss 
Thurstan,West 
Riding  Nursing 
.Association,  St. 
Hilda's,  Leeds) 
will  be  pleased 
to  receive  the 
names  of  any 
nurses  wishing 
to  join  the 
N.S.U. 


October  19,  1912        vibe  BrttisI)  3ournal  of  IRurstno. 


317 


•    REFLECTIONS 

FROM    A    COAKD    ROOM    MIRROR. 


The  Nurses'  Home,  Chandos  Street,  Strand, 
where  the  Nursing  Staff  of  the  Charing  Cross 
Hospital  is  housed,  has  just  come  out  of  the 
clutches  of  the  painters,  who  have  invaded  their 
domain  for  the  past  month  with  verv  satisfactory 
result.  The  walls  of  everv  room  have  been 
covered  with  a  charming  self-coloured  paper  of  a 
soft  neutral  tint,  a  marked  improvement  upon 
the  colour-washed  walls  which  constituted  the 
pre\nous  scheme  of  decoration.  These  papered 
walls  have  given  the  "  home-like  touch  "  to  the 
rooms.  Each  Probationer  keeps  her  own  room 
during  the  four  years  of  her  training,  and  is  thus 
enabled  to  impart  to  her  surroundings  her  own 
individuality  in  the  choice  of  pictures,  and  the 
many  small  extras  which  go  to  make  the  room 
part  of  oneself. 


A  delightful  metamorphosis  has  been  effected 
in  two  of  the  wards  belonging  to  the  old  and 
original  part  of  the  Charing  Cross  Hospital, 
through  the  generosity  of  Mrs.  William  Hunter 
(wife  of  Dr.  Hunter,  Hon.  Physician,  and  Dean  of 
the  Medical  College),  and  Miss  Huntington,  a 
personal  friend,  who  have  had  the  Gilding  and 
Alexandra  Wards  painted  white.  Those  who 
recollect  the  sombre  green  walls,  with  terra  catta 
relief  alone  will  be  able  to  thoroughly  appreciate 
the  change  to  light  and  brightness.  The  generosity 
of  these  two  ladies  is  greatly  appreciated  by  the 
members  of  the  Council  of  Charing  Cross  Hospital, 
and  by  the  Nursing  Staff,  to  whom  the  exhilarating 
effect  of  a  light  ward  is  a  vast  help  in  the  daily 
routine  of  work. 


Mme.  Sarah  Bernhardt  jiaid  a  \isit  to  the 
hospital  on  Tuesday  afternoon,  and  was  delighted 
with  everything.  She  inscribed  her  name  in  the 
visitors'  book,  adding  the  words,  "  Quel  admirable 
hopital,"  at  the  same  time  handing  to  the  secre- 
tary a  handsome  donation.  On  leaving,  Mme. 
Bernhardt  said  that  what  had  impressed  her  so 
much  in  the  hospital  was  the  presence  of  flowers 
in  the  wards.  "  Flowers  are  so  good  for  the 
Iveart,"  she  said. 


A  new  casualty  department  at  St.  Mary's 
Hospital  has  been  completed  at  a  cost  of  about 
/8,ooo,  towards  which  King  Edward's  Hospital 
Fund  for  London  has  contributed  ^f  1,800,  and 
£4,700  has  been  subscribed  by  the  public,  leaving 
/i,50o  vet  to  be  provided. 


Mr.  Stuart  de  la  Rue  has  forwarded  a  contribu- 
tion of  ;f500  to  the  Royal  Hospital  for  Diseases  of 
the  Chest,  City  Road,  B.C.,  for  the  endowment  of 
a  cot. 


Towards  the  sum  of  ;f6,ooo  required  by  the 
Birmingham  and  Midland  Hospital  for  Women 
for   the   extension    of   the   hospital    at   Sparkhill, 


£3,833  lias  been  received  and  an  effort  is  to  be 
made  to  raise  the  balance  during  the  next  four 
weeks. 


The  Royal  Free  Hospital  has  completed  the 
purchase  of  one  and  a-half  acres  of  freehold  land, 
adjoining  their  premises  in  Gray's  Inn  Road,  W.C. 
It  is  intended  that  building  operations  shall  be 
proceeded  with  immediately. 


The  Nobel  Prize  for  Medicine  for  19  ij  has  been 
awarded  to  Dr.  Alexis  Currel,  of  the  Rockfeller 
Institute  in  New  York,  for  his  works  on  the  suture 
of  vessels  and  the  transplantation  of  organs.  The 
prize  this  year  amounts  to  about  195  ooof 
(;£7.8oo). 


The  American  Journal  of  Nursing  has  removed 
its  editorial  office  from  247,  Brunswick  Street,  to 
45,  South  Union  Street,  Rochester,  N.V.  It  is, 
says  our  contemporary,  "  more  than  a  change  of 
address  ;  it  means  the  taking  of  the  Journal  from 
the  home  of  the  editor-in-chief  to  the  house  just 
opened  as  a  central  registry  and  club  house  by 
the  Monroe  County  Registered  Nurses'  Association. 
It  has  always  been  our  belief  that  a  central 
directory,  wherever  established,  should  be  made 
the  centre  of  nursing  interests  of  a  city,  and  wc 
are,  by  this  move,  endeavouring  to  practise  what 
we  preach." 

HORLICK'S     MALTED     MILK. 

Horlick's   Malted    .Milk    is    very    popular   as   a 
beverage,  and  it  is  therefore  satisfactory  to  know 
that  it  is  not  only  pleasant  to  take,   but  it  has 
great  nutritive  value.     Mr.  Wentworth  Lascelles- 
Scott,    late    Public    Analyst   for   the   counties   of 
Derby,    North   Staffordshire,   and   Glamorgan,    in 
an  analytical  report  recently  issued,  shows  it  to 
be  of  the  following  composition  : — 
Total  proteids  or  flcsh-forniors     .  .  .  .       16.67 

Total  fatty  matters  .  .  .  .         g.13 

Dextrins         .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .       ig.n 

Total  saccharine  matters  .  .  .  .  .  .       48.'i<t 

Mineral  matters,  including  phosphates  ..         3.18 
Water  (hygroscopic  moisture)       ..  ..         3.^2 


100.00 
The  above  analysis  shows  it  to  be  a  food 
of  great  flesh-forming  and  recuperating  value. 
Another  point  in  its  favour  is  the  presence  of 
nearly  three-quarters  of  one  per  cent,  of  lecithin 
(included  in  the  fatty  matters)  "  that  remarkable 
Phosphorised  Fat  which  is  the  vitally  important 
food  of  the  white  corpuscles  of  the  blood." 

The  restorative  powers  of  this  Malted  Milk  can 
easily  be  proved  if  it  is  taken  by  anyone  who  is 
fatigued.  The  Sphygmograph  proves  for  us 
scientifically  what  we  alread\'  know  practically,  and 
records  a  marked  improvement  in  the  heart 
action  in  from  20  to  75  minutes  after  giving 
"  Horlick's,"  demonstrating  its  value  as  a  food 
for  the  debilitated  and  aged,  as  well  as  for  infants. 


Zl)c  IBritisb  5onrnal  of  IRursina 


October  19,   1912 


A  MODEL  SCHEME  FOR  THE 
TREATMENT  OF  TUBERCULOSIS. 

The  State  Sickness  Insurance  Committee  of  the 
British  :Medical  Associai  ion  has  drawn  up  a  model 
scheme  for  the  treatment  of  tuberculosis,  which 
has  been  fiamed  to  enlist  to  the  fullest  extent  the 
services  of  he  general  "practitioner.  The  opinion 
is  held  in  1he  profession  that  the  more  medical 
men  there  are  who  are  interested  in  the  treatment 
of  tuberculosis  the  better,  and  that  the  system  of 
multiplying  officials  will  have  a  bad  effect  on  the 
I  alibre  of  the  profesiion  as  a  whole. 
Tuberculosis  Nurses. 

In  tlris  connection  we  are  of  opinion  that  if  the 
demands  of  insured  persons  are  to  be  efficiently 
met  in  so  far  as  sanatoria  benefit  is  concerned,  the 
nursing  profession  must  take  a  much  more  intelli- 
gent and  active  part  in  preparing  itself  to  do  its 
part.  We  hear  sometimes  of  the  Tuberculosis 
:jurse,  and  just  a  few  good  women  are  quahfying 
themselves  for  this  special  branch  of  nursing.  In 
the  near  future  we  must  not  only  hear  of  her,  but 
see  her  actively  engaged  throughout  the  country-, 
thoroughly  equipped  by  special  instruction  and 
training  for  this  special  bit  of  warfare  with  disease. 
We  are  not  forgetting  the  fine  work  done  by  our 
Queen's  Nurses  in  this  connection,  but  we  want 
to  see  certain  nurses  set  apart — Tuberculosis 
Nurses — to  give  expert  help  in  the  coming  cam- 
paign which  must  aim  at  stamping  out  the  disease 
altogether. 

FRAUDS      ON      NURSING      HOMES      BY 
BOGUS     DOCTOR. 

Some  cruel  deceptions  have  recently  besn 
practised  on  nursing  homes  in  the  West  End  and 
Chelsea,  by  a  middle-aged  man,  posing  as  a 
doctor,  who  first  makes  arrangement  b\-  telephone 
for  the  admission  of  an  operation  case  for  a  leading 
surgeon,  and  subsequently  calls  to  give  minute 
instructions  as  to  the  arrangements.  Incidentally, 
he  speaks  of  the  rescue  work  he  is  doing  on  the 
Embankment,  and  secures  a  donation  from  the 
Matron.  Next  day  he  telephones,  to  say  the 
patient  is  dead,  and  that  the  room  will  not  be 
required.  It  is  easy  to  say  that  this  swindler 
IS  a  bogus  doctor,  as  the  fact  can  be  verified  b\- 
reference  to  the  Medical  Register.  There  is  no 
similar  remedv  when  nurses  are  personated. 


tor  a  ^lulling',-,  worth  of  brandv  and  drank  it, 
then  lav  on  the  bed  and  slept  so  soundlv  that  she 
could  not  be  wakened.  Next  nrorning  she  took. 
more  brandy  and  was  ordered  out  of  the  house  by 
the  doctor.  No  evidence  as  to  training  or  creden- 
tials appears  to  have  been  offered,  and,  as  there  is 
no  State  Register  of  Trained  Nurses,  this  woman 
will  no  doubt  be  able  to  \-ictimise  the  sick  once 
more  when  she  has  served  her  sentence. 


"NOT     FIT     TO     BE     A     NURSE." 

This  was  the  conclusion  of  Mr.  Bros,  who,  at 
the  Clerkenwell  Police  Court,  on  October  nth, 
sentenced  Florence  Goulding,  of  Park  Street. 
Camden  Town,  to  21  days'  imprisonment  for 
stealing  a  purse  containing  25s.  from  a  bedroom 
in  a  house  where  she  was  emplo}-ed  as  a  nurse. 
The  patient  was  the  prosecutrix.  It  was  proved 
that   the^[accused   pocketed    the    purse,  sent  out 


SURGERY  IN  THE  FIFTIES. 


The  <  ictober  issue  of  St.  BartliolnDieiv' s  HusMtal 
Journal  contains  some  interesting  recollections 
by  Dr.  J.  S.  Edyc  of  the  Hospital  during  the 
"  fifties,"  by  Mr.  K.  Macfarlane  Walker,  and 
opens  with  the  very  true  sentence  that  "  there  is 
always  something  of  fascination  and  of  interest 
in  the  memories  of  begone  days."  To  nurses 
such  reminiscences  are  peculiarly  fascinating,  as 
their  profession  is  yet  of  such  modern  growth 
that  many  of  us  can  recollect  the  age  of 
"  atrocities." 

Dr.  Edye  remembers  many  interesting  things 
about  the  great  surgeons  and  teachers  of  the  past, 
and  stories  of  Lawrence  Skey,  Paget,  Holden. 
Savorj-,  Tom  Smith,  and  others,  are  no  doubt  \-ery- 
characteristic. 

"  Dr.  Edye,  at  work  in  a  room  nearly 
behind  the  Anatomy  Theatre,  could  hear  things 
that  did  not  reach  the  ears  of  the  ordinary  student. 
Skey  was  accustomed  to  prepare  himself  carefully 
for  the  ordeal  of  lecturing  in  anatomy.  .\  few 
minutes  before  entering  the  theatre  a  \oice  was 
always  heard  in  the  passage  .  .  .  the  words 
were  few,  and  they  never  varied.  They  were 
spoken  in  the  same  tone  and  at  the  same  hour  : 
"  'Smith,  bring  me  tliat  !  '  Smith  was  the  old 
dissecting-room  porter. 

"  '  That  '  was  a  glass  of  port." 
"  Sir  William  Lawrence  had  earned  quite  a. 
reputation  in  St.  Bartholomew's  circle  for  his  cold, 
unemotional  temperament.  Nothing  had  ever  been 
known  to  disturb  the  tranquillity  of  his  outward 
bearing,  or  to  ruffle  the  calm  that  habitually 
reigned  within.  Stories  were  told  that  gave  ample 
proof  of  his  imperturbability.  On  one  occasion 
he  was  making  his  round  when  his  colleague 
Stanley,  who  happened  to  be  in  the  same  ward  at 
the  time,  was  taken  suddenly  ill.  Lawrence  was 
just  on  the  point  of  leaving  the  ward  when  he  was 
called  back  by  some  excited  students,  who  implored 
him  to  come  and  lend  assistance  to  Mr.  Stanley. 
Complying  with  their  request  he  carefully  examined 
liis  colleague,  the  students  crowding  anxiously 
arcwmd.  At  the  end  of  his  examination  he  addressed 
himself  to  those  who  were  anxiously  awaiting  his 
verdict ;  '  Gentlemen,'  said  he,  '  Mr.  Stanley  is 
(lead  ;    we  will  now  proceed  with  the  next  case.' 

Sir  William  Lawrence  delivered  his  lectures  in 
the  evening  ;  the  hour  was  not  popular.  Once 
the  rowd\-  element  present  in  the  gallery  pre- 
vented the  more  serious-minded  of  the  audience 


October   19,    igi: 


Z\K  Britisb  3ournal  of  H-lursino, 


from  hearing  the  lecture.  At  length,  one  of  the 
studious  front  benchers  interrupted  the  lecturer 
with  the  polite  request  :  "  Pray,  Mr.  Lawrence, 
would  you  mind  asking  those  gentlemen  in  the 
gallery  to  make  less  noise  ?"  "  Gentlemen  ?" 
replied  the  imperturbable  Lawrence,  looking  round 
the  gallery,  "  Gentlemen  ?  really,  I  don't  see 
any." 

In  spite  of  Savory's  integrity  in  the  matter  of 
not  interfering  with  other  people's  dissections, 
there  was  a  weak  point  in  his  general  moral 
rectitude.  His  fingers  literally  itched  when  he 
caught  sight  of  a  pcctoralis  major.  "  \h  !  Mr< 
Savory,"  said  Edye,  one  day  in  the  anatomy 
rooms,  "  there's  one  thing  you  can't  resist  ;  you 
never  can  resist  a  pectoralis  major."  "  No." 
replied  Savory,  "  you  arc  right,  I'd  get  up  in  the 
middle  of  the  night  to  dissect  a  pectoralis  major." 

The  article  concludes  :  "  Unfortunately  for  the 
present  chronicles.  Dr.  Edye  saw  little  of  the  inside 
of  the  wards  of  the  hospital.  The  surgery  of  that 
period  was  distinctly  limited,  and  consisted  mainly 
of  amputations  and  of  operations  for  stone.  In 
the  absence  of  anaesthetics,  speed  was  everything. 
The  main  artery  of  an  amputation  stump  was  tied 
by  the  officiating  surgeon,  whilst  the  dressers 
secured  and  ligatured  the  smaller  vessels.  Wash- 
ing the  hands  previous  to  the  operation  was  entirely 
optional.  Everybody  washed  well  after  the 
o])cration  had  been  completed,  and  a  few  faddists 
washed  beforehand.  Tincture  of  opium  was 
sometimes  given  before  the  patient  left  the  ward, 
but  operations  were  always  performed  behind 
double  doors,  and  in  the  most  outlying  part  of  the 
building.  Two  fonns  of  dressing  were  in  common 
use — lint  spread  with  lard,  and  lint  spread  with 
unguentum  resinae.  The  operation  wound  was 
exposed  at  the  end  of  twenty-four  hours,  and  if 
there  were  no  signs  of  irritation  around  the  sutures 
the  dressings  were  reapplied.  If,  on  the  other 
hand,  signs  of  inflammation  were  visible,  the 
wound  was  opened  up  and  the  character  of  the 
pus  carefully  noted.  The  subsequent  appearance 
of  even  a  cupful  of  "  laudable  pus  "  did  not  disturb 
the  tranquillity  of  mind  of  the  operator.  A  poul- 
tice was  applied,  and  an  encouraging  prognosis 
given.  If,  however,  the  pus  had  a  greenish 
appearance,  or  was  streaked  with  blood,  the  sur- 
geon shook  his  head,  ordered  a  bigger  poultice, 
and  proceeded  with  the  next  dressing. 

"  Such  was  the  state  of  surgery  when  Dr.  Edye 
left  Bartholomew's  in  1 859.  Since  then  he  has  not 
returned  ;  but,  nevertheless,  some  changes  have 
been  effected.  The  poultice  has  disappeared 
from  the  surgical  wards,  laudable  pus  has  lost  its 
good  charactei,  and  the  double  doors  of  the 
theatres  are  merely  regarded  as  a  convenience  in 
preserving  a  desirable  temperature  within.  The 
sisters  of  the  wards  no  longer  take  snuff  in  public, 
and  the  surgeons  wash  both  before  and  after 
operations.  Yet,  in  spite  of  the  change  that  time 
has  brought,  there  lingers  a  fascination  about  those 
early  davs  which  even  the  knowledge  of  their 
manifest  disadvantages  fails  to  destroy." 


THINGS  NURSES  SHOULD  KNOW. 

Nurses  are  usually  supposed  to  know  everything 
that  concerns  the  welfare  of  their  patients,  to 
be  able  to  procure  at  the  shortest  notice  things 
ordered  by  the  medical  attendant  or  needed  for 
the  comfort  of  the  sick  person.  We  wonder  if 
they  always  realise  what  a  mine  of  valuable 
information  the  advertisement  columns  of  this 
journal  afford  them  if  the\-  are  carefully  studied. 
Within  the  space  between  its  covers  are  gathered 
together  in  most  convenient  form  the  announce- 
ments of  firms  of  world-wide  reputation,  and  if 
they  are  unable  to  call  at  (he  establishment 
concerned,  a  letter  or  postcard  will  bring  them 
the  information  desired  bv  return  ol  post.  To 
mention  a  few 

SURGICAL  APPLIANCES  AND^'NURSING 
REQUISITES. 

•  Messrs.  Down  Bros.,  Ltd.,  21,  St.  Thomas 
Street,  S.E.  The  surgical  appliances  supplied 
b\-  Messrs.  Down  Bros,  have  become  a  household 
word  for  excellence,  and  nurses  requiring  instru- 
ments and  appliances,  from  operating  tables  to 
thermometers,  will  find  them  at  21,  St.  Thomas 
Street  in  great  variety.  A  speciality  of  Messrs. 
Down's  is  the  Bardeila  bandage,  which  is  fre- 
quently ordered  by  the  medical  profession  as  a 
(iressing  for  burns,  .scalds  and  skin  injuries. 
School  nurses  and  district  nurses  should  not  fail 
to  include  "  Bardeila  "  in  their  outfit  on  their 
daily  rounds,  and  it  should  have  a  place  in  every 
household  in  the  first-aid  cupboard. 

Messrs.  Garroui.d,  150-162,  Edgware  Road. 
W. — Messrs.  Garrould  need  no  introduction  to 
nurses,  to  whose  convenience  they  have  always 
given  great  consideration.  Just  now  winter 
cloaks  are  a  subject  occupying  the  thoughts  of 
many  nurses,  and  thev  will  find  them  in  great 
variety  in  Messrs.  Garrould's  Nurses'  Saloon.  .V 
delightful  box  just  brought  out,  13  J  inches  long 
and  8  inches  wide,  is  designed  for  the  use  of  nurses 
who  desire  to  carry  cap,  apron,  collars  and  cuffs 
with  them  to  a  case.  The  incredibly  low  price  is  is. 
The  patent  fastening  is  both  simple  and  convenient. 
.\ccident  emergency  cases  from  5s.  upwards  arc  also 
most  conveniently  designed,  and  nurses  should 
call  or  write  for  Messrs.  Garrould's  Red  Cross 
Catalogue. 

The  Medical  Supply  Association. — Nothing 
succeeds  like  success,  and  in  the  case  of  the 
Medical  Supply  Association  this  is  proved  by  the 
fact  that  the  former  premises  have  proved  quite 
inadequate  for  the  increasing  liusiness,  and  the 
firm  has  moved  into  convenient  and  commodious 
new  premises  at  167-173,  Gray's  Inn  Road,  W.C. 
Here  goods  can  be  displayed  to  greater  advantage, 
and.  the  establishment  is  well  worth  a  visit.  We 
noticed  on  a  recent  visit  a  particularly  attractive 
baby's  bath  which  maternity  nurses  will  do  well 
to  note,  hot  water  bags  in  great  variety,  and  a 
light  and  comfortable  bed  rest  with  slightly  curved 
back. 


320 


Cbe  Britlsb  Journal  of  IRursing. 


October  19,   1912 


DISINFECTANTS. 

Messrs.  Charles  Zimmermann  &  Co.,  9  and  10, 
St.  Marj'-at-Hill,  London,  E.G. — Lysol  is  well 
known  to  and  much  appreciated  by  nurses  and 
midwives,  and  in  convenient  sized  bottles  with 
patent  stoppers  it  is  very  suitable  for  inclusion 
in  district  bags  as  well  as  for  general  use  in 
institutions. 

Messrs.  Robert  "youNG  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  38, 
Elliot  Street,  Glasgow.- — The  lubricant  antiseptic 
and  disinfectant,  Microbene,  supplied  by  this 
firm  is  making  itself  indispensable  in  many 
maternity  hospitals  and  homes,  and  every  nurse 
and  midwife  should  be  acquainted  with  it,  and 
its  many  admirable  qualities. 

UNDERWEAR. 

The  Lahmann  Agency,  245,  High  Holborn. — 
Dr.  Lahmann's  Reform  Cotton-wool  Underclothing 
has  only  to  be  seen  and  worn  to  be  appreciated. 
A  few  of  the  points  which  commend  it  to  attention 
are  that  it  is  quite  as  warm  as  animal  wool,  at 
'the  same  time  it  causes  no  ii-ritation,  and  is  always 
porous,  there  is  no  shrinking  and  no  felting. 
Sheets  in  this  material  will  be  found  most  com- 
fortable for  invalids,  and  the  dainty  white  night- 
dresses are  both  attractive  in  appearance  and 
cosy  to  wear.  The  shape-knitted  combinations 
can  be  thoroughly  recommended  to  nurses  as 
elastic,  strong,  durable,  easily  washed  and  inex- 
pensive. The  firm  are  always  glad  to  send  samples 
and  price  list  bv  post  on  application. 

The  Atheenic  Underwear  Co.,  Athcenic  Mills, 
Hawick. — The  Atheenic  Underivear  is  now  to  be 
found  in  all  quarters  of  the  globe,  having  proved 
itself  most  satisfactory  and  comfortable.  It  is 
produced  in  everv  kind  of  material — in  natural 
wool,  Indian  cashmere,  Scotch  lambs-wool,  silk, 
silk  and  wool,  &c.  This  season  the  Company  have 
introduced  a  new  quality,  fabric  (No.  200  lambs- 
wool),  specially  recommended  for  those  suffering 
from  rheumatism,  or  who  require  extra  warmth 
without  w-eight. 

FOODS   AND   BEVERAGES. 

Benger's  Food,  Ltd.,  Otter  Works,  Manchester. 
— Be  nger's  Food  is  regarded  as  a  standby  by  many 
nurses,  who  realise  how  frequently  a  wakeful  or 
restless  patient  drops  off  to  sleep  at  night,  after  a 
cupful  of  this  nutritious  and  pleasant  beverage. 

J.  L.  Bragg,  Ltd.,  14,  Wigmore  Street,  London, 
\V, — The  Charcoal  Biscuits  supplied  by  this  firm 
are  old  standing  favourites.  Those  who  are  not 
acquainted  with  them  may  obtain  samples  by 
enclosing  3d.  for  postage. 

■  Oxo. — Oxo,  which  is  a  fluid  beef,  in  which,  by 
the  special  Oxo  process,  both  the  nourishing 
and  stimulating  qualities  of  the  beef  are  retained 
and  blended,  is  an  invaluable  agent  in  the  diet  of 
invalids  and  convalescents.  It  is  also  used  with 
excellent  results  in  midwifery  cases,  when  both 
nourishing  and  stimulating  refreshment  is  im- 
perative. It  is  an  interesting  coincidence  that 
a  magnificent  new  panel  in  the  Royal  Exchange, 


representing  Kmg  Alfred  directing  the  rebuildmg 
of  London  wall,  gives  an  unintentional  advertise- 
ment to  Oxo.  The  King  is  represented  as  con- 
sulting his  architect, on  whose  gorgeously-decorated 
gown,  gilt  circles  and  semi-circles  magically  form 
the  word  Oxo  three  times. 
BOOKS. 

Messrs.  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons,  24,  Bedford 
Street,  Strand,  W.C. — Nurses  who  have  read  the 
first  two  volumes  of  "  A  History  of  Nursing,"  b\- 
Miss  M.  A.  Nutting,  and  Miss  L.  L.  Dock,  will  be 
delighted  to  know  that  the  third  volume  is 
shortly  to  be  published  by  Messrs.  Putnam's, 
price  I2S,  6d.  It  will  contain  many  interesting 
illustrations,  and  will  present  an  account  of  the 
development  in  various  countries  of  the  science 
of  trained  nursing  with  special  reference  to  the 
work  of  the  past  thirty  years.  Other  well-known 
books  by  Miss  Dock,  and  "  Practical  Nursing,"  by 
Miss  Maxwell  and  Miss  Pope,  are  published  bv 
this  firm,  who  also  announce  a  new  story  entitled 
"The  Upas  Tree,"  by  Mrs.  Barclay,  author  of 
"  The  Rosar\-." 

Messrs.  Charles  CiRirriN  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  Exeter 
Street,  Strand,  W.C. — The  standard  works  pub- 
lished by  this  firm  are  very  popular  with  nurses. 
Dr.  Laurence  Humphrxs'  "  Manual  of  Nursing  " 
is  in  its  thirty-second  edition.  Dr.  Helliers' 
"  Infancy  and  Infant  Rearing  "  should  be 
widely  read  at  the  present  time,  when  everv 
paper  one  takes  up  refers  to  the  subject  of  infant 
mortality,  "  Foods  and  Dietaries  "  by  Sir 
R.  W.  Burnet,  F.R.C.P.,  deals  with  a  subject 
with  which  all  nurses  should  be  conversant. 

Messrs.  Bailliere,  TindalI,  &  Cox,  Henrietta 
Street,  Covent  Garden,  W.C. — We  are  glad  to 
know  that  "  The  Nurses'  Complete  Medical 
Dictionary,"  by  Miss  M.  Theresa  Bryan,  published 
bv  this  firm,  which  -we  recently  reviewed  in  these 
columns,  is  having  a  great  success.  Messrs. 
Bailliere,  TindalI  &  Cox  supply  many  books  of 
interest  to  nurses,  a  recent  one  bQJng  the  "  Index 
of  Practical  Nursing,"  by  Dr.  J.  Basil  Cook, 
Senior  Assistant  Medical  Officer  at  the  Kensington 
Infirmary. 

GAS. 

The  C».\s  Light  and  Coke  Company,  Horse- 
ferry  Road,  S.W. — One  of  the  most  important 
factors  in  the  comfort  of  Londoners  is  certainly 
this  Company.  Did  the  supply  of  gas  fail  a  large 
proportion  of  them  would  be  deprived  of  their 
fuel  for  cooking,  their  bedroom  fires,  their  hot 
baths,  for  in  all  these  departments  of  the  home 
the  Company  have  made  themselves  essential. 
NURSES'  DIARIES. 
^Messrs.  Burroughs,  Wellcome  &  Co.,  Snow 
Hill  Buildings,  E.C. — Messrs.  Burroughs,  Wellcome 
&  Co.  do  good  service  to  the  nursing  profession 
by  publishing,  and  largely  distributing  amongst 
its  members  "  Wellcome's  Professional  Nurse's 
Diary."  It  contains  in  compact  and-  convenient 
form  much  information  of  use  to  them,  and 
nurses  should  apply  for  a  copy. 


October   ig,    191: 


alDC  Britisb  3ounial  of  •fl^uretna 


oCr  foreign  letter. 

FROM    KAISERSVVERTH. 


Dear  Editor, — If  you  only  could  have  been  here 
on  September  15th  !  It  was  such  a  grand  and 
blessed  day  for  us.  Twenty-seven  sisters  were  set 
apart  to  be  deaconesses. 

Such  a  happy  bustle  was  there  in  tlie  Mother- 
house  tlic  day  before — rooms  were  being  prepared 
for  dear  guests,  the  church  prettily  decorated 
"  with  buds  and  garlands  gay,"  and  the  altar 
made  a  perfect  grove  by  the  gardener  and  his 
people.  The  probationers — "  candidates,"  yo4 
would  call  them,  I  suppose — had  been  called  in 
from  their  "  out-stations  "  to  enjoy  a  fortnight's 
perfect  rest  in  the  Mother-house  :  they  were  set 
free  from  their  cvcr\-dav 
duties  to  prepare  body  and 
soul  for  the  great  day. 
Instructions  of  all  kinds  were 
given  them,  though  naany  of 
them  have  a  three  years' 
certificate  for  teaching  or 
nursing,  and  they  also  have 
ample  time  to  retract,  if  they 
wish  to  do  so.  Nobody  is 
forced,  they  take  the  step 
out  of  their  own  free  will. 

On  Saturday,  the  day  before 
the  solemn  .service  our  guests 
arrive — relations  of  the  can- 
didates, sisters  and  friends. 
They  all  are  made  kindly 
welcome,  and  feel  that  there 
is  one  bond  of  love  that 
binds  us  together.  On  Sunday, 
at  ten  o'clock  the  bells  ring 
out  their  lustj'  peal.  Soon 
the  church  is  crowded  and 
Di\ane  service  begins.  On 
both  sides  of  the  altar  chairs 
are  set  for  the  candidates  ; 
immediately  behind  them  the 
guests  fill  the  front  benches. 
and     then     the    deaconesses 

take  their  scats.  When  all  is  ready  "  the  pealing 
anthem  swells  the  note  of  praise,"  as  your  poet 
says,  and  the  candidates,  two-and-two,  arc  con- 
ducted by  Sister  Bertha  and  the  Warden 
to  their  seats,  amid  the  breathless  silence 
of  the  congregation,  who  are  absorbed  in  inward 
prayer. 

After  the  hymn  has  been  sung,  and  the  sermon 
delivered,  the  Warden  steps  before  the  altar  and 
says  ; — 

"  Dearly  beloved,  it  is  the  gracious  will  of  the 
Lord  that  in  His  Holy  Churcli,  beside  the  ministry 
of  the  Word,  another  office  should  be  appointed, 
the  office  of  "  serving  tables  "  (Acts  vi).  To  this 
ministry  not  only  men,  but  also  women  were 
called.  The  Apostle  Paul  speaks  with  regard  to 
women  who  laboured  with  him  in  the  Gospel,  and 
we  learn  from  his  writings  that  women  served  as 
deaconesses    in    the    Primitive    Church.     In    the 


5ISTER    JULIE    BORQES. 


providence  of  God  this  form  of  ministry  has  been 
revived  in  our  days  to  the  great  blessing  of  the 
Church  and  the  comfort  and  help  of  many  weak 
and  suffering  people."  Then,  after  a  prayer  has 
been  offered  up,  the  Warden  says  : — "  While  these 
sisters  have  been  under  our  care  they  have  received 
such  instructions  as  fit  them  to  minister  to  the 
bodily  and  spiritual  needs  of  those  among  whom 
they  will  labour.  During  a  long  time  of  probation 
they  have  given  proof  of  tlien-  competence  in 
health,  mind,  and  spirit  for  the  work  they  will 
undertake."  Then,  addressing  himself  to  the 
candidates,  who  rise  from  their  seats,  he  con- 
tinues : — "  It  is  fitting.  Sisters,  that  in  the  presence 
of  God  and  this  congregation  the  duties  to  which 
you  are  called  should  again  be  laid  before  you. 
You  are  to  serve  as  deaconesses.  You  must  regard 
yourselves  a.s  : 

1.  Servants    of    the    Lord 
Jesus  Christ  ; 

2.  Servants  of  the  poor  and 
needy,  for  His  sake  ;  and, 

3.  Servants  to  one  another. 
First,  you   are  servants  of 

the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  is 
your  Master,  and  from  Him 
you  will  receive  your  reward. 
You  are  set  free  from  the 
ordinary  toils  of  life  that 
you  may  give  your  whole 
time  and  strength  to  minis- 
tering in  His  name  to  those 
whom  He  calls'  My  brethren, 
even  these  least.'  You  are 
not  to  seek  for  earthly 
reward  in  this  service. 
Having  food  and  raiment 
and  things  needful,  you  must 
be  content. 

Second,  you  are  servants 
of  His  little  ones,  of  the  sick 
He  came  to  heal,  and  the 
sinners  He  calls  to  repent- 
ance, for  it  is  to  them  that 
the  service  is  to  be  done  you 
owe  to  your  Master,  Christ. 
It  is  your  duty  and  joy  to  bring  home  to  their  hearts 
the  love,  mercy  and  power  of  God.  Count,  there- 
fore, no  service  too  mean  if  love  prompts  to  it, 
and  no  toil  too  heavy.  Yours  must  be  the  Charity 
that  bears  all  things,  believes  all  things,  hopes  all 
things,  and  endures  all  things.  Your  loving 
service  is  to  set  forth  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in 
Christ  Jesus  our  Lord. 

"  In  the  third  place,  you  are  servants  to  one 
another,  for  your  work  is  to  be  done,  if  possible,  in 
co-operation.  You  will  find  much  help  and 
strength  in  that  sisterly  bond  which  unites  you  to 
members  of  the  Deaconess  t^rder,  and  you  must 
see  to  it  that  this  bond  is  not  weakened  by  neglect 
or  self-will.  When  working  together,  let  each  in 
lowliness  of  mind  count  her  comrade  better  than 
herself.  Our  Lord  and  Master,  when  He  washed 
His  disciples'  feet  said  :  '  I  have  given  you  an 
example,  that  ye  should  also  do  as  I  have  done  to 


Zhe  Britisb  3ournaI  of  tRurstng.       October  19,  1912 


-vou.'  WTiosoever  will  be  greatest  among  you, 
let  her  be  ser\-ant  of  all.  Finally,  with  ready  and 
self-respecting  obedience,  you  are  to  submit  your- 
selves to  the  direction  of  those  who  are  over  you 
in  the  Lord,  and  whose  duty  it  is  to  guide  j-ou  in 
the  work  to  which  you  will  be  appointed.  And 
thus,  serving  the  Lord  and  sent  forth  to  minister 
to  those  that  are  heirs  of  Salvation,  may  it  be 
vours  to  render  your  account  with  joy  and  to  hear 
irom  His  own  lips  the*  '  'Well  done  !  '  which  the 
Master  has  promised  to  good  and  faithful  service. 
And  now,  dear  Sisters,  ha\-e  you  duly  considered 
how  weighty  an  undertaking  this  is,  and  do  you 
beheve  that  God  has  called  you  to  the  office  and 
work  of  a  Deaconess  in  the  Cliristian  Church  ? 
Then  answer  '  Yes,'  and  give  me  in  confirmation 


to  me,  "  Once  a  deaconess,  always  a  deaconess  !  " 
but  we  do  not  think  so  ;  we  are  perfectly  free  to 
leave  the  Order,  if  circumstances  should  require  it. 
Nay,  not  only  that  ;  even  our  superiors  ask  us 
every  five  years  whether  or  no  we  are  willing  to 
stay.  As  for  my  part,  I  must  confess  I  never  felt 
the  least  inclination  to  leave. 

Excuse  me  for  not  having  written  sooner — ■ 
sometimes  even  I  am  hard  up  for  time.  My 
heartiest  greetings  to  all  of  you.  Miss  Breay,  I 
thank  very  much  for  sending  the  papers  with  the 
account  of  Miss  Nightingale's  burial. 

I  remain,    yours  very  faithfully, 

Julie  Borges. 

Seminar,   Kaiserswerth. 


your  right  hand."  This  is  a  very  solemn  moment. 
The  Sisters  answer  yes,  a  vance  to  the  very  steps 
of  the  altar,  and  after  having  given  their  hands, 
they  all  kneel  down.  The  Warden  and  his  two 
assistants  lay  their  hands  upon  their  heads  and 
bless  them,  saying  :  ' '  The  Almighty  God  who 
has  called  you  to  ser\-e  Him  in  this  manner  give 
you  the  power  to  fulfil  this  your  service  acceptably 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.     Amen." 

I  enclose  you  a  little  picture — it  is  taken  when 
the  sisters  are  in  the  act  of  getting  up  and  kneeling 
before  the  altar — it  will  give  you  a  very  good  idea 
of  the  solemn  transaction.  Of  course,  in  the 
afternoon  there  is  a  very  pleasant  sociable  gather- 
ing— guests,  friends,  sisters,  all  flock  together  to 
congratulate  the  new  deaconesses  and  bid  them 
welcome.  But  you  must  not  flunk  that  this 
■ceremony  is  binding.     A  London  lady  once  said 


PRACTICAL     POINTS. 

In  the  matter  of  washing  patients  while  in  bed, 
it  will  be  found  that  the  drying  is  far  more  com- 
fortably accomplished  by  the  use  of  small  towels, 
about  twenty-two  inches  square,  than  by  towels 
of  ordinary  size.  Worn  Turkish  bath  towels, 
both  brown  and  white,  mav  easily  be  cut  in  two 
for  this  purpose,  eliminating  the  threadbare 
centre  portion.  Thev  are  also  more  easily  washed 
and,dried  than  the  larger  towels. 

A  German  medical  journal  reports  the  case  of 
four  infants,  from  three  to  five  mo^ths  old,  who 
were  losing  weight  from  diarrhoea.  Buttermilk  was 
substituted  for  two  or  more  of  the  ordinary  feeds 
during  the  day,  with  immediate  improvement. 
Buttermilk  is  effectual  on  account  of  its  low  fat 
content  and  high  lime  content,  and  its  con- 
siderable proportion  of  albumen. 


October   19,    191 J 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursino- 


32  J 


OLTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


THE     BOOK     OF     THE     WEEK. 


*  DR.    TL'PPY."  • 

In  "  Dr.  Tuppy,"  Mr.  Stephen  Townesend,  the 
talented  author  of  "  A  Thoroughbred  Mongrel," 
has  given  us  a  book  which  is  sure  to  be  widely  read 
and  discussed  in  hospital  circles,  more  especially 
in  the  one  with  which  the  story  is  concerned,  and 
the  identity  of  which  is  scarcely  veiled. 

When  we  first  become  acquainted  with  Charlie 
Tuppy,  the  medical  student  nicknamed  "  Dr." 
Tuppy  by  his  fellow  students,  we  are  inclined  to 
agree  with  the  opinion,  endorsed  by  himself, 
"  Tuppy's  a  bit  of  a  fool."  Surely  no  student 
who  had  been  long  enough  in  a  hospital  to  be 
dresser  in  a  ward,  would  commit  so  egregious  a 
faux-pas  as  to  offer  to  tip  a  Sister.  Yet  this, 
Tuppy  actually  did,  "  diving  into  his  trousers' 
jxjcket  for  a  handful  of  coins  of  the  realm,  from 
which  he  selected  a  florin  :  '  It's  like  this,  you  see  ; 
surgical  work  is  quite  new  to  me  ;  I've  never 
dressed  before  ;  I  told  Baxter  I  was  afraid  I  should 
give  a  lot  of  trouble  in  the  wards,  and  he  said  that, 
in  a  case  like  mine,  the  customary  thing  was ' 

"  Tuppy  hesitated,  and  nervously  balanced  the 
florin  on  the  tip  of  his  forefinger. 

"  '  The  customary  thing  was  ?'  Sister  Mary 
repeated,  drawing  back  a  step,  and  looking  at  the 
coin,  askance. 

Well,  t-t-to  square  the  Sisters,'  he  stammered. 

■ ' '  With  a  florin  ?  '  she  asked,  demurely,  and 
lifted  her  laughing  eyes  to  his. 

"  Tuppy's  perennial  smile  was  once  again 
chastened  by  the  suggestion  of  a  misgiving.  He 
felt  there  was  a  mistake  somewhere,  and  attri- 
buting it  to  the  smallness  of  the  amount  offered, 
he  most  dexterously  substituted  a  half-crown. 

'  Well,  Baxter  wouldn't  specify  the  exact 
amount,'  he  replied  ;  '  he  had  such  confidence  in 
my  tact  and  discretion,  but  we  mutually  agreed, 
on  the  ground  of  dehcacy,  that  it  ought  to  be 
small.'  " 

But,  as  we  become  better  acquainted  with  the 
hero  of  the  story,  we  agree  with  the  opinion  of 
his  friend  and  house-surgeon,  that  he  is  "  true  and 
loyal  to  the  back-bone  "  ;  and  are  glad  that  he 
and  Sister  Mary  become  e.xcellent  friends.  With 
Nurse  Jessop  a  warmer  relationship  than  friend- 
ship is  speedily  established,  and  though  no  Matron 
could  be  expected  to  approve  of  a  courtship 
conducted  in  the  wards  and  fostered  by  the 
Sister,  we  must  own  to  considerable  sympathy 
with  the  lovers. 

We  all  recognise  as  "  to  the  life,"  the  descrip- 
tion of  the  visit  of  the  surgeon. 

"  Sister  Mary  looked  impatiently  at  the  clock  ; 
the  surgeons  ought  to  have  been  up  at  two,  and  it 
was  now  a  quarter  past.     .     .     .     She  liated  this 

*  Hodder  &  Stoughton :  London,  New  York, 
and  Toronto. 


waiting  about  on  Parade,  and  being  tied  to  the- 
front  ward  door.  Xot  that  she  wasted  time  ;  she 
employed  it  in  knitting  and  thinking.     .     .     . 

■  .\h  '.  there  was  the  lift  at  last,  the  babel  of 
students'  voices,  and  the  clatter  of  many  feet  on 
the  echoing  corridor.  Mr.  Tucker,  with  the  dressers, 
was  about  to  burst  through  the  doorway,  like  a 
huntsman  with  a  pack  of  hounds  at  his  heels." 

Dr.  Tuppy  lived  with  a  delightful  aunt,  by 
whom  he  had  been  adopted,  to  his  great  advan- 
tage, for  Canon  Tuppy,  his  father,  was  an 
intolerable  old  autocrat,  and  liis  kindly  motlier 
something  of  a  nonentity.  "  Do  I  know  St. 
Peter's  Rectorj-  ?"  repeated  the  poUceman,  in 
reply  to  a  question  from  Nurse  Jessop  ;  "  Lor', 
yes,  miss,  we  all  know  it  on  this  beat,  and  the 
Canon,  too  ;  'e's  so  often  round  at  Bow  Street, 
complainin'  o'  something." 

Dr.  Tuppy  shared  his  Aunt  Eleanor's  love  of 
dogs.  She  was  an  ardent  anti-vivisectionist,  this 
httle  old  lady,  "  as  pretty  and  delicate  and  daint^^ 
as  a  beautiful  piece  of  Dresden  china.  .  .  . 
Lady  Milner's  whole  hfe  was  devoted  to  wliat  she 
always  spoke  of  as  '  The  Cause,'  which,  being  inter- 
preted, meant  the  total  prohibition  of  experiments 
on  Uving  animals  for  scientific  purposes.  Her 
whole  estimate  of  character  was  based  on  a  person's 
attitude  towards  this,  to  her,  all-important  sul> 
ject."  To  her  nephew  she  admitted,  "  Of  course, 
I  know  that  you  can't  go  preaching  these  things  at 
the  hospital.  I'm  not  unreasonable  ;  all  I  expect 
is  that  whenever  the  question  is  mooted,  you 
should  boldly  hoist  your  colours,  and  stick  to 
them." 

"  Rather  !"  answered  Tuppy,  succinctly,  "  but, 
either  at  the  hospital  or  elsewhere, -my  position  is 
much  more  difficult  to  defend  than  yours." 

"  \Miy,  Charlie  ?" 

■'  There's  the  reason."  Tuppy  held  up  a  nice 
crisp  piece  of  bacon  on  the  end  of  his  fork.  "  You 
are  a  vegetarian,  I  am  not  ;  I  tried  to  be,  as  you 
know,  and  with  pretty  disastrous  results.  You 
can  talk  about  the  '  rights  of  animals.'  I  can't. 
To  do  so,  whilst  I  am  '  trifling  '  with  a  chicken's 
leg,  or  toying  with  a  piece  of  ham,  is  inconsistent, 
to  say  the  least  of  it.  As  a  scientist  remarked,  in 
the  trial  about  a  famous  brown  dog,  '  if  we  sacrifice 
animals  for  food,  why  not  for  education  ?'  " 

"  But  we  don't  eat  dogs,  Charlie." 

The  story  of  the  hero's  first  and  second  appear- 
ance before  the  Good  Discipline  Committee  of  the 
hospital  must  be  read  in  its  entirety.  Sister  Mars- 
proved  herself  a  true  friend  and  an  excellent 
champion,  although  her  championship  led  to 
trouble  for  herself. 

The  day  after  the  meeting  of  the  Good  Discipline 
Committee,  "  the  little  Sister  was  up  betimes, 
and  by  a  quarter-to-nine  had  not  only  stolen  half- 
ari-hour's  march  on  her  work,  but  had  finished  her 
breakfast.  At  the  ver>-  moniont  that  the  hospital 
clock  cliimed  the  three-quarters,  she  heard  a 
knock  at  her  doorway. 

"  '  Come  in,  Mr.  Tuppy  ;  I'm  delighted  to  see 
you.' 


324 


Cbe  36rUl5l)  3ournai  ox  iRursiiui 


October   ig,    1912 


"  '  1  hope  you  will  be  equallj-  pleased  to  see 
ute,'  said  a  voice,  as  the  curtain  was  drawn  on  one 
side.  Sister  Maiy  looked  up,  and  encountered  the 
eyes  of  the  Matron." 

But  all's  well  that  ends  well. 

Mr.  Townesend  possesses  the  rare  faculty  of 
making  his  characters  stand  out  like  living 
pictures — a  gift  which  at  once  creates  an 
atmosphere  of  charm.  The  book  is  full  of  hunrour. 
and  the  hero's  devotian  to  the  canine  species  has 
all  our  sympathy. 

By  all  means  read  "  Dr.  Tuppy." 

We  should  not  wonder  if  he  becomes  a  real  hospital 
hero,  so  brave  and  chivalrous  is  the  little  man. 

E.  G.  F. 


VERSE. 

What  God  gi\'es,  and  what  we  take, 
'Tis  a  gift  for  Christ  His  sake  ; 
Be  the  meal  of  beans  and  peas, 
God  be  thanked  for  those  and  these  ; 
Have  we  flesh  or  have  we  fish, 
All  are  fragments  from  His  dish. 
<        He  His  Church  save,  and  the  King, 
And  His  Peace  here,  like  the  Spring, 
Make  it  ever  flourishing.  Herrick 

COMING     EVENTS. 

October  igth. — British  Home  and  Hospital  for 
Incurables,  Streatham.  Lord  Strathcona  will  lay 
the  foundation  stone  of  the  Alexandra  wing. 

October  22«rf. — Central  Midwives'  Board  Exami- 
nation, London,  Birmingham,  Bristol,  Leeds, 
Manchester  and  Newcastle-on-Tyne. 

October  lyd;  November  6th  and  ij,th. — 
Nurses'  Missionary-  League.  The  Autumn  pro- 
gramme. Lectures  on  Hinduism  and  Islam, 
University  Hall,  W.C,  by  Canon  W^eitbrecht. 
Lecture  on  Oct.  23rd  at  10.30  a.m. 

October  lyd. — Mansion  House,  City  of  London. 
Public  Meeting  in  support  of  the  memorial  to  Lord 
Lister. 

October  2^nd. — The  Lady  Mayoress  presides  at  a 
meeting  at  the  Mansion  House  in  aid  of  the , 
Metropolitan  Nursing  Association.     5.30  p.m. 

October  25//;. — Drawing  Room  Meeting,  bv 
invitation  of  Ladv  Horsley,  at  25.  Cavendish 
Square,  W.  Dr.  Anne  L.  Kann  will  speak  on 
"  The  Work  of  the  Babv  Clinic."  Chairman,  Mrs. 
Hvlton  Dale.    3.30  p.m. 

October  iqth-November  2nd. — Cookers-  and  Food 
Exhibition,  Royal  Horticultural  Hall,  S.W. 

October  ^isi. — The  Territorial  Force  Nursing 
Serv-ice  (Citj^  and  Counts'  of  London)  Reception 
at  the  Mansion  House  by  the  Lady  Mayoress. 
8  to  10.30  p.m. 

November  2)id. — Matrons'  Council  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland.  Quarterly  Meeting,  Royal 
Albert  Edward  Infirmary-,  Wigan.  3.30  p.m.  Tea. 
Open  Meeting.  5  p.m.  Discussion  :  "  The  Bill  for 
the  State  Registration  of  Nurses.  " 

November  2vd. —  Sale  of  Work  in  aid  of  the 
Nurses'  Missionary  League,  Sloane  Gardens 
House,  52,  Lower  Sloane  Street,  S.W.  10  a.m. 
to  6  p.m. 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 

Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  /or  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  ive  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITION. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  Bkitish  Journal  of  Nursing. 
De.\r  Madam, — I  was  very  plea.sed  to  receive 
the  prize  this  week,  and  beg  to  acknowledge  the 
receipt  of  cheque  for  same,  with  many  thanks. 
Yours  faithfully, 

L.    S.    NUNXERLEY. 

Hill  Street,  Berkeley  Square.  W. 


LETTERS    OF    APPRECIATION. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — I  was  one  of  the  unfortunate 
members  of  the  National  Council  who  were  unable 
to  go  to  Cologne,  but  I  have  read  eagerly  the  most 
interesting  reports  which  have  appeared  in  the 
British  Journal  of  Nursing,  and  wish  to  ofier 
my  warmest  thanks  for  the  wonderful  way  in 
which  the  proceedings  have  been  presented.  May 
1  thank  vou,  your  most  devoted  second  in 
command.  Miss  Breay,  and  Miss  Dock  lor  the 
immense  trouble  taken  for  our  benefit.  I  consider 
the  British  Journal  of  Nursing  the  greatest 
asset  the  nursing  profession  has  in  this  country. 
I  am,  yours  gratefully, 

Katherine  Taylor. 

Sussex  Square,   W. 


To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  ok  Nursing. 
Dear  Madam, — I  enclose  my  yearly  sub- 
scription to  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
I  cannot  tell  vou  how  much  I  appreciate  it.  The 
unwearying  efforts  to  keep  up  the  nursmg  pro- 
fession, and  the  long  fight  for  registration,  will 
surelv  meet  with  success  at  last.  It  is  puzzling  to 
know  wh\-  there  should  be  anv  opposition  to  a 
Bill  that  will  benefit  everv  class  of  the  com- 
munity. 

Believe   me. 

Yours  faithfully,  . 

J.   Melita    Jones,    R.N. 
( )kiokinga  Institute  for  Trained  Nurses, 
.\uckland.   New  Zealand. 


TO    CATHOLIC    NURSES 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
•Dear  M.\dam, — The  proposed  Catholic  Nurses 
Guild  will  come  before  a  council  committee  of  the 
Catholic  Women's  League  shortly.  I  am  sorrj-  to 
say  that  1  received  verv  few  cards,  and  conclude 
that  a  great  manv  nurses  were  awa\-  on  holiday 
and  did  not  see  my  letter.  Will  any  Catholic 
nurse  approving  of  a  Guild  for  Catholic  Nurses 
please  let  me  know  at  once  ?     If  possible,  before 


October  19,   191: 


CTbc  Biitieb  3ounial  ot  fl^ursing. 


325 


■(Jctober    2ofli.      1    should    liki-     im    ih.ink    umsi.- 
nurses  who  kiiuily  sent  letters  and  cards.     Will 
they  also  get  other  nurses  to  do  so  ''     Address — 
Miss  A.  Petitt, 
City  Hospital,   Seacroft,   Leeds. 


TRAININQ    AND   SERVICE. 

To  the  Editor  0/  The  British  Journ.\l  of  Nursing. 

Deak  .'\I.-\d.\.m, —  It  is  perhaps  sillv  to  answer 
letters  from  women  who  are  afraid  to  let  their 
names  be  known.  But  I  think  the  writer  of  the 
letter  signed  "  Suffragist  "  must  have  good  rea.son 
for  not  signing  her  name  because  1  do  not  believe 
she  was  ever  trained  at  the  London  Hospital,  as 
she  writes,  at  all.  If  she  had  been  she  would  know 
perfectly  well  that  any  nurse  who  \\  ishes  to  do  so 
can  spend  one  of  the  two  years  of  ,ser\ice  in  the 
wards. 

Yours  truly, 

Sydni.v  Holland. 

Knecsworth  Hall, 

Royston.  Herts. 

(We  do  not  wonder  that  working  women  are 
afraid  to  expose  abuses  b\-  name,  employment  is 
too  precarious  in  these  da\s.  If  the  nurses  who 
contract  to  "  serve  "  the  London  Hospital  after 
two  years"  training  are  at  Iibert\-  to  choose  how 
they  will  do  it,  why  have  they  to  sign  an  .\gree- 
mcnt  in  which  the  following  paragraph  appears  : 

I  distinctly  imderstand  that  I  am  entering  upon 
a  four  years'  engagement,  i.e.,  for  the  full  term 
of  two  years'  training  in  the  London  Hospital,  and 
for  two  years'  service  on  the  Private  Nursing  or 
the  General  Sta.fi  of  the  Hospital,  as  the  Matron 
may  require  "  ? 

Also  Standing  Order  No.  i<i  states  (in  italic?)  ; — 
' '  /t  must  be  distinctly  understood  by  every  Probationer 
that  if  she  signs,  she  signs  a  solemn  and  binding 
asreement  to  stai  lour  years  at  the  IlosfHal,  and  to 
do  such  work  'is  she  i-<  directed  'o  rfi."  Whether 
Mr.  Holland  believes  "  Suffragist  "  was  trained 
at  the  London  or  not  is  of  little  importance. 
The  fact  remains  that  during  her  residence  there 
the  "  requirements  "  of  the  Matron,  and  the  inclina- 
tions of  "  Suffragist  "  were  not  s\-nonvmous,  and 
bound  by  the  "  solemn  and  binding  agreement  " 
to  do  private  nursing,  she  had  to  do  it,  and 
she  considers  it  has  injured  her  professional 
status,  and  prevented  her  admission  to  Queen 
-Mexandras  Imperial  Militarv  Nursing  Service. 

The  sooner  Mr.  Holland  uses  his  influence  as 
Chairman  of  the  London  Hospital,  and  as  a  member 
of  the  Nursing  Committee  of  Q..\.1..M.N.S.,  to 
enforce  the  three  vears'  consecutive  term  of 
training  and  certification  at  the  former,  and  to 
insist  upon  it  as  the  qualification  for  the  latter, 
the  better.  The  present  conditions  are  most 
unju'st  to  all  concerned. —  Ed.) 


LET  LIS  HAVE  A  STANDARD  OF   TRAINING 

To  the  Editor  of  Thi;  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dk.\r  Mad.^m, — Wliy  should  Queen  Alexandra's 
Imperial  Military  Nursing  Serv^ice  be  tlie  only 
Government  Service  to  accept  a  nondescript 
year    of    "  ser\'ice  "     in    place    of    training  ?     I 


presume  ixcause  London  1  lospilal  oin<-  lals  and  their 
nominees  compose  the  Nursing  Cximmittee,  and 
they  ha\e  nothing  to  do  with  the  Naval  and 
Territorial  Nursing  Departments,  which  demand 
any  way  a  certificate  for  three  years'  training. 

Let  us  have  a  standard  of  training  defined. 
As  you  say,  it  is  high  time.  There  was  much 
grumbling    in    my    time. 

Yours  truly. 
Once  A  Stakk  Nursk  Q.A.I.M.N.S. 

[Letters  unavoidablv  held  o\er  on  this 
question. — Ed.] 


COLLAR     AND     CUFF     NURSES. 

To  the  Editor  of  7}iF.  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — The  enclosed  conversation  took 
place  between  the  husband  of  my  next  maternity 
patient  and  a  woman  who  usually  earns  her 
li\nng  as  a  charwoman. 

Should  you  think  it  worth  publishing.  I  do  not 
think  she  would  object,  as  she-  has  the  greatest 
contempt  for  collar  and  cuff  nurses  ;  and,  more- 
over, I  do  not  think  she  has  the  good  taste  to  read 
the  Journal. 

Yours  faithfully, 

London.   W.  Marv   Harvey. 

The  Conversation. 

"  Good  morning,  sir  ;  I  have  been  hoping  to 
meet  you  for  some  time." 

"  Good  morning,  Mrs.  Pravist ;  and  why  did 
you  want  to  see  me  ?" 

"  Well,  sir,  I  heard  as  your  lady  was  expecting." 

"  Expecting  !    expecting  what  ?" 

"  Another  little  'un,  sir  ;   a  baby." 

"  Oh,  3-es,  yes  ;   that's  quite  true." 

"  Well,  sir,  I  thought  there  would  be  no  harm. 
in  asking  if  vou'rc  wanting  a  nurse  ;  I'm  very 
good  at  monthlv  nursing  I  am." 

"Oh  !  thank  you,  Mrs.  Pravist;  that  is  very 
kind  of  you  ;  but  we  have  engaged  the  nurse 
we  have  always  had." 

"  Yes,  sir ;  but  if  anything  was  to  happxjn 
sooner  than  vou  expect,  vou'll  think  of  me,  sir, 
won't  vou  ?  I'm  not  one  of  those  collar  and  cuff 
nurses,  I  ain't  ;  I'm  a  working  nurse,  sir,  that's 
what  I  am  ;  a  nurse  as  works  ;  no  collar  and  cuffs 
forme;    good  morning,  sir." 

"  Good  morning,  Mrs.  Pravist." 

OUR     PRIZE     COMPETITIONS- 
OCTOBER. 

October  26/A. — Describe  the  modern  management 
of  Scarlet  Fever. 

[NOVEMBER. 

Noi'embert  2iid. — In  nursing  a  patient  in  a 
private  house  what  minor  details  would  you 
observ'e  in  regard  to  the  personal  care  of  the 
patient,  and  his  (or  her)  surroundings,  in  order  to 
add  to  his  comfort  ? 


NEW    SUBSCRIBERS, 

Please  order  the  Bkiiish  Journal  qi'  NuRSlMr, 
regularly  from  your  local  newsagent  and  get 
others  to  do  so.     Price  id.  weeklv. 


326     ^be  Britisb  journal  of  IWursino  Supplement.   October  19,  1912 


The   Midwife. 


INTRA=UTERINE  OPHTHALMIA. 


Intra-uterine  ophthalmia  is  sufficiently  rare  to 
make  the  following  cases  of  interest  to  mid- 
wives.  In  each  caSe  the  child  was  seen  by  a 
registered  medical  practitioner  soon  after  birth. 

Case  I. — Patient  had  no  history  of  a  vaginal 
discharge.  The  presentation  was  a  vertex  ;  the 
child  was  born  naturally  forty  minutes  after 
rupture  of  the  membranes,  with  acute  inflam- 
mation of  th-'  <'onjunctiva ;  the  lids  were 
oedematous  ai>.i  -nongy ;  the  upper  lids  pro- 
jected over  the  lower  lids ;  a  straw-coloured 
serous  discharge  was  present.  The  inflamma- 
tion yielded  readily  to  treatment,  and  ihv  cure 
was  complete  in  a  fortnight. 

Case  2. — Twin  labour.  The  patient  had  had 
a  yellow  discharge  two  days  before  labour ;  no 
antepartum  douche  was  given.  The  first  child 
only  was  infected ;  the  presentation  was  a 
vertex ;  natural  delivery  took  place  ten  minutes 
after  the  rupture  of  the  membranes  ;  the  liquor 
amnii  was  turbid  and  greenish.  Thirty  minutes 
after  birth  a  slight  yellow  discharge  was  noticed 
in  the  right  eye.  One  drop  of  silver  nitrate 
2  per  cent,  was  instilled  into  each  eye ;  two 
hours  after,  the  lids  were  swollen.  Tiiirty  hours 
after,  the  lids  were  red  and  swollen  ;  the  corneae 
were  hazy,  with  some  infiltration  in  the  lower 
part.    The  child  made  a  fair  recovery. 

Case  3. — The  patient  was  a  duopara  ;  the 
labour  was  natural.  The  presentation  was  a 
first  vertex.  An  antepartum  douche  of  i  in 
2,Qoo  perchloride  of  mercury  was  given.  There 
was  no  history  of  a  vaginal  discharge.  The 
membranes  were  ruptured  artificially,  and  the 
child  was  born  forty-five  minutes  afterwards. 
The  third  stage  was  normal,  but  the  chorion 
was  somewhat  torn  ;  it  is  possible  that  there 
might  have  been  some  rupture  of  the  mem- 
branes high  up  before  the  artificial  rupture. 
Within  an  hour  after  birth  the  lids  were  noticed 
to  be  swollen,  and  the  conjunctiva  was  slightly 
inflamed.  The  doctor  saw  the  child,  and  a  drop 
of  solution  of  argyrol  20  per  cent,  was  instilled 
into  each  eye.  On  the  second  day,  pus  exuded 
from  the  eyes ;  the  eyes  were  irrigated  with 
boracic  lotion  every  two  hours.  On  the  third 
day  the  congestion  was  diminished  and  the 
cornea  clear.  Two  days  afterwards  the  inflam- 
mation was  subsiding,  but  the  corneas  were 
hazy.  Argyrol  i  in  50  was  instilled  twice  daily, 
and  the  irrigations  continued.  The  child,  who 
weighed  7  lb.  10  oz.  at  birth,  developed  marked 


symptoms  of  congenital  syphilis,  and  grew 
rapidly  worse.  On  the  ninth  day  the  corneae 
were  ulcerated ;  convulsions  set  in,  and  the 
child  died  on  the  twelfth  day  from  the  above 
disease.  There  was  no  history  or  symptoms  of 
maternal  specific  disease. 

The  details  in  these  cases  are  somewhat 
scanty,  but  they  are  all  well-authenticated  cases 
of  intra-uterine  ophthalmia.  A  study  of  the 
literature  on  the  frequency  of  this  complication 
shows  that  there  are  fifty-four  records  of  cases. 
These  are  admirably  tabulated  and  summarized 
in  a  paper  on  "Antepartum  Ophthalmia"  in  the 
O phthalmoscope  of  April,  1906,  by  Dr.  Sydney 
Stephenson  and  Miss  Rosa  Ford,  M.B.  In 
many  of  these  cases  the  disease  was  in  an  early 
stage  ;  but  in  two  the  ophthalmia  had  apparently 
rim  its  course  in  utcro,  leaving  a  shrunken 
eyeball,  with  signs  of  inflammation  still  pre- 
sent ;  this  would  point  to  infection  some  weeks 
or  even  montli^  before  birth.  Hellendall  has 
proved  experimentally  that  bacteria  can  pass 
ihrougli  the  intact  amnion  and  infect  the 
amniotic  fluid.  The  only  solution  of  these  early 
infection  cases,  and  those  in  which  the  child 
was  born  within  a  few  minutes  of  the  rupture 
of  the  membranes,  is  to  assume  that  bacterial 
infection  has  taken  place  with  intact  mem- 
branes ;  about  half  the  published  cases  can  be 
accounted  for  by  premature  rupture  of  the  mem- 
branes allowing  access  of  micro-organisms  to 
the  conjunctival  sac. 

The  minimum  incubation  period  of  ophthalmia 
neonatorum  is  twenty-four  hours  ;  therefore,  if 
symptoms  appear  before  this  period  has  elapsed 
the  case  may  be  considered  as  one  of  intra- 
uterine ophthalmia,  some  or  all  of  the  incuba- 
tion period  having  been  passed  in  utero.  We 
know  that  all  cases  of  ophthalmia  neonatorum 
are  due  to  germ  infection  ;  it  is  therefore  certain 
that  in  those  cases  in  which  premature  rupture 
of  the  membranes  does  not  explfiin  the  intra- 
uterine infection  the  germs  must  find-  access 
either  through  the  unruptured  membranes 
or,  as  suggested  bv  .'\rmaignac,  by  general 
systemic  infection,  the  fcetal  circulation  becom- 
ing infected  either  through  the  maternal  circu- 
lation or  from  the  placental  site. 

,In  the  cases  cited  above,  the  membranes  only 
ruptured  within  an  hour  of  the  birth  of  the 
child  ;infection  must  therefore  have  taken  place 
before  the  membranes  ruptured.  In  case  2  the 
patient  acknowledged  to  a  yellow-  discharge 
before  labour ;  it  may  possibly  have  been 
gonorrhceal  ;  the  fact  that  the  first  twin  only  was 


October  19,  1912   ^bc  British  3ournal  of  IRureino  Supplement.      3:: 


affected  is  a  point  of  considerable  interest.  Dr. 
Ford  suggests  that  the  micro-organisms  may 
gain  easier  access  to  the  ovum  in  the  last  few 
days  before  labour  owing  to  the  expansion  of 
the  cervix,  which  is  common  in  both  multipara; 
and  primiparse  before  the  onset  of  labour. 
The  vaginal  secretion  containing  the  gonococci 
"  may  be  washed  against  the  ovum  by  the  in- 
voluntary movements  of  the  pelvic  organs,  so 
that  it  is  no  longer  protected  from  infection." 
In  the  last  case  of  congenital  syphilis  it  may 
have  been  a  general  systemic  infection. 

The  C.M.B.  rule  that  discharge  from  the 
eyes,  "  however  slight,"  is  to  be  reported  to  a 
doctor,  is  an  excellent  one,  and  in  the  few  rare 
cases  of  intra-uterine  ophthalmia  the  midwife 
will  be  absolved  from  responsibility  if  the  child 
is  seen  within  a  few  hours  after  birth. 

It  is,  besides,  very  desirable  that  accurate 
medical  and  bacteriological  observations  should 
be  made  on  these  cases,  with  a  view  to  dis- 
covering what  is  at  present  somew  hat  obscure 
—the  method  of  prenatal  infection. 

Dr.  Ford  has  kindly  given  the  writer  a  list  of 
the  points  to  be  observed  in  such  cases.  They 
are  given  below-  : — 

iNTRA-UTr.RINK    OPHTHALMIA. 

Infant. 

1.  Stage  of  ophthalmia  at  birth  :    ■ 

Redness  ?  swelling  ?  discharge  thin  or  yellow 
and  thick  ?  cornea  clear  ?  hazy  ?  or  ulcer  ? 

2.  Condition  of  child  as  to 

Maturity, 

Nourishment, 

Other   inflammations,    e.i;.,    vulvitis. 

3.  Bacteriology. 

4.  Pelvic  position. 

Mother. 

1.  Presence  of  vaginitis  or  other  inflammation 

and  date  when  contracted.    Gonococcus  ? 

2.  Was  metritis  present  during  pregnancy  ? 

3.  Duration  of  labour  from  first  pain  or  "  show 

or  discharge  of  any  water. 

4.  Time  of  rupture  of  membranes.    Any  evidence 

of  a  twofold  rupture. 

5.  Were  injections  used  or  examinations  made 

before    birth    (?    possible    slight    injury    of 
bag  of  membranes)  ? 

6.  Did  the  placenta  separate  readily  ? 

7.  Examination  of  placenta  and  membranes  : — 

(a)  for  any  sign  of  disease  ; 

(b)  for  slight  lateral  rupture  higher  up  than 

main  rupture. 

(c)  bacteriology  ;  placenta  ;  chorion  ;  amnion. 

8.  Paracentesis   of   I.iq.   Amnii   before   rupture 

of  membranes  for  bacteriological  examina- 
tion in  gonorrhceal  cases. 

9.  Examination  of  foetal  blood  for  gonococcus. 

M.  O.  H. 


CENTRAL  MIDWIVHS'  BOARD. 


The  first  meeting  of  the  Central  Midwives'  Board 
after  the  summer  holidays  was  held  at  the  Board 
Room.  Caxton  House.  Westminster,  onThursday. 
October  loth,  Sir  Francis  Champneys  presiding. 
.\  letter  was  received  from  the  Clerk  of  the  Council 
relative  to  the  salary  of  the  Secretary  sanctioning 
an  increa.se  by  annual  increments  of  £2^  to  a 
maximum  of  £js'^. 

On  the  motion  of  the  Chairman  it  was  unani- 
mously resolved  to  send  a  vote  of  condolence  to 
*  Lady  Sinclair  on  the  death  of  Sir  William  Sinclair, 
for  many  years  a  member  of  the  Board. 

Report  of  Standing  Committf,f. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  Standing  Com- 
mittee Dr.  Harry  Stokes,  of  New  Wortley,  whose 
application  for  recognition  had  previously  been 
refused,  was  recognized  as  a  teacher. 

It  was  agreed  to  take  no  action  in  the  ca,se  of  a 
candidate  wlio  failed  at  the  August  examination 
and  wrote  complaining  of  unfair  treatment  on 
the  part  of  the  examiner. 

A  letter  was  read  from  a  certified  midwife 
practising  in  Chesterfield  complaining  of  the  issue 
by  the  Chesterfield  Division  of  the  British  Medical 
Association  of  a  circular  with  reference  to  the 
conditions  affecting  the  practice  of  midwifery 
in  that  town. 

It  appears  that  a  midwife  wlio  .sent  for  medical 
assistance  was  unable  to  obtain  it  in  time  and  the 
patient  died. 

The  circular  which  is  signed  by  the  Hon. 
Secretary  of  the  British  Medical  Association, 
Chesterfield  division,  appears  to  be  a  somewhat 
autocratic  document  considering '  that  certified 
midwives  are  entitled  by  law  to  practise  midwifery 
within  certain  limits.  The  doctors  in  Chesterfield 
have  signed  an  agreement  which  has  been  sent 
to  the  midwives  in  the  locality ;  the  following  are 
included  in  its  provisions  : — 

1 .  Every  expected  confinement  must  be  booked 
with  a  medical  practitioner,  and  a  fee  of  5s. 
as  a  retaining  fee  only  paid  for  the  booking 
and  examination. 

2.  Doctors  will  not  attend  emergency  notes 
from  midwives  requiring  medical  help,  unless 
the  patient  has  previously  retained  a  doctor 
in  case  his  services  are  required.  (The 
minimum  fee  when  a  doctor  is  called  in  is 
to  be  £1  IS.,  including  the  retaining  fee, 
and  £2  2S.  or  upwards  for  complicated  cases. 
The  midwife  is  instructed  :  In  carrying  out 
the  arrangement,  when  a  patient  comes  to 
book  her  confinement  you  will  send  her 
to  her  usual  doctor  before  agreeing  to  attend 
her.  He  will  examine  her  and  give  her  a 
card  for  "  attendance  if  required.") 

3.  At  the  time  of  the  confinement  you  will 
attend  in  the  usual  way.  If  everything  is 
normal  you  will  finish  the  case  as  before. 
If  abnormal,  you  will  send  your  official  form 
for  medical  help,  together  with  the  patient's 


ps        Zbc  aSritisb  5ounial  of  IWurc^iiuj  Supplement,  ocfohcr  lo,  igi: 


yellow  card  to  the  doctor  who  has  been 
retained  and  is  therefore  responsible  lor 
attending. 

.|.  These  provisions  will  ensure  your  being  able 
to  obtain  a  doctor's  help  whenever  necessary, 
and  as  the  safety  of  the  mother,  and  the 
preser\-ation  of  infant  life  healthy  and 
unimpaired  are  of  prime  importance,  any 
midwife  who*  disregards  these  conditions 
will  be  reported  to  the  British  Medical 
Association  and  to  the  Midwives'  Union  ; 
and  patients  in  such  cases  will  be  advised 
to  obtain  the  services  of  other  nurses. 

T.  Persons  who  are  too  poor  to  pay  the  fees 
above-mentioned  should  be  instructed  to 
obtain  an  order  from  the  Relieving  Officer 
at  the  Union  Offices  for  the  services  of  the 
District  Medical  Officer. 

The  letter  then  concludes  "  I  shall  be  obliged 
if  you  will  write  me  stating  your  approval  of  the 
above  arrangements  and  that  you  will  act  in 
accordance  with  them." 

The  Clmirman  moved  that  the  reply  be  (i)  that 
if  the  midwife  has  obeyed  the  rules  of  the  Board 
regulating  the  summoning  of  medical  aid,  she  has 
discharged  her  duties  to  the  patient.  (2)  That  the 
Board  has  no  authority  over  medical  practitioners. 
(3)  That  the  correspondence  be  forwarded  to  the 
Privy  Council. 

Clause  I  and  2  were  adopted,  but  in  connection 
with  Clause  3  ]\Ir.  Parker  Young  moved  the 
following  rider  :  "  and  the  Board  hope  that  the 
Privy  Council  will  take  steps  to  have  the  Midwives 
Act  so  amended  as  to  meet  the  difficulties  that  are 
constantly  arising."  This  was  seconded  by  Mrs. 
Latter. 

In  moving  his  amendment  Mr.  Parker  Young 
said  that  there  was  tremendous  friction  between 
midwives  and  the  medical  profession.  How  much 
longer,  he  asked,  were  we  to  go  on  without  an 
Amending  Act  ?  The  Department  Committee  had 
inquired  and  reported  years  ago  concerning  the 
working  of  the  Act  but  nothing  had  been  done. 
The  Board  was  aware  of  a  case  in  which  a  midwife 
sent  for  assistance  to  nine  doctors.  Eight  refused 
to  attend,  and  when  the  ninth  arrived  the  patient 
was  dead.  The  (iovernment  was  neglecting  to 
do  what  it  ought  to  do,  and  lives  were  being  lost 
through  its  laxity. 

The  Chairman  said  the  motion  amounted  to  a 
vote  of  censure  on  the  Lord  President  ("  Hear, 
hear  ").  On  being  put  to  the  vote,  two  voted  for 
the  motion  ;  and  three,  including  the  Chairman, 
against  it. 

"^  In  replv  to  a  request  from  Mrs.  Williamson  (Hon. 
Secretary  of  the  Birkenhead  Maternity  Hospital) 
for  information  as  to  the  administration  of  the 
Maternity  Benefit  under  the  National  Insurance 
Act,  it  was  decided  to  inform  Mrs.  Williamson 
that  the  cjuestion  had  been  before  the  General 
Medical  Council,  who  had  made  representation  on 
the  subject  to  the  Government. 

A  letter  was  received  from  Dr.  R.  D.  !\Iaxwell, 
one  of  the  Board's  examiners,   complaining  of  a 


circular  issued  by  a  midwite,  stating;  "  Patients 
attended  with  or  without  a  doctor  ;  fee,  los.  6d." 
It  was  agreed  to  reply  that  no  rule  of  the  Central 
Midwives'  Board  had  been  infringed. 

A  letter  was  received  from  the' National  Health 
Insurance  Joint  Committee,  enquiring  (a)  the 
fee  usually  payable  to  a  qualified  medical  prac- 
titioner, when  summoned  on  the  advice  of  a 
midwife  ;  and  (b)  by  what  Authority  the  fee  is 
paid.     The  Board  directed  a  reply. 

The  names  of  fifteen  midwives  were  rcmo\-cd 
from  the  Roll,  at  their  own  request. 

The  following  applications  were  appro\-cd  ; 
For  recognition  as  Teachers — Dr.  Mona  Dew 
Roberts,  Dr.  Joseph  Corker,  and  Dr.  James  Russell. 
Certified  Midwife  for  Approval  under  Rule  C.  i  (2) 
— Agness  de  Froissard. 

THE    AUSTRALIAN     MATERNITY     BILL. 

Although  under  the  provisions  of  the  Australian 
Maternity  Bill  every  mother  in  the  Common- 
wealth who  is  not  an  Aboriginal  or  an  Asiatic  is 
entitled  to  a  maximum  allowance  of  /^  if  claimed 
within  three  months  of  the  birth  of  her  child, 
there  will  probably  be  many  women  in  com- 
fortable circumstances  who  will  not  wish  to  claim 
this  allowance,  and  it  has  been  suggested  that 
any  money  which  is  unclaimed  should  be  applied, 
through  a  special  fund,  for  the  benefit  of  needy- 
mothers. 

A    VALUED    OFFICER. 

The  resignation  of  Miss  Fynes-ClintOn,  secretary 
to  the  Midwives  Institute,  which  is  announced  by 
Nursing  Notes,  its  official  organ,  will  be  received 
with  regret  by  many  midwives,  members  of  the 
Institute,  and  others,  who  appreciated  her  invari- 
able courtesv  to  all  with  whom  she  came  in  contact. 
Miss  Clinton  has  held  office  for  fifteen  years,  and 
will  still  retain  the  position  of  Hon.  Secretary. 
She  is  succeeded  by  Miss  Goodlass,  who  is  both 
a  certified  midwife  and  a  trained  nurse  of  varied 
experience. 

A  MATERNITY  NURSES  SUCCESSFUL 
CLAIM. 

Miss  Fanny  S.  Lithgow,  of  Park  Avenue, 
Whitley  B-^y,  successfully  sued  Mrs.  Rachel 
Atkinson  and  her  husband,  of  Gloucester  Street, 
Newcastle,  last  week  for  breach  of  contract  in 
the  Newcastle  County  Court.  The  nurse's,  case 
was  that  she  was  engaged  for  March  24th,  but  was 
summoned  on  March  2nd,  when  she  was  in  atten- 
dance upon  another  patient,  whom  she  could 
not  leave.  She  would  have  been  quite  ready  to 
carry  out  her  engagement  at  the  appointed  time, 
and  had  refused  another  case  in  which  better 
terms  had  been  offered.  She  had  tried  to  obtain 
other  engagements,  but*  failed  and  was  out  of 
work  for  two  months. 

The  judge  said  it  w-as  not  the  nurse's  fault  that 
the  baby  arrived  before  the  expected  time  and  she 
ought  not  to  suffer.  He  found  for  the  plaintiff 
with  costs.  The  sum  was  fixed  at  /4  4s. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.   1,282 


SATURDAY,    OCTOBER  26,   1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


THE     RIGHT     OF     THE     INSURED     5ICK 
TO     SKILLED     NURSING. 

One  of  the  points  in  connection  with  the 
administration  of  the  National  Insurance 
Act  which  is  exercising  the  minds  of  trained 
nurses  is  the  quality  of  the  nursing  care 
which  is  to  be  supplied  to  the  insured  sick. 

The  National  Insurance  Commissioners 
have  not  shown  any  desire  to  avail  them- 
selves of  the  advice  of  Associations  of 
Trained  Nurses  as  to  the  standard  to  be 
adopted.  In  the  case  of  medical  practi- 
tioners and  midwives  whose  services  are 
employed  under  the  Act,  this  question  does 
not  arise.  The  minimum  qualification  is  in 
each  instance  regulated  by  statute.  In  regard 
to  nurses,  however,  the  insured  sick  have 
no  such  protection,  and  it  is  therefore 
essential  that  until  the  Government  reverses 
its  policy  of  inaction  and  legislates,  in  pro- 
tection of  the  sick,  against  fraudulent  and 
incompetent  nursing  care,  that  special  pre- 
cautions should  be  taken  to  ensure  efficiency 
in  nurses  supplied  to  the  sick  poor.  More 
especially  is  this  the  case  when  that  nursing 
is  paid  for  by  the  persons  concerned.  Gifts 
have  perforce  to  be  made  the  best  of,  and 
it  must  be  owned  that  the  quality  of  nursing 
provided  by  the  well-to-do  for  their  poorer 
neighbours  in  rural  districts  is  frequently 
very  elementary  indeed. 

But  under  the  Insurance  Act  they  will 
pay  for  skilled  nursing,  and  we  hope  that 
Friendly  and  other  Societies  in  which  they 
are  insured  will  see  that  they  are  supplied 
with  the  real  article,  and  that  the  nurses 
employed  are  not  selected  for  their  cheap- 
ness but  for  their  efficiency,  for  assuredly 
there  is  a  tlanger  of  the  former  course  being 
adopted. 

Take,  for  instance,  the  case  of  the 
Cumberland  Nursing  Association,  which, 
from   the  report   recently   presented  at   the 


annual  meeting,  apparently  contemplates 
nursing  the  insured  sick.  The  Association 
has  50  nurses  now  at  work,  1 1  of  whom  are 
Queen's  nurses,  7  have  had  some  hospital 
training,  and  32  are  village  nurses.  Is  it 
proposed  that  the  whole  of  the  nursing  of 
the  insured  sick  throughout  the  county 
should  be  performed  by  the  11  Queen's 
nurses,  or  are  the  sick  poor — who  it  must 
be  remembered  do  not  readily  give  way, 
and  are  generally  acutely  ill  when  they 
need  the  services  of  a  nurse — to  be  handed 
ever  to  the  remainder  of  the  staff,  some  of 
whom  have  had  "some  hospital  training," 
and  to  the  village  nurses  most  of  whom 
are  dangerously  ignorant  of  the  theory  and 
practice  of  nursing,  but  are  certified  mid- 
wives,  with  some  instruction  in  elementary 
nursing  duties,  and  who,  for  purposes  of 
policy,  are  described  as  nurses  instead  of 
midwives. 

Take  again  the  "  nurses  "  supplied  by  the 
Cottage  Nursing  Benefit  .\ssociation,  nurses 
who,  in  many  instances,  have  had  no 
hospital  experience,  for  the  policy  of  the 
.-\ssociation  is  to  discourage  hospital  train- 
ing— and  who  should  be  called  cottage 
helps,  in  which  capacity  they  might  have 
a  useful  sphere.  The  Committee  of  .Manage- 
ment is  seriously  proposing  that  they  shall 
be  supplied  as  resident  nurses  to  the  insured 
sick  at  not  less  than  £1  per  week  with 
board,  lodging,  laundry  and  travelling  ex- 
penses in  addition.  A  more  extravagant 
proposition  could  scarcely  have  been  made. 

The  standard  of  training  for  the  nurses  of 
the  insured  sick  should  be  that  of  Queen's 
nurses  a  minimum  of  three  years'  hospital 
training,  with  special  experience  in  addition. 
Nothing  less  can  be  considered  adequate. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  not  only  the  Nursing 
Inspectors  to  be  appointed  under  the  Act, 
but  the  medical  profession,  will  realise  their 
responsibdity  in  this  vital  question  of 
national  health. 


33° 


Z\K  36riti£ib  journal  of  HAurstno  odobcr  26, 1912 

MEDICAL   MATTERS.  •  THE   OVERSTRAIN    OF    NURSES.* 


THE    PASSI^O    OF    MORBID    ANATOMY. 

Sir  James  Goodhart,  M.D.,  F.R.C.P.,  who 
last  week  delivered  the  Harveian  Oration 
before  the  President  and  Fellows  of  the  Royal 
College  of  Physicians,  took  for  his  subject 
"The  Passing  of  Vorbid  Anatomy."  He  re- 
ferred first  to  the  monumental  labours  of  Dr. 
Bashford  and  his  fellow-workers  of  the  Imperial 
Cancer  Research  Fund,  a  result  of  which  was 
to  demonstrate  the  fundamental  necessity  of  the 
study  of  the  life  history  of  the  individual  cancer 
cell;' not  environment  but  that  cell  was  master 
of  the  situation,  and  the  problem  for  solution 
was,  what  was  there  in  that  cell,  or  influencing 
it,  that  gave  to  it  such  an  inexhaustible  power 
of  propagation? 

Pathology  was  no  series  of  stationary 
phenomena^  but,  like  all  else  in  Nature,  con- 
'stantly  on  the  move.  In  the  last  40  years 
pyaemia  had  been  practically  wiped  out,  typhus 
was  well  nigh  forgotten,  typhoid  fever  had 
altered,  diphtheria  was  much  more  amenable  to 
attack,  scarlatina  was  a  much  milder  type, 
erysipelas  more  of  a  rarity,  malaria  and  ISIalta 
fever  had  been  run  to  earth.  They  had  come 
to  grips  with  malaria  and,  it  was  to  be  hoped, 
with  tuberculosis.  Good  old  age  was  not  only 
more  prevalent,  but  more  enjoyable.  It  was 
true  that  the  ills  enumerated  belonged  to  the 
great  group 'of  epiphytic  diseases  which  had 
been  abolished  in  direct  response  to  the  re- 
searches of  Pasteur  and  Lister,  but  if  they 
made  away  with  even  one  large  group  of 
maladies  a  large  part  of  the  morbid  anatomy  of 
the  organs  must  alter  too. 

Again,  pathology  not  only  changed,  but  it 
shifted  its  ground.  Nowadays  it  was  not  so 
much  morbid  anatomy  but  the  intricate 
problems  behind  it  which  occupied  attention. 
We  had  not  reached  finality.  Even  bacteria 
were  probably  results,  not  causes. 

How  like  was  radium  in  all  but  death  to  what 
he  would  call  the  aureole  of  life.  Always  spend- 
ing, yet  never  spent,  it  had  power  within  it  to 
re-gather  its  loss,  and,  by  its  action  on  the  cell, 
might  even  be  said  to  originate  the  function  of 
vitality. 

But  did  the  spirit  of  life  die?  It  might 
correlate  with  other  forces  of  nature,  or  trans- 
fer itself  to  other  forms  of  being.  Had  we 
begun  to  see  it  might  transcend  the  firmament 
of  space?  Medicine  was  primarily  concerned 
not  with  death,  but  with  the  tenacity  of  life,  and 
of  how  long  (if  catastrophe  were  excluded)  it 
took  to  bring  the  machine  to  a  standstill. 


By  Miss  Margaret  Breay 
{Treasurer,  Intertmtional  Council  of  Nurses). 
The  question  of  the  overstrain  of  nurses  is 
a  complicated  one,  for,  under  the  most  favour- 
able conditions,  we  have  elected  to  adopt  a 
profession  in  which  strain  is  the  rule  rather 
than  the  exception,  and  this,  not  from  any  want 
of  consideration  on  the  part  of  employers,  but 
because  the  needs  of  the  sick,  day  and  night, 
Sunday  and  week-day,  are  unceasing.  Having 
deliberately  shouldered  a  heavy  burden,  we 
must  expect  to  feel  its  weight,  and  those  who 
regard  nursing  merely  as  an  easy  means  of 
earning  a  livelihood,  while  their  real  interests — 
philanthropic,  social,  or  frivolous — are  else- 
where, had  better  remain  outside  the  pro- 
fession, for  nursing  is  a  stern  and  jealous  mis- 
tress, demanding  many  sacrifices  from  those 
who  owe  her  allegiance.  But  these  very  facts 
make  it  incumbent  upon  those  responsible  for 
organising  the  work  of  nurses  to  insure  that 
the  burden  is  eased  as  much  as  possible ;  that, 
though  occasional  overstrain  is  inevitable,  it  is 
not  constant  or  necessitated  by  the  conditions 
of  work,  and  that  good  food  and  sufficient  time 
for  rest  and  recreation  are  ordinarily  assured  to 
them. 

Let  us  consider  in  detail  some  of  the  direc- 
tions in  which  overstrain  is  likely  to  occur. 

To  many  probationers  the  regularity  of  rou- 
tine is  vexatious.  To  work  by  the  clock  ;  to  get 
up  and  go  to  bed  at  a  prescribed  hour,  to  go  on 
and  off  duty  to  the  moment,  to  do  the  same 
thing  at  the  same  time  each  daj' — all  this  is  irk- 
some to  most  modern  girls,  who  gird  at  the 
sense  of  compulsion,  feel  driven  by  the  con- 
tinual need  of  being  up  to  time,  and  over- 
strained by  the  necessity  of  complying  with  the 
inexorable  demands  of  a  life  of  routine.  But  as 
time  goes  on  they  find  that  it  is  only  by  strict 
conformity  to  routine  that  their  work  can  be 
accomplished,  and  that  method  and  regularity 
are  their  greatest  source  of  strength.  In  sup- 
port of  this  we  may  compare  the  work  of  the 
nurse — at  any  rate,  in  institutions — its  regular 
hours  and  definite  time  off  duty,  with  that 
of  the  midwife,  the  strain  of  whose  work  is 
found,  not  in  the  actual  duties  performed, 
though  they  are  onerous  enough,  but  in  its  ir- 
regularity. The  uncertainty  of  the  calls,  the 
constant  tension,  the  strain  of  night  as  well  as 
day  work,  and  the  frequent  lack  of  sleep — for 
these  reasons  manv  nurses  who  can  successfully 


♦  Presented  to  the  International  Congress  of  Nurses 
Cologne,   August,    1912. 


October  26,  191. 


«Ibc  3Snti6l)  3ounial  of  iHursmo. 


331 


undertake  ordinary  nursing  break  down  if  lliey 
attempt  midwifery. 

A  fruitful  source  of  overstrain  is  the  inequit- 
able endeavour  of  some  hospital  authorities  and 
private  employers  to  extract  work  from  their 
nurses  to  the  utmost  limit,  without  giving-  a  due 
equivalent  in  training  or  in  cash.  Women's 
labour  is  chtap  and  plentiful;  when  some  fall 
out  of  the  ranks  others  are  ready  to  take  llieir 
place,  especially  in  the  ranks  of  hospital  nurses. 
But  it  is  not  only  wrong,  but  stupid,  to  reduce 
one  set  of  people  to  ill-health  by  overwork  in 
order  to  restore  another  set  to  health,  and  the 
just  employer  will  realise  that  he  has  obliga- 
tions as  well  as  rights,  chief  amongst  them  that 
of  safeguarding  the  health  of  the  W'orkers  for 
whom  he  is  responsible. 

Nothing  is  a  more  fruitful  source  of  over- 
strain than  lack  of  knowledge.  Knowledge 
gives  confidence  and  a  sense  of  power  to  deal 
with  difficult  situations  which  is  otherwise  un- 
attainable, hence  the  responsibility  resting  upon 
hospital  authorities  to  provide  adequate  instruc- 
tion and  experience  for  their  pupils.  Only  last 
year,  at  an  inquest  which  occurred  into  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  death  of  a  patient  at  a  lead- 
ing London  hospital,  in  which  the  night  nurse 
had  administered  an  ounce  instead  of  a  drachm 
of  morphia  draught,  the  nurse  informed  the 
jury  that  the  nurses  were  not  trained  as  to  fatal 
doses  of  poisons — they  had  to  find  that  out  for 
themselves.  Again,  where  the  term  of  training 
is  inadequate,  and  the  experience  of  the  nurse 
in  consequence  insufficient,  overstrain  occurs. 
Take  the  instance  of  a  nurse  sent  out  from  the 
private  nursing  staff  of  a  large  hospital  to  a 
case  of  enteric  fever,  when  she  has  never  nursed 
or  even  seen  one  during  her  brief  training ; 
happily  the  patient  recovered,  but  at  what  cost  ■ 
of  mental  anxiety  and  overstrain  this  nurse 
cared  for  the  case  she  alone  knows. 

Conscientiousness,  again,  adds  to  the  strain 
on  the  worker — a  strain  unknown  to  worthies 
of  the  tvpe  of  Sarah  Gamp  and  Betsev  Prig. 
You  remember  Betsev's  instructions  to  her  col- 
league when  handing  over  her  patient  for  the 
night  :  "  The  easy  chair  ain't  soft  enough.  You 
want  his  piller. "  The  tension  through  the  long 
night  hours  on  the  nurse  sensitive  to  every  need 
of  her  patient,  alert  to  everv  change,  question- 
ing herself  if  she  has  done  all  in  her  power  for 
his  welfare  in  nowise  affected  such  self- 
indulgent  callous  workers,  who  were  un- 
toucheti  also  hv  the  exhaustion  consequent  upon 
the  claims  of  sickness  on  a  svmpathctic  nature, 
which  suffers  in  unison  with  those  whom  it 
serves. 

Again,  there  is  the  overstrain  of  systematic 
overwork.    Occasional  overwork,  caused  bv  the 


inevitable  stress  of  the  situation,  is  cheerfully 
endured  oy  any  nurse  worthy  of  her  vocation, 
and  combated  by  rest  and  relaxation  between 
cases  when  the  strain  is  over.  For  this  reason 
the  practice  of  employing  nurses  in  the  wards 
of  a  hospital  between  private  cases  is  to  be 
deprecated.  The  nurse  who  goes  from  one 
acute  case  to  another  where  her  rest  is  broken 
and  her  sleep  limited,  needs  a  few  days  between 
them  to  recover  physical,  mental,  and  spiritual 
poise,  and  it  is  shortsighted  policy  to  make  her 
-do  ward  work  until  the  next  call  comes,  perhaps 
lor  night  duty  with  an  anxious  case  at  the  end 
of  a  hard  day's  work.  Should  a  nurse  need  to 
bring  her  knowledge  up  to  date,  surely  she 
should  be  taken  oil  private  duty  and  return  to 
hospital  for  a  delinite  period. 

Then  there  is  the  overstrain  resulting  from 
the  callous  and  deliberate  sweating  of  nurses 
for  money-making  purposes,  an  example,  of 
which  is  to  be  found  in  the  case  of  a  nurse 
employed  at  a  salary  of  some  ^'30  a  year  by  the 
proprietress  of  a  private  nursing  home,  who 
charges  patients  as  much  as  twenty  guineas  a 
week^.  This  nurse  was  required  to  do  five  hours' 
massage  daily,  and  when  she  represented  to  her 
employer  that  it  was  impossible  to  get  it  in, 
and  that  for  days  she  had  not  been  able  to  go 
down  to  dinner,  she  was  told  that  that  was  her 
affair.  The  nurse  confided  to  a  friend  the 
temptation  to  commit  suicide.  There  is  no 
excuse  for  such  deliberate  sw^eating  to  satisfy 
an  employer's  greed  of  gold. 

Few  persons  realise  that  w-hile  -the  ordinary 
able-bodied  man  considers  eight  hours  a  day, 
with  a  weekly  half-holiday,  besides  a  day  of  rest 
on  Sunday,  constitute  a  good  week's  work,  at 
least  ten  to  tw-elve  hours  a  day  for  seven  days  a 
week,  or  nights,  when  the  strain  is  increased, 
is  expected  of  most  nurses.  Indeed,  nursing  is 
one  of  the  most  exacting  callings  in  this  respect, 
yet  no  one  has  ever  suggested  for  this  reason 
that  it  is  not  women's  work.  Nursing  is  univer- 
sally regarded  as  essentially  a  calling  for 
women.  It  is  therefore  illogical  to  close  the 
doors  of  any  other  profession  against  them  on 
the  ground  of  its  strenuousness. 

Another  cause  of  overstrain  is  poverty. 
Nurses,  when  in  institutions,  usuallv  receive 
minute  salaries,  out  of  which  thev  have  not  onlv 
to  defray  their  personal  expenses  and  put  by  for 
the  days  when  they  can  no  longer  work,  but  ' 
also  frequently  assist  relatives  more  or  less  de- 
pendent upon  them,  and  this  lack  of  funds 
unquestinnablv  is  a  factor  in  causing  over- 
strain. District  nurses,  again,  are  often  very 
poorly  paid,  and  it  is  quite  usual  in  England  to 
see  an  advertisement  for  a  district  nurse  at  ;^5o 
to  ;^6o  a  year,  out  of  which  she  is  required  to 


itbe  Britisb  Journal  of  IRursing 


October  26,  igi: 


maintain  herself.  Here  underfeeding  inevitably 
comes  in  as  a  factor  in  the  consequent  over- 
strain, as  well  as  the  lack  of  personal  comfort, 
for  this  is  unattainable  on  such  a  pittance.  I 
say  "comfort,"  but  "necessities"  would  be 
the  more  appropriate  word — for  a  cheerful  fire, 
a  warm  bath,  hot  appetising-  food  are  among 
the  necessities  of  life  when,  wet,  footsore,  and 
weary,  a  nurse  rettirns  home  at  the  close  of  an 
anxious  day's  work;  but,  at  the  above  rate  of 
pay,  she  must  either  get  them  for  herself  or  for 
the  most  part  go  without,  as  her  income  will 
not  admit  of  the  luxury  of  attendance. 

Mental  nursing  has  its  own  special  form  of 
strain,  caused  by  constant  contact  with  the 
insane,  and  the  need  for  unceasing  watchful- 
ness lest  the  patient  should  harm  himself  or 
attack  those  about  him. 

Again,  there  is  the  strain  on  a  sensitive, 
sympathetic  woman  of  contact  with  the 
tragedies  of  the  under  side  of  life,  of  the  know- 
ledge of  conditions  of  life  which  make  purity, 
and  even  decency,  well-nigh  impossible.  Who 
is  the  more  to  blame  when  young  men  and 
young  women  lodgers  are  accommodated  in  the 
same  room — because  of  the  exorbitant  rent  de- 
manded by  the  slum  landlord — when  the  illegiti- 
mate child  is  born,  the  parents  or  the  landlord? 
How  can  such  conditions  be  remedied?  How 
can  preventable  diseases,  such  as  syphilis,  be 
eradicated,  and  every  child  ensured  its  right  to 
clean  birth?  The  thoughtful  nurse  is  brought 
right  up  against  these  and  manv  kindred  pro- 
blems, and  feels  the  consequent  strain.  True, 
the  one  who  goes  through  the  daily  routine 
oblivious  to  these  problems,  unconcerned  with 
them,  escapes  this  particular  form  of  strain, 
but  she  is  not  a  nurse  of  the  most  desirable  tvpe. 
The  need  of  the  sick  is  for  the  care  of  human, 
tender,  sympathetic  women,  not  of  machines. 

Another  form  of  overstrain — not  to  be 
justified,  but  still  one  which  must  be  taken  into 
account — is  that  caused  bv  the  attempt  to  nurse 
and  lead  an  ordinary  life  of  pleasure  at  the 
same  time,  to  regard  nursiny  as  a  means  to  an 
end — to  put  in  so  much  time  in  hospital  wards, 
or  a  sick  room,  while  the  real  interests  of  life 
remain  outside.  Nursing  is  an  exacting  task- 
mistress,  and  inevitably  and  rightly  avenges 
herself  on  those  who  attempt  to  depose  her 
from  her  position  as  absolute  monarch. 

Unquestionably  our  dutv  is  to  guard  against 
overstrain.  A  patient's  first  need  is  a  nurse 
with  freshness  and  vitalitv.  Drowsiness,  lack 
of  alertness,  tiredness,  as  a  result  of  taking 
time  for  personal  eniovment  from  the  hours 
allowed  for  sleep,  are  inexcusable,  and  indicate 
a  want  of  conscientiousness  which  mav  show 
itself  in  other  directions. 


Further,  nurses  have  a  duty  to  themselves, 
and  it  is  futile  to  insist  upon  the  importance 
of  the  rules  of  hygiene  to  others  and  deliberately 
ignore  them  all  oneself,  although  I  admit,  espe- 
cially in  these  davs  of  high  pressure,  that  it  is 
far  easier  to  preach  than  to  practise. 

To  sum  up,  it  is  our  dutv  as  nurses,  in  the 
stress  of  emergency,  deliberately  and  willingly 
to  risk  overstrain.  It  is  the  duty  of  employers, 
public  and  private,  to  refrain  from  overtaxing 
the  eager  and  willing  worker,  and  to  ensure 
that,  under  normal  conditions,  the  work  of 
nurses  is  so  arranged  that  thev  .have  sufficient 
lime  for  sleep  and  recreation,  comfortable 
quarters,  and  good  and  appetising  food.  The 
possibilities  and  probabilities  of  overstrain  are 
increased  in  countries  where  the  nursing  pro- 
fession is  unorganised,  and  therefore  liable  to 
be  overworked  and  underpaid.  Experience 
proves  that  with  organisation,  under  State 
authority,  comes  increased  recognition  of  the 
honourable  and  arduous  nature  of  a  nurse's 
work,  better  conditions  of  labour,  more  ade- 
quate remuneration,  and  therefore  better  service 
for  the  sick. 

Lastly,  we  know  that,  for  better,  for  worse, 
the  nursing  profession  owns  our  whole-hearted 
allegiance,  and  that  we  would  not  exchange  our 
chosen  vocation  for  any  other  in  the  world. 


A  MOST  GENEROUS  QIFT. 


The  Treasurer  of  the  International  Council 
of  Nurses  has  received  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
dollars  from  "  a  Delegate  from  America  to  the 
recent  Congress,"  with  the  proviso  that  a  part 
of  this  money  is  to  be  devoted  to  payment  for 
the  translation  of  Dr.  Hecker's  paper  on  "  The 
Overstrain  of  Nurses,"  the  translation  then  to 
belong  to  the  International  Council  of  Nurses, 
to  be  used  in  any  way  which  seems  best,  after 
consultation  with  the  officers  of  the  Council  as 
to  the  way  in  \\hich  this  valuable  pamphlet  can 
best  be  utilized  in  furthering  its  efforts  to  secure 
proper  hours  and  conditions  for  nurses. 

This  most  generous  and  welcome  gift  will 
enable  Dr.  Hecker's  treatise  to  be  circulated 
amongst  English-speaking  people.  It  will  be 
specially  welcomed  by  those  nurses  who  were 
present  on  the  memorable  occasion  of  its 
•  delivery,  but  whose  imperfect  knowledge  of  the 
German  language  prevented  them  from  follow- 
ing it  with  the  close  attention  it  deserved. 

It  is  so  rare  for  gifts  to  be  made  to  promote 
objects  for  the  real  welfare  of  nurses  that  this 
one,  coming  from  a  member  of  the  nursing' 
profession,  will  be  speciallv  appreciated. 


October  26,  1912 


abe  36i'ltisb  3ournaI  of  H-lurslno. 


333 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 


.DKiCKIBli     THK     MODERN     MANAQEMtNT    OF 
SCAkLKT    FEVER? 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding-  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  Emily  Marshall,  123,  New  Bond 
Street,  for  her  paper,  which  we  print  below. 

PRIZE     PAPER. 

The  modern  management  of  scarlet  fever  is 
as  follows  : — 

1.  Isolation. 

2.  Free  use  of  disinfectants. 

3.  Fresh  air  and  ventilation. 

Isolation  is  one  of  the  most  important  means 
of  preventing  the  spread  of  infectious  diseases. 
Scarlet  fever  is  a  more  or  less  serious  disease 
to  which  all  are  liable,  though  young  children 
are  more  often  attacked.  It  runs  a  more  or  less 
definite  course,  and  no  one  can  possibly  cut  short 
or  "  cure  "  the  disease  all  at  once.  But  a  good 
doctor  will  guide  the  patient  so  as  to  avoid 
possibly  the  terrible  complications  which  so 
often  follow  an  attack  of  scarlet  fever.  Persons 
are  not  altogether  immune  from  a  second 
attack.  The  large  majority  of  fever  cases  are 
removed  for  isolation  to  the  fever  hospitals ;  but 
patients  who  are  allowed  to  remain  at  home  for 
treatment  must  be  carefully  isolated  at  the  top 
of  the  house.  The  room- must  not  contain  one 
single  piece  of  unnecessary  furniture ;  curtains 
and  carpets  should  also  be  removed. 

Disinfectants  should  be  freely  used,  and  a 
sheet,  kept  wet  with  a  solution  of  Izal  or  some 
reliable  disinfectant,  hung  outside  the  door  of 
the  sick  room.  Disinfection  destroys  the  germs 
and  poison  of  the  disease,  and  it  is  therefore 
necessary  to  rinse  all  vessels  used  in  the  sick 
room  with  some  non-poisonous  disinfectant. 
The  poison  of  infection  clings  to  clothing,  and 
articles  which  have  been  used  for  the  sick  some- 
times for  months,  and  may  suddenlv  infect 
another  person.  .\11  clothes,  toys,  boots,  and 
papers  should  be  destroyed.  Clothes,  such  as 
woollen  goods,  can  be  disinfected  by  being 
baked  in  a  hot  oven,  and  linen  must  be  soaked 
in  a  strong  solution  of  Izal  before  being  sent  to 
the  laundry.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  anoint  the 
patient's  body  from  the  commencement  with 
I  in  50  carbolic  oil,  and  during  convalescence 
the  body  can  be  washed  daily  with  weak  dis- 
infectant. The  medicines  will  be  ordered  by  the 
doctor,  and  a  throat  spray  should  always  be 
used  ;  it  lessens  the  risk  of  ear  complications. 
Isolation  must  be  kept  up  at  least  six  weeks ; 
more  if  desquamation  is  not  complete,  or  there 
are  complications.  It  is  verv  important  to 
guard  against  chills  during  convalescence. 


The  complications  may  be  terrible.  The 
tonsils  and  palate  may  ulcerate,  glands  enlarge 
and  undergo  mortification.  There  may  be 
disease  of  the  middle  ear,  causing  deafness  for 
life.  Or,  the  most  serious  of  all,  inflammation 
of  the  kidneys  (nephritis),  which  may  lead  to 
dropsy,  &c.,  and  scarlatinal  rheumatism,  which 
leads  to  disease  of  the  heart. 

The  room  should  be  well  ventilated  without 
draughts,  and  the  temperature  kept  at  60°  F. 

The  patient's  diet  will  be  low  until  the  tem- 
iperature  has  been  normal  48  hours,  when  a 
light  diet  will  probably  be  given,  and  a  normal 
diet  after  the  first  week,  if  all  goes  well. 

.'\t  the  end  of  the  illness  the  patient  must  be 
disinfected ;  before  again  mixing  with  his 
friends  he  must  have  several  warm  baths,  and 
be  rubbed  with  carbolic  soap.  The  room  also 
must  be  carefully  disinfected.  The  usual  method 
is  sulphur  burning,  but  this  should  be,  and 
usually  is,  carried  out  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  the  local  sanitary  authorities. 

HONOURABLE    MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honourable 
mention  : — Miss  M.  Edge,  Miss  O'Brien,  Miss 
J.  Maclean,  Miss  T.  Robinson,  Miss  L.  James, 
-Miss  C.  Falconer. 

Miss  M.  Edge  writes  : — 

On  admission  the  patient  is  bathed  and 
placed  in  a  warm  bed  in  a  large,  airy  ward. 
Only  sufficient  bed-clothes  are  allowed  to  pre- 
vent the  patient  feeling  cold ;  but  chills  are 
carefully  avoided.  A  culture  is  taken  from  the 
throat,  and  the  throat  is  syringed  or  swabbed 
four-hourly  ;  often  boracic  lotion  or  glycerine 
and  boracic  is  used.  Frequent  cool  drinks  are 
given,  and  plenty  of  milk,  weak  beef-tea,  and 
chicken-broth.  No  foods  containing  much 
albumen  are  given  until  the  fourth  week  of 
disease.  The  temperature,  pulse,  and  respira- 
tions are  taken  four-hourly  until  normal,  after- 
wards morning  and  evening.  The  urine  is 
tested  daily  and  abnormalities  reported  as  soon 
as  discovered.  A  constant  watch  is  kept  for  com- 
plications, especially  during  the  third  week. 
The  patient  is  sponged  once  a  day.  At  the  end 
of  the  third  week,  if  no  complications  occur, 
the  patient  is  allowed  to  get  up. 

Cold  compresses,  poultices,  or  fomentations 
are  applied  to  swollen  glands.  Should  suppura- 
tion take  place,  incisions  are  made  and  fomenta- 
tions applied. 

Ear-discharge  is  treated  by  dropping  hydro- 
gen peroxide  into  the  ear  several  times,  clean- 
ing out  each  time.  This  is  followed  by  mopping 
out  with  rectified  spirit,  and  syringing  with 
boracic  lotion. 


534 


Z\ic  asritisb  3ouinnl  ot  IRurslnQ. 


October  26,  191; 


QUESTION     FOR     NEXT     WEEK. 

In  nursing  a  patienl  in  a  private  house  what 
minor  details  would  you  observe  in  regard  to 
the  personal  care  of  the  patient,  and  his  (or  her) 
surroundings,  in  order  to  add  to  his  comfort? 

THE  NEED  OF  NURSING  IN  WAR. 


Queen  Alexandra  has  telegraphed  from 
Copenhagen  to  Lord  Rothschild,  Chairman  of 
the  Council  of  the  British  Red  Cross  Society, 
warmly  supporting  his  appeal  for  a  special  fund 
to  enable  it  to  render  assistance  to  the  sick  and 
wounded  in  the  Near  East,  and  commending  it 
to  the  support  of  the  British  public. 

The  fact  that  it  is  not  contemplated  to  include 
trained  nurses  in  the  units  despatched  is  a  great 
disappointment,  both  to  trained  nurses,  who 
realize  the  imperative  need  for  their  services, 
and  to  the  public,  who  have  assimilated 
the  lesson  of  the  Crimean  War,  that 
skilled  nursing  is  essential  to  the  welfare 
of  the  sick.  Fifteen  years  ago,  when  Mrs. 
Bedford  Fenwick  appealed  in  the  Morning 
Post,  on  the  outbreak  of  hostilities  between 
Greece  and  Turkey,  for  funds  to  send  out 
trained  nurses,  she  received  ;^50o  by  return  ot 
post ;  the  Daily  Chronicle  Fund,  with  which  this 
was  amalgamated,  reached  ;£'io,ooo,  and  four 
surgeons  and  30  nurses  were  despatched  to  the 
seat  of  war,  the  services  of  the  latter  being 
greatly  appreciated  by  the  splendid  Greek 
surgeons. 

The  British  Red  Cross  Society  is  the  official 
source  of  aid  to  foreign  countries  in  war,  and 
presumably  private  enterprise  would  not  be 
encouraged.  But  as  it  assumes  this  respon- 
sibilitv  it  should  recognize  the  duty  of  providing 
skilled  nursing. 

Montenegro. 

The  first  surgical  unit  to  be  sent  out  by  the 
British  Red  Cross  Society  to  the  seat  of  war 
left  London  on  Sunday  evening  for  Monte- 
negro. Surgeon-General  Bourke  was  in  charge 
as  Director,  the  other  medical  officers  being 
Dr.  Anthony  Bradford,  Dr.  F.  Goldsmith,  of 
.A.delaide,  Australia,  and  Surgeon  -  Captain 
^Lartin  Leake,  V.C.  The  unit  included  three 
dressers  and  twelve  orderlies,  and  it  was  hoped 
that  it  would  arrive  at  Cettigne,  its  destination, 
on  Thursday,  where  it  will  be  at  the  disposal 
of  the  Montenegrin  military  authorities. 
Turkey. 

Three  units  are  also  jDcing  sent  out  to 
Turkev  under  the  auspices  of  the  Society,  the 
whole  of  the  expenses  being  defrayed  by  Sir 
Frnest  Cassel. 


No.  I. — Leaves  London  for  Constantinople 
on  the  25th  inst.,  Dr.  Page,  resident  surgeon  at 
.Si.  Thomas's  Hospital,  being  in  command. 
With  him  will  be  associated  Dr.  H.  L.  Mann 
and  Dr.   Bourdillon,  of  the  same  hospital. 

No.  2. — In  command  of  the  second  unit  will 
be  Dr.  Anderson,  of  .St.  Mary's  Hospital,  with 
Dr.  W'ard,  of  St.  Bartholomew's,  and  Dr. 
Thornton.     It  leaves  London  on  the  26th  inst. 

No.  3. — Dr.  Appleyard,  of  St.  Mary's,  will 
command  the  third  unit,  which  it  is  proposed 
siiall  leave  London  on  October  27th.  With 
him  will  be  Dr.  Steele,  of  Canada,  and  Dr. 
Gardner,  of  Australia. 

Greece. 

Urgent  requests  have  also  been  received  by 
the  British  Red  Cross  Society  from  Greece  for 
surgical  aid,  and  two  units  have  been  enrolled, 
which  leave  London  on  the  26th  inst. 

The  detachments  in  Greece  will  be  under  the 
I ommand  of  Colonel  Delme  Radclife.  The 
lollowing-  surgeons  have  been  appointed  to  the 
units  : — 

No.  I.  Major  Houghton,  R.A.M.C,  Dr. 
Manuel,   and  Dr.   Trehernc. 

No.  2.      Dr.  Guy  Matth(«ws  and  Dr.  Welch. 

These  units  are  provided  by  the  liberalit\-  rS 
Greek  residents  in  this  country. 

Nursing  Help  from  Germany. 
The    German    Red    Cross    Society    has    des- 
patched a  Military  Surgeon  and  22  nurses  to 
Turkev. 

The  Red  Crescent  Society. 
The   Red  Crescent   Society   is  organizing   a 
field  hospital  with  full  equipment,  and  with  a 
staff   of   surgeons,    assistants,    and    male    and 
female  nurses. 

NUKSES'     INSURANCE    CARDS. 

The  Application  Form  should  be  filled  in  I'ery 
carefully  and  distinctly. 

The  Card  should  be  signed. 

The  reg'isterable  address  should  appear  on 
the  Card. 

Letters  must  be  stamped. 

Saturda)-,  the  26th  October,  is  the  latest  date 
on  which  the  stamped  Card  should  reach  the 
Office  of  the  Approved  Society  in  which  a  nurse 
is  insured.  If  this  is  impossible,  a  postcard 
should  be  sent  to  the  office  intimating  that  the 
Card  will  be  forwarded  at  an  early  date. 

Upon  receiving  the  second  quarter's  card 
and  book  from  the  office  it  would  be  well  to 
place  the  former  carefully  in  one  of  the  little 
cardboard  cases  made  for  the  purpose,  and 
which  can  be  obtained  at  a  stationer's. 


October  26,  1912 


s;be  Britisb  3ournal  of  11-lursino. 


333 


THE  NURSES' 


INSURANCE  SOCIETY  OF 
IRELAND. 


A  special  general  meeting  of  tiie  Xurscs' 
Insurance  Society  of  Ireland  was  recently  held 
at  their  ollice,  2y,  Gardiner's  Place,  Dublin. 
Miss  M'Ardle  presided,  and  the  meeting  was 
very  largely  attended  by  nurses  from  various 
Dublin  hospitals  and  institutions.  The  Secre- 
tary (Miss  K.  Kearns)  read  the  minutes,  cor- 
respondence, &c.  It  was  decided  not  to  accept 
the  invitation  to  join  the  Friendly  Societies' 
Union.  The  following  oHicers  were  elected  : — 
President,  Miss  M'.Xrdle,  Lady  Superinten- 
dent, Q.V.J. I.,  St.  Laurence's  Home,  Dublin; 
Vice-Presidet2t,,  Miss  Burkitt,  Lady  Superin- 
tendent, Mercer's  Hospital,  Dublin;  Treasurer, 
Miss  Roberts;  Trustees,  the  Right  Hon.  M.  F. 
Cox,  P.C,  M.D.,  F.R.C.l'.L,  W.  ].  dc  Courcy 
Wheeler,  Ksq.,  M.D.,  F.R.C.S.I.,  1'.  J.  Brady, 
Esq.,  M.P.  Fifteen  representative  nurses  were 
appointed  on  tlie  Committee  of  Management. 

NURSES'  MISSIONARY  LEAGUE. 


NURSING     INSPECTORS. 

Miss  Helen  Todd,  Nursing  Inspector  under  the 
Local  Government  Board,  has  been  appointed  an 
Inspector  under  the  National  Health  Insurance 
Commissioners,  in  charge  of  the  districts  of  Hert- 
fordshire and  Bedfordshire,  with  headquarters  at 
St.  .'Mban's.  Miss  Todd  was  trained  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  London.  It  is  gratifying 
to  record  that  in  this  work  men  and  women 
Inspectors  arc  placed  on  an  equality. 

Miss  Wamsley,  Matron  of  the  Royal  Infirmary, 

Newcastle-on-Tyne,      succeeds      Miss     Todd     as 

*  Inspector   under   the    Local    Government    Board. 

Miss  Wamsley  was  trained  at  the  London  Hospital. 


LECTURES    ON     HINDUISM     AND     ISLAM. 

The  second  Lecture  on  Hinduism  was  de- 
livered by  Canon  Weitbrecht  at  University 
Hall,  Gordon  Square,  on  October  i6th.  After 
briefl\'  summarising  the  former  lecture  on  the 
early  history  of  Hinduism,  Canon  Weitbrecht 
described  the  four  different  "  ways  of  salva- 
tion "  believed  in  by  the  different  schools — the 
way  of  works,  such  as  offerings,  pilgrimages, 
or  the  repetition  of  formulas ;  the  way  of 
knoivledge  ;  the  wav  of  concentration,  such  as 
is  practised  by  the  ascetics  and  devotees  who 
seek  to  attain  to  utter  abstraction  from  all 
earthly  thoughts ;  and  the  way  of  devotion, 
which  is  quite  the  nearest  approach  to  Chris- 
tianity. The  lecturer  then  described  the  de- 
velopment of  the  Sikh  religion ;  and  finally 
explained  the  position  of  a  Hindu  to-day  ;  he 
is  a  Hindu  by  birth,  and  by  conformity  to  the 
external  ceremonies  of  his  religion,  such  as 
food,  place  of  residence,  domestic  ceremonies, 
reverence  for  the  cow,  and  performance  of 
funeral  rites  ;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  in  matters 
of  actual  belief  he  is  absolutelv  ffce  to  say  or 
think  whatever  he  chooses.  The  one  binding 
power  is  caste. 

The  remaining  lectures  will  be  on  "  Islam, 
its  doctrines  (God,  Angels,  Prophets,  Divine 
decrees,  &c.),"  on  November  6th,  at  10.30  a.m., 
and  on  "  Islam,  its  duties  (Prayer,  Fasting, 
.'\lms,  &-c.),  its  present  condition  and  effects  of 
missionary  work,"  on  November  13th,  at  7.30 
p.m. 


THE     WELSH     NATIONAL      MEMORIAL 
SCHEME. 

The  following  nurses  have  been  appointed  under 
the  Wcl^h  National  Memorial  scheme  to  the 
late  King  at  a  meeting  held  at  Cardiff,  at 
which  Mr.  D.  W.  Evans  presided :  Misses 
Eleanor  Edwards,  Liverpool  ;  Sarah  Evans, 
New  Quay,  Cardiganshire  ;  Edith  Grace  Griffiths, 
Newport  ;  Kate  Parry,  Flintshire  ;  Edith  Morcomb, 
Prestatyn  ;  Katie  Hughes,  Blackmill,  Bridgend  ; 
Rachel  Lvnn  Evans,  Pencader  ;  Isabel  Mitchell, 
Sutton,  Surrey ;  Mary  Pattison,  Frimlcy  Sana- 
torium ;  Jennie  Mulligan,  Bangor ;  Elizabeth 
Edwards,  Liverpool  ;  Elizabeth  Jones,  Croydon  ; 
Violet  Conner,  Manchester. 

The  nurses,  who  are  appointed  at  a  commencing 
salary  of  ;£ioo  per  annum,  rising  bv  annual  incre- 
ments of  £2  los.  to  a  maximum  of  /no,  will  in 
due  course  be  allocated  to  their  respective  areas. 
The  Secretarv  to  the  scheme  is  Mr.  Gwilym  Hughes. 


QUEEN 


VICTORIA'S 
INSTITUTE. 


JUBILEE 


The  Queen's  Nurses'  Magas!)ie  announces  the 
following  resignations,  which  will  cause  general 
regret  in  the  ranks  of  Queen's  Nurses  : — 

Miss  Katherine  S.  Macfjueen  is  retiring  from'the 
post  of  Nursing  Superintendent  for  England.  It  is 
recorded  of  her  that  her  unfailing  courtesy  and 
strong  sense  of  justice  have  smoothed  the  way  in 
many  difficult  situations. 

Miss  J.  Cowper's  resignation  of  the  position  of 
Superintendent  in  Scotland-  is  a  great  loss  to  the 
Scottish  Branch  of  the  Institute.  Miss  Cowper 
succeeded  Miss  Wade  in  1905,  and  she  has  main- 
tained the  good  standards  and  high  traditions  for 
which  Scotland  has  ^Iways  been  noted. 

Miss  Philp  is  also  resigning  the  Superintendence 
of  the  Edinburgh  Training  Home.  Untiring  in 
her  work,  and  unsparing  of  herself.  Miss  Philp 
has  ever  held  before  nurses  in  training  that  high 
ideal  of  their  profession  that  tells  for  so  much  in 
future  life. 

Miss  Odell  Carter  is  leaving  the  Queen's  Nurses' 
Home,  Reading,  where  she  is  Superintendent,  to 
start  a  private  nursing  home  in  that  town  with 
Miss  Francis  Warter,  her  Senior  Nurse. 


336 


^]K  Brltl0b  journal  of  murstnc?. 


October  26,  1912 


APPOINTMENTS. 

MATRON. 

Isolation  Hospital,  Kirkburton. — Miss  Maud  B. 
Akehurst  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  Torbay  and  Croydon  Hospitals,  and 
at  Croydon  Borough  Fever  Hospital.  She  has 
ilso  been  sister  at  the  City  Hospital,  Liverpool, 
Night  Sister  at  thft  London  Fever  Hospital, 
Nurse-Matron  at  the  Isolation  Hospital,  Cheslyn 
Hay,  Walsall.  Miss  Akehurst  has  also  had 
experience  in  private  nursing. 

Eccles  and  Patricroft  Hospital,  Eccles. — Miss 
Frances  Despard  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Blackburn  General  In- 
firmary, and  has  since  been  Sister  at  the  Lister 
Fever  Hospital,  Abingdon  ;  the  Accident  Hospital, 
Tredegar  ;    and  the  Cottage  Hospital,  Abingdon. 

Epplng  Cottage  Hospital. — Miss  Marj'  L.  Watt 
has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at 
Grimsby  and  District  Hospital,  and  has  been 
Sister  and  Matron  at  the  Victoria  Hospital, 
'Folkestone  ;  Theatre  Sister  at  Harrogate  In- 
firmary ;  Sister-in-Charge  of  Lynton  Cottage 
Hospital  ;  and  Temporary  Night  Sister  at  the 
Evelina  Hospital  for  Children,  Southwark. 

Grampian  Sanatorium,  Kingussie,  N.B. — Miss 
Constance  Lendrum  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Hull  ; 
and  has  held  the  position  of  Sister  at  the  ^lorning- 
field  Hospital,  Aberdeen,  where  she  has  also  done 
Matron's  holiday  duty. 

County  Infirmary',  Wexford.  —  Miss  Bessie 
Hickey,  of  the  Jervis  Street  Hospital,  Dublin, 
has  been  appointed  Matron  out  of  eight  applicants. 

NURSE     MATRON. 

Southern       Sanatorium,       Pinewood,      Hastings. — 

Miss  J.  Green  has  been  appointed  Nurse  Matron. 
She  was  trained  for  tliree  years  at  the  Poplar  and 
Stepney  Sick  Asylum,  and  has  held  the  positions 
of  Sister  at  the  Park  Fever  Hospital,  Hither 
Green,  Ward  and  Maternity  Sister  at  the  Shore- 
ditch  Infirmary,  Night  Superintendent  at  the 
Plymouth  Borough  Hospital,  Sister  at  Bolingbroke 
Hospital,  Wandsworth,  at  the  General  Infirmary', 
Burton-on-Trent,  at  St.  Mark's  Hospital,  City 
Road,  and  Assistant  Matron  at  Mount  Vernon 
Sanatorium,  Nortluvood. 

Cottage  Hospital,  Driffield.  —  Miss  E.  R. 
Draper  has  been  appointed  Nurse-Matron.  She 
was  trained  at  the  Sussex  County  Hospital, 
Brighton  ;  and  worked  there  for  seven-and-a-half 
years,  four-and-a-half  of  which  she  was  Sister. 
For  the  past  tliree  months  Miss  Draper  has 
had  charge  of  Trimmer's  Cottage  Hospital, Ft-rnham. 

ASSISTANT    MATRON. 

Manchester  Infirmary. — Miss  E.  A.  Woodward  has 
been  appointed  Assistant  Matron  at  the  Manchester 
Infirmary.  She  was  trained  at  Camberwell  Infir- 
mary, and  holds  the  certificates  of  the  C.M.B. 
and  Incorporated  Society  of  Masseuses.  She 
obtained  the  medal  of  her  year,  which  is  awarded 
annually  at  Camberwell  for  "  nursing  ability  and 
general  efficiency."  She  has  also  held  the  posts 
of  Staff  Nurse,  Ward  Sister,  and  Night  Superin- 
tendent at  Camberwell  Infirmary. 


JUNIOR     ASSISTANT    MATRON. 

The  Infirmary,  Camberwell. — Miss  D.  Elcock  has 
been  appointed  Junior  Assistant  ^Matron  at  Cam- 
berwell Infirmary.  She  was  trained  at  Camber- 
well, and  afterwards  held  the  post  of  Theatre  and 
Ward  Sister. 

SECOND    ASSISTANT    MATRON. 

The  Infirmary.  Bermondsey.  —  Miss  E.  M. 
Houghton  has  been  appointed  Second  Assistant 
Matron-.  She  was  trained  at  th  Lambeth 
Infirmary,  where  she  has  been  Ward  Sister  and 
Assistant  Matron,  and  is  a  certified  midwife. 

NIGHT     SUPERINTENDENT. 

The  Infirmary,  Camberwell. — Miss  K.  Rawlingshas 
been  appointed  Night  Superintendent.   She  has  pre- 
viously been  Ward  Sister  at  the  Infirmary. 
SISTERS. 

The  Infirmary,  Rochdale. — Miss  Edith  Wilson 
has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at 
the  Dewsbury  and  District  General  Infirmary, 
where  she  has  held  the  position  of  Ward  Sister 
and  Night  Sister.  Slie  has  also  done  private 
nursing  in  Harrogate. 

The  Infirmary,  Camberwell. — Miss  K.  Marsh,  Miss 
Elizabeth  B.  Elgar,  Miss  Muriel  Bell  Everett,  and 
Miss  Margaret  Rose  Noakes  have  been  appointed 
Ward  Sisters  at  the  Infirmary.  They  all  received 
their  training  at  Camberwell  Infirmary,  and  were 
afterwards  promoted  to  be  Staff  Nurses. 

The  Misses  Elcock,  Rawlings  and  Marsh  have 
each  obtained  the  medals  awarded  for  their 
respective  years. 

The  Sanatorium,  Bridge  of  Weir,  Renfrewshire. — 
— Miss  Margaret  Muir  has  been  appointed  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Alexandra  Infirmar\-, 
Paisley,  and  the  Public  Health  Hospital,  Camelon. 

QUEEN  ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING    SERVICE. 

The  following  ladies  to  be  Staff  Nurses  : — ^Miss 
Mary  Nicholson(  Jan.  4th,  1912),  Miss  Christine 
Sandbach  (Jan.  12th,  1912),  Miss  Emily  Helena 
Cole  (Jan.  15th,  1912),  Miss  Minnie  Wood  (Feb. 
ist,  1912),  Miss  Mary  Valerie  Bonallo  (Feb.  8th, 
1912),  Miss  Florence  Margaret  Jackson  (Feb.  21st, 
1912),  Miss  Cecilia  Alice  Stevens  (Feb.  24th,  iqi2). 
:\liss  Ellen  Wilhelmina  Bond  (Mar.  Sth). 

QUEEN  VICTORIA'S   JUBILEE  INSTITUTE. 

Transfers  and  Appointments. — Miss  Louise 
Aronovich  is  appointed  to  Sick  Room  Helps  ; 
Miss  Hester  Dickson  to  Gloucester  ;  MisS  Robina 
Foote  to  Southall-Norwood  ;  Miss  Louisa  Robin- 
son to  Deemess  Valley  ;  INIiss  Mary  Mulroy  to 
Leicester. 

LONDON  COUNTY  COUNCIL. 

The  Establishment  Committee  of  the  London 
County  Council,  at  its  meeting  on  Tuesday, 
recommended  that  the  salaries  of  the  Assistants 
to  the  Superintendent  of  Nurses  in  the  Pubhc 
Health  Department  should  be  increased  to  ;^iio 
per  annum  from  August  26th,  in  accordance  with 
the  approved  scale,  and  that  the  increase  in  the 
salaries  of  the  nurses  should  take  effect  from  the 
same  date.  It  also  recommended  the  employ- 
ment of  four  additional  nurses  pending  an 
increase  in  the  permanent  staff. 


October  26,  1912  , 


(Ibe  Brtttsb  Sournal  of  IRursinQ. 


327 


NURSING    ECHOES. 


We  have  to  thank  Miss  A.  Lee-Smith, 
Superintendent  of  Queens'  Nurses  at  Torquay, 
for  the  charming-  snapshot  of  Miss  Mollett, 
with  Miss  Sutherland  and  Miss  Creighton, 
delegates  of  the  National  Councils  of  New 
Zealand  and  India  respectively,  taken  at 
Cologne.  The  delegates  are  carrying  the  beau- 
tiful sheaves  of  Mary  lilies  presented  to  them  by 
Sister  Agnes  Karll,  President  of  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses,  on  behalf  of  the 
German  Nurses"  Association. 


It  has  been  known  for  some  time  that  the 
Local  Government  Board  have  under  considera- 
tion a  Draft 
Order  which  may 
affect  the  posi- 
tion and  work  of 
the  Matrons 
under  their  direc- 
tion —  expert 
officials,  who,  by 
the  bye,  have  not 
been  consulted 
concerning  sug- 
gested regula- 
tions relating  to 
their  depart- 
ment. It  is  to  be 
hoped  that  before 
any  nev/  regula- 
t  i  o  n  s  are 
adopted,  which 
affect  the  im- 
portant depart- 
ment of  nursing, 

that     an     oppor- 
tunity will  be  given  to  those  who  know  most 
about  the  matter,  to  express  an  opinion. 


MIS5     SUTHERLAND.     MISS- 


While  the  State  ijiaintains  its  policy  of 
inaction  in  regard  to  the  standardization  of 
nursing  education,  the  units  which  compose  it 
are  feeling  the  need  for  such  standardization 
so  acutely  that  they  are  endeavouring  to  cope 
with  the  problem  themselves.  At  a  Conference 
of  Poor  l^aw  union  representatives  held  last 
week  at  Newcastle-on-Tyne,  eight  Poor  Law 
unions  in  Northumberland,  ten  in  Durham,  and 
two  in  Cumberland  were  represented.  Mr.  John 
Davidson,  Chairman  of  the  Newcastle  Board 
of  Guardians,  presided,  and  Mr.  Gladstone 
W^alker,  Clerk  to  the  Guardians,  suggested 
that  the  unions  in  the  four  northern  counties 
should   combine   and   appoint   a   committee   to 


formulate  a  plan  of  training,  and  appoint  an 
examining  body,  whose  duty  it  would  be, 
within  its  area,  to  define  the  particular  subjects 
necessary  for  the  efficient  training  of  nurses 
and  hold  examinations  for  the  nurse's  final  cer- 
tificate. It  was  well  known  that,  owing  to  the 
different  standards  set  by  examiners,  a  proba- 
tioner would  fail  to  pass  the  test  at  Newcastle 
and  yet  gain  the  qualification  in  another  dis- 
trict. It  was  ultimately  agreed  "That  this 
Conference  approves  of  the  standardization  of 
certification  of  Poor  Law  nurses  within  the  four 
northern  counties."  The  opinion  of  the 
Matrons  of  the  training  schools  was  apparently 

not  invited.  

Nothing  has  done  so  much  to  remove  the 
dread  which  the  poor  at  one  time  entertained — 
and  with  justice 
I  — of  Poor  Law 
infirmaries  than 
the  entry  into 
their  wards  of 
trained  nurses. 
Now  they  readily 
enter  the  wards 
of  a  w  e 1 1  - 
managed  in- 
firmary for  treat- 
ment and  care. 
Indeed,  Mr.  J. 
Sumner  -  Dury, 
who  read  an  in- 
structive paper 
at  the  annual 
Poor  Law  Con- 
ference for  the 
South  West  Dis- 
,  trict  on  The  Use 

—1  and     Abuse     of 

Poor  Law  In- 
firmaries, said  that  he  looked  forward  to  a  still 
fuller  use  being  made  of  them  by  the  sick  poor, 
and  urged  that  there  should  be  compulsory 
power  to  remove  old-age  pensioners  to  the  in- 
firmary when  the  state  of  their  homes  and  their 
condition  rendered  it  desirable.  He  went  on  to 
show  that  infirmaries  might  be  abused.  "When 
the  deterrent  aspect  of  Workhouse  infirmaries 
is  thoroughly  removed,"  he  said  "the  danger 
will  be  that  there  may  be  less  difficulty  in  get- 
ting suitable  cases  to  use  them  than  in  keeping 
others  out.  Indeed,  if  we  believe  some  of  the 
statements  made  to  the  Royal  Commission  on 
the  Poor  Laws,  that  difficulty  has  already 
arisen  in  some  Unions,  and  unless  the  State 
makes  medical  treatment  a  free  and  national 
service,  like  elementary  education,  to  which 
everyone  is  equally  entitled,  there  appears  to  be 


(Lbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursfno 


October  26,  191: 


a  ratliL-r  wide  door  open  lor  the  abuse  ot  in- 
firmaries." The  natural  evolution  of  Poor  l.aw 
Infirmaries  is  that  they  should  become  Munici- 
pal Hospitals.  

The  West  Riding  Nursing-  Association, 
together  with  the  I.ceds  Babies'  Welcome,  are 
arranging-  a  Baby  I^and  and  Health  Exhibition 
in  aid  of  the  two  institutions,  to  be  held  at  the 
Leeds  Town  Hall  on  Xovembcr  13th,  14th, 
15th,  and  ibth.  The  Xursing  .\ssociation  is 
responsible  for  the  following  sections  : — 
(i)  Infant  Care;  (2)  Model  Clothing  Exhibits; 
(3)  Food  and  Cookery;  (4)  Nursing  Inven- 
tions and  Contrivances ;  (5)  General  Hygiene  ; 
(6)  Historical  Exhibts;  (7)  Tuberculosis  Ex- 
hibits ;  (9)  ^^'ork  done  by  the  blind,  cripples, 
invalids,  &c.  The  .Association  will  also  have 
a  literature  stall.  There  will  also  be  a  market 
for  linen,  stationery,  plants,  bulbs,  china, 
fancv  work,  household  goods,  provisions, 
'clotliing,  toys,  &c.  The  section  organized  by 
the  Committee  of  the  Leeds  Babies'  Welcome 
■\vill  be  "Concerning  Babies  and  their 
Mothers,"  and  will  include  model  rooms, 
cradles,  perambulators,  &c.  The  ordinary 
weekly  meeting  of  the  Welcome  will  be  held  on 
the  premises,  and  the  public  will  be  admitted, 
for  a  charge  of  6d.,  to  watch  the  proceedings. 
Entertainments,  competitions,  and  lectures 
complete  a  very  full  programme.  The  Hon. 
Secretaries  are  Miss  V.  Thurstan,  Superinten- 
dent of  the  .Association,  and  Miss  Curtis, 
Superintendent  of  the  Leeds  Babies'  Welcome, 
and  the  former  writes  :  "  I  must  most  grate- 
fully acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  the  very 
fine  Nursing  Exhibition  at  Cologne  for  some  of 
our  ideas." 


.\  branch  of  the  Nurses'  Social  Union  has 
been  started  in  Portsmouth,  where  the  need  for 
something  of  the  kind  has  been  felt  for  some 
time.  It  is  being  taken  up  very  keenly  by 
members  of  the  profession.  Several  matrons 
of  the  various  institutions  have  expressed  great 
interest,  and  two  of  these  have  already  joined 
it,  while  school  nursing  and  health  visiting  arc 
well  represented  on  the  provisional  committee. 
An  inaugural  meeting  will  be  held  shortly,  at 
which  a  programme  for  meetings  during  the 
winter  will  be  discussed.  Applications  for 
membership  and  all  particulars  should  be  made 
to  the  Branch  Secretary,  Miss  Shackleford, 
Matron,  Children's  Convalescent  Home,  .Auck- 
land Road,  Southsea. 


Council  ol  German  \\  omen,  reveals,  says  the 
Standard,  an  almost  incredible  absence  of 
system  and  organisation,  which  seems  quite 
foreign  to  the  orderly  German  nature.  City 
councils,  women's  unions,  and  the  general 
public  seem  to  have  entirely  ignored  the  bad 
conditions  prevailing  among  this  valuable  body 
of  workers,  while  the  women  themselves  have 
not  yet  learned  the  value  of  co-operation  as  .-i 
means  of  redress,  for  out  of  30,000  or  so  quali- 
fied nurses  but  few  belong  to  any  union.  In 
public  hospitals  working  days  of  13  and  14 
hours  are  the  general  rule,  with  no  proper 
provision  for  night  and  day  shifts.  Private 
institutions  are  much  worse,  in  some  instances 
27  to  48  hours  being  worked  straight  off  with- 
out a  break,  while  both  food  and  salaries  are  of 
a  meagre  description.  The  organisation  of 
nurses  into  a  national  union  is  the  solution 
offered  to  this  problem,  with  a  fighting  com- 
mittee who  would  lay  before  the  proper  authori- 
ties the  nurses'  demands  for  a  ten-hour  day,  a 
general  overhauling  of  hospitals,  institutions, 
and  private  nursing  homes,  and  a  three  years' 
training  instead  of  one. 

The  meeting  of  the  National  Council  was 
held  in  Gotha  from  October  2nd-5th.  Sister 
Agnes  Karll,  valiant  as  ever,  was  there  to  voice 
the  views  of  the  German  Nurses'  Association, 
which,  we  believe,  conducted  the  investigation 
above  referred  to,  and  which  is  a  forceful  body 
of  some  thousands  of  nurses.  It  is  the  fourth 
Congress  she  has  attended  in  12  months. 


The  National  .Association  of  Trained  Nurses 
of  India  holds  its  annual  Conference  in  Banga- 
lore on  November  4th,  5th,  and  6th,  when  many 
questions  of  special  interest  to  nurses  in  India 
will  be  discussed.  Prizes  are  offered  for  the 
best  paper  on  Hospital  Etiquette,  and  for  the 
best  padded  splint. 


.An  investigation  into  the  working  conditions 
of  the  nursing  profession  in  Germany,  the 
result  of  which  was  laid  before  the  National 


Miss  Charlotte  Mill,  Matron  of  St.  George's 
Hospital,  Bombay,  has  just  left  England  for 
India  after  six  months'  leave,  W'hen  in 
London  she  expressed  her  great  satisfaction 
that  the  National  Association  of  Nurses  of 
India  had  entered  into  international  relations 
with  the  nurses  of  the  world.  She  thinks  it 
will  give  great  encouragement  to  those  striving 
for  fjetter  nursing  throughout  India,  and  will 
t?nd  to  raise  the  status  of  the  Indian  training 
schools,  and  the  fact  that  there  is  in  London 
an  international  centre  at  431,  Oxford  Street, 
London,  where  nurses  coming  from  India  can 
call  and  receive  advice  and  help  will  knit  closer 
the  relations  of  nurses  trained  in  India  and  at 
home. 


October  26,  igi2» 


G:bc  36rttieb  3ournai  of  TRursinci. 


3J9 


THE   HOSPITAL    WORLD. 


THE      ROYAL      HOSPITAL      HOW     DISEASES 
OF    THE     CHEST. 

The  progress  of  scientific  knowledge  affects 
not  only  the  treatment  of  disease  but  the  build- 
ings in  which  disease  is  treated.  Amongst 
other  things  it  has  revolutionized  our  ideas  as 
to  the  environment  necessary  for  the  tuber- 
culous patient.  It  is  within  the  memory  of  the 
writer  that  the  Royal  Hospital  for  Diseases  of « 
the  Chest,  City  Road,  E.C.,  was  provided  with 
double  windows,  and  the  patients  regarded 
somewhat  in  the  light  of  hothouse  plants,  which 
a  breath  of  cold  air  would  cause  to  wilt  and 
fade.  Now  as  one  journeys  down  the  City  Road 
one  notes  the  wide  open-air  balconies  thrown 
out  in  front  of  the  hospital,  filled  with  patients, 
w-ho,  if  it  happens  to  be  a  visiting  day,  wave  a 
gay  adieu  to  their  friends  who  pass  out  of  the 
hospital  when  time  is  up. 

So,  in  the  days  gone  by,  every  possible  care 
and  attention  was  given  to  the  patients  hope- 
lessly ill,  and  in  an  advanced  condition  of 
phthisis,  as,  of  course,  is  always  right ;  but 
little  or  no  thought  was  given  to  the  ever- 
increasing  army  of  infected  persons  who  filled 
up  beds  in  hospital  wards  as  quickly  as  they 
were  vacated  by  those  removed  by  death.  -And 
so  the  steady  stream  poured  into  the  consump- 
tion hospitals,  and  the  plague  was  not  stayed. 
Now  we  know  that  the  first  essential  of  the 
consumptive  patient  is  cool,  pure,  fresh  air,  and 
that  a  most  important  branch  of  the  work  of 
the  hospitals  receiving  such  patients  is  to  get 
into  touch  with  "  contacts  " — those  who  have 
lived  in  close  proximity  to  infection  and  may 
have  contracted  the  disease.  This  is  really  the 
hofjeful  side  of  the  work  of  to-day.  By  this 
means  the  recently  infected  are  brought  under 
medical  observation  and  care  when  the  disease 
is  in  its  earlv  stages  and  mav  be  checked  or 
cured,  instead  of  their  being  undiscovered,  un- 
treated, and  at  last  brought  to  hospital  only 
when  it  is  obvious  that  their  davs  are  numbered, 
and  the  possibilitv  of  alleviating  the  pain  and 
weariness  of  those  last  davs  alone  remain. 

The  Royal  Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the 
Chest  has  rendered  excellent  service  to  the  com- 
munity for  nearly  a  century,  for  in  t^vo  years' 
time  it  will  celebrate  its  centenary,  and  the 
Council  and  staff  of  the  hospital  will  certainly 
add  to  its  laurels  bv  their  recognition  of  its 
duty,  -as  a  special  hospital,  to  provide  training 
for  medical  officers  of  tuberculosis  dispensaries 
and  sanatoria,  and  for  general  practitioners. 
This     has     been     rendered     possil)le     by     the 


generosity  of  an  anonymous  donor,  who,  fuUv 
realizing  the  value  at  this  juncture  of  afford- 
ing facilities  for  such  training,  has  enabled  the 
authorities  to  build  an  entirely  new  out-patient 
department,  equipped  with  all  the  details  for 
research  work,  and  scientific  instruction  on 
modern  lines,  with  special  accommodation  for 
a  tuberculosis  dispensary,  also  a  lecture  hall, 
an  operating  theatre,  and  a  waiting  hall. 
Further,  the  hospital  is  to  be  a  special  training 
centre  for  tuberculosis  nurses. 

A  special  room  is  allotted  for  the  use  of  the 
Medical  Officer  of  Health,  and  there  is  a  very 
complete  system  for  keeping  the  records  of  the 
cases,  so  much  so  that  Sir  William  Osier,  whc 
presided  at  the  opening  ceremony  last  week, 
and  was  most  enthusiastic  over  all  he  saw,  ex- 
pressed the  opinion  that  the  methods  of  filing 
cards  which  has  been  instituted  might  be 
adopted  as  a  model  throughout  the  countrv, 
and  seem  to  solve  the  problem  of  the  tubercu- 
losis dispensaries  under  the  Insurance  .Act.  For 
unquestionably  these  dispensaries  should  be 
associated  with  the  hospitals  in  the  different 
districts,  and  by  the  system  of  records  adopted 
at  the  Royal  Chest  Hospital  the  full  notes  of 
the  case  of  each  patient  and  a  record  of  those 
who  have  been  brought  in  contact  with  him  can 
be  filed  together  and  any  individual  case  can 
be  easily  turned  up  at  any  moment. 

The  Nursing  Dep.art.mext. 

Most  interesting  to  the  readers  of  the 
Journal  is  the  scheme  for  the  training  of  tuber- 
culosis nurses  formulated  by  the  Matron,  Miss 
-M.  S.  Rundlc,  to  which  we  referred  at  some 
length  in  our  issue  of  October  12th,  which  has 
been  sanctioned  both  by  the  Council  of  the 
Hospital  and  the  Medical  Council,  and  which 
won  Sir  William  Osier's  warm  approval.  Sir 
William  is  one  of  those  who  appreciate  the 
importance  of  the  work  of  nurses,  and,  in  con- 
nection with  the  campaign  against  tuberculosis, 
expressed  the  opinion  :  "  Our  work  is  useless 
unless  the  nurses  are  going  to  be  specially 
trained  to  help  us,"  and  in  the  course  of  his 
opening  remarks  as  Chairman,  he  said  that  he 
was  glad  to  hear  that  the  hospital  was  making 
arrangements  for  the  training  of  nurses  in  this 
special  work,  for  the  nurse  took  a  most  im- 
portant part  in  the  campaign  against  consump- 
tion, and  it  was  essential  that  she  should  be 
specially  trained  for  it. 

Here,  then,  is  an  opportunity  for  rendering 
social  service  of  the  very  first  importance  if 
nurses  will  appreciate  its  significance  and 
qualify  themselves  for  it  by  taking  this  or  other 
courses  which  mav  be  established. 


34° 


(Tbe  asrttisb  3ouinal  of  iRursmo 


October  26,  191; 


The  Inalglral  Address. 

A  most  interesting  and  suggestive  inaugural 
address  in  connection  with  the  opening  of  the 
new  Medical  School  was  delivered  by  Pro- 
fessor Nietner,  Secretary  of  the  German 
Central  Committee  for  the  Prevention  of 
Tuberculosis,  who  said  that  when  the  Cen- 
tral Committee  was  first  established  its 
efforts  were  mainly  directed  to  the  care  for  the 
still  curable  cases/the  means  for  so  doing  being 
amply  provided  by  the  Invalidity  Insurance 
institutions.  But  latterly  the  trend  had  become 
ever  stronger  towards  prophylaxis.  It  is  now 
also  realized  that  prevention  must  begin  with 
the  child.  This  truth  was  practically  ignored 
during  the  earlier  history  of  the  campaign 
against  tuberculosis  in  Germany,  partly  owing 
to  the  fact  that  little  was  definitely  known  about 
the  incidence  of  this  disease  in  childhood,  while 
the  latent  tuberculosis  of  infancy  was  almost  an 
Unknown  factor. 

The  researches  of  the  last  ten  years  have 
brought  to  light  facts  that  point  to  the  conclu- 
sion that  in  a  very  large  majority  of  cases  infec- 
tion occurs  during  childhood,  and,  indeed,  in 
the  first  years  of  life.  Dr.  Hamburgher  declaies 
that  go  per  cent,  of  all  children  up  to  the  com- 
pleted twelfth  year  are  infected.  Dr.  Schloss- 
mann has  gone  so  far  as  to  say  that  tuberculosis 
Is  a  true  children's  disease,  is  acquired  during 
childhood,  and  must  be  prevented,  treated,  and 
healed  during  childhood.  The  fact  stands 
bevond  a  doubt  that  in  by  far  the  greater 
number  of  cases  the  source  of  infection  can  be 
traced  to  the  human  subject's  suffering  from 
"  open  "  tuberculosis,  and  that  infection  is 
acquired  through  the  close  intercourse  resulting 
from  familv  life  within  the  walls  of  the  home. 
Onlv  those  preventive  measures  can,  therefore, 
hope  for  success  which  take  this  fact  con-' 
sistently  into  account. 

The  Work  of  the  School  Doctor. 

Professor  Xietner  denied  that  tuberculosis 
was  a  "  school  disease,"  and  maintained  that 
the  school  could  not  justly  be  held  responsible 
for  the  spread  of  infection.  He  attaches  the 
utmost  importance  to  the  careful  organization 
of  the  school  medical  ser\'ice  in  the  battle 
against  tuberculosis,  and  said  that  to  the  school 
doctor  alone  was  the  power  given  to  prevent 
latent  tuberculosis  from  developing  into  active 
disease  in  the  children  examined  bv  him  and 
kept  under  his  watchful  supervision.  He  said 
that  with  a  complete  State  organization  of 
school  medical  supervision  the  discovery  and 
recoverv  should  be  possible  of  a  large  number 
of  children,  who  might  otherwise  become  later 
on  a  serious  strain  on  the  economic  resources 


of  the  nation  through  developing  active  tuber- 
culosis during  the  wage-earning  period  of  life. 

The  following  is  the  form  which  the  out- 
patient nurses  are  required  to  fill  in  for  the 
information  of  the  Medical  Officer  of  Health  : — 

TUBERCULOSIS    DISPENSARY. 


Nurse's  Report. 


Xo.  in  Register. 
Name 


Date. 


Age 


.\ddress  Married  or  Single  ? 

Occupation  Has      Patient      changed 

Occupation  ? 
.\ble  to  work  full  time  '     Or  part  time  ? 
If  unable,  confined  to  bed  ? 
How  long  ill  ? 

Situation  of  House  (area,  ground  floor,  ist,  &c.)  ? 
Character  of  neighbourhood  ? 
Number  and  Ages  of  Inmates  ? 
Number  and  Description  of  Rooms  (fireplaces)  ? 
General    aspect    of    House    (clean,    damp,    dirty, 

smelly,  verminous)  ? 
Number  of  Windows  ?       Can  they  open  ? 
Are  they  kept  open — (a)  bv  day  ? 

(b)  by  night  ? 
Have  they  always  been  kept  open  ? 
Does  Patient  sleep  alone — (a)  in  bed  ? 

(b)  in  room  ? 
How  is  washing  and  drj^ng  of  Clothes  done  ? 
How  long  in  present  House  ? 

If  has  mo\ed  within  two  years,  previous  Addresses? 
Have  there  been  Illnesses  or  Deaths  in  House  ? 
(a)  in  own  time  ? 
(6)  in  previous  occupancy  ? 
Exposed  to  infection — {a)  at  home  ? 
(6)  at  work  ? 
(c)  among  friends  ? 
Present  health  of  otlier  members  of  Household  ? 
Wliat  precautions  taken  to  disinfect  ? 
General  Dietary  (including  Alcohol)  ? 
General  Condition  (well-to-do,  poor,  destitute)  ? 
Proximate  income  of  Household  ? 
.\ssisted  by  Societies,  Church,  Friends,  Rates  ? 
Remarks : 

Signed 

This  is  excellent  training  for  nurses  who  are 
increasingly  required  by  public  authorities  to 
furnish  them  with  written  reports,  in  the 
drawing  up  of  which  few  nurses  are  adepts. 

M.  B. 

SOCIAL    SERVICE    VALUED. 

Miss  Lillian  D.  Wald,  Head  and  Founder  of 
the  Nurses'  Settlement,  New  York  (graduate 
of  the  New  York  Hospital),  was  called  to  Mount 
Holvoake  College,  in  Massachusetts,  Octo- 
ber gth  (the  oldest  .American  College  for 
Women),  to  receive  the  degree  of  LL.D. ,  in 
recognition  of  her  public  work  in  nursing  and 
social  service. 

In  conferring  the  degree  the  President 
addressed  Miss  Wald  as  follows  : — Lillian  D. 


October  26,  I9i2» 


Cbc  ©litiC'b  3oiunal  of  IRursina. 


34» 


Wald,  friend  of  those  who  need  friends, 
originator  of  far-reaching  municipal  and 
national  movements  for  the  care  of  the  sick  and 
the  poor  and  little  children,  a  citizen  of  whom 
our  greatest  American  city  may  well  be  proud, 
we  confer  upon  you  the  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Laws,  and  admit  you  to  all  its  rights  and 
privileges. 

THE  CATHOLIC  NURSES' ASSOCIATION. 

At  the  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Catholic 
Nurses'  Association,   held  in  the  Club  Room,' 
Mountjoy  Square,  Dublin,  the  following  officers 
were  elected  : — 

President,  Miss  Barrett  (Mater  Nurse) ;  Vice- 
President,  Miss  Spellissy,  Matron  Verville 
Private  Asylum ;  Trustees,  Miss  Corless  and 
Miss  Spellissy;  Secretary,  Miss  M'Loughlin, 
Lourdes  House,  Mountjoy  Square  (who  was  re- 
elected). 

The  rules  were  submitted  and  adopted,  and 
the  Annual  Report  presented.  It  stated  that  the 
membership  of  the  Association  is  now  268. 

REFLECTIONS 

FROM    A    BOARD    ROOM    MIRROR. 


to  be  sent  to  the  colleges  and  schools  of  anatomy. 
Irishmen  evidently  believe  in  suiting  the  punish- 
ment to  the  offence. 


On  the  occasion  of  the  laying  of  the  foundation- 
stone  of  the  British  Home  for  Incurables,  at 
Streatham,  Lord  Strathcona,  who  performed  the 
ceremony,  read  a  telegraphic  message  from  Queen 
Alexandra,  expressing  Her  Majesty-'s  sincere  and 
heartfelt  thanks  to  him,  and  to  all  those  who  had 
contributed  to  the  object,  for  their  generosity. 


The  Duke  of  Bedford,  President  of  University 
College  Hospital,  has  accepted  the  chairmanship  of 
the  special  committee  for  establishing  a  memorial 
to  Lord  Lister,  the  great  surgeon  having  been  a 
student  at  that  institution. 


We  are  asked  by  Mr.  E.  A.  Attwood,  secretary 
of  the  London  Homceopathic  Hospital,  Great 
Ormond  Street,  W.C,  to  say  that  the  young 
women — sometimes  in  nurse's  uniform — who  have 
recently  been  calling  upon  supporters  of  the 
hospital  collecting  for  a  "  Cosmopwhtan  Homoeo- 
pathic Institute  "  are  in  no  way  connected  with 
the  London  Homoeopathic  Hospital. 


An  anonymous  donor  has  given  ;^500  to  the  fund 
for  estabUshing  a  nurses'  home  at  York  as  a  testi- 
monial to  the  aged  Dean.  Dr.  Pusey-Cust. 


The  members  of  the  Board  of  Guardians  of  the 
North  Dublin  Union  have  adopted  a  unique 
method  of  retaliating  upwn  the  medical  profession 
for  "  refusing  medical  assistance  to  members  of 
friendly  societies,  and  the  excessive  demand  made 
by  them."  They  have  directed  the  Master  of  the 
Union  not  to  permit  any  dead  bodies  in  his  charge 


MM.  Vishnak  4nd  Shub,  of  Moscow,  have  sent 
a  donation  of  40,000  roubles  to  the  building  fund 
of  the  Jaffa  Hospital,  the  money  to  be  devoted  to 
the  erection  of  a  children's  department. 

THE     STRAIN     OF    MENTAL    NURSING. 

Miss  Ada  Marj'  Gertrude  Missenden,  formerly 
Head  Night  Nurse  at  an  Asylum  under  the 
London  County  Council,  pleaded  guilty  at  the 
recent  East  Sussex  Quarter  Sessions  at  Lewes, 
to  stealing  evening  gowns  from  the  house  of  a 
doctor  where  she  was  engaged.  It  was  stated 
that  she  had  borne  a  good  character  for  many 
years,  but  had  given  way  to  drink  and  drugs.  The 
chaim^an,  in  postponing  sentence,  said  that  the 
strain  of  association  with  lunatics  for  a  number 
of  years  had  evidently  had  a  harmful  effect  upon 
her. 

Whatever  may  be  the  cause  of  her  downfall, 
and  all  nurses  are  aware  of  the  strain  attendant 
upon  nursing  the  insane,  especially  if  combined 
with  excessive  hours,  it  is  unfortunately  true  that 
she  is  an  unfit  person  to  nurse  in  pri\'ate  houses, 
and  equallv  so  that  she  will  be  able  to  obtain 
such  work  with  ease,  as  there  is  no  Register  of 
Trained  Nurses  from  which  her  name  can  be 
removed. 

■    ♦    ■ 

A  CASE  FOR  GREAT  CARE. 

The  death  of  a  newly-born  child  occurred 
recently  at  St.  Marj^'s  Hospital,  Manchester, 
under  unusual  circumstances.  'At  birth,  arti- 
ficial respiration  had  to  be  performed  ;  and  the 
Sister  was  sitting  with  it  on  her  lap,  about  a  yard 
from  the  fire,  when  she  noticed  that  one  of  its 
hands  was  scorched  ;  she  at  once  appUcd  remedies, 
and  reported  the  matter  to  the  doctor.  The 
doctor,  who  gave  e\'idence  at  the  inquest,  gave  the 
primary-  cause  of  death  as  insufficient  e.xpansion  of 
the  lungs,  the  child  oever  having  thrived  properly. 
The  circulation  was  very  poor,  and  a  slight  injury- 
was  sufficient  to  cause  serious  results.  An 
ordinary  child  would  not  have  been  injured, 
under  such  conditions. 

In  returning  a  verdict  of  accidental  death,  the 
jury  expressed  the  opinion  there  had  been  some 
carelessness  on  the  part  of  the  nurse. 

SYNONYMOUS   WITH  EXCELLENCE. 

The  preparations  of  Messrs.  AUea  &  Haiiburys, 
Ltd.,  37,  Lombard  Street,  E.G.,.  are  synonymous 
with  excellence  ;  and  their  milk  foods,  in  three 
varieties  of  graded  strength,  are  found  invaluable 
when  an  infant's  natural  food  is  unavailable.  The 
'■  .\llenbur>^  "  Diet,  a  partially  predigested  milk 
and  wheaten  food,  is  much  appreciated  by  nursing 
mothers,  and  their  nurses,  who  find  that  it  increases 
the  flow  of  milk  and  conduces  to  restful  sleep  in 
their  patients. 


342 


Jibe  36ritt5b  3oiirnaI  of  IRursfng. 


October  26,  igi 


PROFESSIONAL    REVIEW. 


HYGIENE   FOR    HEALTH    VISITORS,  SCHOOL 
NURSES.  AND  SOCIAL  WORKERS. 

The  above  book  by  Mr.  C.  \V.  Hutt,  M.A.,  B.C. 
(Cantab.),  D.P.H.  (Oxf.),  Senior  School  Doctor 
to  the  Brighton  Education  Committee,  is  most 
opportune  at  the  present  time,  when  health 
visiting  and  school  nursing  are  comparativelv 
new  branches  of  social  service,  and  the  literature 
dealing  with  these  subjects  is  very  limited.  The 
book  is  publiTied  by  ^Slessrs.  P.  S.  King  cS:  Son, 
Orchard  House,  Westminster,  price  7s.  6d.,  and 
is  a  very  complete  manual  of  instruction  in  the 
things  which  it  is  important  for  health  \isitors 
and  school  nurses  to  know.  Not  the  least  of  its 
charms  are  the  clear  printing  and  excellent 
illustrations.  The  first  chapter  deals  with  the 
elements  of  physiologj^  considerable  attention 
being  given  to  the  care  of  the  teeth,  which  is  now- 
recognised  as  of  much  importance  in  dealing  wdth 
sdhool  children,  and  the  necessity  for  children 
brushing  the  teeth  daily  should  be  impressed  on 
parents  by  health  visitors  and  school  nurses. 
Toothbrush  Drill. 

Toothbrush  drill  is  performed  in  a  certain  school 
in  Kent  as  follows  — 

"  Each  child  is  provided  with  a  mug,  toothbrush 
and  tooth-powder.  The  toothbrushes  are  num- 
bered and  kept  in  perforated  cardboard  boxes 
with  each  slot  numbered.  The  mugs  are  filled 
before  school  and  the  brushes  got  out.  The 
children  lead  out  according  to  their  number  and 
take  their  toothbrush  and  mug. 

Standing  in  a  semi-circle  their  orders  are 
given  :  (i)  Brush  the  teeth  up  and  down  ;  (2) 
Then  from  side  to  side  ;  and  (3)  Brush  inside  the 
teeth.  The  children  then  march  round  and 
empty  their  mugs  into  a  pail.  The  mugs  are 
replenished  with  clean  water  for  rinsing  the  mouth. 
This  done,  again  the  cliildren  march  round,  empty 
their  mugs,  and  rinse  their  brushes.  Two  girls 
then  wash  the  mugs  and  put  the  brushes  away." 
(Dr.  Howarth.) 

Food. 

A  verj'  valuable  chapter  is  that  on  food,  which 
gives  the  classification  of  food  principles,  the 
general  principles  of  diet,  and  explains  the  relative 
value  of  certain  foods,  besides  gi\'ing  a  model 
cheap  dietan,-.  It  is  interesting  to  learn  that 
"  a  tall  thin  man  requires  more  food  than  a  short 
stout  one.  This  is  due  to  (i)  The  greater  surface 
of  the  former  allowing  of  the  loss  of  a  greater 
amount  of  heat  ;  (2)  The  fat  of  the  fat  man  being 
less  capable  of  forming  heat  than  the  muscle  of 
the  thin  man.  Women  require  about  four-fifths 
of  the  food  of  men,  owing  to  their  smaller  body 
weight  consisting  of  a  larger  proportion  of  fat, 
and  to  their  performing  less  muscular  work." 

Again,  "  persons  who  are  underfed  are  less 
resistant  to  cold  and  infectious  diseases.  An 
example  of  the  lessened  resistance  to  infection 
is  seen  in  the  large  number  of  cases  of  tuberculosis 


occurring  among  ill-nourished  persons.  Epidemic 
ophthalmia  occurs  especially  among  the  underfed. 
The  young  are  less  able  to  withstand  the  effects 
of  underfeeding  than  others."  The  remarks  on 
alcohol  will  repay  careful  study. 

Clothing. 

The  remarks  on  clothing  are  the  outcome  of 
much  knowledge.  A  necessary-  "  word  of  warning 
is  given  as  to  the  danger  of  wearing  celluloid 
collars,  combs,  &c.  If  exposed  to  a  high  tempera- 
ture, such  as  may  occur  on  sitting  near  the  fire, 
they  may  burst  into  flames  causing  serious  burns." 

The  most  suitable  outfit  for  a  boy  of  school  age 
is  given  in  some  detail,  and  would  be  most  useful 
to  mothers  and  to  health  visitors  or  school  nurses 
advising  them. 

Personal  Hygiene. 

Under  this  heading  the  importance  of  cleanliness 
is  insisted  on.  It  is  pointed  out  that  the  most 
common  cause  of  lead  poisoning  occurring  among 
painters,  &c.,  has  been  pro\ed  to  be  the  liabit 
of  eating  without  having  previously  washed  the 
hands.  The  importance  of  attention  to  the 
action  of  the  skin  and  bowels  is  also  insisted  on. 

"  The  daily  consumption  of  food  results  in  the 
formation  of  a  certain  amount  of  solid  excreta 
daily,  consisting  of  the  undigested  portion  of  the 
food  and  digestive  juices.  If  this  be  not  passed 
regularly  constipation  occurs.  In  some  cases 
poisons  are  formed  in  the  bowel  causing  a  feeling 
of  weakness  and  tiredness,  lowering  of  the  spirits, 
headache,  loss  of  appetite,  and  a  furred  tongue. 

"  The  advantage  of  a  regular  action  of  the 
bowels  is  shown  by  the  rarity  of  appendicitis  in 
India.  This  is  thought  to  be  due  to  the  habit 
of  the  natives  in  ensuring  a  daily  evacuation  of 
the  bowels,  if  necessars-  by  means  of  purgatives." 
It  is  urged  that  children  should  be  got  into  the 
way  of  relie\nng  the  bowels  at  a  certain  time  of 
the  day.  On  the  other  hand,  "  anv  straining  is 
to  be  condemned." 

Water  forms  the  subject  of  another  chapter. 
It  concludes  with  a  warning  against  the  use  of 
drinking  cups  in  common  by  school  children,  as 
liable  to  spread  such  diseases  as  diphtheria. 
The  school  nurse  or  health  \isitor  who  assimilates 
the  chapter  on  ventilation,  warming  ajid  lighting 
will  be  well  equipped  for  her  work  in  these  im- 
portant subjects.  She  may  also  obtain  sound 
knowledge  on  the  disposal  of  refuse,  drainage,  the 
selection  of  a  house,  and  the  conditions  of  soil 
affecting  health. 

Arr.\ngement  of  School  Buildings. 

In  regard  to  the  arrangement  of  school  buildings, 
we  are  glad  to  read  that  a  demand  has  been  made 
of  late  for  schools  of  a  senii-perma)ie>it  type,  one 
reason  suggested  being  that  owing  to  probable 
advances  both  in  sanitation  and  education  schools 
may  become  out  of  date. 

The  chapter  on  the  care  of  infants  and  young 
children  is  full  of  valuable  instruction,  as  also  are 
those  on  the  common  ailments  of  school  children 
and  the  prevention  of  communicable  disease. 
We  are  reminded  that  the  mere  presence  of  the 


October  26,  igic 


<rbe  Britlsb  Journal  of  IRurstno. 


3-«5 


appropriate  disease  germ  in  the  body  is  not  suf- 
ficient to  cause  the  disease  ;  e.g.,  persons  may 
earr)-  the  germ  of  diphtheria  in  their  throats  and 
yet  not  Iiave  the  disease.  A  very  important 
factor  is  the  resistance  of  the  individual. 

The  chapters  on  the  duties  of  health  visitors 
and  school  nurses,  the  institutions  of  use  to  them 
in  their  work,  and  useful  sanitary  legal  knowledge, 
arc  quite  invaluable.  In  short,  the  book  is  one 
with  which  no  school  nurse  or  health  visitor  can 
afford  to  be  uniuquainted. 

A  WELL=DESERVED  HONOUR.       # 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


A  well-deserved  honour  has  been  conferred  on 
Messrs.  Newton  Chambers  &  ("o.,  Ltd.,  of  Thorn- 
cliffe,  near  Sheffield,  by  the  issue  of  a  royal 
warrant  appointing  them  manufacturers  of  disin- 
fectants to  His  Majesty  the  King.  The  business 
was  founded  in  the  days  of  (George  III  by  ancestors 
of  the  present  principal  proprietors.  For  nearly 
120  years  it  has  progressed  from  strength  to 
strength  until  to-day  it  employs  upwards  of 
6,000  workers  in  its  coal  mines,  in  its  iron  foundries 
and  in  the  manufacture  of  Izal.  .V  feature  of  the 
concern  is  the  cordial  understanding  which  exists 
between  the  directors  and  their  workmen.  As 
long  ago  as  1890  the  provisions  of  the  Workmen's 
Compensation  and  the  National  Insurance  Acts 
were  anticipated  at  ThornclifTe,  and  by  the  joint 
contributions  of  the  Company  and  their  employees 
benefits  ha^•e  been  enjoyed  for  twenty-two  years 
and  a  reserve  fund  exceeding  /50,ooo  has  been 
accumulated. 

Newton  Chambers  &  Co.  first  turned  their 
attention  to  the  making  of  disinfectants  in  the  days 
when  carbolic  acid  was  still  regarded  as  satisfying 
the  utmost  requirements  of  sanitarian?.  It  is 
constantly  said  of  British  manufacturers,  that, 
unlike  their  German  competitors,  they  have  been 
s'ow  to  adopt  scientific  methods.  That  reproach 
certainly  dots  not  apply  to  the  makers  of  Izal, 
who  for  many  years  past  have  conducted  patient 
research  work,  chemical,  physical  and  biological, 
in  their  laboratories  at  Thomclift'e.  In  addition  to 
their  permanent  staff  they  have  also  sought  the 
advice  of  the  ablest  consulting  chemists  and 
bacteriologists  in  perfecting  their  products.  It 
is  worthy  of  note  that  the  Companv  were  the  first 
manufacturers  of  disinfectants  to  insist  that  the 
testing  of  germicides  must  be  by  bacteriological 
as  well  as  chemical  methods.  Judging  by  the 
extensive  use  of  Izal  in  its  various  applications, 
medical,  surgical,  sanitary,  veterinarj-  and  horti- 
cultural, the  public  have  shown  a  proper  apprecia- 
tion of  its  merits. 

The  Trained  Maternity  Nurses  of  Birmingham 
are  beginning  to  feel  the  need  of  co-operation,  and 
one  of  their  number  suggests  the  formation  of  a 

mutual  benefit  association,"  similar  to  that  in 
I-ondon.  We  should  suggest  rather  the  formation 
of  a  branch  of  the  same  association.  Union  is 
strength. 


WOME^. 

It  is  almost  impossibleto  express  the  sorrow  of 
thousands  of  the  women  who  form  the  W.S.P.U., 
at  the  announcement  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pethick 
Lawrence  have,  upon  Mrs.  Pankhurst's  request, 
resigned  their  membership  of  that  militantj_body. 
We  never  write  one  word  which  might  injure  the 
Woman's  Suffrage  cause,  but  both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
l^awrcnce  arc  held  in  such  warm  affection  that 
to  regret  their  loss  is  permissible.  The  whole  case 
has  for  days  been  so  widely  discussed  (with  gusto, 
of  course,  by  the  venal  press  of  the  day)  that  we 
need  not  repeat  its  details.  We  presume  the 
difference  of  opinion'!  is  on  the  degree  of 
militancy,  which  shall  be  the  policy  of  the 
Union.  After  the  gross  brutality  at  Llanys- 
tumdwy,  and  the  screening  of  the  would-be 
murderers  of  innocent  women  by  the^authorities. 
we  condemn  no  one  whose  discretion  is  over- 
powered by  burning  indignation,  as  we  know  it  is 
not  always  possible  for  the  just  of  soul  to  realise 
that  discretion  is  the  better  part  of  valour.  Any- 
way, both  parties  will  carry  on  the  struggle  for 
the  emancipation  of  women  in  the  manner  which 
appeals  to  their  individual  con.sciences  ;  and,  as 
nothing  of  truth  and  courage  is  ever^^wasted, 
it  will  be  garnered  for  good — God  knows  how. 


The  Parliamentary  Committee  which  is  at 
present  considering  the  C.o\ernment  Bill  for  the 
better  control  of  the  fceble-mmded,  ha\-e  adopted 
an  amendment,  which  lias  been  accepted  by  the 
Home  Secretary-,  providing  that  two  women,  one 
paid  and  the  other  unpaid,  shall  be  members  of 
the  Board  of  Control.  (Jf  course,  there  was  strong 
opposition  to  even  this  inhnitesinial  representation 
of  women. 


In  view  of  the  demand  for  training  in  the  know- 
ledge of  civic  duties  and  in  the  carrving  out  of 
philanthropic  work  on  a  thoroughly  businesslike 
basis,  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Women's 
Institute  have  arranged  for  a  scries  of  classes  on 
"  Committee  Work  and  the  Conduct  of  Public 
Business,"  on  Tuesday  afternoons  at  5.30  p.m., 
the  first  of  which  was  held  last  Tuesda\-.  October 
22nd,  Committee  Work  ;  October  2gt/i,  Committee 
Work — Resolutions,  Amcndnients,  and  Riders. 
Miss  H.  Reinherz,  M..\'.  (Junior  Bursar  of  Girton 
College)  ;  Novembex  f,th.  Societies — their  Formation, 
Constitution  and  Conduct.  Mr.  W.  F.  Greaves 
(Barrister-at-Law)  ;  November  12th.  Finance — 
Methods  of  Banking  and  Investing.  Miss  Lucy  E. 
Yates  (author  of  "The  Management  of  Money"). 
The  fee  to  members  is  is.  each  lecture  or  3s.  the 
four,  and  to  non-members  is.  6d.  each  lecture,  or 
5S.  for  four.  The  full  syllabus  may  be  obtained 
•  on  application  to  the  General  Secretary,  the 
Woman's  Institute,  92,  Victoria  Street,  S.W. 


The  Fancy  Dress  Dinner,  to  be  organised  by 
the  \\'omen  \\'riters'  Suffrage  Ixague,  and  which 


344 


dbe  Britlsb  3ournal  of  H-lurslna 


October  26, 


1912 


promises  to  be  so  amusing,  will  probably  be  held 
in  London  early  in  December. 


The  EugJish-d'oman  will  hold  an  Exhibition  of 
Arts  and  Handicrafts  at  the  INIaddox  Street  Galleries 
\V.,  from  November  6th  to  i6th.  All  the  exhibits 
will  be  of  a  very  high  standard — and  it  is  a  good 
opportunity  of  seeing  what  women  are  doing 
in  the  region  of  applied  art. 


THE     BOOK     OF    THE     WEEK. 


"DARNLEY     PLACE."* 

Full  of  engrossing  incident  is  this  work  of  Mr. 
Bagot,  and  when  we  find  the  mise  en  schte  is 
divided  between  a  charming  Buckinghamshire 
villa  and  Rome,  we  need  not  fear  tediousness  or 
want  of  local  colour.  Moreover,  we  can  be  thank- 
ful that  the  controversial  element  which  so  often 
has  precluded  Mr.  Bagot's  works  from  universal 
popularity  is  almost  if  not  quite  absent  in  this 
bpok,  though  it  is  of  course  written  from  the 
standpoint  of  the  Roman  faith. 

The  old  man,  IMr.  Darnley,  who  owns  the  Place, 
has  lived  for  many  years  under  the  terror  of  the 
vendetta,  and  tliis  little  village  is  the  retreat  where 
he  feels  most  at  peace.  Many  years  before  he  had 
carried  off  the  legal  wife  of  Baron  Campofranco 
on  the  eve  of  the  day  on  which  the  ecclesiastical 
ceremony  was  to  have  been  performed,  so  that 
though  legally  she  was  a  wife  the  Church  had  no 
power  to  annul  her  marriage,  and  therefore 
Darnley  could  never  repair  the  wrong  he  had  done 
her.  The  vengeance  of  the  Negrini  family 
shadowed  him  all  liis  days,  and  eventually  he  fell 
a  victim  to  a  dagger  thrust  from  their  hand. 

So  much  intrigue,  mystery,  and  wheel  within 
wheel  is  there  in  this  book  that  it  would  not  be 
possible  in  a  limited  space  to  do  more  than  quote 
from  some  of  its  most  striking  passages,  and 
readers  cannot  do  better  than  unravel  its  compli- 
cated and  clever  plot  for  themselves. 

Gio\'anni  Rosscono,  of  a  noble  Roman  family, 
and  who  afterwards  marries  a  grand-daughter  of 
this  illicit  union,  makes  the  acquaintance  of  Mr. 
Darnley  in  his  Buckinghamshire  hoine.  "  He  had 
come  to  the  place  on  the  recommendation  of  a 
compatriot  in  London  who  had  taken  it  as  a 
subject  for  more  than  one  of  his  rural  pictures." 

Dreaming  along  the  country  lanes,  he  first  sees 
the  man  who  was  to  play  such  an  important 
part  in  his  life.  "  A  shabby  vehicle  crossed  the 
bridge,  and  a  figure  suddenly  leaned  forward,  and 
Giovanni  saw  a  man's  face  gazing  at  him  fixedly 
out  of  the  window.  The  eyes  were  bent  upon 
him  with  a  look  that  had  surprise  and  suspicion 
in  it,  and  almost,  he  thought,  something  of  fear." 
This  was  Darnley,  who  imagined  he  saw  in  the 
young  Italian  visitor  one  of  the  dreaded  Negrini. 

Not  of  the  least  interest  is  the  fact  that  this 
Darnley,     alias    Wendover,     alias    Morley,    is    a 

*  By  Richard  Bagot.     (Methuen  &  Co.) 


powerful  and  successful  medium,  and  one  of  the 
most  thrilling  incidents  is  where  he  re-enacts  for 
Giovanni's  edification  the  scene  of  his  mistress's 
death. 

"  Giovanni  was  conscious  of  drawing  two  or 
three  long  breaths,  of  shivering  a  little  from  a 
strange  coldness,  and  then  he  realised  that  he  was 
standing  in  Mr.  Darnley's  library,  many  paces 
away  from  the  chair  in  which  he  had  been  sitting, 
and  that  the  great  dog  was  frantically  licking  his 
hands  as  they  hung  down  by  his  side."  Darnley 
tells  him  :  "  You  assisted  at  the  mental  repro- 
duction of  a  scene  wliich  happened  many  years 
ago.  I  confess  I  did  not  cause  you  to  assist 
at  it  without  having  a  good  reason  for  doing  so, 
without,  indeed,  being  moved  to  do  so."  He 
ratlier  quaintly  tells  Giovanni  that  the  young 
girl  he  had  conjured  up  was  a  relative  of  his, 
"  but  a  nruch  nearer  one  of  Mr.  Wendover — who 
was  also  related  to  me." 

Shortly  after,  when  Giovanni  meets  and  marries 
the  grand-daughter  of  tliis  man,  they  both  being 
in  ignorance  of  the  relationship,  the  plot  becomes 
deeply  interesting,  and  it  is  only  when  he  has 
fallen  a  victim  to  the  vendetta  that  Wendover, 
who  years  ago  carried  off  Donna  Adele,  Darnley, 
of  Darnley  Place,  and  Mr.  Morley,  guardian  of 
Marcella,  are  discovered  to  be  one  and  the  same 
person. 


H.  H. 


COMING    EVENTS. 


October  25th. — Drawing  Room  Meeting,  by 
invitation  of  Lady  Horsley,  at  25,  Cavendish 
Square,  W.  Dr.  Anne  L.  Kann  will  speak  on 
"  The  Work  of  the  Baby  Clinic."  Chairman,  Mrs. 
Hvlton  Dale.    3.30  p.m. 

October  2gih-November  2nd. — Cookery  and  Food 
Exhibition,  Royal  Horticultural  Hall,  S.W. 

October  ^isi. — The  Territorial  Force  Nursing 
Service  (City  and  County  of  London).  Reception 
at  the  Mansion  House  by  the  Lady  Mayoress. 
8  to  10.30  p.m. 

November  2nd. — Matrons'  Council  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland.  Quarterly  Meeting,  Royal 
Albert  Edward  Infirmary,  Wigan.  3.30  p.m.  Tea. 
Open  Meeting,  5  p.m.  Discussion  :  "  The  Bill  for 
the  State  Registration  of  Nurses.  " 

November   2nd. — Sale   of   Work   in   aid    of   the 
Nurses'     Missionary     League,     Sloane     Gardens  ' 
House,   52,   Lower  Sloane  Street,   S.W.     10  a.m. 
to  6  p.m. 

November  6th  and  i^th. — Nurses'  Missionary 
League.  The  Autumn  programme.  Lectures  on 
Hinduism  and  Islam,  University  Hall,  W.C,  by 
Canon  Weitbrecht.  Lecture  on  Nov.  6th  at 
10.30  a.nr. 

November  yth. — Subscription  Ball  at  the  Mansion 
House  in  aid  of  the  British  Red  Cross  Balkan  Fund. 


WORD     FOR     THE     WEEK. 

"  Injustice  is  no  less  than  high  treason  against 
heaven." — Marcus  Auyelius. 


October  26,  191 2, 


C^be  Brttisb  3ournal  of  murslno. 


345 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  for  these  columns,  tve  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  lor  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


THE     INCREASED     COST     OP     LIVINO. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dkar  Madam, — In  spite  of  the  increased  cost 
of  living,  I  am  of  opinion  that  trained  private 
nurses  would  suffer  if  fees  were  raised.  As  it  is 
they  cost  their  employers  more,  as  food,  rent, 
taxes,  &c.,  have  all  risen  of  late  years.  As  long 
as  they  arc  in  work  that  is  the  great  need,  but 
many  are  so  long  betweeft  cases,  owing  to  the 
competition  of  the  semi-trained,  and  hospital  staffs, 
that  until  there  is  a  prescribed  standard  there  is  no 
hope  e\en  of  getting  the  work  they  ought  to  have. 
The  Nurses'  Homes  may  ha%c  to  raise  their 
charges,  as  since  1  opened  a  Home  my  expenses  have 
risen  enormously,  and  the  rates  nearly  doubled. 
All  food  costs  more,  also  service  and  washing. 
This  nurses  do  not  take  into  consideration.  As 
competition  is  so  keen  in  the  nursing  world,  the 
question  is,  what  shall  we  all  do  in  the  future  if 
living  in  this  country  continues  to  rise  ?  The 
young  should  emigrate  ;  women  are  still  wanted 
in  the  colonics,  as  it  is  difficult  for  men  to  make 
money  without  women  to  do  the  drudgery,  and 
that,  it  would  seem,  is  all  we  workers  are  fit  for. 
One  grows  ver>'  dour  in  these  days — the  constant 
insult  to  one's  sex  in  every  newspaper  one  opens 
and  the  seeming  hatred  of  men  for  women  who  are 
not  dumb  dependants,  is  having  a  very  serious 
effect  upon  one's  spirits  and  belief  in  human 
justice,  and  as  the  clergy  as  a  cloth  are  more 
narrow  and  intolerant  than  any  other  class  of 
men,  where  the  uprisi.ng  of  women  is  concerned, 
one  has  no  real  spiritual  consolation  from  them 
to  help  to  bear  this  weight  of  oppression. 
Yours  truly, 

A  TiRKD  Woman. 


NATIONAL  CANINE  DEFENCE  LEAGUE. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Joukxai.  or  Xuksing. 
Dkar  M.\dam. — We  thank  you  most  heartily 
for  urging  vour  readers  to  help  us  to  secure  the 
release  of  dogs  from  vivisection,  and  trust  that 
many  will  write  to  us  for  copies  of  our  Petition  to 
Parliament,  and  also  for  leaflets  on  this  subject, 
which  will  be  sent  post  free  an v where. 

We  want  to  deliver  dogs  from  their  martyrdom 
in  the  lalioratory,  and  everyone  who  sympathises 
with  our  object  should  write  at  once  to 
Yours  truly, 

C.  R.  Johns, 

Secretary. 
27,  Regent  Street,  London,  S.W. 


REPLIES   TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 

A.  M.  W.,  Leamington. — The  British  Nurses' 
Association  was  the  first  .\ssociation  of  Trained 
Nurses  in  any  country  to  organise  for  registration. 
Its  organisation  was  proposed  by  Mrs.  Bedford 
Fenwick  at  her  private  residence  in  November, 
1887,  and  the  Royal  Charter  was  won  in  1903, 
giving  the  nurses  very  wide  powers  for  pro- 
fessional organisation — powers  of  which  they 
were  practically  deprived  by  the  medical  members 
in  1907 — when  at  their  instigation  the  Bye-Laws 
were  altered  by  the  Privy  Council.  The  first 
Registration  Act  was  passed  in  i8gi,  since  which 
time  forty-one  Acts  of  Parliament  have  been 
passed  for  the  State  Registration  of  Nurses — in 
our  colonies.  United  States  of  America,  Germany 
and  Belgium.  \\c  were  the  first  to  work  and 
plead  for  professional  organisation.  It  is  probable, 
owing  to  the  unjust  legal  disqualifications  from 
which  women  suffer  in  this  country,  that  we  shall 
be  the  last  to  receive  legal  status.  Nothing  could 
have  been  more  sordid  and  tyrannical  than  the 
manner  in  which  trained  nurses  have  been  treated 
by  the  anti-registration  party  in  England,  many 
of  them  wealthy  hospital  managers,  who,  unlike 
other  employers,  have  unrestricted  powers  over 
the  work  and  lives  of  the  women  they  employ, 
and  whose  labour  in  many  instances  they  exploit 
to  a  scandiilous  degree.  You  will  find  the 
Almanack  of  Registration  in  the  Annual  Report 
of  the  Society  for  State  Registration  of  Nurses. 
Price  2d.  Order  from  the  Office,  431,  Oxford 
Street,  London,  W. 

OUR     PRIZE     COMPETITIONS. 

November  2nd. — In  nursing  a  patient  in  a  private 
house,  what  minor  details  would  you  observe  in 
regard  to  the  personal  care  of  the  patient  in  his  or 
her  surroundings  in  order  to  add  to  his  comfort  ? 

November  gth. — Wliat  would  you  "prepare  for  an 
intravenous  infusion,  and  what  precautions  would 
you  take  if  assisting  in  its  administration  ? 

November  16th. — State  successful  methods  of 
treatment  for  constipation  ? 

November  2-ird. — How  should  a  nurse  care  for 
her  hands  so  that  they  are  kept  in  the  best  condi- 
tion for  use  in  the  sick  room  ? 

November  ^olh. — Wliat  form  of  infection  is  likely 
to  follow  the  retention  of  a  piece  of  the  placenta 
after  delivery,  and  what  are  its  characteristics  ? 

NOTICES. 

The  Editor  hopes  that  every  reader  who  values 
The  British  Journal  of  Nursing,  will  get  one  or 
more  new  subscribers — so  that  its  ccmstructive 
work  for  the  profession  may  receive  ever  increasing 
support. 

It  is  the  only  journal  which  demands  efficient 
educational  and  economic  standards  for  trained 
nurses  through  an  Act  of  Parliament,  providing 
for  their  State  Registration. 

The  price  is  id.  weekly.  Abroad,  gs.  per  year, 
post  free.     Ofi&ce,  431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W. 


346       ^be  36ritt5b  Journal  of  IRursino  Supplement.  October  26, 1912 

THe   Midwife. 


THE     MATERNITY     WARD     AT    ST. 
THOMAS'S     HOSPITAL. 


Dr.  John  S.  Fairbairn  and  Dr.  James  M. 
Wyatt  contribute  to  the  British  Medical  Journal 
an  interesting  account  of  the  work  of  the 
Maternity  Ward  at  St.  Thomas's  Hospital 
during  igii.  The  ward,  which  is  named 
"  Mary  "  after  Her  Majesty  the  Queen,  was 
opened  in  October,  1910. 

We  can  readily  believe  that,  as  the  authors 
state,  the  conversion  oT  a  large  28-bed  ward  into 
a  small  lying-in  hospital  is  a  problem  which 
presents  many  difficulties,  and  they  therefore 
describe  in  detail  the  alterations  and  furnishing 
of  this  small  hospital  within  a  hospital,  and  give 
a  sketch  of  the  way  in  which  the  teaching  work 
of  the  hospital  has  been  brought  into  accord- 
ance with  the  recent  recommendations  of  the 
General  Medical  Council. 

The  usual  plan  of  having  small  wards  of  8  to 
10  beds,  which  could  be  emptied  and  cleaned 
after  each  batch  of  patients,  was  discarded  as 
impracticable,  and  it  was  ultimately  decided 
that  under  modern  conditions  closing  the  wards 
for  disinfection  after  each  batch  of  patients  was 
no  longer  so  essential  as  in  former  days,  and 
that  there  ought  to  be  no  difficulty  in  keeping 
a  Iving-in  ward  in  continuous  service,  like  an 
ordinary  surgical  w-ard,  and  accommodating  as 
many  as  20  patients  at  a  time. 

A  small  ward  was  converted  into  a  receiving- 
room,  which  has  "  a  floor  space  of.  224  square 
feet,  including  portions  cut  off  for  a  cupboard 
for  patients'  clothing  and  a  w.c,  and  is  floored 
with  terrazzo  mosaic,  cored  to  the  wall  and 
channelled  to  take  the  waste  of  the  bath  and 
sink.  The  walls  are  lined  to  the  height  of 
6  ft.  with  6-in.  cream  tiles  with  green  borders, 
and  the  upper  portion  finished  in  Parian  cement 
and  painted  with  Gay's  enamel.  It  contains  a 
white  enamel  bath  on  wheels,  an  earthenware 
sink  fixed  on  cantilevers,  set  clear  of  the  walls, 
and  a  bedpan  sink,  fitted  with  elbow-action 
taps,  placed  here  for  emergencv  use  in  case  of 
the  large  labour  room  being  used  for  lying-in 
patients,  when  the  ordinary  sink  room  is  un- 
approachable during  the  cleanine  of  the  main 
ward.  The  onlv  other  furniture  in  the  room  is 
an  examination  couch  and  a  few  screens. 
Patients  on  arrival  at  the  hospital  are  not  seen 
in  the  casualty  like  ordinary  patients,  but  are 
sent  straio-ht  up  in  the  lift  to  the  receiving  room. 
There  thev  are  examined,  and  if  in  labour,  or  to 


be  admitted  to  the  ward,  are  given  a  bath,  put 
into  hospital  clothes,  and  sent  to  the  labour 
room  or  the  ward,  as  their  condition  requires. 
The  room  is  also  used  occasionally  for  the 
examination  of  advice-patients,  who  may  come 
for  measurement  or  determination  of  the  time 
for  induction  and  such  like." 

A  large  and  a  small  labour  room,  and  a  baby 
room  or  nursery,  have  been  cut  off  from  the 
main  ward,  leaving  the  remainder  as  the 
lying-in  ward. 

"  The  nursery  contains  a  double  babies'  bath, 
consisting  of  an  enamelled  iron  top  3  ft.  8  in. 
by  3  ft.  3  in.,  with  two  oval-shaped  basins 
2  ft.  2  in.  by  i  ft.  3  in.  by  9  in.  deep,  with  hot 
and  cold  taps  between  the  basins  to  serve  both. 
The  whole  is  fixed  on  an  enamelled  iron  stand 
2  ft.  2  in.  from  the  floor,  the  most  convenient 
height  for  a  nurse  to  sit  at,  with  a  knee-action 
waste  to  discharge  to  a  channel  on  the  floor. 
There  is  a  hot  coil  by  the  side  of  the  bath,  and 
the  only  furnishing  is  a  weighing  machine  and 
a  small  cupboard  in  the  wall  fitted  with  pigeon- 
holes, numbered  for  each  cot,  to  contain  the 
washing  materials  for  each  baby. 

"  The  ward  bedsteads  are  like  those  in  the 
labour-room,  except  that  they  are  without  the 
zinc  cover  (provided  in  the  former  bedsteads), 
and  have  a  wire  spring  mattress  and  ordinary 
castors  ;  at  each  end  of  the  foot  are  detach- 
able standards  which  can  be  arranged  to  carry 
the  cots.  The  cots  are  of  wire  caging,  with  a 
flat  bottom,  so  that  they  rest  on  the  floor.  In 
the  ward  are  also  a  number  of  collapsible 
stands  in  which  the  cot  can  be  swung  when  m 
the  nursery.  The  bedsteads  were  specially 
designed,  and,  having  an  increased  height, 
stays  are  provided  from  leg  to  leg,  practically 
forming  a  double  frame.  As  they  have  large 
rubber  castors,  each  bedstead  is  a  perfect 
ambulance. 

"At  the  river  end  of  the  ward  is  a  door 
opening  on  to  the  balcony  (which  commands  a 
magnificent  view  of  Westminster  and  the  north 
of  the  river)  and  on  each  side  are  doors  leading 
on  the  left  to  the  sanitary  annexe  and  on  the 
right  to  the  isolation  ward.  Each  annexe  is 
cut  off  from  the  main  ward  by  a  short  corridor 
with  cross  ventilation." 

The  sanitary  annexe  contains  three  earthen- 
ware sinks.  "The  first  one  is  the  patient's 
washing  sink,  and  the  next  is  used  for  washing 
basins  and  utensils,  and  the  third  is  a  mackin- 
tosh sink,  and  is  also  used  for  soiled  linen,  and 


October  26, 1912 ,  z\k  ffiuitifjb  Soumal  of  IHursiuG  Supplement.      347 


is  fitted  with  a  wrinijcr.  Fitted  to  its  side  is  a 
mackintosh  table  for  scrubbing-  mackintoshes. 
There  is  a  bedpan  sink  fitted  with  elbow 
action  taps,  and  a  white  enamel  bath  on 
wheels,  which  discharges  to  the  channel  on  the 
floor.  The  waterclosct  is  cut  olT  by  a  wood 
partition  7  ft.  higfh.  It  is  heated  by  a  hot- 
water  radiator,  above  which  is  an  aluminium 
rack  for  bedpans,  the  hot-water  pipes  forming 
the  bottom  shelf  for  these  pans.  The  one  other 
item  of  interest  in  this  annexe  is  the  specimen 
cupboard,   wiiicli  is  fitted  into  the  wall  above 


referred  from  the  medical  and  surgical  side. 
Indeed,  a  striking  difference  between  the 
patients  in  Mary  Ward  and  in  a  lying-in  hos- 
pital is  the  greater  percentage  with  renal, 
cardiac,  and  pulmonary  complications,  as 
might  be  expected  from  the  association  with  a 
large  general  hospital.  For  instance,  there 
have  been  patients  with  such  medical  complica- 
tions as  pneumonia,  acute  rheumatism,  peri- 
carditis, and  so  on,  and  surgical  complications 
ranging  from  sarcoma  of  the  jaw  to  fractured 
limbs.     Besides  these  there  are  the  emergencies 


THB     MATERNITY     WARD     AT     ST.     THOMAS'S     HOSPITAL. 


the  sink,  and  is  arranged  like  a  larder  with 
perforated  zinc  outside,  and  glass  doors  in  iron 
frames  inside  ;  it  is  lined  with  niarmorite  and 
fitted  with  m:u'morite  shelves.  It  is  used  for 
keeping  placentae,  dressings,  and  specimens 
of  any  kind  that  may  be  wanted  for  inspection 
or  demonstration. 

"The  sterilization  of  dressings,  towels, 
gowns,  &c.,  being  carried  out  in  the  hospital 
basement,  as  for  the  rest  of  the  hospital,  no 
provision  was  necessary  for  this. 

Included  among  the  recorded  cases  are 
"  patients  with  a  previous  history  of  diffi- 
cult    or     complicated      l.ilxiur      and      patients 


taken  in  from  the  district  or  sent  in  by  doctors 
because  of  some  serious'complication." 

VVe  are  indebted  to  Dr.  Fairbairn  for  per- 
mission to  print  the  accompanying  picture  of 
the  maternity  ward. 

FOR  MIDWIVES  AND  NURSES. 

There  arc  few  maternit\-  nurses  wlio  would 
willijigly  be  without  "  Kin^''s  I'atent  Cooked  Oat- 
meal," for  they  know-  that,  with  a  miniit  's  boiling, 
a  delicious  cup  of  gruel  can  be  prcjjarcd  for  a 
patient.  It  is  also  a  vory  favourite  beverage  with 
midwivcs,  before  retiring  again  to  rest  after  a 
disturbed  night.  It  is  supplied  by  the  Albion 
Food  Mills,  Sycamore  Street,  E.G. 


34«        ^be  ©ritisb  Journal  of  IRursino  Supplement.  October  26, 1912 


MIDWIFERY   IN   THE   PHILIPPINES. 


Miss  Consuelo  Gloria,  writing  in  the  Aineyicati 
Journal  of  Nursing,  concerning  the  introduction 
of  visiting  obstetrical  nursing  in  Manila  by  the 
American  Government,  gives  an  interesting  ac- 
count of  the  practice  of  midwifery  there.  She 
wTites  : — 

"  Midwifery  in  thfe  Philippines  has  been  in 
practice  since  the  davs  of  our  earliest  ancestors, 
and  the  same  customs  are  passed  on  from  genera- 
tion to  generation,  and  are  still  practiced  by  most 
of  the  poor  people,  especially  in  the  provinces. 
Most  of  the  midwives  are  mean,  unclean,  and 
ignorant  old  women,  who  have  had  experience  in 
delivering  one  or  two  cases  only.  There  are  men 
also,  who  act  as  midwives  ;  I  myself  saw  two  of 
them  practicing  midwifery.  Midwives  are  paid 
verv'  poorly,  and  sometimes  get  only  a  chicken 
or  a  bunch  of  bananas  for  their  work.  They 
believe  in  many  superstitions,  one  of  which  may 
interest  you  a  little. 

"  A  pregnant  woman's  mind  always  is  worried 
and  confused,  for  it  is  believed  that  at  nights  in 
nipa  houses,  the  '  asuang  '  goes  under  the  houses, 
and  tries  to  eat  the  fetus  in  the  mother's  abdomen. 
When  the  '  asuang  '  is  nearest  to  the  pregnant 
woman,  a  bird,  called  '  tic-tic,'  announces  its 
coming,  by  singing  many  times  '  tic-tic,'  so  that 
the  victim  may  prepare  for  her  fate.  In  most 
houses  is  fotmd  the  '  buntot-pagui.'  They  say 
that  it  is  used  for  whipping  the  '  asuang,'  to 
terrify  him.  Some  people  put  a  lamp  under  the 
house,  so  that  they  may  see  the  coming  of  the 
'  asuang.'  When  the  patient  is  near  to  full  term, 
the  midwife  puts  garlic  to  her  axilla,  and  other 
folds  of  the  body,  for  it  is  thought  to  be  an  enemy 
of  the  '  asuang,'  on  account  of  its  characteristic 
odour.  When  the  pregnant  woman  goes  out  to 
the  fields  at  night,  she  hangs  her  hair  down, 
because  it  is  thought  that  the  '  asuang  '  fears  the 
hair.  She  is  not  allowed  to  eat  much  rice,  for  it  is 
believed  that  this  practice  makes  the  abdomen  • 
large,  and  the  baby  will  be  bom  covered  with 
excess  vernix  caseosa. 

"  '  Asuang  '  is  a  Tagalog  name,  given  to  an 
imaginary  human  being,  who  is  credited  with  hay- 
ing eaten  the  liver  or  body  of  a  human  being. 
This  is  a  very  real  superstition  to  many  of  the  old 
people,  and  to  some  of  the  young  people,  till  a 
few  years  ago.  The  characteristics  of  the  '  asuang  ' 
are  :  (i)  It  goes  without  clothes  ;  (2)  puts  oil 
in  its  axilla,  as  its  symbol  ;  (3)  It  can  transform 
itself  into  any  animal,  except  the  sheep  :  its 
custom  is  to  fly  at  nights  watching  for  pregnant 
women. 

"  During  labour  the  midwife  puts  a  very  tight 
binder  around  the  patient's  waist,  for  the  purpose 
of  easing  her  breathing,  and  to  increase  the 
strength  of  the  uterine  contractions.  She  rubs  the 
folds  of  the  patient's  body  with  some  cocoanut- 
oil   mixed   with   crushed   garlic,    which   has   been 


passed  over  fire,  and  gives  her  as  much  food  as 
possible  ;  such  as  '  basa-basa,'  a  Tagalog  word 
for  rice  cooked  with  plenty  of  water.  She  examines 
the  patient  internally,  without  any  preliminary 
antiseptic  precautions,  not  even  washing  her 
dirty  hands. 

' '  In  the  first  stage  of  a  labour,  a  forcible  down- 
ward pressure  over  the  fundus  is  made  by  the 
midwife,  who,  at  the  same  time,  utters  words 
calculated  to  expel  the  fetus  at  once,  even  though 
it  is  not  yet  time  for  the  delivery  to  take  place. 
This  practice,  when  carried  to  extremes,  often 
is  the  cause  of  bad  cases  of  prolapse  of  the  uterine 
cervix.  The  parturient  is  given  a  decoction  of 
spices,  mainly  canela  a  native  plant  bark,  which 
is  supposed  to  increase  uterine  contraction  ;  and 
her  hair  is  knotted  up  by  the  midwife  with  a 
handkerchief. 

"  The  child  is  delivered  under  a  dirty  covering, 
for  it  is  believed  if  air  should  come  in  contact  with 
the  internal  genitalia  it  will  be  crazy. 

"  If,  at  the  end  of  five  minutes  after  the  child 
is  born,  the  placenta  is  not  expelled,  the  midwife 
pulls  the  cord,  which  sometimes  breaks,  and  the 
placenta  remains  inside  the  uterus.  I  an 
recall  cases  in  which  the  mother  was  dying  of  the 
bleeding  when  we  arrived,  as  a  result  of  this 
practice. 

"  During  the  puerperium,  the  parturient  is  told 
not  to  drink  cold  water,  but  warm  water,  or  some 
decoction  of  zarzaparilla.  She  is  not  allowed  to 
nurse  the  baby  during  the  first  four  days.  The 
midwife  gives  a  douche  once  daily  with  a  decoction 
of  guava  leaves,  which  is  an  astringent  ;  but  the 
patient  is  not  allowed  to  take  a  bath,  until  the 
fortieth  day  after  the  delivery,  when  she  is  given 
a  full  bath  of  tea  made  from  the  leaves  of  '  sam- 
paloc,'  a  native  tree  commonly  known  throughout 
the  islands.  In  some  towns,  leaves  of  twelve 
kinds  are  used  in  the  bath,  each  variety  having  its 
meaning,  such  as  happiness,  good  fortune,  &c.  .  . 
The  parturient  is  allowed  to  walk  around  the  day 
following  confinement.  Many  of  our  patients, 
delivered  in  their  homes  and  carefully  instructed, 
are  found  at  the  next  day's  visit  to  be  up  and 
washing  the  baby's  diapers.  It  is  necessary  to 
repeat  our  instructions  again  and  again,  with 
much  patience,  and  smiles,  in  order  not  to  antago- 
nise the  patients,  their  friends,  and  relatives. 

"  The  baby  is  not  allowed  to  take  the  colostnim 
of  the  mother,  but  is  given  instead  honey,  tied 
up  in  a  round  cloth,  shaped  in  the  form  of  a'nipple, 
which  it  sucks.  WTien  the  baby  has  hiccough, 
the  mother  makes  a  kind  of  ball  of  some  threads 
from  his  diaper.  This  ball  is  stuck  on  its  forehead 
with  saliva,  and  is  considered  an  infallible  cure  for 
this  affection.  In  spite  of  the  superstitions  and 
bad  practices  of  the  midwives,  our  work  is  beginning 
to  be  appreciated  by  these  poor  women,  for  many 
of  them,  who  have  had  the  assistance  of  the 
department  in  one  confinement,  call  us  again  for 
their  next.  When  once  they  have  become  accus- 
tomed to  our  nursing,  they  cannot  say  enough  ia 
its  praise." 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED  BY  MRS  BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.    1,283 


SATURDAY,     NOVEMBER   2,   1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


THE     VALUE     OF     TRAINED     NURSING 
IN     WAR. 

In  spite  of  the  meagre  details  which  are 
available  from  the  seat  of  war  as  to  the 
arrangements  for  the  sick  and  wounded,  one 
thing  is  clear,  that  the  services  of  trained 
nurses  must  be  imperatively  needed.  For 
in  the  countries  now  engaged  in  strife,  the 
training  of  nurses  is  not  to  any  extent 
carried  on,  and  although,  from  Royalty 
downwards,  patriotic  women  are  endeavour- 
ing to  cope  with  the  situation,  and  to  give 
their  services  to  the  sick,  no  one  can  be  an 
efficient  substitute  for  the  trained  nurse. 

For  it  is  at  such  times  as  the  present  that 
training,  with  the  discipline,  knowledge  and 
skill  resulting  from  it  proves  of  paramount 
importance,  and  nothing  is  so  essential  to 
the  efficiency  of  a  military  hospital,  and  to 
the  comfort  and  the  safety  of  the  sick,  as  a 
staff  of  thorougly  trained  nurses. 

With  the  experience  of  many  years  behind 
her,  with  a  body  of  trained  nurses,  com- 
petent and  devoted,  with  the  example  of 
the  Lady  of  the  Lamp  as  inspiration,  England 
stands  pre-eminent,  as  to  nursing,  amongst 
the  nations.  Both  as  to  capacity  and  devotion 
her  nurses  are  in  the  front  rank. 

It  is  therefore  inexplicable  that  the 
Committee  of  the  British  Red  Cross  Society, 
which  is  the  official  channel  of. aid  in  this 
country  to  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the 
Near  East,  should  in  organising  its  units, 
have  ignored  the  existence  of  this  splendid 
body  of  devoted  women.  We  are  sure  that 
this  arises  from  no  lack  of  willingness  on  the 
part  of  trained  nurses,  and,  indeed,  we  have 
been  officially  informed  that  many  have 
volunteered  for  service  should  nurses  be 
employed,  but  that,  so  far,  the  Committee 
has  decided  to  send  out  no  women  nurses. 

The  British  Red  Crescent  Society  is,  on 
the    contrary,    including    women    nurses    in 


the  staff  of  its  hospital  which  leaves  London 
on  Friday,  November  ist,  for  the  seat  of 
war.  The  staff  includes  four  surgeons, 
four  dressers,  five  women  nurses  with  Miss 
Amy  Stuart  who  has  had  Army  Nursing 
experience  in  charge,  and  six  male  nurses. 

On  enquiry  at  the  Grecian  Consulate,  we 
find  that  the  money  collected  by  the 
Hellenic  Red  Cross  Society  is  being  sent 
to  the  British  Red  Cross  Society  which  is 
making  all  arrangements. 

The  Servian  Legation  is  not  engaging 
nurses  in  this  country,  but  states  that 
Russia  and  France  have  sent  Red  Cross 
Nurses  to  the  seat  of  war. 

The  Consul-General  for  Montenegro  has 
been  officially  informed  that  no  female 
nurses  are  desired. 

From  the  Bulgarian  Legation,  on  the  CjDn- 
trar\',  we  understand  the  hindrance  is  solely 
that  Bulgaria  has  no  money  to  expend  on 
nurses,  otherwise  it  would  thankfuUv  send 
them  out.  If  any  nurses — thorouji^hly  trained 
— would  go  at  their  own  expense,  "  in  the 
service  of  humanity,"  they  would  receive 
introductions,  and  be  most  welcome,  for  it  is 
realised  at  the  Bulgarian  Legation  that 
there  is  "  no  such  thing  as  an  English 
nurse." 

As  we  go  to  press  we  learn,  on  the  best 
authority,  that  the  statement  issued  in  the 
press,  on  Wednesday  morning,  on  the 
authority  of  the  Secretary  of  the  British 
Red  Cross  Society,  that  "  with  regard 
to  female  nurses  nothing  has  as  yet  been 
done  for  we  are  awaiting  reports  from  our 
directors  on  the  spot  "  is  misleading,  as 
the  Society  despatched  a  contingent  of 
nurses  to  Greece,  all  selected  from  the 
London  Hospital,  on  the  same  day. 

On  askingfor  information  at  head-quarters 
theofficials  declined  to  corroborate  this  state- 
ment, so  we  give  it  for  what  it  is  worth.  But 
why  this  secrecy  ?  Is  it  because  the  nursing 
profession  as  a  whole  will  consider  that  it 
has  not  had  fair  play  ? 

A* 


350 


Z\)C  3Bl*ltlSb   30Urnal   of  TRUrSlnO-  November  2,    191: 

MEDICAL  MATTERS.  HOW     SLEEP    IS    PRODUCED. 


PELLAGRA. 

Dr.  Louis  W.  Sanibon,  F.Z.S.,  and  Dr. 
Albert  J.  Chalmers,  F.R.C.S.,  contribute  to  the 
British  Medical  Journal  an  interesting  article  on 
"Pellagra  in  the  British  Islands."  They  say 
in  part  : — 

"  Of  all  known  diseases  pellagra  is  certainly 
the  one  which  escapes  recognition  most  easily, 
not  that  it  lacks  individuality,  because  few 
diseases  are  better  characterized  in  their  full 
manifestation  ;  not  that  it  is  of  little  importance, 
because  few  diseases  are  more  harmful  and 
deadly,  but  because  it  varies  greatly  in  the 
nature,  sequence  and  intensity  of  its  symptoms ; 
because  it  may  remain  clinically  latent  for 
years  in  the  patient  and  epidemically  dormant 
for  long  periods  in  a  given  region ;  because  it 
avoids  crowded  cities  and,  as  a  rule,  strikes  the 
uncared-for  peasant  in  remote  country  dis- 
tricts ;  because  it  principally  affects  the  young 
with  manifestations  usually  so  mild  that  it  is 
either  overlooked  or  unheeded ;  because  it 
breaks  out  in  the  mature  and  elderly  under  the 
stress  of  lowered  resistance  following  in  the 
wake  of  poverty  and  famine  and  engrafting 
itself  on  to  other  diseases ;  and  because,  in  most 
countries,  it  is  concealed  with  shame  as  the 
brand  of  destitution  and  madness.  .  .  . 

"  Sociologically,  the  disease  calls  for  the  most 
urgent  attention.  Pellagra  is  an  insidious 
disease,  either  rapidly  fatal  or  of  long  inter- 
mittent course,  leading  to  insanity.  The  pel- 
lagrous psychical  disturbances  are  as  many- 
sided  and  as  obscure  as  the  somatic  manifesta- 
tions of  the  disease,  but  the  salient  feature  is 
an  intermittent  and  progressive  amentia,  often 
assuming  a  semblance  of  melancholia  and 
exhibiting  from  time  to  time  regular  outbursts 
of  maniacal  excitement.  In  some  cases  there 
may  be  all  the  appearances  of  progressive 
paralysis.  Dementia  is  the  invariable  termina- 
tion, unless  the  patient  be  cured,  or  carried  off 
sooner  by  some  intercurrent  disease  or  mere 
exhaustion  of  the  vital  powers." 

Dr.  Sambon  believes  pellagra  to  be  a  germ 
disease  and  that  the  germ  is  a  protozoal 
organism  conveyed  by  a  special  kind  of  insect, 
a  Siynulium.  It  is  interesting  to  learn  that  in 
countries  in  which  malaria  and  pellagra  occur, 
where  malaria  is,  there,  with  occasional  over- 
lappings,  pellagra  is  absent.  Malaria,  the 
mosquito-caused  disease,  is  a  disease  of 
countries  of  stagnant  waters,  the  haunts  of  the 
mosquito  ;  pellagra  is  a  disease  of  swift-flowing 
streams  haunted  bv  Sirnulium. 


By  Miss  M.  Theres.\  Bryan. 

Sleep  that  knits  up  the  ravelled  sleeve  of  care, 
The  death  of  each  day's  life,  sore  labour's  bath, 
Balm  of  hurt  minds,  great  Nature's  second  course. 
Chief  nourisher  in  life's  feast. 

Shakespeare. 

Thomson  may  groan  in  verse  about  "  losing 
half  the  fleeting  moments  of  too  short  a  life," 
but  most  of  us  are  thankful  indeed  that  our 
days  are  broken  and  rounded  by  sleep ;  that  we 
can  lay  aside  the  affairs  which  often  threaten 
to  overwhelm  us,  and  indulge  in  a  spell  of 
forgetfulness ;  in  a  manner,  too,  which  re- 
cuperates our  mental  and  physical  energies. 
Puppets  of  perpetual  motion  as  we  mortals  are, 
it  is  not  a  little  wonderful  that  these  regularly 
recurring  periods  of  unconsciousness  should 
overtake  us,  and  the  way  in  which  the  condition 
is  brought  about  is  quite  simple  and  interest- 
ing. 

For  centuries  the  subject  was  a  problem 
which  exercised  the  minds  of  great  men.  So 
akin  did  it  seem  to  the  greater  mystery  of 
death  that  literary  men  were  constantly  asso- 
ciating it  with  that  gaunt  image.  But  if  the 
subject  received  scant  justice  at  the  hands  of 
the  literary  profession,  it  fared  little  better 
from  the  scientists.  While  those  associated  it 
with  death,  these  confounded  it  with  stupor. 
For  a  long  time  the  commonly  accepted  theory 
was  that  sleep  was  produced  by  a  fullness  of 
the  blood-vessels  of  the  brain,  which  formed 
a  sanguineous  nightcap  enveloping  the  brain. 
But,  although  this  opinion  was  largely  held,  it 
was  by  some  felt  to  be  unsatisfactory,  for  the 
reason  that  a  condition  resembling  sleep  could 
not  be  artificially  produced  by  pressure  on  the 
brain.  This  condition,  though  often  identical 
with  sleep,  was  really  its  counterfeit,  coma  or 
stupor,  a  state  distinguishable  from  true 
slumber  by  the  great  difficulty  of  arousing  the 
subjects  of  it.  The  question  was  eventually 
solved  by  Dr.  Fleming,  a  professor  in  Cork,  to 
whom  it  occurred  to  try  pressure  of  the  carotid 
arteries.  He  tried  the  experiment  on  a  friend, 
and  the  result  was  a  state  of  complete  uncon- 
sciousness, in  which,  however,  the  subject  had 
vivid  dreams,  with  great  activity,  a  few  seconds 
seeming  like  many  hours  from  the  number  and 
rapid  succession  of  thoughts  passing  through 
his  mind.  The  effects  passed  off  on  the  removal 
of  the  pressure  from  the  vessels.  This  was 
clearly  a  condition  different  to  that  of  stupor 
and  one  not  distinguishable  from  ordinary 
sleep.     Dr.   Fleming  therefore  cautiously  sug- 


November  2,  1912      Cbe  Brtttsb  Soumal  of  TRurstng. 


351 


gested  that  possibly,  after  all,  sleep  might  be 
connected  with  an  opposite  cerebral  cause  to 
that  commonly  held.  In  a  few  years  this  was 
placed  beyond  doubt,  and  a  number  of  subse- 
quent experiments  proved  that  during  ordinary 
sleep  the  brain  is  practically  in  a  bloodless  con- 
dition. 

This  discovery  was  at  once  found  to  coincide 
with  everything  known  concerning  the  causes 
of  sleep  and  the  conditions  which  tend  to  pro- 
duce it.  For  example,  great  loss  of  blood  pre-  ' 
disposes  to  sleep ;  heat  has  the  same  effect 
because  it  draws  the  blood  to  the  surface  and 
lessens  the  supply  to  the  brain ;  a  hearty  meal 
will  also  have  the  same  effect,  for  the  simple 
reason  that  a  greater  quantity  of  blood  is 
drawn  to  the  gastric  region  to  assist  the  w-ork 
of  digestion.  Extreme  cold  has  an  opposite 
effect.  It  drives  the  blood  from  the  surface  tc 
the  internal  organs,  including  the  brain,  in 
which  it  accumulates,  and  the  consequence  is 
a  state  of  coma.  Monotonous  sounds  are  con- 
ducive to  slumber  because  they  weary  the 
brain  and  thus  diminish  its  activity,  rendering 
a  less  supply  of  vital  fluid  necessary.  On  the 
other  hand,  mental  excitement  of  any  kind 
banishes  sleep,  because  activity  of  the  brain 
requires  a  supply  of  blood  to  that  organ  incon- 
sistent with  the  physical  conditions  of  sleep. 
The  discover}.'  of  the  comparatively  bloodless 
condition  of  the  brain  during  sleep  brought  out 
also  a  perfect  harmony  in  the  law  of  nutrition 
of  the  different  parts  of  the  system.  Every  one 
of  the  bodily  organs  exercises  its  functions  at 
a  considerable  expenditure  of  its  own  sub- 
stance. Its  period  of  activity  is  for  itself  one 
of  constant  wear  and  tear.  During  its  activity 
the  blood  goes  to  help  it  to  perform  its  special 
work.  When  it  has  done  its  work  the  supply 
is  drained  away  to  another  organ  whose 
periodic  activity  is  commencing.  Then  begins 
its  season  of  rest,  and  it  is  during  this  time 
that  the  organ  itself  is  nourished.  So  that  to 
deprive  any  organ  of  rest  is  also  to  deprive  it 
of  nourishment. 

But,  though  the  discovery  of  .the  anaemic 
condition  of  the  brain  during  sleep  satisfac- 
torily explained  some  things  which  were  before 
inexplicable,  the  cause  of  the  bloodlessness  was 
itself  a  problem.  Dr.  Fleming's  experiment 
showed  that  sleep  is  at  once  produced  by  partly 
stopping  the  supply  of  blood  to  the  brain ;  it 
would  therefore  appear  that  some  special 
mechanism  is  required  to  secure  at  the  proper 
moment  the  lessening  of  the  streams  flowing 
to  the  organ.  This  can  only  be  accomplished 
by  a  natural  contraction  of  the  vessels  which 
supply  the  brain.  The  walls  of  the  blood- 
vessels consist  of  several  coats,  one  of  which  is 


of  muscular  fibres  encircling  the  whole  artery 
or  vein.  When  these  contract  they  necessarily 
narrow  the  channel,  and  they  are  connected 
with  nerves  which  regulate  their  contraction 
and  belonging  to  the  sympathetic  system.  The 
brain  itself  has  no  control  over  the  supply  of 
fluid  which  reaches  it.  The  key  of  the  posi- 
tion is,  so  to  speak,  in  the  ganglia  of  the  neck — 
a  chain  of  small  knots  of  ner\-e  matter  lying  in 
front  of  the  spinal  column.  They  have  only  to 
exert  their  force  on  the  muscular  walls  of  the 
arteries  when  the  contraction  of  the  latter 
renders  the  brain  powerless.  But,  although 
the  ganglia  have  such  a  power,  it  can  only  be 
used  under  certain  conditions.  The  accepted 
theory  is  that,  while  the  primary  force  of  the 
ganglia  tends  always  to  contract  the  arteries, 
their  power  is  held  in  abeyance  all  the  time 
that  the  brain  is  in  a  state  of  activity.  But 
when  the  brain  becomes  fatigued,  the  opposing 
force  is  first  diminished  and  then  ceases,  and 
the  ganglia,  set  free  from  all  control,  put  forth 
their  native  power,  with  the  almost  immediate 
result  that  the  supply  of  blood  to  the  brain  is 
so  lessened  that  sleep  overtakes  the  subject. 
But  there  is  sometimes  something  of  a  battle 
before  perfect  sleep  supervenes.  The  brain 
resumes,  by  snatches,  a  temporary  sway  over 
the  ganglia,  until  it  is  no  longer  able  to  con- 
tinue the  conflict. 

During  sleep  the  brain  throws  off  the  matter 
which  had  given  rise  to  the  feeling  of  weari- 
ness, and  assimilates  new  material  for  the  re- 
pair of  its  own  substance.  In  this  way  it  is 
invigorated  and  put  in  a  position  to  reassert  its 
power  over  the  ganglia.  Dreaming  is  a  state 
of  imperfect  sleep,  in  which  some  of  the  facul- 
ties, notably  the  memorj-  and  the  imagination, 
are  in  active  operation,  while  others  lie  dor- 
mant. Lying  on  the  back  with  a  pillow  under 
the  shoulders  instead  of  under  the  head  will 
sometimes  give  rise  to  a  "  nightmare  "  not 
easily  forgotten.  Sleeping  with  the  mouth 
open,  too,  will  produce  the  same  result,  because 
the  air  we  breathe  should  be  warmed  and  puri- 
fied by  a  special  apparatus  with  which  Nature 
has  provided  us,  and  which  is  not  used  when 
inspiration  is  performed  through  the  mouth. 

Properly  approached,  Morpheus  is  not  a  diffi- 
cult god  to  woo,  and  as  to  how  long  we  ought 
to  remain  under  his  spell,  that  is  another  story, 
as  Rudyard  Kipling  says. 


Nurses  have  exceptional  opportunities 
"  through  the  long  night  watches  "  of  observ- 
ing the  phenomenon  of  sleep.  They  are  also 
skilled  in  the  small  devices  which  bring  rest  to 
the  restless. 


352 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRuroino 


Novembe 


1912 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 


IN  NURSING  A  PATIENT  IN  'Al  PRIVATE  HOUSE 
WHAT  MINOR  .DETAILS  WOULD  LYOU  OBSERVE  IN 
REGARD  10  THE  PERSONAL  CARE  OF  THE  PATIENT 
AND  HIS  (OR  HER)  SURROUNDINOS.  IN  ORDER  TO  ADD 
TO     HIS    COMFORT? 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  M^na  M.  G.  Beilby,  Cranford, 
Middlesex,  for  her  paper  which  we  print  below. 

PRIZE     PAPER. 

When  nursing  a  patient  in  a  private  house, 
two  axioms  should  be  kept  in  the  forefront  of 
one's  mmd  :  firstly,  that  no  act  of  service 
which  will  conduce  to  his  restoration  to  health 
should,  failing  another  to  perform  it,  be  con- 
sidered as  being  beyond  one's  duty  ;  secondly, 
that  happiness  and  personal  comfort  are  the 
finest  restoratives  that  we  can  secure  to  the 
.  sick.  The  exact  measure  in  which  that  happi- 
ness and  comfort  can  be  supplied  depends  not 
so  much  on  the  circumstances  of  the  patient  as 
on  the  amount  of  resourcefulness,  imagina- 
tion, and  tenderness  which  the  nurse  can  offer 
to  his  needs. 

It  is  essential  that  the  organization  of  the 
nursing  should  be  such  as  to  minimize  to  the 
rest  of  the  household  the  inevitable  anxiety  and 
discomfort  caused  by  illness  in  the  home  ;  for 
an  atmosphere  of  discomfort  is  a  very  tangible 
thing  to  the  sick,  and  it  reacts  forcibly. 

Servants,  especially  old  servants,  often  con- 
stitute a  point  of  difficulty ;  but  this  may 
generally  be  overcome  by  enlisting  their  co- 
operation, and  enabling  them  to  feel  that,  with- 
out their  help,  the  best  cannot  be  done  for  the 
patient.  Nor  should  one  forget  to  give  them 
their  meed  of  praise  when  an  excellent  recovery 
crowns  the  efforts  of  all. 

Often  there  is  much  apprehension  on  the  part 
of  the  patient  and  his  family  as  to  what  the 
nurse  will,  or  will  not,  allow.  A  good  general 
rule — and  it  will  engender  confidence  at  the 
outset  to  make  it  clearly  understood,  is  that 
anything  and  everything,  if  not  unattainable, 
that  the  patient  may  desire  will  be  allowed  him, 
provided  it  will  not  in  any  degree  retard  re- 
covery. Such  a  rule  disarms  any  suspicion  of 
autocracy  or  arbitrariness  on  the  part  of  the 
nurse. 

In  a  case  of  illness  extending  beyond  a  few 
days  the  arrangement  of  the  furniture  often 
demands  alteration.  The  bed  should  be  placed 
so  as  to  get  the  maximum  of  fresh  air  round 
it,  without  draught.  The  centre  of  the  room, 
with  the  window  behind  the  bed  and  a  screen 
placed  round  the  head,  usually  secures  this.  If 
possible  a  small  bed  should  be  used  ;  it  is  in 


every  way  the  most  comfortable,  and  better  still 
are  two  small  beds  of  equal  height  for  all  cases 
of  illness,  which  allow  of  the  patient's  rolling 
gently  into  a  freshly-made  bed  in  the  morning 
and  again  at  night,  all  bed  clothes  being  aired 
out  of  doors  in  the  interval.  Personal  linen 
should  be  changed  or  aired  twice  in  the  twenty- 
four  hours. 

The  mis-en-sceuc  should  be  arranged  with 
due  regard  to  the  patient's  personal  tastes  and 
idiosyncrasies,  and  the  exigencies  of  the  type 
of  illness.  But  the  room  should  be  as  little  as 
possible  suggestive  of  a  hospital  ward,  and  on 
every  hand  should  be  a  piece  of  beauty  for  the 
eye  to  rest  on ;  a  favourite  picture,  a  plant  or 
flowers,  a  beautiful  cushion,  an  appreciated  bit 
of  china  or  silver,  or  lovely  Chippendale.  Dis- 
cover the  patient's  interests  and  minister  to 
these — even  if  they  be  only  chiffons.  If  the  days 
are  filled  with  interest  when  the  acute  stage  of 
illness  is  passed,  time  will  fly  instead  of  lag- 
ging, and  the  patient  will  all  unconsciously 
gather  up  returning  health  and  strength. 

A  fire  should  be  kept  going  when  practicable, 
as  it  not  only  assists  ventilation,  but  adds 
greatly  to  the  cheeriness  of  the  room.  When 
literal  sunshine  cannot  be  secured  it  should  be 
suggested,  mentally  and  physically.  Adequate, 
unlntermittent  warmth  is  absolutely  necessary. 
Sick  people  are  easilv  chilled  in  mind,  body, 
and  soul";  and  it  is  sometimes  difficult  for  a 
person  of  healthy  circulation  to  realise  how 
very  much  help  some  patients  need  in  main- 
taining such  warmth.  Unless  there  is  an  ample 
supply  of  really  hot  water  and  several  hot  water 
bottles,  hot  fire  bricks  are  more  satisfactory  as 
bed  warmers.  Bed  clothes  should  be  light,  as 
weight  is  tiring.  Bed-rest  and  bed-table  should 
be  obtained,   or,   if  necessary,   improvised. 

The  patient's  wishes  regarding  his  or  her 
toilet  should  be  ascertained  and  carried  out.  In 
severe  illness  the  skin  must  be  hardened  on 
points  of  pressure  by  the  use  of  spirit  after 
washing  and  drying. 

Meals  should  be  dainty,  punctual,  and  as 
varied  and  as  surprising  as  can  be  managed. 
Perfect  cleanliness,  without  any  fuss,  should  be 
observed,  and  a  restful  condition  of  quiet. 

To  make  the  patient  happy  and  comfortable 
in  liis  or  her  own  ivav,  in  addition  to  bringing 
.him  technical  skill,  would  turn  many  an  illness 
into  a  time  of  quiet  pleasure  instead  of  a  misery 
to  be  somehow  endured. 

HONOURAIiLE     MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honourable 
mention  : — Miss  Rmily  Marshall,  Miss  A.  M. 
Smith,  Miss  C.  Ryder,  Miss  F.  Harvey,  Miss 
M.  Bradshaw,  Miss  J.  Lupton. 


November  2,  1912      Zbc  BrlttsF)  3ournal  of  IHui-sing. 


353 


Miss  Emily  Marshall  writes  : — 

Sick  people  are  dependent  upon  their  nurses 
for  practically  everything,  and  an  observant 
nurse  can  often  discover  the  cause  of  much 
mental  suffering,  anxieties,  imaginary  or  other- 
wise, which  so  often  retard  recovery. 

Both  doctors  and  nurses  are  confided  in  by 
their  patients,  and  professional  etiquette  binds 
them  to  silence  in  the  interests  of  their  patients. 
\'ery  great  help  and  comfort  can  be  given  and 
difficulties  often  smoothed  away,  relieving  the 
mind  of  the  invalid. 

Some  minor  details  adding  to  the  comfort  of 
a  patient  are  : — 

1.  Consideration  of  the  patient  and  friends. 

2.  Consideration  for  servants. 

3.  Special  attention  to  cleanliness,  neatness, 
and  order. 

4.  Fresh  air  and  ventilation  wfthout 
draughts. 

5.  Attention  to  patient's  tray  and  food. 

6.  Cheerfulness,  with  quiet,  using  discretion. 

7.  Accommodate  yourself  to  the  rules  of  the 
household,  giving  as  little  trouble  and  expense 
as  possible. 

It  15  the  little  things  which  count,  and  nurses 
should  be  quiet  in  their  movements,  taking  care 
not  to  knock  against  the  bedstead  in  passing, 
to  avoid  noisily  closing  a  door,  sitting  in  a 
creaking  chair,  allowing  the  light  to  fall  on  the 
patient's  face,  or  a  looking-glass  to  stand  in 
front  of  a  patient ;  the  rattling  of  window 
frames,  rustling  of  paper,  and  clicking  of 
knitting  pins  are  often  the  source  of  great  irrita- 
tion. 

Above  all,  be  conscientious,  reliable,  punc- 
tual, courteous,  firm,  but  kind  and  gentle, 
follow  the  doctor's  instructions  carefully,  keep 
a  daily  report  book  and  temperature  chart,  and 
do  not  trust  to  memory. 

Miss  C.  Ryder  mentions  cleanliness  as  the 
chief  thing  which  adds  to  anyone's  comfort. 
The  hair  should  be  always  tidy,  the  nails  clean 
and  cut  neatly,  and  the  teeth  brushed  after 
every  meal.  When  changing  the  nightdress,  to 
warm  the  fresh  one  is  another  little  detail.  The 
bed  must  be  kept  tidy  and  comfortable.  If  the 
case  be  abdominal,  a  pillow  should  be  placed 
beneath  the  knees  supported  by  tapes  from  the 
top  of  the  bed  ;  hot  bottles  must  be  refilled  as 
often  as  required.  A  cosy  dressing-gown, 
jacket,  and  shoes  should  always  be  to  hand,  and 
a  bottle  of  eau  de  Cologne  is  nice  to  have.  A  few 
good  flowers  always  make  a  room  look  bright. 
The  water  should  be  changed  every  day. 

Miss  A.  M.  Smith  points  out  that  often 
(especially  at  night)  in  chronic  cases  massage 
(subject  to  the  doctor's  approval)  is  soothing. 


A  hot-water  bottle,  a  sponge  bath,  complete 
change  of  bedclothes,  or  even  a  hot  drink  given 
at  the  right  moment  are  useful  for  restless 
cases. 

Miss  M.  Bradshaw  mentions  that  a  nurse 
should  be  careful  to  regulate  temperature  and 
light.  She  should  feel  it  a  reproach  if  the 
patient  has  to  ask  for  the  light  to  be  screened 
at  night,  or  the  blind  to  be  drawn  down  by  day. 
She  should  know  if  the  room  is  too  warm  or 
not  warm  enough,  if  the  patient  wants  more  air 
'or  more  heat.  She  should  also  avoid  the  use  of 
scents,  nor  should  she  consume  onions  or  other 
articles  of  food  which  scent  the  breath.  For 
the  same  reason  she  should  not  indulge  in 
cigarette  smoking,  nor  should  she  wear  creak- 
ing corsets  or  shoes. 

QUESTION    FOR     NEXT     WEEK. 

What  would  you  prepare  for  an  intravenous 
infusion,  and  what  precautions  would  vou  talce 
if  assisting  in  its  administration? 

THE  NATIONAL  COUNCIL  OF  NURSES 
OF  GREAT  BRITAIN  AND  IRELAND. 

The  Grand  Council  of  the  above  Society  will 
hold  its  Annual  Meeting  on  Saturday,  Novem- 
ber 23rd,  at  the  Offices,  431,  Oxford  St.,  Lon- 
don, W.  Tea  will  be  at  4  p.m.,  the  meeting  at 
4-30- 

A  notice  will  be  sent  to  each  member;  but 
those  who  have  a  right  to  be  present  are  the 
Hon.  Officers,  the  Presidents,  and  the 
accredited  delegates  from  each  of  the  sixteen 
affiliated  Societies ;  so  that,  as  all  are  busy 
women,  it  is  well  to  reserve  the  23rd  inst.  for 
this  particular  engagement. 

There  will  be  a  very  satisfactory  report  pre- 
sented of  the  part  taken  by  the  Council  at  the 
Meeting  and  Congress  of  the  International 
Council  of  Nurses  at  Cologne,  for  which  help 
a  special  letter  of  thanks  has  been  sent  from 
Germany. 

As  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents  and  two  of  the 
Directors  retire  annually,-  nominations  to  fill 
these  vacancies  may  be  sent  to  the  Hon.  Secre- 
tary, Miss  B.  Cutler,  before  the  date  of  the 
meeting. 

Owing  to  the  lamented  death  of  Mrs.  Kildare 
Treacy,  one  of  the  three  \lce-Presidents,  a 
member  of  the  Irish  Nurses'  Association  should 
be  elected,  as  England  is  represented  by  Miss 
E.  M.  Musson,  of  Birmingham,  and  Scotland 
by  Mrs.  Strong.  The  two  Directors  to  retire 
in  rotation  this  year  are  Miss  H.  L.  Pearse  and 
Miss  L.  Morgan  (the  former  of  whom  has  an 
ex-ofjlcio  seat  as  President  of  the  School 
Nurses'  League). 


354 


Sbe  Britisb  Journal  of  IRursino. 


November  2, 


1912 


THE   NEW   PRESIDENT. 


It  will  gratify  the  members  of  National 
Councils  affiliated  to  the  International  Council 
of  Nurses  to  know  that 
its  new  President,  Miss 
A.  W.  Goodrich,^  R.N., 
appreciates  both  the 
honour  and  the  responsi- 
bility of  the  position  con- 
ferred upon  her.  Holding- 
a  position  in  the  front 
rank  of  importance  in  the 
American  Nursing  W^orld 
— that  of  Inspector  of 
Nurse  Training  Schools 
under  the  Regents,  Edu- 
cation Department,  of  the 
State  of  New  York — Miss 
<  Goodrich  brings  to  the  ser- 
vice of  the  organized 
nurses  of  the  world  pro- 
fessional knowledge  of  the 
highest  order,  while  all 
those  who  met  her  in 
Berlin  in  1904  and  London 
in  1909  know  that  she  will 
exercise  both  dignity  and 
charm  in  discharging  the 
duties  of  her  office.  More- 
over, Miss  Goodrich  seems 
ever  to  look  beyond  things 
as  they  are,  and  to  see  the 
vision  of  things  as  they 
should  be ;  therefore  her 
ideals  are  high  and  she  has 
the  power  of  raising  those 
of  others  to  a  high  level 
also.  We  may  be  proud 
as  a  Council  to  have 
secured  a  President  of  so 
fine  a  type,  one  who  will 
safeguard  its  honours  and 
advance  the  objects  for 
which  the  members  arc 
associated. 

Miss  Goodrich  and  Miss 
Dock  will  soon  discuss 
plans  for  the  meeting  in 
San  Francisco  in  191 5,  for 
they  realize  that  three 
years  is  none  too  long  in 
which  to  organize  a  Meet- 
ing   and    Congress   which 

will  carry  on  the  traditions  of  the  International 
Council. 

Like  Miss  Nutting,  Miss  Goodrich  is  a  great 
educationalist,  and  the  report  she  presented  at 


Chicago,  in  June,  at  the  Annual  Conference  of 
the  American  Nurses'  Association,  "  A  General 
Presentation  of  the  Statutory  Requirements  of 
the  Different  States,"  was  a  model.  In  Miss 
Goodrich's  opinion  there  appear  to  be  four  dis- 


MISS     ANNIE     VV.    QOOORICH.    R.N.. 
PRESIDRNT,    INTERNATIONAL    COUNCIL   OF    NURSES. 


tinct  lines  of  legal  requirements  for  nurses — 
preliminary  education,  professional  training, 
licensing  tests,  and  registry.  Those  are  the 
lines   on  which   the  profession   of  nursing  can 


November  2,  1912      Cbc  ffiiltisb  3ournal  of  ll'luvsinoi. 


353 


alone  make  secure  and  stable  proj^ress  all  over 
the  world. 

Reviewing  the  inspiration  wiiich  demands 
efficient  nursing  education,  Miss  Goodrich 
says:  "That  our  educational  system  is  de- 
fective none  can  dispute ;  .  .  .  whatever  her 
field,  I  think  we  must  unanimously  admit  that 
the  nurse  is  more  entirely  excluded  from  outside 
interests— social,  civic,  educational — than  the 
members  of  almost  any  other  profession,  and 
we  cannot  but  ask  wherein  lies  her  power,  to 
what  is  due  this  ability  to  organize  so  force- 
fully, prtjgressively,  and  harmoniously.  The* 
nature  of  our  calling,  developing  as  it  does  all 
the  highest  attributes  in  human  nature,  un- 
questionably plays  the  greatest  part ;  but  I  am 
inclined  to  think  that  two  very  potent  factors 
in  this  development  have  been  certain  features 
of  our  institutional  preparation,  features  that 
we  are  at  present  striving  to  nnxlify,  if  not 
abolish — the  militarism,  that  splendid  drilling 
in  the  subordination  of  self  to  the  machine,  and 
the  over-demand  in  work  and  responsibility, 
which  is  so  wonderful  a  developer  of  resource- 
fulness, executive  ability,  and  indomitable 
courage." 

Miss  Goodrich  is  the  ardent  advocate  of  such 
modification  ;  so  are  we  all  in  theory,  and  yet, 
to  be  quite  honest,  we  must  own  that  we  have 
not  yet  evolved  a  system  of  training  which  can 
compare  results  satisfactorily  with  that  pro- 
duced by  the  strict  discipline  of  the  past.  The 
system  which  turned  out  from  poorly  educated 
material  fine,  forceful,  devoted,  and  successful 
administrators.  The  women  who  lead  the 
great  reform  movement  for  higher  education, 
and  legal  status  for  the  units  of  the  profession, 
even  to  this  day. 

THE   MATRONS'    COUNCIL    MEETING. 

Members  of  the  Matrons'  Council  will  leave 
Euston  on  Saturday  morning  for  Wigan  by  the 
10  a.m.  train,  on  which  a  carriage  will  be 
reserved  and  labelled  for  "  Miss  Mollett's 
Party."  The  return  week-end  fare  is  £1  is.  yd., 
available  for  return  to  London  by  any  train  on 
Sunday.  No  doubt  there  will  be  a  very  merry 
party. 

THE    COOKERY     EXHIBITION. 

The  23rd  Universal  Cookery  and  Food 
Exhibition  was  opened  on  Tuesday,  at  the 
Royal  Horticultural  Hall,  S.W.,  by  the 
Duchess  of  Teck.  The  exhibits  of  principal 
interest  to  nurses,  i.e.,  the  invalid  trays  (Sec- 
tion HL,  Class  38),  are  on  view  only  from 
October  31st  to  November  2nd,  but  there  are  45 
entries  in  this  class  from  nurses  in  London 
hospitals  and  infirmaries. 


NURSING  AND  NATIONAL  INSURANCE. 


As  the  Insurance  Act  comes  into  practical 
force,  it  is  more  and  more  detested  by  the 
nursing  profession  as  a  whole,  especially  by 
trained  nurses  in  private  practice,  and  many 
have  signed  a  Petition  for  exemption. 

No  class  of  worker  has  been  more  unfairly 
treated  under  this  Act  than  trained  nurses. 
Classed  as  domestic  and  not  as  professional 
workers,  they  are  compelled  to  pay  for  a  pittance 
towards  treatment  in  sickness  which  has  been 
generously  given  them,  as  associate  workers,  by 
the  medical  profession  as  a  whole.  Their  rela- 
tion with  the  medical  profession  has  thus  been 
rudely  shaken.  Moreover,  as  trained  nurses 
have  no  legal  status,  they  were  denied  just 
representation  on  the  Advisory  Committee  by 
Parliament  under  the  Act,  and  most  unjustly 
discriminated  against  by  the  National  In- 
surance Commissioners  when  the  Advisory 
Committee  was  formed. 

Every  other  class  of  worker  compulsorily 
insured — male  and  female — together  with  every 
class  of  employer  was  given  through  its 
Unions  and  Societies  direct  representation. 
Trained  Nurses  were  alone  excluded.     Why? 

For  the  following  reason,  without  a  doubt  : — 

Because  nursing  was  made  a  benefit  under 
the  Act,  and  the  Commissioners  were  deter- 
mined that  nurses  themselves  should  have  no 
power  to  define  the  standard  of  the  nursing 
given  to  the  insured  sick. 

Already  the  disastrous  result  of  no  repre- 
sentation is  evident. 

County  Nursing  Associations,  governed  en- 
tirely by  lay  social  influence,  are  claiming  the 
monopoly  of  supplying  nursing  to  the  poor 
insured  sick,  and  the  standard  of  their  workers 
we  know  to  be  totally  inadequate  to  meet  these 
needs  justly. 

The  nursing  profession,  devoid  of  legal 
status  through  State  Registration,  realises^ 
bitterly  its  impotence  in  this  question  of 
national  health.  Every  species  of  quack  may 
be  employed,  and  so  long  as  they  are  cheap 
they  ivill  be  employed  by  lay  monopolists,  lay 
Health  Committees,  and  ignorant  Friendly 
Societies. 

Here  is  a  question  of  great  national  import- 
ance, in  which  the  dependent  poor,  compelled  to 
insure,  are  at  the  mercy  of  those  supplying 
inefficient  nursing.  Who  is  going  to  rise  up 
and  instruct  them  and  make  them  claim  what 
is  their  just  due? 

We  have  seen  how  manfully  the  registered 
medical  profession  ha\e  stood  together,  not  only 


356 


Cbe  Biltisb  3ournal  of  IRurstng. 


November  2,    1912 


to  save  their  noble  profession  from  depreciation 
and  disaster,  but  to  make  it  possible  to  give  an 
efficient  quality  of  treatment  as  medical  benefit 
under  the  Act.  Unjustly  ignored  as  we  are  by 
a  negligent  legfislature,  our  duty  to  the  sick 
poor  is  still  paramount.  We  have  got  to  claim 
a  standard  of  nursing  for  them  under  the  Act 
which  they  are  too  ignorant  to  claim  for  them- 
selves ;  and  to  prevent  their  exploitation  t)y  so 
called  Benefit  Nufsing  Societies  through 
ignorant,  untrained  and  inefficient  women  who 
are  a  growing  danger  to  the  whole  community. 
It  is  high  time  a  Public  Meeting  was  called 
to  protest  against  cheap  and  shoddy  nursing 
being  provided  under  the  so-called  National 
Health  Act,  especially  as  it  is  only  provided  for 

the  poor. 

.— ♦ — t 

NURSES'    MISSIONARY    LEAGUE. 


THE     POOR     LAW     INFIRMARY 
MATRONS'    ASSOCIATION. 


At  the  third  of  the  lectures  on  Hinduism, 
delivered  at  University  Hall,  Gordon  Square, 
W.C.,  on  October  22nd,  Canon  Weitbrecht 
dealt  with  some  of  the  forces  which  have  been 
influencing  India  in  recent  years.  He  spoke 
first  of  the  spread  of  the  rule  of  a  Christian 
Power.  This,  he  said,  had  made  the  various 
peoples  of  India  regard  themselves  as  one 
people ;  and,  by  means  of  increased  facility  for 
communication,  equal  justice  for  all,  economic 
and  commercial  development,  impartial  tolera- 
tion for  all  religions  and  care  for  material 
interests,  had  profoundly  affected  the  whole  life 
of  the  people,  even  in  its  small  outward  details. 
More  especially  had  the  spread  of  education 
influenced  India,  and  the  use  of  the  English 
language  in  this  education  had  had  a  wide- 
spread effect  in  welding  together  the  mind  of 
educated  India.  The  second  great  force  with 
which  he  dealt  was  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel, 
particularly  through  educational  missions,  and 
by  systematic  Christian  philanthropy,  such  as 
famine  relief,  the  care  of  orphans,  and,  above 
all,  medical  missions.  In  dealing  with  the  effect 
of  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  upon  the  higher 
classes  in  India,  the  speaker  mentioned  first  the 
small  body  of  converts  won  by  Alexander  Duff 
and  others,  whose  descendants  are  now  the 
backbone  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  then 
described  two  of  the  reform  movements  which 
are  going  on  in  Hindu  circles — the  first,  the 
Brahmo  Samaj,  which  is  favourable  to  Chris- 
tianity ;  and  the  other,  the  Arya  Samaj,  which 
is  bitterly  opposed.  In  closing,  the  lecturer 
described  the  effects  of  the  Gospel  upon  the 
uneducated  masses,  amongst  whom  the  "  mass 
movements  "  have  recently  won  hundreds  to 
the  Christian  faith. 


The  First  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Poor  Law 
Infirmary  Matrons'  Association  was  held  on 
October  26th  at  7  p.m.,  at  the  Inns  of  Court 
Hotel,  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields.  Miss  Stansfeld, 
Superintendent  Lady  Inspector,  presided. 

ISIiss  Barton,  Hon.  Sec,  in  a  short  report, 
explained  that  the  inaugural  meeting  of  the 
Association  had  been  held  in  July,  "1907,  at 
Chelsea  Infirmary.  The  Association  had  grown 
so  much  in  size  and  importance  that  it  was  felt 
advisable  to  reorganize  its  rules  and  regula- 
tions and  place  it  on  a  self-governing  basis.  A 
ballot  of  the  Association  had  been  taken  to  elect 
the  Hon.  OflScers  and  Committee.  Miss  Barton 
said  that  much  work  lay  before  the  Association, 
as,  beside  other  things,  they  had  been  in- 
formally asked  to  make  suggestions  as  to  the 
position  of  the  Superintendent  Nurse  and  also 
as  to  the  proposed  syllabus  for  the  training  of 
probationers  brought  forward  in  the  north. 

Miss  Cockrell  read  a  financial  statement  of 
the  funds  of  the  Association.  Miss  Stansfeld 
then  announced  the  result  of  the  ballot.  It  was 
as  follows  : — President,  Miss  Barton,  Chelsea 
Infirmary ;  Hon.  Treasurer,  Miss  Cockrell, 
Marylebone  Infirmary;  Hon.  Sec,  Miss  Todd, 
St.  James's  Infirmary,  Balham ;  Assistant 
Hon.  Sec,  Miss  Alsop,  Kensington  Infirmary  ; 
Committee,  Miss  Elma  Smith,  Central  London 
Sick  Asylum,  Hendon  ;  Miss  Hannaford,  Pop- 
lar and  Stepney  Sick  Asylum ;  Miss  Griffith, 
Hackney  Infirmary ;  Miss  Dodds,  Bethnal 
Green  Infirmary ;  Miss  Dowbiggin,  New 
Edmonton  Infirmary ;  Miss  Mowatt,  White- 
chapel  Infirmary  ;  co-opted  to  represent  Provin- 
cial members,  Miss  Smith,  Chorlton  Infirmary  ; 
Miss  Masters,  Leicester  Infirmary. 

Miss  Stansfeld  gave  an  interesting  address, 
after  which  all  repaired  to  the  hall  to  welcome 
the  guests  for  the  first  annual  dinner. 
First  Annual  Dinner. 

Altogether  68  sat  down.  The  guests  of  the 
Association  were  Sir  A.  Downes,  Dr.  Fuller, 
Miss  Stansfeld,  Miss  H.  Todd,  Mrs.  Andrews. 
Other  guests  included  tlie  Dowager  Lady  Loch, 
Lord  and  Lady  Plunket,  Miss  Gibson  (of  Bir- 
mingham), Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bond,  Dr.  and  Mrs. 
Grimsdale,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Dixon,  &c. 

Miss  Barton  (as  President)  presided.  There 
were  no  speeches.  The  toast  of  "The  King  " 
was  given,  and  a  delightful  selection  of  music 
was  played  during  dinner. 

After  dinner  Madame  Maggie  Inglis,  Mr. 
Joseph  Dodds,  and  Dr.  Dixon  sang. 


November  2,  1912      Cbc  Bvlttsb  Souviial  of  IRursmg. 


357 


APPOINTMENTS. 


MATRON. 

Sanatorium  f(ir  Infectious  Diseases,  Hudders- 
fleld. — Miss  A.  Dutton  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Hospital  for  Women, 
Liverpool,  the  Borough  Sanatorium,  St.  Helen's, 
and  the  Royal  Southern  Hospital,  Liverpool  ; 
and  has  held  the  position  of  Sister  at  the  Hudders- 
ficld  Sanatorium. 

Cottatie  Hospital,  Bridgend. — Miss  Florence 
Warner  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Prince  of  Wales'  Hospital,  Totten- 
ham, where  she  has  held  the  position  of  Sister 
in  various  wards.  She  has  also  held  the  position 
of  Sister-Housekeeper  at  the  Nurses'  Co-operation, 
London,  W. 

El       Hospital       Ingles,       Huelva.       Spain Miss 

Agnes  M.  MacBean  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  East  Duhvich  Infirmary  ; 
and  has  held  the  positions  of  Staff-Nurse  at  the 
National  Hospital,  Queen  Square,  W.C.,  and  at 
the  Fulham  Infirmary. 

ASSISTANT    MATRON. 

Mental  Hospital,  Croydon. — Miss  Mary  F. 
Wallace  has  been  appointed  Assistant  Matron. 
She  was  trained  for  four  years  at  the  Royal  Devon 
and  Exeter  Hospital,  and  has  done  private 
nursing  in  London  in  connection  with  Nctley 
House.  She  has  also  been  Night  Superintendent 
for  one  year  and  Assistant  IMatron  for  three  and  a 
quarter  years  at  the  Royal  Berkshire  Hospital, 
Reading,  and  Sister  Housekeeper  at  Charing 
Cross  Hospital  for  fifteen  montlis. 

NURSE     MATRON. 

The      Cottage       Hospital,      Great      Torrington. — 

^liss  A.  Evelyn  Rhodes  has  been  appointed 
Nurse-Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Royal 
Infirmary,  Gloucester  ;  and  for  six  years  was 
on  the  staff  of  the  Brook  Hospital,  Shooter's 
Hill,  S.E.,  under  the  Metropolitan  Asylums 
Board  ;  and  for  eight  months  on  that  of  the 
Kensington  Infirmary.  She  has  also  done  holiday 
duty  at  the  Cottage  Hospitals  at  Lynton  and  Great 
Torrington. 

Kingshridge  and  District  Cottage  Hospital, 
Kingsbridge,  Devon — Miss  E.  M.  Norton  has  been 
appointed  Nurse-Matron.  She  was  trained  at 
the  Great  Northern  Central  Hospital,  the  Heart 
Hospital,  Soho  Square,  and  Queen  Charlotte's 
Hospital,  London,  and  has  been  Matron  of  the 
Chalfont  Cottage  Hospital,  Buckinghamshire. 

NIGHT    SISTER. 

Royal    Hospital    for    Sick    Children,    Edinburgh.— 

^Miss  .Mary  11.  Keini)  has  been  ai)i)oiMlcd  Night 
Superintendent.  She  was  trained  for  three  years 
at  the  Royal  Hospital  for  Sick  Children,  Glasgow, 
and  for  a  similar  period  at  the  Royal  Infirmary', 
Dundee,  and  has  held  the  position  of  Ward  Sister 
at  the  Children's  Hospital,  Glasgow,  the  General 
Hospital,  Nottingham,  and  the  Royal  Infirmary, 
Dundee,  and  in  the  last  institution  she  has  been 


alternately  Home  Sister  and  Night  Superintendent 
for  the  last  two  years. 

Cameron  Hospital,  West  Hartlepool.  —  Miss 
M.  W.  Bannister  has  been  appointed  Night  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  Sheffield  Royal  Inlirmarj',  and 
has  been  Sister  at  the  County  Hospital,  Lincoln. 
She  holds  the  C.M.B.  certificate. 

OUr.PATIENT    SISTER. 

Royal  Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the  Chest, 
City  Road,  E.C — Miss  Theresa  M.  Hayes  has 
been  appointed  Out-Patient  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  and  subse- 
(  quently  worked  on  its  private  nursing  staff.  She 
has  also  acted  as  Night  Superintendent  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital  and  the  Royal  Free 
Hospital,  and  has  had  surgical  work  at  a  private 
clinique  in  Paris,  and  for  ten  weeks  last  year  did 
the  Assistant-Matron's  duties  at  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital.  During  the  present  year  Miss  Hayes 
has  made  herself  familiar  with  the  working  of 
Dr.  Philip's  Tuberculosis  Dispensary  in  Edinburgh. 
QUEEN  VICTORIA'S   JUBILEE  INSTITUTE. 

Transjers  and  Appointments. — Miss  Annie  Ald- 
ridge  is  appointed  to  Mytholmroyd  ;  Miss  Isabel 
Lever  to  Leicester  ;  Miss  Elsie  Noel  to  Liverpool 
(Williamson  Home)  as  School  Nurse  ;  Miss  Kate 
Robinson  to  Ancaster ;  Miss  Matilda  Sareent 
to  Lancaster  ;  Miss  Catherine  White  to  Hands- 
worth. 

LONDON  COUNTY  COUNCIL. 

The  Establishment  Committee  of  the  London 
County  Council  recommended  at  Tuesday's  meet- 
ing that  the  title  of  Miss  H.  L.  Pearse,  Superinten- 
dent of  Nurses,  should,  in  future,  be  Superinten- 
dent of  School  Nurses  ;  and  that  Miss  E.  Parkman 
and  Miss  A.  G.  Layton  should  be  designated  Assis- 
tant Superintendents  of  School  Nurses. 

The  experiment  begun  in  Ma\-  last  of  employing 
four  school  nurses  in  the  Public  Health  Depart- 
ment, on  the  night  inspection,  on  one  night  a 
week,  of  common  lodging  houses  occupied  by 
women,  has  proved  so  very  satisfactor\-  that  the 
Public  Health  Committee  are  of  opinion  that 
it  is  most  desirable  that  the  inspections  should  be 
continued  for  a  further  period  of  six  months, 
when  it  is  anticipated  that  the  experience  gained 
by  working  the  scheme  will  be  sufficient  to  enable 
them  to  form  an  accurate  judgment  as  to  its 
utility.  This  opinion  is  endorsed  by  the  Estab- 
lishment Committee,  and. a  recommendation,  in 
this  sense,  was  made  to  the  Council. 


IRISH    NURSES'    ASSOCIATION. 

The  following  lectures  ha\c  been  arranged  by  the 
Irish  Nurses  Association,  to  be  delivered  at  34, 
St.  Stephen's  Green,  Dublin,  at  7.30  p.m.  : — 
November  6th,  "  Massage  in  Nervous  Diseases," 
Dr.  Moorhead  ;  November  20th,  "  The  Health  of 
the  Child,"  Dr.  McVittie  (illustrated  by  lantern 
slides)  ;  December  ^(h,  "  Flics  and  Disease  "  (illus- 
trated by  lantern  slides).  Dr.  McDowel  Cosgrave  ; 
December  ijth,  "Poor  Law  from  the  Twentieth 
Century  Standpoint,"  Mrs.  Dickie. 


358 


(Il)c  JSritisb  3oiunal  of  H-lursina       November  2,  1912 


MRSINO  ECHOES 

The  feeding'-cups 
which  are  being  sent 
out  to  Turkey. 
Greece,  and  the  Bal- 
kan States  for  the 
use  of  the  sick  and 
wounded  of  tfle 
various  armies  arc 
being  presented  by 
Messrs.  Goode  & 
Co. ,  of  South  Audley 
Street,  W.,  the  pat- 
tern having  been 
selected  by  Her 
Majesty  the  Queen. 
The  feeders  are  of 
the  ordinary  shape, 
with  curved  spouts, 
,and  handles  at  the 
sides,  and  on  the  top 
of  each  is  a  scroll 
inscribed  in  black 
lettering  with  the 
name  of  the  Army 
for  which  they  are 
designated  —  Greek 
Army,  Turkish 
Army,  &c.    Below  the 

scroll  is  a  medallion,     

bearing,   in   the  case 

of  Greece  and  the  various  Balkan  States,  the 
Red  Cross,  and  for  the  Turkish  Army  the  Red 
Crescent,  with  the  date  1912  below.  We  hope 
that  some  other  kind  donor  will  present  the 
■brushes  with 
which  to  clean 
the  spouts,  for 
feeder  spouts,  if 
not  kept  thor- 
oughly  clean, 
may  become  very 
foul,  and  a 
source  of  infec- 
tion from  patient 
to  patient. 


1  >l)IA    ^IMjiAI.O.   OK    FINLAND. 


are  both  of  great  in- 
terest. The  one 
shows  a  religious 
Deaconess,  and  Sister 
Maria  Koellner, 
R.X.,  of  Dresden,  a 
member  of  the  Ger- 
man Nurses'  .Asso- 
ciation, engaged  in 
conversation,  typical 
of  the  good  fellowship 
which  was  apparent 
throughout  the  week 
between  the  religious 
Orders,  as  typified 
by  the  Kaiserswerth 
Deaconesses  and  the 
modern  Free  Sisters. 
Developed  along  dif- 
ferent lines,  each  be- 
lieving that  they  can 
best  serve  the  com- 
munity in  the  way 
they  have  adopted, 
they  have  a  strong 
bond  of  union  in  their 
common  devotion  tc 
the  sick  and  their 
desire  to  fit  them- 
selves for  service  as 
perfectly  as  possible. 


The  accom- 
panying snap- 
shots, taken  dur- 
ing the  Inter- 
national Nursing. 
Congress  Week 
at  Cologne  by 
Miss  T  a  i  t 
McKay,  and 
Miss     Downing, 


SISTER    .MARIA    KOELLNKR 


The    other    picture    is    that    of    Miss    Lydia 
Sinisalo,  a  Finnish  probationer,  with  a  Danish 
nurse    in    the   background.      Miss    Sinisalo    is 
wearing  the  undergraduate's  cap  of  the  Uni- 
versity   of     Hel- 
singfors,  at  which 
she  has  matricu- 
lated, and  which 
she  has  the  right 
to    wear    as    evi- 
dence    that     she 
has     attained     a 
certain    standard 
of  education. 

Miss  Sinisalo 
was  not  a  dele- 
gate from  the 
Finnish  National 
Council  of 
Nurses,  for  the 
ukase  went  forth 
that  if  the  Fin- 
nish nurses  at- 
tended the  Con- 
gress as  dele- 
gates it  must  be 


OER.MAN    DEACONESS. 


November  2,    191  j 


Cbe  Bntiijb  3ournai  ot  ir-iursmo. 


359 


as  Russians,  not  Finns ;  and  liicy  therefore 
elected  to  attend  as  individuals.  Even  so,  it 
was  quite  apparent  that  agents  of  the  Russian 
secret  police  were  closely  watching^  their  move- 
ments, as  they  were  ordered  by  the  police  in  the 
streets  of  Cologne  to  remove  their  armlets  on 
which  "  Finland  "  was  inscribed. 


An  interesting  petition  (says  the  Standard) 
has  just  been  submitted  to  tlie  Merlin  Council 
from  fifteen  women's  societies  of  that  city, 
requesting  tiial  salaried  women  nurses  shall  ini 
future  be  appointed  to  the  public  schools.  The 
petition  points  out  that  although  much  has  been 
done  to  improve  the  physique  and  health  of 
school  children  through  medical  inspection  and 
the  distribution  of  free  meals,  the  home  life  of 
the  children  has  not  been  touched.  By  appoint- 
ing school  nurses  to  visit  the  children  in  their 
own  homes,  giving  special  attention  to  those 
whose  names  are  on  the  medical  or  free  meal 
lists,  the  Council  could  be  sure  that  the  doctors' 
orders  were  being  correctly  carried  out,  while 
the  nurses  could  report  on  the  home  condi- 
tions, and,  where  necessary,  give  advice  to  the 
mothers  on  the  care  of  the  children. 


Miss  Polly  Peele  gives  a  delightful  account  in 
a  Canadian  contemporary  of  a  Forest  School 
for  the  delicate  children  of  Toronto.  She  tells 
how  a  private  street  car  starts  at  a  quarter  to 
eight  from  a  certain  street  witli  lialf  a  dozen 
or  more  children — delicate,  ill-nourished,  or 
anaemic  little  boys  and  girls — who  watch 
eagerly  for  the  corners  where  other  little  groups 
wait,  all  wearing  bright  red  badges,  which  act 
as  an  "  Open  Sesame  "  to  Fairyland.  For  the 
car  which  picks  them  up  carries  them  away  to 
the  old  Victoria  Park,  wherein  is  situated  the 
"  F"orest  School  "  ;  and  is  not  the  Forest  School 
only  another  name  for  a  whole,  summerful  of 
daylong  picnics? 

The  children  sit  at  long  tables  in  an  open 
space  among  tall  trees,  whose  shadows  on  the 
grass  are  fringed  with  golden  sunlight ;  the 
teacher  at  a  little  table,  and  behind  her,  from 
tree  to  tree  stretches  a  blackboai-d,  upon  which 
she  draws  fascinating  things  with  coloured 
chalks.  School  hours  last  only  i  }  hour  in  the 
morning,  and  |  hour  in  the  afternoon,  but  the 
children  learn  very  quickly  out  of  doors.  Play- 
ing, sleeping,  ablutions,  and  tooth-brushing  all 
take  place  out  of  doors,  under  the  superintend- 
ence of  Miss  Hatch,  the  capable  nurse. 


the  nursing  profession  have  been  very  deter- 
mined not  to  permit  any  system  analogous  lo 
that  in  force  in  rural  districts  in  England.  The 
cabled  news  brought  to  the  notice  of  the  Pre- 
mier at  Melbourne  that  Dr.  J.  VV.  Barnett,  of 
Melbourne,  has  been  engaging  nurses  in  Eng- 
land for  Bush  work  in  Victoria,  has  elicited  the 
expression  of  opinion  that  English  nurses  couU! 
know  nothing  of  Bush  life  in  Australia,  and  that 
those  born  in  the  country  are  better  qualilieti 
for  the  work,  and  that  when  more  information 
was  received  steps  would  be  taken  to  stop  Dr. 
Barnett  from  proceeding  further  in  the  matter, 
or  at  least  the  Government  would  signifv  its 
disapproval. 

With  reference  to  the  protest  evoked  from 
Australian  nurses  on  Dr.  Barnett's  action,  Dr. 
Edith  Barrett,  Secretary  of  the  Victorian  Bush 
Nursing  Association,  says  the  difficultv  of 
obtaining  nurses  for  service  in  the  Bush  is 
becoming  so  serious  as  to  menace  the  progress 
of  the  Association's  work.  For  several  months 
the  management  has  been  unable  to  fill  posts 
in  new  districts,  in  spite  of  advertisements  in 
the  daily  newspapers  and  nursing  journals,  and 
the  assistance  of  the  Royal  Victorian  Trained 
Nurses'  Association.  In  the  circumstances  Dr. 
Edith  Barrett  considers  that  she  is  justified  in 
trying  to  obtain  English  trained  nurses  when 
.Australians  are  not  available. 

The  salary  offered  to  the  Bush  nurse  is  ;^i35 
per  annum,  with  transport  and  equipment  pro- 
vided. If  nurses  are  not  obtained  from  else- 
where. Dr.  Edith  Barrett  states,  some  of  the 
districts  must  do  without  them,  and  that  is  not 
desirable  when  there  are  highly-trained  nurses 
in  England  and  Canada  willing  to  do  the  work. 
.Should  anything  interfere  to  prevent  these 
nurses  from  coming  it  will  be  a  blow  to  Bush 
nursing,  a  movement  which  is  the  best  attempt 
yet  made  to  mitigate  the  hardships  of  life  in  the 
countrv. 

GERMAN   RED  CROSS  EXPEDITIONS. 

Three  expeditions,  organized  by  the  German 
Red  Cross  Society,  have  left  Berlin  for  the  seat 
of  war.  Two  doctors,  four  dressers,  and  two 
nurses  go  to  Constantinople;  two  doctors,  two 
dressers,  and  eight  nurses  to  Greece ;  and  two 
doctors,  two  dressers,  and  four  nurses  to 
Bulgaria.  Each  party  will  be  equipped  with 
all  the  requisites  of  an  operating-room. 


From  first  to  last  the  Bush  Nursing  question 
has   aroused    controversv    in    Australasia,    and 


Professor  Bier,  for  many  years  body 
physician  to  the  ex-Sultan  .Abdul  Hamid,  has 
been  summoned  to  Turkey  to  take  over  the 
direction  of  the  Red  Crescent  organization  in 
the  field. 


360 


Cbe  36rltl5b  3ournal  of  H^urstno 


November  2,    1912 


EXAMINATIONS    AND    PRIZES, 
5T.    BARTHOLOMEW'S    HOSPITAL,   E.C. 

The  following  nurses  ha\-e  successful]}''  passed 
their  Final  Examination  and  been  awarded 
certificates  after  a  term  of  three  years'  training  at 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  E.C.  Miss  Helen 
Thompson  Baines  gained  the  Gold  Medal. 
Candidates. 

1.  Baines,  H.T.         .      15.  Scott,  M. 

2.  Faulder,  C.  T.  ,  (  Jar\is,  S. 

3.  Gibson,  H.D.  ^'^-iNorthwood,  E. 

4.  Eager,  F.  17.  Hirsch,  B. 
fCr>'er,  E.  iS.  Jones,  A.  "SI. 

■''I Ironside,  M.  19.  Edwards,  I.  Lloyd. 

6.  Tice,  N.  20.  Atkins,  M.  H. 

7.  Nicholson,  F.  21.  Spiers,  B. 

8.  Cole,  A.  F.  22.  Button,  J.  S. 
g.  Cole,  D.  23.  Prior,  M.  T. 

10.  Smith,  E.  A.  24.  Jones,  yi.  A. 

11.  Piyer,  H.  25.  Dey,  H. 

12.  Mudie,  D.  26.  Harrison,  F.  M. 

13.  Pilling,  G.  H.  27.  Lewis,  R. 
i^.  Perkins,  G.  M. 

Primary  Examix  \tion. 
Thirt^'-eight   probationers   passed   the   Primary 
Examination     after    one    year's    training.     Miss 
A.    M.    Kendal,    who   passed   first,    was   awarded 
the  Clothworkers'  Prize. 


REFLECTIONS 

FROM    A    BOARD    ROOM    MIRROR. 


THE  CHILDREN'S    HOSPITAL,   BRISTOL. 

Miss  Rosa  Pease  presented  the  prizes  and  certifi- 
cates to  the  successful  nurses  at  the  Children's 
Hospital,  Bristol,  at  the  annual  distribution,  on 
the  23rd  inst. 

The  list  of  the  following  awards  was  read  by 
Miss  Mattick,  the  matron  : — Nurse  Burrough,  first 
prize,  presented  by  the  president  ;  Nurse  Ware, 
second  prize,  presented  by  Mr.  William  Garnett. 
Certificate  of  merit.  Nurse  Davis.  Prizes  awarded 
for  surgery  and  anatomy. — Second  year  nurses  : 
First  prize.  Nurse  Burrough  ;  second  prize.  Nurse 
Ware,  presented  by  Miss  Phillips  ;  certificates  : 
Nurse  Da\as,  Nurse  Sully,  Nurse  Trim,  Nurse 
Davey.  First  vear  nurses :  First  prize.  Nurse 
Clarke,  presented  by  ^Irs.  Meh'ille  Wills  ;  second 
prize,  Nurse  Blandford  ;  certificates  :  Nurse  Fox, 
Nurse  Brend,  Nurse  Taylor,  Nurse  Aver}-,  Nurse 
Edmunds,  Nurse  Nield.  Prizes  awarded  for 
medicine  and  physiolog}'. — Second  year  nurses  : 
First  prize.  Nurse  Davis  ;  second  prize,  Nurse 
Ware,  presented  by  JMiss  Phillips,  and  Nurse 
Burrough,  presented  by  the  matron  ;  certificates. 
Nurse  Trim,  Nurse  Davey,  Nurse  Sully.  First  vear 
nurses  :  First  prize,  Nurse  Clark,  presented  by 
Mrs.  Melville  Wills  ;  second  prize,  Nurse  Brend, 
certificates  :  Nurse  Nield,  Nurse  Edmunds,  Nurse 
Fox,  Nurse  Blandford,  Nurse  Averj',  Nurse  Taylor. 


John  Bond's  Marking  Ink. — No  one  knows 
better  than  nurses  the  value  of  a  good  marking 
ink,  the  annoyance  of  a  bad  one.  Those  who  use 
John  Bond's  "  Crystal  Palace  "  variety  say  that 
it  is  a  most  satisfactor}'  and  reliable  ink,  and  that 
thev  would  never  be  without  it. 


At  the  meeting  at  the  Mansion  House  in  support 
of  a  nacmorial  to  Lord  Lister,  Lord  Haldane  paid 
a  tribute  to  his  ser\-ices  to  humanity.  A  scheme 
to  put  up  a  medallion  in  Westminster  Abbey,  to 
erect  a  monument  in  a  public  place  in  London, 
and  to  found  an  International  Lister  Memorial 
Fund  for  the  advancement  of  surgery  was  adopted. 


Sir  Ernest  Hatch,  the  treasurer  of  the  University 
College  Hospital,  has  received  a  contribution  of 
100  guineas  from  a  visitor,  as  a  mark  of  apprecia- 
tion of  the  care  and  attention  accorded  to  the 
patients  in  the  hospital. 

The  late  Miss  Louisa  Twining  has  bequeathed 
/500  to  the  Metropohtan  and  National  Association 
for  Providing  Trained  Nurses  for  the  Sick  Poor  ; 
and  ;£500  to  the  Kensington  District  Nursing  Asso- 
ciation.   

The  Duchess  of  Argyll  wiU  on  Friday,  November 
15th,  open  the  new  wing  of  the  Miller  General 
Hospital  at  Greenwich.  The  extension  gives 
accommodation  for  51  more  patients.  It  also 
includes  a  complete  operating  theatre  unit  on 
the  top  floor,  and  a  new  X-ray  department  in 
the  basement.  The  existing  kitchen  and  the 
nurses'  dining-room  have  been  enlarged,  and  other 
much-needed  improvements  carried  out.  The  new 
building  is  costing,  with  equipment,  about  ^^23,000, 
and  of  this  sum  a  further  /7,ooo  is  required.  The 
trustees  of  the  Zunz  Bequest  have,  however, 
promised  a  generous  donation  of  £3,000  when  the 
remainder  has   been   collected. 


The  new  wing  of  the  Bury  and  West  Suffolk 
General  Hospital,  built  with  the  funds  provided  by 
a  legacy  from  the  late  Mr.  Riley  Smith,  whose 
name  it  bears,  and  which  was  opened  last  week, 
provides  every  nurse  in  the  institution  with  a 
separate  roorc  light  and  airy,  and  comfortably 
furnished,  at  the  expense  of  Mrs.  Riley  Smith. 
The  Matron  (Miss  Brown),  and  the  nursing  staff, 
are  delighted  with  these  new  quarters,  which 
were  opened  last  week,  the  Chairman  of  the  Board 
of  Governors  (Rev.  J.  S.  Holden),  and  others, 
being  present.  The  mortuary,  the  mortuary  view 
room,  and  post-mortem  room,  have  also  been 
restored  by  the  kindness  of  Lady  Naesmj-th  and 
other  friends  of  the  hospital. 

• — ♦— t 

LECTURES    ON    BABIES. 

A  course  of  lectures  on  Babies  will  be  delivered 
at  the  Infants  Hospital,  Vincent  Square,  West- 
minster, bv  Dr.  Ralph  Vincent,  at  3.30  p.m.  on 
the  following  Tuesdays  : — Novemher  ^th,  Human 
Milk ;  November  12th,  Substitute  Feeding ; 
November  igth.  The  Chemistiy-  of  Milk  ;  November 
26th,  The  Bacteriologv  of  Milk ;  December  ^rd, 
The  Effect  of  Boiled  Milk  on  the  Infant  and  Child  ; 
December  lotli.  Intestinal  Toxaemia.  Fee  for  the 
course,  '^s. 


November  2,    1912 


Cbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  IFlurstncj. 


361 


WHAT  NURSES  SHOULD  KNOW. 

THE    SURGICAL    MANUFACTURING    CO. 

The  Surgical  Manufacturing  Co.,  wliich  under 
tlie  management  of  Mr.  J.  Edwards  is  now  doing 
business  at  85,  Mortimer  Street,  London,  W. 
(two  doors  from  Great  Portland  Street),  is  most 
centrally  situated  for  private  nurses,  who  are 
likely  to  find  the  advantages  offered  a  great 
convenience. 

The  firm  make  a  speciality  of  sterilized  dressings 
in  scaled  tin  drums,  ready  for  surgical  operations, 
at  moderate  prices,  which  can  be  obtained  at  any 
hour  of  the  day  and  night.  The  sterilization  is 
carried  out  under  the  personal  supervision  of  an 
experienced  nurse.  Dressings  to  meet  the  require- 
ments of  almost  any  operation,  as  well  as  hucka- 
back towels,  surgeon's  overalls  and  veils  can  be 
supplied  out  of  stock.  But  if  required,  special 
drums  of  dressings  can  be  prepared  and  sterilized 


THE     PARAGON     BED-TABLE. 

at  sixty  minutes'  notice.  Three  of  the  sets  are 
especially  designed  to  meet  the  requirements  of 
an  accouchement   case. 

Operation  outfits  are  supplied  at  a  cost  of  2rs., 
including  collection  and  delivery  within  four  miles. 
No.  I  set  includes  a  portable  operating  table, 
instrument  table,  sterilizer  for  instruments  with 
lamp,  trays,  bowls,  graduated  jug,  and  No.  4 
drum  of  sterilized  dressings,  overall  and  towels. 
It  is  an  immense  convenience,  wlien  an  operation 
has  to  be  performed  at  short  notice,  for  the 
nurse  to  be  able  to  take  this  comprehensive  outfit. 

The  firm  also  make  a  feature '  of  supplying 
invalid  furniture,  and  water  beds  and  cushions 
on  hire,  and  in  the  event  of  the  patient  desiring 
later  to  keep  them,  the  price  charged  for  hire 
goes  towards  the  cost  of  purchase. 

A  very  convenient  bed  and  librarj^  table,  which 
can  be  put  to  a  variety  of  uses  is  the  "  Paragon," 
constructed  of  weldless  steel  tubing  and  walnut 
finished  wood.  The  cost,  without  side  table,  is 
only  22s.  6d.,  and  it  can  be  packed  flat  in  a 
specially  prepared  case  for  export.  The 
"  Paragon  "  secured  the  only  medal  awarded  to 
such  a  table  at  the  Turin  Exhibition. 


At  the  present  time  the  firm  will  send  to 
nurses  a  most  useful  case  book  ,post  free,  on 
application. 

THE  SETSNUQ  SANITARY  BELT. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  commend  too  highly 
the  simplicity  and  utility  of  the  Setsnug  sanitary 
belt  for  ladies  manufactured  only  by  Messrs. 
Burnet  &  Temple,  Ltd.,  4,  Eitchett's  Court, 
London,  E.C.,  and  obtainable  through  all  drapers 
and  chemists.  Wc  believe  that  nurses  and  others 
have  only  to  see  it  to  appreciate  its  advantages, 
and  that  the  more  widely  it  is  known  the  more 
widely  it  will  be  used.  It  is  made  of  soft  surgical 
w-ebbing,  2}  inches  wide,  so  shaped  that  it  fits 
comfortably  over  the  liips.  Attached  to  the  belt 
at  right  angles,  back  and  front,  are  two  short 
tabs  provided  with  strong  safety  pins,  by  means 
of  which  any  sanitary  towel  can  be  readily 
attached.  The  price  of  the  belt,  which  is  porous 
and  washable,  is  is.,  but  those  nurses  who  take 
ad\-antage  of  the  offer  on  page  iv  of  our 
advertisement  columns  can  obtain  one  free.  The 
belt  is  made  in  three  sizes,  small,  medium,  and 
large,  and  the  size  required  should  be  mentioned. 


NURSING    NEWS    FROM  AMERICA. 


REPORT    OF    COMMITTEE    ON    NURSING 
EXHIBIT. 

In  response  to  a  request  from  the  General 
Committee  of  the  International  Congress  on 
Hygiene  and  Demography  for  suggestions  regard- 
ing plans  whereby  nurses  in  America  might 
participate  in  the  Congress  to  be  held  in  Washing- 
ton, September,  1912,  Miss  Nutting  and  Mi  s 
Wald  offered  two  suggestions.  First,  that  a 
paper  on  the  relationship  of  nurses  to  the  pubhi. 
health  movement  in  America  be  read  before  a 
general  session  of  the  Congress  ;  second,  that  ar 
exhibit  be  prepared,  showing  grapliically  the 
relationship  of  nurses  in  various  movements 
included  in  the  term  "  public  service  nursing." 

As  the  result  of  the  second  recommendation, 
a  Committee  on  Nursing  Exhibit  was  organised, 
which  met  in  Cliicago,  June  0th,  1912,  in  session 
with  the  Council  of  the  American  Nurses'  Associa- 
tion. After  discussion  it  was  decided  not  to 
prepare  and  send  an  exliibit  to  the  International 
Congress  on  Hygiene  and  Demography  because 
of  the  cost,  lack  of  titne  to  raise  additional  funds 
and  to  assemble  desirable  material  for  such  an 
exhibit. 

After  further  discussion  it  was  decided  to  retain 
the  Conamittee,  with  additional  members,  as  a 
permanent  committee,  authorised  by  the  Council 
of  the  American  Nurses'  Association  to  prepare 
a  permanent  national  exhibit  to  be  available 
for  use  throughout  the  country  by  state  nursing 
associations  and  others  desirous  of  doing  propa- 
ganda work  in  the  field  of  public  health  nursing. 
The  hope  was  also  expressed  that  permission 
might  be  secured  from  the  directors  of  the  Panama 


362 


Cbc  JSrlttsb  .3ounial  of  IHursino.       November  2,  1912 


Exhibition,  to  be  held  in  San  Francisco  in  1915, 
to  display  this  exhibit  there,  and  the  Committee 
was  directed  to  have  the  exhibit  ready  for  that 
date. 

The  Committee  as  finally  organised  is  most 
representative.  Miss  Jane  Delano  was  appointed 
Chairman,  and  Miss  F.  Elisabeth  Crowell,  Secretary- 
of  the  Committee. 

Owing  to  the  size  of  the  Committee  and  the 
difficulty  of  getting  &jiy  considerable  number  of 
the  members  together  at  any  one  time,  it  was 
suggested  that  a  meeting  be  held  in  Cleveland  of 
such  members  as  were  present  in  the  city  for  the 
purpose  of  attending  the  National  Conference  of 
Charities  and  Correction.  Accordingly,  on  June 
14th  the  following  members  met  at  the  office  of 
the  Nurses'  Association  in  Cleveland  : — IMiss 
Beard,  Miss  Crandall,  Miss  Crowell,  Miss  Delano, 
Miss  Johnson,  and  Miss  Samuel. 

After  considerable  discussion  it  was  decided  to 
apportion  the  work  of  preparing  material  for  the 
permanent  exhibit  amongst  a  number  of  sub- 
committees, the  chairmen  of  which  should  be 
members  of  the  General  Committee,  with  power 
to  appoint  the  members  of  their  particular  sub- 
committee. It  was  decided  to  classify  the  exhibit 
material  according  to  topic  rather  than  location. 
The  following  sub-committees  were  appointed, 
with  power  to  add  to  their  membersliip  : — 

I.  Preliminarv"  and  Undergraduate  Education, 
Miss  Goodrich.  Chairman. 

II.  Post-Graduate  Education, 

Miss  Nutting. 

III.  Registration,  Miss  Giles. 

1.  Nurse  Practice  Act. 

2.  Campaign  Methods. 

IV.  Organisation,  Miss  Dock. 

1.  Alumni. 

2.  State  Associations. 

3.  International. 

\\   Literature,  Miss  Palmer. 

VL  Private  Nursing,     Miss  Le  Lacheur. 
VII.  Public  Health  Nursing, 

Miss  Wald. 

1.  Visiting  Nursing, 

Miss  Jolmson. 
{a)  Urban. 
(b)   Rural,  Miss  Harriet  Butler. 

2.  Tuberculosis, 

Miss  La  Motte. 

3.  School  Nursing, 

Mrs.  Hickey. 

4.  Infant  Hj-giene, 

Miss  Leet. 

5.  Hospital      and      Dispensary      Social 

Serv'ice,        Miss  Cannon. 

6.  Welfare  Nursing, 

Dr.  Lucy  A.  Bannister. 

7.  Inspection,     >Irs.  J.  von  Wagner. 

8.  Statistics,       Miss  Crandall. 
\TII.  Red  Cross  Nursing  Sersace, 

Miss  Delano. 


IX.  United  States  Nursing  Service, 
Miss  Delano. 

1.  Indian  Service. 

2.  Alaska  Ser\-ice. 

3.  Philippine  Service. 

4.  Hawaiian  Service. 

5.  Porto  Rico  Ser^'ice. 

6.  Panama  Service. 

X.  Army  and  Navy,    Miss  Mclsaac. 
XL  Missionary,  Miss  De  Witt. 

In  order  to  facilitate  the  work  of  the  Committee, 
it  was  decided  to  appoint  an  Executive  Committee 
of  seven  from  the  membership  of  the  General 
Committee  as  follows : — ^liss  Crandall,  Miss 
Crowell,  Miss  Delano,  Miss  Gardner,  Miss  Good- 
rich, IMiss  \\'heeler,  and  Miss  Wilkinson.  It  was 
further  decided  to  request  Miss  Wald  to  serve  as 
Chairman  of  the  Finance  Committee. 

The  Secretary'  was  instructed  to  notifv  the 
members  of  the  original  Committee  of  the  decision 
to  continue  the  Committee  as  a  permanent  organisa- 
tion, also  to  notify  the  new  members  of  their 
appointment  to  serve  on  the  General  Committee. 

The  Secretary  was  further  instructed  to  notify 
the  chairmen  of  the  ^■arious  sub-committees  of 
their  appointments  with  a  request  that  they 
submit  to  the  Executive  Committee  a  brief  outline 
of  the  plan  and  scope  of  an  exhibit  on  the  particular 
subject  assigned  to  them. 

Respectfully  submitted, 

F.  Elis.'^beth  Crowell, 
Secretary. 

It  will  give  general  pleasure  that  Miss  L.  L. 
Dock  has  consented  to  accept  the  chairmanship 
of  the  Sub-Committee  on  Organisation,  including 
Alumni  and  State  Organisations,  and  representa- 
tion of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses. 


OUR    BABIES. 


A  prepiration  which  for  eightv  years  has  held 
its  o%\Ti  as  a  food  for  infants  of  6  months  and 
over  is  Dr.  Ridge's  Patent  Cooked  Food  which, 
prepared  from  a  formula  written  by  Dr.  Ridge 
after  carefully  analysing  the  milk  of  a  healthy 
mother,  has  won  for  itself  so  high  a  place  in 
public  esteem  that  the  same  ingredients  are  still 
used  in  the  preparation  of  this  food..  It  has  thus 
stood  the  test  of  nearly  a  centurj'.  It  can  be 
obtained  from  chemists  throughout  the  world,  or 
from  Ridge's  Royal  Food  Mills,  London,  X. 

Ridge's  Dessicated  Milk  is  a  new  preparation, 
an  analysis  of  which  shows  it  to  contain  fat 
26. 8S,  proteid  22.12,  sugar  42.46,  ash  and  moisture 
8.54.  It  will  be  seen  that  there  is  no  starch  what- 
ever in  this  preparation,  which  is  thoroughh- 
pasteurised,  thus  providing  a  valuable  substitute 
food  for  delicate  infants  of  anv  age. 

Ridge's  Dessicated  Milk  has  been  introduced 
for  those  who  require  a  Starch  Free  Milk  Food,  it 
is  perfectly  so'uble  in  hot  or  cold  water,  and  the 
price  is  is.  6d  per  tin. 


November  2,  1912       (Ibc  Bi'ltlsl?  Soumal  of  IRuvsuio. 


363 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


WOMEN. 

"  The  Girlhood  of  Queen  Victoria,"  based  on 
the  journal  kept  by  her  in  her  teens  during  her 
youth  at  Kensington  Palace,  will  be  published 
this  month,  and  will  be  eagerly  read. 


One  of  the  most  significant  and  hopeful  features 
of  the  Woman  Suffrage  movement  is  that  men  are 
organising  not  only  nationally  but  internationally, 
to  obtain  this  reform,  and  that  distinguishet^ 
delegates  from  European  countries,  the  United 
States,  and  Japan  should  have  attended  the 
Congress  organised  by  the  Men's  International 
Alliance  for  Woman's  Suffrage,  opened  in  London 
last  week. 

Sir  John  Cockburn,  who  presided,  and  who 
spoke  from  personal  experience  in  Australia,  said 
that  when  the  influence  of  woman  found  its  full 
expression  in  the  management  of  affairs  the  world 
would  be  a  happier  and  better  place.  We  were 
witnessing  the  end  of  the  patriarchal  age  in  which 
men  claimed  the  sole  qualification  for  the  manage- 
ment of  affairs.  True,  there  were  still  emphatic 
supporters  of  the  doctrine,  but  their  voice  was  a 
dying  one. 

Mr.  J.  du  Breuil  de  St.  Germain  told  the  Congress 
that  the  Municipal  Council  of  Paris  and  other 
local  authorities  had  voted  in  favour  of  Woman 
Suffrage,  and  the  movement  had  much  support 
amongst  Deputies,  and  Dr.  A.  Munch-Petersen,  of 
Denmark,  said  that  they  had  the  best  reason  to 
expect  the  immediate  grant  of  the  vote  to  women 
in  Denmark,  as  the  Danish  Government  had 
introduced  a  Bill  with  this  object,  and  no  party 
in  the  State  dared  oppose  it. 


A  memorial  has  been  sent  to  the  Prime  Minister 
from  the  Women's  Local  Government  Society,  of 
which  Lady  Strachey  is  president,  urging  that 
advantage  should  be  taken  of  the  opportunity 
afforded  by  the  Franchise  Bill  to  place  the  local 
government  franchise  for  women  on  a  just  and 
uniform  basis  throughout  the  whole  country. 
The  memorialists  point  out  that  the  Bill  will 
supersede  all  existing  local  government  franchises 
and  will  set  up  simpler  machinery,  but  that  unless 
amended  it  will  perpetuate  in  England  and  Wales 
a  sex  disability  for  women  owners  and  women 
lodgers,  and  will  create  a  disability  for  married 
women  in  England  and  Wales  outside  London. 


The  number  of  women  candidates  who  have 
been  nominated  for  the  municipal  elections  in 
London  this  week  is  not  so  large  as  in  some  pre- 
vious years.  "  Too  busy  working  for  suffrage  "  we 
are  told  by  the  best  type  of  women. 


The  "  Pass  the  Bill  "  Committee  of  the  Criminal 
Law  Amendment  (Wliite  Slave  Traffic)  Bill  is 
organising  a  great  united  demonstration  in  the 
LxDndon  Opera  House,    Kingsway,   in  support  of 


the  Bill  on  the  evening  of  Tuesday,  November  rath. 
Many  important  societies  are  uniting  in  giving 
further  publicity  to  the  strong  determination 
already  expressed  that  the  Bill  shall  be  passed 
without  the  weakening  amendments  made  in 
Grand  Committee,  as  it  is  believed  that  the  Bill, 
in  its  original  form,  is  the  smallest  measure  which 
can  deal  effectually  with  the  trade,  which  is  a 
disgrace  to  humanity  and  on  the  increase,  with 
organisations  in  all  countries,  but  whose  clearing- 
house is  said  to  be  London.  Lady  Bunting  is 
hon.  treasurer,  and  Mrs.  Percy  Bigland  hon. 
secretary  of  the  committee.  Particulars  of  the 
meeting  can  be  obtained  from  the  secretary, 
"  Pass  the  Bill  Committee  "  19,  Tothill  Street, 
Westminster,  S.W. 


Dr.  Florence  Willey  and  Dr.  Barbara  Tchay- 
kovsky  draw  attention  to  the  work  of  the  Women's 
League  of  Service,  which  has  been  founded  to 
unite  women  in  a  common  bond,  to  further  the 
interests  of  motherhood,  and  to  improve  the 
conditions  under  which  children  are  brought  into 
the  world,  and  under  which  they  exist  during  the 
first  few  months  of  their  lives.  They  state  that 
eminent  authorities  are  agreed  that  loss  of  nutri- 
tion during  the  prenatal  period  and  the  first  nine 
months  of  life  can  never  be  wholly  made  up.  The 
work  of  the  League  is  threefold  :  (a)  To  feed  ill- 
nourished  mothers  ;  (b)  to  befriend  and  instruct 
the  ignorant  ;  and  (c)  to  train  social  workers. 
Further  information  can  be  obtained  from  the 
Secretary,  31  a,  Mortimer  Street,  W. 


COMING     EVENTS. 


November  2nd. — Matrons'  Council  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland.  Quarterly  Meeting,  Royal 
Albert  Edward  Infirmary,  Wigan.  3.30  p.m.  Tea. 
Open  Meeting,  5  p.m.  Discussion  :  "  'The  Bill  for 
the  State  Registration  of  Nurses.  " 

November  2nd. — Sale  of  Work  in  aid  of  the 
Nurses'  Missionary  League,  Sloane  Gardens 
House,  52,  Lower  Sloane  Street,  S.W.  10  a.m. 
to  6  p.m. 

November  6th  and  i^lh. — -Nurses'  Missionary 
League.  The  Autumn  programme.  Lectures  on 
Hinduism  and  Islam,  University  Hall,  W.C,  by 
Canon  Weitbrecht.  Lecture  on  Nov.  6th  at 
10.30  a.m. 

November  6th. — Irish  Js'uises  Association.  Lec- 
ture on  "  Massage  in  Nervous  Diseases,"  Dr. 
Moorhead,  34,  St.  Stephen's  Green,  Dublin. 
7.30  p.m. 

November  yth. — Subscription  Ball  at  the  Mansion 
House  in  aid  of  the  British  Red  Cross  Balkan  Fund. 

November  i.^th. — General  Meeting,  League  of 
St.  John's  House  Nurses,  12,  Queen  Square,  W.C. 
3  pm. 

WORD     FOR     THE     WEEK. 

"  A  grain  of  gloric  mLxt  with  humblenesse. 
Cures  both  a  fever,  and  lethargicknesse." 

—  George  Herbert. 


364 


^\K  Krltisb  3ournal  of  Burstno- 


November  2, 


1912 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  for  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


STAFFORDSHIRE     COUNTY     NURSING 
ASSOCIATION. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — My  attention  has  been  called  to 
a  paragraph  in  your  number  of  the  12th  inst. 
headed  "  Passing  Rich  on  £.\o  a  Year,"  in  which 
you  state  that  the  work  of  our  village-trained 
Stafiordshire  nurses  comes  under  the  designation 
of  sweated  labour. 

Allow  me  to  state  some  considerations  why  this 
term  of  opprobrium  is  undeserved  by  either  the 
Stafford  County  Council,  or  by  my  association, 
and  also  why  it  is  eminently  desirable  to  increase 
the  number  of  village  nurses. 

In  the  first  place,  it  is  an  incorrect  and  unfair 
way  of  putting  it  to  write  that  "  when  trained  the 
midwife  will  receive  a  salary  of  16s.  per  week." 
The  fact  really  is  that  in  consideration  of  our 
giving  a  pupil  a  year's  training — which,  as  you 
correctly  say,  costs  us  £50 — we  guarantee  that  she 
shall,  during  the  tliree  years  for  which  she  is 
bound  to  serve  us,  receive  a  salary  of  vot  less  than 
1 6s.  a  week  during  the  first  year,  and  not  less  than 
i8s.  a  week  during  the  second  and  third  years. 
At  the  end  of  the  three  years  she  makes  her  own 
terms,  wliich  are  usually  £1  is.  a  week,  and  if  she 
remains  for  a  further  year  she  gets  a  bonus  of  /5 
in  addition. 

Moreover,  if  she  is  capable  and  diligent,  and  has 
the  good  fortune  to  ser\-e  a  local  association 
where  there  is  a,  lady  bountiful  (and  there  are 
many  such)  she  often  gets  more  than  the  i6s.  or 
1 8s.  during  her  tliree  years  of  service. 

It  surely  is  not  unfair  that  the  nurse  should,  to 
some  extent,  repaj-  the  cost  of  her  training  b)- 
a  lower  wage. 

In  this  county  los.  a  week  will  cover  her  board 
and  lodging,  so  that  a  girl  of  fair  education  and 
good  conduct  and  character  who  gets  her  C.M.B. 
certificate  and  six  months'  general  training  free, 
gratis  and  for  nothing,  begins  her  profession  with 
some  £is  or  ;fi6,  rising  to  £-28  for  her  clothes  and 
personal  pleasures. 

I  should  like  to  see  larger  salaries  paid  ;  but 
compare  this  condition  with  tliat  which  obtains 
with  a  bank  clerk,  or  a  lad  in  a  shop  or  ia  an 
office,  whose  edjication  has  cost  far  more,  and 
3'ou  will  see  that  Staffordsliire  girls  are  by  no 
means  "  sweated  "  or  hardly  used. 

In  the  second  place,  these  village  nurses  are 
some  of  the  most  useful  persons  in  the  community, 
and  it  would  be  nothing  short  of  a  crime  to  stop 
the  creation  of  them.  In  how  many  labourer's 
homes,  both  in  the  rural  districts  and  in  the  bad 
conditions  which  exist  in  our  Black  Country,  do 


these  women  bring  sweetness  and  light,  and  relief 
from  suffering,  help  to  teach  the  ignorant  and 
carry  with  them  cleanliness,  order  and  comfort  ? 

Is  not  this  a  better  profession  for  a  girl  than  to 
go  into  a  mill  or  a  manufactory  or  a  shop  ? 

I  am  tempted  to  suggest  that  the  writer  of  the 
par  in  question  has  had  no  practical  experience, 
but,  like  so  many  journalists,  seeks  to  teach  the 
public  from  some  impossible  peak  in  Dreamland. 

No  doubt  everj'body  ought  to  have  ;£ioo  per 
annum,  payable  quarterly  in  advance,  but,  failing 
that  Utopia,  why  not  encourage  us  to  do  the  best 
we  can  with  the  resources  at  our  disposal,  rather 
than  sneer  at  our  efforts  ? 
I  am,  Madam, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

H.  R.  Bruxner,  Hon.  Sec. 

Chaseley  House,   Rugeley. 

[As  there  are  many  points  in  this  letter  to 
which  we  wish  to  refer,  and  for  which  we  have 
no  space  this  week,  we  propose  to  deal  with  it 
in  our  next  issue.  In  the  meantime,  Mr.  H.  R. 
Bruxner  may  rest  assured  that  as  this  is  a  pro- 
fessional journal,  only  professional  nurses  speak 
editorially  in  its  columns.  As  justice  to  the 
injured  sick  is  the  crux  of  the  question  to  which 
this  letter  refers,  we  hope  our  readers  will  express 
an  opinion  on  it. — Ed.] 


CAUSE    AND     EFFECT. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing  . 

Dear  Madam, — The  interest  aroused-  by  your 
editorial  of  the  5th  ult.  shows  how  quickly  people 
are  stirred  when  their  personal  interests  are 
touched,  as  against  a  matter  of  mere  principle. 
For  twenty-five  years  you  and  a  few  others  have 
been  preaching  in  season  and  out  of  season,  by 
word  and  pen,  the  absolute  necessity  of  State 
Registration  if  trained  nurses  are  to  be  protected 
and  a  minimum  standard  of  training  instituted 
and  maintained. 

Save  for  a  far-seeing  minority,  the  rank  and 
■file  of  trained  nurses  have  been  either  indifferent 
or  lethargic.  Their  attitude  can  be  summed  up 
in  the  following  dialogue :  I  had  been  talking 
State  Registration  to  a  group  of  nurses,  and  a 
voung  nurse  said,  "  Do  you  really  believe  we  shall 
ev^r  get  it  ?  "  "  Yes,"  I  replied.  "  Then  there 
is  no  need  for  me  to  trouble  about  it,"  was  the 
response.  Her  own  responsibility  and  duty  to 
her  profession  did  not  occur  to  her. 

IManv  of  those  who  believe  that  State  Registra- 
tion is  the  right  basis  for  their  profession  will  not 
exert  themselves,  will  sacrifice  nothing  to  get  it. 
It  will  come,  why  trouble  ?  Now  they  can  see 
the  -effects  of  their  indifference.  The  Chairman  of 
the  London  Hospital  has  always  been  opposed 
both  to  a  three  years'  training  in  the  wards,  and 
State  Registration,  and  is  on  the  Nursing  Com- 
mittee of  the  Q.A.I.M.N.S.,  in  which  we,  find  that 
three  best  paid  posts  are  given  to  London  Hospital 
nurses,  who  hold  only  a  two  years'  certificate  of 
training.    They  may  or  may  not  have  had  further 


November  2,    191; 


Z\K  Britisb  3oiu*nnl  of  H-lursino 


365 


service   in   the   hospital,    but   service   is   not   the 
equivalent  of  a  third  year  of  training. 

If  every  nurse  who  believes  in  State  Registra- 
tion had  really  worked  for  it  and  explained  its 
objects,  I  cannot 'but  think  there  would  have 
been  such  an  universal  demand,  not  only  from 
trained  nurses,  but  also  from  the  general  public  ' 
(whom  it  will  benefit  even  more  than  nurses), 
that  long  before  this  State  Registration  would 
have  been  an  accomplished  fact.  It  is  the 
personal  interest,  propaganda,  and  contributions 
which  tell. 

Now  that  the  results  of  past  indifference  cam 
be  shown  to  affect  the  advancement  and  pockets 
of  the  rank  and  file,  let  us  hope  there  will  be  a 
great  awakening  to  the  benefits  which  accrue  to 
the  whole  profession  when  each  works  for  all,  so 
that  every  believer  in  State  Registration  will 
become  a  worker  for  it,  willing  to  sacrifice  herself, 
time,'  and  money  for  that  which,  whilst  helping 
the  profession,  mav  not  appear  to  directly  benefit 
herself,  and  that  every  nurse  will  begin  to  realise 
that  everything  she  does,  good  or  bad,  all  her 
enthusiasms  and  indifferences,  affect  more  or 
less  the  whole  body,  and  that  nothing  can  be  done 
for  the  whole  profession  without  affecting  each 
individual.  It  is  the  pull  altogether  which  gets 
work  of  any  kind  done. 

This  winter  strenuous  efforts  are  to  be  made 
to  obtain  State  Registration  ;  it  rests  with  each 
individual  to  make  these  efforts  a  success.  Apart 
frc'm  any  particular  united  effort,  let  each  one 
first  acquaint  herself  with  the  reasons  for  State 
Registration;  secondly,  talk  State  Registration  on 
every  suitable  opportunity ;  thirdly ,  persuade 
men  as  voters  to  write  to  their  Members  of  Parlia- 
ment asking  their  interest  and  support  for  the 
Bill,  and  influence  to  have  it  made  a  Government 
measure  ;  fourthly,  persuade  their  nurse  friends 
to  join  the  Society  for  State  Registration  of 
Nurses,  to  subscribe  to  its  funds,  and  to  take  The 
British  Journal  of  Nursing,  which  is  its  official 
organ,  and  so  keep  in  touch  with  the  progress  of 
the  movement  ;  fifthly,  persuade  their  unpro- 
fessional friends  to  contribute  to  the  funds,  if 
only  6d.  or  is. — every  little  helps.  If  every  nurse 
would  do  this  we  should  soon  gain  our  legal  status, 
and  nurses  would  speedily  begin  to  feel  the 
benefits  of  working  for  the  good  of  the  profession 
as  a  whole  instead  of  for  themelves  alone.  "  Two 
are  better  than  one.  A  threefold  cord  is  not 
quickly  broken." 

Apologising  for  the  length  of  mv  letter,  and 
hoping  it  may  touch  the  hearts  and  energies  of 
some, 

I  remain,  dear  Madam, 

Yours  faithfully, 

Mary  Burr. 

Villa  Valaisanne,  Montrcux. 


appointed  trained  Nursing  Inspectors,  but  at 
present  they  are  a  drop  in  the  ocean,  many  more 
are  required.  I  have  worked  in  a  country  work- 
house infirmary,  and  the  terrible  ignorance  of 
some  of  the  young  women  selected  as  nurses  could 
not  be  believed  unless  one  worked  with  them.  It 
was  work  I  was  obliged  to  give  up.  Imagine  the 
following  condition^  of  affairs  : — Sixty  beds,  one 
nurse  sole  charge,  with  nearly  all  beds  requiring  to 
be  made.  This  is  her  staff  :  one  certified  lunatic, 
one  lame  and  deformed,  one  chroriic  invalid,  one 
imbecile  from  an  asylum,  and  two  suffering  from 
fits,  one  under  observation  for  lunacy,  and  a  very 
old  woman.  Is  this  not  cruelly  wrong  for  the 
patients  and  nurses  also  ?  Ichabod  indeed  ! 
Yours  truly, 

SORRV    FOR    THE    PoOR. 


REPLIES    TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 

C.  F.  T.,  Liverpool. — We  fear  there  is  no  escape. 
The  Insurance  Commissioners  are  advised  that  a 
trained  nurse  working  on  her  own  account  is 
ordinarily  employed  under  contract  of  service. 
Insurance  contributions  are,  therefore,  payable 
in  respect  of  her  so  long  as  she  is  employed  at  a 
rate  of  remuneration  (inclusive  of  the  value  of 
board  and  lodging)  not  exceeding  ;£i6o  a  year. 
The  person  by  whom,  or  on  whose  behalf,  she  is 
engaged  is  to  be  regarded  as  the  employer.  Many 
private  nurses  intend  to  stamp  their  cards  rather 
than  ask  patients  to  do  so  for  them. 

A  Queen's  Nurse,  Carlisle,  must  send  name  and 
address,  as  no  anonymous  information  can  be 
inserted. 

OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS. 

November  gth. — What  would  you  prepare  for  an 
intravenous  infusion,  and  what  precautions  would 
you  take  if  assisting  in  its  administration  ? 

November  i6ih. — State  successful  methods  of 
treatment  for  constipation  ? 

November  2yd. — How  should  a  nurse  care  for 
her  hands  so  that  they  are  kept  in  the  best  condi- 
tion for  use  in  the  sick  room  ? 

November  30//!. — What  form  of  infection  is  likely 
to  follow  the  retention  of  a  piece  of  the  placenta 
after  delivery,  and  what  are  its  characteristics  ? 


OUR   CHRISTMAS   COMPETITION. 


NURSING     INSPECTORS     NEEDED. 

To  the  Editor  of  Tiiu  British  Joui;nal  of  Nursing. 

Dear    Madam, — The    President    of    the    Local 

Government     Board     did     very     well     when     he 


TOYS     FOR    TINIES. 

Four  Five  Shilling  Prizes  will  be  awarded  in 
December  for  the  best  toys  made  at  the  cost  of 
not  more  than  6d.  The  toys  must  be  sent  to  the 
Kditorial  Office,  20,  Upper  Wimpolc  Street, 
London,  W.,  by  December  14th,  with  the  coupon 
which  will  appear  in  the  issue  of  Liecember  7th. 
All  the  toys  will  be  distributed  to  poor  children 
under  the  age  of  five  years  of  age,  so  they  should 
be  made  to  meet  the  tastes  of  tinies. 


365       Z\K  "BviUeb  3ournal  of  IRursino  Supplement.  JVo^-em&cr  2,  1912 

THe   Midw^ife. 


THE   BABY   CLINIC. 


The  sufferings  of  little  cliildren  and  their 
alleviation — tliis  really  was  the  tlieme  of  Dr. 
Anne  L.  Kann's  address  on  "  The  Work  of  the 
^aby  Clinic  "  at  a  drawing  roona  meeting  held 
at  25,  Cavendish  Square,  W.,  on  Friday,  October 
25th,  on  the  invitation  of  Lady  Horsley.  As 
most  of  our  readers  know,  the  Baby  Clinic, 
located  at  12,  Telford  Road,  North  Kensington, 
is  the  memorial  of  the  Women's  Labour  League 
to  two  noble  women,  the  late  Mrs.  Ramsay 
Macdonald  and  Mrs.  Middleton,  whose  hearts 
were  full  of  sympathy  for  these  suffering  little 
ones,  and  to  whom  it  forms  a  peculiarly  appropriate 
memorial. 

The  Bab}'-  Clinic  is  in  no  sense  a  creche,  but 
is  designed  to  afford  an  opportunity  for  medical 
advice  for  the  ailments,  serious  and  trivial  (but 
which  may  become  serious  if  not  treated  in  time), 
to  wliich  babyhood  is  subject.  To  effect  this 
end,  the  Clinic  is  located  in  a  poor  neighbourhood, 
a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  nearest  hospital,  and 
Dr.  Kann  and  Dr.  Ethel  Bentham  attend  on 
regular  days.  A  mother  therefore  knows  when 
to  find  the-  doctor  who  has  seen  and  treated  her 
baby  before,  and  thus  understands  its  constitution 
in  a  way  which  is  impossible  when  the  child  is 
taken  to  a  different  hospital — or,  if  to  the  same 
hospital,  is  almost  certainly  seen  by  a  different 
doctor — on  each  occasion. 

It  is  pathetic  to  learn  that  the  ailments  of  the 
babies — for  the  Clinic  is  essentially  for  babies' 
from  a  few  days  up  to  five  years  of  age — are 
nearly  all  the  diseases  of  malnutrition  ;  that  the 
need  of  most  of  the  children  is  more  and  better 
food.  Rickets  is  very  prevalent,  teeth  very 
defective,  enlarged  tonsils  and  adenoids  frequent, 
and  the  usual  eye  and  ear  troubles,  and  the  skin 
eruptions  so  frequent  amongst  ill-nourished 
children  are  common. 

It  is  a  pitiful  record,  and  the  record  of  North 
Kensington  is  without  doubt  repeated  in  that  of 
other  Metropolitan  Boroughs  and  provincial 
towns.  But  in  North  Kensington  at  least,  at  the 
Clinic,  skilled  medical  aid  is  freely  at  the  disposal 
of  suffering  babyhood,  and  the  nurse  in  charge 
gives  daily  care  to  these  suffering  mites,  who  need 
the  most  careful  observation,  because  they  are 
so  tiny  that  they  cannot  make  their  troubles 
known,  and  the  food-medicines,  such  as  cod  liver 
oil  and  malt,  administered  by  her  accelerate  the 
recoveries  of  the  little  ones  in  a  way  wliich  is 
impossible  in  connection  with  the  out-patient 
departments  of  hospitals,  where  this  daily  watchful 
care  is  out  of  the  question. 

No  one  realises  better  than  nurses  and  midwi%'es 
the  amount  of  preventable  suffering  of  little 
children,  and  therefore  they  should  aid  the  good 


work  by  every  means  in  their  power.  Those 
working  in  the  localities  by  directing  the  attention 
of  poor  mothers  to  the  advantages  of  the  Clinic, 
and  others  by  bringing  its  needs  to  the  notice 
of  those  who  are  able  to  help  it  financially. 

Mrs.  Ilylton  Dale,  who  presided  at  the  meeting 
last  Friday,  said  that  if  any  of  those  present 
visited  the  Clinic  they  would  be  so  touched  and 
moved  by  all  they  saw  that  life  would  never  be 
quite  the  same  again.  The  Clinic  could  not  get 
on  without — "  I  know  the  word  you  tliink  I  am 
going  to  use,"  said  Mrs.  Dale — "  money — but  I  am 
not  going  to  mention  it  just  now.  The  Clinic 
cannot  get  on  without  love — love  in  action,  which 
proceeds  from  the  Divine.  That  love  is  in  aU 
hearts  and  can  be  stirred  up." 

The  Clinic  was  a  memorial  to  two  women  who 
did  splendid  work  inspired  by  love.  Confucius 
said  that  all  disease  was  ignorance  of  law.  The 
119th  Psalm  was  an  illustration  of  the  law  of 
God — the  law  of  love.  Probably  most  of  us 
had  at  one  time  or  another  lain  awake  at  night 
troubled  by  the  world's  problems.  Then  some 
influence  enveloped  one,  an  influence  she  believed 
to  be  an  emanation  from  the  Divine  Spirit,  and  one 
became  composed  and  went  to  sleep.  But  in  the 
morning  the  sense  of  that  emanation  was  still 
present,  and  one  pondered,  "  What  can  I  do  to 
help  ?  "  One  wanted  a  lead.  Meetings  such  as 
the  present  afforded  such  a  lead.  One  might  open 
a  Clinic,  or  support  a  going  concern  such  as  that 
in  Telford  Road,  and  so  help  the  very  poor 
cliildren  of  the  neighbourhood.  She  then  called 
on  Dr.  Anne  L.  Kann  to  address  the  meeting. 

Dr.  Kann  invited  her  hearers  to  picture  them- 
selves walking  down  Ladbroke  Grove,  and  then 
turning  off  the  main  thoroughfare  into  Telford 
Road.  The  Baby  Clinic  did  not  differ  much 
from  the  other  houses  except  that  the  shop 
window  was  painted  green  to  render  the  glass 
opaque.  There  was  a  little  door  for  doctors  and 
tradespeople,  and  there  was  also  a  romantic  door 
through  which  the  little  patients  and  their  mothers 
pass  in  and  out. 

The  speaker  then  enumerated  the  yarious  forms 
of  medical  assistance  available  for  the  cliildren 
of  the  locality.  A  private  doctor  might  be  called 
in  at  a  cost  of  is.  6d.  a  visit.  That  probably 
represented  the  expenditure  on  meat  for  the 
whole  family  for  the  week,  for  they  usually  only 
had  it  once,  and  that  was  a  serious  matter.  Or 
they  could  go  to  the  dispensary  of  a  neighbouring 
doctor  where  they  paid  id.  per  month  sick  or  well, 
and  6d.  a  boirtle  for  medicine  when  ill.  Or  the 
child  could  be  taken  to  an  Infirmary-,  but  in  that 
case  there  were  various  formalities  to  be  gone 
through,  and  if  the  baby  became  ill  after  4  o'clock 
it  must  wait  till  10  the  next  morning  before  the 
reheving  officer  could  be  applied  to  for  an  admission 
order,    unless   the   child   was   reaUy   dying   when 


November  2,  1912  Zbc  BriUsb  30110131  Of  IRureiiio  Supplement.      367 


it  would  be  admitted.  Or  the  parish  doctor  could 
be  called  in,  but  he  was  a  very  busy  man,  and  it 
was  impossible  that  he  could  give  a  great  deal 
of  individual  attention  to  each  case. 

The  Clinic  aimed  at  supplying  the  place  of 
the  family  doctor,  and  it  was  found  that  the 
mothers  greatly  appreciated  the  opportunity  of 
consulting  the  same  doctors.  The  children  were 
weighed,  individual  attention  given  to  them,  and 
they  were  thoroughlj'  examined,  dressings,  if 
necessarj-,  were  done  every  day.  There  was  no 
liveried  porter,  no  cards  or  letters.  The  mothers 
could  come  and  go  freely.  If  necessary,  the 
children  were  sent  on  to  a  hospital.  It  was  found 
in  practice  that  the  mothers  regarded  a  visit  to 
a  hospital  as  a  great  occasion.  In  the  case  of  one 
child,  who  had  a  curious  manner,  disordered 
mentality,  and  suffered  from  fits,  this  course  was 
suggested,  when  the  mother's  reply  was  :  "  If 
you  think  she  ought  to  go,  doctor,  if  you'll  give 
me  a  fortnight's  notice,  I'll  knock  up  a  few  things 
and  take  her." 

The  Clinic  was  popular  with  the  children  because 
in  the  waiting-room  there  was  a  rocking  horse 
and  a  doll's  house.  In  illustration  of  this  Dr.  Kann 
told  that  one  day  when  a  mother  had  brought  a 
child  for  treatment  an  urgent  message  was  sent 
in  :  "  Mrs.  A.  is  that  your  baby  on  the  pavement  ?  " 
No.  Mrs.  A.  did  not  own  to  it.  Back  came  the 
messenger  again  :  "  They  say  it  is  your  baby." 
And  sure  enough  it  was.  The  little  brother  left 
in  charge  had  remembered  the  delights  of  the 
waiting-room,  put  the  baby  into  the  pram  and 
brought  her  up  to  the  CUnic  and  left  her  outside, 
while  he  indulged  in  the  lu.xury^  of  playing  with 
the  toys.  An  over-turned  pram  and  a  bruised  baby 
were  the  result.  Dr.  Kann  described  a  number 
of  the  cases  treated  at  the  Clinic,  which  illustrated 
more  forcibly  than  anj'thing  else  could  do  the 
urgency  of  the  need.  One  child,  seven  months 
old  when  she  was  brought  to  the  Clinic,  weighed 
only  five  pounds.  She  was  one  of  twins,  and  the 
mother,  who  was  young,  had  eight  other  childreri. 
She  had  a  sore  groin,  and  then  developed  a  rash 
which  proved  to  be  measles.    Now  she  is  doing  well. 

The  nurse-cliildren  were  a  class  with  which 
the  Chnic  had  to  deal.  Some  of  these  nurse- 
mothers  were  wonderfully  kind.  In  the  case  of 
one  child  whose  mother  was  a  laundress,  and  went 
out  to  work  from  Tuesday  to  Friday,  the  child 
throve  well  with  the  nurse-mother,  but  when  it 
went  home  to  the  mother  from  Friday  to  Tuesday 
sores  which  had  been  healed  broke  down  again. 

Then  there  were  the  illegitimate  children.  One 
which  was  just  ten  weeks  old  when  first  brought 
to  the  Clinic,  and  was  the  child  of  a  serv-ant  girl 
of  sixteen,  had  the  sweetest  smile,  but  there  its 
beauty  ended.  It  had  a  huge  birth  mark,  a  double 
rupture,  and  developed  bronchitis. 

Another  little  boy  of  four  with  bronchitis  had  a 
most  affectionate  and  conscientious  foster  mother. 
He  had  a  large  head,  a  rickety  body,  suffered  from 
bronchitis,  required  an  operation  for  adenoids  and 
also  circumcision,  and  would  probably  be  a  cretin, 
but  the  foster  mother  was  devoted  to  him. 


In  the  out-patient  department  of  a  hospital 
seventy  or  eighty  children  were  seen  within  an 
hour,  so  that  a  detailed  examination  was  impos- 
sible. At  the  Clinic  every  child  was  overhauled 
from  head  to  foot,  including  the  throat,  eyes  and 
ears.  Thus  two  children  brought  for  treatment 
for  quite  different  complaints  were  found  to  be 
suffering  from  serious  heart  disease.  That  condi- 
tion would  probably  have  remained  unsuspected 
in  a  crowded  hospital  out-patient  department. 

The  chairman  remarked  at  the  conclusion  of 
Dr.  Kann's  interesting  address  that  the  Clinic 
needed  ;£400  per  annum,  whilst  its  income  was 
£y^.  Some  of  those  present  could  help  in  one 
way,  some  in  another,  bjr  gifts  of  money  or  personal 
service,  or  by  giving  publicity  to  the  needs  of  the 
Clinic  through  the  Press. 

Mrs.  Chitty  then  spoke,  taking  for  her  subject, 
"  The  Mothers  in  the  Waiting  Room."  There 
was,  she  said,  an  etiquette  of  the  waiting  room 
wliich  was  strictly  observed.  Twins  werf  always 
welcomed,  and  she  believed  that  if  she  could  only 
say  she  had  reared  twins  the  mothers  would  even 
discard  baby  comforters  on  her  suggestion.  She 
described  the  advent  of  the  nurse  in  the  waiting 
room  \vith  a  dose  of  castor  oil,  and  the  question, 
"  WTiere  is  Gladys  ?  "  Gladys  being  discovered, 
there  was  a  gurgling  sound,  and  all  was  over.  It 
was  a  manipulation  which  never  failed  to  fill  her 
with  amazement  and  admiration. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  speeches  questions 
were  invited,  and  Dr.  Ethel  Bentham  spoke 
feelingly  of  the  desire  of  the  majority  of  the 
mothers  to  do  their  best  for  their  children  under 
difficult  conditions.  Lady  Horsley  elicited  the 
fact  that  their  preparation  for  the  responsibihties 
of  maternity^  before  marriage  is  generally  inade- 
quate. In  connection  with  the  custom  of  clothing 
cliildren  in  a  good  many  layers,  instead  of  in  one 
or  two  warm,  light  garments,  a  working  woman 
present  explained  that  they  could  only  afford  to 
buy  cheap  material,  and  a  little  garment,  after  it 
had  been  washed  several  times,  probably  became 
very  thin.  But  the  mother  could  not  afford  to 
discard  it — not  likely — and  so  another  was  put  on 
the  top  of  it.  If  they  could  afford  to  buy  good 
material  in  the  first  instance,  then  they  would  use 
fewer  garments. 

A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  Lady  Horsley  con- 
cluded the  proceedings,  after  which  those  present 
adjourned  to  the  dining  room,  where  tea  was 
served.  M.  B. 


'••We  learn,  from  a  contemporary,  that  Rus5ia 
has  the  distinction  of  possessing  the  largest  and 
most  famous  foundling  hospital  in  the  world.  «It 
is  located  in  Moscow,  and  receives  no  less  than 
14,000  infants  annually.  The  writer  describes 
a  visit  to  the  hospital,  when  he  passed  , between 
double  rows  of  nurses  all  standing  like  saldiers  at 
attention,  each  holding  up  an  infant  for  inspsction, 
neat  and  clean  and  tightly  swaddled  up  like  a 
little  sausage,  each  nurse  dressed  alike  in  a  bright 
cotton  apron  and  'cap.  He  secms^o  pass  through 
miles  of  babies. 


368        Z\K  Britit?b  3ournal  of  H-lurtJino  Supplement- iVox;ember  2,  1912 

THE    MATERMTY    BENEFIT.  CENTRAL   iMIDWIVHS'    BOARD. 


In  the  House  of  Commons  last  week  Mr.  Charles 
Batliurst  asked  whether  the  Health  Insurance 
Commissioners  had  issued  or  proposed  to  issue 
pro\"isional  regulations  for  the  unifoma  administra- 
tion of  maternity'  benefit  under  the  National 
Insurance  Act,  or  whether  it  was  open  to  each 
Insurance  Committee  "to  make  its  own  arrange- 
ments and  regulations  in  reference  thereto.  Mr. 
Masterman  said  that  the  Commissioners  were  not 
authorised  to  issue  such  regulations,  but  they 
proposed  to  issue  model  rules  for  the  administra- 
tion of  benefit  by  Insurance  Committees  to  deposit 
contributors.  The  maternity  benefit  of  members 
of  approved  societies  was  administered  by  the 
societies. 

The  British  Medical  Journal  reports  that  it 
is  uncertain  as  yet  how  far  the  working  of  the 
Midwives  Act  in  Manchester  may  be  modified  by 
the  administration  of  matemitj*  benefit  under 
the  Insurance  Act,  as  it  is  probable  that  a  ver\- 
laarge  proportion  of  the  women  dealt  with  under 
the  Midwives  Act  will  be  either  insured  themselves 
or  the  wives  of  insured  persons,  and  so  will  be 
eUgible  for  maternity  benefit.  At  present  the 
town  council  pays  the  fees  of  medical  practitioners 
summoned  to  the  assistance  of  midwives  in  the 
case  of  women  whose  family  income  is  below  a 
fixed  limit,  but  when  maternity  benefit  comes  into 
force  such  fees  will  be  payable  out  of  the  insurance 
funds  under  Clause  i8  (i)  of  the  Act,  and  in  this 
way  there  will  be  a  saving  to  the  city  rates  of 
several  hundred  pounds  a  year.  Thus  the  above 
figures  are  of  interest. 

During  191 1  there  were  18,583  births  registered 
in  a  population  of  716,734.  This  is  a  birth-rate 
of  25.93,  which  is  the  lowest  on  record.  Of  these, 
10,937  ^^'cre  attended  by  midwives,  and,  of  the 
remainder,  most  were  attended  by  general 
practitioners,  though  probably  some  only  received 
attention  from  neighbours  and  relatives,  and  a 
considerable  number  of  births  occurred  in  institu- 
tions, such  as  the  workhouse  infirmaries.  The 
number  of  cases  in  which  medical  practitioners 
were  summoned  to  the  assistance  of  midwives  in 
accordance  with  the  rules  of  the  Central  Midwives 
Board  was  2,729,  of  which  1,514  were  in  the 
private  practice  of  midwives  and  1,215  were  in 
connection  with  the  various  lying-ia  charities. 

During  the  year  135  cases  of  puerperal  fever 
were  notified,  of  which  no  fewer  than  24  occurred 
after  abortion  or  premature  labour.  The  date 
of  onset  of  the  fever  was  m  88  cases  witliin  the 
first  four  days  after  deli\ers-,  while  in  39  cases 
the  attack  began  from  the  fourth  to  the  tenth 
day,  and  in  8  on  or  after  the  tenth  day.  In  44 
cases  midwives  alone  were  present  at  the  confine- 
ment, in  63  doctors  alone,  and  in  28  both  doctors 
and  mid%vives  w-ere  present.  During  the  year 
two  special  nurses  were  appointed  to  assist  medical 
practitioners  and  midwives  to  attend  to  the 
mothers  and  infants,  and  also  two  other  sjsecial 
nurses  to  visit  cases  of  ophthalmia  neonatorum. 


EXAMINATION     PAPER. 

October  22nd,   1912. 
The  following  are  the  questions  set  at  the  recent 
examination  of  the  Central  Midwives  Board  : — 

1.  WTiat  are  the  measurements  of  the  foetal 
skull  ?  What  is  the  importance  of  each  of  theni  in 
relation  to  the  pelvis  ? 

2.  How  w-ould  you  make  sure  that  a  woman 
is  six  months  pregnant  ?  Describe  your  exami- 
nation of  such  a  case  in  detail. 

3.  WTiat  is  the  average  duration  of  the  first 
stage  of  labour  (a)  in  a  primigravida  ;  (6)  in  a 
multigravida  ?  Under  what  circumstances  may 
the  first  stage  of  labour  be  {a)  shorter  ;  (6)  longer 
than  the  average  ? 

4.  NMiat  is  the  position  of  the  uterine  fundus  : 
(a)  directly  after  the  cMd  is  bom  ;  {b)  directly 
after  the  placenta  is  delivered  ;  (t)  twenty-four 
hours  after  the  confinement  ? 

5.  Describe  the  umbilical  cord  ;  what  abnor- 
malities of  it  may  you  find,  and  how  may  any  of 
them  affect  the  mother  and  the  child  ? 

6.  \Vhat  is  "  Ophthalmia  neonatorum  "?  What 
are  its  causes,  and  how  may  it  be  prevented  ? 
\Miat  are  you  ordered  by  the  rules  of  the  Central 
Midwives'  Board  to  do  (a)  to  prevent  it ; 
(6)  in  case  it  arises  ? 


MEDICAL  FEES   IN  MIDWIVES    CASES. 

Dr.  Major  Greenwood  draws  attention  in  the 
press  to  the  letter  sent  by  the  National  Health 
Insurance  Commissioners  to  Clerks  of  Boards  of 
Guardians  throughout  the  countrj',  stating  that 
the  Commissioners  desire  to  avail  themselves  of  the 
experience  of  these  Boards  as  to  the  existing 
practice  as  to  the  payment  of  fees  to  a  medical 
practitioner  when  summoned  by  (it  should  more 
accurately  be,  on  the  advice  of)  a  midwife,  to 
attend  a  confinement  case.  Dr.  Greenwood  thinks 
this  application  may  be  regarded  by  the  medical 
profession  with  just  suspicion,  particularly  as  both 
the  recent  reports  of  the  Royal  Commission  on 
the  Poor  Laws  severely  commented  on  the  general 
inadequacy  of  the  payment  in  the  Poor  Law 
Medical  Service. 


HEALTH     REQUISITIES. 

Mrs.  Ev.^line's  He.-u,th  Requisites  for  ladies 
deser\'e  the  attention  of  nurses  and  midwives,  as 
these  Towelettes  are  noted  for  their  comfort,  their 
perfect  softness  and  their  high  absorbent  qualities. 
Thev  are  sold  in  a  variety  of  sizes  in  packets  of 
one  dozen  from  size  Ei  at  is.,  to  E4  at  2S.,  and 
E6  at  2S.  6d.,  which  are  provided  with  an  additional 
hank  of  specially  absorbent  cotton.  They  can  be 
obtained  from  all  leading  drapers.  The  hospital 
or  accouchment  sheets  from  is.  to  2S.  are  also 
to  be  commended. 


THE 

mm 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 

SATURDAY,     NOVEMBER   9,    1912. 


EDITORIAL. 


THE     STATUS     OF     POOR     LAW     NURSE. 

In  converse  with  several  Poor  Law 
Infirmary  Matrons,  we  are  pleased  to  find 
they  are  fullv  alive  to  the  dantjer  of  the 
proposed  scheme  for  adopting  a  central 
examination  and  certificate  for  nurses 
trained  in  Poor  Law  institutions.  It  is 
indeed  a  fundamental  mistake  to  stamp 
these  nurses  as  a  class  apart,  bv  setting  up 
a  separate  standard  for  them,  instead  of 
drawing  closer  the  ties  which  unite  them 
ivith  their  professional  sisters  trained  in 
general  hospitals. 

Nowhere  has  greater  advance  been  made, 
during  the  last  half  century,  in  the  training 
of  nurses  than  under  the  Poor  Law.  One 
has  but  to  go  through  the  wards  of  one  of 
our  great  London  or  provincial  infirmaries 
at  the  present  day,  to  mark  their  orderliness 
and  brightness,  the  smart  alertness  of  the 
nurses,  the  contentment  of  the  patients,  to 
realize  that  the  qualitv  of  the  nursing  will 
bear  comparison  with  that  maintained  by 
the  general  hospitals.  Indeed,  the  true 
nursing  spirit  which  embraces  in  its  outlook 
all  the  sick,  whether  interesting  or  unin- 
teresting, simply  because  of  their  need,  is  per- 
haps developed  at  its  best  in  a  well-ordered 
Poor  Law  Infirmary,  where  destitution  gives 
the  right  to  admission,  whether  the  patient 
is  pleasant  or  cantankerous,  the  case  inter- 
esting or  uninteresting.  To  exhibit  to  all 
such  patients  the  gentleness,  tenderness  and 
consideration  which,  superimposed  upon 
technical  skill,  are  infallible  tests  of  a  good 
nurse,  needs  the  devotion  of  women  of  high 
quality,  and  those  who  successfully  pass  the 
test  are  entitled  to  rank  with  the  best. 

Yet  still  the  taint  of  the  bad  old  days,  so 
graphically  pourtraved  by  the  late  Miss 
Louisa  Twining  in  "  Workhouses  and 
Pauperism,"     clings     to      the      Poor     Law 


Infirmary,  and  in  the  public  mind  its  nurses 
certainly  rank  a  semi-tone  lower  than  the 
hospital-trained  nurse,  and,  we  are  afraid, 
we  must  add,  the  hospital  nurse  is  still 
sometimes  somewhat  superciliously  inclined 
towards  her  infirmary-trained  sister. 

The  best  method  of  breaking  down  ;  a 
barrier  which  is  purely  artificial  is  to 
organize  the  education  of  hospital  and 
infirmary  nurses  on  the  same  lines,  to  sub- 
ject them  to  the  same  examinations,  to 
confer  upon  successful  candidates  the  same 
State  certificate. 

The  value  of  a  certificate  given  under 
State  authority  is  demonstrated  in  the  case 
of  that  from  the  Central  Midwives  Board, 
by  means  of  which,  wherever  trained,  a 
woman  receives  the  status  of  "  certified 
midwife,"  a  uniform  qualification  recognised 
throughout  the  country. 

We  are  therefore  opposed  to  any  system 
of  examination  and  certification  which 
places  Poor  Law  nurses  in  a  class  apart, 
believing  that  the  interests  both  of  the 
patients,  and  of  the  nurses  themselves,  are 
best  served  by  the  inaintenance  of  one 
minimum  standard  which  all  must  attain, 
and  beyond  w-hich  all  can  progress,  as 
circumstances  and  their  individual  capacity 
permit. 

We  believe  that  anv  other  course  would 
prove  a  set  back  to  tlie  movement  for  the 
efficient  care  of  the  sick,  to  secure  which 
women  of  the  type  of  Agnes  Jones  laid 
down  their  lives,  and  others,  of  whom  this 
supreme  sacrifice  w-as  not  demanded,  have 
devoted  their  work,  their  energy,  their 
ability  through  a  long  series  of  years. 

Those  who  have  the  welfare  of  the 
infirmary  nurse  at  heart  will  be  well 
advised  to  promote  by  all  means  in  their 
power  the  Bill  for  the  State  Registration 
of  Trained  Nurses,  under  which  she  will 
receive  her  rightful  status. 


370  ^be  3Brttl0b  3ournal  of  IRurslno.       November^,  1912 

MEDICAL   MATTERS.  OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 


SOME      PROBLEMS      IN       INFECTION      AND 
ITS     CONTROL, 

Professor  Simon  Flexner,  Director  of  the 
Rockefeller  Institute,  New  York,  who  delivered 
the  Huxley  Lecture'at  Charing  Cross  Hospital 
last  week,  gave  a  very  interesting  account  of 
the  investigation  of  poliomyelitis,  or  infantile 
paralvsis.  The  parasite  of  this  disease  is  in- 
visible, ultra-microscopic,  and  filterable,  and 
there  is  a  close  correspondence  between  the 
virus  of  the  disease  and  those  of  ultra-micro- 
scopic organisms  in  general — for  example, 
those  of  yellow  fever  and  dengue  fever.  Re- 
covery is  produced  by  immunization,  during 
which  microbicidal  substances,  which  can 
destroy  the  virus,  appear  in  the  blood.  The 
virus  is  highly  resistant  to  drying,  light,  and 
chemical  action ;  in  dust  it  survives  for  months, 
and  in  diffuse  daylight  indefinitely. 

The  Professor  is  of  opinion  that  the  site  of 
infection  in  man  is  the  nasal  mucous  mem- 
brane, from  which  the  virus  ascends  first  by 
the  nerves  of  smell  to  the  brain,  multiplies  in 
and  around  the  olfactory  nerves,  and  passes  on 
into  the  cerebro-spinal  fluid,  by  means  of  which 
it  is  carried  to  all  parts  of  the  nervous  organs. 
But  there  are  also  other  possible  modes  of  in- 
fection, and  the  fact  that  poliomyelitis  is  com- 
monest in  the  late  summer  and  autumn  indi- 
cates the  probability  of  an  insect  carrier  of 
infection.  Thus  house-flies  may  act  as  carriers, 
and  in  one  instance  infection  has  been  produced 
in  bed-bugs,  but  the  result  did  not  show  that 
multiplication  occurred  w-ithin  them  or  that 
they  acted  as  the  agents  of  inoculation.  It  is, 
however,  significant,  as  showing  that  insects 
are  capable  of  taking  up  the  virus  from  the 
blood  where  it  exists  in  miminal  quantities,  and 
of  habouring  it  in  an  active  state  for  a  con- 
siderable time. 

The  employment  of  the  immune  sera  exercises 
a  definite,  though  perhaps  not  very  strong  pro- 
tective action.  The  disease,  if  not  entirely  pre- 
vented, is  so  modified  as  to  be  of  greatly 
diminished  severity,  ,but  at  present  scientists 
have  only  touched  the  fringe  of  the  problem  of 
the  cure  of  the  disease.  So  far  as  drugs  are 
concerned,  if  the  inoculation  of  virus  and  the 
administration  of  urotropin  are  begun  together 
and  continued  for  some  days,  paralvsis  is  some- 
times, but  not  always,  averted.  The  modifica- 
tion of  urotropin  with  other  antiseptic  groups 
in  some  cases  renders  it  more  efficacious  than 
the  original  compound.  In  others  this  appears 
to  promote  the  onset  of  paralysis. 


WHAT     WOULD      YOU      PRBPARE      FOR      AN      INTRA- 

VENOUS        INFUSION.       AND       WHAT       PRECAUTIONS 

WOULD       YOU        TAKE        IF        ASSISTING         IN        ITS 

ADMINISTRATION? 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Martin,  the  Royal 
Halifax  Infirmary,  Halifax. 

PRIZE     PAPER. 

Normal  salt  solution,  for  its  purity,  cleans- 
ing, resisting,  and  stimulating  qualities,  is  con- 
sidered to  be  the  very  best  preparation  procur- 
able, which  to  a  very  great  extent  incorporates 
the  properties  and  resembles  the  composition 
of  human  blood,  and  it  is  therefore  universally 
used  in  both  medical  and  surgical  work. 

Saline  solution  is  given  in  several  different 
ways,  but  for  an  intravenous  infusion  the 
requirements  are  as  follows  : — Instruments  and 
ligatures,  saline  solution,  aseptic  dressings  and 
iodine,  sterilized  dressing  sheets  or  towels, 
mackintosh,  and  bandage. 

The  instrument  packet  should  contain  : — Two 
pairs  artery  forceps,  one  pair  dissecting  forceps, 
one  pair  scissors,  one  aneurism  needle,  one  bull- 
dog clip,  two  scalpels,  two  needles  (both  of 
which  may  be  threaded  with  a  strand  of  silk- 
worm gut  when  the  instruments  are  sterilized). 

A  separate  packet  should  contain  : — One 
enamelled  pint  measure,  one  funnel,  with 
tubing  and  cannula  attached. 

Both  these  packets  may  be  "  dry  sterilized," 
and  are  therefore  always  ready  for  immediate 
use,  and  should  be  kept  in  the  "  ward  emer- 
gency box. ' ' 

When  about  to  prepare  for  an  intravenous 
infusion  get  a  dressing  table  (a  glass  one  if 
obtainable),  and  cover  with  a  sterile  dressing 
sheet  or  large  towel,  fix  on  the  infusion  rod  for 
regulating  the  height  of  the  funnel ;  then  place 
the  instrument  packet  on  the  table  (after  having 
taken  off  the  outer  cover),  also  the  packet  con- 
taining the  measure  funnel  and  tubing,  &-c.  ;  a 
small  jar  of  prepared  catgut,  a  sterile  gallipot 
containing  iodine,  saline  solution  in  large  sterile 
jug,  thermometer,  sterile  towels,  dressings, 
&-c.,  receivers  for  soiled  swabs  and  instruments. 

The  precautions  to  be  taken  when  assisting 
with  an  intravenous  infusion  are  : — Absolute 
aseptic  surgical  cleanliness ;  the  careful  mixing 
of  the  saline,  testing  the  heat  and  regulation  of 
the  same  ;  expelling  all  air  from  the  tube  :  the 
solution  should  be  flowing  from  the  cannula 
when  introduced  into  the  vein ;  never  allow  the 
funnel  to  run  empty,  even  at  the  end  of  the 
administration,  or  air  may  very  easily  enter  the 
vein,  and  might  prove  a  very  serious  matter. 


November  9,  igi: 


^be  38vttl5l5  3ouvnal  of  BursiiiG- 


371 


When  the  dressing  table  is  fully  equipped, 
wheel  to  the  bedside  and  commence  to  prepare 
the  patient.  Compress  the  veins  by  fixing  on  a 
firm  bandage  above  the  elbow ;  place  the 
mackintosh  under  the  patient's  arm  ;  clean  up 
the  area  (the  inner  side  of  the  arm  in  front  of 
the  elbow  joint)  with  iodine,  and  put  on  sterile 
towels. 

Then  fix  on  the  funnel  to  the  rod,  and  test  the 
tubing  and  cannula  with  the  saline  solution,  and 
make  sure  the  whole  is  without  defect,  and 
place  in  readiness  for  the  injection.  * 

The  surgeon  will  now  dissect  the  vein ; 
usually  the  "  median  basilic  "  is  chosen.  The 
aneurism  needle  is  then  passed  under  the  vein 
and  withdrawn,  leaving  a  double  catgut  liga- 
ture; the  lower  one  is  tied.  The  vein  is  now 
opened  and  the  cannula  inserted.  The  upper 
ligature  is  now  tied  (temporarily)  over  the 
cannula  until  the  injection  is  finished,  when  it  is 
carefully  withdrawn,  and  the  ligature  tied  in  the 
usual  way. 

About  two  or  three  superficial  silkworm  gut 
ligatures  are  put  in,  and  a  dressing  applied. 
(The  bandage  which  has  been  previously  fixed 
above  the  elbow  must  be  removed  when  the 
cannula  is  introduced  into  the  vein.) 

The  surgeon  will  decide  upon  the  amount  of 
saline  infused,  which  will  largelv  depend  upon 
the  patient's  condition;  but  about  four  pints  of 
saline  should  be  prepared  before  the  injection  is 
commenced. 

Make  the  saline  110°  F.,  but  it  should  be 
given  at  a  temperature  of  105°  F.,  and  should 
not  be  allowed  to  run  into  the  vein  quicker  than 
one  pint  in  ten  minutes. 

Prepare  the  saline  solution  in  the  following 
way  : — One  drachm  of  sterilized  salt  (sodium 
chloride)  to  one  pint  of  sterile  water. 

The  saline  is  regulated  by  the  height  of  the 
funnel,  and  by  the  use  of  the  bulldog  clip  on 
the  tubing. 

HONOURABLE    MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honourable 
mention  : — Miss  Jean  Mould,  Miss  O'Brien, 
Miss  Maude  Cullen,  Miss  E.  Marshall,  Miss  B. 
James,  Miss  M.  Macfarlane. 

Miss  Emily  Marshall  writes  that  the  tempera- 
ture of  the  room  should  be  as  near  as  possible 
70°  F.  for  the  patient's  sake.  An  antiseptic 
dressing  should  be  applied  at  a  site  selected  bv 
the  doctor  as  that  of  the  most  convenient  vein. 
She  adds  :  "  See  that  the  patient  is  thoroughly 
warm,  and  direct  your  attention  to  the  best 
means  of  supplying  heat  by  providing  hot-water 
bottles  (covered  with  flannel)  and  light-weight 
clothing." 

Miss  Cullen,  after  mentioning  the  instruments 
required,   says  :   "  It   is  also  ncccs^r'rv  to  have 


a  narrow  bandage  about  two  or  three  inches 
wide,  to  tie  on  the  arm  just  above  the  elbow, 
where  the  incision  is  always  made. 

QUESTION     FOR     NEXT     WKEK. 

State    successful    methods   of    treatment    for 
constipation. 

SCHOOL  NURSING  IN  TORONTO, 
CANADA.* 


By  LiNA  L.  Rogers,  R.X., 

Superintendent  of  School  Nurses,    Toronto. 

The  Board  of  Education  of  Toronto,  Canada, 
began  Medical  Inspection  of  its  Public  Schools 
in  April,  1910,  and  asked  the  writer  to 
organize  a  School  Nursing  Service.  The  first 
step  taken  was  to  locate  the  schools,  beginning 
with  those  in  the  poorer  localities ;  to  visit  all 
the  hospitals,  dispensaries,  and  relief  societies ; 
to  find  out  where  assistance  could  be  obtained, 
at  the  same  time  to  explain  what  the  object  of 
the  work  was.  This  interested  many  groups  of 
people,  and  when  the  nurses  started  work  they 
were  cheerfully  welcomed.  A  course  of  treat- 
ment was  submitted  which  was  adopted  by  the 
Board.  In  May  two  nurses  were  ajjpointed, 
and  twelve  schools  with  an  attendance  of  6,457 
children  were  visited  regularly  each  day. 

There  being  no  Medical  Inspectors  at  this 
time,  the  nurses  made  class-room  inspections 
each  week.  This  was  done  in  the  following 
manner  : — The  nurse,  after  knocking,  entered 
the  room  and  enquired  if  it  were  convenient  to 
have  the  class  inspected.  She  stood  with  her 
back  to  a  window,  having  the  children  pass  in 
front  of  her  one  row  at  a  time.  As  each  child 
came  forward  he  was  requested  to  hold  out  his 
hands,  palms  upwards,  so  that  any  desquama- 
tion might  be  seen,  then  to  pull  down  the  eye- 
lids to  note  whether  granulations  or  other 
form  of  conjunctivitis  was  present.  At  the 
same  time  tlic  backs  of  the  hands  were  in- 
spected. The  mouth,  was  then  opened  for 
examination  of  teeth  and  throat;  finally  the 
head  was  turned  to  either  side  to  see  if  the  neck, 
ears  and  hair  were  in  any  way  infected.  All 
this  was  done  quietly  and  quickly,  the  child 
unaware  of  any  disease  being  discovered. 
Where  any  defect  was  found  it  was  noted.  A 
class  card  used  for  this  purpose  gives  a  record 
of  the  name  of  the  teacher,  the  room  and  class, 
the  name,  age  and  address  and  disease  in  code 
of  the  child.  A  record  is  also  kept  on  the  back 
of  the  class  card  of  the  date  of  insperiion  and 

•  Prcsenlcd  lo   tlie    lnleinalion.ll    Congress  of   Nm>c,.    Cologne, 
August,  191 2. 


372 


Zbc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursino 


Xovcmbcr  g,  igi: 


the  number  examined.  This  routine  examina- 
tion takes  about  eight  or  ten  minutes  for  a  class 
of  50  children. 

After  all  had  been  examined  the  nurse  went 
on  to  the  next  room.  When  all  inspections  for 
the  morningf  had  been  made,  the  nurse  pre- 
pared her  dressing-table  in  the  Medical  Inspec- 
tor's room,  and  seni  back  to  the  classes  for 
any  children  requiring  treatment  or  instruction. 
Very  simple  dressings  were  used — only  chil- 
dren who  were  neglected  or  very  poor  were 
treated  in  school.  After  school,  the  nurse 
visited  the  homes  and  explained  to  the  parents 
what  defects  were  found,  or  why  the  children 
were  sent  home,  and  asked  them  to  consult 
their  own  physicians  if  the  case  required  it. 

In  September  of  the  same  year  two  Medical 
Inspectors  were  appointed,  and  while  the 
nurses  continued  to  make  the  routine  inspec- 
tions, they  sent  all  cases  to  the  doctor  for 
diagnosis.  The  principals  of  the  schools  sent 
requests  for  the  services  of  a  nurse,  and  two 
more  nurses  were  appointed.  This  experiment 
with  a  Superintendent  of  Nurses,  four  assist- 
ants, and  two  Medical  Inspectors  thoroughly 
convinced  the  Board  of  Education  that  a  com- 
plete system  of  inspection  was  absolutely  neces- 
sary, and  they  set  about  it  by  appropriating 
23,500  dollars  for  the  following  year.  In 
February,  191 1,  Dr.  \V.  E.  Struthers,  six 
Medical  Inspectors,  and  one  Dental  Inspector 
were  appointed. 

The  city  was  divided  into  districts,  the 
schools  (of  which  there  were  So),  with  an 
attendance  of  45,000  children,  were  formed  into 
groups,  one  nurse  being  assigned  to  each  group 
and  one  Medical  Inspector  to  every  two  groups. 
In  February  of  the  present  year  the  staff  of 
nurses  was  increased  to  twenty-five  and  the 
.Medical  Inspectors  to  eighteen.  This  necessi- 
tated another  change  of  system,  and  each 
Medical  Inspector  was  given  but  one  group  of 
schools,  with  an  average  of  2,600  children. 
His  duties  are  to  make  a  complete  routine 
examination  of  all  children  after  vacation  at 
Midsummer,  Christmas,  and  Easter.  The 
routine  takes  about  one  week,  and  when  this  is 
completed  the  daily  duties  consist  in  making 
morning  inspections,  to  examine  children  for 
readmission  referred  by  the  teacher  or  nurse ; 
and  when  this  has  been  done  to  inspect 
those  for  diagnosis.  When  the  Medical 
Inspector  has  completed  his  morning  inspec- 
tions in  each  school,  the  remainder  of  his  time 
is  devoted  to  making  complete  physical 
examinations.  The  Medical  Inspector's  hours 
are  from  9 — 12  a.m.  on  school  days.  The 
nurses,   who  are  on   duty   from  9 — 4  with   li 


hours  off  for  lunch,  make  all  the  subsequent 
class-room  inspections  at  intervals  of  two 
weeks. 

When  a  class-room  is  reported  having  two 
or  three  cases  of  scarlet  fever,  measles,  or 
diphtheria,  a  daily  inspection  of  the  class  is 
made  by  the  nurse  until  the  period  of  incuba- 
tion is  over. 

Each  nurse  has  an  average  of  1,900  children 
under  her  care,  but  this  varies  in  the  different 
sections  of  the  city. 

Considerable  time  is  spent  by  the  nurses  in 
taking  children  to  the  dispensaries. 

When  it  is  found  that  the  parents  are  unable, 
through  sickness  or  otherwise,  to  take  their 
children  to  the  dispensary,  upon  a  written  re- 
quest the  nurse  is  allowed  to  do  so  for  them. 

When  a  child  is  found  with  any  disease  or 
physical  defect  a  reference  card  is  filled  in, 
stating  the  reason  for  referring  him,  and  signed 
by  the  nurse.  When  the  Medical  Inspector 
arrives  at  the  school  he  finds  the  reference  cards 
left  for  him  by  the  nurse,  and  sends  for  the 
children  for  examination.  He  in  turn  fills  in 
the  diagnosis,  stating  what  is  to  be  done  with 
the  child.  If  the  nurse  is  to  treat  him  in  school, 
an  indication  to  that  effect  is  all  that  is  neces- 
sary. If  the  parents  are  to  be  notified,  a  card 
is  sent  home  stating  what  the  defect  is  and 
asking  to  have  the  attention  of  the  family 
physician  called  to  it.  This  card  is  signed  by 
the  principal  of  the  school  before  being  sent  to 
the  parent.  If  the  card  is  not  returned  within 
a  stated  period  the  nurse  visits  the  home  to  find 
out  the  reason  and  to  give  further  explanation 
if  necessary. 

If  the  children  are  found  to  have  only  un- 
clean heads,  the  nurse  gives  the  child  printed 
instructions  in  a  sealed  envelope  to  be  taken 
home  to  the  parents,  and  examines  the  child 
regularly  until  thoroughly  clean. 

After  these  cases  are  disposed  of  the  treat- 
ments or  dressings  are  attended  to  and  the 
children  returned  to  their  class-rooms  as 
speedily  as  possible.  This  is  a  very  important 
feature  of  the  work,  for  the  nurse  can  have 
work  done  at  the  dispensary  much  more  quickly 
and  effectively  than  parents.  She  can  make 
appointments  and  keep  them,  and  is  not  pre- 
vented because  of  home  conditions.  Possibly 
the  father  is  dead  and  the  mother  has  to  go  to 
work  or  vice-versa,  or  there  are  a  number  of 
small  children,  and  the  home  is  too  far  away 
from  the  dispensary  to  walk,  and  car  fare  is  not 
always  available  for  a  whole  family.  Those 
and  numerous  other  difficulties  are  found  in 
everv  school  in  the  poorer  districts.  The  nurse 
follows  up  these  cases  and  sees  that  they  are 


xovcwhrr.^,  19,..        CDc  36i"(ttsl)  3oiiniaI  of  Tl-luiiMnG. 


finislicd.  She  may  possibly  iiuit  tlie  mother 
at  the  dispensary  if  an  operation  is  found  neces- 
sary for  nose  and  throat  conditions  and  the 
motiier  is  timid.  \or  docs  she  stop  there.  She 
feels  that  when  the  child  has  had  his  tonsils  and 
adenoids  removed  that  he  must  be  sent  to  the 
country  or  some  place  where  lie  can  yet  fresh 
air  and  nourishment  to  get  him  back  to  normal 
condition  of  health. 

Children  with  defective  vision  are  examined 
at  the  hospital  dispensary  and  a  prescription 
given  by  a  cjualiticd  oculist;  and  the  Board  of 
Education,  on  the  recommendation  of  iM 
Department  of  Medical  Ins|)ection,  provides 
the  glasses  for  the  poor. 

Where  relief  is  required  for  the  family,  in 
the  form  of  clothing,  the  School  Board  has  pro- 
vided centres  in  different  sections  of  the  city 
where  clothes  are  given  out  on  the  order  of  the 
Truant  Officer  or  the  nurses.  The  supply  is 
kept  up  by  donations  or  is  purchased  bv  the 
Board  of  Education. 

When  the  nurse  has  finished  the  class-room 
inspections,  referred  all  cases  for  diagnosis  to 
the  Medical  Inspectors,  and  treated  or  in- 
structed any  necessary  cases,  she  receives  a 
list  of  those  absent,  on  account  of  illness,  from 
the  teacher.  These  she  visits  at  the  homes  to 
ascertain  the  return  of  their  illness.  If  it  is  a 
case  of  suspected  scarlet  fever,  measles,  or 
diphtheria,  she  reports  it  to  the  Medical  Inspec- 
tor, who  visits  at  once  and  makes  the  diagnosis 
where  a  Physician  has  not  been  called  in.  If 
the  case  proves  a  positive  infection,  it  is  re- 
ported at  once  to  the  Health  Authorities ;  if  not, 
the  child  is  allowed  to  return  to  school  when 
able. 

It  is  during  these  home  visits  that  the  nurse 
has  such  splendid  opportunity  for  constructive 
work.  She  m.iy  find  that  the  whole  home  is 
disorganized  because  the  father  cannot  get 
work,  or  she  may  find  one  or  both  parents 
addicted  to  drink.  There  may  be  illness  in  the 
home,  or  there  may  be  only  one  parent  and  that 
one  struggling  for  a  living  for  the  family.  No 
one  in  the  familv  knows  which  way  to  turn  to 
get  the  help  that  is  temporarily  needed.  Many  a 
whole  family  has  been  saved  by  the  friendly 
advice  and  assistance  of  a  nurse  who  cares,  and 
the  nurses  feel  that  their  opportunities  and 
privileges  are  great. 

(To  be  concluded.) 

The  authorities  of  the  Victoria  Hospital  for 
Children,  Chelsea,  are  concerned  as  to  the  dis- 
appearance of  Miss  Margaret  Dale  Scott,  who 
has  now  been  missing  from  the  Hospital  for  a 
fortnight.  So  far  all  enquiries  have  failed  to 
discover  her  whereabouts. 


TliRKirORIAL     NURSI:S     .M 
MANSION     HOUSIi. 


373 

THE 


The  Reception  given  by  the  Lady  Mayoress, 
President  of  the  Territorial  Force  Xursing  Ser- 
\  ice  of  the  City  and  County  of  London,  to  the 
members  of  the  Service,  on  Thursday  evening, 
October  31st,  was  a  most  delightful  function) 
which  no  one  present  would  willingly  have 
missed. 

The  guests,  who  were  received  by  the  Lord 
Mayor  and  the  Lady  Mayoress,  included  Major- 
General  Bethune,  Director-General  of  Terri- 
torial Forces;  Surgeon-General  Keogh,  Sir 
George  VVyatt  Truscott,  Colonel  Ilyslop,  Sir 
Robert  and  Lady  Perks,  Sir  Alfred  and  Lady 
Codrington,  Lady  Beachcroft,  Mrs.  George 
Byron,  Lady  Wynne,  the  Hon.  Mrs.  Charles 
Tufton,  Miss  E.  S.  Haldane,  LL.D.,  Miss  Cox- 
Davies,  Miss  Davies  and  Miss  Barton,  Principal 
Matrons,  Miss  Finch,  Miss  Amy  Hughes,  Miss 
Cutler,  Miss  Pearse,  Miss  Riddell,  Miss  Bird, 
Miss  C.  Todd,  Miss  M.  C.  Goodhue,  and 
many  others,  including  a  large  number  of  mem- 
bers of  the  Service  in  indoor  uniform,  many 
wearing  its  distinctive  cape  and  cap.  These 
were  very  trim  and  smart  as  well  as  decidedly 
becoming. 

The  Lady  Mayoress  was  a  most  genial  and 
charming  hostess,  making  all  her  guests  feel  at 
home,  and  diffusing  an  atmosphere  of  enjoy- 
ment which  was  irresistibly  contagious.  And, 
indeed,  who  except  "  the  man  that  hath  no 
music  in  himself,  and  is  not  moved  by  concord 
of  .sweet  sounds,"  could  fail  to  enjoy  the  instru- 
mental music  of  Mr.  W.  Atwood's  band,  or  the 
charming  singing  of  Miss  Marie  Hela  and  other 
artistes,  who  responded  most  generously  to 
repeated  encores?  The  clever  whistling  solos  of 
Miss  Belle  Castle  Smith  and  the  amusing 
musical  sketches  of  Mr.  Cyril  Broxholm  all 
combined  to  provide  a  programme  of  the 
highest  musical  merit.  The  Egyptian  Hall  is 
exceptionally  good  for  sound,  and  the  wonder- 
ful gold  pl.ite  of  the  Corporation  came  in  for 
much  admiration. 

On  occasions  such  as  this  friends  meet  who 
have  not  seen  each  other  for  years,  and  there 
was  an  animated  and  constant  hum  of  con- 
versation over  the  tea  and  coffee,  which  were 
specially  welcome  to  those  members  of  the 
Service  who  had  hurried  straight  off  duty  in 
order  to  be  present.  The  Lord  Mayor  proved 
a  most  kind  host,  personally  looking  after  the 
comfort  and  pleasure  of  his  guests,  and,  as  they 
departed,  on  all  sides  were  heard  expressions  of 
pleasure  at  the  enjoyment  the  evening  had 
afforded  them. 


(Ibe  British  3oiunal  or  mursino, 


Xovenibe 


r  g,  191J 


NURSING  NEWS   AND   THE  WAR. 

To  the  British  Red  Crescent  Society  belongs 
the  honour  of  sending  out  the  first  hospital  unit 
to  the  war  which  includes  a  staff  of  trained 
nurses.  On  Friday,  Nov.  ist,  by  special  train 
from  Charing  Cross,  there  left  the  personnel  of 
the  hospital  organized  by  the  above  Society. 
Colonel  Surtees,  who  is  escorting  the  mission, 
genial  and  smiling,  *was  in  khaki,  the  Red 
Crescent  conspicuous  on  the  white  band  of  his 
cap  ;  the  medical  officers  of  the  hospital  are  Dr. 
Calthrop  and  Dr.  Bernard  Haigh  ;  the  dressers, 
Mr.  E.  Copland  (St.  George's  Hospital),  Mr. 
G.  .A.spinall-Stivala  (St.  Bartholomew's),  and 
Mr.  H.  F.  Wight  (Guy's).  Most  conspicuous 
were  quite  a  little  crowd  of  nurses.  Sister  Amy 
Stuart  (trained  at  the  General  Infirmary,  Salis- 
bury) in  charge,  in  black  cloak  and  bonnet,  the 
rest  in  brown  circular  cloaks  and  brown 
bonnets  with  veils,  the  Red  Crescent  forming 
a  conspicuous  point  of  colour  on  the  left  side 
of  the  cloaks.  They  were  Sister  Katherine 
Wheatley  and  Sister  Gladys  McKenzie,  trained 
at  ^^'estminster  Hospital ;  Sister  Norah  Dry- 
hurst,  at  Kensington  Infirmary ;  Sister  Hilda 
Campbell-Ogg,  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Ports- 
mouth ;  and  Sister  Theresa  Buckley,  at  the 
Mater  Misericordiae,  Belfast.  The  party  also 
included  four  male  nurses.  Royal  Navy  and 
R.A.M.C.  men.  Photographers  were  busy 
taking  groups  of  the  party  on  the  platform 
before  the  departure  of  the  train,  then  last 
good-bves  were  said,  and  a  hearty  cheer  was 
raised  as  the  train  steamed  off.  Amongst  those 
on  the  platform  were  Mrs.  Ameer  Ali,  Mrs. 
Montague,  and  other  members  of  the  Com- 
mittee. The  party  travelled  overland  to  Mar- 
seilles, and  then  on  by  boat  to  Salonika,  which 
is  their  destination.  They  are  taking  every- 
thing required  for  the  equipment  of  the  hos- 
pital, the  funds  being  supplied  by  public  sub- 
scription bv  the  Moslem  community  in  this 
country.  Miss  Katherine  Wheatley,  who  held 
the  position  of  Massage  Sister  at  the  Fulham 
Infirmary,  and  who  asked  the  Guardians  to 
release  her  from  her  engagement,  has  had  to 
forfeit  a  month's  salary.  We  regret  that  the 
Guardians,  under  the  circumstances,  could  not 
see  their  way  to  treat  her  more  generously  ; 
still,  a  contract  is  a  contract,  and  nurses  must 
not  complain  if  it  is  kept.  We  are  glr.d  to 
learn,  however,  that  the  British  Red  Crescent 
Society  has  paid  Miss  Wheatley  the  £4  which 
she  forfeited,  as  she  had  signed  her  contract 
with  the  Society  without  knowing  that  this  for- 
feiture would  be  required  of  her. 

The  British  Red  Cross  Society. 
.•\lthough  dozens  of  trained  nurses  who  have 
volunteered  their  services  for  work  in  the  war 


have  been  told  at  the  British  Red  Cross  head- 
quarters that  none  were  being  sent,  as  we  re- 
ported last  week,  arrangements  were  in  pro- 
gress at  the  time  to  send  out  a  contingent  from 
the  London  Hospital.  The  party — which  is  in 
charge  of  Sister  Editli  Tucker,  includes  Nurses 
Eleanor  Church,  Alice  Smith,  Zenania  Boles, 
.•\lberta  Barnes,  and  Mabel  \\'ebb,  who  are  to 
be  known  as  the  Duchess  of  Sparta's  Special 
Nurses — left  for  Greece  on  November  ist,  and 
before  their  departure  were  received  at  Marl- 
borough House  by  Queen  Alexandra,  who 
decorated  each  in  turn  with  the  Red  Cross 
Badge. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  as  an  exception  has 
been  made  in  favour  of  the  London  Hospital, 
trained  nurses  from  other  institutions  will  be 
added  to  all  the  Red  Cross  units  sent  from 
England  to  help  the  wounded,  for  the  financing 
of  which  the  public  are  being  asked  to  find  an 
immense  sum  of  money. 

The  British  Red  Cross  Society  announces 
that  since  their  appeal  the  public  response  has 
amounted  to  ;^i3,9oo,  and  that  ;^7,500  has 
been  expended  in  equipping  and  despatching 
the  six  units  to  Montenegro,  Greece,  and 
Turke)',  none  of  which  have  trained  women 
nurses  attached.  The  total  cost  to  the  Society 
of  these  units  cannot  fail  to  be  less  than  ;£ri,ooo 
a  week,  and  the  pressing  needs  of  Servia  and 
Bulgaria  are  not  yet  provided  for.  The  Com- 
mittee draws  attention  to  the  intense  suffering 
in  the  Balkan  campaigns,  and  the  inadequacy 
of  the  field  hospital  service.  The  result  is  that 
the  battlefields  are  strewn  with  men  left  to  die, 
or  linger  in  agony,  with  the  added  torments 
of  hunger,  thirst,  and  exposure,  while  the  hos- 
pitals themselves  are  choked — a  condition  of 
things  too  appalling  for  contemplation. 

We  note  that  the  Marchioness  of  Lansdowne, 
■  Georgina  Countess  of  Dudley,  and  Lady 
Wantage  are  on  the  British  Red  Cross  Com- 
mittee. Surely  they  as  women  must  realize 
how  the  ministrations  of  trained  nurses  would 
minimize  these  terrible  conditions.  W'hy  are 
there  no  Matrons  associated  with  these  sym- 
pathetic peeresses  in  the  management  of  the 
British  Red  Cross  Society?  The  grave  omis- 
sion of  which  we  complain  would  not  then  have 
been  possible.  In  these  davs  to  exclude  experts 
from  such  a  national  organization  as  the  Red 
Cross  Society  proves  how  little  the  skilled  work 
of  ivomen  is  appreciated  in  this  country. 
The  '\\'elsh  Red  Cross. 
Mr.  Lyn  Thomas,  of  Cardiff,  at  the  request 
of  a  number  of  prominent  Welsh  people,  has 
organized  a  Welsh  Red  Cross  unit  for  service 
in  the  Balkans.  It  leaves  London  on  or  about 
the  7th  inst. 


Xovcntber  q,   ioij 


Cbc  Britii?!?  3oiirnal  of  fliiriJiiuj. 


375 


THE  MATRONS'    COUNCIL    AT    VVIGAN. 


The  Business  Meetinc 

A  meeting  of  the  Matrons'  Council  oi  wreat 
Britain  and  Ireland  was  held  by  tlie  courtesy  of  the 
Governors  at  the  Royal  Albert  Edward  Infirmary, 
%\'igan,  on  November  2nd.  Miss  Macintyre,  the 
Matron  of  the  Infirma^^•,  and  a  \'ice-F^esident 
of  the  Council,  was  in  the  Chair.  There  was  a 
good  attendance  of  members  from  the  surround- 
ing district  and  from  London.  Miss  Macintyre 
welcomed  those  present,  and  opened  the  proceed- 
ings in  a  brief  and  pertinent  address.  After  the 
Minutes  had  been  read  and  confirmed,  letters  of 
regret  at  their  inability'  to  be  present  were  reported 
from  the  President,  Miss  Heather-Bigg,  of  Charing 
Cross  Hospital,  Miss  Haughton,  Guy's  Hospital, 
Miss  Wright,  of  Stobhill  Hospital,  and  many  others. 
Election  of  Members. 

The  following  ladies  were  elected  members  of 
the  Council ; — 
Miss   A.    Li\-ingstone   Charteris,    Matron,    Count}- 

Hospital,  Bedford. 
Miss    L.    G.    Dalton,    Matron,    City    of    London 

Hospital    for    Diseases   of   the    Chest,    Victoria 

Park,  E. 
Miss  J.  W.  Davis,  Matron,  The  Royal  Infirmary, 

Bradford. 
Miss  E.  Reid  Dobie,  Matron,  The  Infirmary-  and 

Dispensary,-,  Bolton,  Lancashire. 
Miss  E.   Edith   Fowler,   Superintendent,   Xursing 

Home,  37,  Beaumont  Street,  \V. 
Miss    E.    Steele    Innes,    Matron,    Royal    Halifax 

Infirman,-,   Halifax. 
-Miss  F.  McCartie,  Matron,  Fylde  Joint  Hospital, 

Lj-tham. 
Mi.ss    >L    A.    Marks,    Matron,    Royal    Infirmar\', 

Preston. 
Miss  A.  M.  Oslar.  Matron,  Swithland  Con\-alescent 

Home,  Loughboro'. 
Miss  M.    Snell   Rundle,    Matron,    Royal   Hospital 

for  Diseases  of  the  Chest,  Cit\-  Road,  E.C. 
Miss     E.     Wilcock,     Matron,     Beckett     Hospital, 

Bamsley. 
Report  of  the  International  Council  Meeting 
AND  Congress  at  Cologne. 

Miss  Mollett,  the  Hon.  Secretan,-,  then  presented 
her  Report  as  representative  of  the  Matrons' 
Council  to  the  International  Congress  at  Cologne. 
She  stated  that  the  party  organised  by  her  con- 
sisted of  fift}--seven  persons,  and  that  the  surplus, 
after  payment  of  all  expenses, .  was  between  £y 
and  /8.  This  it  was  suggested  sliould  be  handed 
to  the  Hon.  Treasurer,  Sirs.  Walter  Spencer,  to 
form  a  nucleus  of  a  fund  for  sending  a  repre- 
sentative to  San  Francisco  in  1915.  The  Hon. 
Secretary  proceeded  to  give  an  outline  sketch 
of  the  Congress,  which  has  already  been  fully 
repKjrted  in  the  British  Journal  of  Xursing, 
and  concluded  her  report  as  follo«-s  : — 
Reflections. 

Your  delegate  has  now  attended  everj-  Congress 
of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses  but  that 


held  in  Paris,  and  it  has  been  of  much  interest  to 
her  to  note  the  general  tendency  and  peculiarities 
of  this  Congress  in  comparison  with  those  that 
ha\-e  gone  before.  "  The  following  were  the  features 
that  most  struck  your  delegate  : — 

Firstly,  the  undoubted  national  note.  The 
meeting  was  largely  composed  of  foreigners — 
English  and  American  delegates  played  very 
prominent  parts,  but  the  dominant  note  was 
unmistakably  German.  The  groundwork  of  the 
International  meeting  was  certainly  national ;  it 
seemed  to  your  delegate  to  be  vcr\-  characteristic 
and  extremely  creditable  to  the  German  organisa- 
tion, which  is  so  much  younger  than  the  English 
or  .\merican,  that  it  should  in  no  way  be  over- 
shadowed by  its  elder  sisters,  but  should  be  able 
to  so  thoroughly  stamp  its  personahtj-  on  the 
gathering. 

It  began  at  once  with  the  Pageant.  Instead  of 
a  translation  or  an  adaptation  of  that  so  success- 
fully carried  out  in  London,  the  subject  was  treated 
from  an  entirely  different  standpoint,  most 
effectivelj- — but  distinctly  national — and  very 
characteristic  was  a  remark  the  talented  designer 
made  to  your  delegate  :  "  We  wished  to  show  you 
that  we  also  have  ideas."  And  that  sentence 
was  the  kej-note  to  much  of  the  Congress. 

Turning  to  the  pajjers  read,  your  delegate 
considers  that  the  majoritr\-  of  them  were  certainly 
as  good  as,  if  not  better  than,  those  given  at  pre^•iou3 
Congresses,  and  it  seemed  to  your  delegate  that, 
on  the  whole,  the  papers  tended  to  be  more 
concrete  and  less  abstract,  more  practical  and  not 
so  ethical  as  in  past  years.  There  was,  perhaps, 
a  greater  frankness  in  exposing  abuses  and 
suggesting  reforms  and  alterations.  Many  of  the 
speakers  defined  their  \-iews  with  refreshing 
distinctness  ;  and  it  is  the  fijst  Congress  your 
delegate  has  attended  where  one  paper  stands  out 
verj-  prominently  as  being  the  speech  of  the 
Congress — I  mean  Dr.  Hecker's  monumental 
address.  I  doubt  if,  when  translated,  it  will 
quite  convey  to  you  all  that  it  did  to  those  German 
nurses  who  sat  and  listened  to  it.  It  irresistibly 
reminded  your  delegate  of  Uncle  Brasig  and  the 
Mecklenbourg  serfs.  It  voiced  a  real,  li\Tng  and 
terrible  grievance  with  simple  directness,  and  Dr. 
Hecker  produced  an  extraordinars-  impression  by 
attacking  the  burning  question  of  the  day  with 
the  fer\-ent  fanaticism  of  a  social  reformer  joined 
to  the  cold,  calculating  precision  and  overwealth 
of  detail  of  a  German-  man  of  science.  For  the 
sake  of  that  speech  or,  rather,  thesis  alone  the 
Congress  was  worth  attending.  The  Congress 
showed  a  marked  advance  in  the  treatment  of 
nursing  as  a  factor  in  social  reform — of  the  nurse 
as  a  social  worker  ;  that  was  another  most  out- 
standing point.  It  was  interesting  if  only  as 
showing  how  certainly,  if  slowh",  public  opinion 
is  veering  round  to  accept  the  truth  of  how 
infinitely  more  impiortant  is  the  pre\ention  than 
the  treatment  of  disease.  The  Cologne  papers 
called  special  attention  to  the  superiority  of 
England    and    America    over    Germany    in    the 


376 


dbc  3Silti9l)  3ournal  of  murslno 


Xovemher  g,  191 2 


employment  of  nxirses  in  that  capacity,  quoting 
with  great  appreciation  the  numbers  of  school 
nurses  and  district  nurses,  &c.,  employed  in 
England. 

There  was  a  kind  of  Socialistic  tendency  in  the 
air,  and  it  was  not  to  be  wondered  at,  when  one 
thinks  that  Cologne  had  just,  for  the  first  time, 
returned  Social  Democrats,  and  not  Ultramontanes, 
to  the  Reichstag.  Amongst  the  free  German  nurses 
there  was  certainly  the  feeling  that  they  had  the 
right  to  demand  thei»  "  place  in  the  sun  "  in 
return  for  their  work. 

Roughly  speaking,  the  line  of  cleavage  between 
those  who  regard  sickness  and  disease  as  an 
infliction  of  Providence,  to  be  met  by  the  most 
boundless  and  unquestioning  self-sacrifice  on  the 
part  of  the  nurse,  and  those  who  regard  sickness 
and  disease  as  an  aberration  from  the  normal — 
frequently  preventable — to  be  met  on  the  part  of 
the  nurse  with  scientific  and  skilled  humanity, 
was  at  times  very  palpable. 

Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  moved  the  adoption 
of  the  Report,  which  was  seconded  and  agreed  to. 
The  Banner. 

Mrs.  Fenwick  then  moved  that  the  Matrons' 
Council  should  have  a  Banner  ;  that  it  should 
be  handsome  and  representative,  and  should 
include  .the  beautiful  motto  of  the  Council, 
"  Cogito  Ergo  Sum  "  ("  I  think,  therefore  I  am  "). 
This  resolution  was  seconded  by  Miss  Musson. 

After  some  discussion  as  to  cost,  the  resolution 
was  agreed  to,  and  the  Hon.  Officers  were  in- 
structed to  submit  designs  and  prices  at  the  next 
meeting   of  the   Council. 

Delegate  to  National  Council  of  Women. 

It  was  proposed  and  seconded  that  a  delegate 
be  appointed  to  represent  the  Council  on  the 
National  Council  of  Women  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  to  which  the  IMatrons'  Council  is 
affiliated,  who  could  attend  the  Extraordinary 
Meeting  to  be  held  in  London  on  November  20th 
to  consider  the  position  of  women  under  the 
Franchise  and  Registration  Bill  now  before 
Parliament. 

The  names  of  three  alternative  members  were 
agreed  to,  and  the  Hon.  Secretary  instructed  to 
invite  them  to  act. 

Trained  Nursing  in  War. 

Miss  Musson  proposed  :  "  That  in  the  opinion 
of  this  meeting  only  nurses  who  are  fully  trained 
should  be  sent  to  nurse  the  sick  and  wounded 
in  time  of  war,  and  that  no  base  hospital  can  be 
considered  properly  equipped  wliich  has  not  a 
staff  of  such  nurses." 

This  was  seconded  by  Miss  Jolley,  warmly 
supported  by  Mrs.  Fenwick,  and  carried  un- 
animously. The  Hon.  Secretary  was  instructed 
to  send  copies  of  the  resolution  to  the  proper 
authorities. 

This  terminated  the  Business  Meeting. 
The  Open  Meeting. 

A  most  hospitable  tea  was  then  served  in  the 
Sisters'  sitting-room,  which  was  a  bower  of  lovely 


flowers.  Mr.  A.  M.  Lamb  represented  the  Board 
of  Management,  and  the  following  members  of 
the  medical  staff  attended  : — Dr.  R.  Prosser 
White,  Dr.  E.  Hodgkinson  Monks,  Dr.  Brady, 
Dr.  John  Blair,  Dr.  Rees,  Dr.  M.  Benson,  Dr. 
Darlington,  and  Dr.  Oag.  Many  ladies,  friends  of 
the  Hospital,  were  present,  amongst  them  the 
wives  of  the  medical  staff,  and  Lady  Ratcliffe  Ellis, 
Mrs.  James  Brown,  Mrs.  Kinch,  Mrs.  and  Miss 
Rawcliffe,  Mrs.  Kenneth  Marshall,  Miss  Edwards, 
Mrs.  Hastings,  Mrs.  Brieiiy,  Miss  Brown,  ]\Irs. 
Bryan,  Mrs.  James,  and  Mrs.  Woods. 

The  Nurses'  Registration  Bill. 

After  tea  a  well-attended  open  meeting  was  held 
in  the  beautiful  rooms  in  the  new  Nurses'  Homo, 
the  nurses'  drawing-room  and  lecture  rooms 
being  thrown  into  one  for  the  occasion,  when 
Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  delivered  an  address  on 
the  Bill  for  the  State  Registration  of  Nurses. 
She  dealt  principally  with  the  educational  and 
economic  details  of  the  question,  emphasising 
the  necessity  for  State  organisation  and  protection 
for  every  large  class  of  skilled  workers,  if  high 
standards  of  skill  and  discipline  were  to  be 
maintained,  and  just  economic  conditions  pro- 
tected. 

Mrs.  Fenwick  said  much  had  been  accomplished 
in  the  twenty-five  years  the  nurses  had  been 
demanding  the  standardisation  of  their  profession, 
and  as  it  took  the  medical  profession,  who  had 
votes,  fifty  years  to  obtain  just  legislation,  they — 
the  nurses — need  not  be  disheartened.  She 
pointed  out  that  under  the  chairmanship  of  Lord 
Ampthill  all  the  organised  societies  of  trained 
nurses,  together  with  the  British  Medical  Associa- 
tion, formed  the  Central  Committee  for  the  State 
Registration  of  Nurses,  and  had  agreed  upon  one 
Bill.  The  Bill  was  a  sound  one.  It  provided  for 
the  one  portal  admission  to  the  register  ;  granted 
a  legal  title  of  "  registered  nurse  "  to  nurses 
admitted  ;  provided  for  a  full  term  of  three  years' 
grace,  during  which  time  all  reputable  trained 
nurses  might  register  without  further  examination 
for  the  small  fee  of  £2  -is. ;  for  an  examination  fee 
of  £^  3s.,  after  the  term  of  grace,  a  sum  small  in 
itself,  but  wliich  would  provide  funds  to  place  at 
the  command  of  trained  nurses  the  highest 
standard  of  medical  and  nursing  examiners  and 
inspectors,  and  in  return  for  having,  after  three 
years'  training,  passed  a  prescribed  examination, 
they  would  receive  the  hall  mark  of .  professional 
status. 

Also  the  Act  provided  for  a  Central  Governing 
Body,  on  which  the  registered  nurses,  once  the 
electorate  was  formed,  would  vote  for  their  own 
representatives,  so  that  if  they  did  not  look  well 
after  the  interests  of  the  nursing  profession  they 
could   be   superseded   by   others. 

IVfl-s.  Fenwick  alluded  to  the  helpless  position 
of  trained  nurses  under  the  Insurance  Act, 
presumably  because  their  work  was  required 
cheap  they  had  been  excluded  from  direct 
representation  on  the  Advisory  Board  and 
they   were  the  only    class    of   workers    to   be    so 


Xovember  g,  191 2 


Cbe  Brlttsb  3ournal  of  IHursmfl. 


377 


unfairly  discriminated  against.  Xo  doubt  had 
they  been  registered  by  the  State  they  could  have 
demanded  representation,  and  would  have  been 
accorded  the  power  to  protect  the  standard  of 
nursing  to  be  given  to  the  insured  sick. 

Mrs.  Fenwick's  able  address,  whicli  lasted  over  an 
hour,  was  of  great  interest,  and  was  listened  to 
with  much  attention  and  evident  approval  by 
the  audience. 

Miss  Musson  followed  with  a  short  but 
interesting  speech.  She  dwelt  more  especially  on 
the  educational  side  of  the  question,  and  on  the 
necessity  for  greater  unity  as  to  standards  of 
instruction  and  examination  in  the  various  nursing 
schools.  Miss  MoUett  then  spoke,  briefly  stating* 
that  she  also  had  been  twent>'-fi\e  years  in  the 
movement  and  emphasised  the  absence  of  any 
clear  reason  or  sound  argument  in  favour  of  the 
opposition  to  State  Registration. 

Votes  of  Thanks. 
Dr.  White,  who  next  addressed  the  audience, 
thanked  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  warmly  for  her 
speech.  He  mentioned  that  he  had  heard  her  on 
the  same  subject  some  years  ago,  and  that  her 
arguments  then  were  as  con\dncing  as  now.  He 
thought  it  would  be  well  if  her  excellent  and 
logical  words  could  be  heard  in  a  larger  and  more 
pubhc  meeting.  He  agreed  w'ithJNIrs.  Fenw-ick  that 
great  reforms  required  time  to  ripen,  and  stated  his 
con\nction  that  the  present  mo\ement  would  be 
successful.  He  was  afraid  that  many  doctors, 
who  were  busy  men,  had  not  gi\en  as  much  time 
and  consideration  to  the  question  as  they  might 
have  done.  He  liimseU  was  in  favour  of  the 
movement.  Dr.  Monks  seconded  the  vote  of 
thanks  and  agreed  with  his  colleague,  and  spoke 
with  appreciation  of  the  improvement  and 
advancement  of  nursing  in  late  years. 

After  some  questions  had  been  asked,  to 
which  Mrs.  Fenwick  replied,  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  Miss  Macintyre  for  so  ably  filling  the  chair 
was  moved  and  carried  by  acclamation,  as  was 
also  a  motion  by  Mrs.  Walter  Spencer,  of  London, 
to  convey  the  thanks  of  the  Council  to  the 
Governors  for  their  courtesy  and  kindness  in 
permitting  the  meeting  to  be  held  in  the  Infirmary. 
Mrs.  Walter  Spencer,  in  the  course  of  her  remarls, 
warmly  praised  the  beautiful  new  nurses'  home, 
and  the  charming  appearance  of  the  hospital 
wards.     The  meeting  then  terminated. 

Since  the  inauguration  of  the  Matrons'  Council 
meetings  in  the  provinces  they  have  proved  most 
successful,  most  deUghtful,  and  the  hospitality 
extended  to  members  has  been  most  cordial,  but 
nowhere  has  that  hospitality-  been  greater  nor  has 
any  meeting  been  more  successful  and  pleasant 
than  that  at  Wigan.  In  Mi.ss  Macint\-re  the 
Council  possesses  a  most  loyal  member  and  Vice- 
President,  and  she  received  her  colleagues  with  the 
most  charming  and  dehghtful  hospitality.  Xot 
only  was  the  meeting  well  attended  and  enthusi- 
astically and  obviously  keenly  interested  in  the 
proceedings,  but  the  personal  welfare  of  the 
\'isitors  was  the  object  of  the  kindest  soUcitude. 
Everj-one  seemed  to  vie  in    making  them  happy 


and  comfortable.  From  the  moment  they  arrived 
in  Wigan  they  were  surrounded  by  tliat  celebrated 
northern  hospitality  which  they  found  no  whit 
overrated.  .-Vll  who  attended  the  meeting,  and 
above  all  those  who  were  the  Infirmary  guests  for 
the  night,  must  retain  the  very  plciisantest  recol- 
lections of  a  most  deUghtful  time.  The  "  au 
revoirs  "  and  "  auf  widersehens  "  came  from  the 

^®*"^-  M.    MOLLETT, 

Hon  Secretary. 
«    ♦    ■ 

QUEEN    VICTORIA'S   JUBILEE 
INSTITUTE. 

Queen  Alexandra  ha:*  been  pleased  to  approve 
the  appointment  of  the  following  to  be  Queen's 
Nurses,  to  date  October  ist,  191 2  : — ■ 

England.— Khie  M.  Smith,  Sarah  E.  Wilhams, 
Lizzie  Porter,  Clara  Moore,  Emily  J.  Smith, 
Mildred  K.  Wheeler,  Ida  M.  Symonds,  Rose 
Havers,  Beatrice  L.  Jones,  Jane  Brazendale, 
Christina  L.  Carnegie,  Olga  R.  Leknesund,  Mabel 
Stocks,  Adelaide  E.  Hirons,  LiUan  Butler,  Margaret 
Gwy-nne,  Hilda  B.  King,  Gwendoline  J.  Denison, 
Matilda  X.  Sargent,  Dorothy  Cameron,  Susan  G. 
O'Flj-nn,  Catherine  Barrj',  Vera.  Calvert,  Ruth  VV. 
Moss,  Jane  A.  Padgett,  Clara  S.  Morgan,  Edith'A. 
Wellens,  Elizabeth  Brooks,  Martha  Jennings, 
Margaret  Lockett,  EUza  A.  Aaron,  Annie  B. 
Bower,  Louise  M.  Robinson,  Mary  E.  Adcock, 
Dora  Cheverton,  Annie  Henrietta  Murray,  Jennie 
Stonehouse,  Mary  E.  Cowlishaw,  Robina  E. 
Foote,  Ehzabeth  A.  Morris,  Kate  Brown,  Isobel  O. 
Torrens,  Emily  R.  Howe,  Mary  E.  Stoneham, 
Ann  I.  Tweedy,  Mary  G.  Picken,  Emily  M.  Adams, 
Margaret  Dennis,  Blodwen  R.  Jones,  Isabel  M. 
Lever. 

Scotland. — Annie  Ferguson,  Flora  Campbell, 
Christina  Car\-el,  Jane  F.  Fleming,  Margaret 
C.  Graliam,  Margaret  L.  Hughes,  Mary  E.  Imlah, 
Marjorie  Leed,  Janet  Littlejohn,  Ehzabeth  T. 
Ferguson. 

Ireland. — Mary  G.  Biggs,  Katherine  CuUinan, 
Annie  Quinlan,  Man,'  E.  Walshe,  Anna  M.  E.  Fry. 


PROMOTION    FOR   SCHOOL    NURSES. 

The  London  County  CouncU  recently  authorised 
the  appointment  of  four  additional  .\ssistants 
to  the  Superintendent  of  Nurses,  and  at  the  same 
time  reduced  the  number  of  school  nurses  by 
four.  The  Establishment  Committee  on  Tuesday 
advised  tlie  Council  that  the  work  of  the  school 
nurses  would  be  in  no  way  reduced  by  the  appoint- 
ment of  the  new  Assistants,  whose  work  would 
be  of  a  supcr\-isory  character  in  connection  with 
the  development  of  the  work  of  medical  treatment, 
and  accordingly  proposed  that  four  additional 
nurses  should  be  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancies 
caused  by  the  promotion  of  the  Assistants.  For 
the  four  new  positions  authorised,  the  Committee 
submitted  the  names  of  Miss  M.  F.  Horsfield, 
Miss  R.  B.  Downing,  Miss  C.  A.  Padbury,  and 
Miss  M.  \\'ilson,  as  those  of  school  nurses  best 
fitted  for  the'positions,  and  they  were  appointed. 


37 


78 


Cbe  S5ritlab  3ountal  of  IHuuslno.       November  g,  1912 


THE  COOKERY  EXHIBITION. 


The  Annual  Cookerj^  and  Food  Exliibition  at 
the  Royal  Horticultural  Hall,  S.W.,  is  something 
more  than  a  demonstration  of  the  art  of  the  clief, 
although  that  art  is  exhibited  in  the  very  highest 
degree.  The  Universal  Cookery  and  Food  Associa- 
tion, by  which  the  Exhibition  is  organised,  desire 
that  it  should  be  of  educative  value,  and  encourage 
the  advancement  of  t'he  art  of  cookerj'  in  every 
grade  among  all  classes  of  the  community.  So 
we  find  not  only  the  highest  culinar>'  skill,  but 
the  work  of  little  girls  in  elementary  schools, 
and  ver>-  good  work,  too,  for  they  are  taught 
to  market  as  well  as  to  cook,  and  to  append  the 
cost  of  the  materials  used  to  the  menu  for  each 
meal.  The  boys  from  the  schools  in  connection 
with  the  Technical  Institutes  of  the  London 
Count>'  Council  also  obtained  most  excellent 
and  attractive  results,  and  we  are  not  surprised 
that  Mr.  Pease,  President  of  the  Board  of  Educa- 
tion, said  on  the  opening  day  that  the  Government 
were  greatly  interested  in  the  work  of  the  Exhibi- 
tion, which  they  thought  would  assist  the  Board  of 
Education  ver3'  materially. 

Invalid  Cookerv. 

The  class  which  is  naturally  of  greatest  interest 
to  the  readers  of  this  Journal  is  Class  38,  open 
only  to  certificated  nurses,  or,  more  accurately, 
to  professional  nurses,  trained  and  in  training, 
as  many  of  the  exhibitors  are  probationers.  There 
were  45  entries,  and  the  coveted  Gold  Medal 
was  won  by  Miss  G.  M.  Hoskin,  of  Guy's  Hospital, 
whose  tray  certainly  was  most  attractive,  the 
food  being  most  excellently  cooked,  and  the  menu 
card  beautifully  printed  by  hand.  The  tray 
contained  mutton  broth,  steamed  whiting  with 
maitre  d'hotel  sauce,  a  cream  mould,  pink  in 
colour,  and  sherry  whey  of  just  the  right  con- 
sistency. The  decoration  of  the  tray,  in  common 
with  the  other  Guy's  exliibits,  was  achieved  with 
a  few  sprays  of  pink  and  white  heather  in  a  silver 
\'ase. 

The  following  is  a  complete  list  of  awards  : — 

Guv's  Hospital. 

Gold  Medal,  Miss  G.  M.  Hoskin  ;  Silver  Medals, 
Miss  H.  Wallis,  Miss  H.  :M.  IMarshall  (Diabetic 
Tray)  ;    Bronze  Medal,  Miss  M.  Moore. 

St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital. 

Silver  Medal,  Miss  L.  Heath.  This  tray  excited 
a  great  deal  of  admiration,  and  as  to  daintiness 
of  appointments  certainly  carried  off  the  palm. 
The  china  was  of  rosebud  design,  soft  pink  satin 
ribbon  replaced  a  table-napkin  ring,  the  silver 
shone  its  brightest,  and  a  few  sprays  of  hlies-of-the- 
valley  formed  the  decoration.  The  tray  was 
marred  by  a  somewhat  carelessly  written  menu. 

St.  Thomas'  Hospital. 

Silver  Medal,  INIiss  E.  \V.  Green  ;   Bronze  Medal, 

Miss  C.  McKicol  ;    Certificates  of  Merit,  Miss  W. 

Bartlett   and   Miss   E.    Parry    Jones.     The   trays 

sent  by  this  hospital,  which  were  uniform  in  their 


appointments,  were  daintily  arranged.  Little 
fireproof  pots  with  lids  were  used  for  soups,  and 
the  flowers  were  arranged  with  an  appreciation 
of  both  colour  and  form. 

Charing  Cross  Hospital. 
Silver  Medal,  Miss  Lilian  M.  Jeans ;  Brome 
Medal,  Miss  Winifred  Berrj'  ;  Certificate  of  Merit, 
Miss  E.  Margaret  Murley  (Diabetic  Tray).  The 
Charing  Cross  nurses  have  always  taken  a  keen 
interest  in  this  Exhibition,  and  their  exhibit,  as 
usual,  reached  a  high  average  standard  of  merit 
and  attractiveness. 

Westminster  Hospital. 

Silver  Medal,  Miss  Amy  Gore  Nicholls  ;  Cer- 
tificate of  Merit,  Miss  Phoebe  Ellis.  The  trays 
were  decorated  with  scarlet  geraniums  and 
asparagus  fern  with  excellent  effect.  All  four 
trays  had  uniform  white  china  soup  bowls  with 
lids. 

Royal  Free  Hospital. 

Bronze  Medal,  Miss  Ethel  Davey.  The  decora- 
tion was  carried  out  in  pale  pink  carnations. 

Bethnal  Green  Infirmary. 
Silver  Medal,  Miss  Alice  Donnelly ;  Bronze 
Medal,  Miss  H.  V.  Simmonite  ;  Certificate  of 
Merit,  Miss  Chitson.  The  decoration  of  these 
trays  was  bronze  carnations,  pink  roses,  and 
bronze  leaves  and  heather. 

Whipps  Cross  Infirmary,  Leytonstone. 

Silver  Medals,  Miss  S.  Davies  and  Miss  G.  M. 
Taylor;  Bronze  Medal,   Miss  N.  B.  Randall.     The 
flowers  used  in  decorating  the  former  were  pink, 
and  in  the  latter  case  bronze,  carnations. 
British  Red  Cross  Society. 

There  were  60  entries  in  this  class,  and  seven 
Silver  and  sixteen  Bronze  Medals  were  awarded, 
but,  franklj',  the  members  of  the  Red  Cross  Society 
have  a  great  deal  to  learn  about  preparing  and 
serving  diets  for  sick  people.  In  the  majority  of 
cases  the  portions  were  far  too  large,  the  appearance 
most  unappetising,  and,  indeed,  calculated  to 
put  an  invalid  off  his  food  altogether.  In  one 
instance  the  little  breakfast  biscuits  on  the  tray 
for  a  typhoid  patient  in  the  fifth  week  appeared 
most  unsuitable. 


BEQUEST     TO     A     NURSE. 

A  life  annuity  of  ^^200  has  been  left  by  Mr.  Frank 
Corbett,  of  Danehill,  Sussex,  and  148,  St.  James's 
Court,  to  Nurse  Goggin,  who  attended  liim  during 
his  illness. 

■    »    < 

THE     PASSING     BELL. 

We  greatly  regret  to  record  the  death  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  E.C.,  of  Miss  A.  B.  Davey, 
a  nurse  in  her  tliird  year  of  training,  on  Monday  last, 
after  an  illness  of  only  a  few  days'  duration.  The 
greatest  sympathy  is  felt  for  the  relatives  of  the 
nurse  whose  career  has  ended  so  tragically. 


November  9,  1912 


Cbe  36rlti6i?  3ournai  of  IRurstno. 


379 


APPOINTMENTS. 


MATRON. 

Victoria  Hospital,  Keighiey — Miss  Martha  A. 
Garner  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  tlie  t'.encral  Infirmary,  Leeds,  and  has 
held  the  position  of  Sister  at  the  Grantham 
Hospital,  and  the  Royal  Hospital,  Reading, 
and  of  Night  Sister  and  Home  Sister  at  the  General 
Hospital,  Bristol,  wliere  she  is  at  present  Assistant 
Matron. 

Infectious  Diseases  Hospital,  Kendal.  —  Miss 
J.  H.  Devlin  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She 
was  trained  at  Clyde  Bank  and  Renfrew  Joint* 
Hospital,  and  has  held  the  position  of  Sister  and 
Assistant  Matron  at  Bolton  Fever  Hospital,  and 
of  Assistant  Matron  at  the  former  hospital. 

Infectious  Diseases  Hospital,  near  Dunstable. 
Miss  Georgina  Manning  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  Guy's  Hospital,  and  has  held 
the  following  positions  :  Charge  Nurse,  Children's 
Hospital,  Glasgow  ;  Matron,  City  Hospital,  Coven- 
try', the  Sanatorium,  Canterbury-,  and  the 
Isolation  Hospital,  Leighton  Buzzard. 

Fever  Hospital,  Ovenstone,  Fife. — Miss  Marjory 
Nicol  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  City  Hospital,  Edinburgh,  and  at 
the  Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh,  and  since  1904 
lias  been  Sister-in-Charge  of  Wards  at  the  City 
Hospital,  Edinburgh. 

NIGHT     SUPERINTENDENT. 

General  Infirmary',  Worcester. — Miss  M.  Paterson 
has  been  appointed  Night  Superintendent. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Sussex  County 
Hospital,  where  she  passed  first  at  the  final 
examination,  and  was  awarded  the  Butler  Prize. 

SISTER. 

General  Infirmary,  Peterborough. —  Miss  Adelaide 
Kcig  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Roval  Infirmary,  Oldham,  and 
has  held  positions  at  the  Aldershot  Hospital,  the 
Infirmary,  Kingston-on-Thames,  and  the  Princess 
Christian  Hospital,  Wcvmouth. 

SCHOOL    NURSE. 

Borough  of  Cambridge. — Miss  Dora  Karstadt 
has  been  appointed  School  Nurse.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Hospital  for  Consumption  and 
Diseases  of  the  Chest,  Brompton,  for  two  years, 
and  at  the  Royal  Hospital,  Portsmouth,  for  three 
years,  and  has  been  Sister  at  the  Shirley  Warren 
Infirmary,  Southampton,  School  Nurse,  under  the 
London  County  Council,  and  at  Luton,  and 
Health  Visitor,  under  the  NottinRli.Lmsliire  County 
■Council. 

HEALTH     VISITOR. 

War>vickshirc      County      Council,      Leamington. — 

The  following  ladies  have  been  appointed  Health 
Visitors  : — 

Miss  E.  G.  Pakes,  who  for  two  jears  has  acted  as 
Supervisor  of  Midwives  and  Senior  Health  Visitor, 
in  Devonsliire. 

Miss  J.  M.  Abbott,  trained  at  Brownlow  Hill 
Workhouse    Hospital,    Liverpool,    who    has    done 


private  nursing  in  Stockport  and  Sallord  ;  and  has 
been  Sister  at  Monsall  Fever  Ho.spital.  .Manchester  ; 
and  Health  Visitor  and  School  Nurse,  at  Maccles- 
field. 

Miss  E.  M.  Gillard,  trained  at  the  South  Devon 
and  East  Cornwall  Hospital.  Plymouth,  who  has 
been  Charge  Nurse  and  District  Nurse,  in  connec- 
tion with  the  same  institution  ;  Superintendent 
Nurse  and  Midwife,  at  the  Infirmary,  Liskeard, 
Cornwall  ;    and  Scliool  Nurse,  at  Colchester. 

QUEEN  ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING    SERVICE. 

Sister  Miss  Mary  K.  Harper  is  placed  on  retired 
pay  on  account  of  ill-health  (November  1st)  ; 
Staff  Nur.se  Miss  Doris  .Alary  Smith  to  be  Sister 
(November  i.st)  ;  Staff  Nurse  Miss  Constance  E. 
.Mldridge  resigns  her  appointment  (Xovember  ist). 

QUEEN    VICTORIAS    JUBILEE    INSTITUTE. 

SUPlCKINTEXDKNr    OK    IkISII    Br.\NCH. 

Miss  A.  M.  Peterkin  having  accepted  the  invita- 
tion of  the  Scottish  Council,  to  become  Superinten- 
dent in  Scotland,  Miss  A.  Michie  has  been  ap- 
pointed Superintendent  of  the  Irish  Branch  of  the 
Queen's  Institute.  Miss  Micliie  received  her 
district  training  in  Liverpool,  was  appointed 
Queen's  Nurse,  in  1894,  was  Superintendent  of 
the  Cornwall  County  Nursing  Association  for  six 
j'ears,  and  Superintendent  of  the  Worcester 
City  and  County  Nursing  Association  for  nine 
years.  In  addition  to  her  work  under  the  Queen's 
Institute,  she  has  had  exceptional  experience  in 
other  branches  of  nursing.  Miss  Michie  was  the 
.second  candidate  in  the  selected  list  when  Miss 
Peterkin  was  appointed 

Inspector. 
Miss  Beatrice  Olphert  is  appointed  Inspector. 
She  was  trained  in  General  -Nursing  at  the 
Devon  and  Exeter  Hospital  ;  in  midwifery 
at  the  East  End  Mother's  Home  ;  and  in  district 
nursing  at  Southwark.  She  has  since  held  the 
following  appointments  : — Queen's  Nurse,  Norton 
and  Bognor  ;  Superintendent,  Gloucestershire 
County  Nursing  Association  ;  Inspector  of  Mid- 
wi\es  for  the  Berkshire  County  Council  ;  Superin- 
tendent for  the  Surrey  County  Nursing  Association. 

Assistant  Superintendent. 
Miss  Martha  Mearns  is  appointed  to  Cumberland 
as  Second  Assistant  Superintendent  and  School 
Nurse.  She  received  her  general  training  at 
Brownlow  Hill  Infirmary,  Liverpool  ;  midwifery 
training  at  Cheltenham  ;  and  district  training  at 
Hull.  She  has  since  been  Queen's  Nurse  at  Hull, 
Newark,  St.  Leonards,  Huddersfield  (Queen's 
Midwife)  ;  and  Senior  Nurse  at  Bury  and  Barrow- 
in-Furness. 

Transfers  and  AppoiNTMiiNrs. 
Miss  Jane  Brazendale  is  appointed  to  Bem- 
bridge  ;  Miss  Christine  Carnegie,  to  Shrewsbury  ; 
Miss  Winifred  Flanders,  to  Loughton  ;  Miss  Jeanie 
Alain,  to  Gloucester ;  Miss  Lucy  .Marshall,  to 
Sevcnoaks. 


38o 


Cbe  Britleb  3ournal  of  Burstng.       Novembey  9, 


1912 


NURSING    ECHOES. 


The  Hon.  Albinia  Brodrick  has  been  most 
cordially  welcomed  by  the  nursing  world  in 
New  York.  On  the  21st  October  the  Super- 
intendents were  entertained  to  tea  by  Miss 
Nutting  to  meet  Miss  Brodrick,  and  members 
of  the  Joint  Executives  of  the  Nurses'  Societies 
were  invited  by  Miss 
Wald,  R.X.,  LL.D.,'to 
tea  at  the  Nurses' 
Settlement,  where  Miss 
Brodrick  was  present. 
We  have  no  doubt  her 
sprightly  Irish  wit  and 
warm  sympathy  for  the 
sick  poor  will  endear 
her  to  hundreds  of 
.■\merican  friends.  We 
hope  the  rumour  that 
Mr.  Andrew  Carnegie 
has  become  interested 
in  Miss  Brodrick's  good 
work  at  Ballincoonn 
may  be  true,  and  that  it 
may  result  in  relieving 
her  of  some  of  the 
financial  burden  which 
she  has  shouldered  so 
courageously. 

The  accompanying 
picture  of  Miss  Elma 
Smith,  Matron  of  the 
Central  London  Sick 
Asylum,  H  e  n  d  o  n  , 
represents  her  as  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Fry,  whom 
she  personated  in  the 
Nursing  Pageant  at 
Cologne.  We  think 
everyone  must  agree 
that  the  presentation  of 
the  great  philanthropist 
is  a  most  charming  one. 
The  Germans  were 
delighted  with  it. 


.A  goodly  number  of  past  and  present  nurses 
listened  with  keen  interest  to  the  more  recent 
methods  of  present-day  surgery,  and  the  pre- 
paration and  after-treatment  of  operations,  so 
aptly  explained  by  the  lecturer,  revealing  vast 
improvements  on  the  old  method  of  even  ten 
years  back.  How  much  more  comfortable  for 
the  patient  must  be  the  present  method  of  pre- 
paring the  operation 
area  to  the  old  method 
of  cleansing  and  rub- 
bing the  skin  so  many 
times  to  render  it 
aseptic,  and  the  uncom- 
fortable wet  compresses 
now  forsaken.  And 
what  a  much  more  com- 
fortable and  shorter 
road  is  necessary  to  re- 
covery. Truly  surgery 
moves  with  the  times. 

During  the  practical 
demonstration  a  newer 
and  neater  method  of 
stitching  wounds  was 
seen,  the  mark  of  the 
needle  being  shown 
only  at  the  beginning 
and  end  of  the  wound. 

Nothing  is  more  ap- 
preciated by  League 
members  who  are  not 
in  hospital  work  than 
to  have  the  opportunity 
of  keeping  in  touch  with 
up-to-date  methods 
which  is  often  afforded 
them  through  the  kind- 
ness of  the  medical  pro- 
fession. 


A  meeting  of  the  Hendon  branch  of  the 
Central  London  Sick  Asylum  Nurses'  League 
was  held  on  Friday,  October  25th,  when  the 
members  were  favoured  with  a  lecture  by  Dr. 
Metcalfe  on  Some  Points  in  Modern  Surgery, 
\yhich  was  followed  by  a  practical  demonstra- 
tion of  an  intravenous  injection  of  salvarsan, 
and  an  illustration  of  CO..  snow,  a  new  treat- 
ment for  the  cure  of  naevi. 


A      Branch      of      the 
Nurses'     Social     Union 
has  been  formed  for  the 
City     and     County     of 
Gloucester.     A  meeting 
will  shortly  be  held  for 
the  purpose  of  electing 
members,  and  the  Hon. 
Secretary,    94,    Southgate    Street,    The    Cross, 
Gloucester,  will  be  pleased  to  give  any  informa- 
tion to  those  interested. 


A  correspondent  draws  our  attention  to  an 
advertisement  for  a  probationer  "  to  train  as  a 
hospital  nurse,"  giving  an  address  of  a  private 
house  in  a  West  End  Square.  Though  the 
house  is,  we  believe,  used  for  the  reception  of 


Xoveiuber  g,  igi2 


^\K  Bvitiob  3ouinal  of  iHursmo- 


38. 


the  sick,  we  have  no  hesitation  in  saying  that 
any  girl  who  hopes  to  train  as  a  "  hospital 
nurse"  anywhere  but  in  a  public  hospital,  will 
find  herself  grievously  deluded. 

And    how    about    the    patients   who    pay    for 
trained  nursing? 


At  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Council  of 
the  Scottish  Branch  of  Queen  \'ictoria's  Jubilee 
Institute  for  Nurses,  the  report  on  the  past 
three  months'  work  was  submitted.  It  showed 
that  the  Council  were  directly  responsible  for 
eight  Queen's  nurses  and  twenty  probationers 
receiving  instruction  in  the  Training  Home. 
Six  nurses  had  completed  their  training.  Five 
nurses  had  received  first  appointments  under 
the  local  Committees  at  Kilchoman,  Gala- 
shiels, Greenock,  Perth,  and  Turriff.  Seventy- 
six  visits  of  inspection  had  been  paid  and 
reports  thereon  submitted  to  the  Executive 
Committee.  The  cases  nursed  in  Edinburgh 
from  the  Training  Home  during  the  quarter 
numbered  1,457;  visits  paid,  30,080;  cases  re- 
maining on  books,  505.  The  resignation  of 
Miss  Cowper,  Superintendent-General  for  Scot- 
land, was  received  with  great  regret,  the 
Council  recognising  the  very  valuable  work 
and  devoted  service  she  had  rendered  during 
many  years.  Miss  Cowper  will  be  succeeded 
by  Miss  Peterkin,  who  was  recently  appointed 
Superintendent  in  Ireland. 


.•\  Utter  has  been  received  at  International 
Headquarters  from  Miss  Maclean,  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Trained  Nurses'  Association  of  New- 
Zealand,  expressing  her  gratification  and 
thanks  for  the  kindness  shown  to  the  New 
Zealand  delegates  from  their  colleagues  at 
home  and  in  Germany,  in  which  she  says  : — "  I 
have  written  to  Miss  Dock,  on  behalf  of  the 
New  Zealand  nurses,  to  acknowledge  her  letter 
about  our  alRliation.  I  think  it  most  kind  of 
the  nurses  from  the  Old  World  to  welcome  this 
little  country  so  cordially.  Our  nurses  will  very 
surely  be  proud  and  glad  to  belong  to  this  great 
international  organization."  Miss  Maclean 
adds  that  she  i.s  looking  forward  to  meeting 
.Miss  Orr,  who  has  been  elected  Matron  of  the 
Auckland  Hospital. 


We  must  own  to  considerable  sympathy  both 
w  ith  Nurse  Hogan,  the  permanent  nurse  work- 
ing under  the  Tullamore  Board  of  Guardians, 
who  objected  to  the  temporary  nurses  emr 
ployed  in  the  fever  hospital  sleeping  in  her 
apartments,  and  also  with  Nurse  Craig,  who 
left  the  hospital,  and,  when  leaving,  stated 
that  she  had  nowhere  to  rest  after  her 
night's  work.  As  she  could  not  rest  she  was 
unable  to  do  her  duty  conscientiously.  The 
Master  told  the  Guardians  that  he  under- 
stood the  temporary  fever  hospital  nurse 
always  occupied  Nurse  Hogan's  room  in  the 
daytime.  There  were  two  beds  in  it.  Nurse 
Hogan  stated  that  she  objected  to  the  nurse 
occupying  her  room  because  she  did  things  she 
had  no  right  to  do  in  her  absence.  She  con- 
sidered it  very  necessary  to  provide;  a  room  for 
the  night  nurse.  It  was  very  unpleasant,  and 
the  nurse  could  not  rest  properly  nor  could  the 
room  be  ventilated  properly.  The  Board 
ordered  Nurse  Hogan  not  to  lock  her  door  on 
the  night  nurse.  Such  treatment  is  incredible. 
The  management  of  the  Guardians  is  as  in- 
considerate as  it  is  disgusting. 

Is  there  no  Medical  Officer  of  Iloaltli  in  the 
district? 


.Miss  Orr  sails  on  the  "  Athenic  "  from 
Tilbury  Dock  on  the  i6th  inst.,  and  will  arrive 
at  .Auckland  in  the  first  week  of  the  New  Year. 
Warm  good  wishes  for  success  and  happiness 
in  her  new  sphere  of  work  go  with  her  from  the 
old  country,  and  evidently  a  kind  welcome 
awaits  her  in  New  Zealand,  where  her  aim  will 
be  to  prove  her  loyalty  to  the  best  interests  of 
a  profession  to  which  she  is  devoted. 


Miss  Jessie  Grant,  who  is  leaving  for  India  to 
superintend  the  Nursing  Department  of  the 
hospital  of  the  Zenana  Bible  and  Medical  Mis- 
sion Hospital  at  Lucknow,  having  formerly 
W'Orked  at  Patna,  writes  :  "I  have  arranged 
not  to  lose  one  number  of  The  British  Journ.xl 
OF  Nlrsixg  on  account  of  journeying.  They 
will  be  waiting  for  me  at  Lucknow. 

"  For  years  in  India  I  have  had  the  journal, 
and  I  feel  greatly  indebted  to  it  for  having  kept 
me  so  up-to-date  in  all  the  leading  questions  of 
reform  and  progress  that  I  was  not  hopelessly 
behind  the  times  when  I  got  home.  .'\nd  the 
natural  sequence  is  that,  with  this  foundation, 
and  similar  influences  since,  I  go  back  to  India 
a  keen  suffragist  and  wearing  the  badge  of  the 
W.S.P.U." 

We  are  always  much  encouraged  by  letters 
which  prove  that  our  r-eaders  appreciate  and 
understand  the  principles  which  inspire  this 
professional  journal. 

WELCOME     HELP. 

The  President  of  the  Society  for  State  Regis- 
tration of  Trained  Nurses  acknowledges  with 
many  thanks  the  following  donations  : — Ella, 
Lady  Simeon,  £1  is.  ;  Miss  Mary  Brcay,  £1  ; 
and  Miss  C.  E.  Loder,  5s.  6d.  The  more  money 
subscribed,  the  more  publicity  can  be  given  to 
the  question. 


382  ilbc  Brttlsb  3om-nal  of  HAurslno.       xovemherg,  191: 

NEITHER  ANGELS  NOR  LADIES.  SOCIAL    DISEASES. 


I  was  driving  on  the  top  of  a  coach  a  few- 
weeks  ago,  and  found  the  man  who  blows  the 
horn  most  attentive.  He  made  it  his  business 
to  point  out  all  the  little  things  of  interest  on 
the  journey,  and  put  folded  horse-blankets  for 
us  to  serve  as  footstools  and  to  keep  our  feet 
warm.  * 

.At  the  end  of  the  journey  I  thanked  him  for 
his  kindness. 

"  That's  all  right,  nurse,  you  need  not  thank 
me  ;  I  always  do  everything  I  can  for  nurses, 
and  if  the  coach  were  mine  they  should  ride  for 
nothing.  You  see  it's  like  this,  nurse.  I  was 
ill  last  year  in  hospital  for  two  months ; 
poisoned  my  arm ;  couldn't  wash  myself, 
couldn't  do  nothing.  Well,  you  know  what 
that  means,  so  I  needn't  tell  you  all  those 
nurses  did  for  me.  I  didn't  like  it,  I  can  tell 
you,  and  I  said  so,  and  Nurse  Agnes  said  to 
ftie,  she  says,  '  Just  you  think  that  you  are  a 
little  boy  again,  and  I'm  your  mother.  I  never 
think  of  anv  of  the  men  in  this  ward  as  "  men," 
but  just  as  children,  and  I'm  mother  to  all  of 
you,'  and  she  was  that.  If  ever  an  angel 
walked  this  earth  it  is  Nurse  Agnes.  They 
were  all  good  to  me,  but  I  liked  her  best.  It 
beats  me  how  they  ever  get  any  ladies  to  be 
nurses,  for  they  work  hard,  and  it  ain't  always 
nice  work  either,  as  you  know  yourself. 

"  Of  course,  it's  very  little  a  rough  chap  like 
me  can  do  for  a  lady  but  I  do  what  I  can.  I 
take  them  a  bunch  of  flowers  sometimes,  and 
if  ever  any  nurse  comes  on  this  coach  I  see  as 
she  is  properly  looked  after." 

"  That  is  very  kind  of  you,"  I  said.  "  We 
have  enjoyed  ourselves  very  much — much  more 
than  we  should  have  done  if  vou  had  not  been 
so  kind  to  us." 

"  That's  all  right,  nurse.  I  only  wish  I  could 
have  every  lady  out  of  that  hospital  and  give 
'em  a  drive  once  a  week.  Ladies  I  call  'em, 
but,  of  course,  we  know  they're  not,  nor  angels 
neither,  but  I  often  calls  'em  both.  Good  after- 
noon to  you,  and  if  vou  are  ever  this  way  again 
1  shall  be  glad  to  see  vou." 

M.  H. 


HEROIC    DEATHS. 

We  regret  to  record  the  heroic  deaths  of  five 
Sisters  of  Charitv,  said  to  be  nurses  at  the  Scinta 
Rosa  Orphan  Home,  San  Antonia.  Texas,  who  lost 
their  lives  in  gallantlv  rescuing  the  children  at  an 
outbreak  of  fire.  The  Mother  Superior,  Man,- 
Rossiter,  a  native  of  Wexford,  Sister  Stevens  and 
Sister  Nolan,  of  Dublin,  are  amongst  those  who 
succumbed.  .'Ml  except  two  of  the  hundred 
children    were  rescued. 


REPORT    OF    THE    PROGRESS    OF    THE 
MOVEMENT    FOR    THEIR    PREVENTION. 

The  Federation  number  of  Social  Diseases, 
published  by  the  Societ\-  of  Sanitarv  and  IMoral 
Prophylaxis,  105,  West  Fortieth  Street,  New 
York,  is  devoted  to  reportmg  the  papers  presented 
at  tlic  .\nnual  Meeting  of  the  American  Federation 
for  Sex  Hygiene  this  vear,  held  at  Atlantic  City. 
Many  of  the  papers  were  of  extreme  value,  and  we 
quote  from  two  of  them,  below,  as  fullv  as  the 
brief  space  at  our  disposal  will  permit. 
The  Situation. 

Dr.  Talcott  Williams,  Director  of  the  School  of 
Journalism  at  Columbia  University,  dealing  with 
"  The  Situation,"^'  said  that  "  No  movement  for 
social  reform  has  made  a  more  rapid  and  sig- 
nificant progress  in  five  vears  than  has  the  one 
represented  bj-  tliis  gathering.  A  subject  scarcely 
mentioned  outside  of  technical  journals,  a  topic 
whose  discussion  was  shunned,  a  purpose  which 
no  one  publicly  a%-owed  have,  all  three,  become 
common  public  property." 

Our  Problem. 

Dr.  George  R.  Dobson  (a  doctor  of  divinity) 
took  for  the  subject  of  his  address,  "  Our  Problem  : 
a  Survey  and  a  Forecast."  He  pointed  out  that 
"  Until  recently  men  have  spelled  evil  with  a 
capital  E.  They  have  regarded  it  as  a  meta- 
physical principle  inwrought  in  the  constitution 
of  things,  and  consequently  insuperable  and 
eternal.  Those  who  think  in  this  way  naturally 
assume  the  attitude  of  submission  and  resignation. 
The  utmost  they  attempt  is  to  palliate  what  they 
have  no  hope  of  being  able  to  overcome.  A  more 
fruitful  and  hopeful  view  is  now  gaining  acceptance. 
Evils  are  being  dealt  with  in  detail,  their  special 
causes  are  studied,  and  as  they  are  discovered, 
controlled.  Our  men  of  science  have  won  the 
victory  over  malaria,  yellow  fever,  small  pox, 
and  the  bubonic  plague.  Other  great  scourges 
of  the  race  are  doomed,  it  being  now  only  a 
question  of  time,  and  in  some  cases — as  in  that  of 
typhoid  fever — success  waits  merely  upon  a 
better  civil  administration. 

"  Another  discovery  has  recently  been  made 
which  illuminates  the  whole  situation  and  is 
profoundly  encouraging.  It  has  been  found  that 
vice  in  our  great  cities  is  not  a  necessary  social 
phenomenon,  deriving  its  inevitability  from  the 
unconquerable  strength  of  the  sex  passion,  but 
that  in  its  main  aspects  it  is  a  commercialised 
business,  which  is  organised  and  promoted  for 
the  sake  of  gain.  Neither  poverty,  nor  love  of 
finery,  nor  cra\ang  for  affection,  nor  degeneracy, 
nor  all  the  causes  and  influences  making  for  the 
debasement  of  women  which  students  of  prostitu- 
tion have  ever  noted  are  sufficient  to  secure  for 
the  promoters  of  vice  an  adequate  supply  of 
women.  It  has  therefore  been  necessar\-  to 
organise  the  white  slave  trade,  and  send  agents 
out  to  scour  the  world  for  defenceless  and  unwary 


November),  1912  U,I)C  BrittSl?  SOUmal   of  TRllU^HUj. 


383 


girls,  and  to  systematically  entrap  multitudes  of 
mere  children.  On  the  other  hand,  to  secure 
patrons  lor  their  houses,  these  men  and  women 
who  are  in  the  business  for  the  money  that  is  to 
be  made  out  of  it,  find  it  necessary  to  make 
subtle  appeals  to  the  senses  of  young  men,  to 
lure  them  to  vice  by  suggestions  of  gaiety  and  fun, 
and  to  break  down  their  inner  restraints  bv  the  use 
of  alcohol.  That  is,  the  love  of  numcy  rather  than 
insurgent  impulse  is  the  root  of  much  of  this  evil. 

"  This  discovery  is  of  capital  importance. 
For  it  means  that  we  are  not  in  the  position  of 
having  to  fight  nature  or  to  deal  with  a  volume 
of  vice  that  is  a  fixed  quantity  upon  which  we 
can  have  no  other  effect  than  that  of  forcing  it 
to  change  its  location  or  form.  We  have  to  do, 
in  a  large  part,  with  a  disreputable  business  which 
flourishes  only  in  concealment  and  which  withers 
in  the  light.  Mr.  \V.  \V.  Hallam  shows  that 
whenever  a  city  takes  the  profit  out  of  vice  it 
immediately  reduces  its  volume,  since  this  'varies 
greatly  with  the  presence  or  absence  of  temptation 
or  opportunity,  and  the  character  of  the  men  in 
a  city.'  During  the  recent  police  investigation 
in  Chicago,  '  when  two-thirds  or  more  of  the 
vice  districts  of  the  city  were  closed,  the  remaining 
one-third  was  greatly  disappointed  to  find  a 
falling  ofi  of  business,  instead  of  the  increased 
amount  they  had  expected.'  " 

Another  point  brought  out  by  the  speaker  was 
the  tender  ages  of  the  little  girls  sacrificed  to  the 
supposed  necessity  for  incurable  vice.  When  a 
rescue  home  was  opened  recently  in  Chicago  a 
number  of  the  inmates  wanted  to  plav  with  dolls, 
and  several  of  them  brought  dolls  of  their  own 
which  they  had  kept  with  them  through  all  their 
vicissitudes.  "  Quite  recently,"  said  Dr.  Dobson, 
"  I  visited  a  home  for  semi-delinquent  girls, 
against  each  one  of  whom  stood  a  grave  charge 
invohnng  the  loss  of  her  chastity.  I  had  come 
to  a  home  prepared  to  lecture  the  inmates.  I 
remained  to  dress  dolls  with  a  handful  of  little 
girls,  who  eagerly  asked  questions  about  the  dolls 
I  had  once  possessed  in  a  childhood  which  seemed 
to  them  remote."  "  Where,"  asks  Dr.  Howafd 
Kelly,  "  shall  we  look  to  recruit  the  ever  failing 
ranks  of  these  poor  creatures  as  ihcv  die  yearly 
by  the  tens  of  thousands  ?  Which  of  the  little 
girls  of  our  land  shall  we  designate  for  this  foul 
traffic  ?  Mark  their  sweet  innocence  to-dav  .  .  . 
which  of  them  shall  we  snatch  as  they  approach 
maturity,  to  supply  this  foul  mart  ?  " 

Again,  Miss  Jane  Addams  writes  : — "  A  sur- 
prising number  of  little  girls  have  first  become 
involved  in  wrong-doing  through  the  men  of  their 
own  household.  A  recent  inquiry  among  a  hundred 
and  thirty  girls,  living  in  a  sordid  red  light  district, 
disclosed  the  fact  that  a  majority  of  them  had 
thus  been  ^^ctimised,  and  the  wrong  had  come  to 
them  so  early  that  they  had  been  despoiled  at  an 
average  age  of  eight  years." 

We  strongly  advise  our  readers  to  procure  and 
study  for  themselves  this  pamphlet  and  the  most 
interesting  papers  it  contains.  y^  3 


THE    IMER.NATIONAL   JOl'RN.ALS 
OF    NURSING. 


International  sympathy  is  evidently  very  keen 
amongst  the  Nurses  of  the  world,  and  nothing 
has  done  more  to  inspire  it  than  the  wonderful 
oneness  of  our  National  Nursing  Journals. 
Throughout  the  professional  Journals  there  is 
a  quite  remarkable  unanimity  of  thought  and 
purpose,  ^^■e  all  stand  for  the  same  code  of  ethics, 
the  same  demand  for  cflicient  educational  stand- 
ards, the  same  power  of  self-government,  so  tliat 
•  it  may  be  possible  to  do  our  duty.  WTierever 
professional  organisation  takes  place,  such 
organisations  must  have  an  unbribable  organ  in 
the  press  to  voice  the  best  interests  of  the  pro- 
fession and  the  public  it  serves. 

Thus  each  National  Council  of  Nurses  as  it 
affihates  with  the  International  Council,  becomes 
through  its  official  organ  a  far-reaching  influence 
in  support  of  professional  solidarity.  Let  us,  as 
editors  of  such  journals,  with  one  pen,  be  loyal 
to  those  high  ideals  for  which  internationalism 
stands. 

OUR   INTERNATIONAL    ORGANS. 

The  British  Jocrxal  of  Nursing 

Great  Britain  and  Ireland. 
The  American  Journal  of  Nursing 

United  States  of  America. 
Unterm  Lazaruskreuz    . .  . .  .  .    Germany. 

The  Canadian  Nurse      .  .  .  .       Canada. 

Tidsskri/i  for  Sygepleje  .  .  .  .    Denmark. 

Nosokomos  .  .  . .  .  .  Holland. 

Epione      .  .  .  .  .  .  Finland. 

The  Nursing  Journal  of  I iidi'.i  ..  India. 

Kai  Tiaki  . .  .  .  . .         New  Zealand. 

American  nurses  have  also  The  Pacific  Coast 
Journal  of  Nursing,  supported  by  the  nurses  of  the 
States  of  California,  C3rcgon,  and  \\'asliington, 
and  ably-  edited  by  Miss  Genevieve  Cooke. 

In  France,  La  Garde  Malade  Hospitaliire, 
edited  by  Dr.  Aima  Hamilton,  stands  for  high 
professional  standards. 

The  official  organ  of  the  Swedish  Nurses' 
Association,  Svensk  Sjukskoterskeiidning,  also 
voices  the  aspirations  of  professional  nurses ;  so 
that  the  need  for  such  journals  is  amply 
demonstrated. 

What  Miss  Sophia  F.  Palmer,  the  editor  of  the 
American  Journal  of  Nursing,  in  giving  a  short 
report  of  the  life  of  the  journal,  states  as  its 
raison  d'etre,  may  be  said  of  all  the  of&cial  organs. 

It  was  established  in  the  beginning,  not  to  com- 
pete with  other  magazines  in  the  field,  not  to  try 
to  run  them  out  of  business,  not  to  interfere  with 
them  in  any  way,  but  that  we  might  have  a 
medium  through  which  our  own  nursing  standards 
and  our  nursing  ideals  could  be  placed  before  the 
world,  and  be  distributed  among  ourselves  un- 
restricted by  the  influences  of  any  other  body  of 
people." 


3f^4 


dbc  36i1t(5b  3ounial  of  IFlurslng. 


Kovcnihcr  g,  1912 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


WOMEN. 

The  Society  of  Women  Jovimalists  are  to  be 
congratulated  upon  the  success  of  their  annual 
dinner,  held  at  the  Criterion  Restaurant  on  the 
evening  of  the  2nd  inst.  Mrs.  Charles  Perrin 
presided,  and  was  supported  by  200  members  and 
their  friends.  The  'dinner  was  excellent,  the 
speeches  brilliant,  and  the  dresses  charmingly 
attractive,  .so  that  altogether  the  function,  it 
was  agreed,  was  as  delightful  as  any  gathering 
organised  b}-  the  society. 

Mrs.  Perrin,  in  proposing  the  health  of  "  Our 
Guests,"  spoke  of  the  esprit  de  corps  of  journalists 
as  evidenced  by  the  attendance  of  so  many  dis- 
tinguished men,  and  said  it  must  inevitably  tend 
to  the  mutual  benefit  of  both  sexes.  In  reply, 
Mr.  Sidney  Low  remarked  that  the  employment  of 
women  in  journalism  was  one  of  the  most  grati- 
fying and  ad\-antageous  developments  of  the  Press 
which  the  age  had  witnessed. 
»  Lord  Northcliffe  proposed  the  toast  of  "  The 
Society  of  Women  Journalists,"  and  expressed  the 
opinion  that  the  reason  why  women  were  ideal 
journalists  was  because  of  their  powers  of  quick 
observation,  their  sympathy,  and  pertifiacity,  and 
journalism  was  an  ideal  profession  for  women, 
because  it  is  not  necessarily  one  of  the  tedious 
forms  of  toil  demanding  long  hours  away  from 
home. 

W'oman's  influence  in  Fleet  Street  has  been 
a  good  one.  Lord  Northcliffe  concluded  his 
speech  : — "  To  the  woman  reader  who  has  been 
created  by  the  woman  writer  I  attribute  not  a 
little  of  the  elimination  of  crime,  indecency,  puffery, 
and  mournful  accounts  of  the  last  meals  of  the 
condemned  which  adorned  the  leading  morning 
papers  until  ven,.-,  verv  recently,  as  I  can  easily  prove 
or  you  could  see  for  yourselves.  But  perhaps  old 
newspapers,  like  old  love-letters,  are  best  left 
unread,  so  I  will  thank  you  for  your  patience  and 
ask  you  to  join  with  me  in  drinking  the  health  of 
this  delightful  society,  and  equal  opportunity  and 
equal  remuneration  for  men  and  women  in  the 
field  of  journalism." 

Mrs.  Thompson  Price,  ^■ice-Chairman  of  the 
society,  in  a  witty  speech,  thanked  Lord  North- 
cliffe for  his  complimentary  remarks,  and  said  she 
thought  they  were  well  deserved.  The  aim  of  the 
society  was  to  raise  the  status  of  the  woman 
journalist  throughout  the  world. 

The  ceremony  of  presenting  Mrs.  \Mlloughby 
Hodgson,  the  late  popular  Hon.  Secretary,  with 
the  gift  of  a  diamond  ring  was  charmingly  per- 
formed by  Mrs.  Perrin.  The  toast  of  ' '  The 
President  "  was  proposed  by  I\Irs.  Herbert  Cohen, 
who  referred  in  high  praise  to  her  term  of  office. 

A  conversazione  and  delightful  music  concluded 
a  very  memorable  gathering. 


Women  Journalists  in  succession  to  Mrs.  Perrin. 
The  new  President  needs  no  introduction  to  the 
readers  of  this  Journal,  as  for  ten  years  she  contri- 
buted in  her  own  inimitable  style  the  Review  of 
Books  of  the  M'eck. ' '  Moreover,  she  is  a  sister  of 
the  late  Miss  Daisv  Robins,  who  devoted  some  of 
the  best  years  of  her  life  to  furthering  the  interests 
of  trained  nurses,  as  Secretary  of  the  British  Nurses' 
Association  in  its  early  and  palmy  days. 


BOOK  OF  THE  WEEK. 


Mrs.  Baillie  Reynolds,  the  Chairman  of  Council, 
has    been    elected    President    of    the    Society   of 


"  YONDER."* 

A  devout  nature-worshipper  like  S.  H.  Young 
can  never  be  commonplace  or  dull.  "  Yonder  " 
is  a  singularly  well-chosen  title  for  the  latest  work 
of  this  gifted  author.  Elusiveness  is  its  inost 
characteristic  feature  ;  and  to  be,  rather  than  to 
do,  the  distinguishing  mark  of  the  delightful 
personalities  with  whom  we  are  made  acquainted. 
But  we  must  confess  that  we  are  rather  dis- 
appointed that  so  little  is  achieved.  It  is  really 
seldom  that  one  wishes  to  read  a  novel  a  second 
time  but  "  Yonder  "  is  an  exception.  When  the 
last  page  was  in  sight,  and  we  had  nearly  decided 
that  we  were  disappointed,  the  knowledge  came  to 
us  that  this  is  sometliing  more  than  a  charmingly 
told  tale  ;  and,  perforce,  we  must  re-peruse  its 
pages,  go  far  below  the  surface,  and  make  its 
secrets  our  own. 

Just  study  the  description  of  Bessie,  the  general 
factotum  in  Edward  Webb's  familj^. 

"  On  Sunday,  Bessie,  having  washed  up  the 
dinner  things  by  a  miracle  of  speed,  had  emerged 
to  the  light  of  day.  Theresa  always  tried  to  catch 
a  glimpse  of  her  on  these  occasions,  for  she  never 
could  feel  that  this  was  the  same  person  who, 
moving  amid  dimness,  clad  in  drab  colours, 
besmirched  with  black,  had  cooked  the  breakfast. 
For,  on  Sunday  and  the  weekly  night  out,  she 
seemed  to  leave  herself  in  her  bedroom,  and  bring 
forth  a  cruder  creature,  gowned  in  bright-blue  and 
shadowless.  Theresa  felt  she  did  not  know  this 
person  ;  that  the  real  Bessie  was  upstairs  in  her 
room.  She  pictured  a  being  without  a  body,  but 
with  the  form  of  it  ;  as  much  like  a  skeleton-leaf 
as  a  human  body  can  be,  sitting  on  the  edge  of  the 
bed,  until  the  blue  girl  should  return  ;  and  when 
the  dusk  fell  she  avoided  the  topmbst  landing  of 
the  tall  house,  for  she  was  afraid  of  what  Bessie 
had  left  up  there." 

After  these  imaginings  we  must  know  more  of 
fiery  little  Theresa. 

\\licn  she  was  grown  to  years  of  discretion  she 
could  tangibly  account  for  her  loneliness  as  follows  : 

."  She  knew  there  was  something  in  her  nature 
which  could  not  be  easily  satisfied,  but  she  did  not 
know  liow  to  feed  it,  it  was  always  piteously 
hungr\-,  and  even  when  she  had  drugged  it  with 
the  sweet  drink  of  gaiety  and  laughter  she  could 
hear  its  muffled  weeping  deep  down  in  lier  heart." 

*  By  S.  H.  Young.     (W.  Heinemann,  London.) 


November  g,  igi: 


tTbc  Britisb  3ournaI  of  H'lureino 


385 


Of  course  the  love  of  a  good  man,  as  he  happened 
not  to  be  the  right  one,  only  accentuated  tliis 
condition,  and  after  a  short  engagement  she 
reproaches  herself  after  this  fashion  : — 

"  No,  I  don't  want  Basil  back,  but  I  want  my 
wholeness  back.  I  had  no  right  to  give  him  any- 
thing, poor  soul,  and  I  feel  there  arc  little  bits  of 
me  strewed  everywhere."  She  did  not  think 
this  was  fair  on  the  possible  other  person.  The 
other  person  was,  of  course,  Alexander,  who 
lived  among  the  hills  and  loved  them  as  she  did. 

Even  at  the  dramatic  scenes  which  mark  the 
close  of  the  book  he  cannot  but  tell  her  of  his  love. 
Here  arc  my  hands,"  she  says  to  him.  She 
put  them  shaking  into  his,  then  snatched  them  from 
him.  "  No,"  she  said,  and  knelt  beside  the  water. 
"  Look,  I  am  wasliing  them  in  water  from  the 
hills,  because  I  once  lent  them  to  someone  else. 
I  only  lent  them,  Alexander.  Oh,  do  you  think 
they're  clean  ?  " 

"  Oh,  my  heather  flower,"  he  said,  "  my 
heather  flower  !  " 

There  arc  many  other  persons  and  incidents  the 
drawing  of  which  deserves  high  praise.  We 
commend  to  our  readers  a  careful  study  of  this 
book. 

If.  H. 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


COMING    EVENTS. 

November  12th.- — The  Infants'  Hospital,  V'incent 
Square,  S.W.  Lectures  on  "  Babies."  "  Substitute 
Feeding,"  by  Dr.  Ralph  Vincent.     3.30  p.m. 

November  12th. — \\hite  Slave  Traffic.  Great 
L'nitcd  Demonstration  of  l\Ien  and  Women, 
London  Opera  House,  Kingsway,  8  p.m. 

November  i^th-i6th. — Baby  Land  and  Health 
Exhibition,  in  aid  of  the  Leeds  Babies' 
Welcome,  and  West  Riding  Nursing  Association, 
Leeds  Town  Hall. 

November  i^th.- — General  Meeting,  Leagiie  of 
St.  John's  House  Nurses,  12,  Queen  Square,  W.C. 
3  p.m. 

November  20th. — Irish  Nurses'  .Association,  34, 
St.  Stephen's  Green,  Dublin.  "  The  Health  of  the 
Child,"  illustrated  by  lantern  slides,  by  Dr. 
McVittie. 

November  20th. — National  Council  of  Women  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  Extraordinary  Meeting 
"  To  Consider  the  Position  of  Women  imder  the 
Franchise  and  Registration  Bill  now  before 
Parliament."  Central  Hall,  Westminster,  10.30 
a.m. 

November  22,rd. — National  Council  of  Nurses  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  Annual  Meeting  of 
Grand  Council.  Tea,  4  p.m.  Meeting,  4.30  p.m., 
431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W. 


WORD     FOR 

Then  said  Christian, 
back  is  nothing  but  death ;  to  go  forward  is  fear 
of  death,  and  Life  everlsisting  beyond  it.  I  will 
yet  go  forward." 

BUNYAN. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  for  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


THE     WEEK. 

I  must  \cnturc.     To  go 


A     HISTORY     OF     NURSING. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
I  Dear  Editor, — I  shall  be  indebted  to  you  if 
you  will  give  me  a  little  space  for  bringing  to  your 
readers'  attention  the  forthcoming  final  volumes 
of  "  A  History  of  Nursing."  Instead  of  a  tlrird 
volume  there  are  two,  third  and  fourth,  bringing 
the  details  of  nursing  advance  closely  up-to-date. 

What  I  wish  to  impress  on  your  readers'  minds 
is  that  these  two  last  volumes  have  been  given  to 
the  International  Council  of  Nurses  and  are 
to  be  sold  for  the  benefit  of  its  treasury.  All 
royalties  from  their  sale  will  go  to  aid  that  treasury. 
Another  thing  important  to  remember  is  that  the 
last  two  volumes  may  be  bought  separately  from 
the  first. 

The  price  of  the  two  final  volumes  is  the  same 
as  that  of  the  others — five  dollars  (/i) — and  as 
tliis  is  beyond  the  means  of  many  individuals,  I 
make  the  following  suggestions  : — 

Let  all  hospitals  and  training  schools  be  asked 
and  urged  to  buy  the  History  for  their  libraries. 
All  the  nurses'  clubs,  homes  and  hostels  should 
do  the  same.  Then,  training  school  directors 
might  be  persuaded  to  give  their  most  meritorious 
pupils  copies  of  it  as  a  prize  or  reward  when  they 
receive  their  certificates.  ISIedical,  as  well  as  general 
libraries  also  should  possess  it.  If  all  these  methods 
of  pusliing  the  sale  of  the  third  and  fourth  volumes 
were  followed,  especially  in  English-speaking 
countries,  and  if  every  year  those  nurses  who  are 
able  to  do  so,  would  buy  it,  we  should  in  time  have 
a  very  fair  income  for  our  international  tretisury, 
which  would  enable  us  to  maintain  a  paid  secretary 
and  to  carry  on  international  work  more  regularly 
and  effectively  than  we  can  do  now  when  all  such 
work  is  volunteer,  unpaid  labour. 

Another  thing  I  will  ask  nurses  to  do  is  to  have 
copies  of  the  volumes  of  the  History  at  all  large 
meetings,  so  that  it  nray  be  seen  and  thus  adver- 
tised. This  is  an  easy  tliirrg  to  do,  and  is  useful. 

The  History  will  be  procurable  froni  all  book- 
sellers, or  the  publishers,  G.  P.  I'ulnam's  Sons, 
London  and  New  York. 

Lavinia  L.  Dock, 
Honorary  Secretary, 
International  Council  of  Nurses 

Henry  Street  Settleinent, 
New  York. 

(We  are  inclined  to  think  that  these  four  volumes 
of  "  A  History  of  Nursing  "  should  be  clasesd  as 
text  books  for  study  in  nursing  schools.  As 
prizes  they  arc  invaluable. — Ed.) 


386 


tbc  Britisb  Jounial  of  Bursino 


November  g,  igi: 


THE    FIRST=FRU1TS. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dear  Madam, — I  lia\'e  been  greatly  surprised 
that  the  Bart.'s  League  of  Nurses,  with  few 
exceptions,  appear  to  take  Httle  interest  in  the 
progress  of  nursing  education,  and  well  remember 
two  years  ago,  when  it  was  proposed  to  raise 
a  fund  in  memory  of  our  dear  Matron,  Miss  Isla 
Stewart,  how  few  appeared  to  appreciate  the  form 
it  took — in  sending  a  member  to  New  York  to 
study  at  Teachers  College  under  Miss  Nutting. 
"  What  can  they  teach  us  in  America  we  do 
not  know  ?  "  asked  Sister  Self-Satisfied.  In  spite 
of  this  insular  attitude  of  mind  the  money  was 
raised,  and  Miss  M.  S.  Rundle,  as  the  Isla  Stewart 
Scholar  spent  a  year  in  New  York  as  a  pupil  at 
Teachers  College. 

When  she  returned  she  took  up  a  subordinate 
post  at  the  Royal  Free  Hospital,  and  Sister  Self- 
Satisfied  again  questioned  "  Wliat  can  she  do 
there  ?     Money  thrown  in  the  ditch." 

A  short  time  ago  INIiss  Rundle  began  her  work 
as  ;\latron  of  the  Royal  Hospital  for  Diseases  of 
the  Chest,  City  Road.  That  was  the  climax  for 
poor  Sister  S.  S.  Yet  how  true  it  is  that 
knowledge  is  power,  and  can  always  be  turned 
to  account. 

Your  editorial  of  the  12th.  in  which  was 
announced  the  founding  of  "  A  School  for  Special 
Training  in  the  Nursing  of  Tuberculosis  "  gave 
me  unqualified  satisfaction. 

"A  school,"  "  special  training,"  "preliminary 
and  post  graduate,"  "  thorough  teaching  " — that  is 
just  what  is  needed  by  nurses  if  they  are  to  take  their 
rightful  part  in  the  great  anti-tuberculosis  campaign 
all  over  the  country.  One  wonders  if  the  Isla  Stewart 
Scholar  had  spent  all  her  time  within  Henry  the 
Eighth's  Gate  slie  would  have  evolved'  this 
excellent  curriculum,  or  would  have  been  content 
to  follow  along  beaten  tracks. 

Anyway,  those  of  us  who  subscribed  for  a 
"  Scholar  "  feel  we  are  to  have  a  very  good  return 
for  our  money,  and  we  hope  that  great  numbers 
of  nurses  will  avail  themseh'cs  of  the  special 
teaching  at  the  Royal  Hospital  for  Diseases  of 
the  Chest,  and  carry  far  and  wide  the  valuable 
knowledge  they  acquire  there.  Nothing  would 
have  pleased  the  founder  of  our  League  more, 
were  she  still  with  us,  than  to  see  her  nurses  well 
equipped  to  help  to  stamp  out  tuberculosis. 
Yours  truly, 
A  Member  League  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital  Nurses. 
(It  certainly  is  wonderful  how  things  pan  out. 
Now  we  want  the  members  of  the  League  to 
endozv  a  scholarship  in  memory  of  Miss  Isla  Stewart, 
so  that  in  perpetuity  it  should  be  available  for 
nurses  trained  at  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital 
to  go  out  and  learn  from  others  the  best  methods 
in  the  various  branches  of  their  profession.  We 
want  at  least  ;^2, 000  to  endow  this  scheme,  and  with 
700  members  there  should  not  be  any  real  difficulty. 
Subscriptions  may  be  sent  to  Mrs.  Shuter,  Cleve- 
and  House,  Chiswick  Lane,  W. — Ed.) 


REPLIES     TO     CORRESPONDENTS. 

Sister  T.  {London). — The  great  value  of  a 
Nurses'  League  is  that  every  nurse  certificated  in 
the  school  of  the  hospital  to  which  it  is  attached 
has  a  voice  in  its  management,  and  keeps  in  touch 
with  her  colleagues  wherever  they  may  be.  At 
the  meetings  a  nurse  learns  to  conduct  business,  to 
speak,  and  to  take  an  unselfish  interest  in  those 
who  may  be  less  fortunate  than  herself.  Lectures 
and  social  gatherings  can  be  paid  for  out  of  League 
funds,  and  through  the  National  Council  of 
Nurses  each  unit  can  be  associated  with  the  nurses 
of  the  world,  through  the  International  Council, 
a  most  educative  organisation,  as  those  who  have 
attended  International  meetings  can  testify. 
Leagues  which  "  keep  themselves  to  themselves  " 
lose  much  of  the  spirit  and  benefit  of  professional 
comradeship. 

1'.  IF.,  Isle  of  Wight. — You  will  find  "  Practical 
Nursing,"  by  the  late  Miss  Isla  Stewart  and  Dr. 
Herbert  Cuff,  published  by  Messrs.  William  Black- 
wood &.  Sons,  37,  Paternoster  Row,  E.C.,  5s.  net  ; 
"  Nursing  :  Its  Principles  and  Practice,"  by  the 
late  Mrs.  Hampton  Robb,  published  by  E.  C. 
Koeckert,  715,  Rose  Building,  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
price  8s.  4d.  ;  and  "  Practical  Nursing  :  a  Text- 
book for  Nurses,  and  a  Hand-book  for  all  who  care 
for  the  Sick,"  by  Miss  Anna  C.  Maxwell  and  Miss 
A.  E.  Pope,  published  by  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons, 
24,  Bedford  Street,  Strand,  price  6s.  net — all  very 
useful  books. 


THE  SWEATING  OF  VILLAGE  NURSES. 

Our  criticism  of  Mr.  H.  R.  Bruxner's  letter 
which  appeared  last  week,  and  letters  referring 
to  the  above  subject,  are  unavoidably  held  over 
until  next  week.  The  space  available  in  this 
Journal  is  now  far  too  limited  for  the  numerous 
subjects  of  interest  with  which  we  are  invited  to 
deal. 


OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS. 

November  i6th. — State  successful  nrethods  of 
treatment  for  constipation  ? 

November  lyd. — How  should  a  nurse  care  for 
her  hands  so  that  they  are  kept  in  the  best  condi- 
tion for  use  in  the  sick  room  ? 

November  2,0th. — What  form  of  infection  is  likely 
to  follow  the  retention  of  a  piece  of'  the  placenta 
after  delivery,  and  what  are  its  characteristics  ? 

OUR    CHRISTMAS     COMPETITION. 


TOYS    FOR    TIMES. 

Four  Five  Shilling  Prizes  will  be  awarded  in 
December  for  the  best  toys  made  at  the  cost  of 
not  more  than  6d.  The  toys  must  be  sent  to  the 
Editorial  Office,  20,  Upper  Wimpole  Street, 
London,  W.,  by  December  14th,  with  the  coupon 
which  will  appear  in  the  issue  of  December  7th. 
All  the  toys  will  be  distributed  to  poor  children 
under  five  years  of  age,  so  they  should  be  made 
to  meet  the  tastes  of  tinies. 


November  g,  1912  ^bc  Bvitlsb  3ournaI  of  IRureing  Supplement. 

The   Midwife. 


387 


BACILLURIA   DURING   PREGNANCY. 


Dr.  W.  Hale  White,  in  the  course  of  an 
address  on  "  The  Importance  of  Examining  the 
Urine  Bacteriolog-ically,"  delivered  at  the  open- 
ing meeting  of  the  Derby  Medical  Society  and 
published  in  the  Lancet,  spoke  as  follows  on  1 
"  Bacilluria  during  Pregnancy  "  : — 

"  A  few  years  ago  we  were  ignorant  of  the 
existence  of  bacillus  coli  in  the  urine  of  preg- 
nant women ;  now  we  know  it  to  be  common. 
One  wonders  to  what  the  illness  of  the  patients 
was  formerly  ascribed.  As  far  as  I  can  remem- 
ber the  first  case  of  bacillus  coli  infection  in 
pregnancy  which  I  recognised  was  admitted 
under  me  seven  vears  ago ;  the  urine  contained 
a  pure  culture.  Since  then  1  have  seen  many 
cases,  and  I  do  not  think  that  now  they  ought 
to  be  overlooked.  The  symptoms  associated 
with  the  micro-organisms  vary  very  much  in 
severity,  so  much  so  that  we  want  a  systematic 
examination  of  the  urine  of  some  hundreds  of 
pregnant  women,  for  often  the  symptoms  are 
so  slight  that  it  is  difficult  to  avoid  a  suspicion 
that  the  bacilli  may  be  found  in  the  urine  of 
pregnant  women  even  when  there  are  no 
symptoms  suggesting  that  they  are  there. 
Certainlv  the  symptoms  often  subside  and  yet 
the  bacilli  remain ;  for  how  long  we  do  not 
know.  It  would  be  a  very  valuable  observa- 
tion to  examine  the  urine  of  these  patients 
systematically  at  regular  intervals  for  months 
after  the  disappearnce  of  clinical  symptoms. 
We  at  present  have  much  to  learn  about  the 
disease,  for  as  the  symptoms  vary  so  much, 
and  the  bacilli  are  still  present  after  the 
symptoms  have  disappeared,  either  the  micro- 
organisms themselves  must  be  very  change- 
able, or  other  factors  than  the  bacilli  must  con- 
tribute to  determine  the  clinical  variety  of  the 
patient's  illness.  We  have  already  seen  that 
there  is  as  yet  no  perfect  explanation  as  to  why 
colon  bacilli  should  appear  in  the  urine  during 
pregnancy  ;  there  certainly  is  a  liability  for  them 
to  be  found  there  in  other  conditions,  for  they 
are  bv  far  the  commonest  pathogenic  micro- 
organism in  the  urine.  They  are  found  in 
nervous  diseases,  after  typhoid  fever,  and 
during  tubercular  peritonitis.  The  symptoms 
of  coli  infection  of  the  urine  in  pregnant  women 
are  the  same  as  in  those  who  are  not  pregnant, 
and  in  both  there  may  be  either  cystitis,  pyelitis, 
or  pyelonephritis,   and  these  may  exist  in  the 


same  patient.  The  right  kidney  is  much  more 
often  affected  than  the  left,  but  both  may  be 
affected.  We  have  already  considered  several 
examples  of  the  condition  in  women  who  are 
not  pregnant,  so  there  is  no  need  to  give  other 
examples  taken  from  those  who  are.  The  best 
way  to  avoid  missing  these  cases  is  always  to 
think  of  the  possibility  that  the  presence  of 
bacillus  coli  may  explain  illnesses  that  occur 
during  pregnancy.  Sometimes  the  symptoms 
are  so  trivial  that  their  true  cause  is  over- 
looked ;  sometimes  they  are  so  severe  that  they 
mislead,  as  the  following  case  shows.  A  pale 
young  woman  was,  during  the  fifth  month  of 
her  first  pregnancy,  seized  with  severe  fever, 
and  the  temperature  remained  raised  for  seven 
weeks.  She  had  a  hamic  murmur  which  led  to 
a  diagnosis  of  malignant  endocarditis,  and  con- 
sequently a  very  bad  prognosis  was  given. 
Later  on  the  urine  was  examined  and  found  to 
contain  some  pus  and  plenty  of  bacillus  coli. 
She  was  treated  with  urotropine  and  an  auto- 
genous vaccine ;  she  got  quite  well  and  was 
confined  at  full  time  of  a  healthy  child.  The 
following  case  shows  how  little  may  be  wrong 
with  the  urinary  tract  and  yet  how  ill  the  patient 
may  be.  A  young  married  woman  was  ad- 
mitted during  the  sixth  month  of  her  second 
pregnancy.  She  was  suddenly  seized  with 
acute  pains  in  the  abdomen,  especially  on  the 
right  side.  The  pain  was  so  severe  that  she  was 
brought  at  once  to  the  hospital  and  admitted 
immediately.  Her  temperature  was  103°  F., 
and  there  was  some  diarrhoea.  She  had  had 
slight  frequency  of  micturition ;  she  was  tender 
over  the  right  kidney  and  ureter,  but  the  urine 
only  contained  minute  quantities  of  pus  but 
plenty  of  colon  bacilli.  She  was  very  ill  and 
her  temperature  was  often  103°  for  a  week  after 
admission,  but  under  the  usual  treatment  she 
got  quite  well.  I  have  not  seen  any  case  so 
severe  that  the  patient  has  not  got  well  by 
medical  treatment.  As  far  as  my  experience 
at  present  goes  it  is  never  necessary  to  induce 
premature  labour  nor  to  perform  any  operation 
upon  the  affected  kidney." 

The  above  cases  will  be  of  much  interest  to 
midwives,  who  are  frequently  brought  into 
contact  with  pregnant  women  and  are  often 
puzzled  by  the  symptoms  they  detail.  They 
must,  of  course,  refer  the  patients  to  a  medical 
practitioner,  but  it  simplifies  matters  if,  in 
doing  so,  they  can  give  an  accurate  account 
of  the  patient's  condition. 


:88 


^bc  Britisb  3ouvnal  of  Buvsino  Supplement,  voi^cmbe.  9, 1912 


THE  CENTRAL  MIDWIVES  BOARD. 

The  Next  Examination. 
The  next  examination  of  the  Central  Midvvi\es 
Board  will  be  held  in  London  on  December  i6tli, 
1012.     The  Oral  Examination  will  follow  a  few 
days  later. 


THE      NATIONAL      ASSOCIATION       FOR 

THE     PREVENJION     OF     INFANT 

MORTALITY. 

An  organization  with  the  above  title  has  been 
formed  under  the  leadership  of  Sir  Thomas  Barlow. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Women  Pharmacists'  Associa- 
tion Dr.  C.  W.  Saleeby  stated  that  the  object  of 
the  Association  is  to  secure  the  fullest  advantage 
to  the  mother  and  the  baby  of  the  Maternity 
Benefit  under  the  National  Insurance  Act,  and  to 
look  after  the  child  until  it  is  of  school  age. 


THE      GENERAL      MEDICAL      COUNCIL 
AND     THE     MATERNITY     BENEFIT. 

The  General  Medical  Council  has  forwarded  a 
memorandum  to  the  National  Insurance  Com- 
missioners, and  has  issued  a  report,  prepared  by 
a  Committee,  dealing  with  the  possible  effect  of 
the  Insurance  Act  on  the  education  of  students 
of  midwifery.  The  Council  apprehends  that  the 
regulations  for  the  administration  of  maternitv 
benefit  may,  unless  suitably  framed,  have  an 
adverse  effect  on  the  educational  functions  of 
lying-in  hospital.s'and  maternity  institutions  and 
has  incorporated  certain  suggestions  in  its 
memorandum  with  the  object  of  obviating  tliis 
danger. 

The  first  possible  effect  with  which  the  memo- 
randum deals  is  that  women  who  enter  the  above 
hospitals  for  their  confinements  may  forfeit  their 
right  to  maternity  benefit,  and  will  not  therefore 
seek  admission.  In  that  case  the  work  of  the 
training  of  students  and  pupil  midwives  will 
lapse.  The  Committee  of  the  General  Medical 
Council  consider  that  if  suitable  regulations  are 
framed  this  difficulty  may  be  overcome.  They 
are  also  of  opinion  that  the  regulations  should  be 
so  framed  as  to  recognize  the  certificate  of  the 
responsible  official  of  an  outdoor  maternity 
institution  concerned  with  training  students 
and  midwives  as  fulfilling  the  requirements  of 
the  Act  in  respect  of  the  payment  of  maternity 
benefit.  The  Commissioners  have  promised  to 
give  these  suggestions  their  serious  consideration. 

We  have  on  several  occasions  expressed  the 
opinion  that  during  the  short  period  in  which 
pupil  midwives  are  being  prepared  for  the  exami- 
nation of  the  Central  Midwives  Board  their  work 
should  be  under  constant  supervision,  and  they 
should  in  all  cases  be  accompanied  by  a  certified 
midwife  when  attending  outdoor  cases,  both 
for  the  safety  of  tlie  patient,  and  because  the 
lessons  of  the  case  are  to  a  great  extent  lost  if  a 
teacher  is  not  at  hand  to  explain  them.  The 
same  applies  to  the  education  of  medical  students, 
and  they  would  gain  materially  in  practical  know- 


ledge, if  it  is  impossible  for  them  to  be  directly 
supervised  by  registered  medical  practitioners,  if 
they  were  accompanied  by  certified  midwives.  ,We 
hope  that  the  Insurance  Commissioners  will 
protect  the  insured  women,  and  keep  up  the  value 
of  the  Maternity  Benefit  offered  by  limiting  it 
to  assistance  rendered  by,  or  in  the  presence  of, 
qualified  practitioners  and  certified  midwives. 

A    CELEBRATED   TRAINING    SCHOOL. 

The  Rotunda  Hospital,  Dublin,  stands  in  the 
very  front  rank  of  training  schools  for  midwives, 
and  those  who  are  fortunate  enough  to  be  educated 
within  its  walls  always  look  back  with  pride  to 
their  connection  with  it.  Pupils  are  prepared  for 
the  examination  of  the  Central  Midwives  Board. 


THE     WOMEN'S      NATIONAL      HEALTH 
ASSOCIATION     OF     IRELAND. 

The  Countess  of  Aberdeen,  writing  from  Vice- 
regal Lodge,  Dublin,  to  Boards  of  Guardians,  on 
behalf  of  the  Women's  National  Health  Association 
of  Ireland,  states  that,  as  the  death  rate  amongst 
women  in  child-birth,  in  Ireland,  is  considerably 
higher  than  in  Great  Britain  ;  and  considering  that 
the  Midwives'  Registration  Act  does  not  apply  to 
Ireland — that  if  a  Board  of  Guardians  appoints  a 
midwife  for  a  dispensary  district,  having  the 
qualifications  laid  down  by  the  Insurance  Com- 
missioners (presumably  the  qualification  of  certi- 
fied midwife  under  the  Midwives  Act  of  England 
and  Wales),  then  the  Women's  National  Health 
Association  will  endeavour,  through  its  branches, 
and  through  special  committees  to  be  formed,  to 
provide  extra  salary,  sufficient  to  bring  up  such 
midwife's  salary  to  £i  a  week,  with  bicycle  and 
allowance  for  uniform,  on  certain  conditions. 

It  appears  to  us  unlikely  that  certified  midwives 
will  be  found  in  any  numbers  willing  to  work  for 
this  pittance.  The  duties  required  of  midwives 
are  most  onerous,  the  professional  skill  (if  they  are 
to  be  safe  attendants  on  mother  and  baby),  of  a 
high  quality,  the  anxieties  incident  to  the  practice 
of  their  profession  manifold.  For  a  professional 
worker — health  visitor  and  educationalist,  as  well 
as  midwife — the  salary  should  be  at  least  £2  a 
week. 

THE     BABY'S     CORD. 

In  the  Philippine  Islands  a  contemporary  states 
the  baby's  cord  is  cut  by  the  niidwife,  without 
any  regard  to  asepsis.  The  cord  is  cut  long 
enough  to  reach  the  baby's  mouth,  because  it  is 
believed  that  by  this  means  it  will  be  lucky,  and 
will  have  good  fortune,  and  that  food  never  will 
be  lacking.  Some  midwives  use  bolos  for  cutting 
the  cord  under  the  belief  that  by  this  practice 
the  baby  will  be  a  warrior.  Some  do  not  use  a 
sharp  instrument,  but  sever  the  cord  by  burning 
it  in  the  light  of  the  candle.  The  cord  is  dressed 
with  Chinese  paper,  or  any  old  cloth  with  a  hole 
cut  in  the  middle  for  the  insertion  of  the  stump. 
The  cord-dressing  is  powdered  with  tobacco  ashes. 


mmm 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

the:  MllllSIM^  IIE£Om> 

EDITED  BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,     NOVEMBER    16,    1912. 


EDITORIAL. 

THE     CHAMPIONS     OF     LIFE- 

The  suggestion  of  Dr.  S.ileel>y  tliat  the 
memorial  to  Lord  Lister  should  be  a  living 
one  is  wortiiy  of  a  distinguished  and  enthu- 
siastic disciple  of  "  the  great  champion  of 
life."  Dr.  Saleeby  urges  tlie  foundation  of 
a  Listerian  Institute  of  men  and  women, 
doctors  and  nurses,  who  should  be  called 
after  this  great  man,  and  should  be  available 
to  give  Listerian  direction  to  every  mother 
of  our  race  as  long  as  the  race  endures. 

He  also  in  a  recent  lecture,  speaking  of 
the  triumphs  of  antiseptic  surgery,  which 
he  described  as  "  man's  mastery  over 
microbes" — which  in  old  time  surgery  more 
often  than  not  brought  septic  poisoning  and 
death — pointed  out  that  the  Japanese 
triumphed  in  the  Russo-Japanese  war  be- 
cause of  Listerism.  At  the  same  time  he 
said,  in  relation  to  the  Boer  war,  that  our 
record  in  South  Africa  was  a  disgrace  to  the 
nation  that  produced  Lord  Lister  and  the 
great  sanitary  pioneers  of  the  last  century. 

Going  on  to  speak  of  the  horrors  of  the 
Balkan  campaign,  and  the  appalling  in- 
adequacy of  the  hospital  arrangements,  he 
said  that  practically  the  whole  of  the 
Turkish  wounded  were  left  on  the  field  of 
battle,  and  if  the  crows,  and  an  animal, 
half-wolf,  half-dog,  did  not  finish  them  as 
they  lay,  then  tlie  Bulgarian  Retl  Cross 
might  do  their  best. 

It  is  inconceivable,  knowing  these  things, 
and  that  within  a  few  days'  journey  of 
this  country,  as  the  daily  papers  reveal, 
men  are  dying,  not  only  from  their  wounds 
in  their  thousands,  but  from  gangrene, 
smallpox,  cholera  and  tvphus,  that  the 
British  Red  Cross  Society  has  not  only 
allowed  the  Red  Crescent  Society  to  be 
first  in  sending  out  trained  women  nurses 
to  the  seat  of  war,  but  it  has  so  far  taken 
no  initiative  to  provide  such  help  for  the  sick. 


Any  hospital  committee  at  home  which 
attempted  to  provide  for  the  care  of  the 
sick  without  organising  a  nursing  depart- 
ment, including  thoroughly  trained  women 
nurses  and  administrators,  would  be  univer- 
sally condemned  as  absolutely  incompetent 
to  deal  ivith  the  matter  at  all.  Yet  in 
time  of  war  the  need  Is  not  less  but  greater, 
for  everything  is  in  a  state  of  chaos, 
and  the  necessity  for  supplementing 
sanitary  supervision,  expert  medical  know- 
ledge, and  surgical  skill,  with  the 
healing  and  comforting  art  of  nursing  is 
imperative. 

In  this  connection  we  very  much  fear 
that  the  reorganization  of  the  British  Red 
Cross  Society  is  by  no  means  complete.  It 
has  for  years  been  a  by-word  for  reaction 
and  incompetence  in  times  of  emergency, 
and,  in  the  name  of  the  nursing  profession, 
we  call  upon  those  responsible  for  its 
organisation  to  supplement  its  present  com- 
mittee of  medical  and  social  'members  by 
placing  upon  it  some  expert  nurse-admin- 
istrators, who  will  be  able  to  inspire  it  with 
some  sense  of  its  responsibilitv  in  connec- 
tion with  the  nursing  of  the  sick. 

The  Americans  have  given  us  an  excellent 
lead  in  Red  Cross  work  :  to  judge  by  recent 
reports,  not  only  in  times  of  war,  but  in 
national  crises  and  times  of  calamity,  the 
American  Red  Cross  is  well  to  the  fore. 
We  wonder  how  much  the  fact  that  Miss 
Jane  A.  Delano,  Registered  Nurse,  late 
Superintendent  of  the  Ahny  Nurse  Corps  of 
the  United  States,  is  Chairman  of  the  Red 
Cross  National  Committee  on  Nursing  Ser- 
vice, has  to  do  with  this  splendid  record  of 
humanitarian  work. 

Doctors  and  nurses  at  such  crises  :.s  these 
stand  forth  as  the  champions  of  life.  The 
British  Red  Cross  Society  has  provided 
medical  treatment,  much  of  which  will  be 
labour  lost  unless  supplemented  by  the 
essential  aid  of  trained  nursing. 

A* 


39° 


iLbc  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IHursino.     Novcuher  k 


1912 


It  is  incredible  that  the  nation  which 
produced  Florence  Nightingale  should  have 
failed  to  appreciate  the  lessons  inspired  bv 
her  iienius. 


MEDICAL    MATTERS. 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 


THE    CONTROL    OF    VENEREAL    DISEASES. 

Dr.  Herman  INf.  Biggs,  General  Medical 
Officer  of  the  Department  of  Health  of  the 
City  of  New  York,  reporting  to  the  Board  of 
Health,  points  out,  in  regard  to  the  control  of 
venereal  diseases,  that  the  moral  and  social 
aspects  of  the  problem  do  not  primarily  con- 
cern the  sanitary  authorities.  Every  system 
of  administrative  control  of  the  infectious  and 
communicable  diseases  must  be  based  on  the 
fullest  information  obtainable  concerning  the 
number  and  distribution  of  cases,  and  he 
demonstrates  that  this  information  can  only  be 
obtained  by  notification  and  registration. 
Further,  that  persons  undesirable  as  hospital 
patients  are  just  those  who  constitute  the 
greatest  menace  to  others  if  left  at  large,  and 
that  hospitals  must  therefore  be  provided  where 
undesirable  patients  refused  or  discharged 
from  other  institutions  will  be  accepted,  and 
that,  bearing  in  mind  the  interrelation  of  social 
position  and  public  menace,  the  administrative 
control  of  venereal  diseases,  in  addition  to  an 
educational  campaign,  may  begin  by  work  con- 
fined largely  to  the  ignorant  poor  and  the  social 
outcast. 

Dr.  Herman  Biggs  believes  that,  consider- 
ing the  far-reaching  and  frequently  fatal  con- 
sequences of  these  diseases,  and  the  misery 
caused  by  the  hereditarv  transmission  of 
syphilis,  it  is  imperative  something  should  be 
done  by  the  municipal  government  to  limit  as 
far  as  possible  their  disastrous  results.  Their 
treatment  is  often  tedious  and  prolonged.  In 
some  cases  a  cure  never  results,  and  many 
patients,  after  a  short  course  of  treatment, 
more  or  less  interrupted  by  the  necessities  of 
their  occupation,  are  apt  to  pass  from  under 
observation,  and  almost  always  do  so  as  soon 
as  their  most  obvious  symptoms  are  abated. 

The  erection  of  a  hospital  for  the  treatment 
of  these  diseases  will  alloA\'  of  their  free  and 
continuous  treatment  by  the  most  approved 
and  modern  methods,  methods  which  frequently 
cannot  be  employed  in  a  dispensary  with  the 
usual  equipment.  The  chances  of  cure  will  thus 
be  greatly  increased,  and  the  amount  of  instruc- 
tion which  can  be  given  to  these  patients  during 
treatment  will  be  of  incalculable  value  in  pre- 
venting the  spread  of  these  diseases. 


STATE      SUCCESSFUL      A»ETH0D3      OF       TREATMENT 
FOR     CONSTIPATION. 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  Gladys  Tatham,  Sherwood,  Roe- 
hampton  Vale,  Putney,  S.W. 

PRIZE     PAPER. 

Constipation  may  be  treated  by  (i)  various 
drugs,  (2)  exercises,  (3)  massage,  (4)  rectal 
injections,  and  (5)  hypnotic  suggestion. 

The  kind,  and  amount,  of  medicine  is  usually 
prescribed  by  the  doctor,  but  there  are  a  large 
number  of  well-known  remedies  to  relieve  con- 
stipation. The  great  danger  of  indiscriminate 
dosing  is  that  the  bowel  will  become  accus- 
tomed to  a  strong  irritant,  and  will  not  act 
spontaneously.  Castor  oil  generally  causes 
severe  constipation,  for  this  reason  :  the  bowels 
are  violently  irritated  by  it  and  act  quickly ; 
afterwards  the  comparatively  slight  stimulation 
of  the  fteces  passing  towards  the  outlet  of  the 
bowel  entirely  fails  to  bring  about  movements 
of  contraction  in  the  rectum.  Perhaps  senna 
gives  less  reaction  than  most  things,  and  a 
small  dose  of  fig  syrup  is  very  useful  as  a  mild 
aperient.  Cascara  usually  causes  a  reaction 
unless  taken  in  very  moderate  doses. 

Exercises  are  very  useful  to  overcome  a 
sluggish  condition  of  the  bowels.  Thev  should 
be  directed  to  strengthening  the  abdominal 
muscles  and  improving  the  circulation,  but  they 
ought  not  to  be  overdone,  or  practised  without 
experienced  direction. 

Massage  helps  peristalsis,  improves  and 
strengthens  the  abdominal  muscles,  and  fre- 
quentlv  cures  constipation  if  associated  with  a 
hygienic  mode  of  life.  A  glass  of  cold  water 
(or  boiling)  may  be  taken  night  and  morning 
with  advantage.  Bulky  articles  of  diet,  such 
as  porridge,  brown  bread,  green  vegetables, 
&c.,  should  be  eaten.  Honey  and  treacle  are 
useful  also. 

Rectal  injections  are  usually  given  to  relieve 
severe  constipation  and  to  evacuate  hafd  or  old 
faecal  matter.  The  usual  preparation  for  a 
single  injection  is  the  old-fashioned  soap-and- 
water  enema,  at  a  temperature  of  105°  F.  Also 
olive  oil  may  be  warmed,  and  about  half  a  pint 
injected,  followed  in  15  minutes  by  the  soap- 
jmd-water  enema.  Glycerine  injections,  or 
suppositories,  are  not  good,  because  they  irri- 
tate the  rectum  too  severelv  and  cause  a  re- 
action. 

Dailv  irrigation  of  the  colon  with  normal 
saline  at  a  temperature  of  100°  F.  is  frequently 


Nove;iber  i6,  1912     Zbc  l6rttt6D  Soumal  Of  iHiu'sino. 


391 


ord».red  to  overcome  long-standing'  constipa- 
tion. The  tluid  should  be  prepared  in  a  glass 
douche  jug,  to  which  is  attached  a  short  lube 
with  stopcock,  to  which  again  a  long  rectal 
tube  is  fixed  (an  oesophagal  feeding  tube  does 
very  well,  or  a  large  rubber  catheter).  The 
patient  lies,  comfortably  covered  up,  on  the 
side,  with  the  buttocks  raised  by  a  small 
cushion  or  folded  towel.  The  rectal  tube  should 
be  well  greased,  and  the  flow  started  gently 
while  introducing  it  into  the  rectum ;  very 
slowly  and  gently  it  must  be  pushed  on  till 
about  twelve  inches  are  in  the  bowel.  If  the 
flow  is  slow  and  regular,  the  douche-can  never 
being  held  higher  than  six  inches  above  the 
patient's  buttocks,  there  will  seldom  be  any 
difficulty.  If  the  fluid  is  run  in  quickly,  the 
intestine  will  probably  contract  spasmodically, 
pain  will  be  felt,  and  the  whole  operation  will 
have  to  be  started  over  again,  after  a  sufficient 
interval  to  allow  the  contractions  to  quiet  down. 
In  cases  where  there  is  no  organic  obstruc- 
tion to  the  passage  of  the  faeces  through  the 
bowel,  as  there  is,  e.g.,  in  cancer  of  the 
rectum,  hvpnotic  suggestion  is  a  most  effectual 
and  harmless  method  of  procuring  a  daily 
evacuation.  The  patient  will  be  put  into  a 
sufficiently  receptive  state  by  the  physician,  and 
the  suggestion  made  that  a  daily  action  shall 
take  place  at  anv  hour  previously  ascertained 
to  be  convenient  to  the  patient.  A  few  sittings 
may  suffice  to  relieve  constipation  of  many 
years'  standing.  The  writer  knows  of  one  case, 
where  the  complaint  had  lasted  for  twenty 
years,  the  patient  was  cured  entirely  by  a  few 
properly  directed  suggestions.  There  is  no 
danger  of  a  reaction  after  psycho-therapeutic 
treatment,  as  there  is  from  drugs  or  injections. 
But  all  these  methods  are  more  or  less  curative: 
What  we  really  should  aim  at  is  preventive 
treatment.  Such  consists  largely  of  a  hygienic 
life,  regular  exercise,  baths,  vegetables  and 
fruit  as  well  as  meat  to  eat,  plenty  of  cold  water 
to  drink,  and  the  regular  encouragement  of  a 
fixed  daily  habit  at  the  same  time. 

HONOURABLE    MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  are  accorded 
honourable  mention  : — Miss  A.  M.  Smith,  Miss 
M.  M.  G.  Bielby,  Miss  E.  Martin,  Miss  E.  F. 
Stokes,  Miss  Phipps,  Miss  E.  Marshall. 

Miss  E.  F.  Stokes  mentions  the  necessity  for 
discovering  the  cause  of  the  constipation  to  be 
treated.  Amongst  the  most  common  causes 
she  enumerates  definite  disease,  insufficient 
exercise,  constipating  and  starchy  foods,  cer- 
tain drugs. 

Miss  E.  Martin  gives  as  one  cause,  want  of 
regularity  in  attending  to  the  calls  of  nature. 


Symptoms  of  constipation  are  headache,  lan- 
guor, loss  of  appetite,  sallow  complexion.  She 
also  points  out  that  constipation  in  itself  may 
be  the  symptom  of  some  grave  disease. 

Flatulence  and  colic  are  associated  with  con- 
stipation. In  some  cases  the  hard  fajcal  matter 
irritates,  dilates,  and  may  possibly  perforate 
the  bowel.  If  the  retention  takes  place  at  the 
sigmoid  flexure  it  presses  on  certain  nerves,  and 
the  pressure  gives  rise  to  intense  backache  and 
pain  in  the  thighs.  Constipation  is  also  a  pre- 
disposing cause  of  hajmorrhoids,  and  very  often 
the  main  cause  of  painful  menstruation. 

Miss  Bielby  stales  that  constipation  in  in- 
fants is  often  due  to  deficiency  of  fat  in  the 
mother's  milk.  This  should  be  increased  by 
adding  to  her  diet  more  butler,  milk,  salad  oil, 
and  fat  bacon.  Honey  for  the  mother  is  often  a 
sufficient  remedy  for  constipation  in  the  infant. 
.  .  .  Older  children  should  be  given  suitable 
fruit  shortly  before  breakfast,  and  also  be  en- 
couraged to  drink  freely  of  barley-water  and 
plain  cold  water  an  hour  before  meals. 

Adults  should  drink  at  least  half  a  pint  of  hot 
or  cold  water  half  an  hour  before  each  meal.  In 
habitual  constipation  tea  and  coffee  should  be 
given  up  temporarily.  This  is  a  hard  saying, 
but  tea  is  a  great  offender  in  this  respect  owing 
to  the  amount  of  tannin  it  contains.  If  it  cannot 
be  relinquished  entirely  it  should  be  limited  to 
one  cup  a  day,  and  that  made  from  a  brand 
containing  the  minimum  of  tannin  and  infused 
for  not  more  than  six  minutes.  Miss  Bielbv 
adds  that  she  has  never  known  a  case  of  serious 
constipation  in  one  eating  wholemeal  instead 
of  white  bread,  and  many  are  cured  by  substi- 
tuting a  fine  wheatmeal  for  the  white  flour  used 
for  bread  and  all  other  cookery.  Coarse  oat- 
meal porridge,  green  vegetables,  including 
sorrel,  tomatoes,  watercress,  rhubarb,  honey, 
and  fresh  fruit  should  be  eaten  regularly. 

Miss  Phipps  points  out  that  the  cause  of 
constipation  in  most  cases  is  due  to  some  defect 
in  the  digestive  process,  or  it  may  arise  in  con- 
nection with  certain  diseases,  when  it  is  treated 
with  the  disease.  In  old  people  the  cause  is 
frequently  a  failure  of  the  nerves  governing 
the  excretory  system,  such  as  sometimes  arises 
in  meningitis. 

Miss  A.  M.  Smith  draws  attention  to  the 
point  that  constipated  people  often  have  bad 
circulation,  and  says  that  everything  should  be 
done  to  alleviate  this,  as  it  helps  a  very  great 
deal. 

QUESTION     FOR     NHXT     WEEK. 

How  should  a  nurse  care  for  her  hands  so 
that  they  are  kept  in  the  best  condition  for  use 
in  the  sick  room? 


392 


Z\}c  Britisb  3ouvnaI  of  H-lursinQ      November  i6,  1912 


SCHOOL  NURSINQ  IN  TORONTO, 
CANADA.* 

By  LiNA  L.   Rogers,   R.N., 

Superintendent  of  School  Nurses,    Toronto. 

{Concluded  from  page  373.) 

A  campaign  for  clean  teeth  forms  a  big  part 
of  our  present  inspection  work.  So  few  parents 
realize  that  teeth  decay  early  and  that  some- 
times a  child  of  seven  years  has  practically 
lost  the  most  important  teeth  in  his  mouth. 
We  urge  every  child  to  use  a  tooth  brush,  and, 
to  overcome  any  excuse  for  not  having  one, 
the  Board  of  Education  provides  tooth  brushes 
and  tooth  paste  for  five  cents  each.  This 
enables  every  child  to  obtain  its  own.  The 
brush  used  is  an  especially  good  one  made  for 
the  Canadian  Oral  Hygiene  Association,  and 
the  paste  is  prepared  in  tubes  specially  for  the 
schoolchildren  and  labelled  so.  The  nurses 
are  told  that  it  will  be  a  criminal  offence  if 
any  child  from  now  on  loses  his  six-year  molar. 
We  hope  before  long  to  eradicate  many  of  the 
diseases  prevalent,  through  the  care  of  the 
teeth.  We  know  that  many  cases  of  tubercu- 
losis have  their  source  of  infection  in  the 
cavities  of  the  teeth,  and  who  knows  how 
many  other  diseases  are  contracted  in  the  same 
way?  Our  School  Dentist  visits  the  schools 
twice  a  week  to  extract  decayed  teeth  and 
protruding  roots.  This  is  only  temporary 
work  until  the  Civil  Dental  Clinic  is  started. 
A  Dental  Exhibit  is  also  arranged  for  the 
schools,  money  for  which  has  been  already 
appropriated.  Our  whole  aim  is  prevention,  so 
we  are  proceeding  along  the  lines  of  prophy- 
laxis, rather  than  waiting  until  the  disease 
appears. 

This  brings  us  to  the  question  of  the  proper- 
governing  authorities  of  this  system.  Since  it 
is  educational  and  all  our  hope  lies  in  teaching, 
does  it  not  rightly  belong  to  the  great  teaching 
body,  the  Board  of  Education?  Much  better 
co-operation  is  gained,  too,  by  having  all 
teachers  under  the  same  administration. 

We  have,  unfortunately,  a  class  of  children 
which  have  not  been  so  far  provided  for. 
Thev  are  the  feeble-minded.  An  experiment 
has  been  tried  in  teaching,  and  it  is  found  that, 
while  the  backward  child  can  be  taught  the 
subjects  he  is  deficient  in,  the  feeble-minded 
child  cannot  be  taught  enough  in  the  Public 
Schools  to  enable  him  to  be  self-supporting. 
For  these  a  specially  equipped  institution  with 
proper  guardians  is  required  so  that  they  will 
not  be  a  menace  to  the  community,  where  they 


Presented   to    the    International    Congress  of    Xli 


will  be  protected  and  made  happy,  and  where 
they  will  be  taught  whatever  kind  of  work  they 
seem  to  be  best  fitted  for. 

Our  anaemic,  ill-resisting,  poorly  developed 
children  are  being  given  special  attention  at 
present.  Our  first  Open-air  School  has  just 
been  opened.  Fifty  under-nourished  and  deli- 
cate children  are  taken  every  morning  to  a 
delightful  wooded  park  which  has  a  large  sandy 
beach  on  the  lake  front.  The  children  are 
given  breakfast,  dinner  and  supper,  with  a 
lunch  between  each  meal.  They  are  provided 
with  cots,  and  sleep  for  two  hours  after  the 
mid-day  meal.  A  teacher  is  employed,  and 
they  are  taught  for  a  certain  period  during  the 
day,  those  behind  their  grades  being  given 
special  attention.  The  rest  of  the  time  is 
devoted  to  recreation  and  play. 

A  nurse  is  on  duty  all  day,  who  keeps  a 
record  of  the  gain  and  has  general  supervision 
of  the  health  of  the  children.  A  Medical 
Inspector  visits  regularly,  and  any  change  in 
condition  is  reported  to  him.  The  street  rail- 
way company  has  given  a  special  car  which 
takes  the  children  to  the  Park  at  8.30  every 
morning  and  leaves  at  6.30  p.m. 

We  hope  that  this  experiment  will  prove  so 
valuable  that  our  large  schools  will  have  open- 
air  classes  equipped  on  the  roofs,  and  which 
may  be  carried  on  all  the  year  round,  so  that 
when  a  child  is  found  in  the  class-room  below 
normal  health,  he  may  be  sent  to  the  open-air 
class,  and  with  food,  rest,  and  fresh  air  be 
brought  to  his  normal  health  and  take  his  place 
in  the  grade. 

Many  children  who  are  otherwise  losing 
valuable  school-tinje  and  health  as  well  will 
be  saved  and  educated  for  the  community.  We 
hope  to  start  classes  for  little  mothers  in 
different  centres  ere  long.  Classes  would  be 
held  and  demonstrations  given  on  the  care  of 
infants,  special  attention  being  paid  to,  and 
demonstrations  given  on,  the  (care  of  infants) 
food,  bathing,  dressing.  Instruction  would  be 
given  for  care  during  the  sunimer  months, 
when  infant  mortality  is  so  high. 

School  nursing  is  in  a  large  measure  social 
service,  and  it  is  from  the  fact  that  the  Board 
of  Education  in  Toronto  has  given  such  able 
support  and  has  not  in  any  way  hindered  the 
service  that  it  stands  high  in  its  care  of  the 
schoolchildren. 

Toronto  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  first 
city  to  give  a  post-graduate  course  to  nurses 
wishing  to  supplement  their  general  training 
by  a  period  of  school  nursing. 

The  course  is  for  one  month.  The  nurse 
taking  it  goes  daily  with  one  of  the  regular 
staff,  assisting  with  the  work  and  being  given 


November  16,  191 2      JTbc  ISulttsI)  Soumal  of  H-lursfno. 


393 


a   certain    amount   on    her   own    responsibility 
when  she  feels  confident  to  work  alone. 

U'e  want  an  ideal  system,  but  before  it  can 
be  attained  the  following'  points  must  be  fixed 
rules  :  Legislation  that  makes  the  establish- 
ment of  Medical  Inspection  of  schools  compul- 
sory for  all  Boards  of  Education. 

2.  If,  on  examination  of  children  beginning 
school  life,  any  physical  defect  is  found,  that 
it  is  obligatory  for  the  parent  to  obtain  that 
surgical  or  medical  attention  which  the  child 
requires. 

3.  The  admission  of  a  child  to  school  should 
be  conditional  on  being  passed  by  the  Medical 
Inspector  and  the  carrying  out  of  such  treat- 
ment as  he  deems  necessary. 

4.  That  there  be  a  dispensary  in  every  large 
school  where  aid  can  be  rendered  to  the  children 
of  the  poor. 

5.  That  the  Medical  Inspection  Department 
must  be  responsible  for  the  conditions  of  heat- 
ing, ventilation,  cleaning,  lighting,  and  seating 
in  all  schools.  When  this  is  obtained  we  can 
look  forward  to  the  closing  of  many  reforma- 
tories and  jails  and  hospitals,  and  look  upon 
a  nation  whose  physical  qualities  may  be  equal 
to  those  of  the  ancient  Romans. 

TOYS    FOR    TIMES. 

We  hope  many  of  our  readers  are  going  to 
compete  in  the  Toys  for  Tinies  Competition,  so 
that  we  may  be  able  to  distribute  a  good  num- 
ber amongst  v(tv  poor  children.  Four  prizes 
of  5s.  each  will  be  given  for  the  four  best  toys 
made  at  a  cost  of  not  more  than  sixpence.  See 
the  coupon  in  our  issue  of  December  7th. 

PRIZES    FOR    NURSES. 

The  Annual  Prize-giving  to  the  members  of  the 
nursing  staff  took  place  at  the  General  Hospital, 
Bristol,  last  week,  the  prizes  being  presented  by 
Mr.  Joseph  Storrs  Fry,  President,  in  the  presence 
of  many  supporters  of  the  institution,  and  Matrons 
of  other  hospitals  in  the  citv.  The  Cliairman  of 
the  Nursing  Committee,  Mr.  Herbert  Baker,  spoke 
in  the  highest  terms  of  the  services  rendered  by 
the  .Matron,  Miss  Densham,  the  Assistant  Matron 
(Matron-elect  of  the  Victoria  Hospital,  Keighley), 
Miss  Garner,  and  the  Sisters. 

The  prize  winners  were  : — Gold  Medal  (for 
general  efficiency).  Miss  Agnes  Morgan  ;  Silver 
Medal.  Miss  Annabel  Cameron  ;  Honourably 
Mentioned,  Miss  Elina  Meaden,  Miss  Rose  .\ viand, 
and  Miss  Kathleen  Tobin  ;  First  Prize  for  Surgical 
Nursing,  ^^iss  Fisher  ;  Second  Prize,  Miss  Packer  ; 
First  Prize  for  Medical  Nursing,  Miss  Fisher ; 
Second  Prize,  Miss  Lee  ;  First  Prize  for  Anatomy, 
Miss  Basker  and  Miss  Perrv ;  First  Prize  for 
Physiology.  Miss  Poole  ;  Second  Prize.  Miss  Basker 
First  Prize  for  Practical  Nursing,  Miss  Martin  ; 
Second  Prize,  Miss  Newcombe  and  Miss  Williams 


NURSING  NEWS  AND  THE  WAR. 


-N'ovv  that  hundreds  of  beds  at  the  base  are 
required  for  such  of  the  sick  and  wounded 
soldiers  who  have  not  been  left  to  die 
on  the  field  of  battle  the  need  for  thoroughly 
trained  women  nurses  is  becoming  more 
urgent  every  day.  The  Crown  Prince  of 
-Montenegro  having  appealed  for  such  help. 
Princess  Christian  suggested  to  the  British  Red 
Gross  Medical  Relief  Committee  that  six  women 
nurses  should  be  sent,  with  three  additional 
male  orderlies.  We  are  glad  to  know  that  this 
skilled  help  has  been  sent  to  Antivari,  making 
12  trained  nurses  only  sent  through  our  national 
Red  Cross  organization  so  far.  Male  direc- 
tors, 27  surgeons,  and  145  male  orderlies  have 
also  been  sent  at  the  nation's  expense.  In  the 
last  Graico-Turkish  War  we  had  5  surgeons, 
I  lady  superintendent,  and  30  thoroughly 
trained  sisters ;  and,  speaking  from  personal 
experience,  it  was  the  work  of  the  latter  which 
was  in  hourly  request  in  the  five  different  hos- 
pitals in  which  they  worked. 

An  appeal,  signed  by  Lord  Lamington,  the 
Aga  Khan,  the  Abbas  Ali  Baig,  and  Ameer  Ali 
on  behalf  of  the  British  Red  Crescent  Society, 
says  : — "  The  appalling  number  of  Turkish 
sick  and  wounded  that  have  corne  back  from 
the  front  or  are  lying  on  the  battlefield  are 
taxing  to  the  utmost  the  Turkish  hospital 
arrangements,  with  the  result  that  many  are 
left  untended  ;  and  even  if  the  war  ends  within 
a  reasonable  limit  of  time,  they  will  need  all 
possible  help  to  alleviate  their  sufferings." 

A  card  from  Patras  tells  of  the  safe  arrival 
there  of  the  doctors  and  nurses  sent  by  the 
Red  Crescent  Society,  who  by  now,  we  may 
hope,  are  at  work  at  Constantinople. 

The  Standard  reports  that  Frenchwomen  are 
taking  a  very  active  part  in  the  merciful  Red 
Cross  service  in  connection  with  the  war  in  the 
Balkans.  A  special  convoy  of  French  nurses 
has  been  sent  to  Athens,  by  request  of  Princess 
George  of  Greece,  to  superintend  the  amateur 
nurses.  At  Constantinople  Mme.  Bompard, 
wife  of  the  French  Ambassador,  has  organised 
three  workrooms,  where  women  of  the  French 
colony  are  meeting  together  to  make  garments 
for  the  wounded  and  prepare  dressings.  An 
appeal  has  also  been  made  by  the  French  Lega- 
tion at  Sofia  to  the  Union  of  Frenchwomen  for 
large  quantities  of  dressings  and  medicine,  and 
is  meeting  with  a  ready  response;  while  a 
number  of  French  Sisters  of  the  Order  of  St. 
Elizabeth  have  gone  to  .Antivari  to  prepare  a 
camp  hospital. 


■394 


Cbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  IHurslnc?.     November  i6, 


191: 


THE  SCOTTISH  NURSES'  ASSOCIATION. 


The  fourth  animal  meeting  of  the  Scottish 
Nurses'  Association  was  held  in  the  Charing  Cross 
Halls,  Glasgow,  on  November  7th.  Sir  William 
Macewen  presided  over  a  large  and  interested 
audience  of  over  ^oo.  The  annual  report  was 
presented  by  the  secretary.  The  treasurer's 
statement,  showing  a  satisfactory  balance  in  the 
general  account,  was  presented  by  Miss  Dow, 
who  intimated  the  receipt  of  special  donations 
of  over  ;^50,  bringing  the  Foundation  Fund  up  to 
over  ^65. 

The  election  of  Mrs.  Strong  as  president  was 
moved  by  Sir  William  Macewen,  seconded  by  Miss 
Wright,  and  very  cordially  agreed  to. 

The  Annual  Report. 

Dr.  P.  Hamilton  Robertson,  secretary,  sub- 
mitted the  report  by  the  Executive  Committee 
for  the  past  year,  in  which  reference  was  made 
'  to  the  National  Insurance  Act.  It  was  stated 
that  it  had  been  very  difficult  to  define  the  exact 
bearing  of  the  Act  on  nurses  in  general,  and  that 
there  were  still  many  difficulties  in  regard  to 
which  the  Commissioners  had  not  given  any 
decision.  The  Women's  Friendly  Society  of 
Scotland,  which  had  11,000  members,  had  estab- 
lished a  section  for  nurses  for  the  purposes  of  the 
Act,  and  already  nearly  1,000  had  joined.  The 
executive  regretted  that,  owing  to  the  congested 
state  of  business  in  Parliament,  thev  could  not 
report  any  progress  with  the  Registration  Bill 
for  nurses.  The  cause  of  registration  was,  how- 
ever, advancing  both  in  the  British  Colonies  and 
in  foreign  countries,  and  sooner  or  later  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland  must  fall  into  line.  The 
membership  of  the  association  continiied  to 
increase,  236  new  members  having  been  admitted 
during  the  year.  The  question  of  the  provision 
of  association  rooms  was  before  the  executive,  and 
it  was  hoped  that  some  arrangement  might  soon 
be  made  for  securing  premises  which  would  serve 
all  the  purposes  of  a  club. 

The  report  was  adopted  on  the  motion  of  Miss 
Aitken,  seconded  by  Nurse  Hope. 

The  Office  Bearers. 

Office-bearers  were  appointed  as  follows  : — 
President — Mrs.  Strong,  formerly  Matron  of  the 
Roval  Infirmarv  ;  Vice-Presidents — Sir  William 
Macewen,  Dr.  M'Gregor  Robertson,  Miss  Wright, 
Miss  Donald,  Miss  Aitken,  and  Miss  Tisdall  ; 
Interim  Secretarv — Dr.  P.  Hamilton  Robertson  ; 
Assistant  Secretary — Miss  Finn  ;  and  Treasurer — 
Miss  Dow.  The  following  were  elected  to  the 
vacancies  in  the  Committee  : — Miss  Millman,  Miss 
Ritchie  Thomson,  Miss  Wh-^-te,  and  Miss  Maitland. 
Dr.  Devon  was  also  elected  a  member  of  the 
Committee. 

Miss  Marion  B.  Blackie  gave  a  short  address 
on  the  Insurance  Act  as  it  affects  nurses,  and 
a  statement   was  made   bv   Miss   Ritson,    of  the 


Women's  Friendly  Society  of  Scotland,  on  the 
progress  of  the  Nurses'  Branch  of  that  Societv. 

Letter  from  Mrs.  Strong. 

A  letter  was  read  from  Mrs.  Strong  by  Miss 
Waddington,  in  which  she  congratulated  the 
members  on  the  progress  that  had  been  made  b\- 
the  Association,  and  in  which  she  wrote  in  part  : — 

"  What  you  want  now  is  unit\-,  a  united  band  of 
workers,  as  we  see  in  the  medical  profession. 
It  is  when  great  questions  arise,  such  as  the  present 
one,  in  connection  with  the  Insurance  Bill,  that  we 
see  what  unity  can  do.  It  is  only  as  an  organised 
bod\-  that  you  can  have  any  weight,  or  make 
N'ourselves  a  voice  in  public  events.  You  will 
never  be  one — any  more  than  any  other  pro- 
fession— in  your  indixadual  thoughts  and  ideas, 
but  vou  can  and  )mist  be  one  in  fundamental 
principles,  if  you  are  to  accomplish  ani,^hing ; 
and  in  this  you  have  shown  your  wisdom  by 
including  all  branches  of  nursing  in  your  member- 
ship— the  voice  of  all  must  be  heard,  and  con- 
flicting interests  must  be  brought  into  some  kmd 
of  harmony.  Had  there  been  an  united  effort, 
Registration  would  have  been  gained  long  since  ; 
the  injustice  to  nurses,  arising  from  the  want  of  it, 
is  dailv  apparent — for  want  of  a  common  standanl, 

both  of  education  and  final  tests 

The  best  of  training  can  only  give  you  technical 
knowledge,  and  that  is  all  that  e.xaminations  can 
test ;  the  personality  of  the  nurse  is  the  chief 
factor,  and  that  examinations  cannot  determine  ; 
still  we  must  have  sound  knowledge.  Every 
great  movement,  everv  advance  in  the  world,  has 
been  preceded  bv  thought,  and  long  before 
it  has  been  shaped  into  visible  form,  great  expendi- 
ture of  effort,  and,  often,  even  of  life,  have  been 
made,  to  attain  the  end.  By  the  time  legislation 
has  enacted  State  Registration  of  Nurses,  some  of 
us  will  have  passed  away  ;  but  do  not  allow  that 
thought  to  deter  anv  from  making  an  effort  to- 
wards the  attainment  of  that  end.  Nothing  of 
anv  moment  can  be  accomplished  by  you,  as 
individuals,  but  as  a  collective  body  the  nurses 
may  attain  the  ends  they  aim  at." 

Miss  Wright  mo\-ed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Sir 
William  Macewen  for  all  the  work  he  had  done 
during  the  past  three  years  as  President.  This 
was  accorded  with  enthusiasm.  ,  In  his  reply  Sir 
William,  referring  to  the  Registration. of  Nurses, 
said  the  question  had  been  put  aside  for  the 
time  being.  Thev  were  waiting  until  Parliament 
could  consider  something  else  than  Home  Rule 
and  matters  of  that  kind,  and  he  was  afraid 
that  the  Bill  for  the  Registration  of  Nurses  could 
.not  be  brought  forward  this  year.  Everything 
was,  however,  ready,  and  with  some  slight 
modifications  he  had  no  doubt  the  Bill  would  get 
through  whenever  thev  had  an  opportunity  of 
bringing  it  before  Parliament.  Thev  wanted  a 
proper  standard  for  nursing,  and  they  wished 
that  to  be  registered,  so  that  nobody  could 
become  a  nurse  by  simply  putting  on  a  cap  and 
apron. 


November  i6,  1912     Cbc  BdtiC'b  Boiu'iial  of  ■fl-liu'^ino- 


395 


This  latter  expression  of  opinion  was  heartily 
endorsed  by  all  present. 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting  tea  was  ser\ed  and 
greatly  enjoyed. 

THE  NURSES'  A\ISSI0NARY  LEAGUE. 

ISLAM  :     ITS     DOCTRINES. 

On  Wednesday,  Xovember  6lh,  at  Univer- 
sity Hall,  Gordon  Square,  the  Rev.  Canon 
Weitbrecht,  D.D.,  gave  a  most  interesting 
lecture  to  the  members  of  the  Nurses'  Mis- 
sionary League  on  "  Islam  :  its  Doctrines." 

The  lecturer  traced  this  great  religion  from 
its  beginnings  in  the  sixth  century — about  600 
vears  after  the  Day  of  Pentecost — when  Mo- 
hammed, its  founder,  living  in  his  native  town 
of  Mecca,  had  a  vision  of  the  angel  Gabriel, 
inspiring  him  to  recite  the  Koran  or  Moham- 
medan Bible.  From  then  onwards  Mohammed 
preached  the  unity  of  God.  "  There  is  no  God 
but  the  God,  and  .Mohammed  is  the  apostle  of 
God."  Persecution  followed,  and  Mohammed 
fled  from  his  native  town  to  Medina,  but  later 
he  returned  and  conquered  Mecca,  and  made  it 
the  centre  of  his  religion.  Not  only  did  he 
organize  a  religious  system,  but  also  a  political 
body,  which  developed  so  rapidly  that  during 
the  century  that  followed  not  only  the  lands  of 
the  Near  East,  but  almost  all  the  Christian 
lands  were  overrun  by  the  bearers  of  the  sword 
of  Islam.  Even  at  the  present  time  there  are 
about  210,000,000  Moslems  in  Africa  and  the 
East,  about  two-thirds  of  these  being  under 
British  rule. 

The  lecturer  pointed  out  that  the  reason  of 
the  failure  of  the  Christian  Church  at  that  time 
to  stem  the  advance  of  Islam  was  its  weakened 
condition,  owing  to  its  departure  from  the  puritv 
(if  the  faith,  and  its  many  divisions  by  schisms. 
.Another  reason  was  that  the  Scriptures,  w-ith 
one  or  two  exceptions,  had  not  at  that  time  been 
translated  into  the  vernacular  of  the  various 
countries.  The  extreme  importance  of  Church 
unity  and  the  translation  of  the  Scriptures  was 
thus  emphasized  by  the  lecturer. 

The  second  lecture,  on  "  Islam  :  its  Duties; 
Present  Condition  and  Effects  of  Missionary 
Work,"  was  given  on  November  13th  in 
University  Hall. 


THE    DEPRECIATION    OF   DISTRICT 
NURSING. 


THE    SCOTTISH    SOCIETY    OF   TRAINED 
NURSES. 

We  have  received  a  copy  of  the  .Annual 
Report  of  the  Scottish  Society  of  Trained 
Nurses.  Though  brief,  the  good  work  accom- 
plished appears  to  be  just  what  is  required  by 
such  an  organization.  We  wish  it  continued 
success. 


In  our  issue  of  November  2!ul,  we  published 
a  letter  from  Mr.  H.  R.  Bruxncr,  Hon.  Secretary 
of  the  Staffordshire  County  Nursing  Association, 
which  appeared  to  us  to  contain  many  state- 
ments which  required  criticism,  and  for  which 
we  had  no  space  in  our  hist  issue.  Mr. 
Bruxner  objected  to  our  remarks  in  a  pre- 
jVious  issue  in  reference  to  the  grant  of  ;^300 
by  the  Education  Committee  of  the  Stafford- 
shire County  Council  to  the  County  Nursing 
-Association,  for  the  purpose  of  proWding  scholar- 
ships for  the  training  of  %'illage  midwives  and 
nurses,  a  training  which  consists  only  of  six 
months  in  midwifery^  and  six  months  in  general 
nursing,  \^'e  ob.served,  "  We  could  wish  that 
County  Councils  would  turn  their  attention  to 
granting  scholarships  in  midwifery  to  nurses  who 
are  already  trained,  rather  than  expending  money 
on  increasing  a  class  of  workers  who  earn  such 
infinitesimal  salaries  that  their  work  must  be 
included  in  that  of  sweated  labour." 

Since  carefully  reading  Mr.  Bruxner's  letter  we 
note  nothing  wliich  does  not  confirm  us  in  our 
pious  aspiration. 

For  instance,  we  are  asked  by  him  in  referring 
to  these  superficially  trained  workers,  "  Is  not 
this  a  better  profession  for  a  girl  than  to  go 'into 
a  mill  or  a  manufactory  or  a  shop  ?  " 

That  sentence  presents  the  whole  matter  in  a 
nutshell. 

Since  when  has  human  hfe  been  held 
so  cheap  that  skilled  nursing  which  requires  at 
least  a  three  years'  systematic  training  and  ex- 
perience for  the  safety  of  the  sick,  has  been  recognised 
as  an  alternative  "  profession  "  for  factory  hands 
with  six  months'  so-called  training  in  general 
nursing  ? 

We  can  answer  tliat. 

Since  la^■Tnen  and  women  without  any  practical 
experience  whatever  have  arrogated  to  them- 
selves the  power  and  responsibility  of  defining 
professional  nursing  standards,  and  in  so  doing 
have  degraded  the  standards  of  skill  and  knowledge 
considered  safe  and  sufl&cient  by  the  nursing  pro- 
fession itself. 

-Again,  why  have  these  people  —  socially 
influential  and  well  meaning,  no  doubt — ventured 
to  assume  such  responsibility,  and  in  their 
ignorance  flooded  the  rural  districts  with  workers 
w-ho,  we  have  no  hesitation  in  stating,  are  not 
either  qualified  or  safe  to  nurse  the  sick  poor  ? 

We  reply  because  their  dangerously  superficial 
work  is  cheap. 

Mr.  Bruxner  claims  that  because  the  ordinary- 
ratepayer  is  called  upon  to  waste  £jo  in  a 
system  of  superficial  training,  the  woman  so 
"trained  "  cannot  be  included  in  the  ranks  of 
sweated  labour  "  because  she  is  guaranteed  i6s. 
or  1 8s.  a  week,  and  moreover  if  she  is  capable  and 
diligent,  and  has  the  good  fortune  to  serve  a  local 


396 


JTbc  Bvitisb  3ournaI  of  IRurslno      November  i6,  1912 


association  where  there  is  a  Lady  Bountiful  (and 
there  are  many  such)  she  often  gets  more  than  the 
i6s.  or  i8s.  during  her  three  years'  service." 

In  our  opinion  this  is  a  wretched  wage  to  provide 
for  rent,  board,  clothes,  washing,  disinfection  and 
the  personal  needs  of  any  nurse,  to  say  nothing 
of  "  personal  pleasures  "  ! — also  the  cadging  for 
crumbs  from  the  rich  man's  table  is  a  very  un- 
desirable and  demoraUsing  element  in  the  bargain. 

As  cottage  helps — not  dressed  up  in  the  uniform 
of  the  trained  nurse — these  workers  may  be  all 
Mr.  Bruxner  claims  for  them.  He  goes  so  far  as  to 
state  "  it  would  be  nothing  short  of  a  crime  to 
stop  the  creation  of  them,"  but  we  protest  with 
every  ounce  of  expert  knowledge  we  possess 
against  substituting  them  for  efficiently  trained 
Queen's  Nurses — claiming  that  they  have  neither 
the  education  nor  the  knowledge  to  fit  them  for 
the  responsible  duties  of  school  nurses,  or  as  nurses 
for  the  insured  sick. 

It  is  bad  manners  to  look  a  gift  horse  in  the 
mouth. 

X  The  provision  of  cottage  and  village  nurses  as  a 
gift  by  my  Lady  Bountiful  for  "  my  peasants  "  in 
their  sore  times  of  sickness  is  one  thing,  but,  when 
the  rates  and  taxes  are  required  to  bolster  up  her 
bounties,  we  claim  that  the  nursing,  for  which 
the  sick  poor  are  called  upon  to  pay,  should  be 
of  such  a  standard  and  quality  that  it  would 
suffice  for  the  requirements  of  those  who  supply 
it  to  them  in  their  own  time  of  need  ! 

Another  Utopian  aspiration,  no  doubt  in  the 
opinion  of  Mr.  Bruxner  ;  but  a  modicum  of  justice 
which  the  nursing  profession  and  the  ratepayers 
must  claim  for  the  defenceless  poor,  if  "  trained 
nursing  "  in  their  case  is  not  to  continue  to  be 
a  sham  and  a  delusion  1 

That  remuneration  for  women's  work — which  is 
arduous  and  responsible  in  the  extreme — should 
be  battered  down  to  the  uttermost  farthing,  is  a 
scandalous  perversion  of  charity,  against  which  we 
intend  to  protest  with  all  our  power.  Wlien  such 
sweating  is  done  through  the  medium  of  rates 
and  taxes  we  are  on  firm  ground  in  protesting. 

Alas  1  Political  power  is  the  only  remedy. 
Without  the  vote  we  may  protest,  but  we  have  no 
power  to  make  our  protest  efiective. 

Women  workers  will  continue  to  be  sweated 
until  they  can  demand  just  conditions  of  life 
through  the  vote. 


POOR   LAW  MATRONS    AT  THE    LOCAL 
GOVERNMENT   LOARD   OFFICE. 


PRESENTATION. 


Miss  Annie  Shorter,  who  for  twelve  and  a  half 
years  has  been  Matron  of  the  Woolwich  and 
Plumstead  Cottage  Hospital,  Shooter's  Hill,  has, 
on  her  resignation  to  take  up  the  position  of 
Matron  of  one  of  the  houses  at  Brighton  College, 
received  handsome  gifts  from  the  medical  and 
the  nursing  staffs,  as  well  as  from  the  Woolwich 
Dockyard  Division  of  the  Metropolitan  Police 
in  appreciation  of  the  care  and  kindness  shown 
to  members  who  have  been  inmates  of  the  hospital 
during  the  time  she  has  held  the  office  of  Matron. 


Mr.  Francis,  Secretary  to  the  Orders  Committee 
of  the  Local  Government  Board,  last  week  received 
on  behalf  of  the  Board,  a  deputation  from  the 
Poor  Law  Infirmary  Matrons'  Association,  on  the 
subject  of  the  position  of  the  Superintendent- 
Nurse.  The  deputation  consisted  of  the  following 
Matrons  :  Miss  Barton  (Chelsea  Infirmary),  Presi- 
dent ;  Miss  Coclvrell  (St.  Marylebone  Infirmary), 
Hon.  Treasurer  ;  Miss  Todd  (St.  James'  Infirmary, 
Balham),  Hon.  Secretary-  ;  Miss  Alsop  (Kensington 
Infirmary),  Assistant  Hon.  Secretary ;  Miss 
Preston  (Mile  End  Infirmary)  ;  Miss  Elma  Smith 
(Central  London  Sick  Asylum,  Hendon)  ;  Miss 
Hannaford  (Poplar  and  Stepney  Sick  Asylum)  ; 
Miss  Dowbiggin  (Edmonton  infirmary)  ;  Miss 
Mowatt  (Whitechapel  Infirmary)  ;  and  Miss 
Myles,  Superintendent-Nurse  (Brighton  Infir- 
mary). Miss  Masters  (Leicester  Poor  Law  Infir- 
mary), who  was  prevented  from  attending,  sent  a 
paper,  embodying  her  views. 

We  understand  that  there  is  a  general  consensus 
of  opinion  amongst  Poor  Law  Matrons  as  to  the 
position  which  the  Superintendent  Nurse  should 
hold. 

There  has  been  a  good  deal  of  friction  in  the 
past  in  places  where  the  infirmaries  are  not 
separated  from  the  workhouses,  owing  to  the  fact 
that  the  trained  Superintendent  Nurse  has  been 
placed  under  the  untrained  Matron  and  Matron 
of  the  Workhouse,  and  in  a  hundred  petty  ways 
her  life  has  often  been  made  so  uncomfortable 
that  many  good  nurses  will  not  put  in  for  these 
posts. 

The  proposed  new  Order  now  under  considera- 
tion by  the  Local  Government  Board  will  not,  it 
is  feared,  mend  matters,  as,  if  it  is  carried  into 
effect,  though  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Matron  over 
the  Superintendent  Nurse  will  end,  this  pro- 
fessional worker  will  practicallv  be  responsible 
for  her  nursing,  and  for  the  conduct  of  the  nurses 
and  servants  under  her,  to  the  Master. 

This  difficulty  might  be  met  in  small  places 
where  there  are  only  three  or  four  nurses,  by 
insisting  on  the  Matron  being  a  trained  nurse, 
and  giving  her  trained  assistance.  In  the  larger 
places  those  well  qualified  to  judge  consider  that 
the  Superintendent  Nurse  should  be  responsible 
to  the  Medical  Officer  and  the  Board  of  Guardians 
only,  and  that  the  Master,  in  relation  to  the 
sick  wards,  should  be  in  the  same  position  as  the 
Steward  in  the  larger  Infirmaries. 

We  hope  that  the  Orders  Committee  of  the 
Local  Government  Board,  which  has  the  subject 
under  consideration,  in  connection  with  the  Draft 
Order,will  understand  that  good, well-trained  nurses 
will  not  apply  in  any  numbers  for  these  posts  under 
lay  supervision,  and  sometimes — it  must  be  added 
— tyranny.  Yet  these  positions  are  important 
and  responsible,  and  much  of  the  comfort  of  the 
sick  poor  in  the  countrv  depends  upon  the  right 
kind  of  people  accepting  them. 


November  i6,  1912     Cbc  36i1tt5h  Souviial  ot  IHursing. 


397 


APPOINTMENTS. 


MATRON. 

Royal  Albert  Hospital,  Dcvonport. — Miss  Margaret 
Ciiss  lias  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  St.  Thomas'  Hospital,  London,  and  has 
held  the  position  of  Sister  in  a  men's  accident 
ward  in  the  same  institution,  and  in  the  theatre 
at  St.  Thomas'  Home,  and  has  been  Matron  of 
the  Cottage  Hospital.  Tcignmouth, 

The  Cottage  Hospital,  Enfield — Miss  Gertrude 
l.iilham  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  Guy's  Hospital,  London,  and  has  held 
the  position  of  Sister  of  the  Theatre  at  the  East 
London  Hospital  for  Children,  Shadwell,  Sister 
at  the  Radcliffc  Infirmary  and  County  Hospital, 
Oxford,  and  Home  Sister  at  the  County  Hospital, 
Guildford.  She  is  also  a  certified  midwife,  and 
holds  the  massage  certificate  of  the  Incorporated 
Society  of  Trained  Masseuses. 

District    Cottage    Hospital,    St.  Austell Miss    A. 

M.  Duncan  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She 
was  trained  at  the  Victoria  Infirmary,  Glasgow,  and 
has  been  Charge  Nurse  at  Ochil  Hills  Sanatorium, 
Kinross,  Sister  at  the  Royal  Hospital  for  Sick 
Children,  Edinburgh,  at  tlie  Royal  Victoria 
Infirmary,  Belfast,  and  the  Ashton-under-Lyne 
Infirmary,  and  Matron  of  the  Cottage  Hospital, 
Driffield. 

General  Hospital,  Chillmarck,  British  Columbia. — 
— Miss  L.  Scott  Gray  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Sunder- 
land, and  the  City  Hospital,  Edinburgh. 

NURSE     MATRON. 

Moxley  Hospital,  near  Wolverhampton.  —  Miss 
Frances  Barlow  has  been  apjiointcd  Nurse  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  City  Infirmary,  Birming- 
ham, and  has  held  the  position  of  Charge  Nurse 
at  the  Portsmouth  Infirmary,  Sister  at  Sclly  Oak 
Infirmary,  and  of  Assistant  Jifatron  at  the  Birming- 
ham and  Midland  Coimtics  Sanatorium. 

SISTER     HOUSEKEEPER, 

Charing  Cross  Hospital,  W.C.  —  Miss  Alice  S. 
Marshall  has  been  appointed  Sister-Housekeeper. 
She  was  trained  at  the  General  Hospital,  Birming- 
ham, and  has  held  the  positions  of  Sister  at  the 
Jenny  Lind  Hospital,  Norwich,  Sister  at  the 
General  Hospital,  Birmingham,  Night  Superin- 
tendent at  the  Norfolk  and  Norwich  Hospital, 
and  Assistant  -  Matron  at  the  Royal  United 
Hospital,  Bath. 

HOME    SISTER, 

Royal  Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the  Chest,  City 
Road,  E.C.—  Miss  Katharine  Seymour  New  lias 
been  appointed  Home  Sister.  She  was  trained  at 
the  Royal  Infirmary,  Aberdeen,  and  has  been 
Sister  and  Night  Superintendent  at  the  Hospital 
for  Women,  Liycrpool,  Sister  at  the  General 
Hospital,  Shrewsbury,  Housekeeping  Sister  at 
Lord  Mayor  Treloar's  Hospital,  Alton,  and  has 
had  experience  of  private  nursing  in  London. 
SISTER. 

Royal  Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the  Chest,  City 
Road,    E.C. — Miss  Lilian  .\rcher  has  been  appointed 


Sister;  She  was  trained  at  the  East  Suffolk 
Hospital,  Ipswich,  and  has  held  the  positions  of 
Staff  Nurse  at  the  Royal  Hospital  for  Diseases 
of  the  Chest,  Theatre  and  In-patient  Sister  at 
the  Ear  and  Throat  Hospital,  Gray's  Inn  Road, 
and  also  as  Acting  Matron  in  the  same  Institution. 
HIghfield  fnfirmary.  Knotty  Ash,  Liverpool. — 
Miss  M.  E.  Shimmin  has  been  appointed  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Infirmar\-,  and  has  been 
Staff  Nurse  at  the  City  of  London  Hospital, 
Victoria  Park,  London  ;  Staff  Nurse  at  the  Eastern 
Hospital,  Homerton  ;  and  Charge  Nurse  at  the 
Rpping  Infirmary. 

NIGHT       SISTER. 

Royal    Isle    of    Wight    County    Hospital,    Ryde 

Miss  Mabel  E.  Brown  has  been  appointed  Night 
Sister.  She  was  trained  at  Walsall  District 
Hospital,  and  has  been  Staff  Nurse  at  Coventry 
Hospital,  and  Charge  Nurse  at  the  General 
Hospital,  Loughborough. 

CHARGE  NURSE. 

The  Workhouse  Hospital,  York.  —  Miss  Ada 
.\bberley  has  been  appointed  Charge  Nurse.  She 
was  trained  at  Wolstanton,  and  Burslem  Union 
Hospital,  Chcll,  Staffordshire,  and  has  held  the 
position  of  Assistant  Nur.sc  at  Atcham  Union 
Infirmary,  and  at  Newmarkcl   L^nion  Infirmary. 

HEALTH     VISITOR. 

Warwickshire      County      Council,      Leamington 

We  arc  asked  to  state  that  Miss  E.  M.  Gillard, 
whose  appointment  as  Health  Visitor  under  the 
Warwickshire  County  Council  we  recorded  last 
week,  was  trained  at  the  South  Devon  and  East 
Cornwall  Homoeopathic  Hospital,  Plymouth,  and 
has  held  the  position  of  Health  Visitor  as  well  as 
that  of  School  Nurse  at  Colchester. 

MIDWIFE. 

Paddington     Workhouse     Infirmary Miss    Mabel 

V.  Heard  has  been  appointed  Midwife.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Portsmouth  Parish  Infirmary, 
and|,was  Staff  Nur.sc  and  Charge  Nurse  there. 
She  holrls  tlic  CM.Ii.  ccrtifi(  ,itc. 

QUEEN  VICTORIA'S    JUBILEE   INSTITUTE 

FOR    NURSES. 

Nursing  SupERiNTENDiiNX  for  England. 

Miss  Alice  J.  Buckle  is  appointed  Nursing 
Superintendent  for  England.  Miss  Buclde  received 
general  training  at  Edinburgh  Roi,al  Infirmary, 
and  district  training  at  Bloomsbury,  and  has 
since  held  the  following  appointments  : — Queen's 
Nurse,  Bloomsbury,  Worthing  and  Pontypool  ; 
from  October,  i8g6,  to  present  date  she  has  been 
Superintendent  of  the  District  Nurses  at  Brighton. 
Miss  Buckle  holds  the  C.M.B.  certificate. 

SUI'ERINTENDENT  OF  EDINBURGH  TRAINING  HOME. 

Miss  M.  M.  White,  Inspector  for  the  Lancashire 
and  Cheshire  area,  has  accepted  the  appointment 
of  Superintendent  of  the  Edinburgh  Training 
Home  for  Nurses  under  the  Scottish  Council 
of  Queen   Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute. 

Transfers  and  Appointments. 

Miss  Maggie  Fullerton  is  appointed  to  Clitheroe  ; 
Miss  Lucy  Haines  to  Cudham. 


39« 


(Tbc  Britisb  3oiirnnl  of  IRurstnci      xovember  i6,  1912 


NURSING    ECHOES. 


The  Annual  "  At  Home  "  of  the  Nurses' 
Co-operation  (8,  New  Cavendish  Street,  W.), 
to  view  the  Show  of  the  Needlework  Guild, 
will  be  held  at  the  Nurses'  Club,  35,  Langham 
Street,  W.,  on  Friday,  December  6th,  from 
3.30  to  5.30.  This  most  useful  Guild  was 
founded  in  1897  by  Miss  Theobald  and  others, 
to  supply  warm  and  useful  clothing-  to  needy 
hospital  patients,  other^vise  unable  to  obtain 
garments  suitable  to  their  condition  after 
serious  illnesses.  The  Hon.  Secretary  is  Miss 
Laura  Baker,  who  is  glad  to  receive  contribu- 
tions of  work  and  money  at  any  time.  Mem- 
bership, which  is  limited  to  trained  nurses, 
entails  the  contribution  of  one  garment  and 
sixpence  per  annum,  and  Associates — ladies 
other  than  nurses — contribute  two  garments 
afid  one  shilling  per  annum. 


When  we  visit  a  hospital  and  note  poor 
accommodation  for  the  nursing  staff,  we  at 
once  conclude — here  is  a  committee  of  men  who 
do  not  realise  the  value  of  the  domestic  basis 
of  skilled  nursing.  Nursing  is,  we  know, 
highlv  technical,  scientific  work,  but  it  is 
founded  on  the  rock  of  domestic  cleanliness  and 
comfort — quite  old-fashioned  virtues  which  go 
to  make  a  home.  And  all  the  best  and  most 
useful  women  love  a  home — even  those 
endowed  with  genius.  We  claim,  therefore, 
that  nurses  who  are  to  come  fresh  and  sane  to 
their  ward  work  should  bring  with  them  the 
happy,  homelike  atmosphere,  which  can  only  be 
attained  and  retained  when  off-duty  time  is 
spent  in  a  sphere  of  beauty  and  serenity. 

Thus  the  svmpathetic  up-to-date  modern  hos- 
pital manager,  if  wise,  will  realise  how  all- 
important  an  item  in  the  scheme  of  hospital 
management  is  the  Nurses'  Home. 

Last  w-eek  we  had  the  great  pleasure  of 
spending  the  night  in  the  new  Nurses'  Home 
recently  built  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Wigan. 
It  is  indeed  a  delightful  place,  in  the  construc- 
tion of  which  kindly  thought  as  well  as  great 
taste  has  been  expended.  Each  nurse  has  a 
charming  bedroom,  well  furnished  and  prettily 
decorated.  Baths  and  lavatories  abound,  and 
the  lecture  room  and  drawing-room  can  be 
divided  for  work  and  play,  or  thrown  into  one 
fine  hall  for  any  special  gathering.  The  Home 
Sister's  room — a  most  restful  and  lovely  place, 
.  specially  furnished — was  christened  at  the 
recent  visit  of  the  Matrons'  Council.  Here  the 
London  members  were  made  welcome  by  Miss 
Macintvre  and  .Sister  Fletcher,  and  took  tea 
sweetened    bv    many    pretty    speeches.       The 


Infirmary  stands  high,  and  is  surrounded  by 
pretty  grounds  and  open  fields,  in  which  the 
dear  animals  browse,  and  give  quite  a  rural  air 
to  the  institution.    

A  tour  of  the  wards  proved  the  thorough 
management  of  the  hospital  and  high  efficiency 
of  the  nursing.  They  were  as  bright  as  they 
were  comfortable,  the  spick-and-span  nurses 
going  about  their  duties  with  that  happy  air, 
without  hustle  and  flurry,  which,  being  inter- 
preted, meant  "  all  these  sick  people  are 
patients,  not  cases,  and  each  one,  even  the 
babes,  are  individuals,  and  must  be  considered 
as  such." 

The  training  for  nurses,  both  in  theory  and 
practice,  is  excellent,  of  which  the  medical  staff 
and  matron  are  very  proud.  Wigan  nurses  are 
well  known  and  highly  thought  of  in  the  North, 
and,  indeed,  go  forth  and  carry  their  good  work 
far  afield. 

Miss  Macintyre,  the  Matron,  has  devoted 
twenty-three  years  of  her  life  to  building  up  the 
high  standard  of  the  nursing  school,  and  is  to 
be  heartily  congratulated  upon  its  assured 
success.  

By  kind  invitation  of  Miss  Orr,  the  Matron, 
a  meeting  of  the  Taunton  branch  of  the  Nurses' 
Social  Union  was  held  at  the  Taunton  and 
Somerset  Hospital  on  November  4th.  The 
members  of  the  Yeovil,  Minehead,  and  Bridg- 
water branches  and  the  West  Somerset  Mid- 
wives'  Association  were  also  invited.  In  spite 
of  the  long  distances  which  most  guests  had 
to  travel,  56  nurses  assembled  to  hear  Dr. 
Annie  Cornall  lecture  on  \'enereal  Diseases. 
The  need  of  information  on  the  subject  had 
been  felt,  and  gratitude  was  expressed  to  the 
lecturer  for  the  very  clear  and  helpful  manner 
in  which  she  treated  the  matter. 

A  warm  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  Miss 
Orr,  coupled  with  an  expression  of  deep  regret 
at  her  approaching  departure  for  New  Zealand 
and  the  hope  that  she  would  be  verj'  happy  in 
her  new  post  as  Matron  of  the  Auckland 
Hospital.  

Never  a  week  passes  that  the  overwork  of 
Poor  Law  nurses  is  not  brought  to  the  notice 
of  some  Board  of  Guardians.  Miss  Peto, 
P.L.G.  at  Lowestoft,  states  that  all  resigning 
nurses  have  40  to  50  patients  to  look  after, 
and  cannot  get  through  with  the  work. 
Some  of  the  male  Guardians  seem  to  think  that 
to  do  away  with  trained  nurses  and  engage 
those  less  efficient  might  solve  the  difficulty. 
No  doubt  they  would  be  cheaper — and  less 
efficient.  But  even  that  is  no  excuse  for  over- 
working; them. 


Novewbcr  i6,  191 2      aDc  Buttisb  3ournai  ot  iRursmo 


399 


Dr.  Moorhead's  lecture  to  the  Irish  Nurses' 
Association  on  "  Massage  in  Nervous  Dis- 
eases," which  he  gave  at  34,  St.  Stephen's 
Green,  Dubhn,  on  the  6th  inst.,  was  lis- 
tened to  with  the  deepest  interest  by  a  large 
audience,  composed  both  of  masseuses  and 
members  of  the  nursing  profession.  The  lec- 
ture was  illustrated  by  lantern  slides,  showing 
sections  of  the  brain  and  spinal  cord,  and  of  the 
changes  the  nerve-cells  undergo  in  diseases  of 
the  nervous  system.  The  chair  was  taken  by 
.Miss  Hogg,  member  of  the  I.S.T.M.  A  hearty' 
vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  Moorhead,  proposed  by 
Miss  Reed  and  seconded  by  Miss  Poole,  was 
passed  amid  great  applause. 


Miss  Mary  T.  Balfour,  of  Ardvarna,  .Shan- 
kill,  writes  that  there  is  a  very  urgent  demand 
in  the  West  of  Ireland  by  Lady  Dudley's 
nurses  for  old  linen.  She  says  nothing  is  too 
old  or  too  small  to  be  of  use.  These  nurses, 
working  devotedly  amongst  the  very  poorest 
of  Irish  peasants,  deserve  all  the  supplies  they 
need,  and  we  hope  some  may  be  sent  to  them. 
Address  Miss  Bradshaw,  33,  Molesworth 
Street,  Dublin,  who  will  forward  any  useful 
stores. 


The  establishment  of  a  training  school  for 
nurses  in  .Algiers  is  a  development  which  will 
be  watched  with  interest,  more  especially  as 
Miss  C.  Elston,  who  is  organizing  the  school, 
is  well  known  in  the  nursing  world,  both  at 
home  and  abroad,  for  her  fine  work  at  the 
Tondu  Hospital,  Bordeaux,  under  the  munici- 
pality of  that  town.  Miss  Elston  is  thus  excep- 
tionnlly  well  qualified  to  initiate  the  new 
school  in  Algiers,  for  the  expenses  of  which  the 
Algerian  Assemblies  have  provided  a  sum  of 
money  in  their  last  budget,  upon  which  the 
Governor,  General  Lutaud,  is  greatly  to  be 
congratulated.  He  is,  it  is  pointed  out  by  Dr. 
G.  Seguy,  a  member  of  the  Conseil  Superieur, 
particularly  well  qualified  to  initiate  this  re- 
form, since  it  was  under  his  administration,  as 
prefect  of  the  Girondc,  and  in  conjunction  with 
the  late  Dr.  Lande,  formerly  Mayor  of 
Bordeaux,  that  the  nursing  school  at  the  Tondu 
Hospital  was  established.  Now  the  same 
advantages  are  to  be  offered  to  .Algerian  girls. 

The  choice  of  locality  for  the  new  school  is 
particularly  happy.  At  Hassein-Dey,  in  a 
lovely  situation,  the  former  Paruet  Asylum  will 
become  the  Paruet  Hospital  of  from  100 — 120 
beds,  and  here  the  new  school  will  be  estab- 
I'shed.  We  congratulate  Miss  Elston  that  the 
quality  of  her  work  in  Bordeaux  has  led  to  its 
extension  to  .Algiers. 


Miss  Gretta  Lyons,  of  Melbourne — who  made 
many  friends  in  England  during  her  visit  home 
this  summer — writes  most  appreciatively  from 
.Melbourne  of  her  visit.  She  says  :  "  What 
pleased  me  most  was  the  spirit  of  comradeship 
that  I  at  once  recognised  upon  presenting  my 
letter  of  introduction  as  a  member  of  the  Royal 
Victorian  Trained  Nurses'  Association  as 
shown  to  a  member  of  our  profession  from  over 
the  seas,  and  even  though  we  laboured  under 
different  conditions  and  conventions,  the 
groundwork  and  spirit  of  our  all-absorbing 
work  made  us  look  at  things  from  the  same 
standpoint.  ...  I  greatly  admired  your  pluck 
and  enthusiasm  under  many  adverse  circum- 
stances, for  I  quite  saw  how  much  we  nurses 
have  to  be  thankful  for  in  Victoria,  with  our 
efficient  .Association  and  the  extreme  loyalty  of 
the  medical  profession,  to  whom  we  owe  so 
deep  a  debt  of  gratitude."  Miss  Lyons  greatly 
regrets  she  was  not  with  us  at  dologne,  but 
consoles  herself  that  she  arrived  in  the  sunny 
land  under  the  Southern  Cross  just  in  time  to 
record  her  vote  for  the  State  Parliament  in 
V'ictoria,  "  and  as  I  was  doing  so,"  she  adds, 
"  my  heart  went  out  in  sympathy  to  you  all, 
who  are  working  so  nobly  to  gain  what  we  as 
nurses  surely  ought  to  claim  as  a  right." 

It  is  hoped  that  at  an  early  date  a  general 
meeting  of  the  R. V.T.N. A.  will  meet  to  discuss 
State  Registration,  and  see  who  is  for  and  who 
against  it,  preparatory  to  a  fight  to  secure  legal 
status  for  Victorian  nurses. 


A   NKW   NURSING   SCHOOL  AT  SPRZLA. 

.Mr.  Eliot  Howard,  of  Ardmore,  Buckhurst 
Hill,  Essex,  is  appealing  for  an  English 
Nursing  Staff  for  the  new  Public  Civil  Hospital 
at  Spezia,  in  Italy.  A  very  competent,  highly 
trained  lady  who  can  speak  Italian  is  required 
to  organize  the  nursing  department,  and  the 
full  staff  ultimately  required  will  be  30  nurses. 

The  Municipality  of  Spezia  four  years  ago 
built  a  large  Hospital  at  great  expense  in  a 
most  suitable  position  on  a  low  hill,  open  to  air 
on  all  sides,  with  magnificent  views  over  the 
Gulf  of  .Spezia  in  one  direction,  and  over  lovely 
hills  in  the  other. 

The  nurses'  quarters  are  arranged  at  the  top 
of  the  building,  and  the  present  administration 
has  voted  40,000  francs  to  open  the  hospital  and 
start  work  in  May  next.  This  they  feel  they 
cannot  do  without  English  help,  so  thev  have 
enlisted  the  sympathy  of  the  Rev.  H.  H.  Pullen, 
who  has  long  been  resident  in  Spezia,  and  has 
displayed  such  marked  powers  of  organization 
in  his  work  for  the  large  Orphanage  recently 


40O 


Cbe  Brtttsb  3ournal  of  IRureino 


November   i5,    191 2 


built,  and  they  have  also  given  Mr.-  Eliot 
Howard  every  opportunity  of  inspecting  the 
hospital. 

The  lady  who  undertakes  the  work  of  organi- 
zation will  require  experience,  firmness,  tact, 
and  patience.  She  will  have  the  support  of  the 
very  efficient  and  energetic  medical  staff.  An 
opportunity  which  shonld  not  be  missed  is  thus 
offered  England  to  render  Italy  a  great  service 
in  the  most  acceptable  form.  There  are  no 
doubt  difficulties,  but  what  nurse  worth  her  salt 
withholds  her  help  for  so  poor  a  reason? 

Full  information  can  be  obtained  from  the 
Rev.  H.  H.  Pullen,  Casa  Alberto,  Spezia,  Italy, 
and  preliminary  inquiries  may  be  addressed  to 
Mr.  Eliot  Howard,  who  will  gladly  give  all 
information  in  his  power. 


THE     DANGER     OF     DERM.\TITIS. 

We  regret  to  learn  that  the  Sister  in  the 
X-ray  department  at  the  Liverpool  Workhouse 
Infirmary  has  contracted  dermatitis.  It  was 
stated  at  a  meeting  of  the  Workhouse  Com- 
mittee that  safety  gloves  are  provided  for  the 
use  of  the  nurses  employed  in  this  department, 
but  that  the  Sister  had  not  always  worn  them. 
On  the  advice  of  an  X-ray  expert,  it  was  decided 
to  employ  additional  safeguards,  and  also  to 
insist  on  gloves  being  worn.  There  is  no 
question  that  this  precaution  should  invariably 
be  taken  ;  the  forces  dealt  with  are  so  potent 
that  constant  care  is  needed. 


THE    HOSPITAL    WORLD. 


POOR     LAW    REFORM. 

In  connection  with  the  draft  Order  now  under 
the  consideration  of  a  Departmental  Committee 
of  the  Local  Government  Board,  we  have  refrained 
from  referring  to  this  in  detail,  because  it  is  still 
a  confidential  document,  although  it  has  been 
submitted  to  certain  Associations  concerned  in 
Poor  Law  work  for  suggestions.  It  has  not  as 
yet  been  submitted  to  the  President  of  the  Local 
Government  Board  for  his  consideration. 


A     FORFEITED     HOLIDAY. 

Nurses  will  do  well  to  note  the  following  case, 
in  which  a  Nurse  Grant,  who  had  been  employed 
by  the  Railway  Institute  Nursing  Association, 
arid  after  seventeen  months'  work,  without  a 
holiday,  received  a  month's  notice,  terminating 
her  engagement,  sued  the  Association  for  a  month's 
salary,  compensation  for  holiday  due  to  her,  at 
the  Holyhead  County  Court.  Judge  Moss,  deliver- 
ing judgment,  said  that  morally  she  was  entitled 
to  the  amount  claimed,  but  she  had  forfeited  her 
legal  claim  by  not  going  on  holiday,  and  entered 
judgment  for  the  defendants. 


THE     MILLER     GENERAL     HOSPITAL,     S.E. 

One  has  only  to  study  a  map  showing  the 
distribution  of  London  hospitals  north  and 
south  of  the  river  to  be  struck  by  the  great 
disproportion  in  the  hospital  accommodation 
for  the  poor  of  South  London.  True,  St. 
Thomas'  and  Guy's  Hospitals  are  south,  but  so 
close  to  the  river  that  they  scarcely  serve  the 
great  population,  consisting  mainly  of  the 
working  classes,  in  the  southern  districts,  and, 
indeed,  so  far  as  Greenwich,  Deptford,  Wool- 
wich, and  Lewisham  are  concerned,' the  Miller 
Hospital,  Greenwich,  so  named  after  Canon 
Miller,  founder  of  Hospital  Sunday,  is  the  only 
one  in  a  wide  area  at  the  service  of  the  sick, 
and  this  has  only  had  25  beds,  to  meet  the 
demands  upon  it  of  a  population  of  over 
510,000 — a  provision  w  iiich  it  will  be  realized 
is  totallv  inadequate. 

Now,  however,  a  new  \\  ing  has  been  added, 
which  will  bring  the  number  of  beds  available 
up  to  76  if  the  Committee  of  Management 
receives  sufficient  financial  support  to  justify  it 
in  opening  them,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  this  will 
quickly  be  received. 

It  is  fortunate  at  the  present  time  in  having 
secured  the  powerful  interest  and  active  assist- 
ance of  Her  Royal  Highness  Princess  Louise, 
Duchess  of  Argyll,  who  is  not  only  opening  the 
new  wing  on  November  isth,  but  is  making  a 
public  appeal  for  subscriptions  to  be  sent  to  the 
hospital,  which  she  will  herself  acknowledge. 

To  the  last  the  new  wing  has  been  in  the 
iiands  of  workpeople,  but  energy  on  the  part 
of  the  courteous  Secretary,  Mr.  Harry  A.  Bone, 
and  the  Matron,  Miss  E.  Mussett,  have  accom- 
plished wonders  to  make  things  spick  and  span 
for  the  15th  inst.  .Already  two  of  the  large 
wards  are  occupied  by  patients,  one  for  men  and 
one  for  women,  each  ward  receiving  both 
medical  and  surgical  cases.  One  for  children  is 
a  great  need,  as  it  is  good  neither'  for  women 
nor  children  that  both  should  be  nursed  in  the 
same  wards.  In  planning  the  wards  and  their 
annexes  the  sensible  arrangement  has  been 
adopted  of  placing  the  bathroom  off  the 
entrance  lobby,  instead  of  at  the  further  end  of 
the  ward.  A  small  ward  for  one  patient  also 
opens  into  this  lobby,  as  well  as  the  ward 
kitchen. and  linen-room.  There  is  no  Sister's 
room,  however,  and  it  appears  that  the 
latest  fashion  in  hospital  planning  is  not  to 
include  such  accommodation.  No  doubt,  in  a 
short  time,  the  pendulum  will  swing  again  in 
the  other  direction ;  meanwhile,  if  a  Sister 
desires   to   speak   to   the  visiting  physician  or 


November  i6,  19.2      Cbe  Biltisl)  3ouunal  ot  IRurstnn 


surgeon,  give  instructions  to  a  nurse,  or  inter- 
view a  patient's  friend,  this  must  all  be  done 
in  the  publicity  of  the  ward  ;  but  hospital  archi- 
tects are  despots,  and  so  it  is  decreed.  The 
ward  floors  arc  of  terrano,  black  and  white  in 
colour,  but  I  learnt  from  the  Matron  that  it  is 
a  matter  of  some  difficulty  lo  keep  them  satis- 
factorily cleaned,  and,  indeed,  the  employment 
of  an  expert  for  the  purpose,  at  a  cost  of  30s. 
a  week,  is  now  suggested  as  desirable.  The 
corridors  are  paved  with  terrazzo,  which  does 
not  present  such  difficulties.  ' 

The  wards  are  lig;hted  on  the  latest  approved 
method,    the   lower   half   of   the  central   lights 


of  the  domestic  department  of  a  hospital  is  the 
amount  of  labour  which  will  be  necessary  to 
keep  the  large  area  of  floor  and  wall  space 
clean. 

The  nursing  staff  have  their  meals  in  the 
hospital,  but  live,  when  off  duty,  and  sleep  in 
houses  apart.  They  are  trained  for  three  years, 
receiving  a  certificate  at  the  end  of  that  time  if 
they  pass  their  examinations  and  are  otherwise 
satisfactory. 

I  must  not  omit  to  mention  the  dinner 
wagons,  which  are  taken  into  the  wards,  and 
the  tops  of  which  serve  as  hot  plates. 

M.  B. 


hm  OF  The  MttLER  General  Hospi 


THE     NEW     WING,     MIl.LEK     (ilMI,'\l       lliis|'i|\i.     ( j  k'LI.  N  w  !>.  II. 


being  shaded,  and  the  light  obtained  reflected. 
The  result  is  a  subdued  and  pleasant,  though 
rather  dull  eft'ect.  The  shades  for  the  lights 
over  the  patients'  beds  are  still  awaited  from 
America. 

One  floor  in  the  new  block  is  devoted  to  the 
operation-room  and  its  annexes,  one  of  these 
being  a  bathroom  for  the  use  of  the  operating 
surgeons.  This  necessary  annexe  is,  I  was 
informed  by  the  Matron,  believed  lo  be  the  first 
to  be  provided  in  a  hospital  in  this  country.  In 
America  the  necessity  for  such  provision  has 
long  been  recognized.  The  operation-room  has 
an  excellent  north  light,  and  seinns  well  planned 
for  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  fiesigned. 

One  feature  of  the  new  block  which  must 
strike  anvonc  accustomed  to  the  management 


REFLECTIONS 


FROM    A    BOARD    ROOM    MIRROR. 


Sir  Thomas  Crosby,  the  recent  Lord  Mayor, 
has  thoughtfully  given  help  to  the  .\ppeal 
Committee  for  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital. 
The  Municipal  Council  of  Vienna,  in  recognition 
of  their  recent  visit  to  London,  have  sent  5,000 
kronen  (;{2o6  3s.  8d.)  to  give  to  any  charitable 
object  in  the  City  of  London  of  which  Sir  Thomas 
approves,  and  he  has  informed  the  Treasurer 
that  it  gives  him  great  pleasure  to  hand  it  to 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital.  VVc  could  wish  it 
had  been  earmarked  for  a  new  Nurses'  Home 
Fund. 


A    male   Committee   which   cannot   be   made 
to  realise  that  the  present  nurses'  quarters  at  this- 


402 


Cbc  ISrittsb  3oiirnal  of  IRurstno.     November  i6,  1912 


hospital  are  dangerous  both  to  health  and  life 
—  and  would  not  be  tolerated  for  an  hour  if 
they  housed  valuable  bloodstock  instead  of 
working  women,  has  no  right  to  be  entrusted 
with  the  management  of  a  public  institution. 
Sheltered  behind  a  Royal  Patron  and  an 
obsequious  Press,  nothing  more  callous  than  the 
treatment  of  the  devoted  nursing  staff  of  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital  has  ever  been  tolerated 
under  the  cloak  of  charity,  than  to  permit  them 
to  sleep,  year  after  year,  in  the  death-traps  in 
case  of  fire  providtd  as  bedrooms  by  the 
Governors  of  this  wealthy  charity. 

All  o\er  the  country,  wherever  we  go,  we  hnd 
attached  to  every  hospital  worthy  of  public 
confidence  a  comfortable,  beautiful  and  sanitary 
nurses'  home.  We  feel  the  more  indignant  that 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  continues  to  flout 
public  opinion  in  this  connection,  because  huge 
sums  of  money  have  been  expended  in  housing 
outpatients,  the  resident  medical  staff — and  the 
miarobes  !  

William  Crouch,  a  Willcsden  working  man,  has 
left  £230,  all  that  he  possessed,  to  the  Willesden 
Cottage  Hospital,  in  gratitude  for  benefits  received 
wliile  a  patient  there. 

Miss  Marj-  Houldsworth,  of  Rozelle,  Ayr,  left 
;£24,ooo  ;  and  Mrs.  Agnes  Black,  of  Coldstream, 
left  nearly  ;^i4,ooo,  together  with  a  portion  of  the 
residue  of  her  estate,  for  rehgious  and  charitable 
purposes.  

The  accounts  which  have  come  to  hand  of  the 
sufferings  of  horses  in  the  Balkan  War  have  caused 
"  Our  Dumb  Friends'  League  "  to  take  immediate 
steps  towards  the  equipment  of  an  efficient  veteri- 
nary corps.  A  special  fund  has  been  opened,  and 
subscriptions  are  urgently  invited.  A  substantial 
sum  will  be  needed.  Cheques  should  be  sent  at 
once,  addressed  Arthur  J.  Coke,  Esq.,  O.D.F.L. 
Veterinary-  Corps,  58,  Victoria  St.,  London,  S.W. 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


On  Wednesday,  November  6th,  a  small  sale  of 
work  in  aid  of  the  Children's  Ward  was  held  in 
the  Nurses'  Home,  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital, 
Rochester. 

The  Dean  of  Canterbury  (Dr.  Wace)  kindly 
opened  the  Sale.  After  a  most  interesting 
address,  which  specially  appealed  to  Nurses  and 
their  work,  the  Dean  was  presented  with  a  button- 
hole by  one  of  the  patients  from  the  Children's 
Ward. 

Practically  all  the  articles  for  sale  were  given 
by  the  Nursing  Staff,  and  after  all  expenses  were 
paid,  a  sum  of  £25  was  realised. 

Tea  was  sen,'ed  in  the  Nurses'  sitting-room, 
and  the  Royal  Engineer  Band  pla\-ed  selections 
during  the  afternoon. 


WOMEN. 

The  Irish  Partv  has  covered  itself  with  dis- 
honour in  denying  the  \-ote  to  women  in  Ireland 
in  the  Home  Rule  Bill.  "  Ireland  a  nation  " 
rings  hollow,  with  the  mothers  of  the  nation 
left  out.  

A  very  scandalous  scene  took  place  at  the 
opening  of  a  Chrysanthemum  Show  at  Battersea 
Town  Hall  last  week  by  Mr.  John  Burns,  the 
President  of  the  Local  Government  Board.  No 
Minister  is  more  intolerant  where  the  enfranchise- 
ment of  women  is  concerned  than  this  man, 
who  himself  has  suffered  imprisonment  for  riotous 
beha\-iour  in  demand  of  more  liberty  for  his  own 
sex  and  class.  A  suffragette  demanding  votes 
for  women  causes  him  to  lose  all  self-control, 
and  at  Battersea  "  Have  her  out,"  "  Take  no 
notice  of  that  bleat,"  "  Tlirow  her  out,"  were  a 
few  of  the  directions  he  shouted  at  the  brutal  and 
infuriated  bullies,  called  stewards,  who  in  half- 
dozens  hurled  themseh'es  on  any  defenceless 
woman  who  dared  to  open  her  lips,  and  whom  they 
seized  and  face  downwards  hustled  through  the 
mob,  and  threw  out  into  the  street.  We  do  not 
wonder  that  it  makes  a  woman's  blood  boil  to 
realise  that  the  money  she  earns  is  abstracted  by 
law  to  pay  the  huge  stipends  of  these  tyrannical 
Ministers,  who  deny  her  free  speech,  and  incite 
to  cruel  and  disgusting  violence.  To  witness 
such  a  scene  is  to  realise  the  degradation  of  the 
whole  nation,  excepting  only  the  women  who  have 
the  courage  to  protest  against  it. 


Women's  Suffrage  news  from  the  United  States 
is  more  encouraging.  A  New  York  despatch 
states  that  constitutional  amendments,  authorising 
woman  suffrage,  appear  to  have  been  adopted  in 
Michigan,  Kansas,  and  Arizona.  In  Oregon  the 
result  is  in  doubt.  In  Wisconsin  the  proposal  has 
been  decisively  defeated.  Of  course,  "  our  Miss 
Dock  "  is  taking  an  active  part  in  the  splendid 
work  being  done  bv  American  women  in  claim  of 
their  political  freedom. 

Over  20,000  men  and  women  took  part  in  a  ■ 
great  torchlight  parade  through  the  streets  of 
New  York,  on  November  5th,  to  celebrate  the 
equal  Suffrage  victories  in  these  three  States. 
Nothing  more  inspiring  had  ever  taken  place  in 
all  the  fiarhts  for  wome  I's  rights  in  America. 


The  Kent  Education  Committee  have  com- 
menced the  second  course  of  twenty-four  lectures 
on  sick  room  cooker^',  which  are  held  at  St. 
Bartholomew's  Hospital,  Rochester,  once  a  week. 


One  of  the  most  interesting  measures  soon  to 
be  discussed  by  the  Norwegian  Parliament  is  a 
project  under  which  an  illegitimate  child  wDl 
not  only  be  allowed  to  take  his  father's  name, 
but  can  Claim  an  equal  share  of  his  property  with 
the  legitimate  children.  This  measure  is  a  good 
"  follow  up  "  of  the  efficacious  law  for  the  pro- 
tection of  mothers,  passed  in  1892,  which  obliges 
the  father  of  an  illegitimate  child  to  pay  a  pension 
to  the  mother,  in  default  of  which  he  is  deprived 
of  the  rights  of  citizenship. 


November  i6,  1912      Cbc  Brltisb  3ournal  of  IRursino. 


403 


BOOK   OF  THE    WEEK. 


THE     UPAS    TREE.' 

V  A  new  book  by  >[rs.  Barclay,  author  of  "  The 
Rosan,-,"  will  be  welcomed  by  many  of  the  book- 
lo\-ing  public,  for  her  stories  arc  always  clean, 
wholesome,  and  of  well-sustained  interest,  added 
to  which,  in  the  present  case  the  book  ends  with 
a  Christmas  setting,  so  that  its  publication  at  a 
time  when  wise  people  are  beginning  to  select 
their  Christmas  gifts  is  particularly  seasonable. 

The  story  is  one  of  Ronald  and  Helen  West,  a 
husband  and  wife  loving  each  other  devotedly* 
The  husband,  absorbed  in  his  work,  recognising  his 
wife  as  "  always  kind,  always  understanding, 
altogether  perfect,"  but  unconsciously  accepting 
all  she  has  to  bestow  upon  him.  Helen,  the  wife, 
gi\-ing  to  the  husband,  whose  genius  she  recognises, 
whose  sterling  qualities  she  appreciates,  with  all 
the  generosity  of  a  noble  nature. 

It  follows  that  when  the  two  meet  each  having 
something  of  great  moment  to  tell  the  other,  that 
the  husband's  news  is  told  first,  and  in  her  unselfish 
devotion  the  wife  leaves  hers  untold. 

Ronald's  information  was  astonishing  enough. 
"Helen,"  he  said,  "I  want  to  go  to  Central 
Africa.  ...  I  have  a  new  plot  :  a  quite  wonderful 
love  stor^-,  better  than  an%'thing  I  have  done  vet. 
But  the  scene  is  laid  in  Central  Africa,  and  I 
must  go  out  there  to  get  the  setting  correct.  .  .  . 
I  must  be  steeped  in  the  wonderful  African 
atmosphere  before  I  can  subconsciously  work  it 
into  my  book.  .  .  .  Helen — I  must  go  to  Central 
Africa." 

Of  course,  Ronald  goes.  Equally,  of  course, 
Helen's  momentous  news,  the  news  that  the  long- 
desired  child  was  at  length  to  be  expected, 
remained  untold. 

On  his  return  seven  months  later,  Ronald,  who 
goes  to  Leipsic  to  see  his  publisher,  stays  the  night 
with  a  cousin  of  Helen's,  who,  unknown  to  him, 
was  at  one  time  engaged  to  his  wife,  who  broke  off 
the  engagement.  The  revenge  this  man  takes, 
professing  at  the  same  time  friendship  for  Ronald, 
who  is  far  from  well,  "  with  bright  eves  and 
flushed  face — the  feverish  blood  showing  even 
through  the  tan  of  Africa,"  is  mean  in  the  extreme, 
and  he  manages  for  a  time  to  create  a  misunder- 
standing between  husband  and  wife,  which  leads 
to  much  unhappiness  for  both. 

Ronald,  who  is  a  bom  musician,  is  full  of  delight 
at  his  latest  acquisition,  a  \'ioloncello  which  he 
has  just  purchased,  and  named  "  The  Infant  of 
Prague."     He  can  talk  of  nothing  else. 

.\ubrcy  Treheme  intercepts  Helen's  letter 
telling  her  husband  of  the  birth  of  his  little  son, 
and  when  he  arrives  at  home,  full  of  delight  at  his 
reunion  with  his  wife,  talking  of  nothing  but 
"  The  Infant  of  Prague."  Helen's  young  mother- 
hood    arose     and     took     her     b\-     the     throat. 

*  By  Florence  L.  Barclay.  (G.  P.  Putnam's 
Sons,  24,   Bedford  Street,   Strand.) 


"  Ronald,"  she  said,  "  you  are  utterly,  preposter- 
ously, altogether  selfish  !  I  am  ashamed  of  you." 
The  shock  to  Ronald  precipitates  the  brain 
trouble  which  his  doctor  and  friend,  "  Dr.  Dick," 
is  endeavouring  to  avert.  But  all  is  well  that  ends 
well,  and  this  story  ends  to  the  sound  of  the 
Christmas  chimes,  and  with  perfect  understanding 
between  husband  and  wife. 

P.   <;.   V 


AN 


mSTOKICAL    OUTLI.NB 
AMBULANCE. 


OF 


Messrs.  John  Wright  oc  Sons,  Ltd.,  of  Bristol, 
have  published  opportunely  "  An  Historical 
Outline  of  Ambulance  from  the  Earliest  Times," 
by  Mr.  Charles  H.  Miles.  Mr.  Miles  tells  us  that 
from  Homer  we  learn  that  a  certain  knowledge 
of  bandaging  and  rougli  surgery  was  among  the 
accomplishments  of  at  least  the  better  class  of 
warriors  who  fought  at  the  siege  of  Troy.  Thus 
when  L'lysses — upon  the  occasion  of  a  boar  hunt — 
was  wounded  by  the  tusks  of  the  infuriated  swine, 
his  companions  with  skill  bound  up  the  lacerated 
part  of  his  body.  Women  as  well  as  men  are 
spoken  of  as  learned  in  the  use  of  simples  and 
medicinal  herbs,  and  capable  of  treating  wounds  in 
a  proper  and  efficient  manner,  and  most  of  us 
know  of  .\gamede,  the  fair-haired,  "  who  knew 
all  drugs,  as  many  as  the  wide  earth  nourished." 
So  the  author  traces  the  historj-  of  the  ambulance 
movement  to  the  present  day. 


COMING    EVENTS. 

November  i^th. — Miller  General  Hospital  for 
South  East  London,  Greenwich.  Princess  Louise, 
Duchess  of  .\rgyll,  of)ens  the  new  wing.     3  p.m. 

November  igth. — The  Infants'  Hospital,  Vin- 
cent Square,  S.W.  Lectures  on  Babies.  "  The 
Chemistry  of  Milk."  by  Dr.  Ralph  Vincent. 
3.30  p.m.' 

November  20th. — Irish  Xurses'  Association,  34, 
St.  Stephen's  Green,  Dublin.  "  The  Health  of  the 
Child,"  illustrated  by  lantern  slides,  by  Dr. 
McVittie. 

November  20th. — National  Council  of  W'omen  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  Extraordinary  Meeting 
"  To  Consider  the  Position  of  Women  under  the 
Franchise  and  Registration  Bill  now  before 
PtirUament."  Central.  Hall,  Westminster,  10.30 
a.m. 

November  z^rd. — National  Council  of  Nurses  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  Annual  Meeting  of 
Grand  Council.  Tea,  4  p.m.  Meeting,  4.36  p.m., 
431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W. 

November  28th. — Association  for  Promoting  and 
Training  and  Supply  of  Midwives.  Meeting  of 
Council,  Caxton  Hall,  S.W.     12  noon. 


WORD     FOR     THE     WEEK. 

God  offers   to  cverj-  mind   its  choice   between 
truth  and  repose. — Enterson. 


404 


^be  Buitisb  journal  of  IRurslno      Novembey  i6,  191- 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  jor  these  columns,  zve  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  jor  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


THE     MATRONS'     COUNCIL. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
De^vr  Madam, — As  a  member  of  the  above 
Council  may  I  congratulate  all  those  concerned 
on  organizing  such  a  splendid  meeting  at  Wigan, 
as  reported  this  week.  I  was  pleased  to  note  how 
unanimous  all  present  were  on  the  question  of 
State  Registration.  I  have  written  to  our  Member 
of  Parliament  and  have  his  promise  of  support 
for  our  Bill.  As  Miss  Mollett  said,  there  is  no  clear 
reason  or  sound  argument  against  it.  Let  us  all 
work  hard  for  it  this  winter  ;  that  the  governors 
of  a  few  London  hospitals  and  their  highly-paid 
officials  should  have  prevented  it  so  long  is  as 
ungenerous  as  it  is  unjust.  The  average  Member 
is  in  favour  of  protecting  a  high  standard  of 
nursing,  but  rich  industrial  magnates  who  make 
huge  profits  out  of  their  female  "  hands  "  now 
govern,  and  we  must  remember  they  fear  nothing 
so  much  as  the  organisation  of  any  class  of 
women  workers.  It  is  the  same  with  London 
hospital  magnates.  I  would  sign  my  name,  but 
that  on  previous  occasions  the  anti-registrationists 
have  drawn  attention  to  my  "  public  "  work  in 
quarters  which  might  injure  my  power  of  self- 
support. 

Yours  very  truly. 
An  Old  Member  of  Matrons'  Council. 


CHEAP  NURSING    AND   SWEATED    LABOUR. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam,— I  was  glad  to  see  a  letter  from 
Mr.  H.  R.  Bruxner,  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  the 
Staffordshire  County  Nursing  Association,  in 
your  issue  of  November  2nd  as  it  gives 
vividly  the  point  of  view  of  the  members  of  such 
Associations  in  their  relation  to  nursing  the 
rural  poor,  and,  incidentally,  their  entire  lack  of 
appreciation  concerning  what  trained  nursing  is — 
or  should  be. 

It  is  now  nearly  thirty  years  since  I  was  interested 
in  district  nursing — in  connection  with  the  Metro- 
politan Nursing  Association — housed  still  in 
Bloomsbury  Square,  and  I  well  remember  the  first 
quahfications  for  members  of  tliat  body  were  that 
they  should  be  cultured,  refined,  educated  women — 
trained  to  the  best  standard  of  nursing  then 
accepted,  and  that  such  culture  was  considered  the 
very  best  asset  for  a  woman  who  was  to  influence 
those  in  sickness  less  fortunate  socially  than  her- 
self. It  is  almost  incredible  that  district  nursing 
can  have  deteriorated  to  its  present  status — and 
that  these  highly-trained,  devoted  gentlewomen 
have  been  superseded  by  mill  hands — who  cannot 


bcgm  to  perform  the  duties  .of  sanitary  teachers, 
such  as  I  claim  district  nurses  should  be.  In  my 
opinion  it  is  high  time  to  call  halt  in  the  down- 
ward grade  of  district  nursing  in  rural  places,  and 
to  make  well  meaning  laymen  understand  they  have 
no  right,  even  if  they  have  the  power,  and  self- 
sufficiency,  to  control  Associations  defining  the 
quality  of  nursing  for  poor  sick  people.  Mr. 
liruxner's  letter  is  ample  proof  of  the  absolute 
ignorance  of  inany  people  who  assume  such 
responsibihty  without  any  expert  knowledge  of 
the  question. 

I  am,  yours,  &c., 

A  Pioneer  District  Nurse. 


To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — I  have  retired  from  a  com- 
mittee in  the  rural  district  in  which  I  live,  because 
fro:n  past  experience  I  feel  most  strongly  that 
we  more  fortunate  members  of  the  community  have 
no  right  to  provide  semi-trained  nurses  even  if 
they  are  mid  wives,  to  attend  on  the  village  people. 
The  system  of  inspection  by  ladies  who  live  several 
hours  away  was  most  unsatisfactory.  Our  inspector 
knew  little  of  what  went  on  during  her  months  of 
absence — and  the  pohcy  of  our  committee  was 
"  least  said,  soonest  mended,"  so  nobody  reported 
delinquencies  to  her.  Inspection  was  a  farce. 
I  retired  when  cases  of  puerperal  fever  and  two 
deaths  occurred  in  our  district  because  the  doctor 
would  not  acknowledge  that  the  midwifery  nurse 
was  to  blaine.  She  was  dirty  and  untidy  in  her 
person,  uncouth  in  manner,  and  neglected  her 
duties.  Nothing  of  this  was  reported  to  the 
inspector  ! 

Yours  truly, 
One  Who  Declines  Responsibility. 

P.S. — I  may  add  I  am  of  opinion  that  a 
thoroughly  trained  nurse,  plus  a  midwifery  certifi- 
cate, is  the  only  person  >vho  ought  to  be  a  district 
nurse  where  one  is  often  miles  from  a  doctor. 


THE    REGISTRATION  OF    NURSING    HOMES. 

To  the  Editor  of  Tke.  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dear  Editor, — Permit  me  to  express  much 
interest  and  general  approbation  of  the  scheme 
for  registering  nursing  homes  you  are  engaged  in 
forwarding,  as  I  know  of  some  that  would  be  far 
better  closed  or  ignored,  and  others  'that  merit 
wider  recognition.  But  in  keeping  the  letter  of 
the  rules,  may  it  not  happen  that  some  of  the  very 
best  will  be  condemned  if  the  rules  as  at  present 
framed  allow  of  no  exceptions  ?  It  touches  me 
on  a  point  in  which  I  can  sympathise. with  others. 
Practically  it  is  never  likely  to  affect  me  personally 
because  I  am  doing  so  well  abroad  that  I  have  not 
the  least  desire  to  return  and  compete  in  the  over- 
stocked British  market.  Briefly,  the  circum- 
stances are  these :  Some  twenty  years  ago  I 
applied  to  several  of  the  big  London  hospitals  for 
training.  The  "  personal  interview "  always 
clinched  the  matter.  I  "  looked  too  delicate," 
and    so    was    refused.     But    one    Matron    kindly 


November  i6,   191: 


:\K  Brlttsb  3ournal  of  H-liirstno 


405 


suggested  two  OT  tliree  provincial  liospitals  known 
to  her,  and  in  one  of  these  1  was  eventually 
aeceptcd.  Later  experience  proved  London  hos- 
pital life  to  agree  with  mc  perfectly  when  I  was 
Sister  and  Assistant  Matrcn  in  a  special  hospital. 
This  is  neither  here  nor  there,  only  that  it  proves 
appearance  is  not  enough  to  go  upon  in  gauging 
strength,  and  how  the  whole  course  of  one's  life 
may  be  altered  by  another  person's  judgment. 
Now  the  training  in  this  provincial  hospital  was 
excellent.  I  would  back  its  nurses  against  the 
average  London  ones  any  day.  Having  no 
medical  school,  much  surgical  work  that  is  usually 
done  by  students  fell  to  us,  and  the  class  of  • 
individuals  gathered  there  left  nothing  to  be 
desired.  But  a  certificate  of  training  was  given 
after  two  ^■ears  !  It  has  lost  me  ntore  than  one 
good  pi  st  in  my  life,  but  on  looking  back  I  hardly 
think  I  would  have  changed  had  I  seen  all.  Very 
likely  I  should  have  stayed  on  to  a  humdrum 
hospital  life  year  after  year.  The  fact  of  having 
something  to  combat  and  also  feeling  the  need 
of  more  experience,  made  me  very  keen  on  getting 
it,  and  I  succeeded,  first  in  private  nursing  on  the 
Continent,  then  as  Charge-Nurse  in  a  workhouse 
hospital  (with  trained  Superintendent  and  staff), 
of  a  block  of  103  beds  ;  after  that  as  Matron  of 
a  cottage  hospital,  Sister  in  a  London  one,  then 
abroad  as  Nursing-Superintendent  of  two  hospitals 
n  3 J  years.  Pubably  few  "three  years'  cer- 
tificated "  nurses  could  match  the  number  of 
abnormal  confinements,  Csesarian  sections,  and 
other  major  operations  I  have  assisted  at.  Add 
to  this  the  varied  experience  of  life  that  tells  for 
so  much  in  the  upper  reaches  of  every  profession, 
and  not  less  than  any  in  the  management  of  a 
nursing  home.  Is  it  all  to  go  for  naught  ?  Two 
contentporaries  of  mine  who  were  at  the  same 
hospital  also  run  nursing  homes  in  England,  and 
they  are  each  in  their  line  first-rate.  Would  it 
be  just  to  condemn  these  owners  and  taboo  their 
Homes  on  account  c>f  a  technicality — for  that  it 
by  now  amounts  to — in  favour  of  the  tyro  just 
free  from  her  first  hospital  with  a  three  years' 
certificate  ?  Or  must  they  quit  the  field  and 
deprive  patients  cf  the  benefit  r^f  their  valuable 
experience  ?  Or  return,  if  that  bo  possible,  and 
put  in  a  third  year  as  probationer  when  middle- 
aged  ? 

Let  it  not  be  thought  I  am  in  favour  of  a  short 
course  of  training.  I  am  fighting  on  the  side  of  an 
extended  one,  and  registration  as  \yell,  but  I  think 
we  need  to  extend  our  view  sometimes  in  order 
to  be  just  and  wise  in  our  dealings. 

Yours,   &c., 
Punjab,  India.  S.  M. 

[We  gather  that  in  organising  a  system  of 
registration  of  nursing  homes  our  correspondent 
does  not  approve  of  the  system  being  retrospective, 
as  injustice  might  be  done.  This  may  be  so, 
and  no  Association  for  tlie  purpose  could 
succeed  unless  the  standard  adopted  included 
experienced     trained      nurses      who      arc     now 


heads  of  nursing  homes.  We  quite  agree  that 
experience  is  most  valuable,  but  that  for  the 
future  we  must  start  front  a  minimum  term  of 
training,  and  that  term  all  over  the  world  has  been 
accepted,  vith  one  or  two  glaring  exceptions,  as 
not  less  than  three  years'  experience  in  the  wards 
before  certification.  The  go-as-you-please  system 
in  England  lias  resulted  during  the  past  fifteen 
years  in  a  rapid  deterioration  in  the  nursing 
profession  as  a  whole,  and  the  control  and  pro- 
motion of  its  members,  by  social  influence, 
irrespective  of  either  personal  merit  or  training. 
We  see  this  on  every  side.  In  the  Army,  and 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  land 
in  the  nursing  of  the  sick  poor,  and  in  private 
nursing,  it  is  specially  demonstrated.  No  pro- 
fession can  stand  firm  and  progress  from  the  shift- 
ing basis  of  social  patronage.  It  must  have 
defined  standards,  legal  status  and  disciplinary 
control.  We  are  glad  to  note  our  correspondent 
is  working  in  India  for  such  reforms. — Ed.] 

OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS. 

November  2^rd. — How  should  a  nurse  care  for 
her  hands  so  that  they  are  kept  in  tlie  best  condi- 
tion for  use  in  the  sick  room  ? 

November  '^oth. — What  form  of  infection  is  likely 
to  follow  the  retention  of  a  piece  of  the  placenta 
after  delivery,  and  what  arc  its  characteristics  ? 

OUR     CHRISTMAS     COMPETITION. 


TOYS     FOR    TIMES. 

Four  Five  Siiilling  Prizes  will  be  awarded  in 
December  for  the  best  toys  made  at  the  cost  of 
not  more  than  6d.  The  toys  must  be  sent  to  the 
Editorial  Office,  20,  Upper  Wimpole  Street, 
London,  W.,  by  December  14th,  with  the  coupon 
which  will  appear  in  the  issue  of  December  7tli. 
All  the  toys  will  be  distributed  to  poor  cliildren 
under  five  years  of  age,  so  they  should  be  made 
to  meet  the  tastes  of  tinies. 

NOTICES. 

The  Editor  hopes,  that  every  reader  who  values 
The  British  Journal  of  Nursing,  will  get  one  or 
more  new  subscribers — so  that  its  constructive 
work  for  the  profession  may  receive  ever  increasing 
support. 

It  is  the  only  weekly  journal  which  demands 
eflScient  educational  and  ecirom'c  standards  for 
trained  nurses  through  an  Act  of  Parliament, 
providing  for  their  State  Registration. 

The  price  is  id.  weeklv.  Abroad,  gs.  per  year, 
post  free.     Office,  431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W. 

BUSINESS    COMMUNICATIONS. 

The  Editor  will  be  obliged  if  all  business  com- 
munications, such  as  requiring  extra  journals,  &c., 
are  addressed  to  the  Manager,  The  British 
Journal  of  Nursing  Office,  431,  O.xford  Street, 
London,  \V.,  and  not  to  the  Editorial  office  at  20, 
Upper  Wimpole  Street,  W. 


4o6    ^be  Britieb  3ountal  of  IRuvsmo  Supplement.  November  i6,  1912 


THe   Midwife. 


THE  CENTRAL  MIDWIVES'  BOARD. 


LIST    OF    SUCCESSFUL    CANDIDATES. 

At  the  Examinatioit  of  the  Central  Midwives' 
Board,  held  in  London  on  October  22nd,  668  candi- 
dates were  examined.and  549  passed  the  examiners. 
The  percentage  of  failures  was  17.S 
London. 

British  Lying-in  Hospital. — L.  M.  Bardo,  S. 
Dobson,  P.  V.  Isaacson,  L.  M.  Randall,  E.  Ray, 
K.    Weekley. 

City  of  London  Lying-in  Hospital. — J.  M. 
Boddam,  M.  E.  Crapper,  L.  M.  Harwin,  F.  L. 
Hawkins,  M.  M.  King,  A.  McChesney,  H.  E. 
Mackereth,    K.   M.   Shrewsburv,  E.  J.  Stevenson, 

A.  F.  Sullivan. 

Clapham  Maternity  Hospital. — ^M.  Barrett,  C.  S. 
H^twell,  K.  Morris,  M.  D.  Nevard,  H.  L.  Overton, 
M.  A.  Piercy. 

East  End  Mothers'  Home. — H.  D.  Barnslcv,  A. 
Bennett,  C.  Brooke,  O.  Cliubb,  C.  V.  Dewar, 
F.  R.  Guy,  A.  E.  Jones,  S.  O.  Krocker,  J.  M. 
Mackenzie,  L.  Musgrove,  E.  Roy,  V.  M.  Saunders. 

Edmonton  Union  Infirmarv. — F.  E.  Reed. 

General  Lying-in  Hospital. — G.  Ackland,  M. 
Briscoe,  M.  Brown,  M.  M.  Chester,  E.  B.  Cowley, 
H.  Dalrymplc,  N.  Elvidge,  C.  R.  Farnall,  A.  S.  H. 
Fletcher,  A.  A.  Foskett,  E.  Gibson,  E.  F.  Gladwin, 
E.  Glasse,  C.  E.  Greenwood,  R.  E.  C.  Lucas, 
M.  A.  McCormick,   J.  G.  Masters,  D.  F.  Michell, 

B.  M.  Morrison,  M.  A.  Mulligan,  F.  M.  Orchard, 

C.  A.  Overton,  S.  Parker,  M.  C.  Patterson,  M.  E. 
Pearson,  F.  M.  Place,  L.  Putt,  E.  M.  Ross,  E.  M. 
Shildrick,  K.  E.  Skottowe,  D.  F.  Sturgeon,  M. 
Sullivan,  A.  E.  Swift,  E.  M.  Tilslev,  E.  F.Vaughan, 
E.  M.  Walker,  E.  Willis,  F.  E.  Wood,  J.  Wyatt. 

Guy's  Institution. — W.  A.  Goddard,  E.  J. 
Haward,  B.  E.  Salmon. 

Islington  Workhouse. — E.  M.  S.  Michaelson, 
C.  E.  Rands. 

Lambeth  Parish  Workhouse. — I.  A.  C.  Brazier, 
A.  Coombs. 

London  Hospital. — L  de  P.  Cave-Browne-Cave, 
E.  M.  Epps,  A.  M.  Hedges,  M.  C.  Jones,  H.  A. 
Murphy,  B.  Revnolds,  I.  L.  E.  Stearn. 

Maternity  Nursing  Association. — D.  O.  F'arrow, 
J.  F.  Garrod,  E.  F.  M.  Lewin,  E.  I.  Pastfield, 
M.  B.  Sandon,  E.  L.  Woolner. 

Middlesex  Hospital. — A,  M.  Kilbride,  E.  M. 
Lewin,  E.  C.  Morgan,  E.  Taylor.  A.  Thompson. 

New  Hospital  for  Women. — E.  C.  Hill,  JI. 
Munro. 

Plai%tow  Maternity  Charity. — B.  Bicknell,  "M. 
Bramlev,  P.  Brunskill,  S.'  Brunskill,  A.  E. 
Burton,'  E.  Clarke,  K.  M.  Clutton,  E.  M.  Collier, 
M.  A.  Cox,  E.  Davies,  V.  E.  Dennev,  F.  Dowtv, 
L.  Gaskell,  S.  .\.  Leedell,  C.  B.  Major^  E.  F.  Martin, 
E.   O'Shea,   E.   M.   Pegram,   A.   B.   Pierce,  M.  A. 


Purdyc,  E.  M.  Smithers,  A.  M.  Stubbings,  L.  (',. 
Wilson, 

Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital. — D.  Barlow,  E.  S. 
BaUv,  T.  A.  Beech,  F.  E.  Brailsford,  D.  G.  Butt, 
M.  M.  W.  Cathro,  B.  J.  Constantian,  W.  E.  Cooke, 
A.  Dean,  C.  Dickson,  G.  Dobbie,  R.  E.  E.  Framp- 
ton,  H.  E.  Gagg,  S.  T.  Grieves,  E.  E.  Hobbs,  A. 
Hobson,  A.  W.  Hughes,  H.  Kerruish,  C.  M.  Morris, 
A.  G.  Baton,  A.  Plumb,  H.  D.  Pryce,  M.  A.  Pryce, 
C.  I^enshaw,  K.  A.  Roberts,  N.  L  Robinson,  E.  J. 
Savory,     G.    Smith,     M.    L.    Tavlor,    M.    Whvte, 

F.  E.  Woolcock,  N.  Wright. 

Regions  Beyond  Missionary  Union. — E.  Cestrilli, 

G.  M.  Hickson,  M.  C.  Seagrave. 

Salvation  Army  Maternity  Hospital. — A.  Broug- 
ham, S.  E.  E.  Forrest,  F.  M.  A.  Hall,  S.  K.  Kristof- 
fersson,  E.  M.  Preston,  M.  J.  Whitaker. 

Shoreditch  Union  Infirmary. — F.  D.  Gort. 

University  College  Hospital. — E.  C.  Hatcher, 
J.  Moore,  G.  A.  B.  Stevens. 

West  Ham  Workhouse. — E.  K.  Hatton,  C. 
Parsons,  L.  J.  Robinson. 

Woolwich  Home  for  Mothers  and  Babies. — 
E.  S.  Fuller,  M.  Jones,  M.  L  Nunn. 

Woolwich  Military  Families'  Hospital. — A.  H. 
Hoare. 

Provinces. 

Aldershot  [Louise  Margaret). — E.  Bsnnett, 
J.  E.  Carver,  M.  L.  Cutfield,  S.  J. 'Lambert, 
I.   C.    B.    Paynter,    E.    G.   Rendall,    L.   A.   Stiles, 

E.  M.  Wilson. 

Birkenhead  Maternity  Hospital. — J.  Ashley, 
R.  H.  Bristow,  C.  J.  Carver,  P.  A.  Cole,  E.  M. 
Harris,  M.  Hughes,  O.  Stow. 

Birmingham.,  Aston  Union  Workhouse. — G.  K. 
Medlam,  E.  Wrighl.    . 

Birmingham  Maternity  Hospital. — L.  D.  Brvant, 
H.  Coldicott,  H.  Y.  Dixon,  C.  Greig,  A.  S.  Hodges, 

F.  A.  Hughes,  S.  Johnson,  E.  Laucht,  S.  H.  Reid. 
E.  J.  Tolley,  C.  Williams,  E.  Woosey,  A.  H. 
Wormald. 

Birmingham  Workhouse  Infirmary. — S.  HilHng, 
E.  Jacobs,  R.  A.  Learv. 

Bradford  Union  Hospital. — M.  Booth,  C. 
Sheard. 

Brentford  Union  Infirm.arv. — D.  C.  Lewin. 

Brighton  and  Hove  Hospital  for  Women. — 
L.  E.  Bray,  A.  B.  Cox,  G.  E.  Curline,  S.  H.  Dawe, 
H.  E.  Frost,  M.  M.  Wakeham. 

Bristol  General  Hospital.— A.  M.  Crovdon, 
A.  E.  Harris,  S.  M.  Harris,  M.  M.  Lee,  M.  E. 
Poatifex,  F.  A.  Tavlor,  A.  E.  Thomas. 

Sristol  Royal  Infirmary. — G.  A.  E.  Amos, 
E.  M.  Hall,  L.  L.  Hutchesson,  F.  D.  Pouting,  M.  L. 
Steai.    ' 

Cheltenham  District  Nursing  Association. — M.  A. 
Jarvis,  E.  A.  Palmer,  L.  Sweetlove. 

Cheste/  Benevolent  Institution. — C.  Porter. 

Christchurch  Union  Infirmary  — L  Board. 


November  16,  1912  ^bc  Biltisb  Souviial  ot  Bui'sinQ  Supplement.     407 


Derby,  lioval  Derby  Nursing  Association. — 
M.  A.  Anderson,  M.  Clark,  H.  B.  M.  Kersliaw, 
U.  j.  Starsmorc,  S.  E.  Webster. 

Devon  and  Cornwall  Training  School  for  Nurses. 
— M.  K.  Bing,  E.  M.  Camp,  B.  K.  W.  Davcv,  G. 
Gcoscman,  N.  Pearee,  E.  A.  Scarlc,  V.  M.  Waters, 
A.  G.  Williams. 

Devonport  Military  Families  Hospital. — J.  L. 
Ford. 

Dewsbury  Uiiio^i  Workhouse.— A.  Birkbeck. 

Ecclfisall  Bierlotv  Union  Workhouse. — E.  L.  J. 
Warren. 

Epsom  Union  Infirmary. — S.  E.  Cronshaw. 

Gloucester  District  Nursing  Society. — I.  M.^ 
Eacott,  M.  FiiUerton,  E.  Lewis. 

Hull  Lying-in  Charity. — C.  C.  Cnimpler, 
H.  S.  Robinson. 

Hull  Lying-in  Charity  and  Nottingham  Work- 
house Infirmary. — M.  E.  B.  Campbell. 

Ipsivich  Nurses'  Home. — C.  M.  Brady,  D.  E.  M. 
Burdon.  H.  M.  Harper,  H.  L.  Nicholas. 

King's  Norton  Union  Infirmary. — V.  M. 
Ayres,  K.  Dowling,  A.  M.  Muttram. 

Leeds  Maternity  Hospital. — B.  I.  A.  Bearup, 
E.  A.  Bousficld,  E.  Freeman,  E.  Harrison,  M. 
Howard,  A.  E.  Oiithwaite,  D.  Pickard,  A.  Smart, 
E.  E.  Smith,  J.  A.  Sutcliffe,  A.  S.  Taylor. 

Leeds  Union  Infirmary. — G.  M.  Carter,  B.  M. 
Wilson. 

Leicester  Maternity  Hospital. — B.  M.  Coleman, 
M.  A.  Cory,  J.  Dawkins.  M.  Fohvell,  F.  M.  Hardacre 
M.  M.  LongAvill,  M.  E.  Rawson. 

Leicester,  North  Evington  Infirmary. — S.  A. 
Butler,  F.  M.  Collin,  E.  E.  Thornton. 

Liverpool  Maternity  Hospital. — M.  E.  Bottomley, 
A.  Brabin,  B.  A.  Carver,  M.  J.  Cheetham,  A.  A. 
Cryer,  M.  K.  Douglas,  E.  Ewbank,  A.  M.  L. 
Faden,  L.  E.  A.  Gibson,  A.  E.  Harding,  A.  Hardv, 
G.  Ho!mes,  J.  A.  Meredith,  S.  A.  Stirton,  F.  E. 
Tomlin,  E.  J.  \crnon,  L.  L.  Whitworth,  M.  A. 
Winter. 

Liverpool  Workhouse  Hospital. — A.  M.  Blacklock, 
J.  Cubbon,  A.  Littlewood,  E.  K.  U.  MacKean, 
G.  Morgan,  D.  F.  E.  Stephens,  A.  Wotton. 

Manchester.  St.  Mary's  Hospitals. — E.  A.  Bate, 
S.  Brocklehur.st.  .\.  Gibson,  C.  Hewitt,  F.  Hind- 
marsh,  M.  C.  Kelly,  P.  B.  Langman,  M.  L.  Large, 
E.  A.  Leatherbarrow,  H.  S.  Millwood,  N.  Proctor, 
A.  Royds,  B.  H.  Seager,  A.  A.  Walsh. 

Manchester,  Township  of  South  Manchester. — 
E.  E.  Branson.  C.  M.  Huband,  S.  Twigg. 

Manchester  Workhouse  Infirmary. — E.  A.  Duston, 
M.  M.  Shirl.  '   . 

Monmouthshire  Training  Centre. — R.  A.  Beaven, 
S.  A.  Bessant,  E.  John,  P.  Jones,  S.  E.  Jones, 
C.  M.  Tucker,  B.  T.  Warren. 

Newcastle-on-Tyne  Maternity  Hospital. — M.  W. 
Arthur,  E.  Clarke. 

Newcastle-on-Tyne  Union  Infirmary. — M.  E. 
Smith. 

Northampton  Q.V.J.N.I.~K.  H.  Hore,  M.  C. 
Peplow. 

North  Bierley  Union  Workhouse. — C.  E.  Senior, 
A.  Stones. 


Nottingham  Workhouse  Infirmary. — E.  L.  Jacob, 
R.  J.  Smith.  A.  Wilcox. 

Norwich  Maternity  Charity. — E.  T.  Blythe,  H.  M. 
Richardson,  E.  E.  Wood. 

Portsmouth  Military  Families'  Hospital. — C. 
Skinner. 

Reading   U  lion  Infirmary. —  li.   S.    Frankum. 

Sheffield,  Jessop  Hospital.— W.  C.  Ashley,  L 
Carruthers,  K.  E.  Wolstenholme. 

Southampton  Union  Infirmary. — M.   Illsley. 

Sunderland  Union  Workhouse.'- — A.  Burn,  D. 
Thompson. 

Walton,  West  Derby  Union  Infirmary. — F.  M. 
Bristow,  R.  Noddings,  H.  Turner. 

Walsall  Union  Workhouse. — E.  C.  Hayward, 
M.  A.  Home. 

Wolverhampton  Q.V.J.N.I.—C.  L.  Mitchell, 
L.  E.  Quirk. 

Worcester  County  Nursing  Association. — B.  A. 
Francis,  M.  A.  Lewis,  E.  Sproston,  A.  L.  Taylor. 

York     Maternity    Hospital. — D.     E.     Havlock, 
M.  R.  Hearn,  H.  Woodhead. 
Walks. 

Cardiff  Q.V.J.N.I.—M.  J.  Elias,  M.  A.  Kerslake, 
A.  C.  Phillips,  M.  J.  Reynolds,  D.  Thomas. 

Cardiff  I'nion  Hospital. — G.  E.  Badger,  S. 
Richards. 

SCOtlJlND. 

Aberdeen  Maternity  Hospital. — M.  E.  G.  Donald- 
son, J.  E.  Stephen. 

Dundee  Maternity  Hospital. — E.  Barlow,  I. 
Cruickshank,  E.  S.  Crump.  A.  Donald,  C.  S. 
Fraser,  A.  M.  Hayward,  E.  Lindsay. 

Edinburgh  Royal  Maternity  Hospital. — M.  B. 
Acheson,  E.  O.  Bagshaw,  J.  Burnett,  M.  M. 
Galbraith,  M.  Lawrence,  J.  D.  Murra\',  J.  M. 
Osier,  L.  W.  I.  Stott,  E.  L.  Tate,  R.  M.  Tittle. 

Glasgow,  Eastern  District  Hospital. — B.  P. 
Hinderwell,  H.  Whittaker. 

Glasgow  .Maternity  Hospital. — H.  Addison,  A.  P. 
M.  Bovdell,  M.  Buchanan,  C.  L.  Carnegie,  G. 
Fletcher,  J.  Mclntvre,  M.  M.  MacPherson.  A.  E.  R. 
Scater,M.McB.  Stalker,  J.  Stirling,  C.  E.  Youngson, 
A.  S.  Hansson. 

Glasgow,  Stobhill Hospital. —C.  X.  Smart,  J.  1).  M. 
Smith. 

Glasgow,  Western  District  Hospital. — R.  A.  Ward. 
Ireland. 

Belfast  Incorporated  Maternity  Hospital. — K. 
Carruthers,  yi.  McGurgan. 

Belfast  Union  Maternity  Hospital. — J.  I.  Grey. 
E.  M.  Haughnev,  E.  Healv,  H.  Healv,  E.  S. 
Moffat,  S.  Scott,  E.  C.  Hackett. 

Dublin,  Rotunda  Hospital. — M.  J.  Ballance,  P. 
Cato,  M.  Flanagan,  J.  E.  Horder,  M.  Jones,  L.  M. 
Lawrence,  K.  F.  Stanley,  .\.  A.  Womersley. 

Lurgan  Workhouse  Infirmary. — L  Greene,  L.  M. 
Simpson. 

Abroad. 

Calcutta,  Eden  Hospital.— \\.  L.  V^  Keane, 
G.  Leigh-Hare. 

Private  Tuition  and  Institutions. 

St.  Mary's  Hospitals,  Manchester. — S.  Aspinall, 
C.  Stephens.    Chatham  Military  Families'  Hospital 


4o8     ^be  Britisb  3ournal  of  IWursino  Supplement.  Novembey  16,  1912 


— E.  L.  Brown.  Poplar  Workhouse. — V.  1.  Dargan. 
PaddUigion  Workhouse  Infirmary.^E.  J.  Graham. 
Belfast  Union  Maternity  Hospital. — S.  J .  Graham, 
M.  A.  Hewitt.  Q.V.J. I.,  Cardiff.~H.  Grey. 
Kingswood  Nurses'  Home. — B.  M.  Helps.  Green- 
wich Union  Infirmary. — C.  Howells.  Birkenhead 
Maternity  Hospital. — M.  G.  Hughes.  General 
Lying-in  Hospital. — C.  MacLean,  E.  A.  Rolf. 
Fiilham  Union  Infirmary. — G.  £.  Miller,  A.  Smith. 
Kingston-on-Thames  Union  Infirmary. — W.  Ray. 
Royal  Derby  Nursing  Jnstitution. — F.  Wilson. 
Private  Tuition. 

M.  A.  Aitkenhead,  A.  Ault,  E.  Bailev,  M. 
Bainbridge,  A.  E.  Baker,  B.  E.  Banks,  E.  Barton, 
C.  M.  Bazell,  E.  Baal,  M.  F.  Bsllamv,  A.  Birtlcs, 
L.  Boon,  N.  B.  Bredee,  H.  M.  G.  Brook,  M.  B. 
Brooks,  M.  A.  Burton,  B.  Bverlev,  M.  J.  Churchill, 
E.  Clegg,  A.  E.  Cooper,  J.  Dall,  M.  E.  Davies, 
M.  Y.  Douglas,  M.  J.  Downing,  E.  N.  Duggan, 
V.  F.  J.  Earle,  E.  B.  Farrow,  E.  Fortune,  H.  H. 
Gamer,  S.  J.  Gcricke,  E.  R.  Gosling,  M.  J.  Gould, 
E.  J.  Graham,  E.  Gray,  E.  Griffiths,  E.  Grundv, 
S.  A.  Hinds,  I.  J.  Hobbs,  L.  N.  Horan,  H.  D. 
Hughes,  E.  Hutchinson,  S.  Jenkins, V.  M.  Kellaway, 
E.  ICirbv,  V.  M.  Lavton,  U.  M.  Lee,  M.  L.  Lissen- 
burg,  E.  Littlewood,  E.  Lloyd,  E.  D.  Lord,  M.  A. 
MacDonald,  E.  C.  Macpherson,  M.  E.  Marshall, 
E.  Mayor,  M.  Miller,  E.  Morgan,  E.  M.  Nelson, 
M.  A.  A.  Norman,  J.  Parker,  N.  Pinder,  A. 
Prothero,  K.  M.  Pryce,  G.  Quincev,  D.  L.  Rawlings, 
M.  E.  Reeves,  M.  Richardson,  A.  Rixon,  L.  M.  A. 
Rockett,  F.  I.  Robinson,  E.  Rutter,  E.  J.  Scallv, 
E.  L.  Schiin,  H.  M.  Seaton,  F.  M.  Sharp,  C.  Shaw, 
B.  Sinnock,  A.  N.  Smith,  O.  M.  K.  Stokes,  A.  M. 
Stringer,  C.  Stuart,  M.  E.  Stuart,  E.  Swanson, 
E.  H.  Sylvester,  M.  E.  Taylor,  S.  J.  Thomlinson, 
A.  Trinder,  J.  Tuson,  S.  J.  Wallbridge,  M.  A. 
Warner,  R.  Williams,  N.  M.  Wilshere,  C.  E. 
Woodhouse,  F.  J.  Woodman,  H.  L.  W\att. 

■    ♦    ■ 

THE     ASSOCIATION     FOR     PROMOTING 

THE     TRAINING     AND     SUPPLY     OF 

MIDWIVES. 

A  meeting  of  the  Council  of  the  above  Associa- 
tion will  be  held  at  Caxton  Hall,  Westmin.ster, 
S.W.,  on  Thursday,  November  28th,  at  12  noon, 
when  H.R.H.  Princess  Christian  of  Schleswig- 
Holstein  will  preside.  The  business  discussed  bv 
the  Council  wll  include  "  The  Organisation  of 
Midwifery  in  the  Counties." 


GENERAL     LYING-IN     HOSPITAL. 

As  the  General  Lying-in  Hospital,  York  Koad, 
Lambeth,  is  in  urgent  need  of  funds,  the  Romany 
Amateur  Dramatic  Club  are  again  kindly  giving 
two  performances  at  the  Court  Theatre  on  Monday 
and  Tuesday,  December  i6th  and  17th,  in  order 
to  raise  money.  This  amateur  club  has  deservedly 
a  high  reputation,  and  those  present  will  be  sure  of 
a  pleasant  and  amusing  evening  if  they  take  tickets 
for  Arnold  Bennett's  play  "  What  the  Public 
Want."  These  can  be  obtained  of  the  Secretary, 
General    Lying-in    Hospital,     York    Road,     S.E. 


Stalls,  los.  6d.  ;  dress  circle  and  pit  stalls,  6s. 
each  ;  upper  circle,  4s.  each  (family  ticket,  to 
admit  three,    los.  6d.). 

»— ♦ — • 

THE     WOMEN'S     NATIONAL     HEALTH 

ASSOCIATION,     IRELAND. 
Proposal  Submitted  to  Boards  of  Guardians. 

We  have  received  the  text  of  the  Propasal 
submitted  to  Boards  of  Guardians  in  Ireland, 
with  regard  to  midwives,  by  the  Women's  National 
Health  Association  of  Ireland. 

We  propose,  in  response  to  the  desire  of  readers 
in  Ireland,  to  deal  fully  with  this  Proposal  in  our 
next  issue,  meanwhile  we  are  glad  to  observe  that 
B  lards  of  Guardians  appear  to  be  fully  alive  to  the 
undesirability  of  the  scheme.  The  Londonderry 
Guardians  have  decided  to  take  no  action  at 
present,  the  Ballvmena  Guardians  have  adjourned 
consideration  for  six  months,  at  Coleraine  they 
have  deferred  it  until  further  information  is 
acquired  on  the  subject,  the  Clogher  Guardians 
consider  the  scheme  an  impracticable  one,  and  the 
Letterkenny  Rural  Council  have  marked  the 
circular  letter  from  the  Countess  of  Aberdeen, 
enclosing  the  scheme,  as  "  read." 


THE     ROTUNDA     HOSPITAL. 

The  Board  of  Superintendence  of  the  Dublin 
Hospitals  has  commented  on  the  Rotunda  Hospital 
in  its  report  as  follows  : — 

"  On  visiting  the  several  departments  of  the 
hospital  we  were  much  gratified  by  the  order, 
regularity  and  cleanliness  which  prevailed.  The 
valuable  assistance  it  gives  to  lying-in  women — 
great  as  it  undoubtedly  is — is  equalled,  if  not 
e.xcelled,  by  what  it  does  in  forwarding  medical 
education.  On  March  6th,  1912,  new  labour 
wards  were  opened,  the  cost  of  which  came  to 
£i,S50.  The  floors  are  of  concrete,  having  a  sur- 
face of  white  marble  terrazzo  mosaic.  Tlie  walls 
are  also  covered  to  a  height  of  eight  feet  with  pale 
green  terrazzo,  the  remainder  of  the  walls  and  the 
ceilings  being  enamelled  in  white.  The  heating 
'system  is  of  hot  water,  and  cold,  hot,  and  sterilised 
water  are  laid  on  in  convenient  positions.  Tlie 
wards  have  been  fitted  with  electric  light,  and  the 
entire  equipment  is  of  the  most  modern  and 
approved  description,  as  the  Governors  considered 
it  essential  that  the  design  should  be  carried  out 
in  such  a  manner  that  the  improvements  will  rank 
with  the  best  of  thcu"  kind  in  Europe.  The  suite 
of  wards  includes  waiting  and  labour  wards,  an 
isolation  labour  ward,  with  clerical  room,  dressing 
room,  and  kitchen,  and  will  afford  ample  accom- 
modation and  facilities  to  allow  the  carrying  on  of 
this  important  and  humane  work  in  the  most 
efficient  n\anner  possible.  The  outlay  on  these 
wards,  together  with  an  expenditure  of  ;/^i,i58  on 
repairs,  -alterations,  and  painting,  have  left  the 
hospital  indebted  to  the  Bank  of  Ireland  in  the  sum 
of  nearlv  ;£i,8oo.  We  can  vouch  that  the  money 
has  been  well  laid  out,  and  that  the  expenditure 
may  be  considered  as  truly  economical." 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

IME  MU(IISIM€  mXOBU 

EDITED  BY  MRS  BEDFORD  FENWICK 

SATURDAY,     NOVEMBER   23.   1912. 


EDITORIAL. 

THE     CONSEQLE.NCES    OF    WRONOFUL 
DISMISSAL. 

An  important  case  to  Boards  of  Guardians 
and  others  was  heard  last  week  at  the 
Plymouth  Countv  Court  bv  Judge  Lush 
Wilson,  K.C.,  when  Mrs.  Jane  Harriet 
Harwood  {«t'e  Fisher)  sued  the  Plymouth 
Incorporation  of  Guardians  for  wrongful 
dismissal,  or,  alternatively,  for  breach  of 
contract. 

The  case  for  the  plaintiff,  as  represented 
by  Mr.  Percy  T.  Pearce,  was  that  she  was 
a  probationer  at  the  Plymouth  Workhouse 
Infirmary  for  two  years  and  a  half,  and  that 
the  Guardians  then  "  sacked  her,  kicked  her 
out,  payinj:;  her  a  month's  wages  in  lieu  of 
notice."  It  was  consequently  impossible 
for  her  to  become  a  certificated  nurse  unless 
she  went  through  the  whole  of  her  training 
again. 

For  the  defendants,  who  were  repre- 
sented by  Mr.  John  W.  Bickle,  it  was 
brought  out  bv  a  former  chairman.  Dr. 
Lindsey,  that  adverse  reports  had  been  made 
against  the  plaintiff,  and  she  had  been 
censured  for  a  charge  of  neglect  brought  bv 
her  against  one  of  the  nurses  which,  on 
investigation,  proved  to  be  groundless. 
For  a  time  afterwards  improvement  was 
reported,  but  it  was  not  lasting.  He  had 
not  agreed  with  the  decision  of  the  Board 
not  to  allow  the  nurse  to  resign  when  she 
desired  to  do  so,  because  practically  during 
the  whole  time  she  had  been  in  the  service 
of  the  Guardians  she  had  shown  she  was 
thoroughly  unsuitable  as  a  nurse,  she  made 
choice  of  the  orders  she  would  obey,  was 
always  at  loggerheads  with  the  Sister  she 
was  under,  was  rude  and  noisy  in  the  wards, 
and  insulting  in  her  tnanner  when  called 
before  the  Committee.  The  ground  of  the 
Board's  action  was  continual  insubordina- 
tion, unsuitability  as  a  nurse,  rudeness,  and 


general  misconduct  while  in  its  employ. 
The  term  "  grave  misconduct  "  would 
apply  in  a  professional   respect. 

In  the  course  of  the  proceedings  the  judge 
said  that  the  defence  might  have  proved 
that  the  Guardians  had  power  to  dismiss, 
and  left  it  there ;  but  if  it  asserted  that  the 
plaintiff  was  guiltv  of  grave  misconduct]  he 
should  rule  that  unless  this  was  proved  the 
defence  would  fail. 

A  good  deal  was  made  by  the  plaintiff's 
solicitor  of  the  fact  that  the  Guardians  had 
given  her  a  testimonial  which  enabled  her 
to  obtain  another  post. 

In  the  subsequent  summing  up  the  judge 
impressed  upon  the  jury  that  in  an  institu- 
tion such  as  the  Infirmary  discipline  was  the 
first  essential  to  success.  If  the  jury  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  the  plaintiff  would 
not  submit  to  discipline  thev  would  probably 
find  she  was  not  a  suitable  .person  as  a 
nurse.  In  regard  to  the  testimonial  given, 
the  judge  said  that  might  be  compatible 
with  the  theory  that  the  Guardians  were 
acting  in  a  kindly  spirit.  They  might  say 
that  was  very  wrong,  but  the  wrang  was 
not  towards  the  nurse,  but  towards  her 
employers. 

The  jury  found  that  the  plaintiff  was  not 
inefficient  or  neglectful,  or  unsuitable  for 
the  duties  required  of  her,  and  was  not 
guilty  of  gross  misconduct,  and  awarded 
her  £45  damages. 

The  verdict  is  a  serious  one  for  Boards  of 
Guardians. 

We  think  the  defence  was  mistaken  in 
trying  to  prove  "  gross  misconduct,"  and 
their  case  was  undoubtedly  weakened  by 
the  fact  of  the  testimonial  given  in  a 
"  kindly  spirit." 

In  our  opinion  it  is  unwise  to  keep  a 
probationer  who  is  not  satisfactory  for  more 
than  six  months  in  the  hope  that  she  will 
improve.  The  kindly  disposed  committee 
is  usually  the  sufferer  in  the  long  run. 

A* 


410 


abe  Britisb  Journal  of  1Rurt?ino.      November  23, 


1912 


Quarterly  reports  as  to  the  efficiency, 
progress  and  discipline  of  probationers 
should  be  furnished  to  the  Guardians  of  an 
Infirmarv  bv  the  Matron  or  Superintendent 
Nurse  who  should  herself  receive  regular 
written  reports  from  Sisters. 

No  doubt  the  difficulty  of  obtaining 
probationers  inclines  Guardians  to  keep 
unsuitable  ones,  but  it  is  a  short-sighted 
policy.  If  a  staff  deteriorates  the  patients 
suffer  and  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  the 
right  class  of  probationers  increases. 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 


MEDICAL    MATTERS. 


INFECTION     FOLLOWING     TONSILLOTOMY. 

The  removal  of  the  tonsils  is  regarded  as  a 
simple  operation,  and  it  is  not  always  realized 
what  serious  result  may  follow.  Dr.  H. 
Koplik,  in  the  American  Journal  of  the  Medical 
Sciences,  draws  attention  to  this  possibility, 
and  quotes  cases  which  have  come  under  his 
own  observation,  and  others  which  have  been 
reported.  The  three  forms  of  infection  which 
may  follow  removal  of  the  tonsils  and  adenoids 
to  which  he  directs  attention  are  : — 

1.  Following  the  operation  the  patient  may 
appear  to  be  doing-  well,  but  on  the  second  or 
third  day  the  temperature  begins  to  rise  and 
continues  to  run  an  obscure  course  for  about 
two  weeks.  The  patient  eventually  recovers 
without  any  ill  effects  on  the  heart  and  with  no 
rheumatic  manifestation. 

2.  In  another  set  of  cases,  after  removal  of 
tonsils  a  moderate  rise  of  temperature  occurs 
and  may  continue  for  a  number  of  weeks. 
Cardiac  murmurs  may  occur,  and  the  patient 
mav  even  succumb  to  a  malignant  form  of 
septic  endocarditis. 

3.  In  the  third  class  of  cases  the  infection 
causes  destructive  blood  changes,  and  there  is 
evidence  of  sepsis  in  the  presence  of  ecchymotic 
and  petechial  areas  on  the  skin,  of  patches  of 
broncho-pneumonia,  and  the  occurrence  of 
profuse  haemorrhage  from  the  bowel. 

Such  a  case  is  reported  by  the  author, 
and  was  one  of  profound  sepsis  in  a  boy  of  five 
after  tonsillectomy  and  adenectomy  performed 
in  surroundings  ideally  hygienic.  No  less  than 
seven  haemorrhages  occurred  into  the  skin  and 
conjunctivae  and  from  the  mucous  membrane. 
The  ha?morrhagic  sepsis  was  accompanied  by 
rise  of  temperature  and  endocarditis,  .'^s  a  last 
resort  transfusion  was  performed,  and  the 
patient  eventually  recovered. 


HOW  SHOULD  A  NURSE  CARE  FOR  ;HER  HANDS 
SO  THAI   THEY  ARE  KEPT  IN  THE  BEST  CON- 
DITION FOR  USE  IN  THE  SICK  ROOM? 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Cross,  King's  Lynn, 
Norfolk. 

PRIZE    PAPER. 

Nurses  are  apt  to  give  too  little  attention  to 
their  hands,  and  jet  it  is  a  very  important 
matter  to  keep  them  smooth  and  the  finger- 
nails in  good  order.  There  will  often  be  cir- 
cumstances in  which  a  nurse's  hands  must 
suffer  by  contact  with  strong  antiseptic  lotions, 
and  by  frequent  washing  in  hard  water,  or  as 
a  result  of  continually  applying  various  forms 
of  treatment  which  leave  marks  and  stains 
upon  the  hands. 

Five  or  ten  minutes  spent  in  a  careful  toilet 
of  the  hands  before  going  to  bed  will,  as  a  rule, 
keep  them  nice  and  presentable.  First,  a 
thorough  scrubbing  with  soap  and  water  and 
nailbrush — even  pumice  stone  may  be  used  if 
the  fingers  are  stained  ;  then  dry  in  a  soft  towel, 
and  apply  gently  a  mixture  of  eau  de  Cologne 
and  glycerine,  or  glycerine  and  cucumber,  or 
glycerine  and  rose-water,  whichever  is  found  to 
suit  the  skin  the  best ;  and  lastly  a  pair  of  old 
soft  white  or  lavender  kid  gloves  may  be  worn 
all  night,  taking  the  precaution  of  cutting  out 
the  covering  of  the  palm,  thus  arranging  for 
ventilation.  This  treatment,  if  persevered  in, 
will  work  wonders.  If  the  hands  are  chapped, 
a  little  camphor  ice  rubbed  on  the  skin  will 
prove  effectual  in  healing  cracks,  but  the  wear- 
ing of  an  old  kid  glove  softens  the  skin  and 
goes  far  in  removing  traces  of  work,  &c. 

A  small  set  of  manicure  instruments  used 
dailv  will  keep  the  nails  smooth  and  shiny. 

Should  there  be  any  inkstains  on  the  fingers, 
Sanitas  will  be  found  to  be  a  most  useful 
remedy.  Iodine  stains  can  be  removed  with 
carbolic  lotion  of  moderate  strength. 

Xurses  should  not  neglect  small  scratches, 
cuts,  abrasions,  &x.,  on  the  fingers.  Such 
minute  wounds  afford  an  easy  entrance  to  more 
or  less  deadly  microbes. 

Forceps  must  always  be  used  in  removing 
soiled  dressings.  The  hands  and  forearms 
must  be  thoroughly  wasTied  and  disinfected 
after  anv  contact  with  wounds,  or  after  attend- 
ing to  infectious  cases,  and  if  the  nails  are  kept 
short  it  will  be  to  the  advantage  of  both  nurse 
and  patient. 

When  a  minute  scratch  is  first  perceived,  it 
should  be  promptly  painted  with  collodion  or 
covered  with  an  indiarubber  finger-stall,  and 
kept  covered  until  perfectly  healed.     It  is  most 


November  23, 1912      <Ibe  BrltlsD  Soumal  of  ii-iiu-tjinG. 


4" 


important  to  prevent  the  hands  from  becoming 
hard  and  roughened.  Most  patients  are  very 
sensitive  to  the  touch  of  a  nurse's  hand,  and  to 
a  refined,  fastidious  man  or  woman  it  must  be 
extremely  unpleasant  to  be  handled  by  a  woman 
whose  hands  are  the  reverse  of  smooth  and 
comforting. 

The  hand,  in  fact,  has  such  a  power  for  good 
if  carefully  treated  and  wisely  preser\-ed  from 
injury,  that  it  is  not  beneath  the  dignity  of  a 
nurse  to  bestow  some  amount  of  care  and 
attention  on  such  an  important  member  of  the 
body,  both  for  her  own  sake  and  for  the  sake 
of  present  and  future  patients. 

HONOURABLE     MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  are  accorded 
honourable  mention  : — Miss  E.  Dymes,  Miss 
G.  Tatham,  Miss  \'.  Barwise,  Miss  E.  Mar- 
shall. Miss  J.  Stone,  Miss  B.  O'Brien,  and  Miss 
Biclby. 

Miss  E.  Marshall  writes  that  a  plump,  soft, 
pliable  hand  is  the  most  suitable  for  nurses  to 
possess.  There  is  such  a  difference  in  the 
touch,  and  a  patient  knows  at  once  the  kind  of 
hand  which  is  pleasant  to  feel  and  touch,  a 
hand  which  is  gentle  and  soothing.  A  patient 
once  remarked,  "  Nurse,  your  finger-tips 
actually  see." 

Apart  from  those  who  are  fortunate  enough 
to  possess  the  true  nurse's  hand,  it  is  necessary 
to  know  exactly  how  to  care  for  and  protect 
both  others  as  well  as  oneself  from  infection. 
.  .  .  Nurses  must  always  be  particular  to  use 
forceps  for  removing  soiled  dressings,  and 
rubber  gloves  for  rubbing  in  mercurial  and 
other  dangerous  absorbent  drugs. 

Miss  E.  Dymes  states  that  to  keep  one's 
hands  in  the  best  condition  for  use  in  the  sick 
room  requires  some  care  and  trouble  on  the 
part  of  the  nurse.  But  it  is  time  and  trouble 
well  spent.  She  has  found  Friar's  Balsam  heal 
cracks  better  than  anything  else,  but  she  truly 
says  that  "  everyone  has  her  own  pet  prepara- 
tion." 

Miss  Gladys  Tatham  writes  that  unfortu- 
nately the  amount  of  hard  work  in  the  nature 
of  scrubbing,  dusting,  and  general  cleaning 
expected  of  a  nurse  in  our  hospitals  and  in- 
firmaries makes  it  very  difficult  for  her  to  keep 
her  hands  in  good  condition.  She  has  not  time 
to  be  always  repairing  the  ravages  of  char- 
work,  and  in  consequence  the  hands  are  very 
liable  to  become  red  and  chapped. 

Miss  Tatham  further  says  :  "  Gloves  ought 
always  to  be  worn  in  the  street,  to  avoid  un- 
necessary germs  clinging  to  the  skin."  This 
opens  rather  a  wide  question.  What  about  the 
inside  of  the  gloves,  and  the  condition  of  the 
hands  when  the  gloves  are  put  on?    Unless  the 


hands  are  absolutely  clean  when  gloves  are 
worn,  they  may  be  far  from  a  protection  from 
germs  the  next  time  they  are  donned.  The 
gloves  as  well  as  the  hands  should  be  above 
suspicion,  and,  to  be  logical,  only  gloves  which 
can  be  frequently  washed  should  be  worn. 

Miss  Bielby  points  out  that  the  human  hand 
is  perhaps  the  most  wonderful  of  all  the  instru- 
ments used  in  the  world's  work.  Its  functions 
are  manifold,  and  cover  the  whole  gamut  of 
(human  experience  and  emotion.  From  the 
moment  when  the  tiny  fingers  of  the  newborn 
cling  to  the  mother's  breast  to  the  time  when 
they  are  meekly  and  pathetically  folded  on  the 
breast  of  the  sleeper  in  the  last  long  earthly 
sleep,  the  hands  are  intimately  associated  with 
all  one's  memories  and  affections.  As  the 
transmitters  of  healing  and  sympathy  they  find 
their  highest  functions  in  the  exponents  of 
trained  nursing,  and,  as  with  all  other  instru- 
ments, the  greatest  efficiency  is  here  attained 
by  the  most  careful  preservation. 

Miss  V.  Barwise  puts  in  a  plea  for  equal 
attention  to  the  feet.  W^hile  the  importance  of 
care  for  the  hands  cannot  be  over-rated,  the  feet 
do  not  always  receive  their  rightful  share  of 
attention.  Yet  they  well  repay  it,  and,  after  all, 
a  chain  is  no  stronger  than  its  weakest  link,  and 
if  a  nurse's  feet  fail  her  she  may  possess  all 
the  skill  in  the  world,  and  her  hands  may  be 
perfect  for  tending  the  sick,  but  all  this  skill 
and  perfection  are  useless  if  her  feet  will  not 
carry  her  efficiently  about  her  work. 

QUESTION    FOR     NEXT     WEEK. 

What  form  of  infection  is  likely  to  follow  the 
retention  of  a  piece  of  the  placenta  after  deli- 
verv,  and  what  are  its  characteristics? 


THE  LEAGUE  OF  ST.  BARTHOLOMEW'S 
HOSPITAL  NURSES. 

A  General  Meeting  and  Social  Gathering  of 
the  League  will  be  held  at  St.  Bartholomew's 
Hospital  on  Saturday,  November  30th.  The 
President,  Miss  Cox-Davies,  will  be  in  the 
chair. 

The  League  has  arranged  for  three  very 
interesting  Lectures  to  be  given  in  the  spring. 
I.  "  Eugenics  :  What  it  is,"  by  Mr.  Bishop 
Harman,  F.R.C.S.  ;  2,  "The  Industrial  Posi- 
tion of  Women,"  by  Miss  Constance  Smith  ; 
and  3.  "  Some  Aspects  of  Juvenile  Labour,"  by 
Miss  O.  I.  Dunlop,  D.Sc.  Tickets  for  the 
course  will  be  2s.  to  members  and  4s.  to  non- 
members,  and  may  be  obtained  from  Mrs. 
.•\ndrews,  Hon.  Sec,  31,  Cotterill  Road,  Sur- 
biton. 


4ia 


Cbe  Brttisb  3ountaI  of  Bursina       November  23, 1912 


THE  SOCIAL  WORK  OF  THE  COLOURED 
NURSE.* 

By  Mrs.  Rosa  L.  Williams, 

Coloured  Orphan  Asylum,  Ne-w  York  City. 

I  bring  to  the  International  Council  of  Nurses 
greetings  from  the  National  Association  of 
Coloured  Graduate  Nurses  of  America,  and  I 
beg  of  }ou  to  accept  my  humble  report  of  the 
social  work  being  done  by  our  nurses.  In  this 
age  of  civilization,  this  phrase  "  social  work," 
so  much  talked  of  now,  is  nothing  new.  I  know 
not  its  origin,  but  the  Christian  negro  woman 
has  always  been  much  concerned  about  the  con- 
dition of  her  neighbour.  History  records  but 
few  of  the  sacrifices  made  by  women  of  my  race. 
These  women  had  neither  education,  money, 
nor  influence,  but,  with  their  unlimited  faith  in 
the  power  of  prayer,  they  gave  unreservedly  all 
they  possessed  to  help  make  conditions  possible 
for  -the  uplift  of  the  younger  members  of  their 
race. 

How  helpless  would  be  the  result  of  a  dear 
old  mammy,  with  all  her  Christ-like  compas- 
sion, going  through  one  of  our  congested  city 
districts  doing  the  things  which  made  her  the 
martyr  nurse  of  yesterday. 

We  realize  that  in  this  age  we  need  trained 
negro  women  to  cope  with  the  existing  condi- 
tions among  our  people,  and  with  this  realiza- 
tion in  mind  this  body  of  coloured  graduate 
nurses  met  in  New  York  in  igo8  to  adopt  some 
plan  by  which,  with  their  united  strength,  they 
might  help  to  alleviate  the  ignorance  and  suffer- 
ing among  their  people. 

We  had  high  ideals  :  wc  could  see  the  needs 
of  our  people  as  no  one  else  could.  And  you, 
as  a  body  of  women  engaged  in  such  work, 
know  better  than  I  can  tell  vou  what  is  needed 
to  start  or  carry  on  such  w  ork.  Your  expres- 
sion of  interest  in  the  work  of  the  coloured 
graduate  nurses  at  this  lime  is  indeed  an  in- 
spiration to  them.  The  National  Association  of 
Coloured  Graduate  Nurses,  being  in  its  infancy, 
has  accomplished  little,  but  we  feel  that  with 
the  co-operation  of  your  organization,  and  their 
untiring  efforts,  they  may  look  forward  with 
great  hope  to  what  in  the  beginning  seemed 
the  impossible. 

I  shall  proceed  to  outline  briefly  the  social 
work  being  done  by  our  nurses  in  the  southern 
towns  and  cities.  The  visiting  nurse  is  an 
important  factor  in  the  philanthropic  work  of 
all  large  cities,  country  towns,  and  wherever 
the  physical  care  of  human  beings  is  con- 
cerned. -She  works  in  connection  with  the 
Board  of  Health,  private  physicians,  citv 
charities,  and  among  the  poor  whenever  called 

*  Presented  to  the  International  Congress  of  Nurses; 
Cologne,  August,   1912. 


upon.  She  at  the  same  time  discovers,  alle\  i- 
ates,  and  prevents  suffering. 

Prevention  of  suffering  is  as  much  her  work 
as  nursing.  Too  much  stress  cannot  be  laid  on 
the  work  she  is  doing  to  reduce  infant  mortality. 
Through  her,  many  children  are  prevented  from 
becoming  blind,  crippled,  or  deaf. 

Her  mission  is  manifold  :  teaching  the  people 
who  do  not  know,  and  will  not  learn  of  their 
own  accord,  how  to  protect  themselves  and 
others  from  disease.  The  infants  of  all 
maternity  cases  cared  for  by  the  district  nurse 
are  visited  at  least  once  a  week  during  the  first 
year. 

The  mothers  are  instructed  to  'phone  at  once 
to  the  nurse  in  charge  if  in  the  meantime  any 
abnormal  symptoms  develop,  thus  enabling 
them  to  stop  the  progress  of  any  malignant 
disease  in  its  incipiency.  Where  babies  are 
bottle-fed  the  mothers  are  taught  by  the  nurse 
how  to  prepare  the  food. 

From  Richmond,  Va.,  we  have  an  excellent 
report  of  the  social  work  being  done  by  ten 
graduate  nurses.  These  nurses  are  giving  all 
their  spare  time  and  money  towards  this  noble 
work.  During  the  past  year  they  have  carried 
sunshine,  food,  and  medicine  to  350  destitute 
persons.  The  city  dispensaries  furnish  them 
with  paper  napkins,  ice  tickets,  and  sputum 
cups  to  be  used  for  tubercular  patients.  In 
Norfolk,  Va.,  the  Graduate  Nurses'  Associa- 
tion is  supported  by  the  City  Union  of  King's 
Daughters  and  voluntary  contributions. 

Recently  the  Metropolitan  Life  Insurance  has 
aided  them  financially  by  paying  them  a  small 
fee  for  the  policy  holders  who  need  their  ser- 
vices. During  the  past  year  thcv  have  made 
1,240  visits. 

In  North  Carolina  we  have  the  Lincoln  Train- 
ing School,  where  young  negro  women  are 
trained,  and  sent  into  the  homes  of  the  poor  to 
teach  theni  hygiene  and  how  to  properly  care 
for  their  children.  This  school  is  filling  a  long- 
felt  need  in  this  part  of  the  country. 

In  West  Virginia  the  negro  nurse  and  doctor 
have  instituted  a  day  camp  for  tubercular 
patients,  there  being  no  provision  made  by  the 
State  for  such  cases.  These  tubercular  patients 
can  go  there  and  spend  the  day. 

They  are  taught  how  to,  prevent  the  spread 
of  tJie  disease.  They  are  given  fresh  eggs  and 
milk  three  times  a  day.  These  in  many 
instances  are  supplied  by  the  farmers  who  have 
become  interested  in  this  work. 

In  the  larger  southern  cities  cases  simply 
needing  relief  are  referred  to  the  united 
charities. 

In  many  of  the  smaller  States  where  no  such 
organizations  exist  this  work  is  carried  on  by  ' 


November  23,  1912      ^bc  Bi'ttlsl)  3oiiriial  of  Tl-liirstng. 


413 


the  monthly  contributions  of  our  nurses,  their 
services  being  given  gratuitously.  In  Missis- 
sippi Valley  last  winter,  when  the  great  flood 
was  raging,  more  than  1,000  people  were  de- 
prived of  their  homes  and  all  they  possessed. 

A  camp  was  opened  by  Mayor  Crump  for 
these  unfortunate  people.  More  than  900  of 
this  number  were  negroes.  One  of  our  nurses 
was  placed  in  charge  of  this  camp,  and  through 
her  efforts  a  milk  station  was  started,  where  the 
mothers  could  get  food  for  their  babies. 

She  taught  them  hygiene  as  best  she  could 
under  such  conditions.  We  feel  that  her  efforts 
were  well  rewarded,  there  being  only  one  death 
reported  during  the  months  she  was  in  charge. 

When  we  consider  the  admirable  work  being 
done  by  our  nurses  in  the  south  land  we  are 
forced  to  believe  that,  with  the  co-operation  of 
such  organizations  as  we  have  in  the  north,  the 
g'ood  accomplished  would  exceed  our  greatest 
desire.  The  negro  nurse  in  Xew  York  City, 
Pennsylvania,  and  other  northern  States  is 
taking  her  share  in  this  social  movement. 

But  she,  unlike  the  nurse  in  the  south,  has  the 
advantage  of  the  organized  and  systematized 
work,  for  which  she  receives  remuneration. 

Our  nurses  are  engaged  in  the  Board  of 
Health  Department,  milk  stations,  investigat- 
ing tubercular  cases,  district  nursing,  settle- 
ment work,  day  nurseries,  and  orphan  asylums 
for  negro  children. 

Their  field  of  usefulness  in  the  north  among 
our  people  cannot  be  over-estimated.  It  is 
realized  that  prophylactic  work  being  done  by 
these  nurses  in  their  various  positions  is  indis- 
pensable. 

I  think  there  is  no  greater  opportunity  offered 
the  graduate  nurse  to  do  real  social  work  than, 
in  the  public  schools  and  orphan  asylums. 

Here  she  meets  the  young  children.  She  can 
instil  the  right  principles  before  their  minds 
are  impregnated  w-ith  wrong  ideas  by  the 
Ignorant  parents. 

In  the  orphanage  she  has  much  broader 
opportunities  than  the  school  nurse.  Here  she 
■comes  in  daily  contact  with  the  children.  She 
can  divide  them  in  groups  or  classes,  according 
to  age  or  intelligence. 

And  with  her  knowledge  of  anatomy,  phy- 
siology', social  diseases,  and  sex  hygiene,  she  is 
able  to  teach  them  valuable  lessons  in  regard 
to  the  care  of  their  bodies.  .And  last,  but 
greatest  of  all,  is  the  grand  and  noble  privilege 
of  presenting  to  them  the  highest  ideal  in  life — 
Jesus  Christ.  And  thus  by  slow  degrees  we  are 
following  more  and  more  the  example  of  our 
more  favoured  sisters. 

The  negro  nurse  is  doing  her  share  in  the 
work  of  blessing  humanitv.  Surelv  no  other 
•class  of  people  need  more  sorely  the  social  work 


in  all  its  phases  than  do  my  people.  And  in  the 
last  analysis  no  one  can  do  this  work  for  her 
people  more  effectively  than  the  coloured  nurse. 

Blessed  with  the  privilege  of  co-operating 
with  such  an  organization  as  yours,  edified  and 
inspired  by  contact  with  those  who  have  years 
of  civilization,  training,  and  experience,  she 
becomes  fitted  to  carry  the  light  to  her  people, 
and  help  them  towards  becoming  a  strong  race, 
vigorous  both  in  body  and  mind. 

May  her  work  continue  to  broaden  until  she, 
loo,  joins  the  choir  invisible,  whose  music 
makes  the  gladness  of  the  world. 

I  am  indeed  proud  to  be  numbered  among 
this  body  of  noble  women,  who,  with  all  the 
advantages  of  higher  education,  have  retained 
that  missionary  spirit  which  is  so  commendable 
in  the  sight  of  God. 

THE    SPECTRE    OF    PESTILENCE. 


Pestilence  and  famine.  Cholera  and  dysentery 
are  ravaging  the  Turkish  Army,  and  have 
attacked  the  Bulgarians.  The  Mosque  of  St. 
Sophia  at  Constantinople  is  being  used  as  a 
hospital,  and  the  widespread  misery  occasioned 
by  war  is  amazing.  One  reads  of  the  futility 
of  the  field  surgeons  when  faced  with  thousands 
of  men  dying  in  agony  for  lack  of  treatment, 
water  and  nursing.  Then  one  realises  that  a 
generous  public  has  subscribed  some  ^30,000 ; 
and  that  the  British  Red  Cross  Committee  is 
spending  it  in  surgical  stores  and  hien  ;  and  that 
the  ser\ices  of  trained  nurses,  who  should  have 
been  poured  into  the  Near  East  a  month  ago, 
are  still  being  refused  by  the  Committee,  and 
that  only  twelve  trained  women  nurses  have 
been  despatched,  and  these  through  the  favour 
of  Royal  commands,  and  not  at  the  call  of 
humanity. 

How  do  the  Nursing  Profession  in  Eng- 
land feel  about  this  question?  Surely  warmly 
indignant  that  their  skilled  work  has  been 
ignored,  and  that  they  have  been  prevented 
giving,  as  hundreds  are  prepared  to  give,  their 
invaluable  services  to  stricken  people.  Ex- 
cuses about  personal  danger  may  be  discounted. 
Our  nurses  would  be  as  safe  throughout  the 
sphere  of  war  as  they  are  at  home ;  and  as  to 
danger  to  health,  a  nurse  takes  her  life  in  her 
hands  in  times  of  peace  as  well  as  war,  and  it  is 
her  glory  to  risk  it.  One  thing  is  certain.  If 
the  British  Red  Cross  Society  is  going  to 
exclude  trained  nursing  from  its  scheme  of 
treatment  for  the  .sick  and  wounded  in  war, 
some  other  Society  must  step  in  and  organize 
such  a  ser\-ice  without  delav. 

It  is  consoling  to  know  that  the  contingent 
sent  to  Turkey  by  the  Red  Crescent  Societv, 


4T4 


Z\K  36ritisb  3ournal  or  IRurslnr*.      xovcmbe 


igi2 


including  six  trained  nurses,  are  by  now  in  tlie 
sickness  centre,  where  they  are  so  terribly 
needed.  One  of  the  party  writes  from  Salonika 
on  the  loth  inst.  : — 

Arrived  here  yesterday.  Town  capitulated  at 
4  a.m.  Greek  army  marched  in.  The  Crown 
Prince  conies  to-morrow.  Population  completely 
indifferent,  if  anything  glad.  Men-of-war  fill 
harbours.  Two  sunk  vessels  tell  their  own  tale. 
2,000  wounded  brought  in  eight  days  ago  ;  all 
being  treated.  A  large  staff  of  surgeons  here. 
Help  needed  where  we  are  going. 
On  the  nth  she  writes  : — 
To-day  has  been  most  thrilling.  A  Greek 
torpedo  boat  fired  across  our  bows  and  held  us 
up,  and  landed  us  with  an  armed  crew,  but  after 
a.ssembling  us  all  in  the  saloon  and  seeing  our 
passports,  and  rummaging  for  arms,  allowed  us 
to  proceed.  We  then  entered  the  Dardanelles, 
and  are  now  being  held  up  by  the  Turks.  Obliged 
tcTland  all  our  Turkish  refugees.  Ship  after  ship 
behind  us  laden  with  them,  and  with  the  prospect 
of  a  siege  at  Constantinople  no  undesirables  are 
allowed  to  proceed.  I  wish  you  could  see  them, 
huddled  together,  men  in  bright  orange  sheepskins, 
women  in  yasmaks,  children,  chickens  and  goats 
in  a  small  hold.  Poor  tlimgs,  they  are  landing 
witli  all  they  possess.  No  shelter,  and  little 
chance  of  surviving.  Before  we  left  Salonika 
we  saw  the  Crown  Prince  arrive.  I  hear  the  road 
to  Salonika  is  a  piteous  sight,  as  men,  women, 
children,  and  animals  lie  by  the  roadside  where 
they  have  fallen  from  exhaustion  and  starvation. 
The  authorities  badly  wanted  us  to  land  and  do 
district  nursing,  but  we  are  bound  for  our  own 
hospital  in  Constantinople,  and  we  hope  to  get  a 
palace  put  at  our  disposal.  There  will  be  no  need 
for  anxiety,  as  wc  are  well  protected. 

We  very  heartily  congratulate  this  little  band 
of  nurses,  who  have  the  good  fortune  to  find 
themselves  at  the  psychological  moment  just- 
where  they  are  absolutely  indispensable. 
Would  that  we  had  a  hundred  along  with  them, 
as  we  might  have  had  if  our  Red  Cross  Society 
had  a  nursing  element  in  its  Councils. 


THE   HAY   FEVER   DELUSION. 


Queen  Alexandra  has  made  a  Donation  of 
£20  to  the  Rebuilding  Fund  of  the  Chelsea 
Hospital  for  Women,  and  as  we  go  to  press  a 
brilliant  assemblage  is  gathered  together  at  the 
Savov  Hotel,  where  the  Countess  of  Ilchester 
and  Viscount  Castlereagh  preside  jointly  in 
support  of  an  appeal  for  the  new  Nurses'  Home 
in  connection  with  the  extension  of  the  hospital, 
on  the  fine  new  site  given  by  Earl  Cadogan. 
They  are  assured  of  generous  support,  and 
deserve  it. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Raymond  has  bequeathed  i;^2,ooo 
to  Miss  Edith  Foster,  a  member  of  Queen 
.'Alexandra's  Imperial  Nursing  Service. 


By  Felix  J.   Koch. 

Mother  Nature  has  made  man  dance  to  her 
fiddling  in  more  curious  ways  than  one,  and  not 
only  has  she  made  whole  towns  decay  and  new 
towns  rise  by  reason  of  a  school  of  foolish  cod, 
changing  their  annual  running-places,  but  she 
has  made  whole  sumnier  cities  grow,  and,  on  the 
other  hand,  made  townsfolk  lose  a  countless  toll 
by  such  simple  things  as  a  bit  of  pollen.  If  you 
don't  believe  it,  go  down  to  the  railway  depot 
in  the  early  autumn  or  late  summer,  and  watch 
the  "  hay-fever "  exiles  pass  out,  in  veritable 
droves,  to  the  almost  deserted  vacation-lands  of 
the  North,  where,  to  credit  the  average  layman, 
there's  no  haying  on,  and  hence  no  whiff  of  the 
new-mown  hay  to  excite  the  hay  fever. 

When  you  were  a  boy,  no  doubt  you  wished  you 
would  catch  hay  fever.  Then,  when  your  col- 
leagues were  marching  to  school,  you'd  be  travelling 
Michiganward,  and  bcvond,  to  escape  the  festive 
pollen. 

Maybe  to-day  vou  don't  quite  remember  just 
what  pollen  is.  Take  a  hollyhock  of  the  single 
type  and  rub  the  centre  protuberance  between 
vour  fingers.  There  will  come  off  a  white  mealy 
substance,  which  is  the  pollen.  The  bees,  in 
gathering  the  honey,  have  this  rubbed  against 
their  wings,  bodies,  and  legs.  Then  off  they  fly 
to  another  flower,  and  there  similar  friction,  in 
the  course  of  the  honey  harvest,  drops  this  pollen. 
Thus,  in  the  economy  of  Nature,  is  in-breeding 
overcome,  and  the  marriage  of  the  flowers  brought 
about. 

But  not  all  the  pollen  is  so  large  in  its  individual 
grains  as  that  of  the  hollvhock.  Could  we  examine 
the  air  over  woods  and  fields,  in  the  autumn,  we 
sliould  find  it  scattered  through  with  other  minute 
grains,  which  the  wind  is  helping  to  take  from 
plant  to  plant.  Among  others  there's  the  pollen 
of  the  rag-weed,  to  whose  doors  the  hay-fever 
exiles  lav  the  blame  of  their  trouble. 

Of  course  vou  know  the  rag-weed  !  In  the 
sunnier  area  of  the  forest,  usually  at  its  edges, 
where  there's  shade  and  vet  where  the  sun  will 
come,  you  find  it,  the  plant  rising  say  to  your 
knee,  and  topped  with  white  combs  of  flower. 
Each  individual  blossom  in  the  comb  is  like  a 
diminutive  thistle,  turned  white,  or  again  like 
an  upturned  tassel.  You  gather  it,  along  with 
iron-weed,  wild  brier  roses,  and  golden-rod  for 
the  autumn  church-bouquets.  But  when  the 
ra-g-weed  blooms,  its  having  time,  and  with  the 
first  promise  of  a  breath  of  the  new-mowni  hay, 
even  the  poorest  of  the  hay-fever  exiles  gathers 
savings  of  a  twelvemonth,  laid  aside  to  this 
purpose,  and  flees  to  the  north. 

Siippose  that  in  a  big  city  like  Philadelphia 
but  one  man  in  every  fifty  has  the  hay  fever, 
which  would  be  a  small  percentage.  Suppose  most 
these  men  take  their  families  with  them.  Suppose 
that  the  railway  fare  on  each  aggregates,  round 
trip,  but  ten  dollars  ;    that  they  live  when  away 


November  23,  1912      Chc  Biltisb  3oiirnaI  of  11'liu*9(iu3. 


415 


on  but  ten  dollars  a  week.  Multiply  that,  then, 
by  the  cities  of  the  country  and  figure  the  wealth 
that  is  poured  into  the  Northern  States  regularly, 
autumn  upon  autumn.  The  victims  have  to  go, 
year  upon  year,  and  if  they  come  to  like  a  resort 
they  stick  to  it. 

Once  upon  a  time,  some  tiventy  years  ago,  a 
hay  fever  victim  from  Cincinnati,  with  somewhat 
lean  purse,  went  by  boat  from  his  Michigan  exile 
to  the  far  shore  of  the  lake,  on  exploration  bent. 
He  chanced  on  a  farmer  with  an  apple  orchard, 
some  cows,  some  sheep.  Wliy  not  board  there 
instead  of  at  I\racinac  or  Petoskey,  where  fourj 
dollars  the  day  is  the  best  you  can  do  ?  He  made 
terms  with  the  farmer  and  stayed  there.  Next 
year,  in  the  spring,  he  wrote  the  farmer  : — 

"  There  is  a  story  in  the  old  primer,  you  know, 
about  a  dog  who  bruised  his  foot,  and  how  a  man 
tended  it.  By 
and  by  the 
grateful  dog 
brought  him 
a  n  o  t  h  f  r 
patient.  I'm 
the  first  dog. 
I've  found  a 
dozen  others 
want  to  board 
with  you.  Put 
up  tents,  or 
put  some  cots 
on  that  back 
porch  of  yours. 
Get  your  wife 
to  hire  a  cook 
and  a  man-of- 
allwork.  We'll 
pay  both  a  fine 
wage  in  tips. 
Give  us  what 
you  gave  me, 
and  we'll  sing 
your  praises." 

They    came, 
and        t  h  c  )■ 

showed  the  farmer  that  up  in  the  North 
it  paj'S  a  man  better  to  cater  for  the  hay 
fever  exiles  than  it  does  to  try  and  grow 
horse-radish,  potatoes  and  apples  from  the  sterile 
Michigan  soil.  So,  to  cut  a  long  story  short,  he 
opened  a  hotel.  The  next  farmer  opened  a 
general  store,  catering  for  tourists  at  the  hotel. 
Another  farmer  opened  a  restaurant,  beg  pardon, 
"  creamery,"  where  you  could  drop  in  for  sweet 
milk  or  buttermilk,  cottage  cheese  and  so  on. 
By  and  by  a  full-fledged  resort  was  in  operation, 
and  it  has  grown  to  a  town. 

WTien  a  man's  on  vacation,  even  if  in  exile,  he 
spends  more  than  he  ever  does  in  the  same  time  at 
home.  So  the  money  made  in  the  States  where 
the  rag-weed  is  blooming  goes  to  these  Michigan 
resort-keepers. 

But  what  of  this  insidious  hay  fever  ? 

Authorities  define  the  hay  fever  as  "  a  catarrhal 
affection  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  eyes. 


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■i 

!■ 

/  JIBB 

,  Hi.       1.  -.1  l\l,       ,.l.   i;,ON. 

nose,  mouth,  pharjTix,  larjoix  and  bronchi,  ac- 
companied by  difficult  breathing,  induced  by  the 
action  of  the  pollen  of  various  plants,  chiefly  of 
the  graminacea;.  This  is  prevalent  during  the 
haying  season,  but  subsides  at  its  close,  and  the 
'  fever '  varies  in  severity  according  to  certain 
atmospheric  conditions,  which  jirobably,  in  their 
turn,  regulate  the  amount  of  pollen  in  the  air." 
"  The  diagnosis  of  hay  fever,"  says  one  physician, 
"  is  easy,  as  the  occurrence  of  the  catarrhal 
symptoms  only  in  summer  separates  it  from  an 
ordinary  cold  in  the  head  ;  while  their  combination 
with  difficulty  in  breathing,  in  hay  fever,  prevents 
it  being  mistaken  for  spasmodic  asthma,  arising 
from  other  causes  in  which  there  is  usually  no 
catarrh. 

"  Hay  fever  was  originally  attributed  to  local 
chronic   disease   of   the   naso-phar\Tigeal   mucous 
membrane    b\' 
Daly   in    1882. 
In     1883    Roe 
advocated  the 
same     theory-, 
and    suggested 
the  removal  of 
the       diseased 
tissue.     In  the 
same     year 
Sajous     ad- 
vanced    the 
theory        that 
three       condi- 
tions    are    es- 
sential :   (1)  An 
external      irri- 
tant; (2)  A  pre- 
disposition    of 
the   system  to 
its      influence; 
(3)    A  vulner- 
able or  sensitive 
area,     through 
which  the  sys- 
tem     becomes 
influenced. 
"  In  1884  J.  X.  Mackenzie,  of  Baltimore,  stated 
that  for  a  paroxysm  of  hay  fever  a  certain  excita- 
bility of  the  nasal  cavernous  tissue  is  necessary, 
this  brought  about  by  a  multitude  of    external 
irritating    causes,    plus    an    over-sensitive    state 
of  the  vaso-motor  centres. 

"  As  for  treatment  there  is  mentioned  the 
removal  of  the  cause.  This  organic  alteration 
of  the  surface  of  the  membrane  by  galvanic 
cautery  or  by  caustic  acids,  acetic  acid,  combined 
with  cocaine,  carbolic  acid.  As  palliatives,  again, 
there  are  certain  tonics.  Valerianate  of  zinc 
is  suggested,  and,  again,  outdoor  exercise  and 
friction  ;  or  cocaine,  a  ten  per  cent,  solution, 
applied   locally  with  a  brush." 

But  none  of  these  things  seem  to  bring  the 
relief  that  a  j.iunt  to  the  North  holds  io^th  to  the 
sufferer.  \Vliercfore  folk  who  live  in  a  flat  through 
three  seasons  of  the  year,  have  their  cottages  in 
the  North.     There  close  friends  will  come  to  stay. 


4i6 


CTbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  mursfng.      November  23, 1912 


paying  a  board  that  is  less  than  the  hotel  would 
charge  them,  and,  while  enjoying  home  cooking 
and  the  freedom  of  a  cottage,  often  more  than 
paying  the  taxes  and  interest  on  investment  in 
the  same.  People  whose  winter  homes  are  dull 
and  cheerless  trick  out  these  cottages  wdth  pine 
boughs ;  pictures,  cut  from  the  coloured  supple- 
ments, are  framed  in  bark.  There  are  great  easy 
chairs  made  by  the  rustic  man,  who  plies  his  trade 
at  all  such  settlements.*  Dishes  that  would  never 
do  at  home  are  quite  the  vogue  here,  and  as  a 
result  the  cottage  is  looked  forward  to  as  the 
golden  era  in  the  twelvemonth. 

Even  hay  fever  isn't  so  bad  if  you  can  go  in 
exile  along  with  it.  Many  a  man,  in  fact,  is 
suspected  of  having  rubbed  onion  peel  on  the 
eyes  and  affected  a  cold,  simply  as  excuse  for  it. 
For  the  fish  call,  and  the  woods  call,  and  boon 
companions  urge  that  you  take  to  the  North  in 
the  hay  fever  season  ! 


THE    HOSPITAL   WORLD. 


ST.    ANDREW'S   HOSPITAL. 

By  the  courtesy  of  the  Treasurer  and  Chap- 
lain, Monseigneur  Carton  de  Wiart,  I  was 
enabled  to  view  London's  newest  hospital  on 
Monday,  November  i8th. 

This  magnificent  building,  which  is  now  com- 
plete, except  for  the  furniture  and  some  interior 
fittings,  has  been  erected  to  accommodate 
patients  of  the  Roman  Catholic  faith,  through 
the  bounty  of  a  lady  who  desires  that  her  name 
shall  remain  unknown  during  her  lifetime.  The 
only  other  hospital  for  this  purpose  in  London 
is  that  of  St.  John  and  St.  Elizabeth  at  St. 
John's  Wood. 

It  is  hoped  that  the  new-  hospital  will  be  ready 
to  receive  patients  in  January  next.  Standing 
on  the  crest  of  Dollis  Hill,  it  commands  a 
beautiful  view  in  many  directions  of  the  out- 
skirts of  London,  namely,  Cricklewood,  Hamp- 
stead  Heath,  and  Golders  Green. 

The  hospital  is  of  red  brick,  with  stone 
facings ;  the  four  corners  are  flanked  with 
towers  with  dome-shaped  roofs.  An  octagonal 
dome  surmounting  the  facade  gives  the  whole  a 
very  imposing  appearance.  The  seven  acres  of 
ground  which  belong  to  the  hospital  are  still 
in  the  rough,  but  will  be  laid  out  with  approach 
roads,  trees,  shrubs,  lawns,  &c.,  worthy  of  so 
beautiful  a  building  and  site. 

Mr.  Robert  Curtis,  the  architect,  is  to  be 
congratulated  upon  his  design,  which  comprises 
everything  of  the  best  and  newest  in  hospital 
structure.  The  floors  and  dados  of  the  cor- 
ridors are  of  terrazzo  mosaic,  and  the  walls 
and  ceilings  of  cement,  which,  when  complete, 
will  be  finished  with  white  enamel. 


The  main  wards,  containing  about  i8  beds 
each,  are  heated  by  "  open-fire  central  ventilat- 
ing stoves,"  the  smoke  of  which  is  carried 
downwards  and  through  flues  under  the  floor. 
They  are  handsome  green-tiled  square  stoves, 
a  fire  on  two  sides,  and  a  gas-ring  in  a  recess 
on  both  the  others,  for  sterilising  milk,  &c. 

Provision  for  central  heating  is  also  made 
throughout  the  building.  The  ventilation  is 
perfect,  fanlights  being  over  each  window. 

The  hospital  as  it  stands  has  been  built  at  a 
cost  of  ;£,"40,ooo,  and  is  to  be  enlarged  by 
another  wing  in  the  near  future ;  it  is  only 
intended  for  paying  patients.  The  accommoda- 
tion at  present  is  for  28  private  patients  and 
35  ward  patients. 

Needless  to  say,  there  are  no  dust  traps  in 
the  form  of  square  angles — curves  and  rounded 
corners  everywhere. 

The  main  staircase  is  built  round  a  well-pro- 
tected lift  enclosure.  The  lift  is  large  enough 
to  contain  a  bed ;  there  is  another  for  food  and 
coal.  They  are  w-orked  by  electricity  automati- 
cally. 

A  chapel,  an  up-to-date  theatre,  anaesthetic 
room.  X-ray  room,  dark  room  and  test  room, 
first-rate  sanitary  annexes,  bathrooms,  &c., 
serve  to  make  this  hospital  one  of  the  most 
perfect  that  modern  science  can  devise. 

The  nursing  staff  will  consist  of  Roman 
Catholic  Sisters  who  are  also  trained  nurses, 
besides  lay  nurses.  I  heard  nothing  about  a 
Matron.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  that  most  im- 
portant figure  will  not  be  lacking. 

.Space  does  not  permit  of  a  detailed  descrip- 
tion of  this  luxurious  hospital.  Happy  will  be 
the  patients  who  find  an  entrance  there. 

The  chaplain's  house  is  built  on  the  grounds ; 
so  is  also  a  coachhouse  for  a  motor  ambulance. 

B.  K. 


A    GRATIFYING    FACT. 

Princess  Christian  has  promised  to  attend 
the  Annual  General  Meeting  of  the  Army  and 
Navy  Male  Nurses'  Co-operation,  to  be  held, 
bv  the  kind  permission  of  Sir  George  Alex- 
ander, at  St.  James's  Theatre,  on  the  afternoon 
of  December  loth.  The  Chairman  will  an- 
nounce the  gratifying  fact  that  there  is  no 
further  necessity  to  make  a  monetary  appeal,  as 
the  ultimate  ambition  of  the  Committee  to 
become  self-supporting  is  now  realised ; 
although  they  feel  strongly  that  the  organiza- 
tion must  be  made  more  widely  known  to  the 
public,  as  great  disappointment  is  caused  bv  the 
impossibilitv  of  accepting  the  numerous  appli- 
cations for  employment  from  fully  certificated 
male  nurses  who  have  served  their  time  in  the 
Navy  and  Army. 


November  23, 191 2     ilbc  36iltt£?b  Boumal  of  IRursmo. 


417 


RECOGNITION   FOR  MISS  RICHARDSON. 

At  the  last  meeting  of  the  ]5oaid  of  Management 
of  the  London  Temperance  Hospital,  the  following 
address  framed  and  illuminated  was  presented  to 
the  Matron,  ^liss  Richardson,  in  recognition  of 
her  having  completed  twenty-one  years  in  the 
service  of  the  Hospital. 

"  The  Board  of  Management  of  the  London 
Temperance  Hospital,  calling  to  mind  the  fact 
that  Miss  A.  J.  Richardson,  the  highly  esteemed 
Matron,  celebrated  on  Saturday,  September  28th, 
1912,  the  twenty-first  anniversary  of  her  entn' 
into  the  service  of  the  Hospital,  desire  to  conv(^ 
to  her  their  high  appreciation  of  the  devotion, 
loyalty,  and  sacrifice  by  which,  during  this  lengthy 
period,  her  work  has  been  unfailingly  distinguished. 

"  Entering  the  Hospital  as  a  probationer,  Sep- 
tember 22nd,  1891,  Miss  Richardson  has  since 
filled  the  various  offices  of  Staff  Nurse,  Sister,  and 
was  finally  appointed  Matron  November  ist,  1901. 

"  WTiatever  her  task,  that  she  has  carried  out 
with  a  diligence  and  devotion  that  has  ennobled 
her  labour  and  transformed  simple  routine  into 
an  expression  of  tenderness  and  solicitude. 

"  The  felicitous  interpretation  of  duty  has  been 
extended  not  only  to  the  sick  and  suffering 
entrusted  to  her  care,  but  has  also  found  a.  further 
opportunity  for  exercise  among  those  who  have 
been  trained  by  her  in  the  womanly  and  noble 
profession  of  Nursing,  amongst  whom  her  wise  and 
kindly  influence  will  long  be  felt  and  the  traditions 
that  she  has  established  long  remain  a  beneficial 
inspiration. 

"  Miss  Richardson's  relations  with  the  Board  of 
Management  have  been  of  the  happiest  and  the 
members  heartily-  join  in  wisliing  her  many  years 
of  continued  happy  and  useful  ser\ice  in  the 
sphere  wihch  she  has  chosen  for  her  life  work, 
and  which  she  so  fully  adorns. 

"  (Signed)     T.  Vezey  Strong, 
Chairman." 


THE     GOLD     MEDAL.     ROYAL     FREE 
HOSPITAL. 

An  interesting  ceremony  took  place  in  the 
Board  Room,  on  \VednesdaJ^  the  13th  inst.,  when 
the  Gold  Medal,  awarded  to  the  nurse  who  had 
passed  first  in  the  examination  held  after  three 
years'  training,  was  presented  to  the  recipient. 
Nurse  B.  M.  Reed.  "The  presentation  was  made 
by  the  ISIaster  of  the  Cordwaincrs'  Company 
(Mr.  J.  H.  Williams),  who  stated  it  was  a  matter 
of  gratification  that,  after  a  lapse  of  many  years, 
the  Board  of  the  Hospital  had  decided  to  re- 
institute  the  conipetition  for  this  honourable 
distinction  ;  and  that  it  was  the  privilege  of  the 
Cordwainers'  Company  to  provide  the  Medal. 
The  association  of  the  Hospital  and  the  Company 
dated  back  for  many  years,  to  the  time  when 
Dr.  William  Marsden,  who  founded  the  Hospital 
in  1828,  was  a  Master  of  the  Company,  in  1845  ; 


and,  as  a  successor  to  that  office,  the  present  Master 
welcomed  the  opportunity  for  bringing  the 
philanthropic  interests  of  his  Company  again 
into  close  association  with  the  care  of  the  sick 
poor  by  the  Nursing  Stafi  of  the  Royal  Free 
Hospital. 

Mr.  Langton,  in  proposing  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
the  Master  of  the  Company  for  this  renewal  of 
interest  recalled  the  fact  that  the  last  occasion 
when  a  Gold  Medal  had  been  presented  was  in 
1898,  the  recipient  at  the  time  being  Nurse  Seal, 
who  was  subsequently  selected  to  nurse  Her  late 
Majesty  Queen  Victoria,  in  her  last  illness,  a 
privilege  and  honour  the  Royal  Free  Hospital 
would  always  have  on  record. 

The  vote  of  thanks  having  been  seconded  by 
Dr.  Sainsbury,  and  warmly  accorded,  Mr.  Langton 
presented  to  Nurse  Fanny  Drewitt  a  set  of  books 
awarded  to  her  by  the  Weekly  Board,  by  virtue 
of  her  attainment  to  the  first  place  in  the  junior 
examination  of  probationer  nurses.  Those  pre- 
sent at  this  interesting  function  included  Mr. 
C.  W.  Mander  (Clerk  to  the  Company),  Mr.  ..Vlfred 
Langton  (Chairman  of  the  Weekly  Board),  Dr. 
Sainsbury,  Dr.  Carr,  Dr.  Branson,  Mr.  Berry, 
F.R.C.S.,  Mr.  Willmott  Evans,  F.R.C.S.,  Mr. 
Holroyd  Chaplin,  Mr.  Pliipson,  Mr.  Bright,  Mr. 
Joll,  F.R.C.S.  (Senior  Resident  Medical  Officer), 
Miss  Cox  Davies  (Matron),  and  Mr.  Reginald  R. 
Garratt  (Secretary). 


PRESENTATIONS. 

'^■■Before  leaving  the  Taunton  and  Somerset 
Hospital,  to  take  up  her  new  work  as  Matron  of 
the  Auckland  Hospital,  New  Zealand,  Miss  Orr 
was  the  recipient  of  many  charming  gifts.  The 
Committee  presented  a  gold  bracelet  watch,  the 
Sisters  a  travelling  rug,  hold-all,  and  electric 
lamp,  the  Nurses  a  silver  tea-service,  and  an 
album  containing  the  names  of  the  donors,  the 
senior  maids  and  porters  a  silver-mounted 
smelling-salts  bottle  and  a  ser\-ictte  ring,  and 
the  dispensers  pieces  of  silver,  in  addition  to  many 
other  presents  from  those  connected  with  the 
hospital,  and  personal  friends.  Miss  Orr  sailed  on 
the  "Athcnic"  last  Saturday,  and  hopes  to  reach 
Auckland  by  New  Year. 

Miss  Ellen  S.  Hallam,  the  Lady  Superintendent 
of  the  New  Brighton  Convalescent  Home,  Cheshire, 
who  is  resigning  the  position  after  sixteen  years' 
service,  was  last  week  presented  with  a  cheque  for 
;^roo  and  a  sapphire  and  diamond  ring  by  the 
Ladies'  and  Gentlemen's  Committees  of  the  Insti- 
tution and  numerous  other  friends  in  recognition 
of  her  most  efficient  services.  The  Rev.  F.  Tilney 
Stonex,  ^LA.,  president,  was  in  the  chair,  and  the 
gifts  were  presented  by  Mrs.  North,  who  cordially 
wished  iMiss  Hallam  every  happiness  in  the  future. 
Miss  Hallam,  in  expressing  her  thanks,  spoke 
appreciatively  of  the  sympathy  and  support  she 
had  always  received  from  the  officers  and 
committees. 


4^8 


Cbc  J6riti5b  3ournal  of  H^uvstnci      Novcnber  23, 1912 


APPOINTMENTS. 


MATRON. 

Dorset  County  Hospital.  Dorchester. — Miss 
JIabel  Cotton  has  been  appointed  Matron. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Albert  Edward 
Infirmar\-,  Wigan,  where  she  held  the  position  of 
Sister  in  various  departments.  She  has  also  held 
the  positions  of  Assistant  Lady  Superintendent  at 
the  Acland  Nursing  Home,  Oxford  ;  and  Matron 
at  the  Tavistock  Hospital. 

Bromley      and      Beckenham      Isolation      Hospital, 

Kent Miss    Ada    H.   Green  has  been  appointed 

Assistant  ^Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Central 
London  Sick  Asylum,  Hendon  ;  and  has  held  the 
position  of  Charge  Nurse  at  the  Borough  Sana- 
torium, Folkestone  ;  and  Sister  at  the  Waltham- 
stow  Sanatorium,  and  the  Isolation  Hospital, 
Norwich. 

NIGHT       SISTER. 

Kent      and      Canterbury     Hospital,     Canterbury — 

Miss,  Maud  Fletcher  has  been  appointed  Night 
Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the  same  institution  ; 
and  has  held  the  position  of  Stafi  Nurse  at  the 
Stanley  Hospital,  Liverpool,  and  of  Sister  at  the 
South  De\-on  Hospital,  Plymouth. 

SISTER. 

The  Sanatorium,  Huddersfield.  —  Miss  E. 
Lawless  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Royal  Injirman.-,  Derby  ;  and  at  the 
Marland  Hospital,  Rochdale.  She  has  also  been 
Sister  at  the  Astley  Saiiatorium,  Manchester, 
and  Sister  at  the  Mortlake  Isolation  Hospital. 

Torbay  Hospital,  Torquay. — Miss  Evelyn  E- 
Brown  has  been  appointed  Sister  of  the  electro- 
therapeutic  department.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Hospital  for  Sick  Children,  London,  and  at 
Paddington  Poor  Law  Infirmary,  where  she  has 
been  Staff  Nurse  and  Holiday  Sister. 

SUPERINTENDENT     NURSE. 

Sudbury  Infirmary,  Suffolk.— Miss  Ella  H. 
Foskett  has  been  appointed  Superintendent  Nurse, 
She  was  trained  at  Whitechapel  Infirmary,  London, 
and  has  since  been  Night  Sister  and  Deputy 
SuperLntendent  Nurse  at  Newport  Workhouse 
Infirmary,  Monmouthshire . 

QUEEN  ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING    SERVICE. 

■  The  following  ladies  have  received  provisional 
appointments  as  Staff  Nurses  : — Miss  C.  Slaney, 
Miss  A.  M.  Pattullo. 

Transfers  to  Stations  Abroad. 

Matron. — Miss  I.  G.  Willetts,  to  Hong  Kong. 

Sisters. — Miss  A.  Barker,  to  Hong  Kong  ;  Miss 
F.  N.  Roberts,  to  Hong  Kong. 

Staff  Nurses. — Miss  K.  E.  Hearn,  to  Hong  Kong  ; 
Miss  E.  A.  Rutherford,  to  Hong  Kong. 
Promotion. 

The  undermentioned  Staff  Nurse  to  be  Sister  : — 
Miss  D.  M.  Smith. 


Military  Families'  Hospitals. 
The   undermentioned    appointments  have  been 
made  : — Miss  E.  B.  Robinson,  to  Chatham ;    Miss 

M.  Moffitt,  to  Shoeburyness. 

QUEEN    VICTORIA'S    JUBILEE    INSTITUTE. 

Transfers  and  Appohittnents. — Miss  Pilgrini. 
Inspector  (Wales),  is  transferred  to  Lancashire  and 
Cheshire  area  ;  Miss  Jennie  Younger  is  appointed 
to  Barrow-in-Furness,  as  Senior  Nurse  ;  IMiss 
Sarah  Archer,  to  Norwich  ;  Miss  Ada  Dicks,  to 
St.  Ives  (Hunts.)  ;  Miss  Florence  Faber,  to 
Grimsby  ;  Miss  Tillie  Fitzgerald,  to  Snodland  ; 
Miss  Ehzabeth  Lee,  to  Hampstead  Garden  Suburb  ; 
Miss  Emily  Smethurst,  to  Sheffield  ;  Miss  Maria 
Talbot,  to  Burgess  Hill  :  Miss  Carolina  van 
Hoogerhuvs.  to  Leeds  (Armlev). 


RESIGNATION. 

Miss  Walmsley,  Matron  of  the  Royal  Victoria 
Infirmary,  Newcastle-on-Tj-ne,  whose  appoint- 
ment as  Inspector  under  tlie  Local  Government 
Board  we  have  already  announced,  has  now 
formally  resigned  her  present  position.  She  will 
enter  on  her  new  duties  earlv  in  the  New  Year. 


WEDDINQ    BELLS. 

The  approacliing  marriage  is  announced  of 
Miss  Madge  Jones,  Queen's  Nurse,  at  Ton  Pentre, 
South  ^^'ales,  to  Mr.  Alfred  Williams,  a  railway 
auditor  at  Buenos  Ayres.  Before  leaving  Ton 
Pentre,  where  her  work  has  been  greatly  appreciated , 
Miss  Jones  was  presented  with  a  purse  of  gold  on 
behalf  of  the  Nursing  Committee.  The  presenta- 
tion was  made  by  Mrs.  Edwards,  of  Ystradfechan . 


HIGH   MORTALITY   IN    A   BABIES'  HOME. 

On  Saturday  last,  JNIrs.  Fanny  Kinghorne,  of 
Dagmar  Road,  Camberwell,  appeared,  on  ad- 
journed summonses,  at  the  South  Western  Police 
Court,  for  failing  to  give  notice  to  the  Coroner  of 
the  death  of  a  child  ;  and  further  with  neglecting 
other  children,  so  as  to  cause  them  unnecessary 
suffering,  at  the  Tooting  Babies'  Home,  where  no 
trained  nurse  was  employed.  At  the  pre\dous  hear- 
ing, which  we  have  already  reported,  it  was  stated 
that  the  children  became  ill  from  absence  of  fires, 
and  that  the  deaths  wliich  occurred  were  the  result 
of  bronchial  pneumonia  and  gastro-enteritis, 
brought  on  through  cold  and  insufficient  food. 

On  Saturday,  Professor  Henrj-  R.  Kenwood, 
who  gave  evidence  for  the  defendant,  stated  that 
there  was  a  defective  se\yer-trap  in  the  Home  at 
Lessingham  Avenue,  Tooting  ;  this  might  lead  to 
mafnutrition,  wasting  and  death,  in  infants.  He 
would  not  regard  it  as  astonishing  under  such 
conditions  that  five  infants  out  of  ten  had  wasted 
and  died.  In  such  circumstances,  under  good 
conditions  of  nursing,  feeding,  and  housing, 
children  might  go  down  in  batches  very  suddenly. 
The  hearing  of  the  case  has  been  again  ad- 
journed. 


November  23,   191. 


Gbe  36rtn5b  3ouvnal  ot  Tnursino- 


M9 


NURSING    ECHOES. 

To  commemorale  her  Uvcmy-tivc  years'  work 
for  the  organization  of  the  Nursing-  Profession 
in  the  pubhc  service,  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick 
has  receivetl  an  invitation,  conveyed  through 
Miss  M.  Heather-Bigg,  President  of  the 
Matrons'  Council,  to  be  the  guest  of  honour  at 
a  Dinner  attended  by  members  of  the  Nursing 
Profession,  at  the  Hotel  Cecil,  on  Decem- 
ber 14th.  Mrs.  Fenwick  has  accepted  the 
invitation  with  pleasure.  ' 


The  work  under  Miss  H.  L.  Pearse,  of 
the  London  County  Council  School  Nurses, 
increases  by  leaps  and  bounds,  as  may  be 
gathered  from  the  report  of  the  General  Pur- 
poses Sub-Committee  to  the  Education  Com- 
mittee for  191 1.  The  report  showed  that  during 
the  year  the  doctors  inspected  204,000  children 
at  9.785  sessions,  and  that  62  per  cent,  of  the 
parents  were  present  at  the  time  of  inspection. 
More  than  one-half  of  the  children  showed 
defects  when  examined  in  detail.  One-third  of 
the  children  suffered  from  enlarged  tonsils  and 
adenoids,  and  four-fifths  from  caries  of  the 
teeth.  There  were  from  two  to  three  thousand 
cases  of  ringworm  during  the  year.  Nine 
cleansing  stations  for  verminous  children  were 
at  work,  and  the  school  nurses  inspected 
251,592  children,  of  whom  14,893  were  re- 
ported to  be  verminous. 


On  the  recommendation  of  the  Joint  Schools 
Management  Sub-Committee,  the  Ncwcastle- 
on-Tyne  Education  Committee  have  decided  to 
appoint  two  trained  nurses  in  connection  with 
the  care  of  school  children,  and  have  set  aside 
a  sum  of  money  in  their  estimates. for  next  year 
to  provide  for  medical  inspection  and  treat- 
ment. The  Committee  are  to  be  congratulated 
on  their  decision.  The  endeavour  to  thrust  into 
such  positions  midwives  with  a  smattering  of 
nursing  knowledge  is  far  too  common,  but  if 
the  ratepayers  are  to  be  called  upon  to  con- 
tribute to  the  salaries  of  such  workers,  some  of 
them  will  no  doubt  have  something  to  say  on 
the  question.  The  fact  that  an  outbreak  of 
diphtheria  has  occurred  in  one  school  in  New- 
castle shows  the  necessity  for  the  vigilance  of 
an  experienced  nurse.  A  midwife  with  a  little 
superficial  knowledge  of  nursing  would  be 
quite  incompetent  to  deal  with  the  situation. 
It  is  often  not  realized  how  specially  unsuitable 
a  combination  of  school  nursing  and  midwifery 
is,  even  when  the  nurse  is  fully  trained,  owing 
to  the  liability  of  contact  with  infection  by  the 
nurse  in  the  schools. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  London  Branch  of  the 
Nurses'  Social  Union,  held  at  12,  Buckingham 
Street,  Strand,  last  week,  at  which  Miss  A.  C. 
Gibson  presided  and  proved  an  excellent  chair- 
man, the  proposition  was  admirably  put  for- 
ward and  sustained  by  Miss  Beatrice  Kent  : — 

That  it  is  desirable  that  women,  should  be 
allowed  to  invade  the  professio.is  and  occupations 
hitherto  monopolised  by  men. 

Miss  Kent  disapproved  of  the  word  "  in- 
vade "  as  suggesting  hostile  entry.  On  the 
other  hand,  she  thought  it  difficult  to  find  a 
substitute,  because  it  was  used  in  connection 
with  a  "monopoly."  .Monopoly  was  a 
bad  word,  and  indicated  a  much  worse  prin- 
ciple, because  it  stood  for  a  thing  which  was 
injurious  to  the  community.  The  only  justifi- 
cation for  monopoly  of  interests  by  one  sex  was 
when  nature  clearly  indicated  physical  disquali- 
fication. She  pointed  out  that  there  are  some 
six  professions  in  all — Theology,  the  Army,  the 
Navy,  Medicine,  Law,  and  Teaching — and  that 
women  are  excluded  from  the  three  first,  with 
the  exception  that  there  are  a  few  women 
Pastors,  and  she  considers  that  there  are 
obvious  reasons  why  this  should  be  the  case. 

The  question  of  the  admission  of  women  to 
the  "  divers  Orders  of  the  Church  "  is  one 
which  would,  no  doubt,  arouse  a  storm  of 
criticism,  and  of  protest,  so  long  have  we  been 
habituated  to  their  exclusion.  But  there  seems 
no  reason  why  it  should  not  be  discussed. 

Space  forbids  our  dealing  in  detail  with  this 
paper,  but  reference  must  be  made  to  the  fact 
that  in  Oklahoma,  U.S.A.,  a  woman.  Miss  Kate 
Barnard,  is  head  of  a  State  Department.  She 
is  the  State  Commissioner  of  Charities  and  Cor- 
rections, and  has  nearly  300  institutions, 
including  gaols  and  penitentiaries,  under  her 
jurisdiction. 

There  was  a  lively  debate. 


A  satisfactory  balance-sheet  of  the  N.S.U. 
Conference  held  at  Bristol  in  June  has  been 
issued.  It  was  not  necessary  to  make  a  call 
on  any  of  those  who  were  good  enough  to  stand 
as  guarantors,  and  a  profit  of  nearly  ;Cioo  has 
been  handed  over  to  the  Union.  At  the  wish  of 
the  Somerset  and  Bristol  Board  this  has  been 
divided  as  follows  : — £2  to  each  of  the  N.S.U. 
Branches  in  the  Somerset  and  Bristol  Division 
which  subscribed,  guaranteed,  and  generally 
assisted  in  the  work  of  the  Conference  ;  £1  ids. 
to  the  Frome  Branch,  which  is  newly  formed  ; 
£1  IDS.  to  the  N.S.U.  Branch  at  Exeter,  which 
sent  an  interesting  exhibit ;  ;£20  to  the  Somer- 
set and  Bristol  Board  for  general  expenses ; 
£■^0  to  the  Central  Fund  for  general  expenses 


420 


Jibe  36rlttsb  3ournal  of  IRurstno.      November  23, 1912 


and  the  upkeep  of  the  exhibits.  The  tlianlis  of 
the  Central  Council  are  due  to  the  Somerset 
and  Bristol  Board  for  their  generous  gift, 
which  will  be  of  great  assistance  in  spreading 
the  work  of  the  Union.  Miss  Symonds, 
Aisholt,  Bridgwater,  has  been  appointed 
County  Organiser  for  the  Somerset  and  Bristol 
Division  on  the  resignation  of  Miss  Joseph. 


Miss  Buckle,  the  greatly  respected  Superin- 
tendent of  Queen's  Nurses  at  Brighton,  who  is 
leaving  to  take  up  the  post  of  Nursing  Super- 
intendent for  England  at  headquarters  in 
London,  is  to  be  the  recipient  of  a  testimonial 
in  the  form  of  a  cheque  from  her  many  friends 
in  Sussex.  

There  is  an  epidemic  of  scarlet  fever  in  Aber- 
deen, and  so  crowded  is  the  City  Hospital  that 
a  portion  of  the  nurses'  quarters  have  had  to  be 
used  for  the  patients,  and  the  nurses  who  pre- 
viously occupied  these  quarters  have  had  to 
"  camp  out."  In  the  grounds  at  the  rear  of  the 
buildings  three  large  tents  have  been  erected, 
and  these  are  being  used  to  accommodate  some 
ten  nurses  and  two  sisters. 


At  a  special  meeting  of  Coatbridge  Town 
Council  last  week  the  report  by  the  Local 
Government  Board  on  Coathill  Fever  Hospital 
inquiry  was  considered,  and  the  recommenda- 
tions made  were  agreed  to. 

Sister  Wood  sent  in  her  resignation,  whicli 
was  accepted.  It  was  agreed  that  the  Health 
Committee  give  her  a  testimonial. 

A  letter  was  read  from  the  agent  for  Dr. 
Hamilton  and  ex-Matron  Stenhouse,  asking 
that  seeing  thev  had  been  exonerated  by  the 
Commissioners,  their  expenses  at  the  inquiry 
should  be  paid  by  the  Council. 

This  matter  was  remitted  to  the  Hospital 
Committee  for  consideration  and  report. 


On  December  nth  a  dance  will  be  held  in 
connection  with  the  Irish  Nurses'  Association. 
Many  prominent  people  are  supporting  the 
function,  and  tickets  can  be  had  from  the 
Secretary,  34,  St.  Stephen's  Green,  Dublin. 

Under  the  heading  of  "  A  Canine  Trait,"  the 
editorial  opinion  in  the  Australasian  Trained 
Nurses'  Association  points  out  that  if  trained 
nurses  in  Australia  will  not  undertake  the 
work  of  Bush  nursing  witli  its  well-known 
hardships  and  discomforts,  their  opposition  to 
nurses  being  engaged  in  England  to  do  it 
"  savours  much  of  a  well-known  dog,  and  is 
quite  unworthy  of  the  high  traditions  of  their 
profession,  which  has  always  given  the  wel- 
fare of  the  sick  poor  its  first  consideration." 


Moreover,  the  journal  points  a  moral  in 
answer  to  the  question,  "  What  is  to  be  done?" 
It  asks  :  "  Is  it  the  wish  of  the  trained  nurses 
that  the  district  be  left  bereft  of  the  services  of 
a  nurse  where  the  need  is  great  for  someone 
to  attend  the  sick  poor  and  look  after  the 
motlier,  far  from  other  help,  at  the  birth  of  her 
child,  or  shall  a  less  perfectly  trained,  but 
decidedly  useful  and  clean  woman  be  appointed, 
who  will  in  some  degree  fill  the  want?  For 
the  past  few  months  it  has  been  utterly 
impossible  for  the  general  practitioner  to 
obtain  the  necessary  nurses  to  attend  to  his 
patients,  urgently  in  need  of  some  nursing 
attention  ;  and  so  in  the  less  serious  cases  the 
doctor  is  forced  to  obtain  what  help  he  can 
from  other  than  the  regularly  trained  nurse.  Is 
it  not  better  for  the  trained  nurses  and  certainly 
for  the  sick  public,  to  have  nurses  brought 
from  over  the  seas,  provided  they  are  fully 
trained  to  a  standard  equal  to  that  required 
by  their  Association,  than  that  another  class 
of  inferiorly  trained  women  should  come  into 
existence  to  do  in  an  imperfect  manner  the 
work  which  should  be  entrusted  only  to  those 
fully  experienced  in  ail  branches  of  sick 
nursing?"  

On  the  other  hand,  in  the  opinion  of  some 
very  capable  Australian  nurses,  training  in 
England,  with  its  latter-day  home  comforts, 
and  lack  of  initiative — taken  in  connection  with 
the  fact  that  the  majority  have  never  lived  open- 
air  lives — produces  a  "  soft  "  type  of  nurse, 
totally  unsuited  for  roughing  it  in  the  Bush. 
"  For  instance,"  says  one,  "  during  my  visits 
to  many  English  hospitals  I  asked  nurses,  '  Can 
you  ride?  '  and  every  one  I  asked  replied  in  the 
negative." 

REFLECTIONS 

FROM    A    BOARD    ROOM    MIRROR. 


The  King  Edward  Memorial  wing  of  .the  Wolver- 
hampton General  Hospital  was  opened  last  week 
with  Masonic  ritual  by  the  Earl  of  Dartmouth. 
It  has  cost  ;^8,ooo,  towards  which  working  men 
of  the  town  have  contributed  ;fi,ooo.  The  wing 
is  the  first  section  of  a  reconstructive  scheme 
which  will  entail  an  expenditure  of  ;f6o,ooo.  His 
lordship  announced  that  Queen  Alexandra  had 
consented  to  two  wards  being  named  after  King 
Edward  and  herself. 


Mrs.  C.  C.  Williarris  has  given  1,000  guineas  to 
the  King  Edward  the  Seventh's  Hospital,  at 
Cardiff,  as  a  memorial  of  her  late  husband.  It 
was  received  through  Dr.  Charles  Vachell  to 
endow  a  bed  in  the  Coronation  Ward. 


November  23, 1912      Cbc  Bi'ltisb  3ournal  of  TRurstna. 


421 


BABYLAND  HEALTH  EXHIBITION, 
LEEDS. 


A  Health  Exhibition  is  quite  a  new  thing  in 
Leeds,  and  has  caused  a  considerable  amount  o£ 
interest.  The  pride  of  Leeds — the  Town  Hall — was 
packed  to  its  utmost  capacity'  on  each  of  the  four 
days  (November  13th  to  i6th)  the  Babyland 
Health  Exhibition  was  open.  The  exhibits  were 
arranged  under  ten  Sections. 

Section  I.  (Baby  Culture). — This  was  a  set  of 
exhibits  designed  by  the  West  Riding  Nursing 
Association,  to  show  what  delightful  nursery  things 
can  be  made  at  a  very  small  cost.  There  were 
various  cot  expedients — a  daintj-,  little  wliite  cot, 
made  from  a  banana-crate,  at  a  total  cost  of  is.  8d.  ; 
a  cot  made  from  a  pilgrim-basket  ;  another 
(swinging)  cot,  made  of  canvas  covered  with  the 
palest  pink  casement-cloth.  Then  there  was  a 
toddler's  safctj--chair,  made  from  an  old  lemon- 
box  at  a  cost  of  id.  A  good  kind  of  feeding- 
bottle  was  shown,  which  can  be  obtained  at  the 
West  Riding  Nurses'  Home,  at  a  cost  of  i^d. 
Delightful  posters  (lent  by  the  Nurses'  Social 
Union)  completed  this  section — the  right  and 
wTong  way  of  washing  a  baby  ;  the  evils  of  a  push- 
cart ;    and  so  on. 

Miss  Gardner  (of  the  Bristol  Lying-in  Hospital) 
kindly  lent  an  exhibit  of  an  open-air  baby's 
shelter  for  this  section. 

Section  II.  [Clothing). — These  exhibits  caused 
great  interest.  There  was  a  model  life-size  baby 
in  a  model  cot,  dressed  in  model  clothing  ;  and 
long-sleeved  woollen  vests,  long  flannels,  &c., 
were  offered  for  sale  at  cost  price.  An  interesting 
exhibit  was  shown  called  "  Old  Clothes  for  New," 
showing  a  white  cap,  a  little  jacket,  and  a  dainty 
pair  of  shoes  edged  with  pale-blue,  made  out  of  an 
old  pair  of  woollen  combinations  ;  an  infant's 
cloak  and  bonnet,  made  from  an  old  white  evening 
skirt ;  a  little  jacket,  made  from  a  pair  of  brown 
stockings  ;    and  so  on. 

Section  III.  (Food  and  Cookery). — Two  larders 
(kindly  lent  by  the  Nurses'  Social  Union)  were 
shown — the  bad  larder,  with  the  food  covered  with 
flies  and  dirt  ;  and  the  good  larder,  showing  how, 
with  expedients  costing  only  a  few  pence,  a  larder 
may  be  kept  clean  and  sweet.  Fireless  cooking- 
boxes  were  also  shown  in  this  section.  A  meat- 
safe  expedient,  made  from  a  tea-chest ;  and 
many  other  interesting  expedients,  for  safes  and 
larders,  were  shown. 

Section  IV.  (Nursing  Inventions  and  Contri- 
vances).— Some  of  these  had  been  shown  in  London, 
but  had  not  been  seen  before  in  the  north.  They 
included  a  double  district-bag,  invented  by  Nurse 
Sherwood  ;  a  combined  breast-relie\-er  and  feeding- 
bottle,  invented  by  Nurse  Tliieman  ;  Sister  Stoney's 
very  practical  bed-table  ;  a  midwife's  case,  by 
Nurse  Simpson  ;  and  many  other  interesting 
exhibits. 

Section  V.  {Nursing  Appliances,  &<.).— The  most 
notable  of  these  was  the  beautiful  set  of  exquisite 


mortuary    Unen     (lent    by    the    Seacroft^  Fever 
Hospital). 

Section  VI.  {Tuberculosis  Exhibits). — This  was  a 
collection  of  posters,  model  shelters,  sanitary  and 
insanitary  houses  (from  a  caravan,  kindly  lent  by 
the  National  Association  for  the  Prevention  of 
Tuberculosis). 

Section  VII.  (General  Hygiene). — This  Section 
included  such  things  as  Hinch's  Bird  Ventilator  ; 
a  Slum  Room  and  a  Model  Room,  which  was  much 
admired,  showed  the  difference  between  a  room 
before  and  after  the  district  nurse's  visit.  Another 
exhibit  was  a  model  of  two  cottages,  called  "  Ill- 
spent  and  Well-spent  Wages." 

Section  VIII. — This  Section  showed  work  done 
by  invalids  ;  and  some  very  beautiful  specimens 
of  weaving  and  embroidery  were  shown. 

Section  IX.  {Ambulance). — This  Section  was 
noticeable  for  the  very  beautiful  Swiss  Transport 
Models  (lent  by  the  Nurses'  Social  Union),  which 
are  perfectly  made  and  accurate,  even  to  the  knots. 
The  last  is  the  Historical  Section.  The  West 
Riding  Nursing  Association  was  fortunate  enough 
to  secure  two  splendid  collections  of  dolls — from 
Miss  Barton  (Matron  of  Chelsea  Infirmar\),  dolls 
dressed  as  everj-  kind  and  variety-  of  nurse  (the 
collection  just  returned  from  the  Nursing  Exhibit 
of  the  National  Council  of  Nurses  of  Great  Britain 
and  Ireland,  shown  at  Cologne)  ;  and  another 
most  interesting  set  from  the  Nurses'  Social  Union, 
representing  a  B^uine  nun,  a  plague  attendant  of 
the  seventeenth  centurj-,  a  German  deaconess, 
a  Russian  Red  Cross  nurse,  and  many  others 
equally  interesting.  There  was  also  a  scene  from 
Dickens,  with  "  Mrs.  Gamp,"  having  appropriated 
her  patient's  pillow,  sitting  by  the  fire,  with  the 
gin-bottle  conveniently  handy.  The  next  scene, 
"  A  Scene  of  To-day,"  shows'  a  modern  West 
Riding  maternity'  nurse  about  to  wash  a  baby,  in 
the  most  approved  hygienic  method. 

A  village  midwife  at  work  (lent  by  Miss  du 
Sautoy),  was  much  admired,  with  its  companion- 
scene  of  a  modem  midwife. 

A  Nursing  Literature  Stall,  with  the  verj-  beauti- 
ful West  Riding  banner  waving  over  it,  completed 
the  West  Riding  part  of  the  Exhibition. 

Admirable  health  lectures  were  given  twice  a 
day  throughout  by  specialists  ;  and  side-shows  and 
entertainments  of  all  kinds  were  not  forgotten. 

V.  T. 
■   ♦   ■ 

Milk  for  Nijrsery  Use. — Pure  milk  is  one  of 
the  greatest  necessaries  of  life,  and  Messrs.  Welford 
&  Sons,  Elgin  Avenue,  Maida  Vale,  W.,  who  possess 
the  largest  dair\'  in  London,  make  a  point  of 
supplying  it  at  their  many  branches.  They  also 
specialize  in  asses'  milk,  and  milk  for  Nursery  use. 


Red  White  and  Blue  Coffee. — Nothing  is 
more  important  in  making  coffee  than  to  secure 
a  really  good  brand,  and  the  Red  \NTiite  and  Blue 
variety  obtainable  from  all  leading  grocers,  has 
won  for  itself  a  high  place  in  public  estimation 
for  its  uniform  excellence  of  quality. 


Cbc  Brttlsb  3ournal  of  IRursino.      November  23, 1912 


OUR     FOREIGN     LETTER. 


THE     AMERICAN     NURSING     WORLD. 

Dear  Editor, — I  have  just  come  from  a 
conference  with  the  joint  executive  committees 
of  our  National  Societies — the  American  Nurses' 
Association,  the  National  League  for  Nursing 
Education,  and  the  National  Organisation  for 
Public  Health  Nursing.  There  we  drew  the 
first  general  lines  for  the  structure  of  our  meetings 
in  1915. 

I  must  explain  a  little  first  about  the  reorganisa- 
tion of  our  nursing  societies.  The  American 
Nurses'  Association  is  the  new  form  of  our  National 
Alumnae  Societies  (Leagues),  and  is  now  so 
planned  that  it  takes  other  societies,  local  or 
national,  into  membership,  though  they  retain 
complete  identity,  as  in  the  National  Councils 
of  Women,  and  as  in  ^-our  National  Council  of 
Nurses.  The  State  Societies  belong  to  it,  and  all 
the  local  groups  as  well.  The  League  for  Nursing 
Edr^pation  is  the  new  name  of  our  old  Society 
of  Superintendents  of  Training  Schools  for  Nui'ses. 
It  now  no  longer  restricts  its  membership  to 
-women  in  training-school  work,  but  admits  those 
identified  with  training  and  education  outside 
of  hospitals,  as  Miss  Wald  and  other  heads  of 
visiting  nursing  settlements  or  departments, 
heads  of  public  school  nursing  staffs,  and  the  nurse 
teachers  at  Teachers'  College.  As  the  American 
Nurses'  Association  and  the  State  Societies  now 
devote  themselves  to  the  general  problems,  the 
League  for  Nursing  Education  intends  to  emphasise 
its  special  attention  to  educational  problems. 
It  is  now  a  member  of  the  American  Nursing 
Association. 

The  organisation  for  Public  Health  Nursing 
is  recently  created,  and  bids  fair  to  become  an 
immense  and  powerful  body.  It  is  composed 
of  the  many  and  varied_  associations  which  are 
devoting  themseh'es  to  public  health  work  (these 
associations,  in  general,  being  composed  largely 
of  lay  people),  but  the  nurses  working  with  or 
for  them  are  alone  eligible  as  officers  and  delegates. 
This  body  is  also  a  member  of  the  American 
Nurses'  Association.  Its  President  is  I\Iiss  Wald, 
R.N.  and  LL.D.,  head  and  founder  of  the  Nur.ses' 
Settlement  in  New  York ;  its  secretary,  Miss 
Crandall,  who  has  been  at  Teacher's  College  with 
Miss  Nutting. 

The  President  of  the  Superintendents,  or  League 
for  Nursing  Education,  is  Miss  Wheeler,  from 
Chicago  ;  the  secretary,  Miss  Catton,  of  Massa- 
chusetts. At  the  head  of  the  American  Nurses' 
Association  is  Miss  Mclsaac,  now  in  the  War 
Department,  in  charge  of  armv  nursing,  and  the 
secretary  is  Miss  Deans,  of  Detroit.  Among  the 
members  of  the  three  executive  committees,  which 
are  now  meeting  to  plan  for  next  year's  sessions 
at  Atlantic  Citv,  are  Miss  Delano,  Chairman  of  the 
National  Committee  on  Red  Cross  Nursing  Service  ; 
Miss  Goodrich,  Inspector  of  Training  Schools 
■under  the  Regents  of  New  York,  and  President  of 


the  International  Council  of  Nurses  ;  Miss  Nutting, 
Professor  of  Nursing  and  Health  at  Teacher's 
College  ;  and  a  number  of  others  not  yet  personally 
known  to  your  readers,  but  who,  we  hope,  will  be 
in  another  three  vears. 

All  these  branches  of  our  National  Society 
will  meet  in  San  Francisco  in  1915,  and  there 
will  be  a  Congress  in  which  the  American  societies 
will  co-operate  with  the  International.  Each 
of  them  will  hold  only  a  brief  business  session 
unto  itself,  and  merge  its  usual  programme  of 
papers  into  the  Congress.  The  International 
will  have  as  usual  its  day  of  ceremonial,  which  will 
be  attended  by  all  the  others.  The  Congress 
will  in  all  probability  have  to  be  divided  into 
sections,  for  there  will  be,  it  is  conjectured,  about 
three  thousand  nurses  present.  If  possible,  or.e 
general  session  will  be  planned,  and  the  rest  of 
the  time  given  to  sectional  meetings,  so  that 
there  will  be  time  enough  for  special  subjects 
to  receive  attention.  It  is  a  little  too  soon  to 
be  sure  where  our  meetings  will  be  held. 

The  California  nurses  write  of  a  group  of  splendid 
buildings  to  be  erected  in  the  city  as  a  civic  centre. 
The  World's  Fair  officers  write  of  meeting-halls  in 
the  Exposition  grounds. 

A  joint  programme  committee  will  be  formed 
later  to  work  out  the  entire  programme.  On  this 
will  be  the  President  and  Secretary  of  the  Inter- 
national Council. 

As  far  back  as  last  June  it  was  agreed  by  the 
American  nurses  that  they  would  try  to  present 
an  adequate  exhibit  at  San  Francisco,  showing 
the  development  of  nursing  in  the  United  States 
as  fully  as  possible.  There  are  large  plans  in  the 
air,  but  not  yet  sufficiently  formed  to  report. 

The  next  Annual  Meetings  will  take  place 
next  June  at  Atlantic  Citv,  and  it  seems  to  be 
generally  thought  that  June  will  be  the  best  month 
for  San  Francisco. 

L.  L.  Dock. 


A    MATRON'S     LIBEL     ACTION. 

Miss  Elizabeth  Birnie  Couper,  Matron  of  the 
Clackmannon  Infectious  Diseases  Hospital,  Alloa, 
last  week  brought  an  action  in  the  Court  of 
Session,  Edinburgh,  against  Lord  Balfour  of 
Burleigh,  for  ;f2,ooo  damages  for  alleged  libel. 

Miss  Couper  asserts  that  letters  written  by  the 
defendant  to  the  County  Clerk  and  the  Local 
Government  Board,  contained  reflections  upon  her 
professional  capacity,  and  that  though  she  was 
exonerated  after  an  exhaustive  official  enquiry, 
the  defendant  declined  to  withdraw  his  allegations. 

For  Lord  Balfour  counsel  claimed  that  the  action 
should  be  dismissed  as  irrelevant,  as  there  were 
no  relevant  averments  of  malice  or  want  of 
probable  cause.  The  plaintiff's  counsel  on  the 
other  hand  maintained  that  the  letters  were 
defamatory-  and  that  there  was  no  privilege.  The 
question  as  to  whether  the  action  should  be 
allowed  to  go  forward  was  adjourned  until 
Thursday,  November  21st. 


November 


1912 


<Ibe  36rit(5l)  3ournal  of  H-luusinG. 


.,23 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES 


WOMEN. 

t)ne  of  the  most  coveted  honours  in  tlic  world 
of  letters  in  these  latter  days  is  the  Presidency  of 
the  Society  of  Women  Journalists,  and  that  this 
year  the  honour  has  been  well  bestowed  is  univers- 
ally acknowledged.  Mrs.  Louis  Baillie  Reynolds 
(G.  M.  Kobins)  has,  she  smilingly  says,  "  risen 
from  the  ranks."  For  many  years  a  hard-working 
member  of  the  Society  of  Women  Journalists, 
she  was  elected  to  Council,  appointed  Vice-Chair, 
and  ultimately  Chairman  of  the  Council,  so  that 
step  by  step  she  has  been 
chosen  by  her  colleagues 
for  every  position  of 
responsibility,  and  is 
now  gladly  acclaimed 
I'rcsident. 

Mrs.  Baillie  Reynolds 
is  the  eldest  daughter  of 
Mr.  Julian  Robins,  bar- 
rister-at-la\v.  She  was 
married  in  1890,  and  is 
the  proud  mother  of  three 
sons.  She  is  a  charming 
writer,  and  her  many 
novels  —  amongst  them 
"  Phoebe  in  Fetters  "  and 
"  The  Man  who  Won  " 
— have  a  very  wide  circle 
of  admiring  readers.  The 
readers  of  this  journal 
may  be  specially  in- 
terested in  her  success, 
for  she  for  manj-  years 
brought  to  their  notice 
all  the  best  books  of 
the  day. 

Mrs.  Baillie  Reynolds 
is  a  woman  of  delightful 
personality,  and  of  very 
genuine  and  strenuous 
character.  She  is  an 
earnest  suffragist,  and 
knows  how  to  play  : 
cycling,  travelling,  read- 
ing, painting  and  private 

theatricals — she  engages  in  them  with  zest.  Our 
portrait  portrays  her  handsome  and  distinguished 
appearance,  natural  gifts  every  true  woman 
delights  in,  in  her  heart  of  hearts. 


<le  Fonblanque  and  Miss  Margaret  By  ham  to 
Downing  Street,  where  the  Petition,  praying  the 
(lovernment  to  make  itself  responsible  tliis 
Session  for  a  Bill  giving  votes  to  women  was 
handed  to  the  Prime  Minister's  secretary  at  Xo.  10. 


Fn  a  letter  to  Mr.  .\squith  accompanying  the 
Petition,  .Mrs.  r'e  Fonblanque  and  Miss  Byham 
said  : — 

We  would  n  mind  you  that'it  has  traversed  a  long 
thin  line  of  the  country,  and  that  time  and  the  circum- 
stances attending  the  march  did  not  permit  of  any 
extended  efforts  being  made  to  obtain  the  .signatures, 
which  were  everywhere  fully  anil  eagerly  given  in  all 
the  length  of  the  country 
traversed  from  Itdinburgh 
to  Downing  Street. 

The  very  generous 
sympathy,  kindness  and 
enthusiastic  encouragement 
shown  to  us  on  our  400- 
mile  walk  indicate,  we 
think,  without  a  doubt, 
tliat  if  the  people  had  any 
\oicc  in  the  dcci.sion  there 
would  be  little  further 
delay  in  giving  votes  to 
uomcn. 


MRS.    BAILLIH    REYNOLDS.    PRKSIDKNT, 
SOCIETY    OF  WO.WEN  JOURNALISTS. 


We  were  pleased  to 
note  amongst  those 
jiresent  -Miss  Rosalind 
Paget,  Miss  Amy  Hughes, 
Miss  Clara  Lee,  Miss  B. 
Kent,  Miss  Hulme,  Miss 
Pine,  and  many  nurses 
m  uniform. 


The  little  band  of  members  of  the  Women's 
Freedom  League  marched  into  London  from  Edin- 
burgh on  Saturday  as  fresh  as  paint.  .-Vt  Tally-Ho 
Corner,  Finchlcy,  a  procession  of  supporters  of 
women's  enfranchisement  formed  up  with  bands 
and  banners  and  marched  to  Trafalgar  Square, 
where  they  had  an  amazingly  good  meeting.  The 
whole  Square  was  packed,  mostly  with  friendly 
people,  who  listened  to  the  speches  with  warm 
approval.     .Xn     immense     crowd     followed     Mrs. 


Miss  Dock  writes  in 
great  happiness  about  the 
wonderful  success  of 
Women's  Suffrage  in  the 
United  States.  Oregon 
has  done  its  duty,  as  well 
as  ^lichigan,  Kansas, 
and  -Vrizona,  making  now 
ten  States  in  all  who 
ha\e  lifted  their  women 
out  of  the  slave  zone. 
Wisconsin  has  decided 
women  don't  count."     "  Great    rejoicing,"  says 

Miss  Dock.     "  It  will,  not  be  long  before  we  win 

tlie  lot."  

Kugcnics  is  a  subject  in  which  all  women  should 
take  an  intelligent  interest — we  therefore  draw 
their  attention  to  a  Lecture  which  will  be  delivered 
on  "  Eugenics  "  by  Dr.  Murray  Leslie,  at  3.15, 
on  December  nth,  at  the  Institute  of  Hygiene, 
Devon.shire  Street,  Harley  Street,  W.  It  is 
arranged  by  the  Nurses'  Social  Union,  whose 
members  will  be  admitted  free  upon  presentation 
of  the  card  of  membership,  if  not  wearing  the 
Union  Badge.  General  admission,  is.  Nurses  not 
members  of  Ihe  Union,  6d. 


Cbc  Brltisb  3ournal  of  IRurslno-      November  23, 1912 


BOOK   OF   THE   WEEK. 


THE  STREET  CALLED  STRAIGHT.* 

When  an  author  can  combine  high  literary 
st^-lc,  a  distinctly  interesting  plot,  and  no  little 
originality,  it  may  be  fairly  said  there  is  little  left 
to  demand — at  least,  having  secured  all  these,  it 
would  be  captious  to  ,ask  for  more.  In  the 
volume  before  us  we  feel  we  Eire  enjoying  the  best 
of  its  kind  ;  in  fact,  that  it  is  a  satisfactory  and 
satisfying  work. 

"  Fashionable  London  papers  had  announced 
that  a  marriage  had  been  arranged  between  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Rupert  Ashley,  of  Leicestershire, 
and  Olivia  Margaret,  daughter  of  Henry  Guion, 
Esq.,  of  Tory  Hill,  Boston,  U.S.A."  Of  Rupert, 
the  words  "  precisely  the  right  tiling  "  had  formed 
a  ruling  plrrase  in  his  career.  It  had  even  influ- 
enced him  in  his  deed  of  valour  by  which  he  had 
won  liis  V.C. 

"  He  confessed  this — to  himself." 

His  mode  of  deciding  on  the  lady  who  "  should 
be  tfie  human  counterpart  of  himself  and  who 
could  reflect  his  qualities  and  complete  them  " 
was  quite  in  keeping  with  this  ideal. 

It  was  in  an  English  countrj'  church  that  he 
first  saw  her. 

"  Slender  and  graceful,  with  that  air  at  once 
exquisite  and  unassuniing  that  he  had  seen  in  the 
Englishwoman  of  his  dreams."  "  It  takes  old 
England,"  he  said,  "  to  make  'em  like  that — 
simple  and — stunning." 

"  But  on  the  Conrmon  after  service,  and  at 
luncheon  after  that,  and  during  the  tln-ee  or  four 
weeks  that  ensued,  he  had  much  to  do  in  re-form- 
ing liis  opinion.  There  were  several  facts  about 
Olivia  Guion  that  dis-orientated  his  points  of 
\-iew  and  set  him  looking  for  new  ones.  He 
admitted  that  he  would  have  preferred  to  marry 
a  compatriot  of  liis  own,  and  someone  above  the 
rank  of  a  solicitor's  daughter.  .  .  .  But  he 
managed  nevertheless  to  justify  liimself  for  falling 
in  love  in  violation  of  his  principles." 

To  decide,  therefore,  what  was  "  precisely  the 
right  thing  to  do  "  when  he  learnt  that  Olivia's 
father  was  a  fraudulent  trustee,  who  would  have 
undoubtedly  been  arrested  but  for  the  princely 
behaviour  of  young  Davenant,  was  to  place  him 
on  the  horns  of  a  dilemma. 

To  tlirow  her  over  was  unthinkable,  while  to 
marry  her  was  to  end  a  distinguished  career  in 
a  regiment  that  was  noted  for  its  exclusiveness. 
Naturally  also  he  hated  Davenant  for  the  obliga- 
tion he  had  imposed  upon  him,  and  it  was 
accentuated  by  the  knowledge  that  his  generosity 
was  called  forth  from  love  of  Olivia. 

There  are  several  cleverly  drawn  passages 
between  the  two,  both  liigh-minded  men  in  their 
very  different  ways. 

\\1ien  Rupert  decides  that  precisely  the  right 

-*  By  the  Author  of  "  The  Inner  Shrine."  (Methuen 
&  Co.,  London). 


thing  would  be  to  sell  his  property  we  are  with 
him  whole-heartedly. 

"  I  can't  let  a  fellow  like  that  do  things  for  your 
father  any  more  than  mine,  by  Jove  1  It's  not 
only  doing  things  for  your  father,  but  for  my 
wife." 

We  cannot  help  being  sorry  for  Rupert,  after 
all  the  wrestling  and  struggling  with  liimself  in 
order  to  do  the  right  thing,  that  Olivia  should 
have  preferred  Davenant,  excellent  fellow  that  he 
was. 

Rupert  played  up  nobly  in  the  end  in  relin- 
quishing her.  In  their  different  manner  both  he 
and  Davenant  went  up  the  Street  called  Straight, 
and  we  hope  that  Rupert  one  day  arrived  at  the 
House  that  was  to  be  Beautiful  for  him. 

H.  H. 


GIVE     THANKS. 

Gi\-e  thanks  for  what  ? 
The  things  you  had  forgot — 
The  fire  on  hearth,  the  cheerful  kettle's  hum. 
Dear  faded  books — perhaps  a  friend  has  come 
To  share  your  day — someone  has  sent  a  flower. 
Or  else  to  one  in  need  you  gave  an  hour. 
Give  thanks  for  what  ? 
The  things  you  had  forgot. 

Give  thanks  to  whom  ? 

The  ser\'ant  in  your  room, 

The  mother  here,  the  stranger  on  the  way. 

The  faithful  dog,  the  child  that  smiles.     To  say 

"  I  thank  thee  "  to  the  best  or  least  of  these 

Is  giving  thanks  to  Him  upon  your  knees. 

Give  thanks  and  say, 

'  .\  good  Thanksgiving  Dav." 

Ada  Davenport  Kendall, 
Dietetic  and  Hygienic  Gazette. 


COMING     EVENTS. 

November  2yd. — National  Council  of  Nurses  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  Annual  Meeting  of 
Grand  Council.  Tea,  4  p.m.  Meeting,  4.30  p.m., 
431,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W. 

November  26th. — The  Infants'  Hospital,  Vincent 
Square,  S.W.  Lectures  on  "  Babies."  "  The 
Bacteriology  of  Milk,"  by  Dr.  Ralph  Vincent. 
3.30  p.m. 

November  28th. — Association  for  Promoting  and 
Training  and  Supply  of  Midwives.  Meeting  of 
CouncO,  Caxton  Hall,  S.W.     12  noon. 

November  ^oth. — The  League  of  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital  Nurses.  General  Meeting,  Clinical 
Lecture  Theatre.  3  p.m.  Social  Gathering, 
4  p.m. 

December  ^th. — Irish  Nurses'  Association,  34, 
St.  Stephen's  Green,  Dublin.  "  Flies  and 
Disease,"  by  Dr.  McDowel  Congrave. 

December  loth. — Army  and  Navy  Male  Nurses' 
Co-operation.  Fifth  Annual  General  Meeting. 
St.  James's  Theatre,  St.  James,  S.W.     3  p.m. 


November  23,  1912    .  Z\k  ^Siltisb  Souvnnl  of  Dlursinti 


4^5 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  ittviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  lor  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


CHEAP   NURSING   AND  SWEATED   LABOUR. 

To  the  lidilor  oj  The  British  Journal  of  NursinGj 
Dear  Madam, — I  do  hope  Mr.  Bruxner's  letter 
will  call  forth  a  few  wholesome  home  truths  on 
the  sweating  of  district  nurses,  and  how  things 
have  gone  down  all  over  the  country  since  the 
Queen's  Jubilee  Institute  for  Nurses  recognised 
insufficiently  trained  women  as  village  nurses.  In 
lowering  the  standard  for  the  care  of  the  sick  poor, 
they  have  in  my  opinion  betrayed  their  trust, 
and  it  is  quite  true  that  the  miserable  remuneration 
of  village  nurses  is  creating  all  over  the  country  a 
hybrid  worker,  who  is  not  >)nly  depreciating 
nursing  standards,  but  underselling  well-trained 
district  nurses.  Never  should  the  Institute  have 
permitted  the  laymen  who  control  it  to  make  it 
responsible  for  supporting  a  system  which,  if 
persisted  in,  will  flood  the  country  with  another 
sweated  class  of  women  workers.  To  pay  women 
responsible  very  often  for  the  li\-es  of  poor  people, 
a  wage  no  domestic  servant  would  accept,  and 
then  suggest  they  shall  depend  in  part  for  the 
necessaries  of  life  upon  a  "  lady  bountiful,"  is 
the  acme  of  impertinence.  Let  the  Q.V.J. I. 
reconsider  its  position.  At  present  it  is  covering 
a  very  demoralising  sj'stera  by  affiliating  County 
Nursing  Associations — from  wliich  the  nursing 
profession  is  excluded  from  any  authority — and 
encouraging  a  standard  of  remuneration  for  the 
workers  thus  supplied,  insufficient  for  either  com- 
fort or  cleanliness — especially  the  latter. 

Yours  faithfully, 

A    Queen's    Xurse. 

QUACK  NURSING    FOR   THE    INSURED   SICK 
IN  SCOTLAND. 

To  the  Editor  oj  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Madam, — In  The  Scotsman  of,  November  4th 
there  appears  a  report  of  a  meeting  of  The  High- 
lands and  Islands  Medical  Commission,  before 
which  the  Duchess  of  Montrose  gave  evidence 
as  President  of  the  Govan  Nursing  Institute 
regarding  a  system  of  "  modified  training  of 
nurses  "  which  Her  Grace  has  been  instrumental 
in  establishing.  The  Duchess  has  apparently 
given  glowing  accounts  of  the  work  of  these 
quasi  nurses,  which  we  must  sincerely  hope  were 
taken  with  a  grain  of  salt. 

Nothing  is  more  deplorable  than  the  endeavour 
on  the  part  of  the  so-called  great  to  force  upon 
the  poor  inferior  nursing,   to  saj'  nothing  of  the 


presumption  of  people  who  are  not  qualified 
taking  upon  themselves  the  right  and  responsibility 
of  inventing  systems  of  nursing. 

Some  years  ago  a  correspondence  took  place 
in  The  British  Medical  Journal  and  in  The  British 
Journal  of  Nursing  which  brought  out  very 
forcibly  the  extremely  unsatisfactory  methods  of 
"  training  "  carried  out  in  the  "  Govan  Nursing 
Institute." 

No  more  gratuitous  insult  has  ever  been  offered 
to  the  memory  of  Queen  Victoria  tha.n  the  attempt 
on  the  part  of  some  to  force  inferior  articles  in 
the  nursing  line  upon  the  sick  poor,  whose  welfare 
was  near  the  great  Queen's  heart.  Members  of 
the  medical  profession  who  wink  at  this  are  much 
to  blame.  They  should  consider  the  good  of 
their  patients  before  what  is  to  please  their 
patrons.  We  cannot  believe  that  the  bulk  of 
the  medical  profession  like  to  have  their  patients 
badly  nur.sed,  but  they  do  not  take  active  steps 
to  stamp  out,  by  simply  refusing  to  countenance, 
nursing  quackery. 

I  am.  Madam, 

Yours,  &c., 

Scottish  Nurse. 

[The  Scottish  Branch  of  Queen  Victoria's 
Jubilee  Institute,  under  the  conscientious  super- 
intendence of  Miss  Cowper,  has  strenuously 
opposed  what  we  have  heard  very  aptly  termed 
"  depreciation  by  Duchesses."  Let  us  hope 
it  will  continue  to  do  its  dut\-  in  this  connec- 
tion.— Ed.] 

OUR    CHRISTMAS     COMPETITION. 


TOYS     FOR    TINIRS. 

Four  Five  Shilling  Prizes  will  be  awarded  in 
December  for  the  best  toys  made  at  the  cost  of 
not  more  than  6d.  The  toys  must  be  sent  to  the 
Editorial  Office,  20,  Upper  Wimpole  Street, 
London,  W.,  by  Dec/;mber  14th,  with  the  coupon 
which  will  appear  in  the  issue  of  December  7th. 
All  the  toys  will  be  distributed  to  pooi-  children 
under  five  years  of  age,  so  they  should  be  made 
to  meet  the  tastes  of  tinies. 


OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS. 

November. 
November  30//J. — Wha^t  form  of  infection  is  likely 
to  follow  the  retention  of  a  piece  of  the  placenta 
after  delivery,  and  what  are  its  characteristics  ? 

December. 
December  jth. — Wliat  is  cholera,  its  symptoms, 
the  treatment  usually  prescribed,  and  the  nursing 
points  to  be  observed  ? 

NOTICES. 

The  Editor  hopes  that  every  reader  who  values 
The  British  Journal  of  Nursing,  will  get  one  or 
more  new  subscribers — so  that  its  constructive 
work  for  the  profession  nui\'  receive  ever  increasing 
support. 


4^ 


26    ^bc  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursino  Supplement.  November  23, 191 


THe   Midwife. 


THE    SUPPLY    OF    ;MIDW1VES    IN 
IRELAND. 


The  following  proposal  has  been  submitted  to 
Boards  of  Guardians  in  Ireland,  with  regard  to 
midwives,  by  the  Women's  National  Health 
Association  of  Ireland  : — 

The  Women's  National  Health  Association 
of  Ireland,  having  learned  that  the  death-rate 
amongst  women  in  childbirth  is  considerably 
higher  in  Ireland  than  in  Great  Britain,  and 
considering  that  the  Midwives  Registration  Act 
does  not  apply  to  Ireland,  and  that  there  are 
still  a  large  number  of  unqualified  midwives 
practising  in  Ireland,  especially  in  outlying 
counlry  districts,  desire  to  make  the  following 
proposition  to  Boards  of  Guardians  : — 

If  a  Board  of  Guardians  has  appointed  or 
does  appoint  as  midwife  for  a  dispensary  dis- 
trict a  woman  having  the  qualifications  laid 
down  as  necessary  by  the  Insurance  Commis- 
sioners for  a  midwife  attending  women  on 
behalf  of  whom  the  maternity  benefit  is  to  be 
applied,  then  the  Women's  National  Health 
Association  will  endeavour,  through  its 
branches,  or  through  special  committees  to  be 
formed  for  the  purpose,  to  provide  extra  salary 
sufficient  to  bring  up  such  midwife's  salary  to 
j£i  a  week,  with  bicycle  and  allowance  for 
uniform,  on  certain  conditions. 

The  conditions  to  be  as  follows  : — 

1.  That  during  such  time  that  she  is  not 
required  for  her  special  duties  that  she  should 
carry  on  such  work  on  behalf  of  mothers  and 
infants  as  may  be  directed  by  the  local  Women's 
National  Health  Association  Committee. 

2.  That  she  be  required  to  keep  each  patient 
that  she  attends  as  midwife  imder  supervision 
for  a  month  after  the  child's  birth,  and  that  she 
should  also  give  special  attention  to  the  care 
and  management  of  the  babies. 

3.  That  arrangements  should  be  made  whereby 
she  may  be  given  the  opportunity  of  training  in 
the  care  and  management  of  infants  and  young 
children. 

4.  That  said  midwife  takes  no  private  practice, 
save  that  pro\-ided  for  the  wives  of  insured 
persons,  or  for  women  who  are  themselves  insured, 
or  by  special  arrangement  with  the  Committee 
as  hereafter  indicated. 

5.  That  persons  desiring  the  services  of  the 
midwife,  and  able  to  pay  for  them,  should  pay  a 
fee  to  the  local  Women's  National  Health  Associa- 
tion Committee,   or  a  small  annual  subscription. 


thereby    entitling     themseh"cs     to    the     midwife 
attendance  when  required. 

Note. — Referring     to     condition     5,     the 
arrangement  proposed  is  a  tentative  one,  on 
the  lines  of  a  scheme  which  is  found  to  work 
well   in   various   rural   districts   in   England. 
The  W.N.H.A.  does  not,  of  course,  wish  to 
make   money   out   of   any   such   transaction, 
beyond  recouping  itself,   if  possible,   for  the 
sum  paid  to  midwife  according  to  guarantee  ; 
or  in  forming  local  fund  for  benefit  of  mothers 
and     infants,     under     supervision     of     local 
committee. 
6.  That  some  plan  for  the  inspection  of  such 
midwives  be  devised,  should  a  Midwives  Registra- 
tion Act  not  be  enacted  for  Ireland. 

After  consultation  with  matrons  of  lying-in 
hospitals  and  others  of  experience,  it  seems  clear 
that  there  are  a  number  of  midwi\'es  who  have 
taken  their  six  months'  training  at  the  recognised 
maternity  hospitals,  who  would  be  glad  and  willing 
to  accept  the  position  of  midwife  under  the  above 
conditions,  and  for  a  salary  of  £1  a  week. 

It  is,  of  course,  understood  that  the  proposition 
applies  to  districts  where  qualified  midwives  are 
already  employed,  but  it  will  naturally  take  some 
time  before  the  necessary  arrangements,  can  be 
made  by  tlie  Women's  National  Health  Association. 
On  the  motion  of  Sir  John  Byers,  M.D., 
seconded  by  Dr.  Andrew  Home,  the  following 
resolution  was  adopted  at  the  Central  Health 
Conference  of  Local  -Authorities,  held  recently 
in  Dublin  :  — 

That  this  Conference  recommends  the  scheme 
outlined  by  the  Women's  National  Health 
Association  to  the  careful  consideration  of  the 
Boards  of  Guardians. 

QUALIFICATIONS  ADOPTED  BY  IRISH  NATIONAL 
HEALTH  COMMISSION  AS  NECESSARY  FOR 
MIDWIVES  ATTENDING  WOMEN  BENEFITING  BY 
THE  M\TERNITY  BENEFIT  UNDER  THE  NATIONAL 
INSURANCE     ACT. 

The  Irish  National  Health  Insurance  Com- 
missioners have  adopted  the  same  qualifications 
as  required  by  the  Local  Government  Board, 
viz.  : — 

"  Every  person  to  be  appointed  by  any  Board 
of  Guardians  to  serve  as  midwife  of  a  dispen- 
sary district  shall  have  the  qualifications  here- 
inaffer  set  forth,  that  is  to  say  : — 

I.  Such  person  shall  have  obtained  from  some 
lying-in  hospital  recognised  by  the  Local  Govern- 
ment Board  a  certificate  of  proficiency  in  midwifery, 
or  shall  be  a  person  whose  name  is  contained  on 
the  roll  of  midwives  of  the  Central  Midwives 
Board  ;  provided  that  neither  of  the  aforesaid 
qualifications  shall  be  necessary  in  the  case  of  any 


November  23, 1912  Zbc  BHtisb  Soumal  of  IRursino  Supplement.     427 


person  who  holds  or  has  heldjat  the  date  of  this 
Order  1899  the  office  of  midwife  of  a  dispensary- 
district  or  workhouse  in  Ireland. 

II.  Such  person  shall  have  reached  the  age  of 
twenty- three  years." 

The  hospitals  recognised  by  the  Local 
Government  Board  are  as  follows  : — Rotunda 
Lying-in  Hospital,  Dublin ;  Coombe  Lying-in 
Hospital,  Dublin ;  National  Lying-in  Hospital, 
Holies  Street,  Dublin ;  the  Maternity  Hospital, 
Belfast;  the  Limerick  Lying-in  Hospital;  the 
Belfast  Lying-in  Infirmary,  Belfast;  the  Corl^ 
Maternity  Hospital,  Cork;  the  Cork  Lying-in 
Infirmary,  Cork;  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  Hospital, 
Dublin.  ' 

.\s  we  last  week  reported,  the  proposal  is  not 
commending  itself  to  Boards  of  Guardians.  All 
those  in  the  North-West  have  refused  to  adopt 
it,  and  many  consider  the  scheme  impractic- 
able. 

From  the  professional  standpoint  the  scheme 
is  equally  to  be  condemned.  Firstly,  there  is 
the  dual  authority  of  the  Board  of  Guardians, 
and  an  unprofessional  lay  association,  over  the 
certified  midwife.  Secondly,  there  is  the  most 
insufficient  salary  assured  the  midwife  of  ;£i  a 
week,  with  bicycle  and  uniform  allowance,  a 
sum  upon  which  it  is  impossible  to  provide 
adequate  board,  lodging,  attendance,  shoe 
leather,  and  personal  necessities,  and  the 
further  restriction  that  the  midwife  is  to  under- 
take no  private  practice,  so  that  it  is  impossible 
for  her  to  augment  her  minute  salary  in  this 
way. 

But  the  scheme  stands  condemned  by  the  first 
condition,  namely,  that  when  not  employed  in 
midwifery  the  time  of  the  midwife  shall  be  at 
the  disposal  of  the  local  committee  of  the 
Women's  National  Health  .'Vssociation,  and 
that  she  shall  carry  on  such  work  as  it  shall 
direct. 

What  qualifications  have  such  a  committee 
for  organizing  and  controlling  the  work  of  a 
professional  woman,  such  as  a  midwife?  We 
wonder  how  many  will  in  the  first  place  under- 
stand the  strain  arising  from  the  irregularity  of 
a  midwife's  life,  and  that  if  she  has  been  at  a 
case  in  the  night  she  should  have  rest  in  the 
day.  In  our  experience  it  is  a  point  which  very 
few  people  realize;  but  if  an  extra  effort  is  put 
forward  at  one  time,  and  strain  endured  to  tide 
over  a  crisis,  there  should  be  relaxation  at 
another,  or  the  human  machine  will  inevitably 
break  down.  Therefore  to  combine  the 
irregular  work  of  midwifery  under  Boards  of 
Guardians,  with  regular  routine  duties  under 
another  society  is  to  court  disaster. 

It  is  stated  that  some  plan  for  inspection  is 
to  be  devised,  but  there  is  nothing  to  say  it  is 


to  be  of  a  professional  character,  as  organiza- 
tion and  supervision  of  any  class  of  professional 
workers  always  should  be. 

Again,  if  evidence  be  required  that  the  Asso- 
ciation concerned  is  out  of  touch  with  mid- 
wives,  their  difficulties  and  their  needs,  it  is 
readily  to  hand  in  the  estimation  of  the  value  of 
their  services  as  sufficiently  remunerated  by  a 
sum  which  a  skilled  cook  would  immediately 
refuse. 

We  hope  that  the  lack  of  response  from 
Boards  of  Guardians  may  be  sufficient  to  cause 
the  scheme  to  be  abandoned,  and  we  regret  that 
any  members  of  the  medical  profession  should 
have  commended  it  to  their  consideration. 


THE    NUTRITION   OF  THE   INFANT. 


.\  new  edition  (the  fourth)  of  "  The  Nutrition  of 
the  Infant,"  by  Dr.  Ralph  Vincent,  Senior  Ph j"sician 
to  the  Infants'  Hospital,  London,  has  just  been 
published  by  Messrs.  Bailliere  Tindall  &  Cox,  8, 
Henrietta  Street,  Covent  Garden,  London,  W.C. 
Price  los.  6d.  The  book  must  rank  as  a  classic, 
and  everj-one  concerned  in  the  care  of  infants, 
more  especially  midwives  and  monthly  nurses, 
should  not  only  read,  but  study  and  assimilate 
its  pages  from  cover  to  cover,  and  it  should  find 
an  honoured  place  in  all  Nurses'  Libraries.  No 
one  in  this  countrj'  has  studied  the  whole  question 
of  infant  nutrition  more  dccplv  than  Dr.  Vincent, 
and  there  is  no  one,  therefore,  whose  \'iews  are 
to  be  received  with  deeper  respect.  The  book  is 
dedicated  to  Dr.  Thomas  ^lorgari  Rotch,  Professor 
of  the  Diseases  of  Children  at  Harvard  University, 
and  Phvsician  to  the  Infants'  Hospital,  Boston, 
and  the  reason  for  this  choice  is  to  be  found  in  the 
chapter  on  "  Substitute  Feeding." 

"  To  Rotch  of  Boston  we  owe  the  institution  of 
a  method  enabling  the  phvsician  to  precisely 
adapt  the  food  of  the  infant  to  its  peculiar  require- 
ments, and  at  the  same  time  affording  him  every 
opportunity  of  judging  the  part  played  by  the 
various  constituents  of  the  diet. 

"  Recognising  the  esscntiallv  unscientific  charac- 
ter of  the  traditional  methods  he  devoted  his 
attention  to  the  real  factors  of  the  problem  which 
had  been  for  so  long  neglected,  with  the  object 
of  arriving  at  a  system  by  which  a  milk  mixture 
could  be  prepared  in  the  constitution  of  which  the 
comparative  importance  of  evcr\-  essential  clement 
received  due  recognition.  The  great  and  lasting 
value  of  his  work  lies  in  the  abolition  of  all  didactic 
rules,  in  the  provision  of  an  instrument  combining 
clinical  elasticity  with  scientific  precision.  By 
the  method  which  he  devised,  any  desired  milk 
mixture  can  be  prescribed  so  as  to  contain  the 
various  constituents  in  any  proportion  required. 
If  the  prescribed  mixture  prove  in  any  way 
unsatisfactory,  it  can  be  adjusted  with  the  greatest 
delicacy  and  precision  to  the  needs  of  the  infant. 
Rotch  dealt  systematically  with  every  phase  of 


428     ilhc  Britlsb  3ouvnal  of  IRursino  Supplement.  November  23, 191,2 


the  problem,  and  tlio  lirst  establishment  o£  milk 
laboratories  was  due  entirely  to  his  efforts." 

It  is  quite  impossible  in  a  short  review  to  do 
justice  to  a  book  at  once  so  scientific,  so  eminently 
practical,  and  so  thorough  in  every  detail.  We 
are  urged  to  remember  that,  in  spite  of  the  accurate 
know-ledge  now  available,  as  to  the  constituents  of 
human  milk,  and,  consequently,  the  most  appro- 
priate substitute  feeding^  that,  nevertheless,  "  it  is 
as  true  of  the  infant  as  of  the  adult,  that  the 
element  of  the  human  individual  demands  the 
most  complete  recognition."  Also  that  "  human 
milk  is  a  food  of  varying  composition,  apart, 
altogether,  from  pathological  changes.  Rotch's 
figures,  showing  the  composition  of  the  milk  of 
different  women,  all  of  them  successfully  nursing 
their  infants,  afford  an  instructive  example  of 
this."  Incidentally,  this  is  one  of  niany  cogent 
reasons  against  the  employment  of  a  wet  nurse, 
seeing  that  it  by  no  means  follows  that,  because 
a  mother's  milk  suits  her  owti  child,  that  it  will 
agree  with  the  child  of  another  woman. 

Bv  substitute  feeding.  Dr.  Vincent  means  not 
artificial  feeding  by  other  agents,  instead  of 
human  or  modified  milk,  but  by  cow's  milk, 
divided  into  its  constituent  parts,  and  then 
re-combined  in  proportions  so  closely  approximat- 
ing to  human  milk  that  the  two  on  analysis  arc 
indistinguishable. 

Throughout  the  whole  procedure  he  insists  on 
the  most  thorough  cleanliness.  He  condemns  the 
use  of  boiled,  sterilized,  or  Pasteurised  milk — 
not  only  because  it  is  thereby  deprived  of  a  con- 
siderable proportion  of  its  nourishment,  and  the 
child  is,  consequently,  liable  to  develop  rickets 
and  other  diseases  of  malnutrition  ;  but  because 
beneficent  germs  contained  in  it  are  actually 
killed,  leaving  the  milk  at  the  mercy  of  patho- 
genic microbes,  highly  dangerous  to  the  health, 
if  not  the  life  of  the  child. 

Throughout  his  argument — and  his  practice — 
Dr.  Vincent  is  the  apostle  of  cleanliness.  Raw, 
clean  milk  must  be  used,  produced  by  healthy 
and  clean  cows,  milked  by  clean  milkers  in  clean 
sheds  into  clean  pails  ;  and  all  the  conditions  of. 
transit  must  be  scrupulously  clean  also.  Only  so 
can  a  nutritious  and  wholesome  milk  be  ensured. 
He  tells  us  further  that  "  the  dietetic  problem  of 
infant  feeding  is  a  two-fold  one  :  To  provide  the 
infant  with  (i)  an  adequate  supply  of  the  materials 
physiologically  necessary  ;  (2)  in  a  form  capable 
of  being  digested  and  absorbed.  It  cannot  be 
solved  when  either  of  these  two  essentials  is 
neglected."  M.  B. 

A     BREACH    OF    CONTRACT. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Stonehouse  Guardians,  last 
week,  the  Clerk  reported  that  Nurse  Byng,  who 
had  resigned,  stating  her  mother's  serious  illness 
as  the  cause,  had  since  been  appointed  nurse  at  the 
Helston  Workhouse.  He  had  communicated  the 
facts  to  the  Local  Government  Board,  with  the 
object  of  getting  them  to  compel  the  nurse  to 
fulfil  her  contract.     The  Guardians  had  granted 


her  tlircc  months'  leave  of  absence  to  obtain  her 
midwifery  training,  on  condition  that  she  subse- 
quently served  the  Board  for  eighteen  months  ; 
and  she  accepted  the  contract.  She  now  said  that 
it  never  entered  her  head  she  would  be  positively 
bound.  Such  conduct  is  absolutely  inexcusable. 
The  Board  endorsed  the  Clerk's  action. 


A  MIDWIFE  BY  ACCIDENT,  REPLETE 
WITH  KNOWLEDGE. 


Mrs.  Carrie  Hall,  of  Beritley,  appeared  last  week 
at  the  Doncaster  (West  Riding)  Police  Court,  to 
answer  to  two  charges  of  breaches  of  the  Midwives 
Act. 

Mr.  R.  C.  Jones  (for  the  prosecution)  stated 
that  the  defendant  had,  contraiy  to  the  Midwives 
Act,  taken  cases  without  medical  direction, 
implying  that  she  was  either  certified  or  specially 
qualified  ;  and  also  that  she  had  ad\'ertised  herself. 
(Presumably,  the  advertisement  implied  that  she 
was  a  certified  midwife,  as  nothing  in  the  Midwives 
Act  prevents  a  midwife  from  advertising.) 

For  the  defence,  women  were  called  who  stated 
that  when  they  engaged  the  defendant  she  informed 
them  that  she  was  not  a  certified  midwife  and 
that  a  doctor  was  also  required. 

Mr.  Blackmore,  who  defended,  said  that  certainly 
his  client  was  without  aptitude  for  the  appreciation 
of  statutory  laws  ;  but  she  was  "  replete  with 
knowledge  useful  to  her  station  in  life."  She  had 
taken  up  midwifery  quite  by  accident.  She  had 
been  called  in  in  an  emergency  ;  and  the  doctor 
so  appreciated  her  services,  that  they  were  sought 
again,   and  so  she  gained  a  connection. 

The  defendant  had  been  fined  in  that  court 
before,  when  she  had  not  been  represented  by  a 
solicitor.  She  was  then  told  it  was  alLright  for  her 
to  practise  as  a  nurse,  provided  a  doctor  was 
engaged  each  time.  She  had  done  her  best  to  carry  • 
out  the  law  ;  and  in  the  one  case,  when  she  had 
not  notified  the  patient  that  a  doctor  was  required, 
the  offence  could  not  be  regarded  as  "  habitual.". 

The  defendant  stated  that  she  had  attended 
about  thirty  cases  in  the  last  four  months  ;  if  she 
had  stopped  to  send  for  the  doctor  in  the  one  case 
referred  to,  mother  and  child  might  have  been  lost. 

The  Chairman  pointed  out  that  "  ordinary 
nurses  "  were  allowed  to  attend  maternity  cases 
under  the  direction  of  a  doctor.  There  was  con- 
siderable difficulty  in  defining  the  word  "  direc- 
tion," which  occurred  in  the  Act.  In  his  view  it  did 
not  imply  that  a  doctor  must  be  present  at  the 
time,  and  it  was  not  quite  certain  that  there  ought 
to  be  a  consultation.  In  future  there  must  be  an 
understanding  that  where  uncertified  "  nurses  " 
wer^  engaged  a  doctor  must  be  engaged.  He  very 
much  doubted  if  the  onus  of  sending  for  a  doctor 
rested  oil  the  nurse.  There  ought  to  be  some 
arrangement  with  the  doctor  previously.  He 
thought  the  one  charge  should  be  dismissed.  In 
regard  to  advertising  herself,  the  defendant  had 
pleaded  guilty  to  a  breach  of  the  law  and  would  be 
fined  40S.,  including  costs.. 


^  THE 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

the:  muhskki  mecomp 

EDITED  BY  MRS  BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.  1,287 


SATURDAY,    NOVEMBER   30,   1912. 


Vol.  XLIX. 


EDITORIAL. 

THE     CALL    OK     DUTY. 

If  tlierc  is  one  person  to-day  whom  the 
nursing  profession  has  cause  to  envy,  and 
cause  to  thank,  it  is  Miss  Alt,  a  mission 
nurse,  who,  as  reported  by  Renter's  special 
war  correspondent,  is  working  in  the  cholera 
hospital  at  San  Stefano  ;  for  British  Nurses — 
on  account  of  the  apathy  of  the  British  Red 
Cross  Society,  where  thorouj^hly  trained 
nursing  is  concerned — are  envious  of  the 
opportunity  seized  by  Miss  Alt,  and  grateful 
to  her  that,  havinj^  the  opportunity,  she  has 
followed  her  professional  instinct  to  respond 
to  the  call  of  suffering  which  no  true  nurse 
can  hear  unmoved,  and  is  demonstrating  to 
the  world  that,  given  the  opportunity, 
nurses  are  faithful  to  the  voice  of  duty. 

But  no  such  result  of  her  faithfulness 
could  have  been  anticipated  bv  Miss  Alt, 
when  she  quietly  took  up  her  solitary  post 
amongst  the  stricken  patients  of  the  cholera 
camp.  The  story  now  made  public  is  that 
two  Englishmen  who  visited  the  San  Stefano 
camp,  with  the  object  of  seeing  what  relief 
work  was  possible,  found  an  old  lady 
working  amongst  the  soldiers.  This  was 
Miss  ."Xlt,  a  nurse  who  was  sent  out  by  Lady 
Dufferin  many  years  ago  when  she  desired 
to  provide  skilled  nursing  help  for  Turkish 
mothers.  1  he  scheme  did  not  take  root  as 
it  has  done  in  India,  but  Miss  .Alt  remained 
abroad,  became  a  governess  in  Turkish 
families,  and  was  employed  in  "this  capacity 
at  .San  Stefano  when  the  cholera  camp  was 
established  there.  Unaided  by  any  other 
European,  and  without  asking  for  any 
other  foreign  aid,  she  took  up  the  work, 
and  is  spending  the  money  she  has  earned, 
on  the  patients  whom  she  is  nursing. 

The  United  States  .\mbassador,  so  the 
story  runs,  is  offering  a  large  part  of  the 
.American  I^ed  Cross  Fund  intrusted  to  him 
for  the  org.inization  of  this  cholera  camp. 


and  tlie  .Secretary  of  the  Embassy,  Mr. 
Hoffman  Philip,  failing  to  secure  a  Red 
Crescent  worker,  has  assumed  the  direction 
of  the  camp  himself. 

The  Greek  school  at  San  Stefano  has 
been  taken  as  a  hospital,  it  can  accom- 
modate a  few  hundred  men,  but,  it  is 
stated,  that  as  practically  no  sanitary  pre- 
cautions have  been  taken,  the  place  will 
immediately  become  pestilential,  and  it 
will  be  almost  certain  death  for  those  who 
enter  it. 

It  is  in  this  hospital  that  Miss  Alt  is 
working,  and,  though  we  are  sure  she  would 
be  the  last  to  desire  applause  for  doing  her 
duty,  surely  her  heroism  is  of  a  quality  to 
compare  with  that  of  the  bravest  men  who, 
on  the  field  of  battle,  perform  deeds  of 
valour  which  earn  the  Victoria  Cross. 

The  stimulus  of  comradeship,  and  the 
excitement  of  the  moment,  are  aids  to  the 
bravest  which  they  would  be  the  fust  to 
acknowledge.  Even  they  might  shrink  from 
the  self-imposed  task  of  the  solitary  woman, 
who  passes  days  and  nights  in  the  com- 
panionship of  the  dead  and  dying  cholera 
patients,  faithfully  giving  them  such  atten- 
tion and  alleviation  as  she  is  able  to  bestow. 
Is  it  possible  that  in  the  face  of  Monday's 
news  the  monotonous  response  can  still  be 
received  from  the  British  Red  Cross  Society 
in  reply  to  enquiry  as  to  whether  nurses  are 
being  despatched,  "We  are  not  sending  out 
women  nurses  "  ?  It  is  even  so.  .AH  honour 
to  this  brave  Swiss  woman,  who,  when  our 
countrymen  keep  at  home  the  nurses  who 
might  help  her,  and  repudiate  responsibility 
for  any  nurse  going  on  her  own  account, 
quietly  faces  overwhelming  odds,  and  places 
her  skill,  her  means,  her  life  at  the  disposal 
of  the  sick. 

We  are  glad  to  learn  from  a  later  tele- 
gram from  the  same  source  that  a  Hungarian 
lady  and  a  Scottish  clergyman,  the  Rev. 
Robert  Frew,  have  now  joined  Miss  Alt. 


^3o 


Cbe  JSritisb  3oiu*nal  of  llAursino.     xovcmbe^  30,  1912 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 


WHAT    FORM   OF   INThCIION    IS    LIKELY     I O    FOLLOW 
THE    RETENTION     OF     THE     PLACENTA     AFTER      DE- 
LIVERY. AND  WHAT  ARE  ITS  CHARACTERISTICS? 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  Helen  Cynthia  Ashley,  Royal 
Halifax  Infirmary,  Halifax. 

PRIZe     PAPER. 

SapraMiiia,  or  localised  sepsis,  is  the  inlec- 
tion  which  is  caused  in  the  first  place  by 
retained  pieces  of  placenta,  but  septicemia,  or 
blood-poisoning,  may  eventually  follow.  Sap- 
raimia  is  caused  by  a  certain  class  of  germs 
which  find  dead  tissue  necessary  for  their  exist- 
ence. They  live  and  multiply  on  the  pieces  of 
dead  placenta  which  are  retained  in  the  uterus, 
and  the  poisons  which  these  waste  products 
throw  off  are  absorbed  by  the  uterus,  and  so  the 
infection  is  set  up.  This  condition  may  pre- 
dispose to  septicaemia  by  diminishing  the  resist- 
ing power  of  the  body.  Severe  cases  of  sap- 
rsemia  mav  be  mistaken  for  mild  cases  of 
septicaemia,  and  the  nature  of  the  case  is  often 
only  proved  to  be  sapra.-niia  by  the  rapid 
recovery  of  the  patient  after  the  removal  of  the 
retained  piece  of  placenta.  Its  characteristics 
are — 

The  local  symptoms  are  marked.  The  patient 
may  complain  of  after-pains,  which  in  some 
cases  are  due  to  retained  products.  On  examin- 
ing the  abdomen  the  uterus  will  be  found  to  be 
tender,  and  larger  than  it  normally  should  be — 
that  is,  involution  is  not  progressing  favour- 
ablv.  The  lochial  discharge  is  verv  offensive, 
and  mav  be  excessive. 

There  will  also  be  the  usual  symptoms  of 
fever — e.g.,  rise  of  temperature,  increased  pulse 
rate ;  also  the  respirations  mav  be  quickened. 
The  patient  mav  complain  of  headache,  pain  in 
back  and  limbs  ;  also  of  great  thirst.  -She  may 
also  have  loss  of  appetite,  a  furred  tongue,  and 
be  troubled  with  constipation. 

Whenever  any  or  all  of  these  symptoms  or 
signs  are  present,  the  nurse  or  midwife  must  at 
once  report  the  ca.se  to  a  registered  medical 
practitioner,  who  will  perform  the  necessary 
operation  of  emptying  and  douching  out  the 
uterus,  and  also  give  directions  for  the  treat- 
ment which  is  to  follow  . 

If  the  infection  is  purely  sapra?mia,  the 
patient  should  make  a  rapid  recoverv  after  tlie 
removal  of  the  retained  and  waste  products. 

HOINOURABLE     MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  are  accorded 
honourable  mention  : — Miss  L.  H.  Buck,  Miss 
Gladvs  Tatham,  Miss  \.  Plavne,  Miss  E. 
Newsome,  Miss  F..  Frnsi,  .Miss  S.  .\.  G.  Lett, 
Miss  Js.  Simpson. 


Miss  E.  Douglas'  paper  unfortunately  arrived 
too  late  to  be  included  in  the  competition.    • 

.Some  competitors  who  mention  the  treat- 
ment of  cases  of  retained  placenta  suggest 
hot  vaginal  douches,  but  make  no  men- 
tion of  the  removal  of  the  cause  of  the 
trouble  from  the  uterus.  It  must  Ije 
ijorne  in  mind  that  the  placenta  is  re- 
tained, not  adherent.  Its  removal,  therefore, 
mav  be  accomplished  by  means  of  drugs 
administered  bv  mouth  causing-  contraction  of 
the  uterus,  and  consequently  the  expulsion  of  the 
retained  portion,  or  by  an  intra-uterine  douche, 
by  means  of  which  the  retained  placenta  may  be 
washed  out,  or  by  manual  exploration  of  the 
uterus  and  removal  of  the  piece  of  placenta. 
If  the  symptoms  indicate  that  the  condition  is 
present  it  is  not  usually  advisable  to  w  ait  for  the 
action  of  drugs,  which  may,  after  all,  fail  in 
their  effect,  for  every  moment  is  of  importance 
to  the  patient,  as  the  absorption  of  toxins  is 
going  on  until  the  offending  cause  is  removed. 
Immediate  washing  out  of  the  uterine  cavity 
affords  the  most  satisfactory  form  of  treatment, 
and  usually  the  decomposed  piece  of  placenta  is 
returned  with  the  douche,  the  temperature 
comes  down,  and  the  symptoms  subside.  It 
must  be  remembered  that  if  a  patient  shows 
svmptoms  of  rise  of  temperature  and  general 
malaise,  which  usually  are  present  after  a  few- 
days  if  there  is  retained  placenta,  she  comes 
under  the  conditioi-ts  in  which,  if  a  midwife 
is  in  attendance,  medical  help  must  be  sent  for 
— i.e.,  "  in  all  cases  of  illness."  If  a  midwife  or 
nur.se  is  directed  to  give  an  intra-uterine  douche 
she  must  remember  that  in  skilled  hands  it  is 
most  efficacious  ;  in  unskilled  hands,  verv  dan- 
gerous. The  dangers  are  :  (i)  The  uterine  wall 
may  be  pierced  by  the  tube  if  not  skilfully  in- 
serted. It  should  therefore  be  passed  between 
two  fingers  of  the  left  hand  in  the  cervix,  and 
thus  guided  within  the  uterus.  The  uterine 
tube  used  should  be  grooved,  so  that  the  fluid 
injected  may  readily  flow-  back.  The  pressure 
should  be  slight,  otherwise  the  fluid  may  pass 
through  the  fallopian  tubes  into  fhe  peritoneal 
cavitv  ;  therefore  the  douche-can  should  be  verv 
little  above  the  patient.  The  fluid  used  should 
be  sterile,  and  of  a  non-poisonous  character,  as 
a  strong  solution  of  such  an  agent  as  per- 
chloride  of  mercury  may  become  absorbed  at 
the  placental  site,  or  find  its  wav  through  the 
fallopian  tubes,  and  poisoning  ensue.  It  is  also 
important  that  upon  the  withdrawal  of  the  tube 
pressure  should  be  made  oi-i  the  fundus  of  the 
uterus  to  ensure  the  expulsion  of  all  fluid. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  emphasise  that  the 
douche  must  be  given  under  strictly  a.septic 
conditions. 


lovcviber  30,   191 . 


Hbe  BvttiC't)  3ournai  of  uiursing. 


43' 


Miss  Buck  writes  that  the  prompt  recogni- 
tion of  retention  of  the  placcTita  may  save  the 
patient 'n  life,  as  removal  of  dead  tissue  will 
ensure  the  reiiiox  al  of  the  site  of  poison-prod uc- 
injj  orjjanism>.  'I'herefore,  if  a  patient  is  found 
to  have  a  hij^h  temperature,  or  if  a  temperature 
remains  above  100°  V .  for  more  than  24  hours, 
a  doctor  must  at  once  be  called  in.  The  midwife 
must  not  attend  any  other  case  until  the  period 
of  infection  is  over,  and  she  has  been 
thorous^-^hly  disinfected  ;  also  her  appliances. 

Miss  'latham  points  out  it  is  usual  to  at  once 
clear  out  the  uterus,  either  by  curetlinj^,  or  by 
removintj  any  retained  products  with  the  hand. 
.\n  intra-uterine  douche  may  be  ordered,  and 
vaginal  douches  are  also  frequently  used. 
The  patient's  power  of  resistance  must  Iv 
strt;ngthened  by  plenty  of  lif^rht  nourishmcnl, 
rest,  fresh  air  in  the  bedroom,  and  y;real  ck'anli- 
ness.  The  sanitary  pad  should  be  thantjed 
frequently. 

Miss  Lett  savs  that  retention  of  a  piece  oi 
placenta  after  delivery  is  likely  to  lead  to  sepsis 
in  one  or  other  of  its  forms.  The  commonest 
and  least  serious  form  is  that  known  as  sap- 
raemia.  This  form  of  sepsis  is  caused  by  the 
bacteria  saprophytes,  which  lodt^c  in  the  re- 
tained dead  matter,  producin>4  ptunianies, 
which  are  absorbed  by  the  patient. 

Miss  Edith  New  some  states  that  the  infection 
likely  to  occur  as  a  result  of  a  retained  piece  of 
placenta  after  delivery  of  the  <hild  is  sepsis  in 
one  of  its  different  forms,  sapra>mia,  sep- 
ticaemia, and  sepsis. 

QUESTION     FOR     NEXT     WEEK. 

What  is  cholera  :  its  symptoms,  the  treat- 
ment usually  prescribed,  and  the  nursini^  poinls 
to  be  observed  ? 

A     FRIENDLY     FUNCTION. 

VVe  are  asked  to  announce  that  the  arranf^e- 
ments  for  the  Dinner  to  be  given  by  members 
of  the  Nursing  Profession  to  Mrs.  Bedford 
Fenwlck  on  December  14th  are  now  complete. 
The  Dinner  will  be  held  in  the  Victoria  Flail  of 
the  Fiotel  Cecil,  .Strand,  and  Mrs.  Walter 
.Spencer  will  preside.  The  function  is  to  be 
informal  and  friendly,  and  for  that  reason  will 
!)(■  all  the  more  pleasant  and  amusing. 

TO     HONOUR     MISS    NIGHTINCiALE. 

Mr.  Waller  Mirrett's  meiniuial  statue  of 
-Miss  Florence  .Xightingali',  which  be  has  sculp- 
tured to  the  order  of  the  Cilv  Corporation,  has 
been  received  at  the  Ciuildhall,  where  it  will 
shortly  find  a  permanent  place  in  a  prominent 
situation,  probably  in  th6  lobby. 

The  statue  represents  her  standing  bare- 
headed, and  is  about  3  feet  in  height. 


THE  PLACE  OF  ECONOMY  IN  NURSING. 

"  1  shall  never  employ  a  trained  nurse  again 
when  I  can  avoid  doing  so,"  said  a  friend  to 
me  once,  "  they  are  too  expensive.  It  is  not 
the  fees  I  object  to,  but  the  expenses  which 
are  due  to  extravagance  in  so  many  directions. 
When  my  husband  was  ill  for  three  months 
we  had  a  succession  of  nurses  from  various 
nursing  homes  and  institutions,  and  they  were 
all  alike  in  this  respect;  not  one  appeared  to 
have  realised  that  the  long  illness  of  the  bread- 
winner called  for  stringent  economy  wherever 
possible.  One  nurse  sat  so  absorbed  in  a  novel 
that  she  allowed  the  bottom  of  the  bronchitis 
kettle  to  burn  out,  and  when  1  called  her  atten- 
tion to  the  fact  she  replied,  cheerfully,  '  Wc- 
shall  have  to  get  a  new  kettle.'  .Not  a  word 
of  apology  for  her  carelessness  !" 

I  have  heard  similar  complaints  in  varyinj^ 
forms  from  many  friends,  and  have  myself 
witnessed  a  great  deal  of  needless  waste  during 
illness.  Precious  Chippendale  and  Sheraton 
tables  and  trays  disfigured  by  hot-water  jugs 
are  a  common  experience.  It  is  true  there  are 
some  homes  where  no  other  table  is  available, 
but  it  is  a  simple  matter  to  cover  it  with  several 
folded  newspapers,  over  these  a  Turkish  towel, 
.and,  la.stly,  a  washable  table-cover. 

.\  nurse  can  never  secure  the  best  results 
for  her  work  if  the  patient  is  even  sub-con- 
sciously worrying  about  expense,  or  the  spoil- 
ing of  her  household  treasures.  Unfortunately, 
with  a  large  proportion  of  sick  people  some 
anxiety  on  the  score  of  expense  is  inevitable, 
but  the  nurse  should  see  to  it  that  this  concern 
is  reduced  to  its  minimum,  not  only  regarding 
herself,  but,  so  far  as  she  can  influence  them, 
the  servants  also.  For  whenever  sickness 
invades  a  household  a  large  degree  of  de- 
moralisation often  occurs,  and  through  varying 
causes,  sometimes  through  misguided  devo- 
tion, a  somewhat  reckless  expenditure  ensues. 
When  the  advanced  stage  of  convalescence  is 
reached  the  patient  becomes  aware  of  imusual 
bills  to  be  met,  with  disastrous  results  from  ihi. 
nursing  point  of  view.  Too  often  all  the  blame 
is  attributed  to  the  fact  that  trained  nurses 
were  employed,  and  a  bitter  determination  is 
arrived  at  to  manage  without  such  expensive 
help  in  the  future. 

It  is  just  here  that  nurses  should  realise  their 
high  opportunities,  and  take  every  opening  for 
driving  home  the  lesson  of  economy  to  all  in 
the  house.  Family  devotion  is  often  expressed 
in  strangely  disproportionate  ways.  I  remem- 
ber nursing  a  case  where  the  patient's  husband 
had    recently    presented    her    with    a    seventy- 


43^ 


(Ibc  36riti5b  3ournal  of  IRursinG      xovember  30,  1912 


guinea  fur  cape.  The  sick-room  was  on  the 
top  lloor  of  a  high  London  house,  and  the 
meals  cooled  during  their  ascent  in  the  lift.  I 
asked  that  a  hot-water  plate  might  be  pur- 
chased for  her  use,  as  the  illness  was  likely  to 
last  six  weeks.  Could  I  not  possibly  manage 
without?  was  the  reply.  They  were  only  a 
young  couple,  and  not  at  all  rich.  .A  request 
for  an  eighteenpenny  tea-infuser  was  met  with 
the  same  protest.  However,  the  devotion  being 
obvious,  I  succeeded  in  manifesting  to  the 
family  the  absolute  need  of  these  things  for 
the  patient's  comfort,  and  therefore  for  her 
good  recovery,  and  I  pointed  out  several 
directions  in  which  the  outlay  might  be  counter- 
balanced. 

The  all-important  point  of  fires  demands 
much  knowledge  and  skill  in  the  matter  of 
fuel  and  stoking  where  coal  bills  have  to  be 
considered. 

^\t  another  case,  where  necessary  expenses 
were  continuously  deplored,  I  was  asked  one 
morning  by  her  sister  if  the  patient  might  have 
quails  or  snipe  for  her  dinner.  Did  she 
specially  desire  quails  or  snipe?  I  inquired  of 
the  patient.  No.  She  likes  them  as  well  as 
many  another  dish,  not  more.  So  I  suggested. 
Why  go  to  the  expense  of  such  birds  when  the 
patient  was  really  well  enough  to  eat  a  beef- 
steak pudding?  "  Would  you  like  a  beef- 
steak pudding?"  I  asked.  She  would,  em- 
phatically ;  so  beefsteak  pudding  it  was,  a 
quite  fascinating  morsel,  made  in  a  lilliputian 
pudding  basin. 

Similarly,  the  household  resources  are  often 
unduly  strained  to  supply  unnecessary  alcoholic 
drinks,  when  judiciously  prepared  and  ad- 
ministered drinks  of  various  other  kinds  would 
nourish  to  the  extent  of  making  stimulants 
unmissed. 

The  chemist's  bill  after  a  case  of  illness 
usually  reveals  reckless  orders  on  the  part  of 
both  the  nurse  and  the  family.  The  generous 
state  of  mind  which  the  suffering  or  risk  of 
death  to  a  dear  one  engenders  so  often  mani- 
fests itself  in  this  way,  as  the  remaining 
superfluity  of  supplies  testifies.  Not  all  can 
afford  to  do  as  a  friend  of  mine  invariably  does 
after  a  case  of  illness  in  her  house,  namely, 
pack  all  off  to  the  local  cottage  hospital. 

There  are  many  ways  in  which  resourceful- 
ness on  the  part  of  the  nurse  mav  obviate  a 
purchase  that  at  first  sight  appears  imperative 
though  unattainable.  Bed-tables,  bed-rests, 
cradles,  supports,  screens,  bed-warmers, 
bronchitis  kettles,  foot-baths,  may  all  be  im- 
provised from  articles  already  in  the  house  or 
at  the  cost  of  a  few  pence. 


Seeing  that  illness,  sooner  or  later,  invades 
most  homes,  I  have  often  wondered  why,  in 
the  country  villages,  the  score  or  so  of  families 
who  constitute  "  the  gentry,"  and  who  art 
usually  on  terms  of  intimate  friendship,  do  not 
arrange  to  purchase  all  the  appliances,  com- 
forts, and  luxuries  incidental  to  the  proper 
nursing  of  a  week's  illness  between  them,  each 
retaining  the  appliance  for  which  she  has  paid, 
everything  being  lent  to  the  household  which 
is  for  the  time  overtaken  by  illness. 

Only  the  trained  nurse  can  realise  how 
frequently  her  efforts  fall  short  of  their  best 
results  because  of  the  lack  of  numerous  de- 
sirable appliances,  which  would  soften  the 
strain  to  her  patient,  now  here,  now  there. 
To  have  the  best  pattern  of  bed-pan,  and  also 
the  best  pattern  of  douche-pan,  instead  of 
having  to  make  a  cheap  and  inferior  bed-pan 
serve  both  purposes,  implies  ultimate  health 
and  strength,  and  therefore  saving  of  expense, 
to  the  patient,  though  not  all  are  sufiicientlv 
far-sighted  to  see  this.  Vet,  failing  sugges- 
tions and  help  from  the  nurse,  the  nursing  in 
the  vast  majority  of  private  houses  must  on 
the  ground  of  expense  fall  far  short  of  the  best. 
One  sees  so  many  illustrations  of  the  penny 
wise  and  pound  foolish  system  during  illness. 
The  idea  should  be  to  economise  in  every 
respect  that  does  not  touch  the  patient,  even 
indirectly,  in  order  to  increase  spending  facili- 
ties on  those  points  that  do  affect  him. 

I  remember  a  maternity  case  in  which  the 
need  for  economy  was  enjoined  on  the  nurse 
who  had  been  engaged  at  the  eleventh  hour. 
She  found  complete  lack  of  many  necessaries, 
and  was  begged  to  manage  without  them  if  at 
all  possible.-  Yet  a  twenty-five  guinea  layette 
had  been  purchased,  many  of  the  garments 
being  quite  useless,  and  a  relative  had  sent  an 
assortment  of  twelve-guinea  infant's  cloaks 
from  which  the  prospective  mother  could  make 
a  choice.  It  took  some  time  to  convince  her 
that  such  a  cloak  was  not  only  unnecessary  but 
inadvisable,  with  its  heavy  weight  of  silk 
fringe,  and  that  a  third  of  its  cost  would  secure 
the  needed  Shetland  shawls  and  a  light-weight 
cloak. 

Not  all  nurses  are  competent  to  advise  in  this 
way  ;  but  all  nurses  should  be.  A  very  great 
proportion  of  this  world's  mental  and  physical 
suffering  is  directly  due  to  wrong  spending  of 
money,  time,  and  energy  in  every  department 
of  life,  and  many  never  realise  this  until  it  is 
clearly  pointed  out  to  them  by  another. 

There  is  much  cheese-paring  and  false 
economy  to  be  met  with  ;  much  meanness.  But 
true  economv  is  none  of  these.      It  is  a  far- 


scvcmiu-r  :,o,  iqu       vlbc  Brtti£?h  3oiirna[  of  H-lurstnci. 


433 


seeing,  clear-sighted  grasp  of  all  the  possibili- 
ties of  a  situation,  and  a  habit  of  mind  which 
secures  the  maximum  advantage  from  every 
fraction  of  outlay,  whether  in  energy  or  cash — 
which  arc  usually  interchangeable  terms.  True 
economy  conduces  to  comfort,  while  false 
economy  is  the  essence  of  discomfort. 

Wc  all  know  the  bare,  chilly,  rigid  atmos- 
phere which  fills  the  home  of  the  woman  whose 
economy  is  her  god.  But  the  rarer,  true 
economv  supplies  a  sense  of  warmth  and  com- 
fort wherever  it  is  encountered ;  in  realitv 
radiating  from  the  guiding-soul  of  the  house- 
hold, which  is  able  to  expand  in  its  conscious- 
ness of  well-regulated,  and  therefore  generous, 
supplying. 

.Amongst  manv  stories  of  the  expensivencss 
of  trained  nurses  and  their  often  unreasonable 
demands,  one  stands  pre-eminent  in  my  mind. 
A  friend,  who  happened  to  be  one  of  the  most 
excellent  nurses  I  have  ever  known,  had  just 
left  a  case.  "  Can  you  buy  a  nice  pocket  fruit- 
knife  for  eight-and-six?"  she  asked  of  me. 

"Yes.     Why?"  I  replied. 

"  Because  mine  was  used  for  the  patient, 
and  got  thrown  into  the  fire  with  some  orange- 
peel,  so  I  have  charged  the  people  eight-and- 
six  for  it." 

"  Who  threw  the  orange-peel  into  the  fire?" 
I  queried,  prompted  by  my  knowledge  of  the 
questioner. 

"  I  did,"  was  the  replv  ! 

M.  M.  C.  B. 

IRISH  NURSES'  ASSOCIATION. 


NATIONAL    COUNCIL    OF    NURSES    OF 
GREAT    BRITAIN    AND    IRELAND. 


The  second  of  the  lectures  arranged  for  the 
Winter  Session  by  the  Irish  Nurses'  Associai- 
tion  was  given  at  34,  St.  Stephen's  Green, 
Dublin,  on  the  evening  of  the  20th  inst.,  by 
Dr.  McVittie;  subject,  "The  Health  of  the 
Child."  Dr.  McX'ittie,  in  the  course  of  his 
lecture,  drew  attention  to  the  extreme  import- 
ance of  the  care  of  children's  teeth,  showing  by 
slides  and  casts  of  contracted,  as  contrasted 
with  normal,  palates,  how  the  former  were  the 
cause  of  adenoids  and  kindred  troubles.  Other 
slides  were  shown  giving  examples  of  various 
kinds  of  curvatures.  The  lecturer  pointed  out 
how  in  many  cases  this  was  caused  by  parents 
and  teachers  in  schools  allowing  children  to  sit 
and  stand  in  wrong  positions.  The  importance 
of  pure  milk  and  the  proper  heat  at  which  to 
sterilise  it  were  among  other  points  dealt  with. 
.A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  McN'ittie  for  his 
most  highly  instructive  and  deeply  interesting 
lecture  was  proposed  by  Miss  Studlev  and 
rseconded  bv  Miss  Hogg. 


The  annual  meeting  of  the  Council  was  held  at 
the  offices,  ^31,  Oxford  Street,  London,  W.,  on 
Saturday,  23rd  inst.,  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  in 
the  chair. 

Correspondence. 

.\ftcr  the  Minutes  had  been  read  by  the  Hon. 
Secretary,  Miss  B.  Cutler,  and  confirmed,  letters 
were  read  (i)  from  Miss  L.  L.  Dock,  the  Hon. 
Secretary  of  the  International  Council,  conveyin-,' 
an  expression  of  tlianks  and  warm  appreciation 
(rom  Sister  Karll  and  the  C.crman  nurses  for  the 
help  and  important  part  taken  at  tlic  International 
Congress  at  Cologne  by  the  National  Council  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland.  (2)  From  Miss  .Annie 
W.  Goodrich,  the  I'resident  of  the  International 
Council,  in  response  to  a  letter  of  congratulation 
upon  her  appointment,  in  which  she  wrote  how 
deeply  sensible  she  was  of  the  honour  and 
responsibility  of  the  office,  and  ending,  ".We 
shall  welcome  the  International  Council  to  our 
country  in  1915  with  more  pleasure  than  can 
well  be  expressed  and  with,  I  hope,  evidences  of 
professional  progress  that  will  in  a  measure  com- 
pare with  the  progress  of  the  last  three  years, 
which,  it  seems  to  me,  has  been  the  most  impres- 
sive feature  of  the  Cologne  Congress."  (3)  From 
-Miss  Bergljot  Larsson,  President  of  the  Nor- 
wegian National  Association  of  Sick  Nurses, 
stating  that,  inspired  by  all  they  saw  and  heard 
at  Cologne,  the  Norwegian  delegates  went 
straightway  home  and  formed  their  Trained 
Nurses'  National  .Association.  (4)  From  Miss 
L.  L.  Dock,  saying  she  had  been  in  conference 
with  her  colleagues  in  the  United' States,  and,  by 
correspondence,  with  those  in  California,  and 
that  a  joint  programme  committee  will  be 
formed  later  to  work  out  the  entire  programme 
for  the  gathering  at  San  Francisco,  which  will 
include  the  President  and  Secretary  of  the  Inter- 
national Council.  The  American  Nurses' 
National  Association  will  hold  its  annual  meeting 
in  conjunction  with  the  International  Congress. 
Three  thousand  nurses  arc  expected  to  be  present, 
and  "  there  are  large  plans  in  the  air."  It  is 
thought  that  June  will  be  the  best  month  for 
San  Francisco.  (5)  Letters  of  acknowledgement 
of  copies  of  the  follo\ying  resolution  on  the 
Overstrain  of  Nurses  passed  at  Cologne  were 
notified  from  the  Local  Government  Boards, 
England,  Scotland  and  Ireland,  also  from  the 
Prime  Minister,  the  Lord  President  of  the  Council, 
and  the  Home  Secretarj-. 

Resolution. 

"  Whereas  with  the  advance  made  by  scientists  in  the 
study  and  comprehension  of  the  human  mechanism, 
and  with  the  new  knowledge  regarding  the  nature  and 
eflccts  of  fatigiic  upon  the  human  organism,  it  is  seen 
to  be  unscientilic  and  wasteful  to  dc-strov  human 
capacities  by  overstrain : 

Resolved  :  That  we  earnestly  beg  hospital  authori- 
ties to  give  the  same  consideration  to  the  problem  of 
overwork   among   nurses   that    industrial   leaders   arc 


434 


^be  Bi'itisl)  3ournal  of  IRursing. 


November  30,   1912 


giving  to  the  question  of  overwork  among  workers  111 
industry  in  order  that  the  present  grievous  destruction 
of  the  health  of  nurses  may  cease." 

The  Chaimian  explained  that  although  there 
was  overwork  in  this  country,  the  resolution  was 
specially  applicable  to  the  present  conditions  in 
Germany. 

The  President's  Report. 

In  the  President's  report  the  success  of  the 
meeting  at  Cologne  was  referred  to  briefly,  as  it 
has  been  so  fully  reported  in  the  official  organ  of 
the  Council,  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

The  work  of  affiliated  societies  was  notified. 
First,  that  of  the  Matrons'  Council,  which  had  held 
several  successful  meetings  in  the  country — 
w;hicli  provided  an  opportunity  for  Matrons  to 
confer  together  on  questions  of  interest  to  the 
profession  at  large,  and  to  dispense  hospitality. 
The  Society  for  State  Registration  of  Nurses 
continued  to  claim  and  work  for  legal  status  for 
trained  nurses,  and  the  Bill  would  be  brought 
before  Parliament  until  time  was  granted  for  its 
discussion,  when  there  was  little  doubt  it  would 
be  jjassed.  In  this  connection  it  was  stated  in  the 
Report  :  "  There  is  no  doubt  that  the  present 
Government,  professedly  Liberal  in  its  policy, 
is  averse  to  legislation  organising  the  work  of 
women,  and  also  that  adverse  social  influence  is 
employed  against  the  Bill,  both  privately  and 
through  the  subsidised  press. 

"  On  the  other  hand,  a  large  number  of  Members 
of  Parliament  are  in  favour  of  justice  to  nurses 
and  the  sick,  and  it  is  through  their  influence  and 
support  that  we  must  hope  to  gain  just  conditions. 

"The  lack  of  the  adoption  of  professional 
standards,  through  a  defined  curriculum  recognised 
by  the  authority  of  the  State,  is  daily  becoming 
more  prejudicial  to  trained  nursefe.  This  is 
accentuated  by  the  fact  that  the  Central  Midwivcs 
Board  has  the  power  of  maintaining  a  standard 
for  midwives  under  Act  of  Parliament,  and  if  any 
women  are  too  ignorant  to  be  able  to  pass  the 
examination  of  that  Board  after  three  months' 
training,  or  too  criminal  to  be  allowed  to  remain 
on  the  Midwives'  Roll  when  they  have  gained 
admission  to  it,  they  can,  and  do,  practise  with 
impunity  as  "  ordinary  nurses,"  since  there  is 
no  legal  qualification  for  a  trained  nurse.  The 
expression  "  ordinary  nurse  "  presumably  in- 
cludes many  women  not  trained  in  the  duties 
of  a  nurse  at  all,  but  the  result  is  that  these 
ignorant  and  criminal  women  are  confused  in  the 
public  mind  with  highly  skilled  nurses,  and  the 
tliree  months'  midwife  is  regarded  as  having  a 
higher  status  than  the  nurse  who  lias  spent  three 
years  in  obtaining  a  thorough  training  in  her 
profession. 

"The  evil  of  the  depreciation  of  standards  is 
further  accentuated  by  the  fact  that  Queen 
Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute,  which  was  founded 
to  provide  specially  qualified  district  nurses, 
and  to  maintain  a  certain  uniform  standard  of 
efficiency  throughout  the  United  Kingdom,  has 
departed    from   this    standard,    and,    in    addition 


to  thoroughly  trained  and  efficient  Queen's 
Nurses,  recognises  and  inspects  as  district  nurses 
women  with  only  a  six  months'  training  in  general 
nursing.  But,  as  they  require  these  women  to 
have  six  months'  training  in  midwifery  and  to 
qualify  as  certified  midwives,  in  the  rural  districts 
of  England  and  Wales  the  "  nursing  "  of  the  sick 
poor  is  passing  largely  into  the  hands  of  midwives 
with  a  few  months'  training  in  general  nursing, 
who  undercut  the  certificated  nurse.  The  result 
of  this  suicidal  policy  is  that  now  there  is  a  shortage 
of  well-educated  certificated  nurses  for  district 
nursing  work,  and  a  difficulty  in  obtaining  a 
highly  trained  and  cultured  class  of  women  to 
act  as  Queen's  Nurses  among  the  poor. 

"The  lack  of  a  definite  standard  of  training  is 
also  apparent  in  Queen  Alexandra's  Imperial 
Military  Nursing  Service,  in  which  in  order  to 
meet  the  now  insufficient  system  of  training 
and  certification  after  two  years'  work,  still 
in  force  at  the  London  Hospital,  the  generally 
accepted  standard  of  certification  after  three 
years'  training  in  the  wards  has  not  yet  been 
adopted  for  this  Royal  Military  Service,  and  the 
three  senior  posts  in  the  Service  have  been  given 
to  ladies  holding  the  inferior  qualification. 
Nursing  in  War. 

"The  lack  of  legal  qualifications  for  the  trained 
nurse,  and  consequently  her  lack  of  representation 
on  committees  concerned  with  the  care  of  the 
sick,  is  exemplified  in  the  attitude  of  the  British 
Red  Cross  Society  to  trained  nurses  during  the 
present  war  in  the  Near  East.  The  Committee, 
which  does  not  include  any  trained  nurses  in  its 
members,  being  mainly  composed  of  medical  men 
and  peeresses,  calculates  its  expenditure  at  ^f  1,000 
a  week,  but  it  has  not  voluntarily  sent  one  trained 
woman  nurse  to  the  seat  of  war,  nor  has  it  any 
corps  of  nurses,  organised  in  time  of  peace, 
corresponding  to  the  Territorial  Service  for  home 
duty,  upon  which  it  can  call.  The  si.x  nurses 
from  the  London  Hospital,  and  the  six  members 
of  the  Army  Nursing  Service  Reserve,  have  all 
been  sent  out  in  response  to  Royal  commands,  and 
■  in  this  terrible  crisis  of  war,  pestilence  and  famine, 
the  trained  nurses  of  this  country  find  themselves 
in  the  humiliating  position  of  being  pre\'ented 
from  offering  their  skilled  services  to  the  Balkan 
States,  Greece  and  Turkey,  through  the  official 
and  national  channel  of  aid. 
No  Representation  on  Advisory  Commi-ttees. 

' '  The  National  Insurance  Act  touches  the  pocket 
of  every  trained  nurse  in  the  country  earning  a 
small  salary.  Nevertheless,  we  find  a  determined 
opposition  on  the  part  of  the  English  and  Irish 
Commissioners  to  grant  to  trained  nurses  that 
right  of  direct  and  independent  representation 
up'on  the  Advisory  Committees  in  England  and 
Ireland  which  has  been  granted  to  every  other 
class  of  worker,  and  also  to  employers.  Nor, 
when  the  Bill  was  still  before  Parliament,  could 
any  clause  be  inserted  ensuring  to  the  insured  sick 
that  the  nurses  supplied  to  them,  and  for  whose 
services  they  will  pay,  shall  have  had  a  definite 


xovember  20,  igi2      She  Bdtieb  3ournal  of  "Wursing. 


435 


professional  training.  Only  registered  medical 
practitioners  and  midwi\-es  certified  under  the 
Midwives  Act  are  recognised,  but,  as  there  is  no 
legal  qualification  for  trained  nurses,  no  standard 
of  nursing  could  be  incorporated  in  the  Act. 

"  These  are  but  a  few  instances  of  the  disastrous 
conditions  prevailing  in  regard  to  trained  nurses 
owing  to  their  lack  of  legal  status." 

The  National  Council  of  Women. 

Upon  the  request  of  the  President  an  additional 
delegate  has  been  granted  on  the  National  Council 
of  Women — and  both  delegates.  Miss  B.  Cutler 
and  Miss  M.  Brcay,  attended  the  Extraordinary' 
Meeting  held  in  London  on  the  20th  inst.,  and 
voted  in  favour  of  the  Resolution  in  connection 
with  the  Franchise  Bill  before  I'arliament, 
reaffirming  the  need  for  Women's  Suffrage — 
proposed  by  Mrs.  Creighton  and  seconded  by  Mrs. 
Fawcett,  LL.D. 

Treasurer's  Report. 

The  Treasurer's  Report  showed  a  balance  on 
the  year's  expenses  of  £8  6s.  6d. 

Report  of  the  Hon.   Librarian. 

Mrs.  Stabb  reported  handsome  gifts  and  support 
to  the  International  Library.  Miss  Cureton  gives 
annually  a  bound  volume  of  the  British  Journal 
of  Nursing,  altogether  48  vols.  Miss  L.  L.  Dock 
gives  a  bound  volume  annually  of  the  American 
Journal  of  Nurshig,  the  set  of  twelve  are  now 
complete.  The  Associations  of  Nurses  of  Canada, 
Holland  and  Denmark  donate  bound  volumes  of 
their  official  organs,  and  the  Associations  of  Nurses 
of  New  Zealand,  Australasia  and  Victoria,  India, 
Sweden,  and  the  Bordeaux  Nursing  Schools  send 
free  copies  of  their  journals.  Money  is  required 
to  bind  the  various  magazines,  and  it  was  agreed 
that  an  attempt  should  be  made  to  procure  it,  as 
it  was  recognised  how  increasingly  valuable  such 
a  Library  of  Nursing  Literature  would  become 
in  time. 

Election  of  Hon.  Officers. 

On  the  nomination  of  the  Irish  Nurses'  Associa- 
tion Miss  Carson  Rae  was  elected  Vice-President 
in  the  place  of  the  late  Mrs.  Kildare  Treacy. 

Miss  Bann  to  represent  Fever  Nurses,  and  Miss 
Annie  Smith  Infirmary  Nurses,  were  elected 
Directors,  and 

Miss  Cutler  and  Miss  Forrest  re-elected  Hon. 
Secretary  and  Hon.  Treasurer. 

Amendments  to  the  Constitution. 
An  Annual  Conference. 
Several  verbal  amendments  were  agreed  to  in 
the  Constitution,  and  the  proposal  of  the  President 
"  Tliat  the  National  Council  of  Nurses  shall  hold 
an  Annual  Conference,"  was  seconded  by  Miss 
G.  A.  Rogers  and  unanimously  agreed  to.  It  was 
agreed  that  the  Triennial  Conference  of  the 
International  Council  should  be  included,  and 
meetings  held  in  the  two  intervening  years.  The 
opinion  was  expressed  that  so  much  benefit  had 
been  derived  from  association  and  consultation 
between    the    professional    nurses    of    the    world 


through  the  International  Council  that  nothing 
but  good  could  result  from  Conferences  organized 
by  the  National  Council.  The  arrangements  were 
left  to  the  Executive  Committee. 
The  British  Red  Cross  Society  and  the 
Nursing  Profession. 

The  Counci  felt  strongly  that  action  should  be 
taken  on  the  item  in  the  Report  which  referred 
to  the  exclusion  of  trained  women  nurses  from  the 
various  units  sent  to  the  Near  East  by  the  British 
Red  Cross  Society,  for  which  a  generous  public 
had  subscribed  upwards  of  /3o,ooo.  The  following 
resolution  was  passed  unanimously,  and  it  was 
directed  that  it  should  be  sent  to  the  Committee 
of  the  British  Red  Cross  Society,  the  Secretary  of 
State  for  War,  and  to  the  press  : — 

"  This  Council  of  trained  nurses  deprecates  the 
policy  of  the  British  Red  Cross  Society  in  refusing  to 
include  thoroughly  trained  women  nurses  in  the 
units  sent  to  relieve  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the 
war  in  the  Near  East.  This  Council  is  of  opinion 
that  only  nurses  who  are  fully  trained  should  be 
sent  in  this  capacity,  and  that  no  base  hospital 
can  be  considered  efficiently  equipped  which  has 
not  such  a  staff." 

The  beautiful  picture  of  Friederik?  Fliedner 
sent  by  Sister  Julie  Borgcs  was  on  view,  and 
several  of  those  present  secured  a  copy. 

This  terminated  the  business  of  the  meeting. 
Beatrice  Cutler,  Hon.  Secretary. 


THE  NURSES'  MISSIONARY  LEAGUE. 


On  Wednesday,  November  13th,  at  Univer- 
sity Hall,  Gordon  Square,  the  Rev.  H.  U. 
VVeitbrecht,  D.  D.,  gave  the  second  lecture  on 
"  Islam,  its  duties,  present  condition,  and  the 
effects  of  missionary  work." 

The  lecturer  showed  how  Mohammed,  who 
based  much  of  his  religion  on  Judaism,  took 
the  first  three  great  duties  of  Islam  from  the 
Sermon  on  the  Mount,  i.e..  almsgiving,  prayer, 
and  fasting,  and  to  these  he  added  two  others, 
that  of  confession  and  pilgrimage.  These 
duties,  the  lecturer  went  on  to  say,  are  fairly 
well  observed,  and  in  devoutness  and  order  of 
public  worship  and  the  care  of  the  poor  the 
Moslem  is  most  exemplarv,  but,  as  we  look  on 
the  practical  effects  of  the  faith  with  regard  to 
the  great  relationships  of  human  life,  we  can- 
not but  feel  that  here  are  great  blots  on  the 
Moslem  system. 

In  connection  with  marriage,  polygamy  and 
all  its  attendant  evils  are  sanctioned,  slavery 
is  the  condition  of  service,  and  in  relation  to 
the  State  we  have  religious  war,  of  which 
something  has  been  heard  lately  in  Turkey. 

The  lecturer  appealed  to  those  women  who 
were   thinking   of   missionary    work   abroad   to 


436 


^\K  Britisb  3ournaI  of  IRurslno- 


listen  to  the  urgent  call  of  the  Mohammedan 
women,  whose  social  as  well  as  spiritual  needs 
were  crying  out  for  the  redemption  which 
Christ  alone  brings. 

Referring  to  the  eftect  of  Christian  missions 
upon  Islam,  the  lecturer  explained  that  until 
after  the  battle  of  Plassy  (i757).  vvhen  the 
great  majority  of  Moslems  came  under  British 
rule,  not  much  headvviy  could  be  made,  though 
splendid  pioneer  work  was  done  by  such  men 
as  St.  Francis  of  Assisi,  Raymond  I^ull,  and 
Francis  Xavier.  For  a  Moslem  to  confess  the 
Christian  faith  then  meant  persecution  or  even 
death.  The  lecturer  went  on  to  show  how 
from  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century 
Christian  missions  began  to  have  an  effect, 
until  at  the  present  time  they  are  making 
Moslem  converts  in  every  part  of  the  world. 
In  the  Punjab  alone,  out' of  fifteen  clergymen 
working  under  one  missionary  society,  ten 
of  them  are  converts  from  the  Moslem  faith. 

HIGH    TIME. 

Mrs.  Douglas  Wylie,  wife  of  Colonel 
Douglas  Wylie,  Medical  Director  of  the  British 
Red  Cross  Expedition  to  Turkey,  is  organizing 
locally  Turkish-speaking  women  to  help  to  nurse 
the  sick  and  wounded.  They  are  not  connected 
with  the  British  Red  Cross  Society,  though  it 
is  possible  that  they  may  come  officially  under 
its  control  later.  We  are  glad  that  sonieone 
should  be  endeavouring  to  place  the  aid  of 
women  nurses  at  the  service  of  the  sick  and 
wounded. 

STATE   REGISTRATION. 

The  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Society  for  the 
State  Registration  of  Trained  Nurses  has  re- 
ceived the  following  letter  from  Miss  Bella 
Crosby,  President  of  the  Graduate  Nurses' 
Association  of  Ontario  : — 

Dear  Miss  Bre.\y, — Your  message,  so  kindly 
and  thoughtfully  sent  by  "  The  Society  for  the 
State  Registration  of  Trained  Nurses,"  was  much 
appreciated.  We  thank  you  most  sincerely  for 
your  congratulations.  The  executive  was  very 
much  gratified  that  our  work  was  so  closely 
and  sympathetically  followed  by  our  sisters  in 
England. 

May  you  soon  have  Registration  too  !  We  speak 
so  often  of  the  long,  hard  struggle  you  have  had. 
But  success  will  surely  come,  though  it  seems  long 
delayed. 

Again  thanking  you  for  your  kind  message, 
I  am,  sincerely  yours, 

Bella  Crosby. 


APPOINTMENTS. 

MATRON. 

The  Jubilee  Maternity  Hospital,  Kingston. 
Jamaica. — Miss  Edith  :\Iona  Thompson  has  been 
appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the 
General  Hospital,  Northampton,  and  received 
her  midwifery  training  at  the  East  End  Mothers' 
Home.  She  has  held  the  posts  of  Sister  and  Night 
Sister  at  the  Wakefield  Infirmary,  Sister  at  the 
East  End  Mothers'  Lying-in  Home,  Second 
Assistant  Matron  at  St.  George's  Infirmary. 
Fulham  Road,  S.W.,  and  Matron  in  a  West  End 
Home.  She  is  a  certified  midwife  and  a  certified 
masseuse. 

SISTER. 

Victoria  Cottage  Hospital,  Guernsey.  —  Miss 
Bessie  H.  Neiland  lias  been  appointed  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  the  General  Hospital,  Bury, 
Lancashire,  and  has  held  the  position  of  Staff 
Nurse  at  the  Stockton  and  Thornaby  Hospital, 
Stockton-on-Tees. 

The     Infirmary,    Plumstead Miss    Ellen    Disney 

has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the 
Bagthorpe  Infirmary,  Nottingham,  where  she 
subsequently  held  the  position  of  Sister. 

Miss  Helena  A.  M.  Kremer  has  also  been 
appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at  the  Ce  ntral 
London  Sick  Asylum,  Hendon,  and  the  Winchester 
Infirmary,  and  has  worked  as  a  private  nurse  and 
midwife  in  Gainsborough,  as  Night  Nurse  at  the 
City  of  London  Mental  Hospital,  Hartford,  and  as 
Charge  Nurse  at  the  Wincliester  Infirmary. 

Hospital  for  Women,  Liverpool. — Miss  A.  M. 
Durning  has  been  appointed  Sister. '  She  was 
trained  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Sheffield,  where 
she  has  Iield  the  position  of  Sister.  She  has  also 
been  Sister  at  Monsall  Fever  Hospital,  Manchester, 
and  Night  Sister  at  the  Batley  and  District 
Hospital,  Batley. 

NURSE. 

County  Infirmary,  Cashel. — Miss  J.  .M.  Maher 
has  been  appointed  Nurse  in  succession  to  Miss 
Kelly,  who  has  been  appointed  Nurse  under  the 
County  Tuberculosis  Sclieme. 

SCHOOL    NURSE. 

Borough  of  Grimsby — Miss  Kathleen  Druni- 
mond  has  been  appointed  School  Nurse.  She  wa.'! 
trained  at  the  General  Infirmary,  Stafford. 

QUEEN    VICTORIA'S    JUBILEE    INSTITUTE. 

Inspector  for  Wales. 
Miss  Cathlin  Cecily  du  Sautoy  is  appointed 
Inspector  for  Wales.  She  received  training  in 
General  Nursing  at  Guy's  Hospital,  and  in  District 
Nursing  at  Bloomsbury,  and  has  since  been 
Queen's  Nurse,  Southwell  (Notts),  and  County- 
Superintendent,  Somersetshire.  Miss  du  Sautoy 
hqjds  the  Certificate  of  the  Central  Midwives 
Board,  and  also  the  Certificate  of  the  Royal 
Sanitary  Institute. 

Transfers  and  Appointments. 
Miss  Rhoda  Griggs  is  appointed  to  Worcester  ; 
Miss  Annice  Orme  to  Barton,  Middleton  Tyas,  &c.  ; 
Miss  Annie  Shaw  toCoventry. 


November  :,o,  1912      Cbc  Brtttsb  Soumal  of  IRureino- 


137 


MEDALS     AND     CERTIFICATES. 

On  Thursday  last,  the  21st  inst.,  a  vcr^-  plcasint; 
ceremony  took  place  at  the  Mile  End  Infirmary, 
the  occasion  being  a  visit  from  Miss  Stansfeld, 
Superintendent  Lady  Inspector  of  the  Local 
Government  Board,  to  present  the  Medals  and 
Certificates  to  the  successful  Nurses  in  the  recent 
Examination.  Among  those  present  were  the 
Infirmary  Committee  Chairman  (Mr.  \V.  C.roves), 
and  the  Vice-Chairman  (Mrs.  I.  M.  Fletcher 
r^orter).  Miss  Mowatt  (Matron,  Whitechapel 
Infirmary),  Miss  Bentley  (Matron,  South  St. 
Pancras  Infirman,-),  Miss  Spittle  (Matron,  North^ 
St.  Pancras  Infirmarj'),  Miss  Dowbiggin  (Matron, 
Edmonton  Infirmary),  the  Rev.  F.  \V.  Botheroyd, 
M.A.  (Chaplin),  Dr'  J.  Harley  Brooks  (Medical 
Superintendent),  Miss  Preston  (Matron),  and  Miss 
I'endrey  (.Assistant  Matron). 

Miss  Stansfeld,  who  was  accompanied  by  Mrs. 
Turner,  gave  a  most  instructive  and  inspiring 
address  on  the  duties  and  work  of  a  Nurse,  laying 
special  emphasis  on  the  importance  of  what  might 
be  called  hltle  things,  and  singleness  of  purpose. 
She  congratulated  those  who  were  to  receive  their 
certificates  and  prizes,  telling  them  that  now  they 
could  face  their  duties,  not  as  probationers,  but 
as  fully-trained  Nurses,  and  urging  them  not  to 
forget  the  importance  and  even  sacredness  of  their 
ijrofession. 

A  hearty  vote  of  thanks  was  accorded  to  Miss 
Stansfeld  for  her  attendance  and  her  helpful 
address,  as  was  a  similar  vote  of  thanks  to  the 
Chairman,  who  admirably  carried  out  the  duties 
of  the  position. 

The  Medals  and  Certificates  were  given  as  under  : 
(;oId  Medal  (presented  by  the  Mile  End  Guardians) 
Nurse  Brailsford.  Silver  Medal  (presented  by 
Dr.  Harley  Brooks,  Medical  Superintendent), 
Nurse  Jessie  Sheret.  Prize  for  neatness  of  work 
(given  by  Miss  Preston,  Matron),  Nurse  Meredith. 
All  the  abo\e  also  received  first  class  Certificates, 
as  did  Nurses  A.  J.  Jones,  M.  Sheret,  Martin, 
Hlackwell.  and  Fellows. 

■    »   « 

WEDDING   BELLS. 

The  approaching  marriage  is  announced  of 
Miss  F.  Mann  (late  Sister  Luke,  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital,  London).  Her  many  friends  will 
wish  her  all  happiness  in  her  new  life. 

THE     PASSING     BELL, 

We  greatly  regret  to  announce  the  death  of 
Sister  Oliver,  of  Founder  Ward,  Middlesex  Hos- 
pital, after  a  short  illness.  She  was  a  general 
favourite,  and  many  lovely  flowers  at  the  funeral 
testified  to  the  aff.ction  in  which  she  was  held. 
The  nursing  staff  sent  a  cross  of  violets  and  lilies 
six  feet  in  length. 

It  is  sad  to  announce  that  the  body  of 
Miss  Margaret  Dale  Scott,  a  nurse  at  the 
Victoria  Hospital  for  Children,  Chelsea,  who  has 
been  missing  since  the  end  of  la.st  month  has 
been  found  in  the  river.  At  the  inquest  held  on 
Monday  the  jury  returned  a  verdict  of  "  Suicide 
during  temporary  insanity." 


NURSING    ECHOES. 

.\>  .SI)  many  prof^rcssivc  Nurses'  .Societies 
:ire  affiliated  to  the  National  Council  of 
Women,  wc  hope  they  will  read  carefully  our 
report,  in  another  column,  of  the  Extraordinary 
Meeting  convened  to  discuss  a  resolution  on 
Women's  Suffrage.  As  ambiguous  and  in- 
accurate accounts  of  the  meeting  have  appeared 
in  the  press — and  as  an  attempt  is  being  made 
by  the  anti-sufTragists  to  sow  dissension  in  the 
Union — it  is  well  that  the  exact  truth  should  be 
known  to  the  members  of  affiliated  societies. 


Miss  Curtis  and  the  nurses  of  the  Hammer- 
smith and  Fulham  District  Nursing  Associa- 
tion will  be  at  home  in  the  Hammersmith  Town 
Hall  on  Thursday,  December  12th,  from  4.30 
to  6.30,  when  the  Countess  Ferrers  will 
announce  the  amounts  collected  by  friends  of 
the  Association  and  thank  the  collectors. 


When  Miss  Gibson,  recognised  as  one  of  the 
leaders  in  Poor  Law  Infirmary  work,  retired 
from  the  position  of  Matron  of  the  Poor  Law 
Infirmary  at  Birmingham,  one  would  naturally 
have  supposed  that  the  (iuardians  would  have 
made  a  point  of  electing  lo  succeed  her,  in  a 
most  arduous  post,  a  lady  who  had  wide  ex- 
perience of  Poor  Law  nursing  and  administra- 
tion, especially  as  there  were  several  admirable 
candidates  to  select  from.  But  presumably 
such  experience  was  quite  superfluous  in  the 
opini<m  of  those  of  the  Guardians  who  urged 
the  election  of  the  successful  candidate,  as  the 
new^  Matron  was  trained  at  the  London  Hos- 
pital, and  was  promoted  from  the  office  of 
Matron  to  the  Rutson  Hospital,  Northallerton, 
which  contains  fourteen  beds,  and  which  often 
has  half  that  number  of  patients,  and  is, 
moreover,  the  Headquarters  of  the  North 
Riding  Rural  Nursing  Association,  which  pur- 
ports to  "  train  "  nurses  for  the  sick  poor  in  a 
few  months'  time  ! 


Now  if  a  strong  woman,  thoroughly  con- 
versant with  Poor  Law  methods  and  sound  on 
the  question  of  an  efficient  term  of  training,  is 
needed  anywhere  she  is  needed  at  the  Birming- 
ham Infirmary,  to  judge  from  the  adverse 
criticism  of  the  nursing  department  which  has 
for  the  past  few  months  appeared  constantly  in 
the  press.  At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Guar- 
dians, in  reference  to  the  overwork  of  the 
nurses,  Mr.  A.  G.  Carter  moved  that  the  ques- 
tion of  wages  be  referred  back  as  a  protest 
against  the  way  in  which  the  nurses  were  over- 
worked.      If,    he    said,    any   outside   employer 


43'« 


<fbe  Bvltlsb  3ournal  of  IRurslng.     November  30,  191 2 


treated  his  employees  as  the  Infirmary  Com- 
mittee treated  their  nurses,  they  would  cry 
"  Shame  "  about  it. 

Mrs.  N.  W.  Williams  seconded  the  amend- 
ment, remarking  that  the  nurses  were  worked 
too  hard  for  efficiency. 

Mrs.  A.  Smith,  speaking  from  her  experience 
of  Erdington  Infirmary,  asserted  that  Mr. 
Carter  was  not  sufficiently  acquainted  w-ith  the 
facts,  and  said  the  nurses  were  quite  happy  and 
contented  and  not  overworked. 

Mrs.  Williams  retorted  that  she  knew  of 
several  cases  of  breakdown  among  nurses  at 
Erdington. 

The  amendment  was  defeated  by  39  votes 
to  4. 

Considering  that  there  are  1,450  beds  in  the 
Birmingham  Infirmary,  of  which  the  average 
numberoccupied  is  1,126,  and  to  cope  with  this 
nunrber  of  sick  people  the  nursing  staff  consists 
of  27  sisters,  45  staff  nurses,  and  45  proba- 
tioners, without  further  ado  we  may  claim  that 
the  nursing  service  is  scandalously  insufficient. 
Imagine  72  trained  nurses  and  45  probationers 
being  provided  to  nurse  1,450  persons.  Now  is 
the  time  for  the  Matron  to  come  forward 
and  dispute  such  assertions  as  that  made 
by  Mrs.  A.  Smith  that  the  nurses  were 
"quite  happy  and  contented,  and  not  over- 
worked." if  under  such  conditions  this 
is  true,  it  is  because  the  standard  of  nursing  is 
far  below  par,  and  the  patients  neglected.  This, 
we  learn,  is  not  the  case  throughout  the  infir- 
mary. The  overstrain  of  the  nursing  staff  must 
result  if  117  women,  many  of  them  young  girls, 
attempt  to  do  their  duty  to  the  1,126  patients 
and  keep  in  order  1,450  beds. 

Dr.  Hecker's  treatise  on  the  Overstrain  of 
Nurses  is  now  in  the  press,  and  will  soon  be 
issued  in  pamphlet  form.  Let  us  hope  the  Bir- 
mingham Guardians  will  read,  mark,  learn,  and 
inwardlv  digest  it,  and  that  the  whole  Board 
will  support  the  demand  of  the  courageous 
minority  of  four  for  more  humane  treatment  of 
the  nursing  staff. 


Nurses'  Social  Union  members  in  various 
parts  of  the  country  will  be  interested  to  hear 
that  a  N.S.U.  Club  Room  has  been  established 
at  Weston-super-Mare,  in  George's  Cafd, 
High  Street.  This  is  a  cheerful  room  with 
writing  materials,  and  refreshments  can  be 
obtained  at  a  specially  reduced  rate.  Members 
must  wear  the  official  badge  to  obtain  admis- 
sion. As  Weston-super-Mare  is  a  popular 
health   resort  to  which   many   nurses   go,   the 


numbers  of  the  Weston  Branch  felt  that  it 
would  be  an  act  of  comradeship  if  they  extended 
the  hospitality  of  the  Club  Room  to  fellow- 
members  from  other  branches.  It  would  be  a 
valuable  development  of  the  work  of  the 
Union  if  Club  Rooms  could  be  established  in 
other  places. 


The  risks  which  nurses  encounter  in  the  dis- 
charge of  their  duty  were  demonstrated  at  the 
Box  Station  to  the  horrified  spectators  last 
week,  when  a  nurse  belonging  to  the  Kings- 
down  House  Asylum,  Miss  Holley,  was  waiting 
on  the  platform  with  a  lady  patient  for  a  local 
train  to  Bath.  Suddenly,  as  an  express 
approached  the  patient  jumped  on  to  the  per- 
manent way,  and  tried  to  lay  her  head  on  the 
metals.  The  nurse  immediately  jumped  after 
her,  and  struggled  with  her  until  the  train  was 
upon  her,  when  she  sprang  to  safety.  The 
patient  persisted  in  clinging  to  the  line,  and 
was  cut  to  pieces. 

Miss  Holley  deserves  warm  praise  for  her 
courageous  attempt  to  save  her  patient's  life. 


The  Glasgow  and  West  of  Scotland  Co- 
operation of  Trained  Nurses  held  its  twentieth 
annual  meeting  in  the  Charing  Cross  Halls  last 
week,  when  the  President,  Lady  Stirling- 
Maxwell,  was  in  the  chair.  The  report  stated 
that  the  number  of  nurses  at  present  on  the 
Roll  is  182.  The  number  of  cases  attended 
during  the  year  was  1,960,  and  the  amount 
earned  by  the  nurses  ;^i2,437.  The  financial 
statement  showed  that  the  total  income  for  the 
year  was  ;^i,584  15s.  2d.,  and  that  there  was  a 
surplus  of  ;^243  7s.  5id. 

The  adoption  of  the  reports  was  moved  by  the 
Right  Hon.  the  Lord  Provost,  Mr.  D.'  M. 
Stevenson,  who  said  that  by  means  of  the 
Society  the  employer  and  employed  were  able  to 
get  into  touch  with  one  another,  and  thus  nurses 
were  able  to  get  regular  employment,  and  the 
public  good  nurses. 

On  the  motion  of  Dr.  James  A.  Adams,  who 
spoKe  in  eulogistic  terms  of  the  work  of  the 
nurses,  the  office  bearers  were  re-elected.  Mrs. 
Ross  Taylor  was  appointed  an  additional  Vice- 
President,  and  Nurses  Arnott,  Grace  Kennedy, 
Jessie  Macpherson,  and  Margaret  Mackay  were 
elected  members  of  the  Executive  Committee  in 
place  of  nurses  retiring  by  rotation. 


The  Canadian  Nurse  has  several  interesting 
announcements  this  month.  First  of  all,  that 
the  nurses  of  British  Columbia  have  recently 
organized  a  strong  Provincial  .'\ssociation  with 


November  30,  191 


Cbe  38rttt3b  3ournai  ot  iRurstno. 


439 


a  view  to  securing  registration.  At  once  a  Com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  draft  a  Bill  which  is  to 
be  presented  at  the  next  Session  of  the  Pro- 
vincial Legislature.  The  Old  Country  wishes 
all  success,  as  every  British  .State  and  Dominion 
which  legislates  for  the  proleclion  of  the  sick 
makes  it  the  more  impossible  for  prejudice  and 
privilege  to  exist  at  home. 

When  the  Duchess  of  Connaught  and  Prin- 
cess Patricia  visited  the  \'ancouver  Home  of 
the  Victorian  Order  of  Nurses,  the  Duchess  waft 
presented  with  the  sum  of  upwards  of  two 
thousand  dollars,  collected  for  the  work  of  the 
Order  by  request  of  Her  Royal  Highness.  A 
pretty  scene  then  ensued,  when  Mrs.  John 
Atcherley  presented  her  baby,  \'ictoria,  four 
months  old,  who  was  born  in  the  Home  and  is  a 
Hawaian  princess.  In  the  baby's  name  a  sum 
of  money  was  presented  in  a  cocoanut  shell, 
bearing  on  its  surface  an  Hawaian  inscription 
of  greeting.  This  was  accompanied  by  long 
ropes  of  flowers,  one  of  which  was  also  pre- 
sented to  Princess  Patricia.  The  little  "  prin- 
cess "  was  duly  admired,  and  then  a  photo- 
graph was  taken  of  all  these  royalties,  and  sold 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Home  Fund. 


THE    HOSPITAL    WORLD. 


bright 


Miss  Helen  A.  Des  Brisay,  our 
Canadian  colleague,  who  was  with 
London  and  Cologne,  has  been  giving  an 
account  in  Montreal  of  the  great  German  Con- 
gress. "On  Tuesday  night,"  she  writes,  "  I 
was  requested  to  appear  in  my  costume  as 
Jeanne  Mancc.  I  told  them  I  could  talk  for  a 
month  and  not  exhaust  the  delightful  theme, 
and  that  they  must  make  every  effort  to  go  to 
San  Francisco."     

We  learn  that  Mrs.  KIosz,  who  was  anxious 
to  arrive  in  Bombay  in  time  to  attend  the  Con- 
ference of  the  Trained  Nurses'  Association  of 
India,  had  to  disembark  from  the  "  Himalaya  " 
at  Port  Said,  as  little  Marjoric,  her  baby, 
dcvelf)ped  measles  after  leaving  Marseilles. 
Thus  Mrs.  Klosz  will  be  unavoidably  absent 
from  the  Conference  for  which  she  had  much 
information  ;  but  baby  is  better,  so  better  luck 
next  time.  ^ 

LEAGUE    NEW5. 

A  very  pleasant  General  Meeting  of  the 
League  of  St.  John's  House  Nurses  took  place 
on  November  14th.  Some  discussion  took 
place  as  to  the  best  means  of  furthering  the 
cause  of  State  Registration,  and  Miss  M. 
Breay  kindly  gave  a  short  rdsumd  of  the 
present  position,  and  at  the  request  of  the 
meeting,  promised  to  embody  it  in  an  article 
for  the  News,  which  will  appear  shortly. 


THE     CITY     OK     LONDON     HOSPITAL    FOR 
DISEASES    OF    THE    CHEST. 

The  City  of  London  Hospital  for  Diseases  of 
the  Chest,  more  popularly  known  as  the  Vic- 
toria Park  Hospital,  is  most  favourably  placed 
for  the  work  for  which  it  is  intended,  for 
although  it  is  in  the  midst  of  a  dense  popula- 
tion. It  borders  on  that  great  lung  of  East 
London,  the  N'ictoria  Park,  and  its  spacious 
grounds  form. an  island  separated  from  the  rest 
of  the  world  by  a  road  on  each  of  the  four  sides. 

The  site  is  an  interesting  one,  for  it  was  for- 
merly that  of  the  episcopal  palace  of  Bishop 
Bonner,  who  achieved  an  unenviable  notoriety 
as  "  the  burning  Bishop."  Hard  by  the  chapel 
the  mulberry  tree  may  still  be  seen  under  which, 
according  to  Dr.  Arnold  Chaplin,  tradition  says 
this  intolerant  prelate  "  was  wont  to  sit  in  the 
cool  of  the  evening,  and  plan  out  the  holocausts 
of  the  heretical  Protestants."  Now  in  deck 
chairs  women  patients  enjoy  the  open-air  cure, 
and  perhaps  the  ripe  mulberries,  for  the  tree 
still  bears  fruit.  Rumour  has  it  that  the  Bishop 
still  appears  on  the  scene  of  his  former  activi- 
ties, but  that  is  as  may  be. 

The  foundation  stone  of  the  hospital,  which 
is  a  substantial  structure,  was  laid  by  the  Prince 
Consort  in  1851,  and  the  entrance  hall  bears 
distinctive  marks  of  the  architecture  of  that 
period.  Indeed,  to  one  skilled  in  a  knowledge 
of  architecture,  it  was  once  remarked  that  to 
examine  the  date  on  the  stone  was  superfluous ; 
the  great  entrance-doors  with  their  handsome 
brass  hinges  reveal  it  unmistakably. 

To  those  who  desire  to  know-  more  of  the 
early  history  of  the  hospital  we  commend  an 
interesting  article  by  Mr.  George  Watts, 
Secretary  to  the  hospit.i!,  in  the  October  issue 
of  the  Hospital  Gazette. 

The  hospital  contains  178  beds,  and  has  four 
divisions,  each  corridor  being  in  charge  of  a 
Sister  with  two  staff  nurses  (who  must  hold 
a  three  years'  certificate  from  a  recognized 
hospital),  in  addition  to  probationers,  working 
imder  her.  The  probationers  are  trained  for 
two  years,  and,  as  they  are  taken  at  the  age  of 
19,  they  can  obtain  this  valuable  experience 
before  passing  on  to  a  general  hospital.  There 
are  17  loeds  on  balconies  for  open-air  treatment. 
Here  the  patients  lie  night  and  day,  whatever 
the  weather,  protected,  if  necessary,  by  black 
mackintosh  quilts.  At  first  they  dislike  the 
treatment,  but  get  to  love  it.  The  wards 
are  very  bright,  many  of  them  containing 
only  a  few  beds ;  wide  open  windows  and 
a   low -temperature   are   the   order   of   the   day, 


44° 


Cbc  Bvitisb  3oiinml  of  iRursinG      xovember  30, 


101; 


thoug'h  relics  of  the  times  when  closed  windows 
and  a  warm  atmosphere  were  considered  essen- 
tial are  still  to  be  seen  in  the  inlets  provided 
for  the  admission  of  heated  air,  and  the  central 
tower  by  which  the  used  air  was  removed  from 
the  wards.  The  appearance  of  the  patients  is  in 
striking;  contrast  to  that  which  characterised 
the  phthisical  patient  years  ago.  One  sees  no 
evidence  of  fragility,  *no  hectic  flush,  and 
indeed  one  must  now  regard  these  symptoms  as 
typical  of  the  treatment  rather  than  the  disease. 


t\<ii  with  the  doors  wide  open  in  the  afternoon, 
the  smell  was  very  strong,  when  it  is  closed 
and  the  treatment  in  active  progress,  it  must  be 
a  very  powerful  remedial  agent.  The  nurse  in 
attendance  watches  the  patient  through  a  glass 
partition  which  shuts  off  the  chamber. 

The  greater  part  of  the  basement  is  allotted 
to  the  kitchen  and  its  annexes,  to  cool-looking 
larders  lined  with  white  tiles,  to  the  pasteuriza- 
tion of  milk,  and  to  store-room  accommoda- 
lioll. 


SHELTER      IDk      I  I   AIM  t:      I'ATIKMS.      WITH      CHAI'IM.      AMI      MMHIkk"!        \k\J: 


Both  men  and  women  are  out  (jf  doors  as 
much  as  possible ;  the  men,  when  able,  do  a 
certain  amount  of  light  work  ;  the  women,  as 
a  rule,  do  nothing  bevond  their  own  needk'- 
work — there  is  a  lull  for  once  in  their  busv 
lives. 

In  the  wards,  treatment  bv  creosote  is  often 
ordered.  The  patient  wears  a  light  mask  over 
nose  and  mouth,  pointed  in  shape  something 
like  a  sugar-forcer,  and  kept  in  place  by 
elastics  ov-er  the  ears.  Inside,  a  piece  of  lint 
impregnated  with  creosote  is  placed,  and  this 
the  wearer  appears  to  become  quite  used  to,  and 
to  wear  constantlv,  except  at  meal-times. 

In  the  basement  is  a  chamber  where  creosote 
inhalations  are  given  daily  to  patients,  and  as, 


In  the  wards,  which  are  verv  bright  and 
homely,  with  polished  floors  and  plentv  of  sun- 
shine, a  feature  is  the  brass  jugs  for  the 
"doctors'  basins,"  instead  of  the  ordinary 
crockery  ones.  They  were  introduced  by  the 
late  Matron,  who,  like  others,  was  in  despair 
over  breakages,  and  it  is  certainly  a  happy  and 
successful  idea.  They  are  polished  bv  the 
night  nurses,  who  have  time  for  this  duty  as 
the  'wards  are  often  light  at  night.  The 
chapel,  which  was  originally  built  as  a 
chapel  of  ease  to  the  Church  of  St.  James-the- 
Less  near  by,  is  really  a  church  of  excellent 
proportions  and  reverent  appointments. 
Shades  of  Bishop  Bonner  !  Does  he  know 
that,     notwithstanding    the    auto     da    fis     of 


Novcn.hcrio,  u,..-       CDc  ffiittiob  SoiuMial  of  murstnci. 


Stnithra-ld,  Knglislimcn  worship  accorditifj  to 
their  consficnce  on  the  very  site  of  his  palace, 
in  spite  of  all  his  rncii'ax'ours  to  uproot  the 
hated  faith:- 

The  Matron,  Miss  Dalton,  was  trained  at 
King's  Colieg-c  Hospital,  under  Miss  Monk,  of 
whom  she  speaks  with  gratitude  and  affection. 
In  1903  she  moved  on  to  the  Royal  Free 
Hospital,  and,  as  Ward  Sister,  Sister  House- 
keeper, and  for  the  last  three  years  as  Assistant 
Matron,  she  has  had  most  valuable  experience 
to  qualify  her  for  the  post  of  Matron  at  tlje 
Victoria  Park  Hospital,  to  which  she  was 
appointed  soine  months  ago.  .Anyone  who 
notes  her  grip  of  the  work  as  she  goes  about 
the  hospital  will  realize  that  she  has  availed 
herself  of  it  to  the  utmost. 

Last  week  Sir  Carl  Meyer  presided  at  the 
Fishmongers'  Hall  at  the  Festival  Dinner  of 
the  institution,  when  the  sum  of  ;£,"j,54o  was 
collected. 

We  are  indebted  to  the  Se<relary  of  the  h)s- 
pital  for  our  illustration. 

M.  B. 

REFLECTIONS 

FROM    A    I?0.\RD    ROOM    MIRROR. 

Considerable  progress  has  been  made  with  the 
arrangements  for  the  Christmas  Pantomime  Ball 
in  aid  of  University  College  Hospital,  which  is 
to  be  held  in  the  Albert  Hall  on  Doecmber  .[tli. 
It  is  to  be  a  very  splendid  affair. 


It  is  announced  that  Mrs.  James  Taylor,  of 
Chester,  and  her  family,  are  defraying  the  expense 
of  the  new  operating  theatre,  which  forms  an 
important  part  of  the  extension  now  being  carried 
out  at  the  Chester  General  Infirmary.  The 
Theatre  will  be  dedicated  to  the  memory  of  the 
late  Mr.  James  Taylor,  F.K.C.S.,  who  for  forty 
years  was  connected  with  the  Infirmary.  The 
late  Mr.  Charles  Jones  has  bequeathed  ;^i,ooo  to 
the  Infirmary,  and  towards  the  ;^40,ooo  required 
for  renovation  and  extension  nearly  ;^2g,ooo  has 
been  subscribed.        

Mr.  I'd  ward  Graham  Wood,  of  Manchester  and 
Sallord,  has  presented  a  cheque  for  ;^i,ooo  to 
endow  a  bed  at  St.  Mary's  Hospital  for  Women 
and  Children,  Manchester.  Mr.  Wood  has  helped 
to  raise  ;^50,ooo  for  the  same  hospital,  and  this  is 
the  fourth  bed  which  he  has  endowed  in  (he 
district.  

The  King  lias  been  pleased  to  approve  oi 
the  Albert  Medal  of  the  Second  Class  being 
conferred  upon  Mr.  Arthur  Hanson,  of  Burroughs, 
Wellcome  &  Co.,  in  recognition  of  his  gallantry  in 
saving  life  in  the  Yangtze  Gorges  on  November 
13th.    iqll. 


"THE  ORGANIZER." 

Who  is  the  anonymous  "Organizer  '  ol  the 
Annual  Nursing  and  Midwifery  Conference  who 
has  addressed  the  following  communication  to 
many  ladies  holding  responsible  professional 
positions.  Several  matrons  ( onsider  they  have 
a  right  to  know  before  any  reply  can  be  expected. 
Dear  Madam, — For  this  Conference,  which 
is  held  annually  in  London,  we  have  a  splendidly 
representative  committee,  but  wc  arc  anxious 
that  the  special  sections,  such  as  Mental,  District, 
Private,  etc.,  should  be  of  equal  importance  with 
the  general  hospital  section,  and  we  hoi)e  that  you 
will  allow  us  to  add  your  name  to  the  Committee, 
on  which  we  have  already  those  of  several  Matrons 
and  Superintendents  in  these  various  branches. 
This  will  not  entail  any  definite  work,  but  if 
you  are  not  too  busy  we  should  be  grateful  for 
any  suggestions  as  to  subjects  and  speakers. 
Yours  faithfully, 

The  Organizer. 
May  we  observe  that  the  imperial  "  we  "  of 
the  anonymous  writer  of  this  epistle  need  not 
be  taken  too  seriously,  as  we  learn  that  the  lady 
who  addresses  the  Nursing  Profession  with  the 
royal  prerogative  is  the  lay  editor  of  a  pseudo- 
nursing  journal.  The  (luestion  to  be  answered  is, 
"  Does  the  Nursing  Profession  in  this  country 
desire  to  be  '  organised  '  and  exploited  for  press 
purposes  by  a  newspaper  woman,  or  does  it  not  ?  " 
Those  who  approve  of  anonymous  manipulation 
will  gratefully  accede  to  the  request,  and  those 
who  do  not  will  place  the  communication  on  the 
fireback,  the  proper  place  for  letters  from  those 
who  dare  not  sign  their  names.  Perhaps  a  few 
words  of  criticism  in  tliis  connection  may  be 
permissible. 

.\  Trade  E.xiiibition. 
A  few  years  ago  sonic  business  men  realised 
that  there  was  money  to  be  made  through 'a  so- 
called  Nursing  Exhibition,  that  in  organising  a 
Trade  Exhibition  of  goods  and  appliances  used  in 
medical  treatment,  and  by  nurses  and  midwives, 
a  handsome  profit  might  be  made  from  charges 
for  exhibitors'  stalls,  if  a  sufficient  number  of 
nurses  and  midwives  attended  the  show.  This 
was  quite  a  justifiable  bit  of  business.  For 
several  years  this  trade  exhibit  was  held  in 
London,  when  it  was  found  it  might  pall  unless 
the  visitors  were  interested  by  other  means. 
Why  should  they  not  listen  to  their  own  charming 
voices  ?  Quite  nice.  Thus  a  Conference  was 
called  into  existence  to  discuss  professional 
questions,  and  just  here  the  danger  to  the  pro- 
fession became  apparent,  and  ju.st  here  the 
l.xliiliition  Committee  took  a  false  step. 

\\  liilst  assuring  the  profession  generally  that 
the  Conference  was  controlled  by  a  professional 
committee  indeed,  in  the  prospectus  sent  out 
the  organising,  advisory,  and  consultative  com- 
mittees were  composed  of  professional  persons  the 
Exhibition  Committee  last  year  very  unwisely  per- 
mitted the  practical  organisation  of  the  Conference 


4|2 


t\jc  iSrttisb  3ournaI  of  IRurstnG.      November  30,  1912 


to  be  "  nobbled  "  for  unprofessional  press  pur- 
poses by  a  person  anonymously  signing  herself 
"  The  Secretary." 

When  at  the  close  of  the  Conference  tliis  fact 
became  known,  several  professional  nurses  felt  that 
they  had  been  tricked  into  taking  part  in  its  pro- 
ceedings, and  we  for  one  expressed  this  opinion  in 
writing  to  the  Organising  Secretary-  of  the 
Exhibition.  , 

Let  there  be  no  misunderstanding  this  year 
amongst  those  nurses  who  stand  for  ethical 
professional  standards,  and  self-government.  We 
cannot  without  loss  of  self-respect,  permit  our- 
selves to  be  "  organised  "  anonymously  by  im- 
professional  persons,  who  exploit  our  profession 
for  profit,  who  are  quacks  in  so  far  as  they  assume 
the  right  to  criticise,  advise,  organise  and  control 
our  professional  affairs,  without  that  professional 
loiowledge  and  status,  which  alone  entitles  them 
to  assume  such  authority. 

Our  duts"  to  our  profession  is  quite  clear.  We 
m.ust  have  honourable  publicit\-  in  everj-  par- 
ticular in  connection  with  the  Exhibition  and 
Conference,  or  we  must  refuse  to  supply  gratuitous 
"  copy  "  or  take  part  in  its  discussion. 

If  need  be,  we  shall  deal  with  this  question  in 
fuither  detail. 


PERSPIRATION     AND     TUBERCULOSIS 
INFECTION. 

In  a  recent  important  communication  to  the 
Paris  Academy  of  Medicine,  Professor  Poncet 
detailed  the  result  of  experiments  regarding  the 
transmission  of  tuberculosis  by  perspiration.  He 
related  how,  after  bringing  about  a  profuse 
perspiration  in  consumptive  patients,  by  means  of 
hot-air  douches,  he  made  a  careful  examination 
of  the  perspiration,  and  discovered  that  it  con- 
tained 42  per  cent,  of  tuberculosis  microbes.  Thus, 
Professor  Poncet  alleges,  the  danger  of  contagion 
from  the  clothes  of  persons  suffering  from  tuber- 
culosis, or  from  objects  touched  by  them,  is  ver^i" 
great  ;  and  he  urges  that  in  future  stricter  sanitary,' 
precautions  must  be  taken.  All  the  clothes  and 
objects  touched  by  the  patient  must  be  disinfected, 
without  exception,  and  the  strictest  isolation 
obser\ed.  Reference  has  already  appeared  in 
these  columns  to  the  increasing  use  of  Izal  in  up- 
to-date  laundries ;  and  in  view  of  the  above 
announcement,  the  importance  of  this  precaution 
is  emphasised.  Xo  doubt,  too,  the  same  safe- 
guard will  be  adopted  in  the  n^anj-  sanatoria  now 
in  course  of  erection  or  equipment.  As  Professor 
Poncet  points  out,  if  the  tuberculosis  bacillus 
can  leave  the  body  by  the  skin,  it  can  probably 
enter  in  the  same  manner ;  and,  therefore,  it 
behoves  the  managers  of  laundries  to  adopt  ever\- 
reasonable  safeguard. 


CHRISTMAS    GIFTS. 

As  the  Christmas  season  comes  round  there  are 
many  anxious  consultations  as  to  the  most  accept- 
able presents  for  friends.  For  trained  nurses  a 
book  which  will  be  of  practical  use  to  them  in  their 
daily  work  is  sure  to  be  appreciated  ;  but  how  is  it 
possible  to  be  sure  that  the  book  selected  will  not 
only  be  acceptable  on  the  score  of  its  utility-,  but 
will  also  have  the  attractive  appearance  wliich  we 
should  like  our  Christmas  gift  to  possess  ? 

It  is  quite  possible  in  the  case  of  "  The  Science 
and  Art  of  Nursing."  which  is  appreciated  by  so 
many  nurses  as  a  book  of  reference — for  the 
Waverley  Book  Company,  Ltd.,  which,  in  the 
ordinary  way,  supplies  it  on  most  easy  terms 
(namely,  a  small  first  payment,  and  afterwards 
monthly  instalments  after  the  book  has  been 
delivered),  is  making  a  special  Christmas  offer.  This 
is  to  allow  the  probable  buver  to  have  the  edition 
delivered,  carriage  paid,  to  read  and  examine  it  for 
four  clear  days  ;  and  to  return  it,  carriage  forward, 
to  the  publishers,  if  she  decides  it  will  not  be  useful. 
We  think  that  such  an  otter  has  never  before  been 
made  to  nurses,  and  we  do  not  anticipate  that 
anv  of  the  handsome  crimson  and  gold  volumes 
will  be  returned  at  the  expense  of  the  publisher. 

Our  fyee  approval  order  form  for  the  use  of  those 
who  like  to  see  first  what  they  are  thinking  of 
buying,  which  will  be  found  in  another  column, 
shculdbe  sent  to  the  Waverley  Book  Companv, 
Ltd.,  7-8.  Old  Bailey,  London,  E.C. 


Miss  Ellen  C.  Pimlott,  a  professional  nurse, 
has  been  awarded  £jys  for  personal  injuries  in 
an  aeroplane  accident  last  August,  at  Filey. 
We  shall  deal  with  several  legal  cases  of  interest 
to  nurses  next  week. 


A     VALUABLE     TONIC     WINE. 

All  nurses  know  that  one  of  the  niost  difficult 
things  to  combat  in  con\-alescence  after  severe 
illness  is  the  depression  and  general  loss  of  tone 
so  often  characteristic  of  this  period.  Recent 
experiments  ha\e  shown  that  substances  in 
alcoholic  solutions  are  more  quickly  absorbed  than 
those  in  aqueous  solutions,  and  for  this  reason  the 
Liebig's  Extract  of  Meat  and  the  Extract  of  Malt 
in  Wincamis  are  rapidly  assimilated.  The  wine 
used  is  of  a  good  qualitv  and  a  stimulant  to 
digestion,  while  the  Malt  Extract  not  only  acts  as 
a  restorative,  but  also  aids  starch  conversion.  It 
has  proved  of  much  value  in  cases  of  influenza, 
anjemia  and  general  physical  weakness,  and  as 
Liebig's  Extract  is  a  Nerve  Food,  Wincamis  is 
often  prescribed  in  cases  of  neurasthenia.  It  is 
supplied  bj-  Coleman  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  ^^'i^carnis 
Works,   Norwich. 

HAZELINE   CREAM. 

The  choice  of  an  emollient  is  an  important 
matter  to  nurses,  for  it  is  essential  that  in  spite 
of  m.uch  hard  work  and  the  use  of  strong  anti- 
septics, their  hands  should  be  kept  soft,  smooth 
and  supple.  "  Hazeline  '  Cream,  supplied  by 
Messrs.  Burroughs  Wellcome  &  Co.,  6,  Snow  Hill 
Buildings,  E.C,  is  an  especially  desirable  and 
effective  emollient,  the  excellence  of  which  our 
readers  can  test  free  for  themselves  if  they  cut 
out  and  forward  the  coupon  to  be  foimd  on  page 
ix  of  our  advertisement  columns. 


November  30,  1912 


abe  Bvltisb  3ournal  of  IRurstnG. 


443 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


THE     NATIONAL     COUNCIL    OF     WOMEN. 

The  members  of  the  National  Council  of  Women 
of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  owe  a  debt  of 
gratitude  to  the  fifty-eight  of  their  number  who 
requisitioned  the  Extraordinary-  Meeting  of  the 
Council  held  in  the  new  Central  Hall,  Westminster, 
on  Wednesday,  November  20th,  "  to  consider  the 
Franchise  and  Registration  Bill  now  before 
Parliament,  and  the  necessity  for  the  inclusion 
of  women  in  any  scheme  of  Franchise  Reform,  a|id 
the  safeguarding  of  the  powers  they  already 
possess  in  Local  Government,  and  to  pass  such 
resolutions  on  the  above  subject  as  the  Council 
may  determine." 

It  was  evident,  as  the  room  quickly  filled  with 
a  crowd  of  earnest  women,  that  the  issues  at 
stake  were  appreciated,  and  probably  so  large 
a  number  of  past  Presidents  ha\e  never  been  on  a 
platform  at  one  time.  The  Presidential  Address 
of  Mrs.  Allan  Bright  was  listened  to  with  intense 
silence,  broken  only  for  a  moment  when  Mrs. 
Creighton,  who  arrived  after  the  meeting  had 
opened,  was  greeted  with  round  after  round  of 
applause.  Mrs.  Bright  stated  that  fifteen  resolu- 
tions had  been  sent  in  for  the  consideration  of  the 
meeting,  which  fell  under  three  heads. 

1 .  In  favour  of  re-alfimung  the  resolution  passed 
in  1902,  and  re-affirmed  in  1909,  in  support  of 
women's  franchise. 

2.  Those  against  such  affirmation. 

3.  Those  urging  the  Government  to  amend  the 
Franchise  and  Registration  Bill  so  as  to  remove 
the  present  anomalies  and  disabilities  in  regard  to 
Women's  Local  Government  Franchise,  concerning 
which  she  hoped  the  meeting  would  be  unanimous. 

RESOLUTION     I. 

The  first  Resolution  was  moved  by  Mrs. 
Creighton,  and  seconded  by  Mrs.  Henry  Fawcett, 
LL.D.     It  was  : — 

"  That,  in  view  of  the  fact  tliat  the  questions  of 
Parliamentary  and  local  government  franchises 
for  women  are  to  be  discussed  in  connection  with 
the  Franchise  and  Registration  Bill  now  before 
the  House  of  Commons,  the  National  Council  of 
Women  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  re-affirms 
the  following  resolution,  passed  on  October  30th, 
1902,  and  again  on  October  20th,  1909, 

'  That  without  the  firm  foundation  of  the 

Parliamentary  franchise  for  women,  there  is 

no  permanence  for  any  advance  gained  by 

them  '  ; 

and,  while  not  expressing  any  opinion  on  the  Bill, 

urges  all  Members  of  Parliament  to  vote  so  as  to 

ensure  that  no  Bill  shall  be  passed  which  does  not 

include  some  measure  of  Parliamentary  Suffrage 

for  W'omen." 

Mrs.  Creighton,  in  a  clear  and  logical  speech, 
asked  her  audience  to  consider  first  what  the 
National  Union  of  Women  Workers  stood  for.  It 
was,  she  said,  working  for  the  good  of  women  and 


children.  In  relation  to  the  resolution  which  she 
had  proposed,  she  thought  it'was  asking  too  much 
of  the  supporters  of  women's  suffrage  in  the 
National  Council  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland, 
the  Governing  Body  of  the  National  Union  of 
Women  Workers,  that  the  moment  the  Franchise 
Bill  was  before  the  country,  their  Council  should 
refrain  from  expressing  an  opinion  upon  it.  To 
adopt  such  a  course  would  be  to  lend  a  weighty 
support  to  the  opposition. 

They  w-ere  accused  of  going  back  on  the  "  Com- 
promise of  1910,"  but  nothing  was  said  at  that 
time  for  or  against  the  resolution  on  women's 
suffrage.  Wliat  was  done  was  that  the  Executive 
were  prevented  from  taking  hasty  action  on  points 
which  had  not  been  sufficiently  discussed.  They 
were  therefore  at  liberty  to  take  action  in  regard 
to  the  Franchise  Bill.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
anti-suflragists  had  no  occasion  to  ask  the  Prime 
Minister  to  exclude  them  from  its  benefits. 

The  Government  had  left  it  to  Parliament  to 
accept  an  amendment  as  to  the  inclusion  of 
women  if  it  thought  fit.  As  women  were  challenged 
to  show  that  they  cared,  let  them  do  it  in  the  strong, 
calm  way  that  came  from  deep  conviction,  by 
steady  patient  work,  and  by  devotion  and  zeal 
combined  with  toleration. 

Airs.  Creighton  then  moved  that  the  nieeting 
re-affirm  what,  ever  since  it  had  begun  to  pass 
resolutions,  had  been  the  opinion  of  the  Council, 
and  concluded  by  saying  that  women  vvorkers 
knew  so  well  how  much  tlie  State  needed  the  help 
of  women  that  she  could  not  doubt  the  result. 

Mrs.  Fawcett,  who  seconded  the  Resolution,  said 
that  it  was  no  new  departure.  The  ineml)crs  of  the 
National  Council  had  done  much  more  than  re- 
affirm the  Resolution  of  1902.  for  they  had 
expressed  in  their  actions  their  belief  that  "  faith 
without  works  is  dead."  and  in  1910  had 
memorialised  the  Prime  Minister  in  favour  of 
Mr.  Shackleton's  Bill.  There  was  no  compromise 
in  igio,  but  Mrs.  Humphrey  Ward  was  handsomely 
beaten  by  four  votes  to  one. 

\\liat  was  decided  was  that  the  Executive 
should  not  take  action  on  debatable  questions 
without  reference  to  the  Council.  Even  supposing 
the  carrj-ing  of  this  Resolution  meant  some  loss 
of  members,  that  must  be  faced.  If  we  resolved  to  be 
content  with  what  had  been  done  in  the  past  we 
should  lose  our  vitality.  There  was  no  safety  in 
remaining  dormant. 

The  Resolution  was  supported  by  Mrs.  Bouluois. 

The  rejection  of  the  Resolution  was  moved  by 
Airs.  Humphry  Ward,  who  challenged  the  state- 
ment that  there  is  no  permanence  for  advances 
gained  by  women  without  the  firm  foundation  of 
the  Parliamentary  franchise.  She  declared  that 
nothing  won  legislatively  by  women  had  been  lost, 
and  said  that  if  the  Resolution  were  passed  it 
would  be  in  defiance  of  the  undertaking  of  igio. 

Miss  Gladys  Pott,  who  seconded,  aroused  much 
indignation  by  suggesting  that  a  handsome  sum 
of  money  given  to  the  N.U.W.W'.  was  given  on 
the  understanding  of  its  neutrality. 


•14  t 


JIDc  Britlsb  .Journal  of  murstno 


Xdveiiibcr  30,  1912 


Mrs.  Humphry  Ward's  challenge  was  taken  up 
by  a  speaker  who  showed  that  the  cause  of 
women's  education  has  been  set  back. 

Miss  Potter,  who  spoke  as  one  of  the  younger 
members  of  the  society,  in  support  of  the  Reso- 
lion.  suggested  that  the  young  would  be  old 
some  day  and  it  was  unwise  to  alienate  their 
sympathies. 

Several  ladies  who  stated  that  they  were  strong 
Suffragists  expressed  thctr  intention  of  voting 
against  the  Resolution. 

The  declaration  of  the  poll  when  the  voters 
returned  from  their  respective  lobbies  was  listened 
to  with  suppressed  excitement.  Thirteen  members 
who  were  in  favour  of  the  Resolution,  did  not 
vote,  there  were  199  in  favour  of  the  Resolution 
and  59  against.  The  result  was  greeted  with 
tremendous  applause. 

RESOLUTION      II. 

The  second  Resolution,  proposed  by  Mrs. 
I'awson  and  seconded  by  Mrs.  Edwin  (Iray,  was 
tarried  unanimously.    It  was  : — 

"  That  this  Meeting  urges  the  Government  to 
amend' the  Franchise  and  Registration  Bill  now 
before  Parliament,  so  as  to  remove  the  anomalies 
and  disabilities  existing  in  the  present  law  with 
regard  to  Women's  Local  Government  Franchise, 
and  to  safeguard  the  powers  already  possessed 
by  women." 

It  was  decided  to  send  the  Resolutions  to  the 
Prime  Minister,  the  Leader  of  the  Opposition,  and 
the  heads  of  the  various  parties  in  the  House  of 
Commons,  and  also  to  the  press. 

It  has  been  well  said  that  neutrality  on  such  a 
<juestion    is    impossible. 

BOOK   OF   THE   WEEK. 


•'  VALSERINE.'* 

After  reading  "  Marie  Claire,"  we  had,  of  course, 
looked  forward  with  interest  to  the  next  work 
from  the  pen  of  Marguerite  Andoux.  ^Ve  must 
confess  to  disappointment  now  that  it  has  arrived. 
We  are  told  in  the  introduction  that  these  sketches 
were  written  long  before  the  book  that  brought 
the  writer's  name  before  the  public  was  published. 
The  volume  consists  of  a  collection  of  short 
sketches,  the  original  and  translation  of  which  are 
given.  They  are,  apparently,  the  spontaneous, 
and,  one  might  also  think,  effortless  production  of 
a  facile  pen. 

"  Valserine  "  is  the  longest  of  the  series  ;  and 
the  introduction  also  tells  us  that  it  was  intended 
for  a  longer  story,  and  should  not  be  considered  as 
•complete. 

It  describes  how  the  father  of  the  child  Val- 
serine was  arrested  by  the  Customs  officer. 
and  the  subsequent  efforts  of  the  little  girl  to  earn 
a  living  for  herself  until  such  time  as  he  should  be 
released. 


*   By  Marguerite  Andoux.     London  :    Chapman 
&  Hall. 


Alter  a  long  journey  m  the  carrier's  cart,  she 
arrives  at  the  village  of  Saint  Claude,  where  she  is 
to  learn  diamond-cutting. 

We  give  the  following  as  a  fair  sample  of  the  easy, 
simple  style  of  the  authoress  : 

"  Valserine  seated  herself  like  the  others  on  a 
high  stool.  Her  new  blouse  was  a  little  too  long, 
and  caught  at  the  knees.  She  folded  her  hands,  as 
she  knew  a  good  little  girl  ought  to  fold  them,  and 
looked  round  at  the  others,  as  Madame  Reny  had 
told  her  to  do.  She  remembered  her  father  had 
chosen  this  trade  for  her  a  long  time  ;  and  she  felt 
glad  at  the  thought  he  was  not  so  unhappy  as  he 
might  have  been  in  prison,  now  that  he  knew  his 
daughter  was  working  at  the  diamond-cutting." 
And  so  on,  reminding  one  of  the  old-fashioned 
tales  that  children  of  thirt\-  or  fort\-  years  ago  were 
brought  up  on. 

The  story  of  "  Catiche,"  who  had  St.  Vitus' 
dance  ;  and  was  so  called  by  the  ward-sister, 
because  that  was  what  she  called  all  little  girls 
who  had  St.  Vitus'  dance.  "  When  she  heard  that 
was  to  be  her  nanie,  she  became  furiously  angry- 
She  threw  off  her  blanket,  and  wanted  to  beat  the 
sister.  She  twisted  and  turned  like  a  little  worm, 
and  said  in  her  hoarse  voice,  '  You  will  see.'  A 
nurse  ran  up  and  dabbed  a  wet  cloth  in  her  face, 
while  the  sister  held  her  down  on  the  bed.  She 
refused  to  eat.  They  pinched  her  nose,  to  make 
her  open  her  mouth  ;  but  she  opened  her  lips  only, 
and  breathed  through  her  clenched  teeth."  We 
commend  this  soothing  treatment  to  our  pro- 
fessional readers. 

"  Wolves  !  Wolves  !"  relates  how  old  Granny 
refused  to  be  operated  upon  ;  she  said,  "  The  pain 
is  inside,  but  I  have  had  it  so  long  that  I  have  got 
used  to  it  now."  Her  daughter — a  big  woman, 
with  a  pointed  nose  and  hard  eyes — said,  "  If  you 
W'On't  let  them  operate  on  you,  I  will  sell  the 
donkey. ' '  And  all  the  patients  burst  out  laughing. 
A  little  thin,  dark  woman,  in  the  ward,  said  she 
had  come  to  before  her  operation  was  over,  and 
four  men  had  to  hold  her  down,  while  the  wound 
was  being  stitched  up."  It  is  not  surprising  that 
the  fear  of  it  broke  down  tlic  old  woman's  mental 
balance,  and  she  cried.  "  Wolves  !  Wolves  !"  all 
night.  H.  H. 

COMING     EVENTS. 

November  30th. — The  League  of  St.  '  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital  Nurses.  General  Meeting,  Clinical 
Lecture  Theatre.  3  p.m.  Social  Gathering, 
4  p.m. 

December  yd. — The  Infants  Hospital,  Vincent 
Square,  S.W.  Lectures  on  Babies,  "  The  Effects 
of  Boiled  Milk  on  the  Infant  and  Child." 

December  j\th. — Irish  Nurses'  Association,  34, 
St.  Stephen's  Green  Dublin.  "  Flies  and 
Disease,"  by  Dr.  McE)owel  Congrave. 

December  i\th. — Bridge  Drive,  arranged  by  Miss 
Carson-Rae,  Cafe  Cairo!  Dublin.     Tickets,  3s.  each. 

December  6th. — The  Nurses'  Co-operation.  Show 
of  the  Nurses'  Needlework  Guild,  in  the  Club 
Room,  35,  Langham  Street,  W.     Tea,  3.30  to  3.30. 


November  30,  191 2 


Cbe  ^British  3ournal  of  IRureino 


445 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  for  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


THE     REGISTRATION     FEE. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — I  have  often  heard  nurses  say 
"  I'm  against  State  Registration  because  I  should 
have  to  pass  anotlicr  examination  and  pay  £^  5s." 
I  was  pleased  to  see  in  the  British  Journal  of 
Nursing  report  of  the  Matrons'  Council  Meeting 
at  Wigan  that  you  made  it  quite  plain  that  the 
Registration  Bill  is  not  retrospective,  and  tliat 
in  fact  "  all  reputable  trained  nurses  "  might 
register  during  the  three  years'  term  of  grace 
without  further  examination  for  the  fee  of  £2  2S. 
And  further  that,  after  the  term  of  grace,  before 
registration  all  nurses  would  liave  the  great 
advantage  of  competing  in  a  one-standard  examin- 
ation (as  provided  by  the  Midwives  Act  for 
Midwives).  and  if  successful  would  be  granted 
the  protected  title  of  "  Registered  Nurse."  and 
that  the  examination  fee  of  £^  3s.  would  provide 
them  "  with  the  highest  standard  of  medical  and 
nursing  examiners." 

What  a  change  is  here.  Do  not  many  of  us 
know  how  casual  is  both  the  teaching  and  examina- 
tion as  at  present  conducted,  and  what  a  tre- 
mendous effect  it  would  have  on  nursing  if  the 
one  portal  could  be  instituted,  and  we  could  know 
what  we  had  to  learn,  and  that  we  should  be 
efficiently  instructed  ?  I  think  a  fee  of  £^  5s.  for 
examination  and  registration  very  little  to  pay 
for  the  benefits  to  be  received.  Personally,  I 
have  spent  much  more  on  private  supplementary 
studj',  before  I  felt  fit  to  face  the  nursing 
of  all  sorts  of  patients  in  private  nursing.  My 
C.M.B.  cost  me  £20,  with  fees  and  books.  We 
seldom  hear  a  nurse  grumble  at  the  fees  from 
£j^  to  £iO  to  be  paid  for  studying  for  the  C.M.B., 
but  because  she  gets  her  general  nursing  free, 
the  fact  of  being  called  upon  to  pay  £j  5s.  for  legal 
status  as  a  general  nurse  appears  superfluous.  It 
might  be  if  it  ended  there,  but  it  does  not.  At 
present  a  four  years'  certificate  from  a  leading 
training  school  stands  for  very  little  in  the  open 
market.  Any  one  trained  or  untrained  stands 
elbow  to  elbow  with  the  certificated  nurse,  and 
charges  equal  fees  from  an  exploited  public. 

This  has  been  distinctly  demonstrated  by 
the  army  appointments,  the  Bart's  Matronsliip, 
the  untrained  women  who  have  dashed  off  to  the 
Balkans,  raw  probationers  used  in  nursing  homes, 
the  "  mill  hand  "  as  cottage  and  village  nurse  in 
competition  with  the  highly  skilled  Queen's 
Nurse,  and  inspected  by  the  same  officials  ;  no 
representative  on  the  Advisory  Committee  of  the 
Insurance  Commission,  no  trained  Matron  on  the 


British  Red  Cross  Committee,  or  on  the  Council 
of  Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute.  This  is 
how  nursing  experts  are  ignored  at  present.  In 
fact,  lack  of  professional  experience  is  apparently 
the  only  qualification  demanded  to  fit  men  and 
women  to  compose  those  bodies,  deputed  to 
organise  and  supervise  our  skilled  work  ! 

How  long  are  we  going  to  submit  to  it  ?  We 
are  skilled  professional  workers,  and  our  standards 
and  our  economic  interests  are  the  sport  of  persons 
who  have  never  done  ;one  honest  day's  bread- 
winning,  or,  so  far  as  many  women  are  concerned, 
rate-paying,  in  their  lives. 

Surely  ever>'  nurse  worth  her  salt  would  bo 
willing  to  pay  £^  5s.  for  tlie  incalculable  advantage 
of  providing  for  a  Central  Governing  Body, 
largely  elected  by  the  profession  tliemselves,  which 
would  understand  their  professional  needs,  and 
further  them.  Both  in  the  interests  of  the  sick 
and  those  who  spend  years  of  their  lives  in  qualify- 
ing themselves  to  nurse  them,  I  for  one  would 
willingly  pay  much  more.  It  would  be  cheap 
in  comparison  with  the  price  we  now  pay.  . 
Yours  trulv, 

SIember   H.   N.  S. 


TO    CORRESPONDENTS. 

The  Editor  begs  to  thank  sc\-cral  old  friends  for 
their  very  kind  letters  sent  to  the  Journal 
referring  to  the  happy  event  to  take  place  on 
December  14th.  It  is  not  because  she  does  not 
appreciate  their  scntinients  that  they  are  withheld 
from  publication,  but  because  a  becoming  editorial 
modesty  naturally  demands  it  ! 

OUR     CHRISTMAS     COMPETITION. 


TOYS     FOR    TIMES. 

Four  Five  Shilling  Prizes  will  be  awarded  in 
December  for  the  best  toys  made  at  the  cost  of 
not  more  than  6d.  The  toys  must  be  sent  to  the 
Editorial  Office,  20,  Upper  Wimpole  Street, 
London,  W.,  by  December  14th,  with  the  coupon 
which  will  appear  in  the  issue  of  December  7th. 
All  the  toys  will  be  distributed  to  poor  children 
under  five  years  of  age,  so  they  should  be  made 
to  meet  the  tastes  of  tinies. 


OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS. 

December  ph. — What  is  cholera,  its  symptoms, 
the  treatment  usually  prescribed,  and  the  nursing 
points  to  be  observed  ? 

December  i4</i. — Describe  the  treatment  ot 
Rodent  Ulcer. 

December  21st. — How  would  you  amuse  a 
convalescent  child  aged  5  to  8  years  isolated 
with  infectious  disease  ? 

December  28th. — Wliat  symptonts  would  lead 
you  to  suspect  apople.xy  ?  Give  nursing  treatment 
of  apoplexy. 


446    Z\K  Britisb  3om-nal  of  IRursuui  Supplement.  xovc,„be^  30,  191 : 


The   Midw^ife. 


THE  STORK. 


Tlu-  pupil-niid\\i\e:5  tr.tiiifd  at  the  General 
Lying-in  Hospital,  York  Road,  wear  a  charm- 
injf  armlet  with  a  neat  little  design  of  a  stork. 
The  armlet  is  of  white  linen,  the  stork  and  the 
letters  "G.L.I.H."  are  embroidered  in  blue. 
"But  why  the  stork?"  someone  mav  ask;  a 
few  details  about  the  bird  may  convince  of  the 
suitability  of  the  emblem. 

The  common  Dutch  name  for  the  l)ird  is 
ooyevaar,  which  can  be  traced  through  many 
forms  to  the  old  word  odchoro,  "  the  bringer 
of  food."  The  word  stork  (German  storcli) 
comes»from  a  word  sfurgc,  meaning  "natural 
affection."  The  Hebrews  called  it  cliascda, 
which  signifies  pitv  or  mercv,  and  bv  the 
Romans  it  was  called  the  "  pit)us  "  bird;  the 
Emperors  th.it  merited  lliis  title  h.id  this 
emblem  on  the  medals  struck  in  their  honour. 
The  bird  therefore  has  a  happy  name  well 
justified  by  its  character. 

There  are  about  twelve  species  of  stork,  but 
the  one  most  generally  known  is  the  common 
or  white  stork  (cinchona  alba).  It  is 
a  migratory  bird.  "  The  stork  in  heaven 
knowcth  her  appointed  times"  (Jeremiah).  It 
Is  found  in  Holkmd,  Germanv,  Poland,  Turkev, 
.\sia  Minor,  Persia,  &c.  ;  its  eastern  range 
extends  to  Japan  ;  it  frequently  takes  up  its 
winter  quarters  in  Egypt.  It  is  very  rarely 
found  in  the  British  Isles.  The  stork  arrives 
in  the  northern  countries  in  February  or 
March,  and  returns  to  Africa  .it  the  end  of  the 
summer  in  large  tlocks  by  night.  So  punctual 
is  it  in  its  reappearance  that  the  Persians  had 
a  festival  in  their  almanacs,  "  The  Coming  of 
the  Storks."  They  return  to  their  nests  of  the 
previous  vear.  The  favourite  spots  for  these 
are  tlie  tops  of  tall  trees,  roofs  or  spires  ;  in 
Holland  and  some  other  cotmtries  large  boxes 
or  cart-wheels  are  placed  on  houses  to  tempt 
the  young  birds  to  build  thereupon,  so 
cherished  is  the  bird.  There  is  a  C|uaint  super- 
stiti  tion  that  the  stork  never  builds  on  a  bad 
man's  house.  Four  to  five  eggs  are  laid  ;  these 
are  white  pitted  with  granular  depressions  ;  the 
incubation  period  is  a  month.  Both  male  and 
female  are  devoted  to  their  young  and  to  the 
old  birds  of  the  flock.  Who  has  not  heard  of 
the  storks  at   th.e  contlagralion   of  Delft,   win), 


failing  in  their  efforts  to  sa\ c  their  young  l.oin 
the  flames,   remained  with  them  and  perished? 

In  a  German  newspaper  there  appeared  the 
following  charming  and  well-authenticated 
observation  on  the  parental  devotion  of  the 
birds.  .\  house  on  which  storks  had  built  their 
nest  and  hatched  their  young  took  fire.  The 
parent  birds  were  seen  Hying  to  a  ford,  where 
they  plunged  into  water;  they  then  returned 
l()  the  nest,  flapped  their  wings  vigorously, 
then  returned  again  and  .again  to  the  water, 
■and  by  means  of  sheer  ingenuity  succeeded  in 
so  soaking  the  surroundings  of  the  nest  that 
it  was  saved  from  burning ;  in  the  meantime 
the  fire  had  been  got  under  control.  Though 
the  stork  is  benign  as  a  rule,  if  ill-treated  or 
insulted  it  shows  plenty  of  spirit.  A  tragic 
story  is  told  of  the  results  of  robbing  a  stork's 
nest.  .A  collector  was  very  keen  to  get  an  egg 
.IS  a  specimen ;  he  therefore  climbed  up  and 
abstracted  one,  substituting  in  its  place  a 
goose's  t^gg ;  the  change  was  apparentiv  un- 
noticed, and  finally  the  h.itching  took  place. 
There  was  much  ado  at  the  nest  when  the 
intruder  was  discovered.  The  male  bird  dis- 
appeared on  the  first  day,  and  reappeared  on 
the  fourth  dav  with  a  huge  flight  of  storks. 
The  female  continued  to  sit  on  the  nest,  looking 
depressed  and  scared.  A  solemn  parliament 
was  then  held,  several  storks  appearing  to 
address  the  rest;  then,  with  dismal  cries,  the 
mate,  followed  by  a  great  number  of  his  allies, 
set  upon  the  female  and  destroyed  her,  the 
voCing  gosling,  and  the  rude  nest  of  twigs. 

The  w  hite  stork  is  about  3A  feet  in  length  ; 
its  bill  is  larger  than  its  head  ;  the  gait  is  slow 
and  measured,  its  flight  high  and  powerful. 
It  frequents  marshes,  and  feeds  on  eels,  frogs, 
lizards,  snakes,  young  birds,  and  offal.  .  In 
manv  towns  it  plays  the  part  of  sanitary  com- 
missioner, .and  wanders  unmolested  through 
tlie  streets,  clearing  them  of  garbage.  There 
are  laws  protecting  the  birds  from  injury,  so 
great  is  the  service  they  render. 

Thefe  are  numerous  legendary  tales  and 
manv  proverbs  about  the  stork.  In  Holland 
and  Germanv  the  little  children  think  the  stork 
brings  the  babies  to  their  mothers,  either  fetch- 
ing them  up  from  a  well  or  from  under  a  bush. 
In  the  following  dainty  poem  Ella  Wheeler 
WiUciix  weaves  this  popular  idea  into  verse  . — 


November  20, 1912  Z\^c  KHtt^b  3ournal  of  IRureiiuj  Supplement.     147 


BABYLANl). 
Have  you  heard  of  the  Valley  of  Babyland  ? 

The  realm  where  the  dear  little  darlings  stay 
Till  the  kind  storks  go,  as  all  men  know, 

And  oh  I    so  tenderly  bring  them  away  ? 
riic  paths  are  winding  and  past  all  finding 

Uy  all  save  the  storks  who  understand 
The   gates   and   the   highways   and    the    intricate 
byways 

That  lead  to  Babyland. 

All  over  the  Valley  of  Babyland 

Sweet  flowers  bloom  in  the  soft  green  moss. 
And  under  the  ferns  fair,  and  under  the  plant* 
there, 
],ie  little  heads  like  spools  of  floss. 
With  a  soothing  number  the  river  of  slumber 

Flows  o'er  a  bedway  of  silver  sand  ; 
And  angels  are  keeping  watch  o'er  the  sleeping 
Babes  of  Babyland. 

The  path  to  the  \'alley  of  Babyland 

Only  the  kingly,  kind  storks  know  ; 
If    they    fly    over    mountains    or    wade    through 
fountains. 
No  man  sees  them  come  or  go. 
But  an  angel  maybe,  who  guards  some  baby. 

Or  a  fairy,  perhaps,  with  her  magic  wand 
Jirings  them  .straightway  to  the  wonderful  gateway 
That  leads  to  Babyland. 

And  there  in  the  \'alley  of  Jiabyland, 
Vnder  the  mosses  and  leaves  and  ferns. 

Like  an  unfledged  starling,  they  find  the  darling. 
For  whom  the  heart  of  a  mother  yearns. 

And  they  hft  him  lightly,  and  snug  him  tightly 
In  feathers  soft  as  a  lady's  hand. 

And  off  with  a  rockaway  step  they  work  away 
Out  of  Babyland. 

As  they  go  from  the  Valley  of  Babyland 

Forth  into  the  world  of  great  unrest. 
Sometimes  in  weeping  he  wakes  from  sleeping 

Before  he  reaches  his  mother's  breast. 
Ah  1    how  she  blesses  him,  how  she  caresses  him  ! 

Bonniest  bud  in  the  bright  homeland, 
That  o'er  land  and  water  the  kind  stork  brought 
her 

From  far-oft   liabyland. 

There  is  a  popular  sayinj,'  that  in  the  house 
over  which  the  stork  builds  its  nest  the  mother 
never  dies  in  childbirth — so  may  it  be  where 
the  York  Road  "  storks  "  jfo. 

We  see  the  stork,  then,  as  a  "  bring^cr  of 
fjood,"  tender  to  the  yountf  and  aged,  full  of 
n.itural  affection,  with  a  high  standard  of 
morals ;  a  valuable  assistant  to  the  sanitary 
authorities,  warmly  welcomed  in  its  periodic 
visits,  faithful  to  its  old  haunts,  punctual, 
gentle,  spirited  if  wronged.  York  Road,  then, 
has  well-chosen  "the  stork"  as  an  emblem 
for  the  midwivcs  trained  there. 

M.  O.  H. 


THH    CHMRAL   MIDWIVHS'    BOARD. 


A  mectmg  of  the  Central  Midwives'  Board  was 
held  at  Caxton  House,  Westminster,  on  Thursday, 
November  21st,  Sir  Francis  Champncys  pre- 
siding. 

KiiPORT  OF  Penal  Casks  Co.mmittf,e. 
Final  reports,  requested  by  the  Board  from  the 
Local  Supervising  Authorities,  were  received  in 
nine  cases.  On  the  recommendation  of  the  Penal 
Cases  Committee,  it  was  decided  to  take  no  further 
action  in  seven  cases.  In  the  remaining  two,  as 
the  reports  were  unsatisfactory,  it  was  decided  to 
cite  the  midwives  to  appear  before  the  Board. 

Interim  reports  were  received  in  seven  cases. 
In  one  it  was  decided  to  cite  the  midwife  to  appear 
before  the  Board  ;  and  in  another,  to  adjourn  the 
case  for  further  information. 

A  letter  was  considered  from  the  (lovcrnor  of 
H.M.  Prison  at  Ij;eds,  notifying  the  conviction  of 
a  certified  midwife  at  the  Barnsley  Borough  Petty 
Sessions,  for  assault  ;  and  that  she  had  been 
sentenced  to  ten  days'  hard  labour,  or  a  fine  of 
;(ts.  It  was  decided  to  cite  the  midwife  to  appear 
before  the  Board. 

On  the  recommendation  of  the  Penal  Cases 
Committee,  it  was  decided  to  cite  thirty  midwives 
to  appear  before  the  Board,  making  thirty-two  in 
all. 

Report  of  Standing  Committki:. 
The  following  letters  were  considered  : 
(i)  F'rom  the  Secretary  of  the  Monmouthshire 
Training  Centre  for  Midwi\es,  reporting  that  a  false 
reference  from  the  Matron  of  the  Monmouthshire 
.Maternity  Home  had  been  given  by  a  certified 
midwife,  with  the  view  of  obtaining  a  position  at 
the  King  F'dward  VII.  Hospital,  Windsor.  The 
Standing  Committee  recommended  : 

'  That  the  facts  be  laid  before  the  local  police, 
and  that,  failing  action  by  them,  the  matter  be 
laid  before  the  Public  Prosecutor  ;  and  that, 
failing  action  by  him,  the  matter  be  referted  to  the 
Penal  Cases  Committee." 

Mr.  Parker  Young  moved  the  following  amend- 
ment, which  was  seconded  by  Miss  Paget,  that— - 
"  As  this  is  a  case  which  is  i^unishable  at  law, 
the  two  institutions  be  informed  accordingly." 

The  amendment  was  lost,  and  the  recommenda- 
tion of  the  Standing  Committee  adopted. 

(2)  From  Dr.  J.  C.  Heaven,  Acting  Inspector  of 
Midwives  for  Bristol,  enquiring  whether  an  un- 
certified woman,  practising  as  a  midwife  who  makes 
no  special  charge  for  her  services,  but  accepts 
whatever  her  patient  likes  to  give  her.  is  practising 
as  a  midwife  for  gain  and  consequently  within  the 
terms  of  Section  I  (2)  of  the  Midwives  Act,  1902. 

It  was  decided  to  reply  that  the  answer  be  that 
the  question  raised  has  not  yet  been  settled  in  law  ; 
and  that  the  only  way  to  settle  it  is  by  instituting 
a  prosecution  under  the  Act,  Section  I  (2). 

(3)  From  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Norwich 
Maternity  Charity,  submitting  the  applications  of 
Or,  .\rthur  Crook  and  Or.  F.rncst  Bertram  Hinde   , 


448     ^be  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRursing  Supplement,  xovember  30,  1912 


for  approval  as  Supervisors  at  the  Written  Exami" 
nations,  held  at  Norwich.  The  applications  were 
granted. 

(4)  From  the  Clerk  of  the  Middlesex  County 
Council,  as  to  the  difficultj-  of  prosecuting  un- 
certified women  under  Section  I  (2)  of  the  Mid- 
wives  Act.  igo2,  for  practising  as  midwives. 
From  Dr.  J.  R.  Kaye,  County  Medical  Officer  for 
the  West  Riding,  on  the  same  subject. 

It  was  agreed  that  a  cppy  of  the  correspondence 
be  sent  to  the  Privy  Council. 

Applications. 

The  applications  of  seven  midwives  for  the 
removal  of  their  names  from  the  Roll  were  received, 
and  it  was  decided  that  the  applications  be 
granted. 

The  applications  of  Dr.  Xorman  Barnet  Benja- 
field  and  Dr.  Robert  Douglas  I,aurie,  for  recogni- 
tion as  teachers,  were  granted. 

The  applications  of  ]Mr.  Samuel  T.  Lord, 
M.R.C.S.,  and  Dr.  Theodore  F.  Dillon,  for  recog- 
nition, under  Rule  C  (i,  2),  were  granted  pro  hac 
vice. 

Tlip  applications  of  the  following  certified 
midwives  for  approval,  under  Rule  C,  I  (2),  were 
granted  ;  Misses  Clara  Elizabeth  Smith,  District 
Midwife,  Royal  ^laternit^-  Charity-,  London  ; 
Hannah  Matilda  Wright.  Wealdstone  ;  Jane 
Margaret  Ostle,  Hammersmith  ;  Minnie  Page, 
Chelsea  ;  Jane  Anne  Scholfield,  Midwife  for  the 
Borough  of  Portsmouth  Maternity  Charity,  and 
Elizabeth  S.  Tate,  Lady  Superintendent  Ulster 
Hospital  for  Children  and  Women. 

The  Secretar)'  presented  his  report  on  the 
recent  examination,  which  he  stated  was  the 
largest  ever  held. 

The  meeting  then  terminated. 


CONVICTION     UNDER    THE    MIDWIVES 
ACT. 

Ihe  Midwives  Act  Committee  reported  to  the 
London  County  Council,  on  Tuesdav,  in  connection 
with  the  legal  proceedings,  instituted  by  tlie 
Council  against  Xora  Rolf,  of  No.  9,  Heckfield 
Place,  Fulham,  for  having  habitually  and  for  gain 
practised  midwifery,  contrary-  to  the  provisions  of 
Section  i  (2)  of  the  Midwives  Act,  1902,  that  the 
case  was  heard  at  the  West  London  Police  Court, 
on  November  8th,  1912,  when  she  was  convicted, 
and  sentenced  to  one  month's  imprisonment,  in 
default  of  paying  a  fine  of  £2  with  £1  5s.  costs. 


MATERNITY     NURSING     ASSOCIATION. 

A  fancj'  fair  was  held  last  week  on  behalf  of  the 
good  work  being  done  in  connection  with  the 
Maternity  Nursing  Association,  63,  Myddleton 
Square,  Clerkenwell.  The  Mayor  of  Finsbury, 
Alderman  H.  B.  Barton,  J. P.,  was  present,  wearing 
his  chain  of  office,  and  the  proceedings  were  form- 
ally opened  by  the  Viscountess  St.  Aldwjm,  who 
spoke  of  the  benefit  of  the  skill  of  the  staff  and 
their    wonderful    influence    in    the    interests    of 


sobriety,  morality  and  goodness.  There  were  a 
number  of  attractive  stalls,  the  Provision  Stall 
being  in  charge  of  Lady  Leach,  and  the  Hon. 
Treasurer,  Miss  Blunt ;  and  Miss  Muriel,  the 
Matron,  and  the  staff  of  the  Home  presided  over  the 
Fancy  Stall.    The  receipts  amounted  to  about£i50. 

THE     DANGER     OF     EARRINGS     FOR 
INFANTS. 

Just  why  the  poor  babv  should  sport  a  pair  of 
earrings  in  this  practical  age  probably  no  one  can 
explain,  says  the  Dietetic  and  Hygienic  Gazette. 
It  is  true,  just  the  same,  that  the  practice  of 
piercing  baby's  ears  has  survived  from  an  earlier 
stage,  and  our  district  nurses  will  encounter  such 
cases  occasionally.  Epstein  has  been  making 
investigations  into  the  hj'gienic  significance  of 
this  procedure  and  his  report  in  a  German  periodi- 
cal is  reviewed  for  the  Archives  of  Pediatrics,  from 
which  we  quote  ; 

\'eiy'  little  has  been  said  about  the  danger 
of  earrings  in  infants.  Infections  of  all  kinds  and 
severe  cases  of  eczema  may  result  from  the  wound 
which  has  been  made  during  ear  piercing  in  infants. 
Epstein  reports  a  few  cases  from  the  literature 
in  which  it  has  been  conclusively  shown  that 
tuberculosis  may  result  from  ear  piercing.  He 
also  reports  two  cases  which  he  had  observed  and 
which  had  developed  tuberculosis  in  this  same 
way  (infection  from  ear  piercing). 

A  relic  of  barbarism  is  this  custom,  without  a 
doubt.  Now  that  we  are  sparing  no  pains  to  keep 
babies  clean  inside  and  out,  let  us  be  vigilant  in 
cases  where  the  baby  is  liable  to  be  imposed  upon 
in  this  outrageous  way. 

• — * — » 

THE      CARE      OF      LYING-IN      WOMEN. 

The  ease  with  which  a  woman  can  "  gain  a 
connection  "  in  caring  for  lying-in  patients  or 
the  sick  is  exemplified  in  the  case  which  we 
recorded  last  week,  when  the  solicitor  of  a  woman 
summoned  for  breaches  of  the  Midwives  Act, 
of  which  on  one  charge  she  was  e.xonerated,  told 
the  Court  that  she  took  up  the  work  by  accident, 
having  been  called  in  in  an  emergency  in  the 
first  instance,  and  subsequently  gaining  employ- 
ment because  she  was  passed  on  from  one  case  to 
another.  Of  course,  she  cannot  practise  as  a 
certified  midwife.  The  Midwi\-es  .\ct  protects 
the  lying-in  woman  from  being  attended  by  those 
who  have  not  a  certain  amount  of  knowledge, 
but  no  minimum  anwltait  of  knowledge  is  required 
before  a  w.-man  canjmtctise  as  a  nurse.  Surely 
it  is  time  that  profes^^al  nurses,  who  know  the 
need  of  skilled  nursing  for  lying-in  women,  and 
the  .dangers  that  beset  them  if  their  attendants 
are  not  skilled,  left  no  step  unturned  to  secure 
a  minimum  standard  for  registered  nurses.  There 
are  many  people  even  at  the  present  day  who 
think  that  a  kindly  \voman  is  all  that  is  necessary 
for  a  nurse  for  the  sick — instinct  will  do  the  rest. 
We  who  know  differently  should  not  be.  content 
till  every  member  of  the  public  knows  it  too. 


THE 

Mi 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,     DECEMBER   7,    1912. 


EDITORIAL.  . 

A     DEaREE     IN     NURSING. 

All  interestint;  development  of  tlie  work 
at  Teachers'  College,  Columbia  University, 
New  York,  affecting  the  Course  of  Nursing 
and  Health,  is  the  division  of  the  College 
into  two  Departments,  the  School  of  Educa- 
tion, and  the  new  School  of  Practical  Arts. 
The  report  of  Miss  Nutting,  the  Director, 
to  the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Society  of 
Superintendents  of  Training  Schools  for 
Nurses,  which,  it  will  be  remembered, 
initiated  the  course  (at  first  known  as  the 
course  in  Hospital  Economics)  is  published 
in  full  in  the  transactions  of  the  Society,  and 
shows  how  the  good  work,  quietly  begun 
by  a  few  Superintendents,  has  prospered, 
till  now  a  student  at  Teachers'  College 
working  for  a  degree,  may  receive  substan- 
tial recognition  for  time  spent  in  hospital 
while  taking  her  practical  nursing  course. 
She  enters  the  School  of  Practical  Arts 
direct  from  a  high  school,  takes  her  pre- 
liminarv  sciences  in  one  or  two  years,  enters 
a  nursing  school,  and  if  the  work  done  in  the 
school  is  of  a  high  character,  with  good 
solid  theoretical  courses,  it  is  counted 
towards  the  degree,  and  the  student  can 
return  on  the  satisfactory  completion  of  her 
course  to  finish  work  for  her  degree. 

This  is  the  first  time  that  any  college  has 
undertaken  to  give  credit  for  the  years 
spent  in  a  nursing  school,,  and,  as  Miss 
Goodrich  pointed  out  when  the  report  was 
presented.  Miss  Nutting  is  mainly  respon- 
sible for  having  secured  this  recognition. 

The  result  of  this  achievement  is  that 
New  York  must  be  accorded  the  position 
of  leader  in  the  world  of  nursing  education, 
for  nowhere  else  has  nursing  been  organized 
on  such  liberal  lines,  or  accorded  a  place  in 
the  university  curriculum.  We  congratu- 
late the  American  Superintendents,  and 
especially    Miss    Nutting,    on    the   result   of 


their  public  spirited  work,  and  American 
nurses  on  the  unique  educational  advan- 
tages which  have  been  secured  to  them. 
Is  it  too  much  to  hope  that  since  it  is  too 
late  for  this  country  to  have  the  honour  of 
leading  the  way  in  the  organization  of 
nursing  education  on  university  lines,  it  will 
at  least  not  delay  to  recognize  that  this  is 
the  place  where  it  rightly  belongs,  and  that 
the  authorities  of  the  Nursing  Schools  of 
the  large  London  and  provincial  hospitals 
will  seek  to  place  these  schools  in  the 
relations  to  University  education  which  have 
already  been  established  with  such  excellent 
results  in  the  case  of  medical  education. 

Nothing  would  counteract  more  effec- 
tively the  downward  grade  of  nursing  in 
this  country,  and  that  this  is  necessary 
cannot  be  doubted.  On  all  sides  one  hears 
the  opinion  expressed  that  the  type  of 
woman  entering  the  nursing  profession  does 
not  compare  favourably  as  to  education, 
physique,  or  endurance  with  that  which 
was  available  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago. 
There  is,  indeed,  little  to  attract  the  more 
intelligent  class  of  woman  to  nursing  at  the 
present  time,  except  her  irradicable  love  of 
humanity  and  her  desire  to  serve  it.  The 
quality  and  thoroughness  of  the  training 
received  is  uncertain,  there  is  no  legal 
recognition  of  qualifications  at  its  con- 
clusion. There  is  nothing  to  differentiate 
the  thoroughly  traiiied,  competent  nurse  in 
the  public  mind  from  the  incompetent  and 
half-trained  woman,  and  promotion  is  almost 
invariablv  the  result  of  infiuencc  rather  than 
merit. 

To  give  a  guarantee  of  a  thorough  pro- 
fessional training,  followed  by  legal  status, 
is  the  surest  means  of  inducinij  the  most 
conscientious  type  of  candidates  to  seek 
admission  to  nurse  training  schools. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  example  of 
organization  in  the  United  States  of  America 
may  be  our  inspiration. 


450 


Zbc  Bi'itisb  3ournal  of  Bursino.      December  7,  191: 


MEDICAL     MATTERS. 


THE    HYCilENE     OF    THE    BRAIN    WORKER. 

The    British    Medical    Journal    for    Novem- 
ber 30th  contains  a  most  interesting  article  on 
"  The  Hygiene  of  the  Brain  Worker,"  in  which 
we  read  that  brain  worTcers,  Hke  those  whose 
sphere   of   labour   is    more   mechanical,    suffer 
from  what  may  be  called,  in  a  special  sense, 
professional  diseases.     These  depend  partly  on 
the  nature  of  the  work,  partly  on  the  conditions 
under  which  it  has  to  be  done.     The  life  both 
of  the  scientific  and  of  the  literary  worker  is 
one   that   places   great  strain   on  the   nervous 
centres.     The  brain,  like  the  muscles,  is  liable 
to  fatigue  when  used  too  intensely  or  too  long. 
This  fatigue  is  the  result  of  a  process  which 
brings  about  changes  in  the  constitution  of  the 
bloody    These  necessarily  react  on  the  circula- 
tory apparatus,  causing  more  or  less  disorder 
in    its    action.       This    disorder    is    re-echoed 
throughout  the  system ;  the  stomach,  the  liver, 
and   the  other  organs   suffer   to   some  extent, 
each  after  its  kind.     In  a  word,  fatigue  of  the 
brain    entails    fatigue   of    the   body   generally. 
Even    the    muscles    lose    something    of    their 
vigour,    and    diminution    takes    place    in    the 
resistance  of  the  body  to  harmful  influences.  .  .  . 
It  has  been  proved  experimentally  that  brain 
work  causes  actual  waste  of  tissue,  an  amount 
of  organic  refuse  being  thrown  out  of  the  body 
which    corresponds    to    the     intensity    of    the 
mental  activity.     It  has  also  been  shown  by  the 
thermometer  that  the  brain  is  heated  by  work  ; 
this,     of    course,     means    increased    combus- 
tion. .  .  .  Hence  the  very  conditions  of  intellec- 
tual work  tend  to  upset  the  balance  of  power 
in  the  organic  functions  of  the  body  which  con- 
stitutes health.      When  depressing  influences, 
such  as  poverty,  anxiety,  or  ill-health  are  added 
to  these  conditions,  the  strain  of  intellectual  life 
is  at  its  maximum. 

Among  the  main  causes  of  the  strain  of  brain 
work  is  want  of  sufficient  sleep,  which,  we  are 
told,  will  in  time  wear  out  the  finest  and 
strongest  brain.  All  sorts  of  disorders — 
neurasthenia,  melancholia,  disordered  nutri- 
tion, convulsive  disorders — result  from  want  of 
sleep.  Lastly,  a  word  of  warning  is  given  con- 
cerning intermittent  excesses  in  the  way  of 
exercise.  Till  an  anti-toxin  is  discovered  which 
shall  neutralize  the  toxin  of  fatigue,  brain 
workers  are  urged  not  to  be  too  strenuous  in 
their  use  of  the  week-end  holiday,  as  they 
become  poisoned  by  an  excess  of  waste 
products  engendered  by  unwonted  exertion. 


CLINICAL  NOTES  ON  SOME  COMMON 
AILMENTS. 

Bv  .A.   Knvvett  Gordon,   M.B.   Cant.-\b. 


DISORDERS    OF    MENSTRUATION. 

It  has  been  recently  pointed  out  to  me  that  I 
have  not  included  in  this  series  of  articles  any 
description  of  the  common  irregularities  in  the 
menstrual  process  to  which  many  women  are 
subject,  and  it  was  further  stated  that  in  the 
ordinary  text-book  of  gynaecology  the  articles 
on  this  subject  are  often  written  in  somewhat 
involved  language.  I  purpose,  therefore, 
giving  firstly  a  short  description  of  the  pheno- 
mena of  normal  menstruation,  and  then  dis- 
cussing the  chief  variations  from  this  type, 
together  with  the  treatment  of  the  distressing 
symptoms  to  which  they  give  rise. 

The  difficulty  with  regard  to  the  descriptions 
in  the  text-books  lies  in  the  fact  that  the  whole 
process  of  menstruation  is  but  imperfectly 
understood,  and  that  there  are  several  rather 
different  theories  to  account  for  its  phenomena. 
Inasmuch  as  a  text-book  is  written  mainly  for 
students  who  have  to  pass  examinations  on  the 
subject,  it  is  necessary  that  these  theories 
should  be  discussed,  but  for  our  purpose  this 
is  not  essential,  and  we  can,  therefore,  omit 
confusing  details  for  the  purpose  of  gaining  a 
clear  idea  of  the  rationale  of  the  subject. 

The  essential  feature  of  menstruation  is  that 
it  accompanies,  and  is  secondary  to,  ovulation. 
In  healthv  women,  at  intervals  of  28  or  30  days 
an  ovum  escapes  from  the  gland  which  manu- 
factures it — and  which  is  called  the  ovary — 
into  the  abdominal  cavity. 

Except  in  very  abnormal  circumstances,  it 
does  not  lie  there,  but  is  picked  up  by  the  end 
of  the  Fallopian  tube,  or  oviduct,  as  it  is  some- 
times called,  and  conveyed  into  the  uterus. 
There  it  either  meets  with  the  male  element, 
which  is  a  microscopic  body  known  as  a  sper- 
matozoon, or  it  does  not.  In  the  former  case 
the  two  combine  and  develop  into  a'  foetus,  and 
pregnancy  ensues,  or  it  is  cast  out  from  the 
uterus  altogether  in  the  process  which  is  known 
as  menstruation. 

The  ovum  itself  is  so  small  that  it  can  only 
be  seen  under  a  powerful  microscope,  so  it  is 
obvious  that  something  more  than  this  is  shed 
also.  What  happens  is  that  every  time  an 
ovum  reaches  the  uterus  and  is  not  fertilised, 
either  the  whole,  according  to  some  authorities, 
or  the  superficial  layer,  according  to  others 
(the  difference  does  not  matter  to  us  in  the 
least),  of  the  lining  membrane  of  the  uterus 
breaks  up  Into  its  constituent  cells,  and  leaves 


December  7,   igi: 


?tbe  3Srittsb  3ournal  ot  Bursino. 


451 


the  body  in  the  form  of  a  discharge.  The 
separation  of  the  Hning  is  accompanied  by  some 
hasmorrhage,  the  amount  of  \\hich  varies  in 
normal  women  within  very  wide  limits,  and  at 
different  times  and  ages,  and  this  gives  the 
discharge  its  characteristic  appearance. 

In  savage  races,  and  in  some  very  healthy 
civilised  women,  this  process  is  entirely  pain- 
less, but  in  the  average  woman  there  is  nor- 
mally a  certain  amount  of  pain — which  is  com- 
monly felt  in  the  back,  and  is  most  marked  at 
the  onset  of  the  flow — and  there  are  also 
symptoms  of  general  discomfort,  such  as  lassi- 
tude and  headache. 

Normally  the  total  quantity  of  the  discharge 
is  from  two  to  eight  ounces,  and  the  period  lasts 
for  from  two  to  eight  days.  The  interval 
between  successive  periods  is  most  commonly 
28  days,  but  it  may  be  less  than  this — down  to 
21  days— without  there  being  necessarily  any- 
thing wrong  with  the  patient.  The  periods 
begin  as  a  rule  at  the  age  of  13  to  15,  and  cease 
gradually  between  45  and  50,  which  latter  event 
is  known  as  the  menopause.  Menstruation  is 
normally  absent  during  pregnancy  and  lacta- 
tion. 

So  much  for  the  normal.  We  can  have  devia- 
tions from  this  either  in  the  quantity  of  the 
discharge,  in  the  frequency  of  the  periods,  or 
in  the  symptoms  which  each  period  produces. 
Classifying  these,  we  get  : — 

AmctiorrhcEa. — .Absence  of  the  period  alto- 
gether. 

MenorrhagM. — When  the  flow  is  too  profuse. 

Dysmenorrhcea. — When  the  process  is 
accompanied  by  an  excess  of  pain. 

We  will  now  discuss  each  of  these  separately. 

Amenorrha?a  may  be  due — apart  from  preg- 
nancy or  lactation — either  to  some  constitu-- 
tional  ailment  or  to  disease  of  the  genital 
organs  themselves,  the  former  being  by  far  the 
most  common,  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  pelvic 
disease  more  often  gives  rise  to  excessive, 
irregular,  or  painful  menstruation,  than  to 
cessation  of  the  flow. 

Still,  the  trouble  is  sometimes  in  the  uterus 
or  ovaries,  and  the  first  point  is  whether  the 
patient  has  ever  menstruated,  or  whether  the 
periods  have  ceased  after  having  been  well 
established.  In  the  former  case  there  is  almost 
certainly  something  abnormal  which  has 
existed  from  birth,  such  as  absence  of  the 
uterus  altogether,  or  congenital  defects  in  the 
ovaries,  or  it  may  be  some  obstruction  in  the 
vagina  to  the  flow.  We  need  not  dwell  on 
these,  as  it  is  simply  a  question  of  making  a 
proper  examination  and  discovering  the  defect. 

Of  local  causes  for  cessation  of  menstruation 
after   it   has   been    well    established,    the   com- 


monest are  intiammation  of  the  tubes  and 
ovaries  from  gonorrha'al  infection,  and  ovarian 
cysts.  The  former  acts  by  sealing  up  the  ends 
of  the  oviducts,  so  that  an  ovum,  even  if  the 
ovary  is  healthy  enough  to  produce  one,  is  not 
able  to  reach  the  uterus.  This  is  not  the  place 
in  which  lo  dilate  upon  the  evil  effects  of 
gonorrhoea!  inflammation  in  the  female,  as 
amenorrhoea  is  one  of  the  least  important  of 
its  results,  but  one  cannot  pass  the  subject  by 
without  observing  that  it  is  usually  contracted 
by  the  female  in  entire  innocence,  and  in  conse- 
•quence  of  ignorance,  which  is  the  more  inexcus- 
able because  it  is  in  the  majority  of  instances 
entirely  unnecessary,  and  is  due,  in  fact,  to  the 
shirking  of  responsibility,  not  only  by  parents, 
but  also,  unfortunately,  by  teachers  also.  In 
any  case  where  marriage  is  contemplated,  and 
previous  gonorrhoea  is  possible,  evidence  should 
first  be  obtained  by  bacteriological  examination 
that  the  risk  of  infection  no  longer  exists  before 
union  should  be  permitted. 

The  commonest  causes  of  amenorrhoea,  how- 
ever, are  two — namely,  phthisis  and  anaemia. 
It  should  be  mentioned,  however,  that  it  is  not 
uncommon  for  temporary  amenorrhoea  to  occur 
in  young  girls  when  a  sudden  change  takes 
place  from  a  sedentary  to  a  laborious  life  ;  thus, 
it  is  often  seen  amongst  new  probationers  in  a 
hospital.  This  type  should  cause  no  alarm,  as 
it  tends  to  disappear  by  itself,  or  with  the 
assistance  of  a  general  tonic. 

Amenorrhoea  in  anpemia  is  really  conserva- 
tive, and  is  simply  an  effort  of  nature  to  guard 
against  any  avoidable  loss  of  blood.  As  it 
almost  always  disappears  on  marriage,  it  need 
give  rise  to  no  apprehension.  Still,  it  is  an 
indication  for  treating  the  anaemia  in  the 
manner  described  in  a  previous  article.  When 
due  to  phthisis,  it  is  often  one  of  the  earliest 
symptoms  of  this  disease,  and  it  should  always 
be  taken  as  a  reason  for  examining  the  chest. 
Under  open-air  treatment,  the  flow  often 
returns. 

There  is  really  no  drug  that  will  of  itself 
cause  the  return  of  a  flow  which  has  ceased, 
and  the  remedies  advertised  for  this  purpose 
are  often  worse  than  quackery.  Both  in 
anaemia  and  in  phthisis,  iron  is  useful,  and  it 
may  often  be  combined  with  arsenic  and  man- 
ganese; it  is  essential  that  any  tendency  to 
constipation  should  be  treated. 
[To  he  continued.) 

An  interesting  lecture,  which  attracted  a 
large  audience,  was  delivered  on  Friday, 
November  29th,  by  Dr.  J.  C.  Rankin,  on  "  Skin 
Diseases  and  their  Treatment,"  to  the  Ulster 
Branch  of  the  Irish  Nurses'  Association 


452 


(Ibc  Britisb  Sournnl  of  11^ur5ina       December  7,  1912 


THE  PREPARATION  OF  PATIENTS  FOR 
AN  INJECTION  OF  606. 


At  the  present  day  neo-salvarsan  is  fast 
replacing  the  original  606,  otherwise  called 
salvarsan.  Not  only  is  the  drug  at  least  as 
successful  in  its  therapeutic  effect  as  the 
original,  but  it  has  also  the  additional  value  of 
easy  preparation  and  an  almost  entire  absence 
of  ill  effects. 

Every  patient  who  undergoes  this  treatment 
should  be  prepared  as  for  operation,  except 
that  the  enema  should  be  omitted.  An  aperient 
should  be  given  overnight,  and  a  very  light 
breakfast  of  tea,  bovril,  or  suchlike  diet.  Milk 
should  be  avoided,  as  its  tendency  to  produce 
vomiting  has  been  repeatedly  proved. 

As  regards  the  actual  preparation  of  the 
skin,  iodine  is  sometimes  used,  but  experience 
shows  that  this  so  stains  the  skin,  especially 
wben  applied  to  the  arms  of  rather  stout 
patients  and  women  in  particular,  that  it  makes 
it  very  difficult  to  trace  the  veins.  The  applica- 
tion of  ether  just  before  the  injection  is  there- 
fore advocated. 

Doctors  who  have  given  a  large  number  of 
injections  find  that  it  is  better  to  give  them  as 
early  in  the  day  as  possible,  largely  on  account 
of  the  psychological  effect  the  delay  produces 
on  the  patient. 

After  an  Injection  of  the  old  606,  in  spite  of 
all  that  may  be  done  in  the  way  of  careful 
preparation  of  the  patient,  the  use  of  freshly 
distilled  water,  filtering  the  solution,  &cf., 
rigors,  diarrhoea,  vomiting,  sweating,  head- 
ache, and  even  more  serious  complications  may 
be  expected.  With  the  use  of  neo-salvarsan, 
if  carefully  given,  ill-effects  are  rarely  noted, 
and  it  is  quite  usual  for  the  patient  to  sleep  for 
the  remainder  of  the  day.  Indeed,  it  may  be 
given  in  a  consulting  room  and  the  patient  then 
driven  home,  but  absolute  rest  must  be  ensured 
on  his  return. 

As  regards  food  after  an  injection  of  neo- 
salvarsan,  soup,  fish,  bovril,  or  the  like  rrray  be 
given  in  about  four  hours ;  but  with  the  old  606 
It  is  advisable  to  wait  a  little  longer,  and  milk 
should  be  avoided. 

With  an  injection  of  the  original,  complete 
rest  in  bed  is  essential,  otherwise  syncope  is 
not  unknown.  A  close  watch  should  be  kept 
on  pulse  and  temperature,  and  every  careful 
administrator  will  want  to  know  the  amount  of 
urine  passed,  its  character,  and  to  examine  for 
albumen,  &c. 

Most  doctors  bring  their  own  apparatus,  but 
a  piece  of  rubber  tubing  and  an  old  pair  of 


artery  forceps  should  be  provided  to  dam  back 
the  tlow  of  blood  in  the  veins,  and  also  a 
plentiful  supply  of  hot  water.  Means  should  be 
at  hand  for  warming  up  the  saline  or  distilled 
water  which  the  administrator  as  a  rule  brings 
with  him. 

After  the  administration,  especially  with  the 
older  drug,  any  secondary  rash  may  become 
more  brilliant  and  urticaria  may  develop. 
Patients  sometimes  complain  of  tasting  the 
drug,  tingling  sensation  in  the  tongue,  and 
not  uncommonly,  on  the  next  day,  of  a  mild 
attack  of  tonsillitis. 

The  administration  of  the  drug  is  a  knack, 
and  consists  largely  in  penetrating  successfully 
the  lumen  of  the  vein  (the  median  cephalic  or 
basilic  being  chosen),  without  the  escape  of  the 
prepared  solution  into  the  perivascular  tissues 
and  without  an  incision  being  made  over  the 
long  axis  of  the  vein,  the  technique  of  infusion 
being  adopted.  --\t  the  present  day  several 
doses  are  given,  and  obviously,  should  the  vein 
have  to  be  exposed,  patients  would  resent 
multiple  incisions. 

The  principle  of  an  injection  is  that,  the  veins 
of  the  forearm  having  been  made  as  tense  and 
prominent  as  possible,  a  needle,  attached  to  a 
rubber  tubing  having  in  close  proximity  to  its 
base  a  glass  window,  is  thrust  into  the  vein, 
and  saline,  which  is  contained  in  a  receptacle 
attached  to  the  distal  end  of  the -rubber,  is 
allowed  to  flow  into  it.  Immediately  the  punc- 
ture is  made  any  administrator  who  has  not 
had  sufficient  experience  to  tell  by  the  feel 
(which  one  cannot  describe)  should  lower  the 
receptable  below  the  level  of  the  arm  and 
ascertain,  by  the  presence  of  dark  venous  blood 
in  the  window,  that  he  has  successfully  per- 
forated and  entered  only  the  chosen  vein. 
Having  ascertained  this  the  receptacle  Is 
raised,  and  at  the  same  time  a  piece  of  india- 
rubber  tubing  fixed  round  the  arm  by  the 
artery  forceps  is  removed.  The  arm,  cleaned 
with  ether,  lies  horizontally  on  a  pillow  covered 
bv  a  sterilised  towel.  The  solution  of  the  drug 
is  now  allowed  to  flow,  and  from  i  to  f  pint  of 
fluid  in  all  passed  into  the  circulatory  system, 
a  small  quantity  of  saline  following  the  606 
solution  so  as  to  wash  the  apparatus  through. 

Nearly  each  administrator  of  note  has  his 
own  apparatus,  but  the  above  description  indi- 
cates the  principle.  -All  sorts  of  devices  are  used 
for  the  avoidance  of  air  bubbles,  and  a  nurse 
will  do  well  to  carefully  examine  the  construc- 
tion of  the  apparatus  which  may  be  handed  to 
her  to  take  to  pieces  and  sterilise  before  use, 
so  that  she  may  be  able  to  put  it  together  after- 
wards. T,-   IJ    w 


December  7,  191 2       TLljc  Bi'tttsl)  3ournaI  Of  IRurslno. 


453 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPhTITION. 


WHAT    IS    CHOLKRA.    ITS    SV.MI'IOMS.    THB     TREAT- 

AlENT     USUALl.V    PkliSCklBED     AND     THB     NUKSINO 

POINT*     TO     Bl£     OBSbKVEU  ? 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  S.  Simpson,  Borough  Sana- 
torium, Bridlington. 

PRIZE     PAPER. 

Cholera  is  an  acute  disease,  of  which  the 
principal  features  are  the  profuse  discharge  of 
watery  evacuations  from  the  bowels,  vomiting, 
collapse,  cramps  in  the  calves  and  feet,  and 
suppression  of  urine. 

Cholera  is  communicable  from  man  to  man, 
and  may  occur  in  epidemics ;  it  makes  but  little 
distinction  of  sex,  age,  or  condition.  There  is 
frequently  a  premonitory  stage  of  diarrhoea, 
or,  in  the  absL'nce  of  diarrhaa,  the  patient  is 
depressed  and  uncomfortable,  and  complains  of 
headache,  vertigo,  noises  in  the  head,  or 
oppression  at  the  epigastrium,  and  this  stage 
lasts  from  one  to  two  or  three  days.  Then 
the  patient  is  seized  with  violent  diarrhoea,  and 
the  discharges  soon  lose  all  biliary  colouring 
matter  and  look  like  whey,  or  water  in  which 
rice  has  been  boiled  (rice-water  stools).  These 
are  neutral  or  slightly  alkaline.  Sometimes  the 
stools  have  a  pinkish  tinge  from  the  admixture 
of  blood.  The  purging  is  accompanied  by  very 
little  pain  or  griping.  -After  one  or  more  hours 
of  purging,  vomiting  sets  in  ;  at  first  food  is 
ejected,  then  a  whey -like  fluid  like  the  intestinal 
discharges.  The  vomiting  is  easy,  often  a 
mere  regurgitation.  The  patient  suffers  from 
anorexia  and  thirst,  the  tongue  is  white  and 
may  become  dry,  ;md  the  epigastrium  is  sensi- 
tive to  pressure.  .At  the  same  time  there  are 
severe  and  extremely  painful  cramps  in  the 
calves  and  the  legs  and  feet,  and  less  often  in 
the  hands  and  trunk.  Soon  the  patient  sinks 
into  collapse — the  algide  stage.  The  surface 
of  the  body  becomes  cold  and  livid,  the  hands 
and  feet,  face  and  nose  are  pinched  and  blue, 
the  eyes  are  sunken  and  the  breath  is  cold. 

The  axillary  temperature  falls,  four  or  five 
degrees  below  normal,  although  in  the  rectum 
it  may  register  100°  to  104°  F.  The  pulse  is 
small,  thready  and  almost  imperceptible,  num- 
bering from  90  to  100.  Respirations  are  short 
and  quick,  from  30  to  40  a  minute.  There  is 
great  muscular  prostration,  but  the  patient  is 
restless,  throwing  his  limbs  about,  and  the 
voice  is  hoarse  or  he  may  lose  his  voice  alto- 
gether. In  cases  that  survive  the  collapse 
there  is  a  gradual  rise  of  temperature.  The 
skin  begins  to  regain  its  natural  colour  and  lose 
its  shrunken  appearance,  the  cramp  and  rest- 


lessness cease,  the  pulse  improves  and  may 
become  slower  than  in  health.  The  face 
becomes  congested  with  patches  of  dusky  red- 
ness ;  the  conjuncti\aj  are  injected.  This  is  the 
first  stage  of  reaction,  and,  if  there  is  no 
relapse,  it  goes  on  to  recoverv. 

In  the  first  stage  the  diarrhoea  may  be  treated 
with  opiates  or  astringents,  but  these  are  no 
good  in  the  pronounced  stages  of  the  disease 
itself,  as  whatever  is  introduced  into  the 
stomach  will  be  vomited  again  or  will  be  un- 
I  absorbed  from  the  inactive  condition  of  the 
circulation.  Stimulants  may  be  given  with 
caution,  and  some  relief  may  be  obtained  from 
sucking  ice. 

Cold  compresses  will  relieve  the  praecordial 
distress.  Small  doses  of  morphia  subcuta- 
neously  or  gentle  friction  with  chloroform  will 
relieve  the  cramps.  The  condition  of  collapse 
may  be  combated  by  supplying  heat  by  means 
of  warm  blankets,  hot  bottles  (protected  by 
flannel  bags)  placed  to  feet  and  thighs. 

The  intravenous  injections  of  saline  solutions 
do  good  in  cases  of  profound  collapse.  In  the 
stage  of  reaction,  the  patient  should  be  kept 
cool ;  diarrhoea,  if  it  continues,  should  be 
treated  by  opiates  and  astringents ;  the  vomit- 
ing by  effervescing  draughts  or  by  opium. 
Light,  nutritious  food  should  be  given  fre- 
quently and  in  small  quantities.  If  there  is 
much  vomiting  it  may  have  to  be  given  per 
rectum. 

Continued  suppression  of  urine  will  require 
small  doses  of  salines  and  counter-irritation,  or 
cupping  glasses  to  the  loins. 

HONOURABLE     MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  receive  honour- 
able mention  : — Miss  A.  Wellington,  Miss 
O'Brien,  Miss  S.  A.  G.  Lett,  Miss  M.  Dods, 
.Miss  Macfarlanc,  and  Miss  B.  James.  Several 
of  the  papers  were  of  a  high  standard,  so  that 
there  was  some  difficulty  in  awarding  the  prize. 

Miss  A.  Wellington  states  that  the  word 
"  Cholera  "  comes  from  two  Greek  words 
meaning  "bile"  and  "  I  flow." 

Cholera  has  two  distinct  forms — simple 
cholej-a  and  malignant  cholera — and  though 
essentially  different  they  may  present  many 
symptoms  of  resemblance. 

Miss  M.  Dods  defines  cholera  as  a  severe, 
malignant,  infectious  disease  due  to  a  definite 
germ  (Koch's  bacillus).  It  is  rarely  seen  in 
temperate  regions,  or  in  places  where  sanita- 
tion and  water  are  good,  and  only  then  when 
introduced  by  persons  already  suffering  (pro- 
bablv  in  a  mild  form)  from  the  disease, 
having  brought  it  from  the  tropics.  It  is 
usually  epidemic,  though  in  many  places  it  is 


45  + 


Z\K  36inti5b  Journal  of  IRurslno-       December  7,  1912 


endemic,  sporadic  cases  occurring  at  all 
seasons.  Sometimes  the  infection  will  lie 
dormant  in  the  soil  for  a  year  or  more,  and  then 
break  out  as  a  raging  epidemic  in  places  which 
are  insanitary,  as  when  soldiers  camp  on 
infected  soil  and  drink  polluted  water.  .  .  .  The 
infection  may  also  be  carried  in  clothing  which 
has  been  soiled  by  cholera  excreta  or  vomit.  It 
is  known  that  cholera  rarely  attacks  properly 
trained  attendants  on  the  sick  in  a  well-regu- 
lated hospital,  but  it  may  easily  be  contracted 
by  those  who  are  not  careful,  and  eat  with 
infected  hands. 

Miss  Dods  also  draws  attention  to  the  fact 
that  when  the  patient  is  collapsed  it  is  not  easy 
to  judge  the  moment  when  death  occurs,  and 
great  skill  and  experience  are  necessary.  Cases 
have  occurred  amongst  natives  in  India  in 
which  patients  who  are  not  dead  have  been 
placed  in  a  mortuary. 

The  three  stages — (i)  of  profuse  evacuations, 
later  of  the  characteristic  rice-water  type,  (2)  of 
collapse,  when  the  patient  becomes  cold  and 
clammy  and  the  temperature  sinks  to  94°  or 
95°,  terminating  (3)  either  in  coma  and  death, 
or  in  reaction  and  recovery — are  mentioned  by 
most  competitors. 

Miss  Lett  states  tliat  as  regards  herself  the 
nurse  must  attend  to  her  own  health  by  taking 
regular  meals  and  sufficient  rest,  being  very 
careful  as  to  what  she  eats,  avoiding  tinned 
fruits,  meats,  &:c.,  raw  or  stale  vegetables, 
pastry,  cheese,  nuts,  or,  in  fact,  any  in- 
digestible foods.  She  must  keep  her  person 
and  clothing  in  a  condition  of  absolute  cleanli- 
ness. The  hands  and  forearms  must  be 
thoroughly  scrubbed  and  disinfected  after 
attending  to  the  patient,  before  leaving  the 
room  and  before  partaking  of  food.  Food  must 
on  no  account  be  taken  in  the  sick  room. 

All  dusting  must  be  done  with  a  duster 
wrung  out  in  i  in  20  carbolic  acid  and  the  floor 
swabbed  over  with  the  same. 

The  nurse  must  remember  herself,  and 
impress  on  the  other  members  of  the  household, 
not  to  neglect  the  slightest  symptoms  of 
diarrhoea. 

QUESTION     FOR     NEXT     WEEK. 

Describe  the  Treatment  of  Rodent  Ulcer. 

We  are  pleased  to  learn  from  local  sources 
that  much  interest  has  been  aroused  in  the  State 
Registration  question,  through  the  recent  meet- 
ing of  the  Matrons'  Councif  at  Wigan,  and  it 
is  suggested  that  meetings  should  be  held  to 
explain  the  aims  of  the  Bill  at  Liverpool  and 
Manchester.  Perhaps  this  may  be  done  by-and- 
by. 


THE  LEAGUE  OF  ST.  BARTHOLOMEW'S 
HOSPITAL  NURSES. 


The  Winter  General  Meeting  of  the  League 
of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  Nurses  was  held 
on  Saturday,  November  30th,  at  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital,  E.C.  Miss  Cox-Davies,  Presi- 
dent, was  in  the  chair,  .\fter  the  minutes  had 
been  read  by  the  Secretary,  the  President  drew 
attention  to  the  useful  work  accomplished  by 
the  Benevolent  Fund  for  the  last  two  years  in 
making  provision  for  the  care  of  a  former 
Sister  of  the  hospital,  and  providing  her  with 
money  for  her  small  needs.  She  passed  away 
in  October,  and  the  League  sent  flowers  and 
was  represented  at  her  funeral.  It  was,  she 
thought,  one  of  the  most  helpful  things  the 
League  had  done.  .She  appealed  for  donations 
to  the  fund  from  all  memlaers  of  the  League. 
If  each  would  give  a  shilling  a  year  its  useful- 
ness might  be  extended. 

The  next  business  was  to  elect  an  Hon. 
Treasurer,  in  place  of  Miss  Whitley.  The 
President  said  that  the  characteristic  of  Miss 
Whitley's  work  had  been  its  thoroughness,  and 
it  was  this  characteristic  which  had  decided  her 
to  give  it  up  for  the  present,  as  her  address 
would  be  uncertain  for  a  time.  The  Executive 
nominated  Mrs.  Shuter  as  her  successor,  and, 
on  the  motion  of  Miss  Waind,  seconded  by 
Miss  Musson,  she  was  unanimously  elected, 
and  accepted  office. 

Miss  Cox-Davies  then  proposed  from  the 
chair  a  cordial  vote  of  thanks  to  Miss  Whitley 
for  her  work.  Her  long-suffering  had,  she 
said,  been  beyond  words.  On  the  motion  of 
Mrs.  Wates,  the  vote  was  extended  to  include 
her  sister,  to  whom  the  League  was  also 
indebted  for  much  assistance,  and  this  was 
cordially  carried. 

Miss  E.  M.  Hunter,  the  fraternal  delegate 
sent  by  the  League  to  the  International  Con- 
gress of  Nurses  at  Cologne,  then  gave  a  most 
interesting  report  of  the  proceedings  of  that 
unforgettable  week,  explaining  that,  though 
she  might  relate  what  had  actually  happened, 
she  could  not  hope  to  convey  to  those  who  were 
not  present  the  inspiration  of  the  occasion. 
She  had  travelled  out  with  Mrs.  Bedford 
Fenwick  and  others,  and  learnt  much  about 
internationalism  before  she  arrived  at  Cologne. 
She  referred  to  the  excellent  organization  of 
the  Congress,  and  to  the  quiet,  effective,  per- 
sonality of  Sister  Karll,  the  President,  who 
had  been  able  to  inspire  the  Mayor  of  Cologne 
with  enthusiasm. 

In  connection  with  the  Nursing  Exhibition, 
Miss  Hunter  said  that  the  splints  sent  by  the 


December ;,  ,912       Cbc  JSiltiC'b  3ouvnal  of  H-luvciino. 


455 


Bart's  League  received  much  notice  and 
admiration.  In  Germany  splints  are  usually 
padded  by  instrument  makers.  The  Nursing 
Pageant  was  filled  with  solemnity,  with  the 
beauty  of  the  spirit  of  nursing.  Miss  Hunter 
described  the  ceremonial  of  the  opening  day — 
the  U'elcomc,  the  Watchword,  the  affiliation  of 
new  countries,  and  the  conferring  of  Hon. 
Membership  of  the  National  Council  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland  upon  Sister  Karll  by  Mrs. 
Bedford  Fcnwick  in  the  name  of  the  Council. 

.Vt  the  banquet  at  the  Hotel  Disch,  Miss 
Dock  was,  she  said,  quite  inimitable,  and  even 
chaffed  the  Germans  in  open  speech  upon  their 
thoroughness. 

She  concluded  by  thanking  the  League  for 
electing  her  as  their  delegate,  for  had  they  not 
sent  her  she  would  have  missed  an  experience 
which  would  be  a  life-long  joy  to  look  back 
upon. 

The  thanks  of  the  League  were  conveyed  to 
Miss  Hunter  by  the  President  for  so  admirably 
representing  it,  and  for  her  excellent  report. 

.Mrs.  Stevens  (formerly  Dowrie)  then  spoke, 
and  said  that  she  had  recently  travelled  home 
from  Burmah  vui  Siberia,  and,  thanks  to  the 
addresses  in  the  League  Journal,  had  been 
able  to  visit  members  in  China  and  Corea, 
including  Mrs.  Douglas  Gray,  Mrs.  Weir,  and 
others.  The  League  was  greatly  appreciated 
bv  the  members  abroad,  perhaps  even  more 
than  by  those  at  home,  and  she  wanted  to 
thank  those  who  had  got  it  up,  and  kept  it 
going.  She  brought  many  messages  of 
remembrance  to  various  Sisters,  and  to  Lizzie 
(on  the  door). 

The  President  notified  that  when  the  list 
of  members  of  No.  i  Territorial  Hospital  was 
revised  shortly  there  would  probably  be  from 
eight  to  ten  vacancies. 

The  meeting  then  terminated,  and  the  mem- 
bers adjourned  to  the  Nurses'  Home,  when  tea 
was  served. 


NURSES'  SOCIAL   UNION. 


The  first  meeting  for  this  season  (1912-13)  of 
the  Nurses'  Social  Union  was  held  on  Tuesday, 
the  26lh  ult.,  by  kind  invitation  of  Mrs.  Herbert 
Scharlieb,  at  49,  Wimpole  Street,  W. 

.After  tea,  and  a  few  words  of  explanation  of 
the  special  aims  of  the  Union,  an  address  was 
given  by  Mrs.  Scharlieb,  M.D.M.S.,  on  "  Pas- 
teur :  His  Life  and  Work."  The  address  was 
illustrated  by  lantern  slides,  and  was  listened 
to  \\  ith  the  greatest  interest  hv  .ihoiit  a  himflred 
members. 


A  vote  of  thanks  to  the  lecturer  was  moved 
and  very  heartily  responded  to,  and  Mrs. 
Scharlieb,  in  reply,  begged  all  nurses  to  read 
Pasteur's  life  in  order  more  thoroughly  to 
appreciate  his  character  and  the  enormous  debt 
owed  to  him  by  humanity. 

Mrs.  Herbert  Scharlieb  was  also  warmly 
thanked  for  her  hospitality  and  for  her 
sympathy  with  the  aims  of  the  Union. 

The  address  was  of  extreme  interest,  and 
made  a  promising  and  delightful  beginning  to 
•  what  it  is  hoped  will  be  a  helpful  and  successful 
Session. 

Dr.  Murray  Leslie  will  lecture  on  Eugenics 
on  Wednesday,  December  nth,  at  3.15,  in  the 
Lecture  Hail  of  the  Institute  of  Hygiene, 
Devonshire  Street,  Harlcy  Slrect,  W. 

.Mr.  Stephen  Paget  has  kindly  promised  to  be 
the  lecturer  in  January,  and  the  date  and  hour 
of  his  lecture,  with  the  names  and  other  par- 
ticulars of  the  lecturers  for  February  and 
March,  will  be  announced  later. 

These  lectures  are  all  free  to  members  of  the 
Union,  who  are  requested  to  wear  their  badges 
or  bring  their  cards  of  membership. 

Nurses  who  are  not  members  will  be  charged 
fid.     .-Admission  is. 

THE   JOY  OF  SERVICE. 


We  hear  that  the  Nursing  Staff  of  the  British 
Red  Crescent  Society  now  working  at  Scutari 
are  so  busy  they  have  no  time  to  think 
of  anything  outside  their  own'  gates.  One 
sends  a  few  lines,  in  which  she  writes  :  "  Our 
patients  are  marvellously  lieroic.  Men  shot 
through  the  lungs,  the  eye,  the  jaw,  with  limbs 
hanging  and  every  movement  an  agony,  still 
smile  when  we  dress  them,  and  thank  us  most 
pathetically.  They  are  most  fine,  well-built 
men,  too,  and  most  amusing  in  their  ways. 
They  all  look  so  happy,  and  those  who  are  able 
go  round  and  chat  on  their  friends'  beds.  Of 
course,  our  off-duty  time  is  often  nil.  I  cannot 
describe  to  you  the  joy  of  being  of  use  and  of 
making  some  of  these  poor  fellows  happy.  I 
am  glad  every  hour  of  the  day  that  I  came." 

Miss  Macqueen,  until  recently  Superinten- 
dent of  Nurses  for  England  under  Queen 
Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute,  is  leaving  this  week 
for  Salonica,  w  here  her  work  will  be  the  distri- 
bution of  relief  in  connection  with  the  Mace- 
donian Relief  Fund.  Miss  Macqueen  will  stay 
at  an  Augustinian  Convent,  where  the  Sister- 
in-Charge  is  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Bishop  (Miss 
Isabella  Bird).  We  are  sure  the  help  of  so 
experienced  ;m'l  rapahli-  ;i  worker  will  be 
invaluable. 


456 


Hbc  Biitisb  3ournaI  of  IRurslno 


December  7,   1912 


Miss  Alt,  who  has  been  attending  cholera 
patients,  has  been  admitted  to  the  British  Hos- 
pital at  Constantinople,  having  broken  down 
from  overwork.  It  is  not  believed  that  she  has 
cholera,  but  to  trained  nurses  in  this  country 
the  breakdown  of  this  heroic  nurse  from  sheer 
overwork  has  from  the  first  appeared  inevit- 
able. 

APPOINTMENTS. 

MATRON. 

Sanatorium,  Haddington.  —  Miss  Helen  Forrest 
has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained 
at  the  Royal  Infirmary-  and  the  City  Hospital, 
Edinburgh,  and  has  held  the  position  of  Sister 
in  the  latter  Institution. 

ASSISTANT     MATRON. 

Taunton      and      Somerset      Hospital,      Taunton. — 

Miss  Elizabeth  Whittam  has  been  appointed 
Assistant  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  Guy's 
Hospital,  London  ;  and  is  at  present  Night  Sister 
at  the  Essex  County  Hospital,  Colchester.  She 
holds  the  certificate  of  the  Incorporated  Society  of 
Trained  Masseuses. 

Royal  United  Hospital,  Batli.  —  Miss  A.  W. 
Willis  has  been  appointed  Assistant  Matron.  She 
was  trained  at  the  General  Hospital,  Birmingham, 
where  she  has  held  the  position  of  Sister.  She 
has  also  held  the  position  of  Night  Sister  at  the 
Hospital  for  Diseases  of  the  Throat  in  Golden 
Square,  London  ;  of  Temporary  Night  Sister  and 
of  Housekeeping  Sister  at  the  Brompton  Hospital  ; 
and  of  Home  Sister  at  the  Royal  Infirmary,  Hull. 

SISTER. 

Betlinal  Green  Infirmary,  Cambridge  Heatli, 
London. — INIiss  Ellen  West  has  been  appointed 
Sister.  She  received  her  training  at  the  Wands- 
worth Infirmary,  and  the  Chelsea  Hospital  for 
Women,  and  has  been  Theatre  and  Ward  Sister 
at  St.  James's  Infirmary,  Ouseley  Road,  S.W. 
(the  new  Wandsworth  Infirmary),  and  holiday 
Sister  at  the  Chelsea  Hospital  for  Women. 

General  Hospital,  Nottingham.  —  Miss  Frances 
E.  Thompson  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Sussex  County  Hospital,  Brighton  ; 
and,  previous  to  her  general  training,  was  for  four 
years  at  the  Children's  Convalescent  Hospital, 
West  Kirby.  She  has  been  Charge-Nurse  at  a 
Surgical  Home,  in  Bournemouth  ;  and  Sister  at 
the  Sussex  County  Hospital.  Brighton. 

CHARGE  NURSE. 

Oulton  Union  Infirmary,  near  Lowestoft. — Miss 
Elsie  Roy  has  been  appouited  Charge  Nurse.  She 
was  trained  at  Arbroath  Infirmarv,  and  has  done 
private  nursing  in  connection  with  the  Oldham 
Nursing  Association,  and  has  been  Staff  Nurse 
at  the  Hornsea  Cottage  Hospital,  and  pupil  mid- 
wife at  the  East  End  Mothers'  Lying-in  Home, 
London. 

SCHOOL    NURSE. 

Staffordshire  County  Council,  Stafford.  —  Miss 
Florence  IVIary  Lecse  has  been  appointed  School 
Nurse.  She  was  trained  at  the  East  London 
Hospital  and  the  West  Ham  Infirmary,  and  has 
held  the  position  of  School  Nurse  at  Walsall. 


QUEEN  ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING    SERVICE. 

Staff  Nurse,  Miss  Mary  Ann  Lovett,  resigns  her 
appointment  (December  4th)  ;    Miss  Annie  Eliza- 
beth Featherstonhaugh,  to  be  Staff  Nurse  (March 
27th). 
QUEEN    VICTORIA'S    JUBILEE    INSTITUTE. 

Transfers  and  Appohitinents  : — Miss  Lucy  Glass 
is  appointed  to  West  Riding  Nursing  Association 
as  Assistant  Superintendent,  Miss  Ellen  Jopson  to 
Strood,  Miss  Jessie  McCleod  Leitch,  to  Middleton, 
Miss  Annie  Meeson  to  Liverpool  (Central),  Miss 
Ada  Milner  to  St.  Buryan,  Miss  Emily  Routledge 
to  Burnley,  Miss  Ada  Skerratt  to  Lancaster,  Miss 
Annie  Swinburne  to  Stockton-on-Tees,  Miss  Miriam 
Whiteman  to  Paddington. 

Miss  Lucy  Mabel  Glass  was  trained  in  General 
Nursing  at  the  Royal  Free  Hospital,  and  in 
District  Nursing  at  Bloomsbury,  and  has  since 
held  the  following  appointments  : — Queen's  Nurse, 
South  Tottenham,  Chatham,  Gloucester  ;  Assis- 
tant Superintendent,  Gloucestershire  County 
Nursing  Association  ;  School  Nurse  and  Health 
Visitor,  Darwen  ;  Assistant  Superintendent,  Lei- 
cester. Miss  Glass  holds  the  certificate  of  the 
Central  Midwives  Board,  and  has  had  experience 
in  the  nursing  of  sick  children  at  Pendlebury. 

AMERICAN    WOMEN     HONOURED. 

The  late  Miss  Clara  Barton,  whose  name  will 
always  be  associated  with  pioneer  Red  Cross  work 
in  America,  left  instructions  in  her  will  for  the 
appointment  of  a  Committee,  to  arrange  for  the 
publication  of  her  biography.  Her  great  friend, 
Mrs.  John  Logan,  is  also  arranging  for  the  erection 
of  a  monument  to  her  memory,  probably  at  Wash- 
ington, the  headquarters  of  the  Red  Cross  work. 

Miss  Mabel  Boardman,  the  Secretary  of  the 
American  Red  Cross  Society,  has  received  the 
insignia  of  the  Fifth  Class  of  the  Order  of  the 
Crown  from  the  Japanese  Emperor  in  recognition 
of  distinguished  service.  President  Taft  has 
written  to  the  Emperor  thanking  his  Imperial 
•Majesty  for  the  honour  thus  conferred  on  the 
women  of  the  United  States. 

■    ♦    « 

BEQUEST    BY    A    HOSPITAL    SISTER. 

The  late  Miss  Caroline  Mildred  Riley  (Sister 
Pitcairn),  whose  estate  has  been  sworn  at  the 
gross  sum  of  £(),'ijg,  the  net  personalty  totalling 
^6,220,  has  bequeathed  her  residuary  estate  to  the 
Samaritan  Fund  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital.  \ 

THE     PASSING     BELL. 

We  regret  to  record  the  death  of  Miss  Ida 
Barlow,  a  nurse  at  the  Royal  Hospital,  Sheffield, 
as  the  result  of  an  accident.  The  nurse  got  out  of 
bed,  intending  to  have  a  bath,  lit  the  gas  in  her 
bedroom,  and  threw  down  the  match,  thinking  it 
was  out.  It,  however,  set  fire  to  her  night-dress  ; 
and  when  other  nurses,  hearing  her  screams, 
entered,  the  flames  reached  her  shoulders.  She  died 
after  two  weeks  of  intense  suffering.  At  the 
inquest,  her  father  stated  that  he  believed  her 
night-dress  was  of  flannelette. 


Deccwbcr  7.  .912      z\k  BultlC'I)  Souiiial  of  Bursmfl. 


457 


NURSING  ECHOES. 


Princess  Marie  Louise  of  Schleswig- 
Holstein,  who  on  Thursday  in  last  week  visited 
the  North  Ormesby  Hospital,  Middlesbrough, 
much  admired,  with  others  who  saw  them  for 
the  first  time,  the  beautiful  stained  glass 
windows  in  the  main  entrance  hall  of  the 
hospital.  One  of  these  is  a  memorial  to  Mother 
Teresa,  founder  of  the  community  of  the  Holy 
Rood,  whose  service  extended  from  1858 — 
1885  ;  the  second  to  Sister  Mary,  the  founder  of 
the  first  cottage  hospital,  whose  devoted  work 
was  carried  on  between  1858 — 1873  ;  and  the 
third  is  a  memorial  to  Sister  Elizabeth,  Mother 
Superior  from  1870 — 1905.  A  tablet  under  this 
window  records  that  Sister  Elizabeth  gave 
35  years  of  her  life  to  the  service  of  the  sick. 
The  Princess,  who  was  received  at  the  hospital 
by  the  Mother  Superior  and  Sister  Louise,  gave 
great  pleasure  by  speaking  to  many  of  the 
patients. 

Every  year  the  Ladies'  .Association  make  an 
appeal  in  aid  of  the  Samaritan  Fund,  which  is 
in  connection  with  the  Great  Northern  Central 
Hospital.  Gifts  of  one  pound  in  weight,  one 
pound  cash,  or  one  pound  in  value  are  what  the 
ladies  ask  for  on  this  occasion.  .'\t  the  same 
time  thev  are  glad  to  receive  any  kind  of  article 
— provided  always  it  is  useful  and  saleable — 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Fund. 

This  year  the  eighth  annual  Pound  Day 
seems  to  have  been  a  wonderfullv  practical  suc- 
cess, and  Lady  Maud  W'arrender  received  the 
gifts. 

A  feature  of  Pound  Day  is  the  interesting 
and  no\el  competitions  which  take  place  during 
the  afternoon  and  evening.  A  doll  competition 
proved  highly  successful,  a  prize  being  awarded 
in  each  class  by  the  largest  number  of  votes  of 
those  present.  The  dolls  had  a  stall  all  to 
themselves,  and  those  remaining  unsold  were 
kept  for  the  children  in  the  hospital.  The  prize 
for  the  best  doll  dressed  with  the  least  cost  was 
awarded  to  Miss  Robey,  for  one  whose  clothes 
consisted  of  a  dish  cloth  (for  the  skirt)  and  a 
duster  which  served  as  a  ■  cloak.  She  was 
indeed  the  Cinderella  of  the  party,  and  she 
bore  the  following  inscription  : — "  Servant 
maid,  who  can  cook,  wash,  dust,  and  is  never 
insolent.  Wages  is.  6d."  For  the  best 
dressed  large  doll,  Mrs.  D.  Waterlow's  nurse 
was  awarded  the  first  prize,  and  the  prize  for 
the  best  dressed  small  doll  was  divided  between 
Mrs.  A.  Cluse  and  Mrs.  Sawbridge.  Miss 
Riley  sent  the  best  doll  dressed  in  knitting.  For 
the  best  crochet  doll  a  special  prize,  given  by 


Miss  Hill,  was  awarded  Mary  Steadman,  an 
inmate,  aged  seventy,  of  the  Paddington 
Workhouse.  Another  old  lady  at  the  same 
institution  also  sent  a  doll,  dressed  by  herself. 

Mrs.  Staff  gained  the  prize  for  the  best 
bag,  and  prizes  were  also  awarded  for  the  best 
home-made  cake  in  each  of  two  classes, 
Miss  Hurford  gaining  the  award  for  the  best 
fancy  or  ornamental  cake,  and  Mrs.  Hills  the 
prize  for  the  best  plain  cake.  It  should  be 
added  that  the  cakes  were  judged  by  an  expert, 
and  were  afterwards  sold.  This  competition 
was  under  the  management  of  Mrs.  Glenlon 
Kerr,  the  wife  of  the  Secretary.  Valuable 
assistance  was  given  by  Mr.  G.  Panter,  the 
Assistant  Secretary,  and  Miss  Bird,  the 
Matron,  and  the  nursing  staff,  who  entirely 
provided  one  of  the  stalls. 

Such  competitions  arouse  wide  interest  in  an 
institution,  and  many  of  the  patients'  friends 
can  afford  and  gladly  give  a  pound  in  kind. 

The  medical  officer  of  the  Lambeth  In- 
firmary, Dr.  Baly,  has  suggested  to  the 
Guardians  some  means  whereby  the  strain  on 
the  nursing  staff,  due  to  the  refusal  of  the 
Local  Government  Board  to  sanction  an 
increase  of  20  nurses,  which  the  Guardians  con- 
sidered imperative,  may  be  reduced.  The  Local 
Government  Board  would  only  permit  the  em- 
ployment of  ten  additional  nurses,  and  Dr. 
Baly,  in  a  special  report,  suggests  the  provision 
of  new  beds,  up-to-date  lifts,  more  even  floors, 
and  more  efficient  telephones,  which  be  believes 
would  make  the  work  of  the  nurses  easier,  and 
so  help  to  make  up  for  the  deficiency  in  their 
number.  

Attention  has  been  called  in  the  daily  Press 
to  what  is  described  as  "  the  hospital  nurse 
peril,"  namely,  that  women  dressed  in  the 
uniform  of  the  hospital  nurse  decoy  girls  with 
the  story  that  a  relative  has  been  hurt  and  taken 
to  a  hospital,  and  when  they  accompanv  her 
in  a  taxi-cab  no  more  is  heard  of  them.  This 
impudent  assumption  of  the  uniform  of  an 
honourable  profession  for  the  purposes  of  the 
white  slave  traffic  should  rather  be  described  as 
"  the  bogus  nurse  peril,"  which  in  these  days 
appears  to  be  rampant,  bolstered  up  as  it  is  by 
those  who  deny  State  protection  to  the  well- 
trained  and  responsible  members  of  our  pro- 
fession.   

In  this  connection  we  would  warn  private 
nurses  against  the  motor-car  frauds.  A  few 
weeks  ago  a  well-dressed  and  gentlemanly  man 
came  to  the  office  of  the  Registered  Nurses' 
Society,  and  was  anxious  to  take  a  nurse  off  at 


45'- 


Cbe  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRurslno       December  j,  1912 


once  to  his  brother,  who  had  met  witli  a  motor- 
car accident  (it  had  been  reported  in  the 
morning's  papers).  As  the  nurses  do  not  live  on 
the  premises  this  he  could  not  do.  .'\t  the 
request  of  the  Secretary  he  then  gave  the  name 
of  a  house  and  occupant  and  address  at  Den- 
mark Hill.  -A.s  the  case  had  been  represented 
as  urgent  a  nurse  as  soon  as  possible  went  off 
from  her  own  address  in^a  taxi,  but  no  such 
house  and  no  such  address  existed  ;  thus  the 
Society  was  defrauded  of  14s.  It  would  be 
interesting  to  know  what  would  have  happened 
to  the  nurse  had  she  been  carried  off  in  the  car. 
Anyway  it  is  worth  while  using  very  great 
caution  in  accepting  such  an  invitation. 


The  Bedale  Rural  Council  have  decided  to 
accept  the  offer  of  the  North  Riding  Rural 
Nursing  Association  to  clean  and  air  the  isola- 
tion hospital,  including  provisions  and  railway 
expensei,  for  £22  5S-  per  annum,  and  also  to 
nurse  one  patient  at  a  fee  of  ^^3  per  week,  and 
more  than  one  of  £2  los.  per  week.  We  hope 
that  the  Council  has  ascertained  the  quality  of 
the  nursing  to  be  provided,  as  the  ordinary  fee 
of  a  private  nurse  holding  a  three  years'  cer- 
tificate is  £2  3s.  per  week  for  an  infectious 
case,  or  £2  2s.  for  an  ordinary  case. 


Writing  in  the  West  Riding  Magazine.  Miss 
Violetta  Thurston,  the  Superintendent,  says,  in 
addressing  the  nurses  : — 

•  Most  of  you,  I  expect,  read  about  the  great 
Kursing  Congress  that  took  place  at  Cologne  in 
August.  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  be  present 
and  was  much  struck  by  the  feeling  of  union  and 
co-operation  that  existed  among  the  Nurses  there. 
There  were  Nurses  from  nearly  even,-  countr\-, 
Germany,  France,  Great  Britain,  Austria,  Holland, 
Italy,  Finland,  Russia,  India,  Japan,  .\merica. 
New  Zealand,  Australia,  and  others — they  spoke 
different  languages,  but  they  had  the  one  ideal 
in  common — co-operation — working  together  to 
lift  our  profession  on  to  a  higher  plane,  to  secure 
for  the  coming  generation  of  Nurses  more  education, 
better  training,  fuller  opportunities  than  we  had 
ourselves.  If  this  spirit  can  pervade  an  Inter- 
national gathering,  much  more  should  we  in  the 
same  country,  bound  together  by  innumerable 
ties,  trv  to  break  down  the  barriers  which  are  apt 
to  be  built  so  high  round  the  different  classes  of 
the  profession.  Hospital  nurses,  district  nurses, 
private  nurses,  school  nurses,  all  have  much  to 
learn  from  each  other,  and  all  can  help  each  other 
in  different  ways." 

Our  National  Council  of  Nurses  provides  for 
such  co-operation — Hospital  and  Infirmary, 
Private    and     School     Nurses     through    their 


Leagues  are  already  in  affiliation.  District 
nurses  at  present  have  no  organization  of  their 
own.  Why  do  not  the  Queen's  Nurses  form  a 
League?  The  Superintendents  have  their  Asso- 
ciations, and  meet  mo?t  happily  together. 
Through  national  affiliation  they  could  then  all 
link  up  with  the  International  Council  of 
Nurses,  which  convened  the  Congress  at 
Cologne,  to  which  Miss  Thurston  alludes  with 
approval.  As  the  National  Council  of  Nurses 
will  in  future  hold  an  annual  Conference,  means 
will  thus  be  available  for  social  amenities  and 
free  discussion  between  all  branches  of  the  pro- 
fession. 


Miss  Jeannie  Sutherland  is  thoroughly  enjov- 
ing  her  visit  to  Canada  and  the  United  States 
en  route  for  home  in  New  Zealand.  She  has 
visited  many  hospitals,  and  specially  enjoyed  a 
reception  given  in  her  honour  in  Toronto  bv 
the  Ontario  Graduate  Nurses'  Association, 
where  she  was  entertained  to  tea  at  the  Nurses' 
Club.  Here  she  again  met  Miss  Snivelv  and 
Miss  Rogers,  last  seen  at  Cologne  ;  also  Miss 
Crosby,  the  editor  of  the  Canadian  Nurse.  Miss 
Sutherland  writes:  "They  were  all  interested 
to  hear  about  State  Registration  in  New 
Zealand,  and  of  the  very  great  benefit  it  has 
been  to  our  profession  there.  I  feel  proud  of 
my  country  when  I  note  that  so  many  other 
places  of  greater  importance  in  the  world  are 
so  far  behind  us  in  many  things.  What  a  pity 
we  are  so  far  away.  I  shall  do  all  I  can  to  rouse 
the  spirit  of  internationalism  amongst  our 
nurses  on  my  return  to  New  Zealand,  and  hope 
it  will  be  well  represented  in  1915." 


.Miss  Nutting  writes  :  "  We  have  greatly 
enjoyed  having  Miss  Brodrick  here,  and  all  of 
our  people  have  been  greatly  impressed  with 
her  self-sacrificing  devotion  to  her  work  and 
people.  She  came  to  one  of  our  teas  at  the 
College,  and  you  should  have  seen  our  students 
crowding  around  her,  eagerly  listening  to  her 
stories  of  her  work.  She  has  been,  indeed,  a 
welcome  visitor,  and  I  trust  has  succeeded  in 
securing  further  support  for  her  hospital  settle- 
ment." 

It  will  not  upset  the  equilibrium  of  this  witty 
and  devoted  social  reformer  that  during  her 
absence,  when  unable  to  defend  herself,  the 
commercial  nursing  press  has  week  by  week 
imputed  unworthy  motives  to  her  visit  to  the 
States.  We  all  know,  when  face  to  face  with 
her  traducers,  how  capable  Miss  Brodrick  is  of 
smiting  them  hip  and  thigh  with  the  retort 
courteous. 


December  -,  19.2      cuc  36vtttt?i5  Soumai  Of  murstiio. 


459 


THE  HOSPITAL  WORLD. 

THE     HAMMERSMITH     INIIkMARY. 

The  Hammersmith  Infirmary,  Diicane  Isoad, 
Shepherd's  Busli,  one  ol  Londun's  newest 
infirmaries — which  must  not,  by  the  way,  be 
ciinfused  with  the  Fulham  Infirmary  at  Ham- 
mersmith— is  well  placed  in  an  open  situation, 
with  the  White  City  on  one  side  and  Worm- 
wood Scrubs  prison  on  the  other.  As  will  be 
seen  from  our  illustration,  it  is  a  handsome 
huikling-  in  the  form  of  a  double  H,  and  its  sizei 
may  be  estimated  from  the  fact  that  the  cor- 
ridor, which  runs  the  entire  length  of  the 
building',  is  a  quarter  of  a  mile  In  lingth. 


The  maternity  block  is  self-contained,  and 
each  bed  in  the  ward  has  its  own  little  white- 
curtained  cot  attached.  The  babies  look  as 
healthy,  sturdy,  and  vvinsoine  as  babies  born  in 
ha|)pier  circumstances. 

The  bed  in  the  labour  ward  is  excellent  in 
design — high,  and  of  a  design  which  makes  any 
sagging  an  impossibility.  The  Infirmary  is 
recognized  as  a  training  school  in  midwifery  by 
the  Central  Midwlves  Board,  and  this  valuable 
experience  is  offered  to  those  who  have  done 
well  in  their  general  training,  as  it  is,  of  course, 
impossible  for .  all  the  probationers  to  pass 
through  the  maternity  ward.  The  maternity 
[Hipils,  two  in  number,  have  a  most  comfortable 


BiJiilf 

lagii  ai  18  ii  ii 
Qll  IIP 


^><pi<««n««e««M)4aMiMMAMNi|«iMltl^ 


I  lit      HAMMtKSMllH     IM-lKMAk^,     \\  . 


The  wards  are  very  bright  and  cheerful,  each 
containing  some  .28  beds.  There  are  two  on  a 
Hoor,  and  one  Sister  is  responsible  for  the  two. 
Besides  the  medical  and  surgical  wards  there  is 
an  isolation  block,  and  it  was  satisfactory  to 
learn  from  the  Matron,  Miss  Northover,  that 
all  cases  of  syphilis  are  sent  to  this  block,  and 
the  nurses  are  aware  of  the  kind  of  cases  which 
they  are  nursing  and  the  dangers  connected 
with  this  kind  of  work.  Miss  Northover  con- 
siders that  notification  is  the  only  means  bv 
w  hich  this  disease  can  be  coped  with,  but  fears 
that  the  opposition  to  this  would  be  too  strong 
for  such  notification  to  come  within  the  sphere 
of  practical  politics. 

The  children's  ward  is  a  happy  place,  but 
pathetic  when  one  notices  the  wizened  faces  of 
the  marasmus  babies,  or  is  introduced  to  the 
healthv-looking  infant  found  cm  a  doorstep. 


sitting-room  allotted  to  them,  which  thev  can 
use  for  studying. 

The  operating  theatre  is  excellently  equipped, 
and  all  the  nurses  are  taught  to  know  the  instru- 
ments, and  are  expected  to  be  able  to  fetch 
any  instrument  which  may  be  asked  for.  The 
silver-plated  and  copper  sterilizers  are  evidently 
the  pride  of  the  .Sister-in-Charge,  and  are 
burnished  to  a  state  of  perfection  not  to  be 
surpassed  in  any  hospital  in  the  kingdom. 

The  training  of  the  nurses  must  be  a  matter 
w  hich  receives  considerable  consideration,  both 
from  the  Medical  Superintendent  and  the 
Matron,  and  they  strike  the  visitor  as  keen, 
alert,  and  professional  in  appearance.  Miss 
Xorthover,  besides  holding  a  certificate  of 
three  years'  training  from  the  Middlesex  Hos- 
pital, is  a  certified  midwife  and  certified  mas- 
seuse,  and,   in   addition,   has  had  practical  ex- 


460 


aDc  Bvltisb  3ournal  of  TRurslnQ.       December  7,  1912 


pcrience  in  laundry  work  and  cookery,  so  that 
she  is  exceptionally  well  qualified  to  superin- 
tend a  training-  school  for  nurses.  Previous  to 
her  appointment  as  Matron  to  the  Hammer- 
smith Infirmary  she  was  Assistant  Matron  at 
the  Croydon  Infirmary,  so  that  she  is  well 
acquainted  with  the  manv  problems  of  the  Poor 
Law. 

The  nurses  have  ves-y  comfortable  quarters 
in  their  Home,  and  each  has  a  separate  bed- 
room. 


administration  of  the  institution  should  be  in  the 
hands  of  the  Asylums  Board. 


The  Board  is  to  be  congratulated  that  it  has 
decided  to  appoint  a  research  bacteriologist  at 
a  salary  of  /500  a  vcar  in  accordance  with  the 
recommendation  of  the  Hospitals  Committee, 
whose  duty  it  would  be  to  inquire  into  the  causa- 
tion, infectivity,  prevention,  and  treatment  of 
zymotic  disease. 

In  support  of  the  proposal  the  committee  stated 
that  since  1870  the  admissions  to  the  Board's  fever 


The  great  kitchen  is  fitted  with  every  modern 
convenience,  and  the  scrubbed  table,  which  is 
in  daily  use,  is  as  white  as  the  deck  of  a  man- 
of-war.      Higher  praise  is  impossible.      m_  b_ 


REFLECTIONS 

FROM    A    BO.\RD    ROOM    MIRROR. 

The  ISIetropolitan  Asylums  Board  decided 
provisionally  last  Saturday  to  allocate  the  lower 
Southern  Convalescent  Hospital  at  Dartford  as 
a  sanatorium  where  tuberculous  patients  can  be 
received  and  treated  under  the  Insurance  Act  on 
terms  proposed  by  the  London  County  Council. 
It  is  proposed  that  the  Council  should  select  the 
patients,  determine  the  length  of  their  stay,  and 
pay  the  entire  cost  of  their  treatment,  but  that 
the    engagement    of    the    staff    and    the    general 


hospitals  have  been  upwards  of  500,000,  and  the 
number  of  deaths  nearly  40,000.  Since  the  Board 
was  constituted  about  ;^i5, 000,000  have  been 
expended  in  the  provision  of  hospitals  for  and  in 
the  treatment  of  infectious  sick,  but  no  practical 
step  has  been  taken  with  the  \aew  of  ascertaining 
the  causes  of  the  diseases  received  into  the 
hospitals. 

The  total  number  of  deaths  from  the  principal 
epidemic  diseases  during  the  last  five  years  in 
London  has  been  22,649,  of  which  10,199,  or  45  pc 
cent.j  were  attributed  to  measles.  The  committee 
stated  that  these  facts  fully  justify  the  making  of 
a  determined  attempt  to  save  life  and  to  reduce 
the  great  expense  involved  in  maintaining  large 
isolation  hospitals.  It  is  confidently  believed 
that  these  results  are  likely  to  be  achieved  when 
the  causes  of  zymotic  disease  have  been  dis- 
covered. 


December 


1912. 


CDC  Britisb  3ournal  ot  IRursinci 


461 


Tlic  Right  Hon.  Earl  Fortescue  (Lord  Lieutenant 
of  the  County  of  Devonsliire)  has  consented  to 
accept  the  oflice  of  Piosidcnt  of  the  Twenty- 
eighth  Congress  of  the  Royal  Sanitary  Institute, 
to  be  held  at  Exeter  from  July  7th  to  12th,  1913. 


An  additional  wing  has  been  erected  at  the 
Huntingdon  Hospital  as  a  memorial  to  the  late 
King.  The  Earl  of  Sandwich,  who  opened  the 
new  building  recently,  said  that  his  late  Majesty 
would  have  been  pleased  with  this  way  of  per- 
petuating his  work,  as  no  one  devoted  more  time, 
care  and  attention  to  the  sick  poor  than  liing 
Edward.  

The  new  dispensary  of  the  Royal  Victoria 
Hospital  for  Con.sumption  in  Lady  Lawson  Street, 
Edinburgh,  was  opened  last  Saturday  by  Lord 
Duncdin.  Sir  Alexander  Christison  presided. 
Lord  Duncdin  said  that  one  of  the  first  men  who 
really  woke  up  to  the  fact  that  tuberculosis  could 
be  combated  b\-  an  organised  campaign  was  Dr. 
Philip,  of  Edinburgh.  A  demonstration  of  the 
methods  of  the  Edinburgh  svstem  for  the  preven- 
tion and  treatment  of  tuberculosis  was  given  in 
the  ITnited  Free  Assembly  Hall  in  the  evening. 
Sir  ISfalcolm  Morris,  who  presided,  referred  to 
persons  in  the  late  stage  of  consumption,  and 
said  that  it  would  be  far  safer  if  they  would  allow 
themselves  to  be  separated  from  their  friends 
and  go  to  a  home.  If  thev  did  that,  it  would  do 
more  to  check  the  spread  of  the  disease  than 
almost  any  other  thing. 


The  work  of  extension  of  the  nurses'  home  at 
the  Holborn  Union  Infirmary,  Highgate,  has 
cost  ;^4,8o2.     It  will  be  a  very  great  boon. 

The  "  Mary  "  Fund,  in  support  of  the  re- 
building of  the  Children's  Hospital,  at  Aberdeen, 
is  arousing  the  interest  of  many  Marys.  One  little 
girl  has  gathered  together  ;^2i  7s.  4d.,  who  has 
herself  been  a  patient. 


Mr.  Henrj'  Johnston  has  retired  from  the  office 
of  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  the  Western 
Infirmary,  Glasgow,  whicli  he  has  held  since  the 
institution  was  opened  thirty-eight  years  ago,  and 
his  son,  Mr.  John  Matheson  Johnston,  C.A.,  has 
been  appointed  his  successor.  Mr.  Johnston  is 
naturally  highly  gratified  that  the  directors  have 
seen  fit  to  appoint  his  son  as.  his  successor. 

The  committee  of  the  Lister  Jlemorial  fund 
desire  to  draw  attention  to  a  suggestion  which  has 
been  made  in  Glasgow  that  one  of  the  wards  of  the 
Royal  Infirmary  in  that  city,  where  Lord  Lister's 
antiseptic  methods  were  first  put  into  practice, 
should  be  preserved  as  a  museum  in  which  objects 
of  interest  associated  with  him  and  his  discoveries 
might  be  exhibited.  The  committee  have  been 
informed  that  the  directors  of  the  infirmary  have 
given  their  sanction  to  this  scheme.  Objects,  per- 
sonal or  other,  associated  with  Lister's  life  and  work 
are  earnestly  desired,  and  will  be  gladly  received 
by  the  Superintendent,  Royal  Infirmary,  Glasgow. 


LEGAL   MATTERS. 

MATRON'S    LIBKL     ACTION. 

\Vc  rccentlv  reported  that  the  libel  action  brought 
by  Miss  Elizabeth  Birnic  Couper,  .Matron  of  the 
Clackmannan  Combination  Infectious  Diseases 
Hospital,  Alloa,  against  Lord  Balfour  of  Burleigh, 
had  been  adjourned  for  the  decision  of  the 
Court,  as  to  whether  there  was  a  case  to  go  to 
the  jury.  The  plaintiff  complained  that  letters 
written  by  Lord  Balfour  to  the  County  Clerk 
and  the  Local  Government  Board,  rcllected  on  her 
professional  capacity.  The  defender  pleaded  privi- 
lege, and  denied  that  the  letters  were  susceptible 
of  the  meaning  attached  to  them  by  the  plaintil'f  ; 
and  that,  there  being  no  relevant  case,  the  action 
should  be  dismissed. 

Lord  Dewar  has  now  decided  that  the  case  must 
go  to  trial  by  jury.  In  giving  judgment,  in  the 
Court  of  Sessions,  Edinburgh,  his  lordship  stated' 
his  opinion  that  the  occasiors  upon  which  the 
letters  were  written  were  privileged  ;  but  the 
plaintiff  had  set  forth  on  record  facts  and  circum- 
stances from  which,  if  proved,  a  jury  might 
reasonably  infer  malice,  and  she  was  entitled  to 
have  her  case  submitted  to  a  jury.  Although  the 
defendant  was  privileged  in  placing  facts  as  to 
mismanagement  before  the  hospital  authorities, 
he  appeared  to  have  gone  beyond  what  was 
necessary  for  that  purpose,  in  suggesting  that  the 
plaintiff  was  guilty  of  "  criminal  conduct,"  and  of 
"  fabricating  "  documents. 

His  lordship  thought  it  possible  that  the  jury 
might,  if  they  thought  proper,  reasonably  reach  the 
conclusion  that  the  statements  made  were  so 
extravagant  and  reckless  as  to  be  inconsistent  with 
the  bona-fidc  discharge  of  pu-blic  duty,  and  to  infer 
malice.  If  it  were  true  that  the  defendant  knew 
after  the  first  inquiry  that  there  were  no  grounds 
in  fact  for  imputing  criminal  conduct  to  the 
plaintiff,  it  was  difficult  to  see  what  legitimate 
purpose  could  be  served  in  repeating  the  charge 
and  continuing  to  press  it  against  her.  Of  course, 
the  defendant  might  have  quite  a  good  explanation 
to  offer,  and  the  plaintiff  might  be  entirely  wrong 
in  thinking  that  he  was  actuated  by  any  malicious 
motive.  His  lord.ship  expressed  no  opinion  upon 
that — all  he  decided  was  that  the  pursuer  in  the 
circumstances  was  entitled  to  have  her  case  laid 
before  a  jury. 

It  is  expected  that  the  case  will  be  tried  before 
the  end  of  the  year. 


ACTION     FOR     DAMAaES. 

In  the  King's  Bench  Division  of  the  High  Court, 
recently,  before  the  Lord  Chief  Justice  and  a  special 
jury.  Miss  Grace  Mary  Llovd,  formerly  Assistant 
Matron  at  the  LadywcU  Workhouse,  brought  an 
action  against  the  Bermondsey  Guardians,  in 
whose  jurisdiction  the  workhouse  is,  to  recover 
damages  for  alleged  wrongful  dismissal.  The 
defence  was  (i)  That,  as  the  contract  of  the 
Guardians  with  the  plaintiff  was  not  under  seal, 
the  defendants,  being  a  corporation,  were  not 
bound  by  it ;    (2)  that  they  were  entitled,  under 


462 


4lbe  asrltisb  3ournnl  of  IRurslna.       December  j,  1912 


their  constitution,  to  dismiss  the  plauitiff  without 
notice,  and  that,  in  anj-  case,  she  was  only  entitled 
to  a  month's  notice  ;  (3)  that,  in  lieu  of  notice, 
a  cheque  for  one  month's  salary  and  one  for 
emoluments  had  been  sent  her  by  the  Guardians. 

]Miss  Lloj-d  claimed  three  months'  notice. 
She  stated,  in  evidence,  that  she  did  not  remember 
signing  a  contract.  Her  counsel  argued  that 
Icgallv  the  power  of  removal  of  a  paid  official  con- 
sidered unsuitable  was  vested  in  the  Local  Govern- 
ment Board,  not  the  Guardians. 

The  judge  gave  judgment  for  the  Guardians, 
emphasising  the  fact  that  the  plaintiff  had  accepted 
money  in  lieu  of  notice.  Her  proper  course  would 
have  been  to  return  the  cheque.  He  held  that  the 
Guardians  were  entitled  to  dismiss  her  without 
notice  ;  and  that,  as  she  was  only  required  to  give 
a  month's  notice,  she  could  not  expect  to  receive 
three  months. 

Xurses  should  remember  that  all  their  contracts 
with  corporate  bodies  must  be  under  seal, 
otherwise  thev  are  worthless. 

-HOWARD     r.     PLUNKETT. 

In  the  Nisi  Prius  Court,  Dublin,  recently,  before 
Mr.  Justice  Dodd  and  a  Cit\-  Special  Jurj%  Miss 
Margaret  M.  Howard,  a  maternity  nurse  in  the 
emplovment  of  the  Guardians  of  the  Balrother\- 
Union,  claimed  ;£500  damages  against  :Mrs. 
Plunkett  (a  Vice-President  of  the  local  branch  of 
the  Women's  National  Health  Association  and  a 
member  of  the  Committee  of  Queen  Victoria's 
Jubilee  Institute  for  Nurses  for  Portmamock  and 
Baldoyle)  and  :Mr.  Thomas  L.  Plunkett,  D.L.,  of 
Portmamock  House,  Baldoyle,  for  alleged  libel  in 
a  letter  addressed  to  the  Clerk  of  the  Guardians. 

The  Judge,  after  hearing  the  arguments  on  the 
question  of  privilege,  said  the  case  was  one  of 
great  importance.  It  was  the  duty  of  any  person 
in  the  community  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
proper  authority  to  the  discharge  of  duty  by  any 
person  in  a  public  position.  But  considerateness 
should  not  be  lost  sight  of.  He  was  satisfied  that 
the  two  ladies  before  hina  in  their  zeal  for  the  poor 
forgot  their  duty  to  the  poor  nurse,  who  ought  to 
have  received  consideration  from  the  lady  of  the 
manor  and  her  friends.  The  plaintiff,  according 
to  the  excellent  report  of  Dr.  Ivieman,  discharged 
her  duty  with  admirable  care,  and  she  had  been 
completely  exonerated  by  the  Guardians.  Her 
character  had  been  cleared  beyond  question.  If 
the  law  permitted  he  would  certainly  do  otherwise 
than  he  was  about  to  do,  namely,  declare  the  plea 
of  privilege  well  founded  and  that  the  verdict 
should  be  for  the  defendants.  He  thought  that, 
ha\'ing  regard  to  the  circumstances  of  the  case, 
the  defendants  should  pay  the  costs  of  the  action. 
This  was  agreed,  Mr.  Serjeant  Moriarty  saying 
that  although  the  plaintifi  had  lodged  £^0  in 
Court  as  security  for  costs,  the  defendants  were 
willing  to  forego  them,  provided  the  case  was  not 
carried  further.  

^Ve  report  these  csises  as  we  consider  it  most 
important  that  nurses  should  know  tlieir  position 
before  the  law. 


SOCIAL  SERVICE. 


HOW    TO    LIFT    THE    BOTTO.M    DOG. 

WTio  can  remove  the  blot  on  fair  England's 
face  b}'  bringing  order  out  of  disorder  and  dirt 
in  our  slums  ?  Streets  full  of  people  half  of 
whom  are  wasters,  or  worse  living  on  white 
slaves.  An  unenviable  position  that  of  Clearing 
House  for  such  traffic.  Such  is  what  the  world 
says  of  us. 

We  have  had  a  Royal  Commission  on  the 
Poor  Law,  files  of  recommendations  have  been 
pigeon-holed,  much  water  has  flowed  under 
London  Bridge  and  over  the  bodies  of  the  lost 
since  that  date,  thousands  are  still  homeless 
each  night,  a  not  pleasing  sight  to  our  visitors 
from  Dominions  over  the  sea  as  they  told  us  last 
year,  or  satisfactory  reflection  for  those  in  com- 
fortable homes.     Lives  squandered  ! 

For  the  past  eight  years  Amsterdam  has  been 
dealing  with  the  question  of  how  to  lift  the  bottom 
dog  and  liis  belongings  to  respectable  citizenship. 
Wliat  impressed  the  wTiter  on  a  recent  \isit  to 
Amsterdam  was  the  absence  of  miserable  creatures 
wandering  aimlessly  up  and  down  the  streets, 
avoided  by  perhaps  less  deser\  ing  if  more  fortunate 
citizens.  The  explanation  came  when  after 
calling  on  a  friend  for  the  purpose  of  getting 
leave  to  see  over  the  WiUielmina  Hospital  next  day 
we  were  asked  would  we  like  to  visit  the  Night 
Shelter,  Wflhelmina  Gasthuis,  which  was  not  far 
oS.  Such  an  offer  was  not  to  be  refused,  though 
we  were  somewhat  hungry,  dusty  and  wear\' 
after  a  day's  travel.  Accompanied  by  our  two 
kind  friends,  we  were  taken  by  a  short  but  dark 
route  across  the  Park  and  wood.  Being  pitch 
dark  we  stumbled  at  times,  but  eventually  came 
in  sight  of  a  large  and  lighted  building  which  gives 
food  and  shelter  to  500  and  upwards  every  night. 

An  old  building,  some  years  ago  discarded  by 
the  hospital  authorities,  has  been,  by  the  energy 
of  one  man  and  the  contributions  of  many  others, 
with  the  help  of  willing  women  workers,  turned 
into  a  haven  of  refuge  without  the  grating  key 
and  grunt  of  Bumble  and  his  successors. 

Doors  are  opened  at  seven  in  the  evening,  and 
until  eleven.  When  they  are  closed  the  staff 
is  fully  occupied  in  receiving,  registering,  bathing, 
feeding  and  putting  to  bed  500  of  Amsterdam's 
homeless.  As  we  walked  up,  a  little  girl  with 
a  baby  in  her  arms  stood  in  front  of  the  gate, 
behind  her  the  mother  of  both,  with  two  others, 
little  more  than  babies.  These  five  passed  to 
the  Reception  Room,  where  a  kindly  Sister  took 
down  particulars  and  then  passed  them  on  to 
bath,  food  and  bed. 

Later  on,  when  looking  into  a  bathroom,  we 
saw  a  nice,  clean  little  person  being  dried,  and 
smiling.  One  of  our  party  observed,  "  WTiy, 
Sister,  whenever  I  come  found  you  seem  to  be 
always  washing  children."  The  cheery  reply, 
"  Yes,  I  spend  a  large  part  of  the  night  here," 
indicated  benefit  to  the  community  as  well  as  the 
child. 


December  7,  1912       (Tbc  Brtttsl)  Soumal  of  IRuvstno. 


463 


_^Wc  were  recei\ed  by  the  Director,  a  man  who 
impressed  one  with  his  energy  and  determination 
to  lift  some  of  those  miserable  creatures  into  a 
better  mode  of  life.  His  clean  white  jacket 
indicated  readiness  to  check  the  spread  of  disease 
by  himself  aiding  in  the  removal  of  such  a  blot 
to  civilisation. 

Every  applicant — unless  under  the  influence  of 
drink — is  on  reception  registered,  then  given 
a  bag  on  which  is  a  large  number.  In  this  bag 
is  a  clean  shirt.  After  bath  and  food  he  goes  to 
bed  putting  his  clothes  into  the  bag.  This  bag 
of  clothes  is  conveyed  to  the  disinfection  chamber 
in  the  basement,  put  into  the  zymotic  overt  at 
one  end,  and  after  being  subjected  to  great  heat, 
taken  out  at  the  other,  carried  back  to  the 
dormitory,  and  placed  on  a  chair  or  stool  at  the 
foot  of  the  bed  ready  to  be  put  on  clean  next 
morning.  At  any  time  after  5  a.m.  the  man  can 
get  up,  put  on  these  disinfected  clothes,  have  a 
breakfast,  and  set  forth  in  search  of  a  job,  more 
fit  to  mix  with  others  and  not  so  likely  to  be 
rejected  by  employers  as  he  might  be  dirty  and 
breakfastless. 

Four  nights'  lodging  is  givfen  free,  and  then  if 
the  man  is  unsuccessful  in  finding  employment 
he  goes  before  the  Director,  who  endeavours  to 
find  where  the  difficulty  arises.  If  inefficient,  he 
is  helped  by  some  training,  wood-chopping,  paper 
sorting,  &c.  No  loafing.  Big  boys  are  dealt 
with  a  little  more  rigorously,  to  avoid  their 
drifting  into  the  shiftless  class  and  adding  to  the 
population  more  of  the  same  sort. 

Women  are  equally  helped,  and  it  must  help 
them  for  the  struggles  of  the  day  to  have  had  a 
clean  bed  and  quiet  sleep.  The  bedsteads  are  of 
iron  frame,  sacking  laced  down  either  side  makes 
them  easy  of  removal  for  cleansing.  Babies  go 
to  one  division,  where  in  plain  but  clean  box  cots 
they  have  the  opportunity  of  sleeping,  the  mother 
coming  e\cry  three  hours  to  the  breast  fed,  the 
others  are  attended  to  by  the  Sisters  in  charge. 

In  the  boys'  dormitory  there  were  extra  beds 
down  the  middle,  indicating  pressure  for  ac- 
commodation, but  no  unpleiisantness  from  want 
of  air.  Commenting  on  the  crowded  state  we 
were  told  that  one  was  closed  for  disinfection. 
Again,  asking  a  question  as  to  certain  beds,  we 
were  told  those  boys  wet  their  beds,  therefore  are 
made  to  get  out  every  two  hours.  So  an  endeavour 
is  made  to  instil  more  cleanly  habits. 

Having  made  a  round  of  the  entire  building  close 
on  midnight,  the  hospitality  of  the  Director's 
wife  provided  us  cocoa  and  eggs  and  bread-and- 
butter.  Then  by  ahnost  deserted  streets  we 
returned  to  our  hotel,  feeling  that  Amsterdam 
was  setting  an  example  which  might  with  ad- 
vantage be  copied.  Unfortunately  some  cities 
only  gather  these  outcasts  together,  stopping  short 
of  helping  them  to  help  themselves. 

Clara  Lee. 


OLTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


WOMEN. 

The  Reception  held  on  Tuesday,  at  the  Knights- 
bridge  Palace  Hotel,  by  the  Women  Writers 
Suffrage  League,  to  meet  the  new  President, 
Mrs.  Flora  Annie  Steel,  was  a  very  distinguished 
assembly,  and  most  brilliant  little  speeches  were 
delivered  on  "  Why  I  am  a  Suffragist." 

Mrs.  Steel's  address  was  delightful,  inspired  with 
fine  feeling  and  dignity,  and  to  listen  eagerly  on 
one  afternoon  to  Mr.  F.  W.  Pethick  Lawrence, 
Madame  Sarah  Grand,  Mrs.  Israel  Zangwill,  Miss 
Beatrice  Harraden,  Mrs.  Baillic  Reynolds,  Miss 
Belloc  Lowndes,  Mr.  A.  G.  Gardiner,  and  half 
a  dozen  others,  and  still  talk  Suffrage  over  the 
teacups,  proves  how  deeply  in  earnest  the 
Women  Writers  are  in  their  demand  for  the  Vote. 

Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  has  been  elected  Chairman 
of  Council  of  the  Society  of  Women  Journalists. 
The  charming  rooms  in  (juiet  St.  Bride's  Avenue, 
Fleet  Street,  are  most  conveniently  situated  for 
busy  women  journalists.  There  all  the  principal 
papers  can  be  scanned,  resting  meanwhile  in  a 
really  comfortable  chair.  The  library  is  growing 
rapidly — a  great  boon  to  those  who  are  eager 
to  read  new  books.  Young  journalists  arc  finding 
the  help  and  expert  advice  to  be  obtained  from 
the  courteous  officers  of  the  very  greatest  use 
in  starting  their  literary  career. 


The  problem  of  the  "  bottom  dog  "  is  an  acute 
one  in  this  country,  and  it  is  of  great  interest  to 
hear  of  the  successful  work  going  on  in  Holland. 


The  current  issue  of  The  Englishwoman  publishes 
a  most  interesting  article  by  Mr.  Charles  D. 
MacKellar,  on  Miss  Edith  Mary  Durham,  War 
Correspondent  at  the  front  in  the  Near  East. 
"  It  is,"  we  are  told  "  ten  years  ago  or  even  more, 
since  Miss  Durham  first  became  a  wanderer  in 
these  Balkan  lands,  and  in  that  long  space  of 
time  she  has  become  very  well  acquainted  with 
some  of  them,  and  especially  with  the  mountains 
of  Albania,  and  the  warlike  tribes  who  dwell  in 
them  and  at  their  feet.  She  has  acquired  the 
Serb  language,  and  also  a  certain  knowledge  of 
the  Albanian  tongue,  which  is  the  ancient  Illyrian. 
She  has  studied  their  customs  and  ways,  their 
songs  and  legends,  and  made  herself  familiar  with 
their  hopes,  their  wrongs,  and  their  ambitions. 
The  Albanians  are  a  chivalrous  race,  and  because 
she  so  trusted  herself  amongst  them,  she  won 
their  confidence  and  regard." 

Thus  it  came  to  pass  that  when  a  short  time 
ago  a  tired,  wet,  muddy,  fan^ishing  woman  rode 
into  the  midst  of  the  Malissori  tribesmen,  she  was 
received  with  cries  of  "  Our  Queen  hiis  come  back," 
and  "  greeting  her  in  their  wild  way,  the  weirdly 
picturesque  mountain  warriors,  armed  to  the 
teeth  and  keen  for  war,  rode  on  with  her  through 
the  wet  mist  and  mirk  of  the  night,  till  a  rough 
mountain  home  received  them,  and  their  heroic 
but  bedraggled  "  Queen  "  sat  down  with  them 
to  take  her  sliare  in  their  rough  meal  of  a  sheep 
boiled  almost  whole  ! 


464 


abe  Buittsb  3ournaI  of  TRurstna-       December  7,  1912 


BOOK  OF  THE   WEEK. 


"  ADNAM'S     ORCHARD  '* 

It  is  some  long  time  smce  Sarah  Grand  has 
given  the  public  an\-thing  from  her  pen,  and  this 
last  novel,  produced  after  an  interval  of  years, 
tells  of  careful  work  and  observation  of  men, 
women  (especially  women)  and  things  pertaining 
to  the  present  age.  ^ 

Adnam  was  the  dreamer  of  a  yeoman  farmer's 
family,  or  rather  he  was  assigned  the  role  of 
drearner  by  his  family.  At  the  time  the  stor^- 
opens  he  emerges  from  the  chrysalis  and  bursts 
upon  his  astonished  family  his  determination  to 
take  over  the  old  orchard  and  its  neighbouring 
unused  acres  "  to  make  a  profit  for  myself. 
That's  the  poetry  that  appeals  to  me  at  present." 
This  he  proceeds  to  do,  under  happy  relations  of 
Capital  and  Labour.  And  we  must  congratulate 
the  wTiter  for  presenting  to  the  public  such  a 
reasonable  and  broad-minded  handling  of  the 
social  problems  of  the  day. 

The  little  duchess  who  was  on  intimate  terms 
with  Aditam's  mother,  she  having  been  governess 
in  the  ducal  family,  is  a  happy  sketch  of  a  brainless 
little  nonentitv,  albeit  meaning  well. 

"  \Miat  are  you  doing  in  the  orchard,  ]\rrs. 
Pratt  ?  "  the  Duchess  burst  out.  "  I  looked  over 
the  hedge  as  I  passed.  I  never  saw  such  a  mess 
in  my  life  !  And  Adnam  was  all  mixed  up  in  it. 
What  a  pitv  to  spoil  your  picturesque  old  orchard, 
and  that  dear  old  field.  Surely  you've  not  let 
Adnam  get  anv  dreadful  new  ideas.  The  dear 
weeds,  they  were  so  prett\-  !  " 

"  But  they  were  so  unwholesome,  and  there  is 
no  profit  to  be  made  out  of  weeds,"  Mrs.  Pratt 
reminded  her. 

'■  My  dear  Ursula,"  the  Duchess  protested, 
"  surely  you  have  not  begun  to  talk  like  that  ! 
The  Duke  savs  it  is  all  materialism.  People  think 
of  nothing  laut  profit  now,  and  how  to  make 
things  pav.     You  used  to  have  ideals." 

"  I  have  still,"  Mrs.  Pratt  answered.  "  1  want 
to  see  the  weeds  killed  ever\-where." 

The  sketch  of  the   Perrys'   little  home,   where 
love  and  happiness  made  up  for  lack  of  income,  is 
svmpathetically  drawn. 
"  "  O    Alick,    vou    are   a  help  !       Look    at    that 
kettle  !  " 

He  looked,  but  saw  nothing  wTong.  "  It's 
full,"  he  said. 

"  Yes,  it's  full,"  she  retorted.  "  And  when  do 
you  think  it  \nll  boil  ?  Aren't  you  a  man  all 
over.  Would  a  woman  have  put  on  a  kettle  to 
boil  without  lighting  the  gas  .'  " 

"  Xo,  mv  dear.  A  woman  would  have  set  the 
gas  flaring  and  put  on  an  empty  kettle.  ^Ve  are 
but  parts  of  one  stupendous  whole.  Men  and 
women  make  the  same  mistakes,  but  make  them 
differentlv.  It  comes  to  the  same  thing  in  the 
end — ^the  kettle  does  not  boil.  Thus  is  the  balance 
of  Nature   preserved." 

*  By  Sarah  Grand.  London  :  William  Heine- 
mann. 


Ella,  the  beautiful  lace-maker,  stands  for  the 
enfranchisement  of  women,  and  in  frank  language 
she  speaks  to  the  Duke,  who  is  interested  in  her 
craft. 

"  Isn't  it  right  and  wise  for  a  woman  in  my 
position  to  face  life  with  bald  statements  ?  You 
will  see  if  vou  will  be  good  enough  to  think  for 
a  moment,  that  women  are  expected — are  trained 
— to  trade  upon  their  beauty.  Their  lives  are 
so  arranged  that  there  is  no  possibility  of  their 
trading  on  an\-thing  else.  Half  the  marriages 
made  are  trade  unions.  The  fact  is  repulsive 
in  itself,  but  your  opinion  of  it,  your  feeling  about 
it,  depends  on  the  way  it  is  done.  You  heap 
opprobrious  epithets  upon  tlie  unsuccessful  woman 
but  there  is  no  honour  too  great  for  the  one  that 
succeeds — even  at  the  price  of  her  honour.  Your 
servant  girl  with  a  baby  is  made  an  outcast — 
your  king's  mistress  is  made  a  duchess,  and  her 
son's  sons  govern  the  land." 

The  Duke  prepared  to  pirsue  the  conversation 
in  comfort  bv  crossing  his  leg  and  clasping  his 
ankle  over  a  silk  sock  of  vivid  tartan. 

"  And  have  you  worked  out,  you  and  Mrs. 
Pratt,  a  remedy  for  the  social  imbroglio  ?  "  he 
asked. 

"  The  remedv  ...  is  for  men  to  take  women 
into  their  counsels.  What  can  be  a  greater  muddle 
of  haphazard  than  life  as  most  of  us  are  compelled 
to  live  it.  And  they  continue  to  muddle  along 
until  woman  makes  her  escape  and  is  free  to 
develop  the  best  that  is  in  her." 

"  I  see,"  said  the  Duke,  "  I  see." 

Though  it  is  evident  that  the  Duke  had  some 
special  interest  in  Ella,  it  is  not  clear  what  it  is. 
We  have  a  great  deal  to  thank  the  authoress  for. 
Her  frank  and  well-balanced  \-iews  of  social 
problems  should  arrest  the  attention  of  thoughtful 
persons.  But  in  our  opinion  she  has  endeavoured 
to  cover  too  much  ground,  and  the  introduction 
of  so  manv  characters  and  so  much  detail  has 
injured  concentration  on  a  great  ideal. 

H.   H. 


COMING     EVENTS. 

December  6th. — The  Nurses'  Co-operation.  Show 
of  the  Nurses'  Needlework  Guild,  in  the  Club 
Room,  35,  I^ngham  Street,  W.     Tea,  3.30  to  5.30. 

December  loth. — Army  and  Navy  Male  Nurses' 
Co-operation.  Fifth  Annual  General  Meeting. 
St.  James's  Theatre,  St  James,  S.W.     3  p.m. 

December  loth. — The  Infants'  Hospital,  Vincent 
Square,  S.W.  Lectures  on  Babies  :  "  Intestinal 
Toxffimia."  by  Dr.  Ralph  Vincent.    3.30  p.m. 

December  ixth. — Nurses'  Social  Union.  Lecture 
on  "  Eugenics,"  by  Dr.  Murray  Leslie.  Institute 
of  Hygiefie,  Devonshire  Street,  W.     3.15. 

December  12th. — Hammersmith  and  District 
Nursing  Ass6ciation,  Carnforth  Lodge.  Miss 
Curtis  and  the  Nurses  AtHome.    4.30  to  6.30. 

December  isth. — Dinner.  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick, 
Guest  of  Honour,  given  by  members  of  the 
Nursing  Profession.  Jlrs.  ^^"alte^  Spencer  in  the 
Chair.     Hotel  Cecil,  Strand,  W.C.     7.30  p.m. 


December 


1912 


Z\K  British  3ournal  of  D-lurslno. 


465 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  comniunications  upon 
all  subjects  for  these  columns,  iie  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


"THE     ORQANISER." 

I'o  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — This  week's  article  in  the 
Journal  on  "  The  Organiser  "  greatly  interests 
me,  and  I  cordially  endorse  the  criticisms  therein 
contained.  I  emphatically  object  to  receive 
such  anonymous  communications.  Not  long  ago 
one  reached  me  in  connection  with  the  business 
of  the  Home  in  which  I  work,  presumably  from 
the  same  source,  signed  "  The  Editor."  A  day 
or  two  after  it  was  followed  up  by  a  second  letter 
which  contained  "  greatly  surprised  "  enquiries 
as  to  why  its  forerunner  had  not  been  answered  ! 
To  expect  a  professional  or  a  business  woman  to 
entertain  anonymous  appeals  shows  an  amazing 
ignorance  of  the  responsibility  resting  on  a  trained 
nurse,  in  whatsoever  capacity  she  may  be  employed. 
The  danger  to  the  ethical  standards  of  our 
profession  of  permitting  unprofessional,  anonymous 
influence  and  control  in  its  counsels  cannot  be 
over-rated,  or  too  determinedly  discouraged  l>v 
professional  nurses. 

Yours  faithfully, 

Ellen  B.  Ki.\i..-.iuku. 

Fallow  Corner.  North  Finchley. 


THE  DEPRECIATION  OF  DISTRICT  NURS  NO. 

To  the  Editor  of  Tin-;  British  Journal  of  Nur.sing. 

Dear  JNIadam, — You  must  forgive  me  for  saying 
that  your  article  of  the  i6th  ult.,  under  the  above 
heading,  is  a  delightful  example  of  what  would 
happen  if  women  ever  got  into  Parliament.  Reason 
would  play  second  fiddle  to  emotion. 

Your  scheme  of  nursing  the  whole  population 
with  fully-trained  hospital  nurses,  of  a  high  social 
position,  at  the  expense  of  the  ratepayers,  may 
be  a  heavenly  vision,  or  maj'  be  csgri  insomnia  vana, 
but  it  is,  most  assuredly,  not  practicable  at  present. 

The  question,  therefore,  is  not  whether  it  is 
better  to  give  scholarships  to  already  trained 
nurses  than  to  teach  midwifery  and  help  girls 
to  rise  in  the  world,  but  whether  it  is  better  to 
assist  the  poor  and  suffering  with  the  best  means 
available,  or  to  leave  them  to  stew  in  their  own  juice. 

Is  not  half  a  loaf  better  than  no  bread  ? 

If  broadcloth  is  unattainable,  is  not  fustian 
preferable  to  a  fig  leaf  ? 

You  say  No.  Either  a  first-class  service  or 
nothing.  I  say  Yes.  Do  the  best  you  can  with 
what  you  can  get.  What  would  you  do  with  those 
who  need  help  pending  the  realization  of  your 
prayers  and  aspirations  ? 

As  regards  your  ill-tenipered  criticisms  of  County 
Nursing  Associations,  which  I  presume  include  the 
Queen's  Institute,  under  whose  skilled  supervision 


wc  work,  1  can  safely  lca\c  the  Queen's  and  other 
County  Associations  to  defend  themselves. 

But  for  my  own  County  Association  I  can  most 
eniphatically  assert  that  your  allegation  of  laymen 
and  women  without  any  practical  experience 
degrading  the  standards  of  the  nursing  profession 
is  absolutely  and  entirely  untrue.  It  is  quite 
evident  that  in  this  instance  at  all  events  you 
wrote  of  what  you  were  entirely  ignorant.  We 
have  on  our  Executive  Committee  and  in  our 
Superintendents  not  only  persons  of  very  large 
practical  experience  in  nursing,  but  experts  and 
recognised  authorities  on  this  subject  and  on  all 
matters  connected  therewith. 

And  so  far  from  degrading  the  standard  of 
nursing  it  is  being  raised  e\-ery  day.  Wliat  sort 
of  nursing  obtained  before  tliis  Association  was 
started  ? 

Was  the  Holt-Ockley  system  better  than  what 
we  practise  ?  And  the  reason  why  we  send 
village  nurses,  who  are  under  constant  expert, 
supervision,  and  arc  learning  more  and  more 
daily,  to  local  associations  is  because  there  is  a 
great  demand  for  them,  and  because  local  associa- 
tions, which  arc  mostly  provident  or  co-operative 
Societies,  cannot  afford  a  better  article. 

As  to  "  sweated  labour,"  you  do  not  question 
my  assertion  that  it  is  reasonable  for  the  novice's 
pay  to  be  sniall  during  her  first  period  of  service, 
or  that  her  pay  compares  fa\-ourably  with  that 
earned  by  nien  and  boys.  \Miat  do  you  pay  a 
hospital  nurse  during  the  two  first  years  of  her 
pupilage  ? 

It  is  surely  against  your  democratic  principles 
to  argue  that  a  skilled  nurse  cannot  arise  from 
the  class  of  girls  who  go  into  shops  or  factories. 
Would  you  insist  that  all  your  nurses  should  be 
descendants  of  peers  or  of  the  landed  gentry,  or 
where  do  you  draw  the  social  line  ? 

Is  not  Sergeant  Whatisname  often  a  better  drill 
instructor  than  his  Captain  ? 

Finally,  I  may  remind  you  that  nurses  of 
whatever  grade  are  servants  of  the  public  and 
adjuncts  of  the  medical  profession,  without  whom 
they  are  impotent ;  that  the  former  may  and  will 
employ  what  they  want,  not  what  you  think  they 
ought  to  want,  and  you  may  as  well  attempt  to 
dictate  to  the  ratepayer  what  class  of  nurse  he 
shall  employ,  as  my  cook  may  attempt  to  force 
me  to  go  tlirough  an  elaborate  French  menu 
when  I  infinitely  prefer  a  mutton  chop. 

May  I  also  say  that  you  have  a  long  and  weary 
road  in  front  of  you  ;  that  it  is  surely  better  to 
utilize  existing  conditions  and  enlist  the  help  and 
sympathy  of  those  who  are  working  in  the  same 
field,  than  to  attempt  to  gain  your  desired  end 
by  violence,  whether  of  language  or  otherwise, 
which  will  help  your  protegees  about  as  much  as 
breaking  a  Regent  Street  window  will  help  you 
to  get  a  vote. 

Yours  faithfully, 

H.  R.  Bruxner, 
Hon.  Sec,  Staffordshire  County 
Nursing  Association. 
Chascley  House,  Rugeley. 


.66 


'^bc  36riticib  3ournal  of  IRurstiuj 


December  7,   1912 


[The  attitude  of  mind  of  the  writer  of  the  above 
letter,  towards  womanhood  in  general,  is  of  so 
con\incing  a  character  that  we  feel  sure  no  remarks 
of  ours  are  required  to  emphasise  the  danger  to 
any  class  of  women  workers  being  controlled  by 
so  intolerant  a  type.  We  would  ask  our  readers 
to  refresh  their  memories  on  the  question  under 
discussion — the  Depreciation  of  District  Nursing 
and  the  sweating  of  Village  Nurses — by  referring 
to  our  article  which  appeared  in  the  issue  of 
November  i6th  last.  Our' demand  is,  and  (in 
spite  of  the  arrogant  denial  of  our  correspondent 
of  our  right  to  an  opinion  concerning  the  nursing 
profession,  of  which  we  have  been  an  acti^■e 
member  for  thirty-four  years),  we  shall  continue  to 
demand,  that  before  women,  whatever  their  class, 
are  entrusted  by  lay,  self-elected  committees 
with  the  care  of  the  sick  poor,  they  shall  be 
efficiently  trained,  and  when  so  trained  they  shall 
be  paid  a  just  salarj-  for  their  work.  Tliis  appears 
to  us  an  entirely  unemotional  business  proposition, 
although  it  may  not  appeal  to  the  "  reason  "  of 
our  correspondent.  We  may  pass  over  as  ir- 
rele\ant  impertinent  personahties.  They  break 
no  bones.- 

The  fact  remains  that  the  standard  of  knowledge 
for  \illage  nurses,  as  defined  by  lay  Count\-  Nursing 
Associations,  is  in  the  opinion  of  nursing  experts 
dangerously  insufficient,  and  we  may  add,  the 
valuable  lives  of  the  sick  poor  are  often  at  the 
mercy  of  persons  whom  the  members  of  these 
committees  would  not  employ  during  sickness  in 
their  own  homes.  These  workers  are  encouraged 
to  consider  themselves  "  trained  "  and  "  skilled  " 
nurses  by  the  committees  who  employ  them. 
They  are  neither  one  nor  the  other.  Moreover,  the 
name  of  "  nurse  "  is  substituted  for  the  legal  title 
of  "  certified  midwife  "  conferred  upon  them 'by 
the  State,  for  no  other  reason,  as  far  as  we  can 
gather,  than  to  deceive  the  sick  poor  as  to  their  real 
lack  of  nursing  status. 

Our  correspondent  claims  that  village  nurses 
are  under  "  constant  expert  supervision."  We 
deny  this.  It  is  not  possible  m  rural  districts. 
It  is  impossible  for  Superintendents  and  Inspectors 
in  far  country-  places  to  exercise  "  constant  "  or 
effective  "  supervision  "  o\er  the  work  of  village 
nurses.  Weeks  elapse  between  \-isits,  and  it  is 
our  experience  that  between  times  the  \-illage 
nurse  is  usually  "  supervised  "  by  a  lady  of  social 
position,  who  knows  nothing  of  trained  nursing 
and  has  never  spent  twent\'-four  hours  in  a  hospital 
ward  in  lier  life. 

The  "  novice  "  in  the  hospital  service  has  a 
small  salary-,  but  she  is  a  pupil  learning  a  skilled 
profession,  by  which,  m  the  future,  she  can  earn 
an  honourable  livelihood  ;  and  is  under  "  constant 
expert  supervision  "  ;  but  that  a  "  novice  "  em- 
ployed by  County  Nursing  Associations,  should  not 
only  be  supphed  to  the  trusting  and  ignorant  poor 
as  a  skilled  worker,  but  be  compelled  to  pay  for  the 
experience  gained  at  their  expense,  is  the  acme  of 
class  impertinence — both  classes  being  poor  are 
thus  despitefully  treated  by  their  social  superiors, 
who  treat  the  economic  needs  of  each  with  equal 


contempt.  As  to  whether  the  wages  of  the 
nurse  "  novice,"  compare  satisfactorily  with  those 
earned  by  "  boys,"  emplov^ed,  presumably  in 
rural  districts,  in  feeding  the  pigs  and  cleansing  the 
crew-yard,  is  an  item  of  political  economy  which 
might  receive  consideration  at  the  next  District 
Nursing  Conference ! 

We  are  well  aware  that  all  wage-earners,  even 
Cabinet  Ministers,  are  servants  of  the  public,  who 
paj-  their  salaries,  although  this  fact  would  appear 
to  slip  their  elastic  memories  when  they  urge  that 
tax-paying  women  should  be  chucked  downstairs, 
when  they  venture  to  remmd  them  in  public 
that  all  taxation  without  representation  is  tvTanny. 
But,  in  tliis  connection,  the  poor  are  not  asked  by 
their  social  superiors  "  what  they  want,"  as  to  the 
quality  of  their  nursing,  but  are  compelled  to 
submit  to  the  ministrations  of  those  supplied  to 
them  by  irresponsible  Associations,  who  thus 
dictate  to  the  ratepayer  what  standard  of  nursing 
he  shall  employ. 

Like  the  majority-  of  tax-pajdng,  rate-paying 
professional  women,  we  are  fully  aware,  that  such 
abuses  as  that  under  discussion — the  provision  of 
women's  unskilled  work  as  "  skilled,"  to  the 
defenceless  poor,  at  sweated  rates  of  remuneration 
for  the  worker,  because  the  system  is  cheap, 
will  never  cease  until  we  women  have  the  political 
power  to  stop  it. 

It  is  not  merely  a  "  heavenly  vision  "  that  the 
population  should  be  justly  and  generously  treated 
when  sick.  It  is  the  practical  aim  of  ever\-  trained 
nurse  worthy  of  the  name,  and  long  may  it 
continue  to  be  so.  To  offer  them  a  shoddy  .sub- 
stitute is  to  mock  their  urgent  necessities. — Ed.] 


COMMENTS     AND     REPLIES. 

Richtnondite. — Will  "  Richmondite  "  send  her 
name  to  the  Editor,  not  for  publication,  but 
because  it  is  our  journalistic  rule  that  those  who 
wTite  under  a  pseudonym  for  publication  should 
furnish  their  names  for  the  Editor's  information  ? 

• — ♦— ♦ 

OUR     CHRISTMAS     COMPETITION. 


TOYS     FOR    TIMES. 

Four  Five  Shilling  Prizes  will  be  awarded  in 
December  for  the  best  toys  made  at  the  cost  of 
not  more  than  6d.  The  toys  must  be  sent  to  the 
Editorial  Office,  20,  Upper  Wimpole  Street, 
London,  W.,  by  December  14th,  with  the  coupon 
appearing  in  this  issue  on  page  XII.  All  the 
toys  will  be  distributed  to  poor  children  under 
five  years  of  age,  so  they  should  be  made  to  meet 
the  tastes  of  tinies. 


OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS. 

December  i^th. — Describe  the  treatnrent  of 
Rodent  Tjlcer. 

December  ;is/. — How  would  you  amuse  a 
convalescent  '  child  aged  5  to  S  years  isolated 
with  infectious  disease  ?    " 

December  28th. — WTiat  symptoms  would  lead 
you  to  suspect  apoplexy  ?  Give  nursing  treatment 
of  apoplexy. 


December  7,  1912    Z\k  56riti?h  3ournaI  of  ■fl-liirtjino  Supplement.     167 


The    Midwife. 


A   CHAMPION    BABY. 


The  charming  portrait  of  Muriel  Tanguy,  aged 
ten  weeks,  whicli  appears  on  this  page,  was 
photographed  by  Miss  Tait  McKay,  Superintendent 
of  the  Cornwall  County  Nursing  Association. 

Little  Muriel  won  the  First  Prize  at  a  Baby 
Show  which  recently  took  place  at  the  Guildhall^ 
Saltash,  for  which  there  were  fifty-five  entries, 
and  wliich  was  organised  in  aid  of  tlic  funds  of 
the  Saltash  and  District  Nursing  Association. 

The  Show- 
was  opened 
by  tlie  Mayor 
of  Saltash, 
w  ho  e  X  - 
pressed  his 
pleasure  at 
beingpresent 
at  the  Show, 
but  at  tlie 
same  time 
said  that  lie 
thought  that 
in  a  town 
like  Saltasli 
there  ouglit 
to  be  a 
sufficient 
number  of 
people  will- 
ing to  sub- 
scribe the 
amount  re 
quired  annu- 
ally without 
having  to  re- 
sort to  such 
efforts  to 

find  the  necessarj'  money.  There  could  be  no 
greater  charity  than  that  which  provided  the  very 
sick  with  the  very  best  of  nursing.  He  hoped 
the  Show  would  be  a  great  success. 

The  judging  of  the  babies  took  place  in  the 
Maj'Or's  parlour,  the  judges  being  Dr.  Burnet, 
County  Medical  Officer  ;  Miss  Tait  McKay,  who, 
besides  being  County  Superinterrdent,  is  Inspector 
of  Midwi\es  for  Cornwall  ;  and  Miss  Parkins, 
Superintendent,  Three  Towns  Nursing  Association. 

The  prizes,  which  were  numerous,  and  awarded 
in  no  less  than  six  classes,  were  presented  by 
Mrs.  Halsey,  of  St.  Anns  House,  Pill.  The 
championship  prize  consisted  of  a  silver-plated 
knife,  fork  and  spoon  in  a  case,  which  was  presented 
by  a  well-known  firm. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  prize-giving.  Dr. 
Burnet  made  some  remarks  as  judge,  dispelling 
the  illusion  tliat  the  heaviest  baby  was  necessarily 
the    best,    condemning   bottles    with    long   tubes, 


A    CHA.VIPION    BABV.--MURIEL  TANGUY.   AGED    10   WEEKS 


and  dummy  teats,  and  making  strong  points  of 
cleanliness  and  suitable  clothing.  He  also  said 
that  the  judges  had  had  a  very  difficult  task, 
owing  to  the  high  standard  attained  by  the 
babies. 

Mr.  Richard  Miller,  in  proposing  a  vote  of  thanks 
to  Dr.  Burnet,  Miss  McKay,  and  Mrs.  Halsey, 
said  he  had  seen  many  sights  in  his  life,  but  never 
a  prettier  one  than  they  had  had  that  afternoon. 
A  pretty  incident  of  the  proceedings  was  the 
presentation  of  beautiful  bouquets  to  Mrs.  Halsey 
and  Miss  Tait  McKay  by  Miss  Marjorie  Titterton 

and     Master 

Roy  Simons. 
A  sale  of 
work  and 
other  attrac- 
tions were 
well  s  u  p  - 
ported  dur- 
ing the  day. 


A  UNIQUE 
STALL. 

A      very 

interesting 
feature  of 
the  Bazaar 
opened  last 
week  by  the 
Duchess  of 
Bedford  in 
aid  of  St. 
Mary's  Hos- 
pital for 
Women  in 
Manchester 
was  a  uni(iue 
collection  of  dainty  feminine  apparel  made 
by  women  convicts  undergoing  long  sentences 
in  Strangcways  and  Aylesbury  Prisons,  and  girls 
in  the  Borstal  Institution  at  Aylesbury.  The 
Exhibition  served  to  demonstrate  the  kind  of 
educational  teaching  given  by  the  women  in- 
spectors to  prisoners. .  The  work  of  the  convicts 
and  women  prisoners  was  cxceptionallv  beautiful, 
and  was  marked  by  fine  finish  and  clever  workman- 
ship. At  the  Borstal  Institution  the  girls  are 
taught  sewing  and  laundr\-  work,  and  are  given  a 
really  sound  training  in  domestic  economy.  Mrs. 
Phillips,  the  Bazaar  Secrctarv,  is  one  of  the  lady 
visitors  in  connection  with  Strangeways  Prison, 
and  she  pays  a  high  tribute  to  the  wardresses 
engaged  there.  We  wonder  if  any  hospital  ever 
had  so  pathetic  a  contribution  in  aid  of  its  funds 
before. 

Miss  A.  K.  Brooks,  the  Matron,  and  the  nursing 
staff  worked  hard  for  the  success  of  the  Bazaar. 


468     Cbc  Briti£?b  3ournal  of  H^ureino  Supplement,  December  7,  191: 


THE  ASSOCIATION  FOR  PROMOTING 
THE  TRAINING  AND  SUPPLY  OF 
MIDWIVES. 


A  meeting  of  the  Council  of  the  above  Associa- 
tion was  held  at  Caxton  Hall,  Westminster,  on 
Thursday,  November  28th.  Princess  Christian 
was  announced  to  preside,  but  wrote  expressing 
her  regret  at  being  unable  to  do  so.  The  chair 
was  taken  by  Sir  GeorgS  Fordham  ;  and,  on  his 
motion,  the  following  new  members  of  the  Council 
were  elected  :  The  Bishop  of  Barking,  the  Bishop 
of  Southwark,  Lady  Parker,  i\Irs.  Le\'erton  Harris, 
and  Dr.  Christopher  Addison,  M.P. 

^Irs.  Wallace  Bruce  then  presented  the  Report 
on  the  general  work  of  the  Association.  The  work, 
she  said,  had  been  ameveatful,  consisting  principally 
in  training,  and  watching  over  the  interests  of 
midwives. 

The  Association  had  now  trained  some  160  mid- 
wives,  who  kept  in  close  touch  with  the  office. 
The  Secretary,  Miss  Ford,  succeeded  most 
admirably  in  securing  their  confidence.  The  Asso- 
ciaticw  had  published  a  leaflet  for  mothers, 
addressed  to  working  women,  which  could  be 
obtained  through  the  office,  Dacre  House,  Dean 
Farrar  Street,  S.W.  ;  and  also  the  speech  made  b\- 
Mrs.  von  Glelin  at  the  summer  meeting.  There  was 
a  strong  tendency  to  evade  the  Act  in  the  Eastern 
Counties,  and  to  employ  untrained  women  pro- 
fessedly acting  as  nurses  under  doctors. 

In  Chesterfield  there  had  been  an  agreement 
among  the  doctors,  that  their  services  must  be 
retained  in  midwives'  cases  by  the  payment  of  a 
fee  of  5s.,  otherwise  they  would  not  attend. 

At  the  recent  meeting  of  the  General  Medical 
Council,  this  action  had  been  strongly  condemned. 

The  Council  had  thought  hard  and  worked  hard 
in  relation  to  the  National  Insurance  Act,  but,  as 
they  were  not  employers  of  labour,  it  did  not 
directly  affect  them.  They  were  indebted  to  Miss 
Ford  for  the  careful  studv  she  had  made  of  the 
Act. 

Miss  Lorent  Grant  (Acting  Treasurer)  then 
presented  the  Financial  Statement.  Their  golden 
nest-egg  for  training  purposes  was  melting;  and 
they  must,  she  said,  obtain  more,  or  the  training  of 
pupils  would  have  to  be  reduced.  They  had,  how- 
ever, received  two  unexpected  donations  from  the 
Goldsmiths'  and  Skinneis'  Companies. 

Miss  Lucy  Robinson  gave  an  interesting  account 
of  the  work  done  at  the  East  Ham  Home,  which, 
she  said,  increased  in  usefulness  everv  vear. 
The  large  experience  gained  in  the  district  was 
most  useful  to  the  pupils  subsequently.  They  were 
deeply  interested  in  their  work,  and  the  Associa- 
tion was  indebted  to  those  who  trained  them  for 
their  enthusiasm  and  zeal. 

Mr.  Fremantle  (County  Medical  Officer  of  Health 
for  Hertfordshire)  then  spoke  on  the  organisation 
of  midwifery  in  the  Counties.  In  the  course  of  his 
remarks  he  spoke  of  the  tendency  towards  a  falling- 
off  in  the  supply  of  midwives  ;  and  the  question  of 
salaries  was  one  which  must  be  considered  in  the 


future.  For  the  ordinary  nurse  and  ordinary  mid- 
wife in  the  counties,  there  was  no  inducement  to 
take  up  the  work,  except  from  motives  of  philan- 
thropy. 

Referring  to  the  Insurance  Act,  Mr.  Fremantle 
said  it  was  still  uncertain  how  the  Maternity 
Benefit  would  be  distributed.  He  hoped  it  would 
be  paid  over  to  the  individual,  and  that  the  mid- 
wives  would  then  get  their  share.  Unless  local 
Associations  were  on  the  alert,  all  the  work  would 
pass  to  the  Insurance  Conrmittees  to  arrange. 

In  his  concluding  remarks.  Sir  George  Fordham 
pointed  out  that  on  each  Insurance  Committee 
the  Commissioners  had  placed  one  midwife.  He 
hoped  she  was  going  to  be  an  intelligent  sentinel. 

The  meeting  concluded  with  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
the  chair  and  Mr.  Fremantle,  proposed  by  Miss 
Amy  Hughes  and  seconded  by  ^liss  .Mice  Gregory. 


AN     EFFECTIVE     CRIB     WARMER. 

A  contemporary  describes  an  effective  crib- 
warmer,  in  use  in  the  Presbyterian  Hospital, 
New  York.  The  sides  of  the  bassinet  in  which  the 
baby  lies  are  covered  with  asbestos  boards,  and 
beneath  is  an  electric  heater  or  foot-warmer,  with 
cable-couplings  and  switch,  which  allows  the 
current  to  be  regulated.  In  a  warm  air-chamber, 
between  the  bassinet  and  the  foot-warmer,  is  a 
partition,  so  constructed  with  reference  to  the 
baby's  position  in  the  crib  that  the  heat  is  reflected 
to  the  lower  end  of  the  bassinet.  The  child's  feet 
are  thus  kept  warm,  while  a  lower  temperature  is 
maintained  at  the  head. 

THE  BRITISH  HOSPITAL  FOR  MOTHERS 
AND   BABIES. 

^^'ith  the  approval  of  King  Edward's  Hospital 
Fund  for  London  and  the  Charity  Commissioners, 
an  amalgamation  of  the  British  Lying-in  Hospital 
with  the  Home  for  Mother  and-  Babies,  Woolwich, 
has  been  provisionally  arranged  under  the  com- 
bined title  of  the  British  Hospital  for  IMothers  and 
Babies.  The  sub-title  of  the  latter  institution — 
National  Training  School  for  District  Midwives — 
will  be  retained,  and  the  joint  hospital  will  occupy 
a  new  building  shortly  to  be  erected  at  Woolwich. 

The  new  Hospital  will  have  some  30  beds,  and 
the  special  features  connected  with  its  w-ork  will 
be  (a)  the  admission  of  a  limited  number  of  cases 
where  pregnancy  is  complicated  by  disease  or 
otherwise,  and  consequently  the  patients  would 
not  be  admitted  to  general  or  maternity 
hospitals,  but  these  cases  of  complication  are  to 
be  in  a  separate  block  from  that  where  the  ordinary 
maternity  cases  are  to  be  treated  ;  (b)  the  ad- 
mission for  a  long  period  of  prenaaturely  born 
infants  requiring  special  treatment  ;  (c)  a  longer 
and  better  training  of  midwives  and  monthly 
nurses  than  is  now  given  at  maternity  hospitals, 
with  special  attention  to  the  training  of  district 
midwives  ;  and  {d)  through  the  district  riiidwi\-es 
and  others  to  spread  a  better  knowledge  of  the 
care  and  feeding  of  infants. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 

tUK  MIIIISI(M€  WECO^ 

EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,     DECEMBER    14,   1912. 


EDITORIAL.  • 

A     .MERRY     CHRISTA\AS. 

Once  again  the  approach  of  Christmas 
reminds  us  that  if  we  wish  our  greetings 
to  reach  our  many  friends  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada  in  the  West,  and  in 
India  and  elsewhere  in  the  East,  the  current 
issue  must  carrv  them  abroad,  and  even  so 
the  New  Year  will  have  dawned  for  some 
weeks  before  the  Journal  delivers  its  message 
of  goodwill  and  friendship  in  Australia  and 
New  Zealand. 

Year  by  vear,  as  we  count  our  friends  in 
the  journalistic  world,  we  rejoice  to  add  to 
their  number.  For  years  this  Journal  was 
the  only  professional  paper  through  which 
nurses  all  over  the  world  could  keep  in 
touch  with  one  another. 

Now  each  of  the  nine  countries  affiliated 
to  the  International  Council  ol  Nurses  has 
its  own  professionally  edited  paper,  and  to 
these  those  of  Sweden  and  Norwav  must  be 
added.  Through  these  journals  we  have 
the  joy  of  sharing  the  aims  and  aspirations 
of  our  colleagues  througliout  the  world, 
and,  while  to  each  and  all  of  our  reailers, 
we  send  hearty  greetings  for  their  personal 
happiness  and  professional  success,  the 
Journal  carries  a  special  greeting  of  warm 
regard  to  the  group  of  distinguished  nurses 
who,  in  all  parts  of  the  world,  are  valiantly 
voicing  the  intercstsof  their  colleagues,  which 
are  identical  with  those  of  the  sick  ;  women 
— in  whatever  part  of  the  world  they  may 
be  found — who,  realizing  the  paramount 
necessity  to  the  nursing  profession  of  organs 
of  their  own  in  the  press  are  undertaking  the 
onerous  task  of  editing  nursing  journals. 

If  devotion  to  duty  often  brings  weari- 
ness, disappointment,  heartache,  those  »vho 
have  assumed  this  burden  know  that  it  has 
its    joys   as    well    as   its    sorrows,    and     its 


satisfaction  in  work  accomplished.  We 
can  wish  nothing  better  for  our  friends  in 
the  journalistic  world,  as  they  take  stock 
of  their  assets  at  the  close  of  the  year,  than 
that  it  shall  find  them  with  some  bit  of 
work  begun  when  the  year  was  new, 
achieved  before  its  close,  and  that  the  new 
year  will  bring  them  their  heart's  desire, 
well  knowing  that  that  desire  will  be  for 
the  uplift  of  the  profession  which  they  serve 
with  such  singlehearted  devotion. 

To  nurses  at  home,  wherever  they  are 
found,  in  hospitals,  in  infirmaries,  in  asylums, 
in  the  homes  of  the  rich  and  the  poor,  in 
schools,  and  in  institutions  of  all  kinds,  we 
extend  our  heartiest  greetings.  Last  but 
not  least  to  the  midwives  who  in  rain  and 
sunshine,  bv  night  and  by  day,  are  to  be 
found  responding  to  the  call  of  duty  and 
carrying  into  the  homes  of  the  poor,  for 
small  financial  reward,  the.  knowledge  and 
skill  of  the  professional  worker,  the  sym- 
pathy and  strength  which  true  women  can 
afford  to  mother  and  child. 

To  the  patients  who  are  debarred  from 
entering  into  the  usual  festivities  at  this 
season,  the  hearts  of  all  nurses  go  out  in 
svmpathv,  with  the  result  that  in  hospitals 
and  infirmaries  at  least,  those  who  are  not 
acutely  ill  will  probably  keep  the  most 
memorable  Christmas  of  their  lives,  and 
look  back  upon  it  in  days  to  come  as 
a  time  of  great  and  unexpected  happiness. 
For  the  children,  Christmas  in  hospital 
means  a  glimpse  into  a  hitherto  undreamt 
of  fairy  land. 

For  most  of  our  readers  Christmas  will 
not  mean  a  time  for  personal  pleasure, 
rather  one  of  extra  work  and  endurance, 
yet  if  in  the  still  hours  of  the  morning  they 
worship  at  the  manger  throne  of  Bethlehem 
they  will  not  miss  its  own  special  gifts  of 
joy  and  peace. 


47° 


Zbc  BritU'b  Souvnal  ot  H-lursino.     December  14, 


1912 


CLINICAL   NOTES   ON   SOME   COMMON 
AILMENTS. 

Bv   A.    Knvvett   GoKDt)N,    M.B.    Caxtab. 


DISORDERS     OF     MENSTRUATION. 

{Continued  from  page  451.) 
Menorrhagia. 

Here  the  trouble  lies  in  the  fact  that  the 
patient  is  losing  too  much.  Either  the  flow  at 
each  period  is  profuse,  or  it  is  repeated  at 
unduly  short  intervals.  Sometimes  the  dis- 
charge of  blood  does  not  cease  between  the 
periods,  in  which  case  the  name  "  menor- 
rhagia  "  is  given  to  the  condition. 

For  convenience  we  may  divide  the  subject' 
of  menorrhagia  into  two  parts,  according  as  to 
whether  it  occurs  in  women  who  have,  or  who 
have  not,  borne  children  respectively.  In  un- 
married girls  it  is  not  uncommon  to  find  that  the 
periods  are  either  too  profuse,  or  occur  too  fre- 
quently, when  there  is  nothing  radically  wrong 
with  the  pelvic  organs  themselves.  It  often,  for 
instance,  is  a  result  of  an  exciting  and  exacting 
social  life  combined  with  late  hours  and  want 
of  exercise — the  sort  of  thing  that  occurs  in  a 
London  "season,"  for  instance.  Or  it  may 
occur  during  convalescence  from  any  serious 
illness,  especially  when  the  patient  has  been 
allowed  to  get  up  too  soon.  In  others  the 
periods  are  apt  to  recur  too  frequently  when- 
ever the  patient  is  run  down  from  any  cause. 

Again,  it  may  occur  in  some  constitutional 
diseases,  such  as  valvular  disease  of  the  heart 
and  sluggishness  of  the  liver.  It  is  often  a  sign 
of  secret  drinking. 

Later  on  in  life,  especially  when  bleeding 
occurs  about  the  time  of  the  menopause,  it  is 
often  due  to  cancer  of  the  uterus,  and  there  is 
perhaps  no  more  pernicious  "  vulgar  error  " 
than  the  quite  common  belief  that  haemorrhage 
about  this  time  is  a  natural  event.  In  the  vast 
majority  of  instances,  cancer  of  the  uterus  can 
be  detected  by  examination  sufficiently  early  to 
enable  us  to  hold  out  a  reasonable  prospect  of 
complete  cure  by  operation,  but  it  is  compara- 
tively seldom  that  the  patient  gives  us  the 
chance.  Time  after  time,  when  one  sees  for 
the  first  time  a  woman  suffering  from  this 
horrible  disease,  one  is  met  by  the  answer, 
"But  I  thought  it  was  the  change  of  life."  I 
am  sure  that  nurses  in  particular  can  do  very 
much  to  combat  this  most  pernicious  error. 

Another  cause  is  fibroid  tumour  of  the 
uterus.  In  this  condition  we  have  the  wall  of 
the  uterus  growing  out  in  lumps  ;  after  a  while 
these  project  into  the  interior  of  the  uterus,  and 


develop  a  stalk  like  a  pear.  This  becomes 
twisted,  so  that  there  is  obstruction  to  the 
return  of  blood  from  the  tumour,  and  the  blood 
vessels  in  the  mucous  membrane  covering  it 
become  too  full,  and  ultimately  burst. 
Haemorrhage  from  fibroids  usually  starts  not 
as  a  sudden  flow,  but  as  a  gradual  increase  in 
the  amount  lost  at  the  monthly  periods,  so  it  is 
not,  as  a  rule,  until  the  tumours  are  fairly  large 
that  the  patient  seeks  advice.  In  the  majority 
of  cases,  women  with  fibroid  tumours  present 
themselves  for  treatment  between  the  ages  cf 
thirty  and  forty,  though  there  can  be  little 
doubt  that  the  real  onset  is  really  much  sooner 
than  this  as  a  rule. 

In  married  women,  in  addition  to  the 
previously  mentioned  causes,  which  sometimes 
are  even  more  frequent  than  in  the  unmarried, 
we  get  an  additional  source  of  undue  haemor- 
rhages in  the  changes  that  may  occur  in  con- 
nection with  pregnancy.  One  of  the  most 
common  of  these  is  the  failure  of  the  uterus  to 
contract  properly  after  childbirth  or  a  mis- 
carriage. I  am  not  referring  here  to  the 
hemorrhage  which  takes  place  immediately 
after  these  events,  and  is  known  as  post  partum 
hsemorrhage,  but  rather  to  a  condition  which 
is  apt  to  occur  later  on. 

What  happens  is  this  :  After  childbirth,  or 
miscarriage — more  frequently  the  latter,  as 
patients  are  apt  to  treat  this  with  scant' respect 
— the  woman,  instead  of  taking  matters 
seriously,  and  lying  in  bed  for  an  adequate 
time — usually  at  least  ten  days — gets  up  and 
goes  about  her  work  or  fufils  some  social 
engagement.  Perhaps  she  feels  none  the  worse 
for  this  at  the  time,  and  until  her  periods  com- 
mence, when,  to  her  surprise,  she  finds  that 
the  flow  is  so  excessive  as  to  compel  her  to  lie 
in  bed  and  send  for  a  doctor,  and  a  similar 
trouble  occurs  with  each  successive  period. 

On  examining  such  a  case  we  find  that  the 
uterus,  instead  of  being  firm  and  small,  is 
flabby,  and  larger  than  it  should  be,  and  it  not 
infrequently  happens  that  we  find  in  its  interior 
a  piece  of  the  placenta,  or  afterbirth,  which 
should  have  come  away  completely  at  the  time 
of  the  childbirth  or  miscarriage.  This  failure 
of  the  uterus  to  contract  properly  is  known  as 
subinvolution,  and  is  much  more  common  than 
it  ought  to  be. 

Another  cause  of  menorrhagia  in  married 
women  is  a  chronic  inflammation  of  the  lining 
membrane  of  the  uterus,  or  endometritis,  as  it 
is  called.  This  is  very  apt  to  follow  on  sub- 
involution, and  occurs  most  commonly  in  those 
who  have  had  many  children  with  unduly  short 
intervals  between  each  birth.      In  addition  to 


December   14,    191; 


cTbe  Brtttsi)  3ournal  ot  H-lursino. 


47' 


the  excessive  h;eni()rrlui{fe  at  the  periuds,  these 
women  sutler  from  a  constant  dragfging  pam 
in  the  back,  and  a  white  vaginal  discharge  in 
between  the  periods.  The  lives  that  some  of 
these  women  lead  is  rather  a  pathetic  one. 
They  never  have  time  to  lay  up,  and,  being 
practically  always  pregnant,  they  have  to  work, 
and  wash  and  scrub,  and  to  feed  and  clothe 
their  ciiildren  to  the  accompaniment  of  per- 
petual backache,  and  an  utter  hopelessness  of 
outlook  on  life  in  general.  Once  or  twice  a 
week  they  stand  in  the  miserable  procession 
that  one  sees  at  the  out-patient  door  of  a 
gynaecological  hospital.  The  best  of  them — 
heroines  in  very  truth — are  half-starved 
because  they  feed  their  children  before  they 
nourish  themselves,  and  there  is  not  always 
enough  for  both ;  the  worst  take  to  secret 
drinking,  and  who  shall  blame  them  for  seek- 
ing a  period  of  anaesthesia,  however  brief  it 
be?  Before  we  do  so  we  must  either  give  theiii 
a  better  and  cheaper  anaesthetic  or  render 
anaesthesia  itself  unnecessary.  Otherwise  we 
are  talking  unadulterated  cant. 

The  treatment  of  monorrhagia  is  that  of  the 
underlying  cause.  In  married  women  the  first 
thing  to  do  is  to  make  a  thorough  examination 
of  the  pelvic  organs  per  vaginam.  One  may 
find  evidence  of  fibroids,  and  the  question  of 
removing  either  the  tumours  from  their  bed  in 
the  uterine  wall,  or  the  uterus  itself  has  to  be 
considered.  If  the  patient  is  approaching  the 
time  of  life  at  which  it  may  reasonably  be 
expected  that  the  periods  will  cease,  and  the 
ha-morrhage  is  not  very  severe,  it  may  be 
advisable  to  wait,  as  these  tumours  frequently 
shrivel  up  :it  the  menopause,  and  give  no 
further  trouble.  Otherwise  they  should  cer- 
tainly be  removed,  as,  apart  from  the  bleeding 
to  which  they  give  rise,  they  are  apt  lo 
suppurate,  or  even  become  cancerous. 

If,  on  the  other  hand,  there  should  be  any 
suspicion  of  cancer  of  the  womb,  a  small 
portion  should  be  removed  and  examined  undf-r 
the  microscope.  If  the  suspicion  is  confirmed, 
the  entire  uterus  and  its  surroundings  should 
be  removed  without  delay. 

If  there  be  any  evidence  of  retention  of  a 
portion  of  placenta,  or  of  a  miscarriage,  tho 
interior  of  the  uterus  should  be  curetted  — 
scraped,  that  is  to  say— and  the  raw  surface 
swabbed  over  with  some  strong  antiseptic. 
This  treatment  also  answers  equally  well  m 
cases  of  chronic  endometritis. 

In  unmarried  women  it  is  as  well  to  try  the 
effect  of  drugs  and  of  alteration  of  the  mode  of 
living  before  resorting  to  a  local  examination, 
unless  there  is  any  suspicion  of  cancer.     Ergot 


and  iron  are  bolli  useful,  and  sometimes 
calcium  lactate,  but  reversion  to  a  sensible  and 
more  primitive  way  of  living  is  essential  when 
the  trouble  is  due  to  artificial  habits.  Late 
hours,  excitement,  and  alcohol  must  be  entirely 
forbidden.  In  severe  cases  curetting  often  acts 
like  a  charm. 

(To  be  continued.) 

HOSPITAL    HYGIENE. 


Dr.  .Anna  Hamilton,  in  an  interesting  article 
on  hospital  hygiene  published  in  the  last 
issue  of  La  Garde-Maladc  Ilospitaliere,  points 
out  that  this  does  not  depend  only  on  the 
architect,  or  on  medical  administration,  but  on 
the  knowledge  of  the  nurses,  who  never  leave 
the  wards  day  or  night,  and  who  thus  wield  true 
authority  in  them.  It  is  recognized  in  certain 
countries  that  the  instruction  of  nurses  in 
hygiene  is  one  of  the  most  important  parts  of 
their  training.  This  instruction  comprises  the 
hygiene  of  the  sick  person,  of  his  surroundings, 
and  of  the  nur.se.  Dr.  Hamilton  discusses  the 
latter  under  three  heads,  viz.,  hygiene  of  the 
body,  of  the  clothing,  of  the  alimentary  and 
respiratory  tracts.  The  hygiene  of  the  body 
she  discusses  under  the  hi'ads  of  the  skin,  the 
teeth,  the  hair,  and  the  nails.  Cleanliness  of 
the  skin  is,  she  points  out,  infinitely  more  im- 
portant for  the  hospital  nurse  than  for  the 
woman  of  the  world,  but  is  frequently  neglected 
in  French  and  Italian  hospitals.  In  northern 
countries  a  washstand  is  provided  for  each 
nurse,  besides  bathroom  accommodation.  In 
the  south,  where  both  lay  and  religious  nurses 
are  often  lodged  in  dormitories,  there  is  often 
not  a  washstand  in  the  dormitory,  or  only  a 
basin  and  jug  o.f  water  without  other  acces- 
sories. There  mav  be  a  sufficiency  of  water  if 
there  is  a  tap,  but  the  fixture  of  the  basin  under- 
neath prevents  the  performance  of  a  complete 
toilet.  Certainly  all  hospitals  allow  their  nurses 
to  use  the  common  bathrooms,  but  these  are  far 
from  the  nurses'  apartments,  and  not  easy  of 
access  morning  and  .evening  at  a  time  when 
they  might  be  used,  and  when  the  h6urs  of 
service  for  the  patients  are  over  the  officer 
responsible  puts  the  key  in  his  or  her  pocket, 
and  does  not  readily  give  it  up.  Dr.  Hamilton 
insists  on  the  importance  of  brushing  the  teeth, 
w  hich  she  says  is  hardly  ever  done,  so  that  the 
buccal  cavitv  is  a  hotbed  of  fermentation;  of 
the  care  of  the  hair,  which,  when  uncovered,  is 
exposed  to  dust  and  frequently  touched  bv  the 
fingers  ;  and  of  the  care  of  the  nails,  which  are 
ronstantiv  in  contact  with  the  patients,  their 
linen,    their   medicine,   and    ilnir   food.         It   is 


47-2 


Cbc  36ritisb  3oui-nal  ot  IHursiiui 


December   14,    igi2 


essential  in  the  interests  of  the  sick  that  those 
who  care  for  them  should  keep  their  nails  very 
short,  and  brush  them  very  frequently. 
Uniform  should  be  convenient  for  work,  have 
the  minimum  capacity  for  retaining  infection, 
and  be  able  to  be  put  on  quickly. 

NURSING  AT  THE  SEAT  OF  WAR. 


.According  to  the  British  Medical  Journal, 
the  British  Red  Cross  Mission  at  the  seat  of 
war  is  now  represented  bv  a  personnel  of  213, 
made  up  as  follows  : — 

3   Directors  (i    for  Turkey,    i    for   Greece, 
I  for  North  Balkan  States). 

34  Medical  officers. 

35  Dressers. 

1  -Y-ray  operator. 
9  Sergeants. 

2  Clerks. 
5.Cooks. 

118  Orderlies. 

6  Trained  female  nurses. 

This  list  does  not  include  interpreters,  cooks, 
bathmen,  transport  men,  and  other  helpers 
engaged  locally. 

We  are  then  informed  that  : — 

"  Ladies  inquiring  at  the  Society's  office  are 
surprised  to  be  informed  that  none  of  the 
belligerents  have  made  application  for  English 
nurses.  The  reason,  however,  is  obvious.  .'Xn 
ample  supply  of  well-trained  hospital  nurses  is 
to  be  obtained  much  nearer  at  hand,  namely,  in 
Italy,  -Vustria,  and  Germany.  Xurses,  indeed, 
are  more  easily  obtained  and  at  less  cost  from 
Southern  France  and  Russia  than  from 
England.  From  Russia  a  large  number  cf 
nurses  have  come  in  connection  with  the  Greek 
Church,"  and  that  "  an  ample  supply  of 
Turkish-speaking  female  nurses  has  been 
obtained  locally." 

If  these  statements  are  inspired  to  ex- 
cuse the  negligence  of  the  British  Red 
Cross  Society  in  failing  to  send  out  to  the 
seat  of  war  an  adequate  supply  of  British 
nurses — acknowledged  to  be  the  best  in 
'Europe — it  only  exposes  the  ignorance  and 
injustice  of  the  committee  in  this  connection. 
Italy,  Austria,  France,  and  Russia  have  only 
of  recent  years  begun  to  train  civil  nurses,  and 
thev  owe  much  to  the  English  women  who  have 
taken  part  in  such  training.  Moreover,  the 
committee  has  appealed  to  the  British  public 
for  money  to  supply  nurses,  and  until  British 
nurses  have  proved  themselves  incapable  of 
performing  their  duties,  the  committee  has  no 
right   to   exclude   them    and    subsidise   foreign 


religious,  and  women  of  inferior  qualifications, 
in  their  place.  As  a  corespondent  points  out 
in  another  column,  a  very  serious  slur  has  thus 
been  cast  upon  the  nursing  profession  in  this 
country.  

We  congratulate  Mrs.  St.  Clair  Stobart,  the 
organizL-r  of  the  Women's  Sick  and  Wounded 
Convoy  Corps.  A  feu  weeks  ago  we  had  an 
appointment  with  her  to  talk  over  past  experi- 
ences in  the  Graeco-Turkish  War,  when  behold 
a  summons,  and,  like  the  woman  of  energy  .she 
is,  she  was  off  to  the  seat  of  war,  and  we  never 
met.  Now  we  learn  from  headqarters,  39,  Great 
Smith  Street,  S.W.,  that  in  Lozengrade,  not 
far  from  Kirk  Kilisse,  the  little  group  of  six- 
teen persons  sent  Out  by  the  Corps  have  set 
up  their  hospital.  It  is  staffed  by  two  women 
doctors,  a  surgeon,  seven  trained  nurses,  with 
cooks  and  other  helpers,  and  they  are 
attached  to  the  Bulgarian  Army  and  wear  the 
Bulgarian  Red  Cross.  Evervwhere  they  have 
been  met  with  kindness. 

-At  Sofia,  says  the  Evening  Standard,  where 
Mrs.  St.  Clair  Stobart,  the  commandant,  met 
them,  the  nurses  were  received  by  the  Queen  of 
Bulgaria  in  special  audience.  To  each  one  she 
presented  a  signed  photograph  of  herself,  and 
the  young  Princesses  offered  bouquets.  When 
the  party  left,  the  Queen's  equerry  saw  them 
off  at  the  station,  and  Her  Majesty  had 
thoughtfully  ordered  a  supply  of  provisions  for 
the  journey. 

Customs  officers  at  the  frontiers  showed 
them  every  courtesy,  the  mountain  of  baggage 
— sixtv  packages,  without  the  hand  luggage — 
was  passed  without  question  or  delay.  Stores, 
both  medical  and  domestic,  to  the  value  of 
;£"4oo,  were  in  those  cases. 

Kirk  Kilisse  was  not  the  end  of  their  travels, 
and  the  next  journev  was  not  accomplished  in 
anything  like  such  comfort.  Before  Lozengrade 
was  reached  the  party  had  to  travel  for  seven 
davs  through  the  mountains  in  slow  ox-carts. 
One  night  thev  slept  with  some  French  nuns, 
hut  the  other  nights  were  spent  in  the  open. 
There  in  the  solitude  of  the  mountains  they. out- 
spanned  the  oxen,  tucked  themselves  up  in  the 
wagons,  and  slept  till  sunrise. 

.At  last  the  long  caravan  came  into  Lozen- 
grade, and  within  thirty  hours  of  arrival  the 
women,  with  the  seven  men  who  have  been 
placed  under  their  orders  to  do  the  heavy  work, 
had  got  the  hospital  in  working  order.  Truly 
a  splendid  achievement  for  the  Women's  Sick 
and  \\'ounded  Convoy  Corps  ! 

This  is  the  first  time  that  an  opportunity  has 
arisen  for  testing  the  practical  value  of  the 
training    undergone    by    the    members    of    the 


December  14,  1912      ttbc  JSutttsb  Soiimal  of  H'lurstng. 


Corps.  None  but  those  who  have  completed 
the  three  years'  course  liave  gone  out,  and  all 
are  over  thirtv  years  of  age. 


THE  TRUTH    FROM   SCUTARI. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  Madam, — I  have  seen  notices  in  several 
Enghsh  papers  to  the  efifect  that  tlic  Red  Crescent 
Society  arc  doing  nothing,  and  though  we  are 
not  here  to  criticise  or  defend,  I  think  it  is  fair 
it  should  be  made  known  in  an  equally  public 
manner  that  this  refers  to  the  Ottoman  I^d 
Crescent  Sociev\',  who  arc  beset  by  many  diflS- 
culties,  not  the  least  being  the  tremendous  number 
of  troops  engaged  and  the  huge  tract  of  territory 
over  which  they  are  distributed. 

The  British  Red  Crescent  Society  is  quite  distinct 
from  the  above,  and  as  many  people  in  England 
are  subscribing  to  our  funds  it  is  well  to  make  the 
difference  known.  We  do  not  wish  to  advertise 
ourselves  in  anv  wav,  but  1  should  be  glad  if  you 
would  insert  a  brief  notice  to  the  above  effect 
in  case  any  misunderstanding  should  occur  in  the 
minds  of  our  fellow  nurses  and  others. 

Our  first  unit  went  up  to  St.  Stefano  only  three 
days  ago,  and  the  paragraph  in  the  Daily  Telegraph, 
saying  that  Red  Crescent  attendants  stood  about 
refusing  water  and  bread  or  to  lift  the  heads  of 
the  cholera  people,  was  written  some  days  before 
our  party  arrived.  Our  hands  arc  full  here,  and  our 
Society  is  leax-ing  no  stone  unturned  to  relieve 
the  sufferings  of  the  people. 

Yours  sincerely, 

Scutari,  Kathkrine  H.  Wiucatlev. 

November  2(jth,  1912. 


In  Tuesday's  Times  the  special  correspon- 
dent, writing  from  Constantinople  on  the  San 
Stefano  Hospital,  remarked  on  the  opportune 
arrival  of  the  English  contingent  of  the .  Red 
Crescent  "which  has  already  done  excellent 
work."  

Miss  All,  who  is  now  in  the  British  Seamen's 
Hospital,  Stamboul,  was,  after  her  breakdown 
with  overwork,  nursed  by  Sister  Stewart  and 
Sister  Mackenzie  at  the  hospital  at  St.  Stefano 
organized  by  the  British  Red  Crescent  Society. 
Sister  Wheatley  is  in  charge  at  Scutari,  and 
the  wounded  treated  have  done  wonderfully 
well,  many  having  already  returned  to  the 
front. 

Cholera  is  now  a  thing  of  the  past,  or  exists 
in  a  very  mild  form,  but  there  is  great  suffering 
from  dysentery  and  gangrene.  The  nurses  are 
doing  much  v.ork  amongst  the  refugees. 
Nothing  can  exceed  the  courtesy  with  which 
they  are  being  treated  by  all  concerned,  nor  the 
gratitude  expressed  for  their  skilled  w'ork, 
which  is  considered  invaluable. 


THE    NURSES'    CHORAL 
LE.AUUE. 


473 
AND    SOCIAL 


A  most  delightful  and  enjoyable  musical  Al 
Home  was  given  on  December  6th  by  Mrs. 
Carreg-McCowan,  the  President,  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Nurses'  Choral  and  Social  League, 
at  50,  Queen's  Gate.  Many  members,  matrons 
and  nurses,  were  present,  and  the  business 
meeting  was  first  held,  at  which  a  most  satis- 
factory report  was  presented,  after  which  songs 
and  recitatiqns  and  tea  followed  in  the  dining- 
room.  At  5.30  Ur.  Cyril  Horsford  gave  a  short 
but  very  interesting  address  on  Voice  Produc- 
tion. 

Report  of  the  President. 

It  is  with  much  pleasure  that  I  read  your 
executive  committee's  report-  of  our  past  year's 
work.  We  have  had  the  great  pleasure  of  having 
the  consent  of  Her  Highness  the  Princess  Marie 
I^ouise  of  Schleswig-Holstein  to  become  the 
Patron  of  our  League,  and  I  am  sure  I  am  voicing 
the  opinion  of  all  members  of  the  Nurses'  Choral 
and  Social  League  that  her  consenting  to  be  our 
Patron  has  been  a  great  joy  and  pleasure  to  one 
and  all. 

Miss  Barton  consenting  to  be  Vice-President 
has  been  a  great  help  to  our  League  :  she  takes 
such  a  real  interest  in  the  work. 

During  the  autumn  and  spring  terms  wc  held 
163  classes,  eight  at  infirmaries  and  two  open 
classes  taken  by  the  conductor,  open  to  all  nurses 
and  hon.  members.  We  add  to  our  infirmary 
classes  this  year  four  new  opes,  namely.  Upper 
Edmonton,  Bcthnal  Green,  Isleworth  and  Shore- 
ditch. 

The  spring  open  classes  at  Maida  Vale  were  held 
by  the  kind  invitation  of  the  Matron  of  Paddington 
Infirmary  at  84,  Warwick  .\venue.  This  was 
a  great  help  to  the  League,  not  to  have  to  pay 
los.  6d.  per  class  for  the  room. 

Our  membership  has  greatly  increased  in 
numbers.  In  191 1  and  1912  wc  numbered  on 
our  list  over  500. 

At  the  concerts  our  Choral  numbered  over  200 
on  the  platform.  Our  concerts  were  most  success- 
ful. We  held  one  at  the  Kensington  Town  Hall 
December,  1911,  and  another  in  March  at  the 
Caxton   Hall. 

The  Press  were  very  kind  in  their  remarks, 
and  highly  complimented  the  Choral  on  its 
progress. 

Our  conductor.  Dr.  Hickox,  and  all  the  other 
teachers  tell  us  it  is  a  real  pleasure  to  them,  these 
classes,  as  everyone  connected  with  our  Choral  are 
so  happy  and  interested  and  they  carry  out  our 
motto  in  the  true  sense.  Harmonv  and  goodwill 
is  so  thoroughly  the  order  of  the  day  with  all.  We 
must  take  this  opportunity  to  express  our  thanks 
to  the  professionals  who  helped  us  at  our  concert 
and   at   our   "  At-home,"   and   also   the   Nursing 


474 


SIDC  36ritii?l?  3ournal  or  'Il-lurslno.     December 


14,  I9I2 


Press,  tlie  Matrons,  and  all  tlic  hon.  lady  secretaries 
who  gave  so  much  time  to  working  up  our  Chora!. 
We  feel,  as  your  executive  committee,  satisfied 
at  our  progress  during  the  past  terms,  and  can 
onlv  hope  the  coming  one  will  make  as  good 
progress. 
Speech  of  the  Vice-President,  Miss  E.  C. 

B.\RTON". 

"  I  should  like,  as  Vice-I*resident  of  our  Choral 
League,  to  say  just  a  word  or  two. 

••  \Ve  all  appreciate  the  power  and  charm  of 
music,  and  how  much  it  can  soothe  and  stimu- 
late us  in  our  daily  work. 

"  A  great  many  lectures  are  provided  for 
nurses,  and  guilds  and  entertainments  of  various 
kinds,  but,  as  far  as  I  know,  there  is  no  other 
society  for  bringing  music  into  the  lives  of  nurses 
who  are  working  in  institutions. 

"  Mrs.  Carreg-:\IcCowan  has  had  the  happy 
thought  of  starting  classes  which  have  this  object 
in  view,  and  she  has  provided  such  excellent 
teachers  and  accompanists  that  each  class  is 
like  an  *indi\-idual  singing  lesson,  and  teaches 
part  singing,  so  that  the  nurses  learn  a  great  deal 
more  than  just  merely  the  music  before  them. 
The  Choral  League  has  been  so  well  organised  that 
the  members  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that,  financially,  it  is  practically  self-supporting. 

"  It  is  onlv  natural  among  such  a  migratory 
community  as  nurses,  who  are  always  changing, 
that  it  is  not  always  easy  to  have  a  suf&cient 
number  of  musical  nurses  to  form  a  class.  At 
present,  owing  to  a  lack  of  singing  nurses,  the 
classes  at  Fulham,  Shoreditch  and  Upper 
Edmonton  Infirmaries  have  been  temporarily 
suspended,  but  hope  at  a  future  time  to  coinmence 
a^ain.  Two  new  classes  have  been  started  ai 
St.  Marylebone  and  at  Hammersmith  Infirmaries. 
Indi\-idual  nurses  who  wish  to  can  always  attend 
at  Central  classes  for  practice. 

"  It  has  been  customary  in  the  past  to  have  in 
the  winter  two  separate  terms,  one  ending  at 
Christmas  with  a  concert  and  the  other  in  March. 
It  has  been  decided,  after  much  consideration,  to 
make  a  new  departure  this  winter,  and  have  one 
term  of  classes  spread  out  through  the  winter  and 
one  concert  which  would  take  place  in  February  or 
March.  The  concerts  in  the  past  have  been  most 
enjoyable  ;  we  shall  look  forward  to  this  next 
one,  at  which  a  cantata  will  be  sung. 

"  I  am  sure  I  am  speaking  for  all  the  members 
when  I  sav  we  deeply  appreciate  all  that  our 
President,  Mrs.  Carreg--McCowan,  has  done,  and 
is  doing,  for  the  Choral  League,  the  thoughtful  and 
skilful  wav  she  has  worked  out  every  detail  so 
that  the  classes  may  be  as  helpful  and  enjoyable 
as  possible,  also  for  her  kind  hospitality  and 
unfailing  courtesy  and  sympathy  to  the  nurses. 
I  beg  to  move  a  most  hearty  vote  of  thanks  to 
our  President." 

The  vote  was  passed  by  acclamation. 


quite  a  special  line  of  work  all  its  own,  and  is 
calculated  to  meet  the  need  of  fresh  and  outside 
interests  for  nurses,  and  to  act  as  a  relaxation 
from  their  very  serious  work. 

Its  objects  are  to  draw  together  all  trained 
nurses  and  their  friends,  to  form  classes  of 
different  kinds  for  mutual  improvement  and 
social  intercourse.  The  committee,  largely 
composed  of  nurses,  finds  teachers,  arranges 
concerts  and  receptions,  and  makes  financial 
arrangements. 

Xurses  attend  concerts  in  full  indoor  uniform, 
and  honorary  members  wear  white  blouses  or 
dresses. 

For  the  present  the  centre  of  the  League  is  at 
50,  Queen's  Gate,  London,  S.W.,  where  all 
information  may  be  obtained  from  Mrs. 
Carreg-McCowan  bv  letter. 


The  Nurses'  Choral  and  Social  League  has 


NURSES'  NEEDLEWORK   GUILD. 

The  show  of  the  Xurses'  Xeedlework  Guild, 
on  view  at  the  .Annual  .At  Home  of  the  Xurses' 
Co-operation,  at  35,  Langham  Street,  W'.,  on 
Friday,  December  6th,  exceeded  that  of  all 
previous  years,  both  numerically  and  also  in 
attractiveness  and  utility.  Miss  Hoadley,  Lady 
Superintendent  of  the  Xurses'  Co-operation, 
was  present  throughout  the  afternoon,  receiving 
the  guests  with  great  geniality  and  kindness, 
and  Miss  Laura  Baker,  the  Sister-in-Charge, 
who  is  also  the  Hon.  Secretary  of  the  Guild, 
looked  after  the  comfort  of  the  350  visitors, 
and  received  many  congratulations  on  the 
year's  work.  The  garments  numbered  1,225, 
and  included  not  only  warm  petticoats, 
knickers,  nightdresses,  woollies,  and  everv  kind 
of  useful  garment  for  women  and  girls,  but 
men's  shirts,  vests,  and  27  delightful  great- 
coats for  boys,  and  a  most  fascinating  collec- 
tion of  baby  garments  and  boots.  Amongst 
others  present  were  Miss  Gethen,  Secretary  of 
the  Co-operation,  Dr.  Ethel  Lamport,  and  Sliss 
C.  B.  Leigh,  Matron  of  the  Central  London 
Sick  Asylum.  Tea  was  served  in  the  charming 
restaurant,  and  at  5.30,  as  soon  as  the  guests 
had  departed,  the  business  began  of  despatch- 
ing parcels  to  the  recipients,  for  distribution 
amongst  outgoing  patients.  The  institutions 
which  shared  the  good  things  w'ere  the  follow- 
ing hospitals  : — Guy's,  St.  Mary's,  Padding- 
ton,  th'e  London,  University  College,  the  Royal 
Free,  the  Metropolitan,  the  Miller,  the  West 
Ham  Hospital,  the  Brompton  Hospital  for  Con- 
sumption, the  Prince  of  Wales'  Hospital,  Tot- 
tenham, the  Mildmay  Hospital,  the  British 
Lying-in,  the  Clapham  Maternity,  the  East  End 
Mothers'  Home,  Poplar  Hospital  for  Accidents, 


Decouber  .4,  1912     ctlK  Bntisb  301111131  of  IWur^lnG- 


475 


Cenlral  London  Sick  Aj^yluni,  Nazareth  Home, 
Metropolitan  Convalescent  Home,  Broadstairs, 
St.  John's  Hospital,  Lewisham,  and  the  Mar- 
garet Street  Sanatorium,  Hastings. 

OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITION. 

NV'e  regret  that  no  paper  has  been  received  'jf 
sufficient  merit  in  connection  with  our  prize 
competition  to  justify  our  awarding  a  prize. 

QUESTION    FOR     NE.XT     WEEK. 

How  would  you  amuse  a  convalescent  child, 
aged  five  to  eight  years,  isolated  with  infectious 
disease. 

E.A5Y    TO    TRANSFER. 

We  have  been  asked  to  mention  that  any 
nurse  who  desires  to  transfer  from  one 
Insurance  Society  approved  by  the  Commis- 
sioners to  another  is  quite  at  liberty  to  do  so. 
A  regular  transfer  form  is  provided  by  the 
Commissioners  for  the  purpose.  We  empha- 
sise this  because  nurses  have  been  informed 
at  the  office  of  the  Nurses'  Insurance  Society 
that  it  is  impossible  to  transfer,  and  as  this  is 
quite  untrue  we  advise  them  not  to  be  deterred 
from  transferring  if  they  wish  to  do  so. 

A     "NIGHTINQALE   "     PRIZE. 

The  Scottish  Society  of  Trained  -Nurses  has 
decided,  as  will  be  seen  from  a  letter  in  our 
Correspondence  columns,  to  institute  a  "  Night- 
ingale "  Prize,  in  connection  with  a  competition 
which  mav  be  shared  in  bv  all  trained  nurses. 
The  prize  will,  in  the  first  instance,  take  the 
form  of  a  medal,  and  every  care  will  be  taken 
by  the  examiners  appointed  to  maintain  a  high 
standard  of  efficiency  in  connection  with  the 
award  of  the  prize. 

THE     IRISH     NURSES'     ASSOCIATION. 

Dr.  .MacDowel  Cosgra\e  gave  a  most  in- 
teresting lecture  on  "  Flies  and  Disease  "  in 
the  lecture-room  of  the  Irish  Nurses'  Associa- 
tion on  December  4th.  The  lecturer  first  ex- 
plained in  what  way  mosquitoes  were  the  cause 
of  the  spread  of  tropical  diseases,  such  as 
malaria  and  yellow  fever,  and  gave  a  short 
account  of  the  methods  adopted  for  their  ex- 
termination. He  also  spoke  of  the  danger  of 
the  spread  of  infection  by  Iho  common  house  flv, 
through  contamination  of  food,  &c.  The  lecture 
was  illustrated  throughout  by  beautifully 
finished  lantern  slides,  and  those  present 
thoroughly  enjoyed  it.  A  hearty  vote  of  thanks 
to  the  lecturer  was  passed. 


NEWS   FROM    NORWAY. 

The  Chairman  of  the  Norwegian  National 
.Association  of  Trained  Nurses,  Sister  Bergljot 
Larsson,  Christiania,  in  a  circular  letter  to 
Norwegian  nurses  inviting  all  to  help  to  form 
the  Association,  states  that  for  long  there  has 
been  need  to  unite.  Sick  nursing  is  so  high  a 
calling  that  it  must  not  be  degraded,  and  the 
ease  with  which  it  may  be  undertaken  in  private 
work,  without  preliminary  training,  gives 
women  the  opportunity  to  take  upon  themselves 
the  responsibility  of  nursing,  such  as  should 
only  be  entrusted  to  fully  trained  nurses,  and  it 
is  self-evident  that  this  is  a  great  disadvantage 
both  to  the  patient  and  to  nursing  as  a  profes- 
sion. Further,  that  the  result  of  existing  con- 
ditions is  that  unsuitable  women  work  as  sick 
nurses. 

Trained  nurses,  like  other  professional 
people,  must  therefore,  she  points  out,  uphold 
their  status  and  their  rights,  and  only  those 
women  should  have  the  right  to  be  professional 
nurses,  an'd  use  the  name  of  Sister,  who  will 
train  adequately  for  their  profession.  On  this 
account  she  urges  Norwegian  nurses  to  bind 
themselves  together  to  help  to  support  one 
another  in  the  endeavour  to  become  more  pro- 
ficient ill  their  calling,  and  to  encourage  and 
help  nurses  who  have  only  a  partial  and  insuffi- 
cient training  to  seek  a  fuller  one. 

The  aim  of  the  Norwegian  Trained  Nurses' 
.Association  is  : — 

(a)  To  establish  the  position  of  Norwegian 
Trained  Nurses,  and  to  bring  about  a  greater 
bond  of  union  between  trained  nurses  than  at 
present  exists. 

(b)  To  watch  over  the  interests,  economic 
and  collegiate,  of  nurses. 

(t)  To  work  for  the  development  of  the  posi- 
tion of  sick  nurses,  and  for  the  advance  of  sick- 
nursing  as  a  profession. 


It  is  with  great  pleasure  we  have  received 
the  first  number  of  Sykplvien,  the  organ  of  the 
Norwegian  Trained  Nurses'  .Association,  edited 
by  Sister  Bergljot  Larsson,  the  President  of  the 
.Association.  It  contains  an  article  on  the  founda- 
tion of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses  and 
of  the  Congress  in  Cologne,  and  of  the  general 
meeting  of  the  members  of  the  newlv-formed 
association,  as  well  as  greetings  from  other 
countries  on  its  found.ition,  and  many  more 
interesting  items.  The  .Association  has  shown 
its  wisdom  thus  earlv  in  its  career  in  appre- 
ciating the  importance  of  possessing  a  profes- 
sional organ,  under  its  own  control.  We  wish 
it  all  success  in  its  work,  and  very  cspeciallv 


476 


^\K  Biitieb  journal  of  IRurstno-     December  14,  1912 


we  desire  to  express  our  good  wishes  for  the 
future  of  the  latest  addition  to  the  ranks  of 
professional  journals,  well  knowing  how 
onerous  a  task  is  the  editorship  of  a  paper 
pledged  to  voice  the  interests  and  express  the 
professional  voice  of  trained  nurses. 

»    ♦    « 

A  GOOD  CHANCE. 
An  opportunity  for  a  trained  nurse,  with  ex- 
perience in  the  management  of  a  private  nursing 
home,  and  who  is  willing  to  expend  some  capital 
in  acquiring  the  goodwill  of  such  a  Home  in 
India,  will  be  found  in  our  advertisement 
columns.  Miss  Butcher,  the  proprietor  of  the 
Bellevue  Sanatorium,  Murree,  Punjab,  who  has 
another  Home  in  the  South  of  India,  is  desirous 
of  disposing  of  the  one  at  Murree.  We  under- 
stand that  it  affords  good  prospects  for  a  hard 
worker  in  a  delightful  climate. 

THE  REGISTRATION  LAW  IN  ILLINOIS. 

^^•e  are  sometimes  apt  to  think  that  the  difficulty 
encountered  in  maintaining  professional  standards 
in  tliis  country  is  not  experienced  to  the  same 
extent  elsewhere  ;  but,  recently,  the  experience 
of  registered  nurses  in  Illinois,  U.S.A.,  shows  that 
they  need  to  be  on  the  alert,  if  they  are  not 
to  be  deprived  of  the  benefit  of  their  registration 
law,  for  which  they  worked  and  fought  hard, 
against  a  very  unscrupulous  interested  opposition, 
for  several  years.  In  April  last,  it  came  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  State  Board  of  Examiners,  that, 
in  a  catalogue  issued  by  the  Rhodes  Avenue 
Hospital,  the  names  of  the  Supervising  Nurse 
(Miss  Randel),  and  the  Head  Nurse,  were  pub- 
Hshed,  bearing  the  title  "  R.  N."  Thereupon,  as 
they  were  not  registered  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  the 
Secretary  wrote  to  enquire  if  they  were  registered 
in  any  other  State.  No  answer  was  received,  and 
prosecution  followed.  It  came  out  in  evidence 
that  the  offending  catalogue,  which  is  an  official 
document  of  the  hospital,  was  published  by  the 
authority  of  the  Superintendent  (Dr.  Deacon). 
The  Supervising  Nurse  pleaded  ignorance  of  any 
knowledge  that  the  letters  "  R.  N."  were  appended 
to  her  name  till  after  publication  ;  but  it  was 
proved  that  she  made  no  effort  to  rectify  the  mis- 
take. The  judge,  who,  in  the  first  instance,  was 
understood  to  order  the  destruction  of  the  cata- 
logues, which  was  not  done,  at  the  next  hearing 
ruled  that  he  had  no  jurisdiction,  since  the  defen- 
dant had  nothing  to  do  with  the  publication  of  the 
offending  title,  and  that  he  had  only  recommended 
the  destruction  of  the  catalogues.  He  decided  in 
favour  of  the  defendant. 

Miss  Randel  is  now  suing  the  members  of  the 
State  Board  of  Examiners  for  25,000  dollars 
damages,  for  false  arrest  and  malicious  prosecution. 
The  registered  nurses  of  the  State  appear  to  be  fully 
alive  to  the  fact  that  it  is  their  duty  to  stand  by  the 
State  Board,  and  support  their  efforts  to  protect 
the  status  of  the  registered  nurse. 


APPOINTMENTS. 


MATRON. 

Skipton  and  District  Hospital,  SI<ipton,  Yorl(- 
shire. — Miss  Florence  Eggins  has  been  appointed 
Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  General  In- 
firmary, Worcester,  where  she  subsequently  for 
three  years  held  in  succession  the  positions  of 
Out-patient  Sister  and  AVard  Sister.  In  1904  she 
was  appointed  Sister  at  the  Royal  Infirnaary, 
Preston,  where  she  remained  for  seven  years  as 
Night  Sister  and  Sister  in  the  children's  and 
women's  wards.  Last  year  she  was  appointed 
Senior  Sister  at  the  Children's  Hospital,  Bradford, 
with  charge  of  the  theatre,  out-patient  department, 
and  X-Ray  departments. 

Cottage  Hospital,  Tavistock.  —  Miss  Mary  F. 
Heaton  has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Royal  Albert  Edward  Infirmary, 
Wigan,  where  she  has  held  the  positions  of  Night 
Superintendent,  Sister,  and  Temporary'  Assistant 
Matron. 

HOME     SISTER. 

Royal  Soutliern  Hospital,  Liverpool. — Miss 
Agnes  Bagnall  has  been  appointed  Home  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  the  General  Hospital,  Birming- 
ham, and  has  held  the  position  of  Sister  at  the 
Clayton  Hospital,  Wakefield,  and  of  Night  Sister 
at  the  General  Infirmary,  Chester. 

COUNTY     SUPERINTENDENT. 

Surrey     County     Nursing     Association,     Guildford. 

— Miss  Mary  Simpson  has  been  appointed  County 
Superintendent.  She  was  trained  at  the  Cumber- 
land Infirmary,  Carlisle,  and  has  held  the  position 
of  Sister  at  the  Plaistow  Fever  Hospital.  She  has 
also  been  on  the  staff  of  the  British  L^-ing-in 
Hospital,  Endell  Street,  for  a  year  and  a  half,  and 
Midwife  and  Charge  Nurse  at  the  Louise  Margaret 
Hospital,  Aldershot,  for  a  similar  period.  She  has 
had  experience  as  a  trainer  of  nurses  at  Plaistow, 
and  as  Assistant  Superintendent  of  District  Nurses 
at  Manchester.  Since  190S  she  has  been  a  Queen's 
Nurse.  She  has  also  had  experience  of  private 
nursing. 

WARD      SISTER. 

Chelsea  Infirmary,  Chelsea,  S.W. — The  following 
ladies  have  been  appointed  Ward  Sisters  :  Miss 
Maud  le  Bas,  trained  at  the  Westminster  Hospital, 
Broad  Sanctuary,  S.W.  ;  Miss  Margaret' Houston, 
trained  at  the  Middlesex  Hospital,  S.W.  ;  Miss 
Mabel  Taaffe,  trained  at  the  Brownlow  Hill 
Infirmary,  Liverpool. 

South  Devon  and  East  Cornwall  Hospital, 
Plymouth. — Miss  Cecilia  Blackler  has  been 
appointed  Sister  of  the  Finsen  Light  and  X-Ray 
Department.  She  was  trained  at  the  South 
Devon  Hospital,  Plymouth,  and  subsequently 
temporarily  acted  as  Sister.  She  has  also  been 
Staff  Nurse  at  the  Hospital,  Wellington,  Somerset, 
and  has  a  certificate  for  ophthalmic  nursing  from 
the  Royal  London  Ophthalmic  Hospital,  E.C. 

Royal  Victoria  and  West  Hants  Hospital, 
Bournemouth. — Miss     Constance     M.     Ryley     has 


December   14,    191: 


2be  Bvittsb  3ournal  of  IRursmo. 


477 


been  appointed  Sister.  Slie  was  trained  at  the 
General  Hospital,  Great  Yarmouth,  and  has  held 
tlie  position  of  Staff  Nurse  at  the  Hospital  for 
Women,  Soho  Square,  W.C,  Charge  Nurse  at  the 
Royal  United  Hospital,  Bath,  Night  Sister  at  the 
Kent  and  Canterbury  Hospital,  and  Ward  Sister 
at  the  Jenny  Lind  Hospital,  Norwich. 

The      Sanatorium,      Nairobi,      E.      Africa Miss 

Edith  Spencer  is  shortly  proceeding  to  East  Africa 
to  take  up  work  in  connection  with  a  new  Sana- 
torium for  European  settlers  and  others,  which 
is  being  opened  to  meet  the  needs  of  those  who 
can  afford  to  pay  for  treatment  and  skilled  nursing 
when  ill.  Miss  Spencer  was  trained  at  the  Rojfel 
South  Hants  and  Southampton  Hospital,  where 
she  held  the  position  of  Sister.  She  has  lately 
done  private  nursing  in  connection  with  the 
Registered  Nur.ses  Society,  l.ondon. 

SCHOOL    NURSE. 

Borough  of  Lowestoft — Miss  Gertrude  Pamely 
has  been  appointed  School  Nurse.  She  was 
trained  at  the  East  Sussex  Hospital,  Hastings, 
and  the  Isolation  Hospital,  Hurton-on-Trcnt,  and 
has  been  Staff  Nurse  and  Charge  Nurse  at  the 
Small-po.x  Hospital  there.  Charge  Nurse  at  the 
Children's  Home,  Heme  Bay,  and  for  the  past 
two  years  has  been  District  Nurse  at  Hollinwood, 
Oldham. 

Borough  of  Macclesfield, — Miss  L.  Finigan  has 
been  appointed  School  Nurse.  She  was  instructed 
at  the  School  of  Hygiene,  Liverpool  University, 
and  has  been  Health  Visitor  at  Bootlc  near 
Liverpool. 

HEALTH     VISITOR. 

County  of  lierl<shlre.  —  Miss  Kalie  Dwyer  lias 
been  appointed  Health  Visitor  for  Schools.  She 
was  trained  at  St.  Leonard's  Infirmary,  Shore- 
ditch,  where  she  has  acted  as  Holiday  Sister. 
She  is  a  certified  midwife. 
QUEEN    VICTORIA'S    JUBILEE    INSTITUTE. 

Transfers  and  Appointments. — Miss  Louisa 
Andrew  is  appointed  to  Tipton,  Aliss  Rosabne  Lee 
to  East  Quantoxhead,  Miss  Ethel  Maconachie  to 
East  Quantoxhead,  Miss  Ada  Morgan  to  Lichfield, 
Miss  Gertrude  Page  to  Central  St.  Pancras  as 
School  Nurse,  Miss  Celia  Perkins,  to  Brixton, 
Miss  Jane  Simpson  to  Darwen,  Miss  Winefride 
Smith  to  E.xmouth. 


RESIQNATIONS. 

Miss  F.  Hale,  Miss  M.  Tra>Tier,  and  Miss  M. 
Owen,  School  Nurses  in  the  Public  Health  Depart- 
ment of  the  London  County  Council,  have  resigned 
their  appointments. 


A     SAD     DEATH. 

It  is  sad  to  have  to  record  the  suicide  of  another 
nurse,  Miss  Kate  Oxley,  who  jumped  from  the 
window  of  her  flat  in  Upper  Montague  Street,  and 
sustained  fracture  of  the  skull.  Evidence  was 
given  that  she  had  suffered  from  neurasthenia, 
and  a  verdict  of  suicide  while  temporarily  insane 
was  returned. 


NURSING   ECHOES. 

The  surprise  visit  p;iiil  by  the  yuecn  to  the 
Victoria  Cottag-e  Hospital  at  Worksop  during 
her  visit  to  VVelbeck  last  week,  gave 
the  very  greatest  pleasure  to  the  staff  and 
patients.  Her  Majesty  was  received  by  the 
Secretary,  Mr.  J.  Boothroyd,  Dr.  .Marie 
Simpson,  and  the  Matron,  and  ;iftcr  visiting 
all  the  wards  expressed  her  pleasure  with  the 
manner  in  which  the  hospital  was  equipped  for 
the  treatment  and  comfort  of  the  patients. 


The  Council  of  the  Queen  Victoria's  Jubilee 
Institute  for  Nurses  met  at  the  offices  of  the 
Institute  in  Victoria  Street  on  Wednesday, 
December  4th,  Mr.  D.  F.  Pennant,  Hon.  Secre- 
tary, presiding.  The  question  of  coming  to  an 
agreement  for  payment  for  the  nursing  of 
insured  persons  was  considered,  and  the  view 
was  expressed  that  some  general  arrangement 
for  this  purpose  ought  to  be  established.  The 
appointment  was  reported  of  Miss  A.  J.  Buckle, 
the  present  superintendent  at  Brighton,  to  suc- 
ceed Miss  K.  S.  Macquecn  as  Nursing  Superin- 
tendent for  England,  and  of  Miss  Annie  Michie, 
Superintendent  of  the  Worcester  Nursing 
Association,  to  succeed  Miss  Peterkin  as 
Superintendent  of  the  Irish  branch.  One 
hundred  and  thirty-six  nurses  have  been  en- 
rolled as  Queen's  nurses. 

Lady  Xorthcliffe  has  promised  the  sum  of 
;{]ioo  for  the  erection  of  a  balcony  outside  the 
ward  used  for  sick  nurses  at  the  London 
Hospital.  This  is  a  very  practical  and 
thoughtful  gift.        

The  second  annual  meeting  of  the  Linen 
League  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital, 
Rochester,  was  held  at  the  hospital  recently. 
Mrs.  Lane,  Vice-President,  reported  an  in- 
crease of  subscriptions  and  articles  made. 
The  articles — all  of  a  useful  character  and 
made  to  hospital  pattern^were  on  view.  The 
.Matron,  Miss  Pote  Hunt,  was  given  half  the 
money  in  hand  to. supply  the  most  needful 
articles  required  for  the  p.itients'  use.  As  the 
patients  treated  in  the  hospital  cover  a  wide 
area,  it  w'as  hoped  that  many  more  members 
would  join  and  assist  this  most  useful  Society. 

A  lecture  was  delivered  last  week  by  Mr. 
Blayney  at  the  club  rooms  of  the  Catholic 
Nurses'  As.sociation,  51,  Mountjoy  Square, 
Dublin,  on  "Fractures  and  their  Modern  Treat- 
ment." The  treatment  of  fractures  by  massage 
was  dealt  with  in  the  lecture.  A  very  interesting 
subject. 


47^ 


Cbe  British  3ournal  of  Bursina.    December  14,  1912 


Mi 


Florence 


The  marble  statuette  ot  Aljss 
Xifihtingale,  by  Mr.  Walter  Merrett,  now  in 
the  Art  Gallery  of  the  Guildhall,  is  here  repro- 
duced. It  is  pleasant  to  know  that  this  fitting- 
recognition  has  been  accorded  to  London's 
illustrious  Free- 
woman.  Xo  doubt 
many  nurses  will  pay 
a  visit  to  the  Guildhall 
to  see  the  statuette. 
The  photograph  is  by 
the  Central  News  Illus- 
trated. 


\Miat  can  be  more 
illogical  than  excludinp 
lady  doctors  holding 
clinical  assistantships 
from  the  male  wards  of 
the  Manchester  Royal 
Infirmary,  and  yet 
utilising  the  services  of 
women  nurses  in  every 
department? 

Discussing  the  sub- 
ject in  the  Medical 
Students'  Gazette,  a 
writer  indulges  in  some 
pertinent  criticism  on 
this  question  : 

"  We  should  be  more 
honest  if  we  were  to 
admit  to  ourselves  that 
it  is  not  because  there 
is  no  accommodation 
for  them  that  women 
cannot  be  made  eligible 
for  resident  posts.  We 
should  be  truer  to  our- 
selves if  we  admitted 
that  there  were  no 
duties  which  a  woman 
cannot  perform  as  well 
and  purely  as  a  man. 
There  is  no  disguising 
the  fact  that  the  sup- 
posed difficultv  rests 
wholly  on  the  catheter 
and  sound  business, 
which,  after  all  applies 
to  a  limited  number  of 
patients,     especially     in   tlie   medical 

"  We  are  quick  and  thoughtful  to  save 
women's  morals,  but  we  do  not  relinquish  any 
of  our  own  rights  in  the  female  wards  in  th>' 
supposed  cause  of  morality.  .  .  .  W^e  don't  mind 
so  long  as  they  are  nurses  working  under  our 


direction;  but  when  the  woman  becomes 
.scientifically  our  equal,  we  take  all  possible 
privileges  from  her  to  protect  her  from  those 
things  which  we  order  another  woman  to  do 
the  next  minute. 

"  Men  calmly  do  all 
manner  of  things  for 
female  patients  in  their 
routine,  and  are  none 
the  worse  for  them. 
But  they  say  that  it 
would  lower  the  moral 
standards  of  women  if 
they  had  to  deal  with 
male  patients.  Are 
nurses  of  a  lower  stan- 
dard of  purity  than 
other  women,  because 
they  have  to  perform 
duties  which  are  some- 
times more  revolting 
than  those  which  a 
doctor  would  be  ex- 
pected to  perform  ?  The 
question  needs  no 
answer.  The  whole 
argument  in  denying 
women  medical  privi- 
leges is  based  on  ex- 
travagant falsehoods 
about  lack  of  accom- 
modation that  \\ould 
not  deceive  a  child." 


MISS    FLORENCE    NIGHTINGALE.  O.M 


irds 


Miss  Elston,  Direc- 
trice  of  the  Tondu  Civil 
Hospital  at  Bordeaux, 
has  now  returned  to 
duty  there.  Upon  the  in- 
vitation of  the  Govern- 
ment, Miss  Elston  has 
been  in  Algiers,  en- 
trusted with  the  mission 
of  organising  a  School 
of  Nursing  in,  connec- 
tion with  the  Parnet 
Hospital  on  the  same 
svstem  which  has 
proved  so  useful  in  the 
Gironde.  Miss  Elston's 
work  in  France  reflects 
the  greatest  credit  upon 
Englisli  nursing,  which  her  colleagues  in  the 
International  Council  warmly  appreciate. 


The  Standard  reports  that  in  memory  of 
Mme.  Feuillet,  who  died  at  Meknes,  in 
Morocco,  as  a  result  of  her  devotion  to  the  Red 


December  14,  1912     Ctbc  Bvlttsb  3ouvnai  of  iRurstno 


479 


Cross  service,  tlie  French  Minisler  of  War  lia!> 
sigTiificc]  his  intention  of  naming  the  military 
hospital  at  Rabat  the  "  Marie  Feuiiiet."  Mme. 
Feuillet  \\  as  cliief  of  the  staff  of  women  nurses 
of  L'L'nion  des  Femmes  de  France,  and  best 
known  of  all  France's  field  nurses.  In  recog- 
nition of  her  services  in  war  areas  of  Northern 
Africa,  and  the  help  she  rendered  in  organising 
the  nurses'  txpcdilion  to  Messina,  she  was  this 
summer  admitted  to  the  Legion  of  Honour.  Up 
to  within  a  short  time  of  her  death,  in  spite  of 
her  own  ill-health,  she  was  actively  engaged  in 
nursing  \vounded  soldiers  and  generally  super- 
intending the  Red  Cross  service  of  Morocco. 


Lord  Gladstone  recently  publicly  announced 
in  Johannesburg  that  the  scheme  to  establish 
an  Order  of  Nurses  in  South  Africa  was  now 
established.  .\n  appeal  for  funds  in  its  sup- 
port, as  a  King  Edward  memorial  for  the 
L'nion,  was  made  on  the  anniversary  of  the 
late  King's  birthday,  and  medallion  buttons 
were  also  sold.  .Mthough  150,000  of  these 
badges  were  prepared  thev  were  not  sufficient 
to  meet  the  anticipated  demand,  and  40  towns 
had  to  arrange  other  methods  of  street  collec- 
tion.   

On  Tuesday  afternoon,  December  lolli,  the 
fifth  annual  meeting  of  the  Army  and  .Navy 
Male  Nurses'  Co-operation,  ii.\,  Welbeck 
Street,  W.,  was  held  at  the  St.  James'  Theatre, 
S.W.,  by  kind  permission  of  Sir  George 
Alexander,  when  Princess  Christian  was  pre- 
sent, and  .\dmiral  Sir  John  Durnford,  K.C.B., 
D.S.O.,  President  of  the  Society,  was  in  the 
chair.  Sir  Dyce  Duckworth  presented  the 
report,  which  stated  that  there  were  now  some 
40  nurses  on  the  co-operation,  and  the  receipts 
;£73,7ig.  Three  orderlies  went  out  to  Tripoli 
with  the  Red  Crescent  Society,  one  of  whom, 
unhappily,  succumbed  to  tvphoid  fever.  The 
speaker  characterized  a  statement  in  the  report 
that  the  co-operation  was  not  fully  supported 
by  the  general  public  as  surprising  and  regrett- 
able. The  prejudice  against  the  male  nurses  of 
the  Societv  was  certainly  not  justified. 

.Surgeon-General  A.  W.  May,  C.B.,  who 
w  armly  supported  the  aims  of  the  co-operation, 
said  that  it  was  extremely  difficult  for  men  who 
left  the  Services  in  middle  life  to  get  work,  and 
thev  were  apt  to  drift  into  the  ranks  of  casual 
labour.  -Surgeon-General  Evatt  said  that  it 
was  charming  to  see  the  men  come  into  their 
own,  and  a  realization  of  his  dreams.  The  male 
nurse  had  come  to  stay. 

At  the  close  of  the  business  meeting  an 
excellent  entertainment  was  generouslv  given 
bv  well-known  artists. 


NURSES'   SOCIAL   UNION. 

']  liree  meetings  have  Ixin  held  at  sho.'t 
intervals  in  the  Bristol  Branch,  on  Noxem- 
ber  12th,  November  26th,  and  December  3rd. 
On  the  two  earlier  dates  Dr.  Fortescue- 
Brickdale  gave  most  interesting  and  instruc- 
ti\e  post-graduate  lectures  to  nurses  on 
(i)  lipidemic  Cerebro-Spinal  Meningitis  and 
(2)  Epidemic  Polio-myelitis.  l-'ach  person 
was  provided  with  a  typed  syllabus  of 
the  lecture,  with  clear  and  concise  headings, 
which  proved  a  valuable  aid  to  note-taking,  and 
.ill  those  present  found  the  lectures  most  help- 
ful. Dr.  Briekdale  is  a  clear  and  delightful 
lecturer,  and  it  is  a  pity  that,  owing  to  the  very 
bad  weather  and  to  stress  of  work,  the  .ludience 
was  not  as  large  as  was  anticipated. 

On  December  3rd,  by  the  kind  invitation  of 
the  Matron,  Miss  Gardner,  another  meeting 
was  held  at  the  Lying-in  Hospital,  to  which 
members  of  the  ^lidwives'  Association  were 
also  invited.  Dr.  Marion  Linton  gave  an 
illuminating  address  on  ^foralitv,  and  an 
animated  discussion  followed  in  which  manv 
took  part. 

The  visitors  were  afterwards  shown  over  the 
interesting  little  hospital,  and  were  especiallv 
delighted  with  Miss  Gardner's  cleverly  in- 
vented open-air  shelter  for  her  babies. 

These  lectures  are  of  special  note,  as  it  is 
the  first  time  there  has  been  any  attempt  to 
give  a  connected  series  of  post-graduate 
lectures  to  N.S.U.  members  in 'the  West. 


PRESENTATIONS. 

Miss  Clark,  who  for  eleven  \cars  has  worked  at 
lieathfield,  Sussex,  in  connection  with  the  Heath- 
field  and  Waldron  Nursing  Association,  has  been 
presented  with  an  illuminated  address,  framed  in 
oak,  from  over  200  subscribers.  The  presentation 
was  made  in  the  Agricultural  Hall,  Heathfield,  by 
Miss  Alexander,  in  the  absence  of  Lady  Mabelle 
Egerton.  Then  a  number  of  babies,  two  years 
old  and  under,  were  lield  up  to  the  platform  and 
handed  Miss  Clark  a  sum  of  money,  receiving 
a  toy  in  return.  The  total  sum  was  £26  los.  3d.  : 
after  which.  Miss  Butler,  the  Superintendent  of 
the  Sussex  (omaty  Nursing  Association,  presented 
£5  on  behalf  oi  the  County  Nursing  Association. 
Miss  Clark  said  she  really  could  not  find  words  to 
express  lier  gratitude.  She  hoped  to  use  the 
money  to  buy  a  motor  cycle. 


Miss  Leach,  Matron  ol  the  Hornsev',  Wood 
Green,  and  Southgate  Hospital  for  ten  years, 
who  has  resigned,  has  been  ]5resented  by  the 
hospital  medical  staff  ivith  a  silver  tea  service, 
as   an  appreciation  of  her  valuable  services. 


480 


al)c  Butttsb  3oiirnal  of  iRurslng.     December  14,  191: 


REFLECTIONS 


FROM    A    BOARD    ROOM    MIRROR. 

Lady  Constance  Hatch  will  hold  a  Christmas 
Sale  of  cakes,  sweets,  &c.,  at  the  Royal  Ear 
Hospital,  Dean  Street,  Soho,  W.,  on  Saturday, 
December  14th,  from  2.30  to  6  p.m.  The  sale 
is  in  aid  of  the  Hospital,  where  specially  good 
work  is  being  done  for  th*  relief  of  those  distressing 
diseases  of  the  ear  and  throat,  which  often  in- 
capacitate the  industrious  poor  from  obtaining 
employment.  \Mien  enquiring  last  year  into 
the  after-care  of  out-patients  in  the  throat  hos- 
pitals and  clinics  where  operations  are  performed, 
we  learned  with  what  good  care  the  patients 
were  attended  by  the  nursing  staff  under  medical 
direction  at  the  Royal  Ear  Hospital.  We  hope 
a  very  lucrative  sale  may  result  on  the  14th  inst. 


A  communication  has  been  received  irom  the 
head  office  of  one  of  the  principal  London  banks 
that  a  client  has  offered  the  sum  of  /^5,ooo  to  the 
RoyarFree  Hospital,  provided  that  an  additional 
sum  of  -/^ij.ooo  is  subscribed  or  promised  towards 
the  building  fund  of  the  new  extension  before 
March  4th,  1913.  An  appeal  was  recently  issued 
for  /50,ooo  needed  to  build  and  equip  the  new 
out-patient  department  and  hospital  extension, 
and  it  is  proposed  that  the  work  shall  begin  at 
once.  The  nurse  training  school,  under  the 
direction  of  Miss  Cox-Davies,  is  making  continual 
progress. 


It  has  come  to  the  knowledge  of  the  House 
Committee  of  the  London  .Hospital  that  the 
founder  and  first  surgeon  of  the  hospital,  John 
Harrison,  was  buried  in  the  churchyard  of  St. 
Paul's,  Deptford.  There  is  no  memorial  in  the 
church  or  church-\'ard  stating  that  John  Harrison 
was  buried  there.  By  the  rector's  consent  the 
Committee  have  arranged  to  put  up  at  their 
personal  cost,  a  tablet  bearing  the  following 
inscription  : — 

"  In  memory  of  John  Harrison,  founder  and 
first  surgeon  of  the  London  Hospital,  who  died 
in  1753  and  was  buried  in  this  churchyard.  His 
body  lies  here.  His  work  continues  at  the 
hospital." 


Princess  Louise,  accompanied  by  the  Duke  of 
Argyll,  visited  Southend  last  week  to  open  a  new 
wing  of  the  hospital,  erected  at  a  cost  of 
/4130.  The  royal  party,  was  met  at  the  railway 
station  by  the  mayor  and  corporation,  who 
presented  an  address.  At  the  hospital  the  Princess 
spoke  individually  to  the  patients  and  gave  much 
pleasure  by  presenting  each  with  a  spray  of  lilies- 
of-the-valley.  Her  Royal  Highness  afterwards 
unveiled  a  tablet  bearing  the  inscription  :  "  This 
sitting-room  and  additional  nurses'  quarters  were 
built  through  efforts  of  the  ladies'  working  party, 
and  opened  by  H.R.H.  Princess  Louise,  December 
4th." 


Lady  Audley  Neeld  recently  laid  the  foundation 
stone  of  a  cottage  hospital  of  twelve  beds,  at 
Hendon,  which  is  to  be  erected  as  a  memorial  to 
the  late  King  Edward  VH.  The  site  is  in  Park 
Road,  the  land  being  the  gift  of  Lieut. -Colonel 
Sir  Audley  Neeld.  Mr.  James  Barber  has  acted  as 
chairman  of  the  committee.  The  cost  of  the 
building  is  about  /2,2oo,  the  whole  of  which  has 
practically  been  found,  whilst  substantial  promises 
have  been  made  towards  the  maintenance  fund. 


The  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Penal  Refonn 
League,  which  aims  at  interesting  the  public 
in  the  right  treatment  of  criminals,  in  pro- 
moting effective  naeasures  for  their  cure  and 
rehabilitation,  and  for  the  prevention  of  crime,  will 
hold  its  annual  Meeting  at  Caxton  Hall,  West- 
minster, on  Friday,  December  13th,  at  8  p.m. 
Sir  John  Macdonell  will  preside. 

We  firmly  believe  that  trained  nurses  have  a 
great  duty  to  perform  in  a  wise  scheme  of  prison 
reform,  and  want  to  see  a  woman  of  parts  who  is 
a  highly  trained  nurse  the  next  ^Matron  of 
Holloway.  So  far  no  one  has  'found  time  to  work 
at  our  suggestion  for  an  Elizabeth  Fry  League 
of  Nurses. 

The  Annual  Conference  of  the  National  Associa- 
tion for  the  Feebleminded  will  be  held  in  the 
Council  Chamber  of  the  Guildhall,  London,  on 
December  13th,  on  "  Legislation  for  the  Feeble- 
minded," W.  H.  Dickinson,  Esq.,  M.P.,  presiding. 
The  Conference  will  be  opened  by  the  Lord  Mayor 
at  10.45  a.m.  Subject  of  the  Morning  .Session, 
"  The  Administrative  Question. "  Speakers,  J.  W'. 
Hills,  Esq.,  M.P.,  T."  B.  Hyslop,  Esq.,  M.D., 
G.  Stewart.  Esq.,  M.P.,  Sir  William  Chance,  Bart. 
Subjects  of  the  Afternoon  Session,  2.4  p.m., 
"  The  Position  of  the  Feebleminded  under  the 
Government  Bill."  Speakers,  H.  Corner,  Esq., 
M.D.,  Leslie  F.  Scott,  Esq.,  K.C.,  M.P.,  Mrs.  Hume 
Pinscnt. 

AWARD   UNDER   THE    WORKMEN'S 
COMPENSATION    ACT. 

-A.  case  of  intei'cst  to  nurses  in  connection  with 
the  Workmen's  Compensation  Act  has  recently 
been  heard  in  the  lliverpool  County  Court,  in 
which  his  Honour,  Judge  Thomas,  delivered 
judgment  last  week.  The  application  was  Miss 
Elise  Beresford  Knox,  a  hospital  'nurse  who 
claimed  compensation  from  the  Bootle  Borough 
Hospital.  Her  case  was  that  she  pricked  a  finger 
of  her  right  hand  while  padding  a  splint,  and 
later  in  the  day  dressed  a  septic  wound.  Septic 
inflammation  followed,  necessitating  an  operation, 
the  finger  became  permanently  stiff,  and  she 
coulct-not  use  two  of  the  other  fingers  of  that  hand. 
For  the  hospital  it  was  contended  that  the 
connection  between  the  prick  and  /he  poisoning 
was  not  proved.  The  Judge  gave  his  judgment 
in  favour  of  the  nurse,  awarding  her  gs.  a  week 
from  Ma}-  to  August,  and  2S.  6d.  afterwards 
during  partial  incapacity.  He  granted  a  stay 
on  the  usual  conditions. 


Dcccwhrr  14,  1912      <l\k  Bvltisb  3ournal  of  IRurstno- 


481 


WHERE     TO    QO    FOR    CHRISTMAS 
PRESENTS. 

One  of  the  most  popular  Christmas  Bazaars  in 
London  is  that  of  Messrs.  Garrould,  150,  Edgvvare 
Road,  and  this  year  the  attractions  are  many. 
The  toys  and  the  fancy  goods  are  now  separated, 
and  for  children  tlie  department  devoted  to  toys 
is  a  palace  of  delight.  Rocking-horses  and  mechani- 
cal railways  are  a  never-ending  source  of  amuse- 
ment. A  motor-cyclist  who  keeps  his  balance  on 
his  two-wheeled  cjxlc  in  a  most  extraordinary 
and  fascinating  manner,  costs -only  2S.  gjd.,  and 
a  mechanical  billiard  player,  costing  is.  gid.,  isi 
greatly  in  demand.  Of  course,  the  Santa  Claus 
surprise  stockings  filled  with  sweets  and  toys, 
and  costing  from  2.kl.  to  4s.  3d.,  are  to  be  had  in 
great  \aricty,  and  solve  the  problem  for  many 
busy  hospital  Sisters  and  nurses  as  to  what  shall 
be  given  to  the  children,  for  a  Christmas  stocking 
never  fails  to  please.  Then  the  parcel  barrow 
made  in  tin  and  painted  red  to  resemble  a  Post 
Office  delivery  barrow,  complete  with  parcels,  is 
a  most  fascinating  toy,  costing  only  lojd. 

Amongst  the  fancy  goods  the  handsome  articles 
in  silvered  antimonv,  for  which  a  large  order  was 
placed  in  Japan  as  long  ago  as  last  February,  are 
certain  to  be  popular,  an  excellent  example  is  a 
cigarette  bo-x  costing  is.  iijd.  Hut  the  numerous 
attractions  are  too  many  to  mention  ;  our  advice 
is  to  go  and  see  them. 


THE     "WELLCOME"     EXPOSURE 
RECORD     AND     DIARY. 

Many  nurses  are  fond  of  photography  as  a 
pastime,  and  a  very  interesting  one  it  is.  A  most 
acceptable  remembrance  at  Christinas  from  those 
who  number  such  nurses  amongst  their  friends  is 
the  "  Wellcome  "  Photographic  Exposure  Record 
and  Diary,  published  by  Messrs.  Burroughs, 
Wellcome  &  Co.,  Snow  Hill  Buildings,  E.C.,  of 
which  the  1913  edition  is  now  ready.  This  little 
book,  the  price  of  which  is  is.,  deals  with  a  large 
subject.  A  panoramic  view  of  all  that  is  most 
practical  and  progressive  in  modern  photographic 
processes  is  included  in  its  contents  table.  Yet, 
with  such  a  wide  outlook,  it  escapes  diffuscness. 

Every  step  in  the  production  of  effective  prints, 
including  exposure,  focussing,  development,  the 
after  treatment  of  negatives,  printing  by  all 
processes,  toning,  &c.,  is  described  fully,  but  with 
admirable  conciseness. 

A  novel  feature  this  year  is  the  article  on  the 
new  method  of  obtaining  blue  and  green  prints  by 
toning. 

Exposure  is  dealt  with  in  a  very  effective 
manner,  and  the  tables  of  light  values,  plate 
factors,  &c.,  which  have  been  brought  up  to  date, 
taken  in  conjunction  with  the  "  Wellcome  " 
Exposure  Calculator,  enable  even  a  beginner  to 
get  a  high  percentage  of  printable  negatives. 

The  Northern  Hemisphere  edition,  which  most 
nurses  in  this  country  will  require,  is  obtainable 
from  all  chemists  and  photographic  dealers. 


LEGAL   MATTERS. 

"  They  Came  to  me  in  Uniform." 

Mrs.  Kinghorne,  of  Dagniar  Road,  Cambcrwcli, 
appeared  at  the  South  Western  Court  twice 
recently,  in  connection  with  an  adjourned  summons 
for  failing  to  give  notice  of  the  death  of  a  child 
at  a  Home  in  Lessingham  Avenue,  Tooting,  in 
connection  with  which  it  will  be  remembered 
Dr.  Chappie  asked  a  question  in  the  House  of 
Commons  on  the  registration  of  nurses. 

A  married  women,  Mrs.  Kelly,  gave  evidence 
that  she  applied  to  Mrs.  Kinghorne  for  the 
admission  of  her  child  to  the  home.  She  had 
previously  asked  her  for  work,  and  Mrs.  Kinghorne 
offered  her  an  engagement  as  help  at  5s.  a  week, 
for  which  she  was  to  maintain  herself  and  find 
her  own  uniform,  the  money  to  be  retained  for 
the  support  of  the  baby.     She  declined  the  offer. 

Dr.  -Legge,  medical  adviser  to  the  Home,  said 
that  when  he  was  called  in  the  child  Kellv  was 
dead.  His  arrangement  with  the  home  was  that 
if  the  children  could  not  be  brought  to  him  he 
was  to  go  to  them.  Asked  by  Mr.  Marriott, 
prosecuting  on  behalf  of  the  N.S.P.C.C.  whether 
he  was  under  the  impression  that  there  were 
trained  nurses  at  the  home,  his  reply  was,  "  They 
came  to  me  in  uniform." 

After  the  witness  had  testified,  to  having 
examined  the  ventilation  of  the  drains,  and  found 
an  escape  of  sewer  gas,  and  given  other  evidence, 
the  case  was  again  adjourned. 


CHARGE  OF  THEFT  AGAINST  A  WOMAN 
DESCRIBED  AS  A  NURSE. 

Lily  Everett,  a  woman  described  in  the  press 
as  a  nurse,  aged  forty-nine,  of  no  fixed  abode,  was 
last  week  committed  for  trial  at  Bromley  (Kent) 
Police  Court,  on  a  charge  of  stealing  property 
value  about  £2^,  the  property  of  Mr.  T.  H. 
Heaysman,  who  had  let  her  a.  furni.shed  house. 
When  charged  by  a  police  officer  she  admitted  that 
she  had  the  property,  and  when  the  case  was  heard 
at  Bromley  quite  a  procession  of  pawnbrokers' 
assistants  went  into  the  witness  bo.x  to  prove  that 
she  had  pawned  goods  with  them.  Detective- 
Sergeant  Sharp  said  that  the  prisoner  told  him 
that  she  knew  she  had  been  bad,  and  would  tell 
him  where  the  property,  was.  She  added,  "  What 
is  a  woman  to  {lo  when  she  has  a  child  to  look  after 
and  no  husband  ?  There  is  no  one  else  to  blame. 
I  pawned  everything  to  get  a  living." 

No  evidence  was  offered  in  proof  of  the  suggestion 
that  the  accused  was  a  nurse. 


The  Putnams  have  ju'^t  published  a  volume, 
entitled  "  \  Stitch  in  lime,"  which  has  been 
prepared  by  a  Roosevelt  Hospital  graduate  nurse 
and  a  grateful  patient.  It  contains  simple  and 
practical  remedies  to  he  used  when  a  physician 
cannot  be  secured,  nr  in  cases  considered  too 
trivial  for  professionil  care. 


482 


Sbe  Brttlsb  3ournal  of  IRurstno-      December  14,  191 2 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES. 


WOMEN. 

A  charmingly  refined  woman  is  Mrs.  Carrie 
Chapman  Catt,  the  President  of  the  International 
Suffrage  Alliance,  and  in  her  untiring  zeal  for  the 
freedom  of  woman's  conscience  she  has  now 
travelled  around  the  world — sowing  the  seed  of  her 
high  ideals  of  womanhood  \vhere\'er  she  goes. 
The  special  corresponden*t  of  the  Observer  writes 
from  New  York  : — 

"  After  her  trip  round  the  world  Mrs.  Chapman 
Catt  finds  that,  compared  with  Chinese  women, 
American  women  are  almost  as  helpless  as  babies 
in  their  subjection  to  their  clothes.  She  thinks 
that  it  is  high  time  that  American  femininit}' 
kicked  itself  free  from  swaddling  draperies  and 
declared  its  independence  in  dress  as  in  politics. 

"  Mrs.  Catt  even  recommends  a  modified  form 
of  Chinese  dress,  which,  she  says,  is  the  most 
sanitary,  healthful,  comfortable  and  artistic  cos- 
tume woman  can  wear,  \\hen  asked  why  she  did 
not  adopt  it  herself,  she  said  : — 

"  '  "Hie  American  woman  is  mis-shapen  ;  her 
back  is  curved  and  her  hips  bulge  from  wearing 
the  corsets  and  dresses  she  is  thrust  into.  We 
think  we  are  beautiful,  but  we  are  not  to  be 
compared  in  natural  grace  with  our  Chinese 
sisters.  Their  costume  permits  of  the  greatest 
ease  of  movement.  They  can  climb  ladders,  go 
up  and  down  stairs  in  comfort,  bend  and  use 
every-  muscle  of  the  body  without  feeling  the 
strain. 

"  '  The  American  woman,  like  her  European 
sister,  is  nothing  more  than  a  rack,  upon  which 
dressniakers  hang  ideas  embodied  in  fashionable 
fabrics.  Can  you  fancv  Chinese  women  being  the 
slaves  of  European  dressmakers  ?  They  would  not 
permit  it.  We  in  America  ha\-c  been  their  slaves 
too  long. 

"  '  But  the  most  radical  change  I  suggest  is 
for  women  to  go  without  hats.  Hats  are  utterly 
useless.  Women  in  other  countries  do  not  hide 
their  hair  under  huge,  heavy  millinery,  and  they 
are  all  the  better  and  happier  for  this  freedom. 

"  '  I^et  us  show  our  independence  of  fashion 
creators.  The  money  you  used  to  spend  on  mil- 
linery you  can  give  to  the  cause  of  '  Votes  for 
women.'  You  would  be  accomplishing  untold 
good  in  the  world,  and  for  your  sex  especially.' 


All  this  may  be  sound  advice,  and,  if  we  arc 
not  yet  ready  to  act  on  it,  let  us  be  thankful 
for  the  wonderful  improvement  in  the  garments 
of  women  since  Victorian  days.  No  more  "  hour- 
glass "  figures — now  we  have  graceful  flowing 
lines  and  draperies.  No  more  false  modesty — no 
more  "  trains  "  and  petticoats  in  the  street. 
Instead  we  wear  neat,  businesslike  tailor  coats  and 
skirts — and  comfy  knickers  beneath.  Heads  and 
hats  still  require  common  sense,  but  even  here 
one  may  go  as  one  pleases  and  not  appear  a  freak. 
By  all  means  let  all  the  money  saved  be  spent  in 
furthering  Suffrage — and  freedom  of  conscience, 
which  impels  its  demand. 


,\t  the  Dudley  CTallenes,  i6g,  Piccadilly,  W., 
there  is  now  being  held  an  Exhibition  of  Water 
Colours  illustrating  the  Homes  and  Haunts  of 
Ruskin,  by  Miss  E.  M.  B.  Warren.  The  pictures 
show-n  by  this  accomplished  artist,  one  hundred 
in  number,  are  one  and  all  characterised  bv  great 
beauty  of  colouring  and  perfect  finish.  Derwent- 
water,  Coniston,  Oxford,  Switzerland,  Venice, 
Verona,  Assisi,  Rome,  in  these  and  in  many 
other  places  the  painter  has  followed  closelv  in 
the  Master's  footsteps,  and  has  chosen  for  her 
subjects  all  that  is  most  lovelv  in  Nature  and 
dignified  and  splendid  in  architecture.  The 
Exhibition  will  remain  open  until  December 
23rd,  and  for  students  and  lovers  of  Ruskin's 
works,  it  is  one  that  should  not  be  missed. 
Many  of  the  drawings  form  illustrations  to  Sir 
E.  T.  Cook's  recently  published  book  on  the 
"  Homes  and  Haunts  of  Ruskin." 

BOOK  OF   THE   WEEK. 


"THE  JOYOUS  ADVENTURES   OF    ARISTIDE 
PUJOL.'* 

"  The  man's  life  was  as  disconnected  as  a  pack 
of  cards."  Verily  Aristide  was  an  amazing  man. 
If  you  feel  at  all  downhearted  read  his  adventures, 
and  we  venture  to  sa^'  that  if  you  have  a  spark 
of  imagination  you  will  catch  something  of  the 
buoyant  and  altogether  delightful  irresponsibility 
of  the  man,  and  you  will  be  as  much  in  earnest 
over  his  escapades  as  he  was  himself.  The  worst  of 
it  is  that  they  were  so  many  and  varied  that  it  is 
not  possible  to  allude  to  them  all. 

An  enthusiast  of  enthusiasts,  our  friend  Aristide 
embraced  with  guilelessness  and  thoroughness  the 
cause  of  fair  ladies  who  bamboozled  him  and 
distres,sed  persons  who  swindled  him.  His  volatile 
nature,  and  sense  of  humour  prevented  these 
from  having  any  lasting  eftect  upon  him. 

In  his  time  he  played  many  parts.  French  master 
to  a  ladies'  school,  the  headmistress  appreciated 
his  style  which  was  colloquial.  The  colloquial 
Aristide  was  jocular.  His  lessons  were  a  giggling 
joy  from  beginning  to  end.  He  imparted  to  his 
pupils  delicious  knowledge.  Recited  to  them,  till 
they  were  word  perfect,  a  music-hall  ditty  of  the 
early  eighties  :  "  sur  le  bi,  siir  le  banc,  sur  le  hi, 
(ill  bout,  du  banc  "  ;  and  of  the  irregular  verbs 
their  knowledge  would  have  disgraced'  a  kinder- 
garten. 

He  travelled  in  an  automobile  to  sell  a  corn 
cure.  "  Had  it  not  have  been  for  the  car,  he  told 
me,  he  would  not  have  undertaken  the  undignified 
employment."  On  his  travels  he  picked  up  a 
deserted  infant  by  the  roadside.  . 

"  MoH  paiivre  petit,"  said  Aristide,  "  you  are 
hungry.  I  wonder  when  you  last  tasted  food.  If 
I  had  only  a  little  biscuit  and  wine  to  give  you. 
But,  alas  !  there  is  only  petrol  and  corn  cure, 
neither  of  which,  I  believe,  is  good  for  babies." 

"  Aristide  clambered  back  to  his  seat,  took  the 
child  on  his  knee  and  commiserated  it  profoundly, 

*  B5'  WiLLTAM  J.  Locke.      John  Lane,  London. 


December  ,4,  1012     C^be  iBilttsb  Soumal  of  IFlurstno. 


483 


sitting  there  on  his  apparently  honie-nuidc  \chicle, 
attired  in  liis  shaggy  goat  skin  cap  and  coat,  he 
resembled  an  up-to-date  Robinson  Crusoe  dandling 
an  infant  Friday."  He  determines  to  save  the 
babe  from  the  Enfants  Trouves,  and  takes  it 
instead  to  the  landlady  of  an  hotel.  She  stared  in 
stupefaction  at  the  stocking  cap  and  the  pyjamas 
in  which  Aristidc  liad  clothed  it.  Aristide  smiled 
his  most  engaging  smile  : 

"  My  son's  luggage  has  unfortunately  been  lost. 
His  portmanteau,  pauvre  petit,  was  so  small." 

Perhaps  this  is  the  most  fascinating  of  all  the 
adventures.  After  a  year  or  two  he  married  the 
lady  who  adopted  little  Jean ;  having  no  address 
himself,  he  had  found  it  impossible  to  find  shelter 
for  the  babe. 

.\fter  the  wedding  .\ristide  darted  to  the  altar 
rails,  caught  Jean  up  in  his  arms  :  "  Put  your 
hands  together  as  you  do  when  you  are  saying  your 
prayers,  mon  brave,  and  say  '  God  bless  father  and 
mother.'  " 

IT.  IT. 

BREAD    AND    ROSES. 

"  Bread  for  all,  and  Roses  too." — Chicago  Women 
Trade  UnioniMs. 

As  we  come  marching,  marching,  in  the  beauty 
of  the  day, 

A  million  darkened  kitchens,  a  thousand  mill- 
lofts  grey 

Are  touched  with  all  the  radiance  that  a  sudden 
sun  discloses, 

For  the  people  hear  us  singing,  "  Bread  and 
Roses,  Bread  and  Roses." 

As  we  come  marching,   marching,   we  battle  too 

for  men — 
For  they  are  women's  children,   and   we  mother 

them  again. 
Our  lives  shall  not  be  sweated  from  birth  until 

life  closes — 
Hearts  starve  as  well  as  bodies  ;    give  us  bread, 

but  give  us  Roses  I 

As    we    come    marching,    marching,    unnumbered 

women  dead 
Go  crying  through  our  singing  the  ancient  song 

of  Bread, 
Small  art   and   love   and   beauty   their   drudging 

spirits  knew — 
Yes,   it    is  bread  we  fight  for,   but  we  fight  for 

Roses  too. 

As  we  come  marching,   marching,   we  bring   the 

Greater  Days. 
The  rising  of  the  women  means  the  rising  of  the 

race  ; 
No  more  the  drudge  and  idler — ten  that  toil  where 

one  reposes. 
But  a  sharing  of  life's  glories  :  Bread  and  Roses, 

Bread  and  Roses  I 

— James  Oppenhkim, 

In  the  A  tnerican  Magazine. 


COMING    EVENTS. 

December  12th. — Territorial  Force  Nursing 
Ser\'ice,  City  and  County  of  London.  Meeting 
of  the  Grand  Council,  Mansion  House.     3.30  p.m. 

December  13th. — Penal  Reform  r.x:ague. 
Annual  Meeting,  Caxton  Hall,  S.W.     8  p.m. 

December  i.j//;. — Dinner,  Guest  of  Honour,  >[rs. 
Bedford  Fenwick,  given  by  members  of  the 
Nursing  Profession.  Mrs.  Walter  Spencer  in  the 
Chair.     Hotel  Cecil,  Strand,  W.C.     7.30  p.m. 

December  16th. — Central  Mid  wives  Board. 
Examination,  Caxton  House,  Westminster,  S.W. 
The  Oral  Examination  follows  in  a  few  days. 

December  lylh. — Irish  Nurses'  Association. 
Lecture  :  "  l^oor  Law  from  the  Twentieth 
Century  Standpoint,"  bj-  Mrs.  Dickie,  34,  St. 
Stephen's  Green,   Dublin.     7.30  p.m. 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  for  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondcjits. 


THE      SCOTTISH      SOCIETY      OF      TRAINED 

NURSES  —  PROPOSED         "  NIUHTINOALE    ' 

PRIZE. 

To  the  Editor  0/ The  British  Jour.n'al  of  Nursing. 

Dear  IMadam, — In  order  to  develop  the  useful- 
ness of  the  Society  in  the  direction  of  nursing 
education,  it  was  resolved  at  the  annual  business 
meeting,  held  on  September  28th,  to  take  steps 
for  the  purpose  of  endeavouring- to  raise  a  fund 
for  the  provision  of  a  prize,  or  prizes,  for  com- 
petition among  nurses. 

-\  movement  during  recent  years  on  the  part  of 
hospitals  to  provide  post-graduate  lectures  is 
a  strong  proof  of  the  necessity  that  nurses  should 
keep  themselves  abreast  in  the  practical  and 
theoretical  knowledge  of  their  work.  But,  much 
as  post-graduate  lectures  do  in  this  respect,  they 
can  only  be  taken  advantage  of  by  a  limited 
proportion  of  nurses  in  Scotland.  Private  nurses 
often  find  difficulty  in  suiting  their  off-duty  hours 
to  those  of  lectures,  district  nurses  arc  frequently 
subject  to  the  same  disadvantage,  while  those 
working  in  the  distant  highlands  and  islands  are 
cut  off  from  all  educational  advantages  connected 
with  their  profession. 

In  \iew  of  these  facts,  the  Society  feels  confident 
that  support  will  be  extended  to  its  endeavours 
to  supplement  hospital  education  in  providing 
encouragement  in  the  form  of  competition  which 
may  be  shared  in  by  all  trained  nurses. 

The  form  which  prizes  may  ultimately  take 
depends  upon  the  support  which  the  Society's 
appeal  receives  ;  but  in  the  first  instance  it  is 
proposed  to  establish  .1  medal  for  annual  com- 
petition, to  be  known  us  the  Scottish  Society  of 
Trained   Nurses   "  Nit  iitingalc  "    Prize.     As   it  is 


484 


Z\K  Brlttsb  3oiirnal  of  BursinG.      December  14, 


191. 


believed  that  no  memorial  of  the  same  kind 
exists  in  Scotland,  this  appears  to  be  a  suitable 
time  and  opportunity  to  commemorate  one  whose 
long  life  was  spent  in  the  service  of  the  sick.  To 
render  muses  efficient  in  their  work,  members 
of  an  honourable  calling  and  therefore  fit  and  able 
to  help  themselves  was  always  Miss  Nightingale's 
object — an  object  which,  fortunately,  commands 
respect  and  sympathy  from  many  outside  the 
bounds  of  the  professiov- 

Every  care  will  be  taken  by  the  Society  that 
a  high  standard  of  efficiency  will  be  maintained, 
and  examiners  appointed  (whether  members  of 
the  medical  profession  or  nurses)  will  be  those 
who  are  conversant  with  the  educational  require- 
ments of  nurses. 

Donations  forwarded  to  any  of  the  undersigned 
will  be  acknowledged  by  the  Hon.  Secretary  and 
Treasurer. 

We  are,  yours  faithfully, 
J.    Alexander,    Matron,    Royal    Alexandra 

Infirmary,  Paisley  (President). 
A.  B.  Boyd,  Matron,  Eye  Institution,  Aber- 
deen. 
E.  Tod,  Matron,  County  Hospital,  Ayr. 
J.   G.   McDouGALL,   Matron,   Maternity  Hos- 
pital, Aberdeen,  (Vice-Presidents). 
E.    .'^     Stevenson,    Bay   View,    Johnshaven, 
Kincardineshire,     (Hon.     Secretary     and 
freasiirer). 


A    SLUR    ON    THE    NURSING    PROFESSION. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Dear  Madam, — I  have  read  with  satisfaction 
the  resolution  passed  at  the  recent  meeting  of  the 
National  Council  of  Nurses,  in  reference  to  the 
exclusion  of  trained  women  nurses  from  the  units 
sent  to  care  for  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the  Near 
East,  by  the  British  Red  Cross  Committee.  This 
exclusion  is  a  very  serious  slur  upon  the  nursing  pro- 
fession indeed,  and  when  we  read  of  the  value  of  the 
services  of  the  trained  nurses  sent  to  Turkey  by 
the  Red  Crescent  Society,  and  those  accompany- 
ing the  Women's  Convoy  Corps,  with  what  honour 
the  latter  have  been  treated  by  the  Queen  of 
Bulgaria,  it  warms  one's  blood  a  bit  to  realise 
that  although  the  British  Red  Cross  in  their 
advertisements  for  money  mclude  "  Nursing  "  in 
their  benefits,  and  the  public  have  subscribed 
nearly  ;f40,ooo.  Sir  Frederick  Treves  and  his 
Committee  have  thought  fit  not  to  expend  one 
farthing  voluntarily  on  skilled  nursing  in  this  war. 
Upon  enquiry  I  was  told  that  thoroughly  trained 
men,  nursing  orderlies,  have  been  sent  instead. 
How  can  this  be  ?  Male  orderlies  have  their 
place  in  the  scheme  of  military  nursing,  just  as 
administrators,  physicians,  surgeons,  and 
donaestics  have,  but  male  orderlies  do  not  and 
cannot  supersede  skilled  woinen  nurses,  and  for 
many  years  have  not  done  so. 

Moreover,  in  my  old  hospital  I  hear  for  a  fact 
that  one  of  the  porters,  calling  himself  an 
"  orderly,"  has  been  sent  out  by  the  British  Red 
Cross  Society  in  this  capacity  ! 


Xursmg  is  women's  work,  and  our  British  Red 
Cross  has  no  right  to  deny  to  us  the  satisfaction 
of  service  at  the  front,  the  remuneration  for  such 
service,  nor  the  recognition  which  would  naturally 
result  to  our  honourable  profession  from  the 
performance  of  our  public  duty. 
I  am. 

Yours  'faithfully, 
A  Member  of  the  League  of 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  Nurses. 

[We  feel  quite  as  strongly  as  Our  correspond- 
ent, the  indignity  cast  upon  our  cloth  by  the 
exclusion  of  Trained  Women  Nurses  as  part  of 
the  units  organised  for  acti\'e  service  by  the  British 
Red  Cross  Society,  and  if  a  sufficient  number  of 
trained  nurses  will  take  action  on  this  very 
serious  matter,  we  will  do  our  best  to  have  it 
brought  to  the  notice  of  those,  who  we  feel  sure 
must  sympathise  with  the  nursing  profession  in 
their  excusable  indignation,  and  thus  prevent  in 
the  future  the  British  public  being  appealed  to 
for  funds  to  provide  trained  nursing  when  its 
consolations  are  excluded  from  Red  Cross  work 
so  far  as  British  women  are  concerned. — Ed.] 


REPLY  TO   CORRESPONDENT. 

Sister  C.  (Birmingham). — The  Trained  Women 
Nurses'  Friendly  Society  is  a  friendly  society  for 
trained  Nurses,  through  which  they  can  manage 
practically  the  funds  compulsorily  contributed 
through  the  National  Insurance  Act.  It  is  the 
only  society  of  trained  nurses  approved  by 
the  National  Insurance  Commission  which  does 
not  also  admit  unprofessional  persons.'  Nurses 
should  keep  the  control  of  their  financial  affairs  in 
their  own  hands.  There  is  no  reason  to  pay  men 
high  salaries  for  depriving  themselves  of  personal 
and  professional  responsibility.  No  class  of 
women  workers  are  more  exploited  under  the 
cloak  of  philanthropy  than  trained  nurses, 
and  they  will  continue  to  be  so  until  they 
conscientiously  realise  their  corporate  respon.si- 
bility. 

•— ♦ — • 

OUR  CHRISTMAS  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 

Competitors  in  the  "  Tovs  for  Tinies "  Com- 
petition are  asked  to  note  that  the  last  date  for 
articles  to  arrive  at  20,  Upper  Wimpole  Street, 
W.,  addressed  to  the  Editor,  is  December  T4th. 

OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITIONS. 

December  21st. — How  would  you  amuse  a 
convalescent  child  aged  5  to  8  years  isolated 
with  infectious  disease  ? 

December  28th. — What  symptoms  would  lead 
you  to  suspect  apoplexy  ?  Give  nursing  treatment 
of  apoplexy. 

■    »    • 

NOTICE. 

The  Editor  hopes  that  every  reader  who  values 
The  British  Journal  of  Nursing,  will  get  one 
or  more  new  subscribers,  so  that  its  constructive 
work  for  the  profession  may  receive  ever  increasing 
support.  Address  of  Office,  431,  Oxford  Street, 
London.  \V. 


December  14,  .9.2  Z\k  36ntiC'b  3ournal  ot  HAiu-tMno  Supplement.    ^85 


THe   Midwife. 


NOTES  ON  MATERNITY  HOSPITALS. 


.Mai  1  km  n-     1  losi'i  iai.. 


IVY  HOUSE.  THE  SALVATION  ARMY  MATERNITY  HOSPITAL. 


The    Salvation     Akmv 

Ivy  House  is  ono 
of  the  oldest  houses 
in  Hackney,  and  its 
prettily  decorated 
rooms  ha\e  been 
adapted  by  the 
Salvation  Army  for 
use  as  a  Maternitv 
Hospital  in  con- 
nection with  their 
Rescue  Homes,  but 
soon  will  be  super- 
seded by  a  larger 
one  now  in  course 
of  erection  at  Clap- 
ton. Ivy  House, 
small  as  it  is,  seems 
to  be  managed  with 
some  considerable 
skill.  Every  two 
months  a  class  of 
ten  pupils  is  ad- 
mitted, and  each 
class  remains  four 
months,  so  that 
there  is  never  a 
general  exodus  of 
pupils  or  the 
trouble     of     all 

beginners.  Lectures  are  given  twice  a  week 
to  each  class  b\-  the  Secretary,  herself  a  midwife, 
and  also  weckh'  by  the  doctor.  The  train- 
ing   is    four      

months,  the 
fee  being 
eighteen 
guineas  for 
the  term. 

The  Hos- 
pital is  pri- 
marily for 
rescuecases, 
but  there 
are  two  pri- 
\'ate  \\ards 
for  married 
women.  In 
spite  of  the 
age  and  in- 
convenience 
ofthehouse, 
everything 
looked  in 
perfect 
order,  and, 
of  course, 
exquisitely 
clean, whilst 


an  atmosphere  of  peace  and 
over  all. 

There    are    tliree    Rescue 


contentment  reigned 

Homes  from  which 
the  girls  come : 
Brent  House, 
situated  close  by  ; 
Clifton,  at  Lower 
Clapton ;  and  Lome 
House,  Stoke  New- 
ington,  which  was 
given  by  H.R.H. 
Princess  Louise, 
Duchess  of  Argyll, 
who  takes  a  con- 
tinual personal 
interest  in  its  work. 
The  girls  are  kept 
in  hospital  three 
weeks,  and  then 
sent  to  Brent 
House  until  they 
go  to  friends  or 
situations  are  found 
for  them. 

The 
British    Lyixg-in 
Hospital. 
The  Ladies'  Com- 
mittee      of      the 
British       Lying-in 
Hospital  some  time 
ago  started  alibrary 
for  the  nurses,  which  has  been  much  appreciated. 
The    Samaritan  Fund    and   Convalescent    Home, 
wliicli  arc    managed    b\-    the    Ladies'  Committee, 

is    an    ines- 

t  i  m  a  b  1  e 


LORNE     HOUSE     GARDEN— 1  III 


to 


t  li  c  poor 
m  others. 
Seventy 
mothers 
and  infants 
were  sent 
away  last 
year  to 
gather 
slrengtli  in 
purer  air 
and  under 
better  con- 
ditions be- 
fore return- 
ing to  their 
liomcs.  Also 
when  the 
e.\-baby  is 
an  obstacle 
to  the  going 
away  of  the 
mother   the 


486     ;cbc  Britisb  3oiu*nal  of  IRuvsiiuj  Supplement,  nccrwbcr  14,  1912 


Ladies'  Committee  either  send  it  with  tlie  mother 
or  have  it  cared  for  elsewhere. 

The  City  or  London  Lying-in  Hospital. 

Situated  in  one  of  the  busiest  thoroughfares 
of  the  city,  the  City  of  London  Lying-in  Hospital 
is  well  placed  for  helping  poor  married  women 
in  their  hour  of  need.  The  Hospital  was  founded 
on  March  30th,  1750,  and  the  old  prints  which 
hang  in  the  waiting-room  show  a  very  different 
condition  of  the  neighbourhood  to  that  which 
exists  to-day.  In  1907  it  was  re-built,  and  now 
the  patients  are  housed  in  a  verv  imposing, 
commodious,  red  brick  building,  whilst  the  old  por- 
tion is  used  as  the  Nurses'  Home,  where  the  cubicle 
system  has  given  place  to  the  single  bedroom  for 
each  nurse,  with  ample  bath-room  accommodation. 

The  Hospital  can  receive  sixty-four  patients, 
and  the  staff  indoors  and  out  consists  of  matron, 
six  sisters,  four  staff  nurses,  all  trained  nurses 
as  well  as  midwives,  and  about  thirty  pupils. 
The  training  for  midwifery  is  three  months,  and 
monthly  nursing  two  months. 

The  floors  of  the  Hospital  are  of  terrano,  the 
basis  ^f  which  is  a  thick  layer  of  sawdust, 
and  a  thick  acid  mixture  is  floated  over  that  ; 
this  hardens  as  it  dries,  and  forms  a  smooth 
floor  surface,  which  can  be  scrubbed  or  polished 
as  taste  dictates.  In  appearance  it  is  like  a 
thick  cork  carpet,  being  elastic  to  the  tread, 
?,nd  deadening  sound,  both  great  advantages. 

Being  so  recentlv  rebuilt,  of  course  everrthing 
is  up-to-date.  The  nurserv  has  a  series  of  wee 
baby  baths  with  knee  action.  The  wards  are 
large,  lofty,  bright  and  airy,  each  containing 
eight  beds.  There  are  two  labour  wards,  for 
use  alternatelv,  the  reserve  one  being  used  for 
serious  operation  cases. 

The  two  private  wards  must  be  a  great  boon 
to  women  of  the  better  class  in  case  of  a  serious 
confinement.  The  out-patient  department  is  a 
large,  comfortable  room,  with  tiled  walls  for  easy 
cleaning,  with  consulting  room,  receiving  and 
bath  room  close  by,  so  that  patients  enter  the 
Hospital  quite  readv  for  their  clean  beds. 

During  the  past  year  there  has  been  a  change 
of  matron  and   many  of  the  nursing  staff. 

The  prettv  little  chapel,  which  was  dedicated 
about  two  vears  ago,  and  has  been  largely  furnished 
by  the  gifts  of  friends,  nurses  and  pupils,  is  used 
daily  for  prayers,  read  by  the  matron,  with  a 
weekly  celebration  and  services  by  the  Chaplain. 
The  mothers  are  churched  and  babies  christened 
here  before  leaving  the  Hospital,  which  is  usually 
at  the  end  of  a  fortnight.  On  looking  through 
the  Reports  of  this  and  other  similar  hospitals, 
one  cannot  help  wondering  why  all  the  Committee 
of  Management  should  be  men.  True  they  have 
also  a  Committee  of  Ladies,  but  usually  their 
duties  are  confined  to  procuring  funds,  to  provide 
clothes  for,  and  to  render  personal  service  to 
the  patients.  All  excellent  objects,  but  women 
have  no  voice  in  the  management  of  these  institu- 
tions, which  exist  solelv  for  the  needs  of  women. 
Mary  Burr. 


THE     FIRST    WOMAN     PRACTITIONER 

OF   MIDWIFERY,    AND    THE    CARE    OF 

INFANTS    IN   ATHENS    300    B.C. 


Dr.  (.lilbert  Tottcn  McMaster,  of  New 
Haven,  Connecticut,  in  a  most  interesting 
article  in  a  recent  issue  of  American  Medicine, 
after  declaring  that  "  there  is  nothing  new 
under  the  sun,"  stales  that  this  assertion  ^s 
better  appreciated  when  we  study  past  methods 
of  medicine,  crude  though  they  may  appear 
from  their  admixture  with  religious  fads. 

Dr.  McMaster  says  in  part  : — 

The  Greeks  certainly  placed  medical  and 
surgical  knowledge  on  a  scientific  basis.  They 
were  a  nation  of  real  culture,  even  though  they 
were  rude  and  unpolished  in  their  forms  of 
expression.  But  in  the  care  of  newly  born 
infants  they  were  much  like  us  of  to-day  ;  like 
us  in  the  little  things,  and  that  is  what  counts 
after  all.  They  were  strikingly  like  us.  In 
enforcing  the  laws  governing  the  practice  of 
midwifery,  in  Athens,  300  B.C.  The  o'd 
Athenian  M.D. 's  were  jealous  of  their  rights, 
just  as  we  are  to-day,  for  jealousy,  I  am  sorry 
to  admit,  has  never  been  a  stranger  to  those  of 
the  "Physic  Art."  As  the  story  goes,  there 
was  a  law  in  Athens  forbidding  women,  or 
slaves  from  practicing  midwifery.  Men  only 
had  this  right. 

Modesty,  then  as  now,  was  common  to 
women,  regardless  of  the  assertion  of  the  great 
Pope  some  1,700  odd  years  later.  These 
women  of  Athens  objected  strongly  to  being 
exposed  "  To  the  hands  of  men." 

The  first  midwife  in  Athens  w^as  one 
Agnodice,  a  woman  who  was  evidently  backed 
by  her  sex — '  the  Sex  " — for  when  she  got  into 
trouble  her  Athenian  sisters  stood  by  her. 

.Agnodice  disguised  herself  as  a  man,  and 
repaired  to  Herophilus,  a  famous  physician 
and  anatomist  of  .'\thens,  300  B.C.,  and  began 
the  study  of  midwifery.  She  became  proficient 
in  her  chosen  profession,  and  then  disclosed 
herself  to  her  sex. 

Women  have  always  talked  among  them- 
selves. Eustathius  out  of  Euripides  says  m 
these  immortal  lines  : 

evbov  yvvalKCjv  Kal  wap  oi^fVats  \&yo$ 

"  Women  should  keep  within  doors,  and 
then'talk." 

.'\nd  they  did  talk — and  settled  the  fate  of 
some  doctors,  then  as  now.  The  result  was 
that  women  about  to  be  confined  would  have 
none  but  Agnodice.  The  demand  for  her  was 
excessive ;   greatly  to  the  discomfiture  of  her 


December  14,  1912  ^bc  36nttsb  Souviial  of  BuisuiG  Supplement.    487 


brutliLT  physicians,   to   whom   lu  r  sc\   was  nol 
yet  known. 

Her  inroads  upon  their  financial  rewards 
were  keenly  felt.  'I'hen  the  Atiienian  physicians 
suddenly  evinced  the  customary  professional 
amiability  and  good  will,  and  a  violent  devotion 
to  ethical  standards,  by  vehemently  denouncing 
Agnodice,  "As  one  that  does  corntpl  men's 
•wives." 

To  controvert  this  far  from  complimentary 
accusation  by  her  loving  medical  brethren, 
Agnodice  revealed  her  sex  to  her  tormentors. 
The  Medical  Faculty  of  Athens  indulged  in 
protests  in  highly  flavoured  Greek,  when  this 
heinous  crime  became  known.  They  perse- 
cuted the  girl  to  the  limit  of  human  tolerance. 
They  appealed  to  the  law  courts,  for  the  law 
regulating  the  "  practice  of  midwifery  "  had 
been  violated. 

Agnodice  fell  into  the  clutches  of  the  law. 
Her  ruin  was  imminent.  Doubtless  she 
already  felt  in  anticipation  its  penalties,  when, 
to  the  chagrin  of  the  "  most  learned  and 
reverend  doctors,"  the  matrons  of  Athens 
waited  upon  the  courts  "  en  masse,"  fearlessly 
telling  the  jurists  that  "  they  were  not  husbands 
but  enemies,  who  were  going  to  condemn  tlie 
person  to  whom  they  owed  their  lives."  These 
veiled  Athenian  women  as  they  stood  before 
the  lawyers  were  in  reality  pleading  for  their 
own  lives,  when  demanding  clemency  for  their 
learned  sister.  But  their  veils,  as  Euripides 
proves,  were  not  so  heavy  as  to  hide  their 
beauty.  "  Seeing  my  brother  through  my 
thinnest  of  veils." 

In  this  instance,  it  must  have  vastly 
enhanced  female  beauty.  The  .\thcnian 
lawyers,  whose  profession  has  never  been 
proof  against  the  charms  of  a  pretty  woman, 
repealed  the  law  debarring  women  from  prac- 
ticing midwifery,  and  were  chivalrous  enough 
to  rule  that  "  three  of  the  sex  should  practice 
this  art  in  .Xthcns." 

I  believe  this  to  be  the  first  time  history  n-cn- 
tions  a  female  following  anv  hr.inch  of  medical 
practice. 

It  is  evident  that  there  was  a  united  bodv 
of  medical  men  at  Athens  at  that  period,  who 
were  pioneers  in  organized  opposition  to  illegal 
practices.  There  were  no  doubt  exams,  and 
statutes  governing  the  practice  of  medicine, 
where  "  fools  asked  questions,  for  wise  rnen  to 
answer,"  as  Francis  Bacon  has  wisely  said. 

The  Greeks  and  Romans  alike  believed  that 
if  a  painless  delivery  took  place,  it  was  a 
positive  sign  as  to  the  virtue  of  the  woman, 
and  a  special  dispensation  of  the  gods.  Then 
it  was  quite  the  thing  for  the  woman,   when 


conlinenunt  was  at  hand,  to  be  in  the  vicinitv 
of  a  palm  tree  or  hold  in  her  hand  palm 
branches,  which  eased  her  pain,  so  it  was 
thought. 

When  the  child  was  born,  common  reason 
prevailed.  No  sooner  had  the  infant  made  his 
entrance  into  "this  vale  of  tears"  than  th(;y 
washed  it  in  water. 

But  those  of  Lacedaemon,  as  Plutarch  tells 
us  in  his  life  of  Lycurgus,  used  not  water  but 
wine  when  the  newly  born  saw  light,  "  in  order 
to  estimate  the  temper  and  complexion  of  the 
bodies  of  the  newly  born."  If  these  Spartans 
had  the  idea  that  the  child  might  be  feeble  or 
"  have  convulsions,  or  faint  upon  being 
bathed,"  this  was  usually  most  unfortunate 
for  the  child ;  while  those  of  vigorous  and 
powerful  constitution  would  "  gain  firmness 
and  possess  a  temper  like  unto  steel  so  hard 
would  it  be  to  overcome  them." 

Next  came  the  division  of  the  navel.  This 
operation  was  called  6ix<pa\riToij.ia.  whence  arose 
the  saying  "  Thy  navel  is  not  cut."  The  full 
import  of  this  speech  is  not  at  first  apparent, 
but  this  much  :  "  You  are  an  infant  scarce 
separate  from  one's  mother,"  and  later,  in  bluff 
King  Hal's  time,  "  Thou  art  yet  tied  to  thy 
mother's  apron  strings,  thou  varlet." 

But  just  how^  this  cord  was  severed,  whether 
torn  or  cut  by  a  sharp  instrument,  is  yet  open 
to  argument.  At  all  events  it  was  done  by  the 
nurse,  as  the  records  show.  After  this  opera- 
tion, the  child  was  wrapped  by  the  nurse  in 
"  swaddling  bands,"  lest  its  lower  extremities, 
not  being  able  to  hold  its  weight,  might  become 
crooked. 

The  Spartans,  however,  used  no  such  aid, 
but  were  of  such  experience  that  they  brought 
up  their  young  without  such  coddling  and  had 
straight  strong  children.  The  course  followed 
by  the  Spartans  Plutarch  gives  us  fully  in  his 
life  of  Lycurgus  as  follows  : 

"  Their  management  of  children  differed 
likewise  from  all  the  rest  of  the  Grecians,  m 
several  ways,  for  they  used  them  to  any  sort  of 
meat,  and  sometimes  to  bear  the  want  of  it, 
not  to  be  afraid  in  the  dark,  or  to  be  alone,  nor 
to  be  forward,  peevish,  and  crying,  as  they 
generally  are  in  other  countries  through  the 
impatient  care  and  fondness  of  those  who  look 
after  them.  Upon  this  account  Spartan  nurses 
were  frequently  hired  by  people  of  other 
countries ;  and  it  is  r<ported  that  she  who 
suckled  Alcihiades  was  a  Spartan." 

.After  this  the  religious  ceremonies  fill  each 
hour  and  day,  for,  strange  as  it  may  seem  to 
us,  these  barbarian-^  were  more  attentive  to 
their  gods  than  are  we  of  to-day  to  ours. 


488      Z,\K  British  3ournal  of  IWursinG  Supplement.  Dcccmi 


ler    14,    igi2 


The  last  measure  of  note  is  tlie  purification  of 
the  mother,  which  took  place  upon  the  fortieth 
day  after  confinement.  This  is  so  steeped  in 
myth  and  symbolism  as  to  hide  the  real  medical 
facts,  but,  looking  backward,  one  must  agree 
that  "  There  is  nothing  nc'v  under  Ihc  stin." 


CENTRAL  MIDWIVES  BOARD. 

The  written  Examination  of  the  Central  Mid- 
wives  Board  will  be  held  in  London  on  Monday, 
December  16th.  The  whole  week  is  a  busy  one  so 
far  as  the  Board  is  concerned.  We  give  below 
a  list  of  fixtures. 

FORTHCOMINO     FIXTURES. 

December  iGth. — Written  E.xamination  of  Central 
Midwives  Board  in  London. 

December  iStJi. — Special  Penal  ]Meeting  of  Central 
Midwives  to  deal  with  all  penal  cases  and  appHca- 
tions  ready  for  hearing  so  far  as  time  allows. 

December  igth. — Monthly  jNIeeting  of  Central 
Midwives  Board. 

December  20th. — Oral  Examination  of  Candi- 
dates for  admission  to  the  Roll  in  London. 

December  21st. — Special  Penal  Meeting  of  Central 
If  id  wives  Board. 


GOOD     WORK     APPRECIATED. 

The  following  resolution,  moved  h\  Mr. 
Savage,  and  seconded  by  Dr.  McKenna,  has 
been  passed  by  the  Belfast  Board  of  Guardians  : 

That  the  Board  of  Guardians  express  their 
appreciation  of  the  services  rendered  bv  the 
jNtedical  Staff,  Lady  Superintendent  of  fnfirmary 
and  Assistant  Superintendent  of  Maternity  Hos- 
pital, for  their  efforts  in  training  the  nurses  under 
their  care  so  efficiently  as  to  enable  such  a  high 
percentage  of  those  who  enter  to  pass  the  C.INLB. 
examination. 

That  the  thanks  of  the  f5oard  be  passed  to  the 
Iniirmary  Committee  and  its  Chairman,  Mr. 
D.  W.  Elliott,  for  the  excellent  system  of  training 
which  is  now  in  operation,  and  "which  was  intro- 
duced by  that  Committee. 

It  is  always  pleasant  to  have  good  work 
appreciated. 

A    GOOD    PLAY    FOR    A    GOOD    CAUSE. 

The  play  by  Mr.  Arnold  Bennett,  "  What  the 
Public  Want,"  which  will  be  presented  at  the 
Royal  Court  Theatre  on  the  evenings  of  December 
i6th  and  17th,  by  the  members  of  the  Romany 
Amateur  Dramatic  Club,  should  be  well  attended, 
for  it  is  in  aid  of  the  funds  of  the  General  Lying-in 
Hospital,  York  Road,  S.E.,  so  the  public  can  both 
enjoy  a  good  play  and  help  a  good  cause.  Tickets 
may  be  obtained  from  the  box-office  at  the 
theatre  and  from  the  Secretary  at  the  hospital. 


MIDWIVE5     ON     INSURANCE 
COMMITTEES. 

The  Midwives  fnstitutc,  in  a  letter  signed  by 
Miss  Amy  Hughes,  President,  Miss  Rosalind 
Paget  (Hon.  Treasurer),  and  Miss  R.  P.  Fynes- 
Clinton  (Hon.  Secretary),  have  communicated 
with  the  midwives'  representatives  on  the  various 
insurance  committees,  concerning  matters  of 
vital  importance  to  the  practising  midwives. 
The  letter  points  out  that  these  representatives 
are  the  sentinels  who  are  guarding  the  interests 
both  of  midwives  and  their  patients,  and  that  they 
only  are  able  to  give  warning  of  impending  action 
calculated  to  affect  those  interests,  and  invites 
them  to  give  'prompt  warning  to  the  Institute 
as  to  any  proposals  made,  or  decisions  come  to 
by  their  committees  which  in  any  way  affect  the 
allocation  of  the  maternity  benefit,  or  directly  or 
indirectly  the  profession  of  midwifery. 

The  letter  lays  special  stress  on  the  importance 
of  upholding  the  freedom  of  contract  between  the 
midwife  and  her  patient,  and  the  inadvisability  of 
specifying  a  fi.xed  fee  for  the  midwife.  It  asks 
the  representatives  to  endeavour  to  dispel  the 
misapprehension  that  insured  persons  will  not 
receive  the  maternity  benefit  unless  they  employ 
a  doctor,  to  bear  in  mind  that  midwives  attend 
50  per  cent  of  the  total  number  of  births  in  England, 
and  from  65  to  85  per  cent  of  the  class  that  will  be 
insured,  and  to  support  any  proposals  for  insuring 
for  the  doctor's  fee.  It  points  out  that  in  the  past 
midwives  have  been  most  inadequately  paid  and 
have  done  much  charity  work,  and  that  the 
position  and  function  of  the  midwife  of  the  future 
depends  chiefly  on  the  action  now  taken  by  the 
Insurance  Committees. 

■    ♦    ■ 

A  MATERNITY  ALLOWANCE  BILL. 

The  Maternity  Allowance  Bill  of  the  Australian 
Labour  Government,  which  provides  for  the 
presentation  by  the  State  out  of  consolidated 
revenue  fimds  of  £5  to  every  mother  of  a  live 
child,  which  was  introduced  by  Prime  ^finister 
Fisher,  has  passed  its  third  reading  in  the  Lower  . 
House,  and  been  forwarded  to  the  Senate,  from 
which  it  is  expected  to  emerge  unchanged.  The 
Bill  provides  for  the  appointment  of  a  Com- 
missioner, who,  subject  to  the  control  of  the 
Minister,  will  be  charged  with  the  execution  of  the 
Act.  The  Bill  applies  to  every  woman  who, 
after  the  commencement  of  the  Act,  gives  birth 
to  a  child  either  in  Australia  or  on  board  a  ship 
proceeding  from  one  part  of  territory  in  the 
Commonwealth  to  another  part  of  territory  in  the 
Commonwealth.  WTiere  more  than  one  child 
is  born  at  a  birth  only  one  allowance  is  payable. 
Where  the  child  is  not  born  alive,  or  dies  within 
twelve  hours  of  its  birth,  a  medical  certificate 
that  the  child  was  viable  is  required.  Asiatics, 
aboriginal  natives  of  Australia,  Papua,  and  the 
fslands  of  the  Pacific  are  excluded  from  the 
benefits  of  the  Bill.  In  the  event  of  the  death  of 
the  mother  the  Commissioner  is  to  decide  to  whom 
the  maternity  allowance  shall  be  paid. 


THE 

WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATEb 
EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


SATURDAY,     DECEMBER   21,   1912. 


Vol.  XLIX. 


EDITORIAL. 

THE     HEALTH     OF     SCHOOL     CHILDREN. 

The  health  of  tlie  rising  generation  is 
one  of  utmost  importance  to  the  nation, 
and,  therefore,  the  report  of  tiie  Chief 
Medical  Officer  of  the  Board  of  Education 
(Sir  George  Newman),  although  profoundly 
disquieting  in  relation  to  the  health  of 
elementary  schoolchildren,  is  of  value 
in  showing  where  the  weakness  lies,  for 
this  is  the  first  step  towards  improvement. 
Incidentally  it  proves  the  wisdom  of  the 
legislation  requiring  the  medical  inspection 
of  school  children,  and  the  futility  of 
pressing  education  upon  those  whose  health 
does  not  permit  them  to  benefit  bv  it. 

At  present  children  are  medically  exam- 
ined on  entering  and  leaving  sciiool,  and 
the  work  already  accomplished  brings  to 
light  the  fact  that  a  large  number  of  school 
children  are  suffering  from  disease  and 
malnutrition,  the  original  cause  of  the 
former  being  in  nianv  instances  the  direct 
result  of  the  susceptibility  of  the  child  to 
infection  owing  to  his  low  condition  of 
health.  This  malnutrition  is  due  in  some 
instances  to  extreme  poverty,  but  also  to 
the  ignorance  prevailing  as  to  the  nutritive 
value  of  food  stuffs. 

Since  the  passing  cf  the  Act  providing 
for  the  medical  inspection  of  school- 
children, some  million  and  a  half  have 
been  annually  inspected,  and,  out  of  thirteen 
counties  and  sixteen  urban  areas  investi- 
gated, in  only  one  did  the  percentage  of 
"good"  nutrition  reach  45,  and  in  one  it 
was  as  low  as  3.H. 

In  London,  out  of  200,000  children 
examined  in  191 1  over  100,000  were  found 
to  be  defective,  78,000  were  recommended 
for  treatment,  and  over  27,000  were  treated 
under  arrangements  made  bv  the  London 
Countv  Council  at  hospitals  and  clinics. 
One  wonders  what  liappenetl  to  the  remain- 


ing 51,000,  and  incidentally  the  extreme 
importance,  and  indeed,  necessity  of  the 
work  of  school  nurses  is  evident,  for  if  the 
cases  recommended  for  medical  treatment 
are  not  followed  up,  and  the  parents  urged 
to  secure  the  treatment  required,  medical 
inspection  fails  of  its  object  and  becomes 
a  farce. 

The  extraordinary  amount  of  feeble- 
mindedness among  school  children,  estimated 
by  Sir  George  Newman  at  no  less  than 
50  per  cent  ,  varying  from  stupidity  and 
dullness  to  imbecility,  and  in  one-fifth  to 
one-seventh  of  the  cases  being  so  far 
developed  as  to  render  the  child  unedu- 
catable,  must  give  cause  for  great  anxiety. 
No  doubt  it  is  due  in  part  to  malnutrition, 
which  affects  the  brain  as  well  as  the  other 
organs  of  the  body,  and  might  be  improved 
by  better  environment  and  feeding.  But 
the  existence  of  so  large  a  bodv  of  feeble- 
minded children  in  our  midst,  and  the  fact 
that  the  fecundity  of  the  feeble-minded  is 
known  to  be  greater  than  that  of  the  normal 
individual,  indicates  a  growing  national 
danger  which  will  require  all  the  knowledge 
and  wisdom  of  eugenists  to  avert.  In  this 
connection  again  the  work  of  the  school 
nurse  is  of  the  utmost  importance,  and  if 
she  performs  it  with  an  intelligent  grasp  of 
the  principles  underlving  the  effort  for 
raising  the  standard  of  national  health,  and 
understaniis  the  necessity  for  the  prevention 
as  well  as  the  cure  and  alleviation  of  dis- 
ease, she  can  render  aid  of  the  very  first 
importance  at  this  national  crisis,  and 
materially  assist  in  preventing  national 
disaster.  It  follows  that  school  nurses 
should  be  picked  women,  with  at  least 
three  years'  hospital  training,  followed  by 
special  instruction  in  the  social  problems 
with  which  they  will  be  brought  into 
intimate  touch.  This  work  for  the  pre- 
servation of  the  national  health  is  too 
fundamentally  important  to  be  delegated  to 
half-trained  women. 


49° 


Zlic  3Briti5b  3ounial  of  IRursino-     December  2.,  .91 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 


HOW  WOULD    \OV   AMU5E    A   CONVALESCENT   CHILD 

AOED    S    TO    8    YEARS.    ISOLATEK    WITH    INFECTIOUS 

DISEASE  ? 

We  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Miss  Alice  Rhind,  ii,  West  Mayfield, 
Edinburgh. 

PRIZE     PAPER. 

My  experience  with  children — wealthy, 
moderately  well-oil,  or  poverty-stricken — is 
that  they  are  much  the  same  in  one  particular, 
and  that  particular  is  this  :  It  is  not  the  expen- 
siveness  and  elaborateness  of  the  toys  that 
matter,  but  that  the  child's  interest  be  aroused 
in  the  toys  and  amusements  at  hand. 

In  a  case  of  an  infectious  nature  expense  is 
usually  a  matter  of  considerable  importance. 
Toys  are  difficult  to  disinfect  satisfactorily,  and 
it  is  much  the  wisest  plan  to  have  a  few  simple, 
inexpe^isive  things,  and  interest  the  child  in  the 
fire  they  are  going  to  make  at  the  end  !  In 
this  way  there  are  no  heartburnings  on 
separating  from  cherished  objects. 

A  pair  of  old  scissors,  not  too  sharp,  and 
without  points ;  plenty  of  old  newspapers ;  an 
illustrated  catalogue  from  one  of  the  large 
stores  or  similar  establishments  ;  one  or  two 
penny  notebooks  ;  a  slate  and  slate  pencil ;  a 
skipping-rope  (if  the  doctor  allows) ;  some 
wool ;  a  cork,  needles,  pins,  and  some  variously 
coloured  thread — give  me.  these,  and  I  will 
guarantee  to  keep  even  the  most  fractious  child 
happy  and  contented  for  several  hours  a  day  for 
weeks,  if  necessary. 

There  is  no  end  to  the  wonderful  things  that 
can  be  contrived  with  a  pair  of  scissors  and  a 
newspaper.  Caps,  boats — and  boats  that  will 
sail,  too  !  bags,  baskets — all  kinds ;  whole 
families,  papas,  mammas,  brothers,  sisters, 
uncles  and  aunts,  can  be  cut  out  separately  or 
joined  together  in  rows ;  milkmaids  w'ith  pails, 
little  boys  with  hoops,  and  so  on,  one  design 
leading  to  another. 

The  illustrated  catalogue  I  have  found  an 
unbounded  source  of  delight.  The  long-desired 
articles,  the  beautiful  people  in  all  sorts  and 
conditions  of  attire,  can  be  cut  out,  sewn  into 
the  notebooks,  or  "  pricked  "  kindergartenwise 
on  to  sheets  from  the  same  notebooks,  and 
sewn,  facsimiles  in  outline  appearing  to  our 
astonished  gaze ;  and  if  a  box  of  crayons  be 
ours,  the  prospect  is  limitless  ! 

The  cork  must  have  a  hole  down  the  middle, 
and  is  used  for  making  "  rat-tails,"  so  dear  to 
the  hearts  of  ladies  and  gentlemen  "  'bout  7." 
The   slate   usually  condescends   to   little    more 


tlian  a  blackboard  for  "  x  and  o  "  competitions, 
and   sometimes   "railway  crossings." 

Oh,  many  and  wonderful  and  time-beguiling 
are  the  adaptations  possible  from  these  wonder- 
ful commonplace  articles ;  they  cost  next  to 
nothing,  and  can  all  be  burned  when  the  little 
one  is  announced  safe  to  return  to  the  family 
fireside  and  her  "  live  "  playfellows. 

Physical  exercise  can  be  made  to  be  a  grand 
entertainment,  and  at  the  same  time  achieve 
another  purpose. 

One  more  item — .and  the  child  it  does  not 
appeal  to  I  have  not  yet  met — the  evening 
story.  The  subject  may — and  usually  is — set 
by  the  patient's  self,  but  in  any  case  the  nurse 
who  would  be  a  success  with  children,  whole 
or  sick,  must  have  unlimited  imagination  and 
the  knack  of  giving  vent  to  it.  Lords  and 
ladies,  fairies  and  gnomes,  dragons  and  genii, 
wild  beasts  and  terrible  storms ;  shipwrecks 
and  desert  islands,  and — well,  everything, 
nothing  less  than  everything,  the  nurse  must 
l<now  of  and  be  able  to  communicate  to  the 
charge  whose  tedium  it  is  lier  duty  and  her 
pleasure  to  beguile. 

HONOURABLE    MENTION. 

The  following  competitors  are  accorded 
honourable  mention  : — Miss  M.  Dods  (w'ho 
sent  a  verv  excellent  paper),  Miss  A.  M._  Smith, 
Miss  Gertrude  Phillips,  Miss  S.  A.  G.  Lett, 
Miss  A.  \\'ellington.  Miss  O'Brien,  Miss 
Macfarlane,  Miss  G.  Tatham. 

Miss  M.  Dods  writes  : — Children  are  gener- 
ally conservative  little  mortals,  apt  to  view  a 
newcomer,  especially  in  sickness,  with  sus- 
picion. My  own  experience  is  that  they  have 
decided  individuality  almost  from  birth, 
brothers  and  sisters  being  quite  unlike  each 
other  in  character  and  tastes.  One  often  hears 
grown-ups  say,  "Oh,  children  are  all  alike," 
but  that  is  quite  wrong.  To  be  successful,  the 
nurse  who  is  in  charge,  and  responsible  for 
the  welfare  and  happiness  of  a  sick  child, 
should  make  a  careful  stud)'  of  each  .one  under 
her  care.  .A.  child's  mind  is  a  wonderfully 
complex  thing',  always  ready  to  take  fresh 
impressions,  happy  or  otherwise,  frequently 
very  reserved  and  sensitive.  Therefore,  to 
makes  its  convalescence  a  happy .  time,  it  is 
necessary  to  put  oneself  down  (or  it  may  be 
up)  te  the  level  of  the  little  ones.  The  principal 
points  to  be  observed  are  avoidance  of  boredom 
and  fatig'ue,  mental  as  well  as  physical ;  to 
choose  occupation  for  fingers  when  possible,  to 
arouse  intelligent  interest,  but  to  avoid  excite- 
ment. Frequent  change  of  programme  is 
advisable.     The  nurse  must  in  all  cases  be  care- 


December  21,    u_)i2 


^Dz  Bintisb  3ournnl  ot  iRursino. 


49* 


fill  to  avoid  eyestrain  on  the  part  of  llic  child 
u  lun  fever  is  just  over,  and  the  child  bey:ins  to 
get  lidyety,  tiiough  still  too  weak  to  sit  up. 
Keadiny,  or  telling-  a  story,  just  out  of  your 
own  head  is  usually  preferred.  Most  children 
like  natural  history,  or  stories  that  are  true.  A 
pet  doll  or  toy  to  cuddle  in  bed  will  add  to 
happiness,  especially  if  strictly  isolated  When 
a  little  stronger  and  able  to  use  the  brain  a 
little,  guessing  games  are  very  popular,  as 
guessing  objects  in  a  room.  I  have  found 
children  aged  five  and  six  lo\e  this  game. 
Some  little  ones  like  to  watch  you  build  card 
houses,  or  make  different  structures  of  bricks. 
Can  you  cut  out  animals,  dolls,  &-c.,  in  folded 
paper?  Try  it.  See  which  can  cut  best,  you 
or  the  patient.  Can  you  make  paper  boats, 
purses?  A  few  empty  matchboxes,  some 
coloured  tissue-paper,  gum,  and,  if  in  the 
country,  some  dry  twigs,  will  make  charming 
toys,  such  :is  log  huts,  stables,  chests  of 
drawers.  The  lid  of  a  cardboard  dress  box  will 
make  a  splendid  country  estate  with  the  grass 
painted  on,  gravel  paths  fixed  with  glue,  little 
matchbox  houses  dotted  around.  Later  on, 
when  the  child  is  better,  he  can  help. 

Miss  Gertrude  Phillips  w^-ites  : — The  grea.t 
aim  in  amusing  a  child  should  be  to  educate  it 
at  the  same  time. 

Miss  S.  A.  G.  Lett  remarks  : — Convales- 
cence is  most  tiresome  in  its  earliest  stage 
while  the  little  patient  is  in  bed,  and  as  yet  not 
allowed  to  exercise  very  much  energy.  In  this 
stage  the  nurse  will  generally  find  it  a  great 
boon  if  she  has  a  gift  for  storv-telling — for 
where  will  a  child  be  found  who,  when  all  else 
is  tired  of,  will  not  end  up  wiili  "  Do  tell  me  a 
story,  nurse." 

•Miss  A.  Wellington  points  out  : — If  the 
nurse  is  at  all  musical  she  can  amuse  the  child 
by  singing  to  it,  es[)(cially  nursery  rhymes. 
If  the  child  is  well  enough  to  go  out  of  doors, 
the  nurse's  work  will  be  much  easier,  as  it  will 
not  be  so  dilTicult  to  keep  the  small  patient 
happy. 

Miss  Gladys  Tathani  writes  : — Fashion  cata- 
logues can  be  made  to  give  quite'.i  lot  of  amuse- 
ment by  cutting  out  the  figures  and  pasting 
them  on  to  cardboard  so  that  they  can  lie 
made  to  stand  up  in  groups,  about  which  one 
could  doubtless  weave  many  tales.  "  Building 
houses  "  with  plain  wooden  bricks,  for  the  child 
to  topple  over,  often  wiles  awav  an  hou> 

QUESTION    FOR     NEXT     WEEK. 

What  symptoms  would  lead  you  to  suspect 
apoplexy?  Give      nursing      treatment      of 

apoplexv. 


OUR     CHRISTMAS     COMPETITION. 


TOYS     FOR     TINIi;S. 

We  have  to  thank  many  nurses  for  so  kindly 
entering  for  the  Toys  for  Tinies  Competition, 
and  to  announce  that  the  four  Five  .Shilling 
Prizes  have  been  awarded  as  follows  : — 

I.  To  Miss  \.  .\rnscott,  Bulstrode  Street, 
London,  \V.,  for  a  very  fascinating  black 
gollywog,  dressed  in  brilliant  rose  and  green 
silk,  trimmed  with  gold  sequined  lace.  A  fine 
black  stocking  was  used  to  make  the  doll,  and 
its  silky  black  hair  and  black  and  white  button 
eyes  are  very  effective.     Cost,  3d. 

3.  To  Miss  E.  Ileathcote,  FIderfield  Road, 
Clapton,  N.E.,  for  three  unbreakable  rag  dolls 
with  scrap  picture  faces  :  i ,  Little  Red  Riding 
Hood;  2,  long-clothes  baby;  and  3,  a  golly- 
wog ;  made  with 

(1. 
T   yd.    NeoiHjlitan,  For    bodies,    dress,    night- 

at  jjd.  yd.  .  .  ij  dress  and  petticoat,  &c. 
I  yd.  Red  Flannel-  For     cape,     bonnet,      and 

ette.  at  2jd.  yd.      J       trousers. 
I  yd.  White  Flan-  For     baby's     flannel     and 

nelette,   at  2|d.  vest. 

yd.       ..         ..     i 
I   yd.    Black   I,in-         For  (iolliwog. 

ing,  at  ijd.  yd.     -i 
I     yd.     Lace,     at         For  bonnet  and  nightdress. 

id.  yd i 

J   yd.    Ribbon,    at         For  bonnet  and  nightdress. 

id.  yd. .  .  .  .      J 

Total  cost  .  .    5? 

TO  TMF  F:r)[rou. 

(From  Red  Riding  Hood.) 
I  wish  I'd  more  clothes  and  better, 

But  funds  are  so  awfully  low  ; 
To  make  us  three  for  sixpence, 

It's  a  good  job  we  won't  grow. 
There's  me,   and  Jim,  and  Baby, 

We'll  do  our  best  to  show 
Our  love  for  the  little  children 

To  whom  we  are  to  go. 

Jim's  the  black  sheep  of  the   family. 

He  never  will  be  clean  ; 
He  seldom  can  come  out  with  us. 

For  he  is  never  fit  to  be  seen. 

3.  To  Miss  E.  S.  Fountain,  Lee  Road, 
Blackheath,  for  infant's  teething-ring  and 
rattle,  made  of  ivory,  wool,  and  ribbon,  and 
little  hells.     Cost,  sfd. 

4.  To  Miss  Eva  Smith,  North  Ormesby  Hos- 
pital, Middlesborough,  for  two  little  bedsteads, 
one  most  ingeniously  upholstered  and  trimmed 
with  hospital  materials;  the  bedstead  is  of 
gooch     and     camelhair-bru^h-holder,     bandage 


493 


abe  Bvitisb  3oiu-nnl  of  1l-liu*sina      December  21,  1912 


pins  and  tapes;  the  clothes  from  cast  linen, 
flannel,  and  domette  bandages;  and  the  rest  is 
of  cambrola,  jaconet,  splint  wool,  and  blanket 
threads,  an  infinitesimal  amount  of  each.  To 
see  such  a  bit  of  work  would  greatly  amuse  a 
sick  child. 

HOi\ouR.\BLE  Mention. 

Miss  Annie  King. — Four  dolls,  three  of  black 
and  red  silk  (a  mammie*and  two  piccaninnies), 
and  a  charming  little  lady  in  pink  sateen. 

Miss  E.  Dymes. — Dressed  doll,  a  bed  made 
of  a  cardboard  box,  beautifully  trimmed,  and 
with  tiny  nightgown  case,  containing  a  wee 
"  nightie  "  of  lawn,  lace,  and  ribbon. 

Miss  Grace  Massev. — Doll,  Red  Riding 
Hood. 

Miss  I.  J.  Grant. — Ditto. 

Miss  Rutii  Jackson. — A  penwiper  black  wool 
dollie,  with  fine  pigtail,  and  a  wool  ball. 

Miss  E.  C.  Evans. — Fine  wool  ball. 

Miss  E.  M.  \\'alker. — Silvered  w  alnut  cradle, 
with  \^ee  doll  inside.     Cost,  aid. 

Miss  T.  Foster. — Strawberry  pincushion. 

Miss  \'.  Taylor. — Kitchen  dresser  for  dolls- 
house. 

Mrs.  A.  B.  Sturges. — Four  wool  balls. 

Miss  A.  Potter. — Black  bear. 

From  "  Nowhere,"  not  for  competition  be- 
cause he  cost  81d.,  came  "  Woollie  Willie,"  a 
sweet  little  fellow  dressed  in  knitted  wool.  He 
says  :  "  I'm  afraid  I  cost  8id.  ;  sports  coats  are 
so  expensive.  But  please  could  you  find  some- 
one to  be  a  mother  to  me?  I  want  one  dread- 
fully."    This  will  be  an  easv  task. 

Next  week  we  shall  report  what  has  been 
done  with  the  toys. 

THE     COMING     CHRISTMAS. 

The  usual  stir  and  anticipation  for  a  Happy 
Christmas  is  perceptible  throughout  the  hos- 
pitals and  charitable  institutions  in  town  and 
country.  Gifts  are  being  gathered  together ; 
wards  are  being  beautified,  and  the  children 
longing  for  the  morning  when  they  maj'  peep 
into  those  capacious  stockings.  Nowhere 
throughout  the  land  is  Christmas  spent  in  more 
festive  fashion  than  in  the  hospitals  and  in- 
firmaries— nor  more  kindness  expended  in 
commemoration  of  the  festival. 

KING     EDWARD     NURSES. 

The  King  has  intimated  to  the  Governor- 
General  of  United  South  Africa  his  approval  of 
the  title  "  King  Edward  Nurses  "  for  the 
Order  recently  established  in  memory  of  the 
late  King.  The  King  has  also  consented  to 
become  a  patron,  and  Queen  Mary  and  Queen 
Alexandra  to  become  patronesses. 


COMPLIMENTARY   DINNER   TO 
MRS,    BEDFORD    FENWICK. 


The  Dinner  to  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  at  the 
Hotel  Cecil  on  Saturday  last,  designed  by  her 
friends  to  commemorate  her  twenty-five  years  of 
public  service,  was,  as  it  was  intended  to  be, 
a  \'ery  delightful  and  friendly  affair. 

Mrs.  Fenwick  was  received  on  lier  arrival  by 
Mrs.  Walter  Spencer,  genial  and  gracious.  Chairman 
of  the  Dinner,  Miss  I  feather-Bigg,  President  of  the 
Matrons'  Council,  Miss  Cox-Davies,  President  of 
the  League  of  St.  Bartholomew's  Nurses,  and  Miss 
B.  Cutler  presented  a  fragrant  bouquet  of  pink 
carnations,  frezia,  and  lilies  of  the  valley. 

Amongst  the  nursing  organisations  represented 
were  the  Matrons'  Council  by  the  President,  Miss 
M.  Heather- Bigg  ;  the  International  Council  of 
Nurses  by  the  Treasurer,  Miss  I\I.  Breay  ;  the 
National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses  of  Great 
Britain  and  Ireland  by  the  Hon.  Secretary,  Miss 
B.  Cutler.  The  following  alfiliated  leagues  and 
societies  were  also  represented  : — The  League  of 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital  Nurses  by  Miss  Co.x- 
Davies,  president  ;  the  League  of  St.  John's  House 
Nurses  by  Miss  Frisby  and  Miss  Braysliay  ;  the 
Registered  Nurses'  Society  by  Miss  S.  Cartwright, 
Sister-in-Charge,  and  a  number  of  past  and  present 
members  ;  the  School  Nurses'  League  by  Miss 
H.  L.  Pearse,  President  ;  the  Hendon  Branch  of 
the  Central  London  Sick  Asylum  Nurses'  League 
by  Miss  Elma  Smith,  President  ;  the  Leicester 
Infirmary  Nurses'  League  by  Miss  G.  A.'  Rogers, 
President ;  the  General  Hospital,  Birmingham, 
Nurses'  League  by  Miss  E.  M.  Musson,  President  ; 
and  the  Kingston  Infirmary  Nurses'  League  by 
Miss  A.  Smith,  President. 

Miss  Morgan,  Miss  Bryson,  Miss  Bann  and  Miss 
Ross,  Matrons  under  the  Metropolitan  Asylums 
Board,  were  present  ;  Miss  A.  C.  Gibson  and  Miss 
Constance  Todd,  past  and  present  Poor  Law 
Matrons  ;  and  Miss  Lord,  Matron  of  Banstead 
Asylum  ;  Miss  Macintyre  came  from  Wigan,  Miss 
Jolley  from  Liverpool,  Miss  Barclay  and  Miss 
Melville,  State  Registered  Nurses  in  New  Zealand, 
were  there  ;  Mrs.  Maxwell  St.  John,  wearing  the 
Roi,'al  Red  Cross,  Miss  Warriner,  the  Greek  Red 
Cross,  Miss  Rowell,  the  South  .African  War  medals. 
Mile.  Danviray,  specially  delegated  by, the  Nursing 
School  of  the  Assistance  Publique  at  Paris,  JVIHes. 
Revnes,  Pouguet,  Avinain  and  Lance,  pupils  of 
the  School,  and  many  ladies  of  note  in  the  nursing 
world,  covers  being  laid  for  ninetj'. 

Unfortunately,  Miss  Haughton,  Matron  of  Guy's 
Hospital,  was  unable  to  be  present  owing  to  her 
absence  from  town,  a  sudden  bereavement  pre- 
\'ented  Miss  Barton,  President  of  the  Chelsea 
Infirmary  Nurses'  League  from  attending,  and  Miss 
Villiers  and  Miss  Carson-Rae  were  also  prevented 
from  attending  at  the  last  moment.  Most  cordial 
letters  were  sent  by  many  unable  to  be  present. 

Dinner  was  served  in  the  Victoria  Hall,  while 
Professor  C.  Candia's  orchestra  provided  a  musical 
programme,    which   was   thoroughly   appreciated. 


December  21,  1912      Zbc  BdttslD  3ournal  of  "n-lurslnQ. 


493 


and    the    excellent    menu    received    nuuli    com- 
mendation. 

After  the  toast  of  "  The  King  "  had  been  duly 
honoured,    the    chairman,    before    proposing    the 
toast  of  the   evening,   read   the   following   letters 
from  Sister  Agnes  Karll,  President  of  the  German 
Nurses'  Association,  and    Miss  L.  L.  Dock,  secre- 
tary of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses  : — 
Sister  Agnes  Karll  wrote: — • 
"  May  I  ask  you  to  give  expression  to  my  deep 
feeling  of  thankfulness  to  the  Guest  of  Honour  of 
your  dinner  of  the  14th  of  December  in  the  Hotel 
Cecil  ?     I   should    have   been   very   happy   to   be 
with  you  on  this  splendid  occasion  to  myself  tell 
about  our  feelings  for  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick.     1 
for   one   do   fully   realise   what   these   twenty-five 
years  of  work  of  hers  liave  meant  to  our  profession 
the    whole    world    over.     Most    of    our    German 
Nurses  do  not  at  all  realise  what  our  work  means 
for  public  life  ;    they  just  think  of  the  work  they 
do  now,  it  may  be  in  hospital,  district  or  private 
nursing.     They  may  do  their  best,  but  their  eyes 
are  not  opened  to  the  far  greater  duties  that  lie 
behind  the  daily  work  for  all  nurses.     I  think  I 
have    felt    them    instinctively   alwavs,    but    when 
1  see  them  quite  clear  now,  and  fight  for  them  day 
by  day  and  try  to  instil  them  into  my  German  fellow- 
nurses,  I  have  to  thank  nobody  more  for  it  than 
Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick.     Every  time  I  have  seen 
her  since  1 00  .fit  has  meant  a  great  step  forward  for 
me  in  the  understanding  of  our  duties  in  public 
life  and  the  furthering  of  our  profession.     I   am 
always  sorry  that  I  do  not  know  your  language 
better,  to  express  all  I  feel  as  to  how  much  German 
nurses  have  to  thank  your  undaunted  battle  for 
the  welfare  of  nursing  and  nurses.     The  British 
Journal  of  Nursing  has  always  given  to  me  new 
inspiration  for  my  own  hard  and  often  hopeless 
battle  ;   and  perhaps  I  might  ha\c  lost  my  courage 
without   knowing   what   an   immense   amount   of 
work  has  been  done  by  so  many  of  you  British 
nurses,  most  of  all  by  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  to 
secure  our  position  in  public  life.  ' 

"  And  so  I  try  to  lead  the  many  hundreds  of 
German  nurses,  who  stand  behind  me,  tl.e  same 
way,  as  best  I  can,  which  she  led  you.  I  send  my 
heartiest  congratulations  to  your  brave  champion 
and  all  British  nurses,  who  stand  by  her.  May 
her  splendid  genius  lead  you  for  at  least  twenty- 
five  years  more  ;  you'll  need  it  all  the  time,  as  our 
aims  will  not  easily  be  gained  in  any  country. 

"  With  all  my  heart  I  am  with  you  on  the  14th 
of  December. 

Sister  Agnes  Karll, 
President  of  the  German  Nurses'  Association. 
Hon.  President  International  Council  of  Nurses. 
Hon.  Member  Matrons'  Council  of  Great  Britain 

and  Ireland. 
Hon.   Member  National   Council   of  Nurses    of 

Great  Britain  and  Ireland." 
Miss  L.  L.  Dock  wrote : — 

"  Congratulations  on  twenty-five  years'  resolute 
antagonism  to  the  powers  that  prey  upon  women 
and  the  opponents  of  women's  professional  freedom. 


.May  you  have  twenty-five  years  of  enjoyment 
of  victory  for  the  cause  of  political,  economic,  and 
professional  enfranchisement." 

L.  L.  Dock. 
The   following   telegrams  were  also  read. 
From  Miss  Lanschot  Hubrecht,  President  Dutch 
Nurses'  Association  (Nosokomos)  : 

Nosokomos  offers  sincere  homa.ge  to  Mrs. 
Bedford  Fenwick." 

From  Miss  Janet  Stewart : — 

"  Wish  you  much  joy  and  long-continued 
success." 

The  Toast  of  the  Evening, 
Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  Guest  of  Honour. 
The   Chairman,  who  on   rising  to  propose   the 
toast  of  the  evening  was  warmly  applauded,  said  : 
We  have  come  together  to  do  honour  to  our 
guest,   Mrs.   Bedford   Fenwick,   and  to  show  her, 
by  our  presence  here,  how  thoroughly  we  recognise, 
value,  and  appreciate  her  unceasing  efforts  during 
the  past  twenty-five  years  to  organise  the  nursing 
profession  on  a  firm  and  united  basis,  the  aim  and 
outcome  of  such  organisation  to  be  the  improve- 
ment and  perfecting  of  the  standard  of  nursing 
organisation  and  nursing  efficiency." 

Referring  to  Mrs.  Fenwick's  work  as  Matron  of 
St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital,  the  Chairman  con- 
tinued: "  Not  one  of  her  probationers  here  can 
ever  forget  the  magnificent  work  accomplished 
during  those  six  years  of  Matronsliip.  She  did  not 
spare  us,  but  neither  did  she  spare  herself." 

Before  speaking  of  her  public  work,  Mrs.  Spencer 
.said  :  "In  the  fascinating  personality  of  our  guest 
we  have  a  very  notable  and  convincing  example 
of  the  way  in  which  public  life  and  work  may  be 
combined  with  all  that  makes  for  perfection  in 
the  horrte.  A  charming  and  entertaining  hostess 
she  is  particularly  happy  when  surrounded  by 
her  friends  at  some  genial  lunch  or  afternoon  tea- 
party.  Then  we  admire  her  lovely  collection  of 
china,  the  many  quaint  little  pictures  in  needle- 
work, and  the  altogether  entrancing  specimens  of 
anti(]uc  furniture,  all  of  which  have  been  collected 
and  arranged  with  rare  judgment  and  ■  expert 
knowledge. 

Mrs.  Fenwick's  interests  outside  her  home 
embrace  all  the  immense  social  (picstions  of  the 
day,  and  particularly  those  which  in  any  way 
concern  or  affect  women,  but  the  work  nearest 
her  heart  is,  and  always  has  been,  the  advance- 
ment of  the  many  nursing  organizations  she  has 
founded. 

"  Before  leaving  the  subject  of  home,  let  us 
congratulate  Mrs.  Fenwick  upon  having  a  son  who, 
after  a  distinguished  career  at  Eton  and  Oxford, 
is  now  a  practising  barrister  on  the  Northern 
Circuit.  He  has  inherited  his  mother's  gifts  of 
pen  and  speech,  and  is  already  well-known  as  a 
brilliant  political  orator." 

After  referring  to  Mrs.  Fenwick's  gifts  as  a 
writer  and  journalist,  the  Chairman,  speaking  of 
her  work  as  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of 
Nursing,  continued  :  "  Words  almost  fail,  if  we 


49 « 


Z\K  Britisb  3oiunal  of  Burslnc*.     Dcccwbcr 


1912 


even  attempt  to  realize  the  stupendous  amount 
of  work  that  is  put  into  it  week  by  week.  I  have 
taken  it  from  its  earliest  days  and  to  me  it  is  ever 
fresh  and  ever  welcome.  Never  mind  what  else 
I  may  ha\c  on  hand  at  the  time,  as  soon  as  it 
arrives  on  Thursday  I  put  all  aside  and  read  my 
journal  from  beginning  to  end." 

Referring 
to  the  organ- 
izations in- 
itiated  or 
founded  by 
Mrs.Fenwick, 
and  her  work 
to  obtain 
State  Regis- 
tration of 
nurses  after 
tliree  years' 
training  and 
a  central  ex- 
amination, 
the  Chairman 
said  :  "  The 
first  principle 
of  these 
Societies  is 
self  -  govern- 
ment —  gov- 
ernment by 
nurses  for 
nurses,  and 
their  success 
proves  the 
ability  of 
women  to 
manage  their 
own  affairs. 

"  The  So- 
ciety for  the 
State  Regis- 
t  r  a  t  i  o  n  of 
Trained 
Nurses,  as 
its  name 
indicates,  is 
an  organiza- 
t  i  o  n  whose 
special  func- 
tion it  is  to 
promote  and 
bring  about 
recognition 
and  protec- 
tion for  the 
trained  nurse 
by  the  State, 

and  we  may  be  quite  sure  that  it  will  continue 
to  exist  and  work  until  that  end  is  accomplished." 
After  giving  a  brief  histo^^'  of  the  foundation  of 
the  International  Council  of  Nurses  and  referring 
to  her  many  other  activities,  Mrs.  Spencer  con- 
cluded :  "  I  am  now  going  to  ask  you  to  do  honour 
to  our  guest,  ]\Irs.  Bedford  Fenwick.  For  twenty- 
five  years  she  ha.s  given  of  her  best  to  the  public 


^ 


.MRS.     BEDFORll     FENWICK. 


ser\ice.  She  has  always  Ijecn  strenuous  and 
stimulating,  and  we  now  want  to  show  by  the 
warmth  of  our  toast  how  grateful  we  are  to  her 
for  the  stand  she  has  consistently  made  all  these 
years  for  professional  progress  and  professional 
unitv'.  Some  of  us  here  to-night  may  be  lucky 
enough  to  possess  one  talciit,  or  at  most,  two,  but 

I  think  we 
may  sav  that 
to  ':\Irs.'  Bed- 
ford Fenwick 
all  the  talents 
have  been 
given,  and 
that  they 
ha\-e  been 
cultivated 
and  used  to 
their  utter- 
most for 
the  common 
good 

"  Here  we 
ha\e  before 
us  no  life  of 
ease  and 
pleasure,  but 
one  of  in- 
cessant work 
and  self- 
denial,  in- 
spired  by 
high  aims 
a  n  d  •  1  o  f  t  y 
purpose, 
These  are  the 
qualities  we 
recognize  in 
Mrs.  Bedford 
F  e  n  w  i  ck — 
our  Guest  of 
Honour  —  to 
whose  health, 
long  life  and 
happiness  I 
now  ask  you 
to  drink." 

Miss  M. 
Heather- 
Bigg,  sup- 
porting .  the 
toast,  said : 
"  It  is  un- 
necessary for 
me  to  add 
more  than 
a  few  words 
to  tli.e  eloquent  tribute  paid  from  the  chair  to 
our  Guest  of  Honour  ;  or  to  enlarge  on  the 
many  qualities  she  possesses,  which  have  won  for 
her  the  regard  of  the  profession  to  which  she  has 
rendered  such  conspicuous  service. 

"  But  I  should  like  to  emphasise  two  qualities, 
which  always  commend  their  possessor  to  British 
men  and  women. 


December 


21,   1912 


Cl)c  BiitiC'b  3oiunal  of  l-liiiyino. 


495 


■'  These  arc  the  two  :  Pluck  and  Endurance. 
"  It  is  easy  to  be  enthusiastic,  and  to  work  hard 
for  a  cause  lor  a  time— but  to  go  steadily  on  for 
a  quarter-of-a-century,  and  to  have  brought  a 
movement  to  the  position  in  which  that  for  tlie 
State  Registration  of  Nurses  is  found  to-day. 
and  with  which  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick's 
name  must  ever  be  associated,  demands  a  tenacity 
of  purpose  of  no  common  degree. 

"  The  nursing  profession  is  fortunate  indeed  to 
include  in  its  ranks  so  brilliant  and  public-spirited 
a  member,  and  who  has  both  the  time  and  ability 
to  devote  to  the  interests  of  the  profession. 

"  Turning  away  from  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  as 
a  public  benefactor,  I  would  desire  to  express  my 
admiration  for  her  as  a  friend  of  many  years' 
standing,  and  to  thank  her  for  very  many  acts  of 
kindness  received  at  her  hands. 

"It  is  with  great  pleasure  I  support  the  toast 
proposed  from  the  chair  :  '  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  : 
the  Guest  of  Honour.'  " 

Mile.  Danviray  (Delegate  from  the  SalpStriSre 
Nursing  School  of  the  Assistance  Publique  of 
Paris),  addres,sing  the  Guest  of  Honour 
directly,  said  :  "  Allow  me,  dear  Mrs.  Bedford 
Fenwick,  in  the  name  of  our  School,  to  add  our 
respectful  homage  to  that  of  the  English  Nurses. 
We  have  a  most  profound  admiration  for  the  work 
to  which  you  have  de\oted  the  last  twent^'-five 
years,  and  our  School,  although  of  recent  birth, 
most  ardently  desires  to  draw  ever  closer  the  bonds 
which  unite  it  to  the  English  nurses  ;  and  we  are 
deeply  grateful  for  this  opportunity-  of  expressing 
our  sentiments." 

The  toast  was  then  honoured  with  great  enthu- 
siasm. 

The  Thanks  of  Nurses  to  Dr.  Fenavick. 
The  Chairman  then  said  she  was  going  to  propose 
a  toast  of  her  own  which  wjis  not  on  the  programme. 
In  the  early  days  of  nursing  organisation.  Dr. 
Bedford  Fenwick,  when  advice  and  help  were 
necessary-,  had  alwavs  been  readv  with  wise 
counsel  and  sound  advice  ;  and  since  nurses  had 
learnt  to  manage  their  own  affairs,  he  had  left  thsm 
to  do  .so.  She  proposed  a  hearty  vote  of  thanks 
to  Dr.  Fenwick  for  his  kindness  and  help  in  the 
past,  and  hoped  that  Mrs.  Fenwick  would  convev 
to  him  the  gratitude  of  those  present. 
The  toast  was  cordially  received. 

Success  to  the  State  Registration  Movement. 
Miss  E.  M.  Musson.  President  of  the  General 
Hospital,  Birmingham,  Nurses'  League,  who 
proposed  the  next  toast,  "  Success  to  the  State 
Registration  ^lovemcnt,"  said  :  "  It  is  not 
necessary  to  couple  the  name  of  Mrs.  Bedford 
Fenwick  with  this  toast,  for  it  will  alwavs  be 
inseparably  associated  with  the  registration 
movement.  For  twenty-five  years  she  has  worked 
for  the  benefit  and  organisation  of  the  nursing 
profession  through  State  Registration,  and 
although  at  times  faced  by  disappointment,,  she 
has  always  returned  full  of  \-igour  and  life  to  the 
work  which  we  hope  and  beheve  will  ultimately 
be  cro%vned  with  success.     We  admire  her  pluck 


and  her  perse \erance,  and  the  way  in  wliich  she 
has  fought  for  reform  and  kept  the  matter  before 
the  public.  Most  of  us  who  are  engaged  in  hospital 
work  are  too  busy  to  take  a  ^■cry  active  share  in 
her  labours,  and  we  owe  her  an  enormous  debt  of 
gratitude  for  devoting  her  time  and  energy-  to  this 
question." 

Miss  Musson  then  gave  some  details  of  the 
movement  for  State  Registration,  and  showed 
that  with  the  growth  of  exact  scientific  medical 
and  surgical  treatment,  scientific  nursing  is  needed 
to  assist  it.  When  an  attempt  was  made  to 
meet  the  want,  nurses  were  faced  by  conditions 
it  was  necessary  to  change.  There  is  no  minimum 
standard  of  training,  and  in  numbers  of  hospitals 
the  governors '  make  no  provision  for  teaching 
probationers,  who  work  for  a  .<mall  wage  on  the 
assumption  that  they  are  recei\ing  a  professional 
training,  and  who  are  only  saved  from  the  ranks 
of  sweated  labour  by  the  devotion  with  which  their 
services  are  rendered  to  the  sick.  Nurses  also 
sufier  from  the  untrained  and  fraudulent. 

Concluding,  Miss  Musson  said  :  "  Recognising 
the  necessity  for  organisation,  we  are  here  to  do 
honour  to  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick.  We  admire  her 
for  her  great  courage  and  perseverance,  and  we 
assure  her  of  our  confidence  and  admiration." 

The  toast  was  honoured  with  much  acclamation. 

The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 
Mrs.  Baillie  Reynolds,  President  of  the  Societ>- 
of  Women  Joumalbts,  proposing  the  toast  of 
The  British  Jour.val  of  Nursing,  said  :  "  I  am 
delighted  to  liave  the  opportunity  to  be  here  on 
an  occasion  which  owes  its  inception  to  the 
enthusiasm  of  women  for  a  great  cause,  and  to 
their  desire  to  convey  to  the  woman  representing 
that  cause  the  admiration  which  they  feel.  I  am 
here  not  only  as  representing  the  Society  of  Women 
Journalists,  but  also  in  \-irtue  of  a  personal 
friendship,  and  as  a  member  of  the  staff  of  the 
Journal  for  more  than  ten  years.  I  think  it  ver\- 
kind  of  those  who  have  organised  this  dinner  to 
invite  me  to  sp)eak.  though  people  have  different 
ideas  of  kindness,  and  the  other  day  I  heard  a 
man  say  that  to  be  in\-ited  to  make  an  after- 
dinner  speech  exhibited  kindness  similar  to  that  of 
the  boy  scout  who  remembering  that  he  had  not 
don:;  his  dailj'  good  deed,  jumped  out  of  bed  and 
gave  the  canarv'  to  the  cat. 

"  I  should  like  to  say  that  the  main  cause  of  my 
admiration  for  the  guest  of  honour  is  that  she 
belongs  to  the  pioneers,  and  usually  the  pioneers 
do  the  work  and  get  the  curses,  and  then  someone 
else  steps  in  and  gets  all  the  credit.  For 
nineteen  years  Mrs.  Fenwick,  who  with  wise 
foresight  acquired  the  Xursing  Record,  now  The 
British  Journal  of  Nursing,  in  1S03,  has  acted 
as  its  Hon.  Editor.  We  all  see  part  of  the  result, 
but  the  present  generation  cannot  know  the  full 
aim  and  end  of  the  Journal  owned,  edited, 
and  controlled  by  nurses  which  is  now  going 
stronger  than  ever." 

The  toast  was  then  honoured,  while  those  near 
the  Editor  clinked  glasses  with  her. 


496 


CTbc  35ritisb  3ouvnal  of  TRursino-     December 


21,    igi2 


The   International   Council   of   Nurses. 

:\Irs.  Lancelot  Andrews,  proposing  the  toast 
o£  the  International  Council  of  Nurses,  said  : 
"  I  agree  with  Mrs.  Baillie  Reynolds  in  being 
proud  of  the  honour  of  proposing  a  toast.  I  owe 
it,  I  think,  to  the  honour  I  have  in  common  with 
others  here,  of  having  been  Mrs.  Fenwick's 
probationer  at  St.  Bartholomew's.  Those  who 
saw  her  leave  the  hospital  in  1887,  to  fulfil 
woman's  highest  destiny,* were  dimly  conscious 
that  20,  Upper  Wimpole  Street  would  not  hold 
her.  In  those  early  days  I  used  to  wonder  if  I 
worked  very  hard  whether  I  should  ever  know^ 
as  much  as  :\Irs.  Fenwick.  I  have  long  ceased 
to  wonder.  There  is,  however,  one  w^ord  in  the 
English  language  of  which  she  has  no  knowledge, 
that  word  is  '  limitation.' 

"  Mrs.  Spencer  has  reminded  us  of  the  founda- 
tion of  the  International  Council  of  Nurses,  so 
I  need  not  enlarge  upon  that  ;  but  I  think  that 
the  child  Mrs.  Fenwick  has  given  to  the  world 
in  this  International  Council  has  outstripped  even 
her  plan  for  it.  To  the  trained  nurses  of  the 
world  ^orrow%  sickness,  and  death  are  stern 
realities  with  which  they  are  trained  to  deal,  and 
their  advent  in  the  home  brings  comfort,  peace 
and  rest.  Through  the  larger  influences  of  the 
International  Council  they  arc  a  factor  making  for 
the  peace  of  the  world. 

"  There  arc  some  whom  we  would  gladly  have 
with  us  to-night  who  have  passed  to  the  goodly 
company  beyond,  but  they  are  with  us  in  a 
wider  spirit.  With  the  toast  of  the  International 
Council  of  Nurses  1  couple  the  name  of  its 
founder  and  all  pioneers. 

The  Reply  by  the  CiuEST  of  Honour. 

Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick,  who,  on  rising  to  speak, 
received  round  after  round  of  applause,  said  : 
'■  :\Iadam  Chairman,  dear  friend  and  charming 
hostess,  and  all  others  here  to-night.  Wlien 
I  accepted  the  most  gracious  invitation  to  be 
the  guest  to-night  of  certain  members  of  the 
nursing  profession,  I  accepted  on  the  understanding 
that  the  gathering  would  be  friendly  and  informal, 
and  hardly  realised  that  I  should  listen,  and  be 
invited  to  reply,   to  so  many  beautiful  speeches. 

"  I  offer  you  my  very  sincere  thanks  for  the 
kind  thought  which  prompted  this  Dinner,  and 
the  kind  expressions  of  opinion  which  we  have 
heard  this  evening.  To  repudiate  all  these  would 
be  to  doubt  the  sincerity  of  my  very  best  friends, 
and  to  fail  in  gratitude  to  those  concomitant 
forces  of  which  we  know  so  little,  which  have  com- 
bined in  the  past  to  bestow  upon  me  gifts  for 
which  I  am  sincerely  grateful.  You  will  not, 
therefore,  think  me  lacking  in  modesty  if  I  accept 
your  kind  words  in  the  spirit  in  which  they  are 
offered.  Especially  am  I  grateful  to  the  powers 
which  gave  me  the  physical  vitality  which  I  have 
enjoyed,  and  have  been  able  to  place  at  the 
disposal  of  my  fellow-creatures.  I  am  grateful 
to  have  been  able  to  live  the  strenuous  life, 
to    have    possessed    the    discrimination   enabling 


me  to  estimate  the  true  values  of  life,  to  cast 
aside  the  baubles  which  count  for  nothing,  and 
to  realise  that  '  life  is  divine  when  duty  is  a  joy.' 
I  have  to  thank  Mrs.  Spencer  for  the  kind  and 
gracious  way  in  which  she  has  placed  my  public 
work  before  you ;  Miss  Heather-Bigg,  Mile. 
Danviray,  Miss  Musson,  Mrs.  Baillie  Reynolds 
and  Mrs.  Andrews  for  the  happy  way  in  which 
they  have  spoken  to  the  various  toasts.  My 
public  work  for  the  nursing  profession  has  been 
my  life,  and  manj-  persons  might  well  envy  me 
my  opportunities.  Tlie  true  nurse  realises  that 
the  care  of  the  sick  is  the  happiest  vocation  in 
life,  as  it  gives  scope  both  to  her  intelligence  and 
her  emotions. 

The  movement  for  the  State  registration  of 
trained  nurses,  referred  to  by  Miss  Musson,  and 
for  which  the  nursing  profession  has  been  pleading 
for  twenty-five  years,  is  one  of  far-reaching  signifi- 
cance. It  is  not  nierely  the  placing  of  names  and 
qualifications  in  a  book,  but  the  recognition  by 
State  authority,  of  the  invaluable  work  of  the 
trained  nurse  for  the  community  in  connection 
with  the  prevention  of  disease,  and  the  main- 
tenance of  the  standard  of   national  health. 

"  Your  work  is  indispensable  to  the  stability  of 
the  State,  therefore  it  is  the  duty  of  the  State  to 
recognise  its  value  and  to  define  a  progressive 
standard  for  your  professional  education,  and  to 
protect  your  econoniic  position  as  skilled  workers. 
There  is  ample  evidence  before  us  that  deprecia- 
tion and  injury  to  the  profession  of  nursing,  and 
to  the  status  of  the  trained  nurse,  are  in  active 
operation,  owing  to  such  lack  of  protection,  in  your 
exclusion  from  direct  representation  under  the 
Insurance  Act,  and  by  the  British  Red  Cross  Com- 
mittee from  the  units  despatched  to  care  for  the 
sick  and  wounded  in  the  Near  East. 

"  I  exceedingly  appreciate  the  toast  by  Mrs. 
Baillie  Reynolds,  of  The  British  Jourx.\l  of 
Nursing.  I  consider  that  an  independent  pro- 
fessional organ  in  the  Press  is  the  greatest  asset 
which  any  profession  can  possess.  The  day  has 
passed  when  nursing  can  be  considered  either  as 
an  ■  expression  of  reli.gious  feeling  or  as  degraded 
drudgery.  Skilled  nursing  has  now  taken  its 
place  as  a  great  economic  factor  in  the  social 
welfare  of  the  people,  and  this  being  so  its 
economic  standard  must  be  carefully  protected. 
In  these  hustling  days  the  only  way,  in  which 
corporate  opinion  can  be  expressed  is  through 
the  Press.  It  is  therefore  urgently  necessary  that 
each  class  shall  have  this  power  of  expression 
uninfluenced  by  bribery  and  corruption,  and  as 
business  women  we  can  no  longer  delude  ourselves 
that  keen  financiers  run  professional  organs  for 
our  benefit  irrespecti\-e  of  profit.  Quite  the 
reverse.  To  prevent  the  true  interests  of  the 
workers  being  sacrificed  and  their  work  being 
exploited,  it  has  been  proved  by  nurses  all  over 
the  world  that  they  must  possess  an  official 
organ  prepared  to  support  principle  as  opposed 
to  expediency,  and  it  is  by  the  possession  of  such 
power  alone    that  we   can  maintain   that  liberty 


December  21,    19,2         CDC   BVlttSl)   301111131   Ot  IHUl-^inQ. 


497 


of  conscience  without  which  it  is  impossible 
to  perform  our  public  dut>-  and  to  fulfil  our 
honourable  contract  with  the  sick. 

"It  is  for  these  reasons  that  the  appreciation 
expressed  for  the  work  of  The  British  Journal 
OF  XuRSixG  is  specially  gratifvnng  to  me. 

"  During  recent  years  in  which  women  have 
been  fighting  valiantly  for  the  right  to  be 
self-respecting,  honourable  citizens,  the  progress  of 
the  International  Council  of  Nurses  has  given  me 
unqualified  satisfaction.  Inspired  by  great  enthu- 
siasm, cordiality,  and  unity,  it  has  more  than  ful- 
filled the  aspirations  of  those  who  founded  it. 

"  The  strife  in  the  nursing  profession  in  this 
countrj-,  fomented  by  the  reactionary-  spirit  of 
inordinate  love  of  power  over  women,  intolerance 
and  greed,  against  which  we  ha\-e  striven,  has 
been  taken  to  heart  by  our  colleagues  all  over  the 
world. 

"  As  a  relaxation  from  the  long-sustained  conflict 
at  home,  it  appealed  to  me  to  seek  the  sympathy 
and  co-operation  of  the  nurses  of  the  world,  so 
that  in  peace,  harmony  and  concord  we  might 
together  build  up  such  a  powerful  organisation 
that  no  evil  influence  could  afiect  it.  The  extra- 
ordinary response  to  this  appeal  has  been  amply 
demonstrated  by  the  magnii&cent  meetings  of  the 
nurses  of  the  world  in  Buffalo,  Berhn,  Paris. 
London,  and  Cologne,  where  the  unity  of  spirit  has 
proved  tliat  the  future  of  the  Council  is  safe  in  the 
keeping  of  the  splendid  groups  of  women,  who  are 
successfully  moulding  the  nursing  profession,  all 
inspired  by  the  same  high  professional  ideals 
through  which  the  Council  sprang  into  being. 

"  These  ideals  ha\e  no  narrow  basis  ;  we  women 
claim,  in  the  jjerformance  of  our  pubUc  dut>-,  the 
liberties  and  rights  of  those  who  ser\-e  the  human 
Empire.  We  have  no  need,  therefore,  to  be  dis- 
couraged. Therefore,  let  each  one  of  us  leave  this 
hall  to-night  inspired  with  a  sense  of  public  and 
professional  responsibility-,  determined  to  demand 
recognition  for  the  splendid  efforts  which  the 
nurses  of  this  country  are  devoting  to  the 
happiness  of  mankind,  because  such  recognition 
will  enable  them  to  do  their  work  in  the  best 
possible  way. 

"  ■  Go  to  your  work  and  be  strong,  halting  not  in 
your  ways. 

Baulking  the  end  half-won  for  an  instant  dole  of 
praise  ; 

Stand  to  your  work  and  be  wise,  certain  of  sword 
and  of  pen, 

Wlio  are  neither  children  nor  gods,  but  men  in  a 
world  of  men.'  " 

The  Dominant  Note. 
The  dominant  note  of  the.es-ening  was  un- 
questionably the  deep  feeling  of  affection  and 
admiration  for  the  woman  whom  the  Dinner  was 
designed  to  honour.  It  was  a  spontaneous 
recognition  of  which  the  Guest  of  Honour  might 
justly  be  proud. 

Margaret  Breay. 


FEVER  NURSES'  ASSOCIATION. 

The  following-  nurses,  having  successfully 
passed  the  October  examination,  were  granted 
the  "  Certificate  of  Fever  Training  issued  by  the 
.Association  "  : — 

Fever  Hospital,  PUiistow,  E. — Grace  Emily 
Broughton,  Elizabeth  Mary  Hughes,  Grace 
Head,  and  Nancy  O'Donoghuc. 

City  Hospital,  Lodge  Moor,  Sheffield. — Alice 
Mabel  Adams,  Frances  Eliza  Fry,  Mary 
Galavan,  and  Susan  Elizabeth  Longmate. 

Isolation  Hospital,  Willesden.  —  Flossie 
Llewellyn,  Elsie  Marie  Baldwin,  and  .Annie 
Evans. 

Ilford  Isolation  Hospital.  (luuhi-eU  Ifr.iih. 
Essex. — Winifred  Beale. 


THE     CHRISTMAS     ANQEL. 

By  Jessie  Cargill  Begg. 

"  No,  I  don't  believe  in  Christmas  angels — 
never  did,"  remarked  Mrs.  Potts  to  the  ward 
in  general.  She  gave  one  of  her  characteristic 
jolly  laughs. 

"  I've  never  seed  one  myself,"  said  the 
little  woman  in  the  next  bed. 

"  I'd  call  up  the  'ouse  surgeon  if  I  did," 
exclaimed  Mrs.  Potts  with  mock  ferocity. 

The  occupants  of  the  ward  tittered. 

Mrs.  Potts's  comical  face,  with  her  upturned 
nose  and  beady  eyes,  was  sufficient  to  provoke 
a  smile. 

"I'd  'ave  up  the  'ole  staff!"  shouted 
another  woman. 

"  I've  seed  plenty  of  'em  on  cards,"  said 
Mrs.  Potts  solemnly,  "  they  was  only  in  a 
nightgown.  If  I  could  dress  as  cheap  as  an 
angel  I  wouldn't  be  'ere  now,  I  can  tell  you. 
I'd  be  lyin'  on  a  frilled  piller  with  an  iderydown 
spread  over  me." 

"That  wouldn't  'clp  you  to  get  better," 
retorted  number  six. 

"  No,  but  it's  a  leg  up;  takin'  my  milk  out 
of  a  feeder  with  a  broken  spout  'as  threw  me 
back  lots."     She  winked  knowingly. 

There  w-as  an  explosion  of  mirth  at  this, 
which  Mrs.  Potts  quite  anticipated.  She  knew 
when  she  had  rhade  a  brilliant  sally. 

"  To  go  back  to  these  angels,"  she  remarked 
with  a  long-drawn  sigh,  "  accordin'  to  Xurse 
ilay  the  'ole  ward  will  be  alive  with  'em  to- 
night being  Christmas  Eve,  busy  puttin'  " 

"  Nice  thoughts  into  people's  heads,"  said 
Nurse  May,  who  seemed  to  spring  up  from 
nowhere. 


498 


Cbe  British  3ournal  of  Burslna      December  21,  1912 


"•Lor",  Nurse!  "  exclaimud  Mrs.  Polls  vvilli 
mock  ft'ar,  "  you  fair  starlled  me — \ou're  jusl 
like  spring-'eclcd  Jack." 

' '  The  angels  make  you  think  only  of  nice 
things,"  whispered  Nurse  May.  Mrs.  Potts 
gave  a  noisy  laugh.  "  Well,  I  could  do  with 
something  more  than  thoughts  myself.  To  my 
mind  there's  a  deal  too  much  thinkin'  as  it  is." 

"  And  sometimes,"  persisted  Nurse  May, 
"  when  you  have  wantecf  something  very  badly, 
a  Christmas  angel  has  brought  it." 

"  'Ow  d'ye  know?  "  Mrs.  Potts's  face  was 
almost  animated. 

Nurse  May  smiled  and  looked  mysterious. 
"  Because  they  always  leave  something  behind 
to  show  they  have  paid  you  a  visit." 

"  Well,  I  never  !  "  exclaimed  Mr^.  Polls, 
and  relapsed  into  silence. 

She  w-as  the  first  to  wake  on  Christmas 
morning.  She  lay  and  listened  to  a  variety  of 
snores « in  every  direction.  The  dawn  was 
creeping  in  at  the  window.  She  was  in  a  world 
of  flowers  and  holly  and  mistletoe.  Nurse  May 
was  lighting  all  the  fairy  lights  on  the  doctor's 
table. 

The  carol  singers  must  have  started  on  their 
round  of  the  wards.  Mrs.  Potts  put  her  hand 
out  on  the  counterpane  and  touched  something 
soft.  She  picked  it  up  with  a  wondering 
expression  on  her  face.     It  was  a  large  feather. 

"  Nurse,"  she  called  excitedly,  "  there's  one 
bin  sittin'  on  my  bed  !  " 

Nurse  May  came  over  to  her  at  once.  "  One 
what?  "  she  asked. 

"One  of  them  Christmas  angels,  and  it's 
left  a  feather  be'ind." 

"  So  it  has,"  remarked  Nurse  May  without  a 
smile. 

"  Oh  !  "  said  Mrs.  Potts,  with  a  stifled 
scream,  "  if  there  ain't  a  parcel  under  my  piller 
— lordy  !    I'm  struck  all  of  an  'cap  !  " 

For  the  parcel  contained  a  knitted  cross- 
over in  dark  blue  wool. 

"  That  settles  it,"  remarked  Mrs.  Potts  with 
visible  excitement.  "  Nobody  but  an  angel 
would  a'  known  I  wanted  that  crossover.  I've 
stood  outside  the  knitted  shop  in  Totten'am 
Court  Road  over  an'  over  again,  an'  never  'ad 
enough  money  to  buy  it." 

Night  Sister  came  stealing  in  just  at  thai 
moment  to  learn  the  reason  of  Mrs.  Potls's 
loquacity. 

Mrs.  Potts  beamed  upon  her.  She  was  red 
in  the  face,  and  the  tears  were  not  far  off. 

"  Sister,"  she  said  tremulously,  "  'ere's  an 
angel  belongin'  to  a  feather  !  "  and  she  won- 
dered why  Sister  laughed. 


"A  PRECIOUS  HISTORICAL  LEAF." 

Miss  Dock  quotes  in  her  department  of  the 
American  Journal  of  Nursing  from  the  last 
Red  Cross  Society  Report  of  Japan  (igii),  a 
most  impressive  account  of  a  memorial  service 
held  in  Tokyo  on  Miss  Nightingale's  death, 
"  which  we  here  reprint  as  a  precious  historical 
leaf  :— 

"  A     SHINTO     .ME.MORI  \L     SERVICE     FfJR     THE     LATE 
MISS  XIGHTINGALE. 

"  When  we  were  informed  of  the  death, 
on  August  13th,  1910,  of  Miss  Florence 
Nightingale,  who  was  revered  and  loved  from 
afar  by  our  nurses  as  the  model  worker  of  their 
profession,  she  was  greatly  mourned.  The 
Central  Hospital  officers  of  our  society  decided 
to  have  a  religious  service  performed  for  the 
departed  according  to  the  ancient  Shinto 
rituals.  It  took  place  on  September  27th,  in 
one  of  the  class  rooms  for  the  student  nurses, 
where  her  portrait  was  hung  over  the  altar. 
Among  those  present  were  Viscount  Hanabusa, 
vice-president  of  the  society ;  Barons  Ishiguro 
and  Matsudaira,  councillors  of  the  hospital ; 
Marchioness  Nabcshima,  president  of  the 
Ladies'  Voluntary  Nursing  Association ; 
Marchioness  Matsukata,  honorary  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Association ;  the  officers  of 
the  same  and  the  official  staff,  and  some 
350  nurses  belonging  to  the  society. 
Director  Surgeon-General  Hirai  delivered  an 
opening  speech  in  which  he  explained  the 
reason  of  this  memorial  service.  Baron 
Ishiguro  then  made  a  eulogistic  address  on  the 
late  Miss  Nightingale.  The  ceremony  proper 
followed,  according  to  the  Shinto  ritual.  The 
spirit  of  the  deceased  was  invoked,  the  offer- 
ings were  made,  the  liturgy  was  read.  When 
this  was  over,  Superintendent  Hagiwara, 
representing  the  nurses,  read  a  paper  before  the 
spirit,  when  all  assembled  bowed  with  deep 
reverence. 

"  The  Shinto  priest  concluded  the  ceremony 
by  performing  what  is  known  as  thfe  ritual  of 
the  farewell  to  the  departing  spirit.  The 
emotion  with  which  the  service  was  conducted 
by  her  admirers  in  the  Far  East  must  surely 
have  reached  her,  who  is  now  enjoying  life 
eternal  in  another  world.  A  similar  memorial 
service  for  Miss  Nightingale  was  performed 
at  the  Kvoto  Branch  of  the  Ladies'  Voluntary 
Nursing  Association,  on  September  3rd. 
Governor  Omori,  president  of  the  Kyoto 
Branch,  his  wife,  who  is  president  of  the 
Ladies'  Association,  the  official  staff,  members, 
and  student  nurses  were  present." 


December  21,    191 2 


Cbc  36iitii5i5  3oiii"nai  ot  iMiirsino 


499 


THE    TERRITORIAL    FORCE    NURSING 
SERVICE. 


CITY   AND   COUNTY   OF   LONDON. 

The  meeting  of  the  Grant!  Committee  was 
held  at  the  Mansion  House,  E.C.,  on  Thursday, 
December  12th,  when  the  members  were  most 
kindly  welcomed  by  the  new  Lady  Mayoress, 
Lady  Hurnett,  who  has  accepted  office  as 
Chairman  of  the  Committee,  and  who  ex- 
pressed the  hope  that  the  Territorial  Force 
Nursing  Service  would  continually  increase  its 
usefulness.  Lady  Dimsdale  was  re-elected  to 
the  position  of  Vice-Chairman,  and  Miss  M.  C. 
Goodhue  to  that  of  Hon.  Secretary — ladies  to 
whom  in  the  past  the  Committee  owe  much  for 
their  personal  interest  and  practical  work. 

The  following  ladies  were  elected  to  fill  the 
vacancies,  six  by  rotation  and  three  by  resigna- 
tion : — Miss  McCall  Anderson  (Matron,  St. 
George's  Hospital),  Lady  Barlow,  Lady  Bing- 
ham, Mrs.  Victor  Bonney  (cert.  St.  Bartholo- 
mew's Hospital),  Miss  Crosby,  Lady  Maud 
Hoare,  Miss  H.  L.  Pearse  (.Superintendent, 
School  Xurses,  London  County  Council),  Lady 
Perks,  and  Lady  Truscott. 

The  report,  which  was  adopted,  stated  that 
the  Committee  for  the  Supply  of  Hospital  Com- 
forts, of  which  the  Hon.  Secretary  is  the  Hon. 
Mrs.  Charles  Tufton,  had,  in  response  to  its 
appeal,  received  ;^ii  12s.  6d.  in  cash,  and 
25  garments. 

Four  matrons  of  the  general  hospitals  for 
London  have,  in  the  course  of  the  summer,  been 
called  out  for  training  in  the  military  hospitals. 
In  each  case  they  report  having  gained  valu- 
able information,  and  also  that  they  have  been 
received  with  the  greatest  kindness  by  tlii 
authorities  and  the  permanent  Xursing  .Staff  of 
these  hospitals. 

The  thanks  of  the  Committee  were  accorded 
to  the  former  Lady  Mayoress,  Miss  Crosby,  for 
her  services  in  connection  with  the  Territorial 
Force  Xursing  .Service  during  the  past  vear, 
and  especially  to  the  Lord  Mayor  and  herself 
for  their  kindness  in  entertaining  the  members 
both  of  the  Committee  and  the  Nursing  Staff  at 
the  Mansion  House. 

WELCOME     HELP. 

The  President  of  the  Society  for  Stale  Regis- 
tration of  Trained  Nurses  acknowledges  with 
thanks  the  following  donations  : — Miss  Janet 
Stewart,  ;^i  is.  ;  Miss  M.  Dempster,  los.  ; 
Miss  M.  Burr,  8s.  6d.  (instead  of  dinner  ticket). 
Miss  C.  Crichton  Stewart,  5s. 


SUCH    IS   WAR. 

The  daily  press  continues  to  give  harrowing 
accounts  of  the  terrible  plight  of  refugees  at  the 
seat  of  war.  The  condition  of  the  refugees  at 
Salonika,  over  40,000  in  number,  is  daily  be- 
coming worse.  Thousands  of  them  remain 
unsheltered,  and  are  suffering  severely  from  the 
inclement  weather.  Their  situation  is  appalling, 
smallpox  and  other  maladies  are  rife,  dozens 
are  dying  daily  from  disease  and  starvation,  the 
funds  for  their  nourishment  are  absolutely  in- 
sufficient, and  hundreds  have  gone  without 
bread  for  five  days.  Here  arc  old  men  and 
women  too  weak  to  hold  up  their  hands  for 
food  and  children  unable  to  move  their  famished 
bodies,  and  mothers  giving  birth  to  children 
on  beds  of  mud  and  filth.  Such  is  war,  and 
British  nurses,  longing  to  serve,  are  deprived  by 
the  British  Red  Cross  .SocicU  of  their  right  to 
help  !  ■ 

Thk  British  Red  CRicscrxr  Sociutv  in 
Turkey. 
The  follow-ing  letters  from  Dr.  Calthrop  and 
.Sister  Wheatley  from  Scutari  have  been  com- 
municated to  us  officially  for  publication  : — 
Scutari, 

December  8(!i,  1912. 
As  directed  by  Colonel  Surtees,  accompanied  by 
a  Turkish  student  as  interpreter,  I  took  the 
steamer  to  Emirghi.in  and  met  there  Ferid  Pasha's 
"  agent,"  who  conducted  me  for  a  mile  or  so  to  an 
old  barn,  where  I  found  man\-  refugees  in  the 
deepest  distress — stockingless.and  cold,  but  alwavs 
clean  and  stoical. 

Having  relieved  these,  the  agent  informed  me 
there  were  no  more  anywhere  in  the  neighbourhood, 
but  on  interrogating  the  refugees  they  said  that 
they  knew  of  a  camp  a  few  miles  off. 

There  being  no  carriage  in  the  place,  I  got  the 
refugees  to  take  me  by  a  distinctly  hillv  "  track  " 
across  country,  which  the  Turks  were  entrenching 
on  all  hands,  in  a  tumbledown  bullock  cart. 
After  four  or  five  miles'  drive  wc  alighted  on  a 
camp,  and  were  very  glad  to  be  able  to  cause  so 
much  pleasure.  We  found  two  newly-born  babes 
and  much  distress.  Children  and  old  women 
abounded. 

Total  relieved  =   61  Families. 

=  253  Individuals. 
Many   families   included   sisters   of  one   of  the 
couple  and  frequently  the  mot^^er-in-law. 

Average  spent,  Family  =  15s.  (roughly) 

Head    =    3s.  6d.  (roughly) 

(Signed)  E.  S.  Calthrop. 

I  have  just  returned  from  my  first  expedition 
with  Colonel  Surtees  to  the  refugees  at  a  village  in 
the  mountains  near  Kathal.  It  has  been  a  most 
interesting  day  and  I  have  much  enjoyed  helping 
the   poor  things,   about    100   in   all,   dispersed   in 


500 


Cbe  Bi'ltisb  3ournal  of  IRursluQ.     December  21,  1912 


families  of  five  or  six  in  lianis,  outhouses,  empty 
lunises,  stables,  and  anywhere  that  had  a  roof  of 
an\-  kind.  Thev  were  mostly  covered  with  rags, 
and  their  joy  and  gratitude  were  ^■ery  touching. 
Most  of  them  came  from  Kirk  Killisse,  Tehesma, 
and  Lula  Biirgas,  and  had  sold  everything  of  any 
\-alue  whatsoever.  Dr.  Baylis  went  into  Stam- 
boul  and  gave  relief  at  the  Sophane  Gate  ;  and 
the  Colonel  and  Dr.  Calthorp  and  various  Sisters 
have  been  to  many  othei^  places  and  helped 
a  tremendous  number. 

It  seems  to  n^e  that  it  is  verv  good  work,  but 
only  temporarv  ;  something  wants  to  be  organised 
more  inland  for  a  permanent  settlement  and 
occupations.  What  are  these  poor  things  to  do 
for  the  winter  ?  Is  it  not  possible  to  build  a  model 
\illage  in  Asia  Minor  and  restart  them  again  in 
life  ?  The  mothers  with  babies  a  few  days,  and 
e\en  a  few  hours  old,  with  four  or  five  small 
toddlers  round  them,  looked  too  pitiful  for  words, 
and  many  far  from  well.  I  noticed  coughs  and 
colds  all  round.  Our  party  breaks  up  to-morrow 
(Wednesday).  Sister  Stewart  and  Sister  Mac- 
kenzie are  going  to  St.  Stefano  ;  the  Colonel  has 
put  me  in  charge  of  this  hospital  and  1  hope  1 
shall  come  up  to  his  expectations.  I  am  very 
sorry  to  leave  my  wards  ;  I  am  really  fond  of  m\- 
men,  and  1  think  they  are  of  me.  To-night,  when 
1  came  back,  I  went  to  see  them  and  they  were  so 
glad  to  see  me.  One  poor  fellow  who  has  been 
shot  through  the  head  and  lost  his  eye,  nearh- 
jumped  out  of  bed,  and  had  a  long  tale  to  tell  me 
because  he  had  been  very  poorly  when  I  left  in 
the  morning.  They  all  think  no  one  can  do  the 
things  quite  the  same,  and  I  hear  all  sort  of 
disputes  as  to  their  letting  anyone  else  do  their 
dressings.  They  are  just  like  children  and  I  love 
them  all,  they  are  so  grateful  for  any  thought. 

Several  cured  patients  left  to-day,  and  no 
doubt  many  will  follow  soon. 

I\.\TIIERINF.     H.    WHE.^TLEY. 


NURSES'    SOCIAL   UNION. 


PRACTICAL     POINTS. 

The  China  Medical  Journal 
Bites    of  gives  the  following  hints,   to 

Insects.  prevent  the  bites  of  insects  : 

"  Take  one  ounce  of  Epsom 
salt  and  dissolve  it  in  one  pint  of  water  ;  wet  a 
bath-cloth  wet  enough  that  it  will  not  drip,  and 
rub  the  body  w-ell  all  over  ;  and  not  wipe  a  fter- 
wards,  but  dress.  I  am  very  certain  that  flies, 
gnats,  fleas,  bedbugs,  mosquitoes,  or  the  famous 
African  fly,  will  never  touch  persons  so  treated. 
If  they  are  exposed  more  than  usual,  being  near 
water  or  in  a  forest,  they  may  make  a  somewha*: 
stronger  solution  ;  wet  a  cloth,  and  rub  the  face, 
neck,  ears  and  hands  well  ;  do  not  wipe,  but  allow 
it  to  dry  ;  it  will  leave  a  fine  powder  over  the  sur- 
face that  the  most  bloodthirsty  insect  will  not 
attack.  Besides,  the  solution  is  healing  and 
cleansing  ;  it  will  heal  the  bites,  subdue  the  con- 
sequent inflanrmation,  and  cures  naany  diseases  of 
the  skin."  We  hope  this  may  meet  the  eye  of 
those  nurses  working  in  the  Near  East  ! 


EUGHNICS. 

Dr.  Murray  Leslie,  speaking  to  the  members  of 
the  Nurses'  Social  Union  at  the  Institute  of  Hygiene 
last  week  on  the  subject  of  Eugenics,  said  that  the 
science  of  eugenics. was  meant  to  meet  a  definite 
requirement.  It  was  necessary  that  the  race 
should  be  strong  and  vuile,  or  it  was  of  no  value. 
The  science  of  Eugenics  dealt  with  this.  It  had 
lately  been  proved  that  there  are  140,000  feeble- 
minded persons  in  the  country,  not  including 
physical  degenerates,  and  no  less  than  4,800,000 
school  children  unsound  in  body  or  mind.  The 
position  was  serious,  and  those  present  would 
remember  that  race  degeneration  and  decay  led 
to  the  fall  of  Rome,  but  in  our  own  case,  though 
we  had  the  fact  to  deal  with,  the  cure  was  happily- 
rising  above  the  horizon,  and  he  believed  that  the 
science  of  Eugenics  (the  science  of  the  well  born) 
was  going  to  stop  race  degeneration.  Sir  Francis 
Galton,  the  founder  of  the  science,  emphasised 
the  necessity  of  three  qualities  for  a  "  well-born  " 
person — a  healthy  body,  a  sound  mind,  and 
capacity  for  work. 

The  science  was  built  on  the  foundation  of 
heredity,, and  a  law  of  heredity  was  that  like  tends 
to  produce  like,  and  strong  parents  to  have 
strong  children,  while  weakly  and  tubercular 
parents  were  likely  to  produce  children  pre- 
disposed to  disease. 

A  characteristic  of  philanthropic  work  in  the 
past  century  was  the  direction  of  effort  to  social 
improvements,  and  the  improvement  of  external 
surroundings  and  environment.  The  new  science 
said  that  environment  was  all  very  well,  but 
heredity  was  ever  so  much  more  important. 
The  surroundings  of  a  physical  degenerate  in  a 
palace  would  have  little  influence  upon  him. 
Therefore  though  it  was  good  that  the  standard 
of  wages  and  of  housing  should  be  improved,  and 
hours  of  labour  diminished,  the  personality  of  the 
wage  earner  was  of  greater  importance. 

The  health  of  the  individual  was  influenced  by 
the  age  of  marriage,  the  moti^•es  leading  to  it, 
lactation,  and  venereal  disease.  The  Bulgarian 
army  had  recently  afforded  an  illustration  that 
race  was  of  more  importance  than  means,  and 
heredity  than  environment.  Again,  it  was  a 
fact  that  sonie  of  the  %vorst  degenerates  were  to  be 
found  in  the  upper  classes,  and  some  of  the  finest 
specimens  of  manhood  in  the  poorest,  and  further, 
we  were  learning  that  if  environment  were  im- 
proved beyond  a  certain  point,  it  was  harmful 
to  the  race. 

One  of  the  ideals  of  eugenists  was  that  there 
must  be-  some  alteration  in  the  social  conditions 
which  occasion  enforced  celibacy.  The  cost  of 
living  was  now  so  high  that  many  people  were 
compelled  to  live  single  lives  in  order  to  keep  up 
in  the  vortex.  Eugenics  proper  were  divided  into 
negative  and  positive. 

The  object  of  negative  Eugenics  was  to  prevent 
moral  and  physical  degenerates  from  parenthood. 


December  21,  1912      CDc  Buitisb  3ounial  of  TRurcnnG. 


501 


and  there  was  practically  uuaiiiiiiuv  lU.a  iin> 
was  the  right  thing.  There  must  always  bo 
danger  in  propagation  by  degenerate  stock, 
particularly  in  the  case  of  insanity,  which  was 
most  persistent.  Dr.  Hyslop,  formerly  Super- 
intendent at  Bcthiem,  estimated  that  if  we  went 
on  at  the  present  late,  in  fifty  years"  time  half  the 
population  would  be  insane. 

Again,  thousands  of  feeble-minded  persons 
regarded  Poor  Law  Infirmaries  as  their  private 
maternity  hospitals,  and  it  was  unfortunately 
proved  by  comparative  study  that  degenerates 
were  one-third  more  fertile  than  the  average 
person. 

In  regard  to  sterility,  contagious  diseases  were 
the  cause  of  nearly  half  the  cases.  In  the  view 
of  the  eugenist  the  marriage  of  definitely  diseased 
persons  was  a  greater  sin  than  irregular  unions  of 
liealthy  people. 

Dr.  Mott  calculated  that  if  a  person  were  insane 
at  sixty  his  child  would  be  insane  at  forty,  and  his 
grandchild  at  twenty.  By  that  means  nature 
tended  to  eliminate  insanity  in  the  fourth 
generation. 

So  far  all  were  agreed.  In  regard  to  construc- 
tive or  positix'e  Eugenics,  there  was  considerable 
divergence  of  opinion.  Sir  Francis  Galton  thought 
them  more  important  than  negative  Eugenics. 
It  was  important  that  degenerates  should  not  be 
bom,  but  it  was  equally  important  that  the  right 
people  should  be  born.  It  was  a  fact  that  in  the 
better  classes  of  society  the  birth-rate  was  half 
that  of  the  lowest  class.  It  was  not  good  to  breed 
mainly  from  the  lowest  of  the  race,  but  under 
present  conditions  the  middle  classes  who  had 
large  families  were  heavily  handicapped.  After 
all  it  was  a  woman's  question,  and  it  was  a 
woman's  right  to  decide  how  many  children  she 
should  have. 

The  lecturer  was  of  opinion  that  the  spread  of 
a  knowledge  of  Eugenics  would  influence  the 
standard  of  physical  fitess.  If  a  girl  had  liigh 
ideals  of  physical  and  moral  strength  she  could 
not  fall  in  love  with  a  puny  degenerate,  and  if  she 
was  trained  in  Eugenic  ideals  she  would  not  fall 
in  love  with  those  who  fell  short  of  them.  Un- 
doubtedly marriage  should  go  with  love,  and  if 
a  doctor  could  write  a  prescription  for  a  love 
marriage  he  believed  it  would  cure  half  th? 
illnesses  in  the  world. 

Speaking  of  the  environment  of  motherhood. 
Dr.  Murray  Leslie  expressed  the  opinion  that  the 
provision  of  dowTies  for  healthy  young  women, 
so  enabling  them  to  many,  would  be  of  greater 
value  than  the  endowment  of  public  libraries. 
He  emphasised  the  need  of  instruction  of  the 
young  in  questions  of  sex,  and  considered  that 
every  nurse  should  have  an  elementary-  know- 
ledge of  Eugenics,  for  they  were  frequently  taken 
into  the  confidence  of  patients  and  the  public 
and  might  exercise  a  beneficial  influence.   . 

In  conclusion  the  lecturer  stated  that  he  hoped 
shortly  to  write  a  pamphlet  on  Eugenics  on  the 
invitation  of  the  Nurses'  Socini  Tninn. 


LOCAL    GOVERNMliiNT    BOARD 
(SCOTLAND). 


EXAMINATION     OF    NURSES. 

On  November  19th  and  subsequent  davs  the 
Local  Government  Etoard  for  Scotland  held  an 
examination  for  the  certification  of  trained  sick 
nurses  and  of  trained  fever  nurses.  The  examina- 
tion was  held  at  Glasgow,  Edinburgh,  Dundee, 
and  Aberdeen.  The  exaniincrs  were  Professor 
Matthew  Hay,  Aberdeen  ;  Dr.  D.  J.  Mackintosh, 
Western  Infirmary,  Glasgow  ;  Dr.  C.  B.  Ker, 
City  Hospital,  Edinburgh  ;  and  Dr.  Johnston, 
Eastern  District  Hospital,  Glasgow,  who  were 
assisted  in  the  practical  part  of  the  examination 
by  Miss  Gregory  Smith,  matron  of  the  Western 
Infirmary,  Glasgow,  and  by  Miss  Melrose,  matron 
of  the  lioyal  Infirman,-,  Glasgow. 

The  subjects  of  examination  were  Elementarv 
Anatomv  and  Physiology,  Hygiene  and  Dietetics. 
Medical  and  Surgical  Nursing,  Midwiferv,  and 
Infectious  Disea.scs.  In  all,  200  candidates  pre- 
sented themselves  for  examination.  Of  the.se. 
109  were  examined  in  Anatomy  and  Phvsiologv, 
113  in  Hygiene  and  Dietetics,  74  in  Medical  and 
Surgical  Nursing,  25  in  Midwiferj-,  and  46  in 
Infectious  Diseases. 

In  Anatomy  and  Physiologv  16  nurses  obtained 
distinction,  79  obtained  a  simple  pass,  and  14 
failed. 

In  Hygiene  and  Dietetics,  7  nurses  obtained 
distinction,  90  obtained  a  simple  pass,  and  16 
failed. 

In  Medical  and  Surgical  Nursing,  i  nurse 
obtained  distinction,  69  obtained  a  simple  pass, 
and  4  failed. 

In  Alidwifery,  i  nurse  o'btained  distinction, 
19  obtained  a  simple  pass,  and  5  failed. 

In  Infectious  Diseases,  3  nurses  obtained 
distinction,  42  obtained  a  simple  pass,  and  i  failed. 

Twenty-three  nurses  are  now  entitled  to  the 
certificate  in  general  training  granted  b\-  the 
Local  Government  Board,  and  43  are  entitled  to 
the  certificate  in  fc\er  training  granted  by  the 
Board. 

Certificate  in  General  Trai.nixg. — Jessie  G. 
Asher,  Jessie  MacLean.  Cissy  Angus,  ^lary  S. 
Angus,  Mary  Barrie,  Kyle  J.  Clarke,  Florence 
J.  A.  Dinsmore.  Gertrude  S.  Goldie.  Man>-  M. 
Harper,  Cecilia  F.  Hassett,  Grace  S.  Kerr,  Eliza- 
beth L.  Millikin,  Agnes  C.  Mitchell,  Marjorj- 
C.  Murray,  Marj'  J.  Mackenzie,  Grace  M'Queen, 
Jane  Paterson,  Elizabeth  H.  Paxton,  .^gnes 
Slater,  Isabella  D.  Smith,  Williamina  Thaw, 
Katharine  M.  Todd,  Margaret  H.  F.  Young. 

Certificate  on  Fever  Training. — W'ilhelmina 
H.  Allan,  Beatrice  M.  Bull,  Sarah  C.  Cowan. 
Isabella  Dunlop,  Agnes  Fh-nn.  Mary  W.  Gillon, 
Helen  Grant,  Catherine  G.  Hall,  Margaret  Y. 
Henderson,  Katharine  B.  Low,  Ellen  M.  Mills, 
Jessie  C.  Macfee,  Helen  Macgregor,  Katharine 
M.     MacGrcgor,     Ida     G.     Mackenzie,     Margaret 


5°^ 


Sibe  Brlttsb  3ournal  of  IRursinQ.     December  21,  191- 


I'cpiierell,  Eulilic  S.  Rutherford.  Charlotte  A. 
(".  Trainor,  iNIarv  A.  Wallace,  Margaret  H.  Warden, 
Huphemia  Watt,  Alice  X.  Whittle,  Maria  Wilson, 
Annie  Beaton,  Jemima  B.  Cowie,  Barbara  C. 
Davidson,  Sarah  H.  Falconer,  Sarah  E.  R. 
Ferguson,  Agnes  Flett,  Grace  M'R.  Gunn,  Ethel 
A.  L.  Hamilton,  Helen  Kimm,  Agnes  R.  G.  "Law, 
Christina  M'F.  Lawson,  Nannie  M' Andrew, 
Catherine  Robertson,  Janet  Stewart,  Helen  C. 
Trimble,  Margaret  M.  Urquhjrt,  Margaret  Forbes, 
Annabelle  Henderson,  Bella  J.  Harper,  Ann 
Morison,  Jeannie  Macandrew,  Sarali  \^niyte. 

The  following  are  the  papers  that  were  set 
at  the  examination.  Only  four  questions  were 
to  be  answered  in  each  paper  : — 

Elementary  Anatomy  and  Physiology. 

(i)  What  bones  form  the  walls  of  the  peh  is  ? 
Name  the  principal  organs   contained   within   it. 

(2)  Describe  the  composition  of  the  blood. 
What  are  the  functions  of  the  blood  ? 

(3)  Describe  the  liver.  Where  is  it  situated, 
and  what  are  its  functions  ? 

(4)  Give  a  brief  account  of  the  various  forms 
of  joints  'found  in  the  human  Viody,  with  an 
example  of  each. 

(5)  Give  a  short  description  of  the  structure  of 
the  eye. 

Hygiene  and  Dietetics. 
(i)  Give   the   composition   of   cow's   milk,    and 
discuss  its  value  as  a  food.     What  changes  occur 
in  milk  {a)  when  allowed  to  stand  for  twenty-four 
hours  ;    and  (h)  when  treated  with  rennet  ? 

(2)  Wliat  diseases  may  be  communicated 
through  water  ?  In  what  ways  may  water 
become  polluted  ?  How  may  polluted  water 
be  treated  to  render  it  safe  ? 

(3)  Describe  the  methods  of  ventilation  suitable 
for  ordinary  dwelling  rooms,  hospital  wards, 
and  operating  theatres. 

(4)  How  are  drains  arranged  so  as  to  prevent 
sewer  gas  escaping  into  a  house  ?  Compare  a 
slop  sink  and  a  common  sink  in  respect  to  con- 
struction and  use. 

(5)  Describe  the  routine  you  would  adopt 
in  order  to  keep  a  hospital  ward  in  a  proper 
hygienic  condition. 

Medical  and  Surgical  Nursing. 
(i)  Explain      the       following  : — Haematemesis, 
cyanosis,  dyspnoea,  concussion,  compound  fracture. 

(2)  What  are  the  symptoms  of  cerebral 
haemorrhage  (apoplexy)  ?  Describe  the  manage- 
ment and  nursing  of  such  a  case. 

(3)  -^  patient  is  to  undergo  a  serious  operation 
under  chloroforna.  What  preparations  should  be 
made  by  the  nurse  ? 

(4)  Give  the  symptoms  and  treatment  of 
opium  poisoning. 

(5)  In  the  case  of  a  sleepless  patient,  what 
simple  methods  to  assist  in  inducing  sleep  might 
be  tried  by  the  nurse  ? 

(6)  Wliat  diet  would  you  give  to  (a)  a  baby  of 
three  months  ;  and  (b)  a  patient  with  acute 
nephritis  ? 


(7)  Give  the  medicinal  doses  of  the  following 
preparations  : — Tincture  of  digitalis,  liquor 
strychninae,  tincture  of  opium,  croton  oil,  vinum 
ipecacuanha;.  Name  one  condition  in  which  each 
might  be  found  useful. 

(8)  In  ■what  diseases  is  blood  liable  to  appear 
in  the  stools  ?  Describe  the  appearance  of  the 
stools  in  each  case. 

Midwifery. 

(i)  Describe  the  signs  and  symptoms  of 
pregnancy  as  found  at  the  end  of  the  sixth  month. 

(2)  What  are  the  changes  which  take  place  in 
the  genital  tract  of  the  mother  during  labour  ? 

(3)  Describe  the  mechanism  of  labour  in  a  first 
position  of  the  face  (R.M.P.). 

(4)  Explain  the  following  terms  : — [a)  Hydra- 
mnios  ;  (6)  Vesicular  or  Bladder  Mole ;  (t) 
Placenta  Praevia  ;  (d)  Puerperal  Eclampsia  ;  {e) 
Funis  presentation  ;  (/)  Phlegmasia  Alba  Dolens  ; 
and   (g)  Ophthalmia  Neonatorum. 

Note. — The  following  question  must  be  answered. 

(5)  What  are  the  causes  of  puerperal  sepsis, 
and  what  precautions  must  be  taken  by  the 
midwife  to  prevent  it  ? 

Infectious  Diseases. 

(1)  W'hat  are  the  symptoms  of  heart  failure  in 
diphtheria  ?  How  would  you  deal  with  such  a 
case  before  the  arrival  of  a  doctor  ? 

(2)  Give  a  brief  account  of  the  various  com- 
plications which  may  occur  in  the  course  of  an 
attack  of  whooping-cough. 

(3)  In  nursing  a  case  of  septic  scarlet  fever 
(scarlatina  anginosa)  in  a  general  scarlet  fever 
ward,  what  precautions  would  you  adopt  ? 

(4)  Give  the  ordinary  limits  of  the  periods  of 
incubation  of  the  following  diseases  : — Scarlet 
fever,  measles,  smallpox,  chicken-pox,  and  rubella 
(German  measles). 

(5)  What  ai^e  the  early  symptoms  of  phthisis  ? 
How  is  the  disease  spread  ? 


REGISTRATION  IN  NEW  YORK. 

The  New  York  State  Nurses'  Association,  at 
its  Annual  Meeting  in  Utica,  on  October  i6th  and 
17th,  decided  on  recommending  some  important 
amendments  of  the  New  York  Registration  Act 
for  Nurses,  to  the  Legislature. 

One  of  these  amendments  is  a  reciprocity  clause, 
in  courtesy  to  other  States  having  registration 
on  an  equal  plane  with  New  York.  Another  relates 
to  a  detail  of  the  re-registering  at  three-year 
periods.  The  most  significant  amendment  agreed 
on  is  one  to  make  the  Act  mandatory.  It  remains 
to  be  seen  what  the  Legislature  \-\'ill  do  with  these 
amendnfents. 

The  A merican  Journal  of  Nursing  sa\s  :  Seven 
states  in  the  west  and  south  succeeded  in  having 
their  laws  made  mandatory  at  first,  and  they 
seem  to  have  had  no  more'  difficulty  in  adminis- 
tering them  than  has  been  the  case  in  the  states 
where  the  law  has  been  voluntary. 


Dccewbey  21,  1912      (IbG  SSvlttel)  3ournnl  of  IRurelng. 


503 


PRIZES    AND    CERTIFICATES. 


Mrs.  (.urney  last  week  pixscnleil  the  Prizes 
and  CcrtiCicates  awarded  after  examination  by  the 
Trustees  of  the  late  Dr.  Heath  to  nurses  at  the 
Royal  Infirmary,  Newcastle-on-Tyne.  The  suc- 
cessful conipetitors  were  : — 

Siliiey  Medallist. — Miss  Florence  E.  Roberts. 

Prize  Wimiers. — Misses  Norali  Barugh,  Bessie 
Crookston,  Louisa  Godtschailk,  Hannah  Hird, 
Mary  Ciraham,  Harriet  Hewson,  Catherine  Gerry, 
and  Mary  .\nderson. 

Hoiiorayy  Certificates. — Misses  Mary  Cairns, 
Edith  \\'ilson,  Eva  Black,  Mabel  Purvis,  Mary 
Macdonald,  Elizabeth  Calder,  Gertrude  Barr, 
JMith  Brooks,  and  Hilda  Taylor. 

Sick-room  Cookery. — Misses  Amy  Baddy.  Edith 
Brurton,  and  Jane  Howitt. 

Sir  George  Hare  Phillipson,  who  presided, 
presented  an  allun'inated  address  to  Miss  Lucy 
Walmsley  (Matron)  on  behalf  of  the  House 
Commitlee  and  officials  on  her  resignation. 

THE    PASSING     BELL. 

We  greatly  regret  to  record  the  death  of  Miss 
E.  C.  Laurence,  R.R.C.,  late  JIatron  of  the  Chelsea 
Hospital  for  Women,  which  took  place  in  London 
on  Wednesday  morning  last.  Miss  Laurence  was 
trained  at  Guy's  Hospital,  and  at  the  Hospital 
for  Sitk  Children,  Great  Ormond  Street,  W.C., 
and  gained  the  Royal  Red  Cross  for  her  services 
in  the  South  .\frican  War  as  Matron  of  the  Princess 
Christian  Hospital,  I'ine  Town,  Natal.  She  was 
also  Matron  of  the  Victoria  Hospital,  Keighley. 
Miss  Laurence,  who  has  been  out  of  health  for 
some  time,  expressed  the  desire  to  end  her  days 
imder  the  care  of  Miss  Rowell,  whom  she  had 
known  well  at  Guy's,  and  this  wish  w-as  fulfilled. 

Those  who  have  had  occasion  to  receive  the 
ministration  of  the  nursing  staff  at  the  Wolver- 
liampton  General  Hospital,  and  many  old  pupils, 
will  learn  with  deep  and  sincere  regret  of  the  death 
at  the  Hospital  of  Miss  Annie  Hannah  MacLaren, 
better  known  as  "  Sister  MacLaren  "  and  the 
"  Sister  Dora  of  Wolverhampton,"  who,  for  a 
period  of  o\er  tliirty-eight  years,  was  a  prominent 
nurse  at  the  institution. 

Miss  Macl^aren  retired  from  the  service  of  the 
Hospital  two  years  ago,  and  some  months  since 
became  ill  ;  she  was  admitted  to  the  Hospital  as 
a  patient,  and  passed  away  after  an  operation  was 
performed. 

Evidence  of  the  appreciation  entertained  of  her 
was  shown  a  few  years  ago,  when  she  was  pre- 
sented with  a  gold  watch  from  colliery  employees 
in  the  hospital  area,  and  she  also  received  a  hand- 
-some  illuminated  address  from  grateful  railway 
men  in  the  district. 

.\  short  time  before  she  retired  she  was  pre- 
sented with  the  hospital  long  service  gold  medal. 

One  of  her  old  probationers  writes  :  "  Miss 
MacLaren  was  the  first  sister  I  ever  worked  under. 


when  i  cutercd  hospital  as  a  very  young  pro- 
bationer years  ago  ;  and  from  then,  till  death,  she 
has  been  a  very  true  friend.  She  entered  hospital 
before  nursing  was  organised,  and  remembered 
the  old  ladies  (charwomen),  coming  in  for  night 
duty,  who  used  to  '  take  a  drop  and  sleep  very 
comfortably  most  of  the  night.'  She  saw  all  that 
changed  ;  and  although  she  had  no  lectures,  or 
e.xams.  to  pass,  she  became  a  thoroughly  efficient 
nurse.  But  I  think  her  happy  nature,  cheerful 
and  bright,  and  her  thankfulness  for  health  and 
sunshine,  most  impressed  those  with  whom  she 
came  in  contact  ;  and  when  she  retired  less  than 
two  years  ago,  after  thirty-eight  year='  service,  her 
many  friends  hoped  for  many  years  of  happiness 
and  quiet  usefulness  for  her  in  her  own  home  ;  but 
it  was  not  to  be.  She  passed  to  her  rest  on  the 
nth  inst.,  and  was  laid  in  St.  John's  Churchyard 
last  Saturday.  A  true  Christian,  be!o\c'i  .•! 
many." 

«    ♦    ■ 

APPOINT./VIENTS. 


MATRON. 

Newcastle-upon-Tyne  and  Niirthiimberland  Sana 
torium  for  Cnnsuniption,  liarraslord,  Nortli  Tyne 
— Miss  Annie  Morrison  Xoble  has  been 
appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  North 
Devon  Infirmary,  liarnstaple,  and  at  the  Belvidere 
Fever  Hospital,  Glasgow,  and  is  at  present 
.\ssistant  Matron  and  Home  Sister  at  the  Crossley 
Sanatorium,    Kingswood. 

Isolation    Hospital,  Salford Miss   M.    Mackenzie 

has  been  appointed  Matron.  She  was  trained  at 
St.  'fhomas'  Hospital,  London,  and  has  held  tlie 
position  of  Matron  at  the  Yardley  Road  Sana- 
torium, Birmingham,  and  of  Sister  at  the  Salterley 
Grange  Sanatorium,  the  Brompton  Hospital,  and 
the  Forster  Green  Hospital  for  Consumption, 
Belfast. 

ASSISTANT     MATRON. 

Edmonton  Union  Training  .SlIkioI  for  Nurses, 
Upper  Edmonton — Miss  Anna  .\insworth  lias  been 
appointed  .Assistant  Matron.  She  was  trained  at 
Poplar  and  Stepney  Sick  Asylum,  and  is  at  present 
Night  Superintendent  at  the  Brighton  Poor  Law 
Tnfirmarj'. 

SUPERINTENDENT     NURSE. 

The      WorkhDUse       Infirmary,       Evesham.  —  Miss 

Frances  E.  SiUtcr  has  been  api>  >intc<i  Superin- 
tendent Nurse.  She  was  trained  under  the 
Bristol  Board  of  Guardians,  and  has  been  Head 
Nurse  at  the  Penzanro  llnion. 

MASSAGE    SISTER. 

General  Hospital  BirniinjSham. — Miss  Julia  Muriel 
Duesbury  has  been  appumtcd  Massage  Sister. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Salop  Infirmary, 
Shrewsbury,  and  has  held  the  positions  of  Holiday 
Sister  at  the  General  Hospital,  Birmingham, 
Ward  Sister  at  the  Grantham  Hospital,  and  Out- 
patient and  Massage  Sister  at  the  Salop  Infirmary, 
Shrewsbury.  She  has  recently  had  experience 
of  private  nursing  in  connection  with  the 
Registered  Nurses'  Society,  London. 


504 


Cbc  Brittsb  3ounial  of  IHurstna 


Diconhcr  21, 


1912 


SISTER. 

Ruchill  Hospital,  Glasgow. — Miss  Agnes  Melville 
has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was  trained  at 
the  Roval  Intirman-.  Clasgow,  and  at  Ruchill 
Hospital. 

QUEEN  ALEXANDRAS     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING    SERVICE. 

The  following  lady,  on  her  retirement,  is  granted 
permission  to  retain  the  badge  of  Queen  Alex- 
andra's Imperial  Militar\-  "Nursing  Ser^nce,  in 
recognition  of  her  long  and  devoted  ser\-ices  : — 
Miss  Man,-  E.  Harper,  R.R.C. 

STAFF    NURSE. 

StaS  nur^e.  Miss  Isabel  Harlev,  resigns  her 
appointment  (December  Sth). 

QUEEN    ALEXANDRAS     MILITARY    NURSING 
SERVICE    FOR    INDIA. 

Vhr  !.;  ll'jNv  :;il:  !ad'-es  ha^f  been  appointed 
Xursmg  Sisters  ;  Miss  M.  F.  Wilson,  Miss  G.  M. 
Finch,  and  jNIiss  E.  JI.  Dundas. 

The  following  ladv  nurse  has  been  permitted  to 
retire  : — Senior  Nursing  Sister  Miss  Dora  Louisa 
Truslove  Moore  (Dec.  14). 

TERRITORIAL    FORCE     NURSING     SERVICE. 

Miss  Anrie  Livirgstone  Charteris.  Sister,  to  be 
Matron,  vice  Miss  Emil  Martin  Wheeler,  resigned 
(Dec.  18)  ;  Miss  Emma  E.  Talor,  Sister,  to  be 
Matron,  vice  Miss  Edith  Sellar,  resigned  (Dec.  iS.I 

QUEEN    VICTORIAS    JUBILEE     INSTITUTE. 

SUPICKINIEXDEN  1 

Miss  Dorothy  Godden  is  appointed  Superin- 
tendent at  Brighton.  Miss  Godden  received  general 
training  at  Hampstead  Hospital,  midwife^^■  train- 
ing at  Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital,  and  district 
training  at  Brighton  ;  and  has  since  held  the 
following  appointments  :  Queen's  Nurse,  Hove, 
Doncaster,  Brighton  (Senior  Nurse  and  subse- 
quently Assistant  Superintendent).  Miss  Godden 
has  also  had  experience  in  fever  and  private 
nursing.  She  holds  the  certificate  of  the  Central 
Midwives  Board. 

Transfers  and  Appointments. — ^lliss  Florence 
Fidler,  to  Sheemess  ;  Miss  Jane  Henderson,  to 
Huddersfield  ;  Miss  Madeline  Jackes,  to  Central 
St.  Pancras  ;  Miss  Minnie  Jar\is,  to  Kensington  ; 
Miss  Flora  Kay,  to  Stockton-on-Tees  ;  Miss 
Frances  Pullen,  to  Reading  ;  Miss  Mabel  Fleming- 
Shearer,  to  Brixton. 


PRESENTATION. 

Nurse  Beta,  who  lor  seven  years  has  been  the 
District  Nurse,  and  has  laboured  amongst  the 
sick  in  the  East  End  of  Sheffield,  was  recently 
— upon  her  approaching  marriage — presented  with 
a  purse  of  gold  by  Mrs.  Douglas  \'ickers,  which  had 
been  subscribed  for  by  the  "  inhabitants  of  the 
district  in  token  of  their  esteem  and  aftectionate 
regard  for  her."  Mrs.  \'ickers  said  that  whenever 
there  was  sickness  or  sorrow,  or  distress,  in  a 
Brightside  home,  Nurse  Beta  was  sure  to  be  close 
at  hand,  readv  to  render  assistance. 


NURSING   ECHOES. 


The  .A.t  Home  given  annually  by  Miss  Curtis 
and  the  nurses  of  the  Fulham  and  Hammer- 
smith District  Nursing-  .Association  at  the 
Hammersmith  Town  Hall  is  always  a  very 
pleasant  function.  The  one  this  year  on  Decem- 
ber 1 2th  seemed  more  largelv  attended  even 
than  usual,  and  while  the  visitors  enjoyed  tea 
at  small  round  tables,  the  London  Diocesan 
Orchestra,  conducted  by  Mrs.  Ronald  Carter, 
provided  an  excellent  musical  programme,  the 
songs  by  Miss  Jean  Pyne  and  Mr.  Bernard 
Lane  being  specially  appreciated. 

The  Mavor  of  Hammersmith  presided  at  the 
business  meeting,  and  Dr.  Fry  read  the  list  of 
contributions  for  the  year  from  boxes,  cards, 
and  local  collections,  amounting  in  all  to 
;/ri44  IIS.  lod.,  after  which  Countess  Ferrers, 
in  a  happy  speech,  thanked  the  subscribers,  and 
said  that  the  collection  was  the  largest  which 
had  yet  been  made.  She  said  that  nursing  had 
now  reached  such  perfection  that  it  was  an  art 
and  the  work  of  artists,  and  the  best  untrained 
friends  were  poor  makeshifts.  When  her  own 
relatives  became  ill,  she  generally  tried  to  nurse 
them  herself  at  first,  and  it  was  an  extraordi- 
narily blessed  day  for  them  when  the  trained 
nurse  came  in.  In  connection  with  the  collec- 
tions, the  speaker  said  that  nurses  were  in  the 
forefront  of  the  battle  in  the  war  with  disease, 
and  they  should  not  have  at  the  same  time  the 
strain  of  financial  worry.  Other  speakers  were 
the  Treasurer  of  the  Association,*  Mr.  Von 
Glehn,  Mr.  Watson,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Walsh, 
Vicar  of  St.  John's,  Hammersmith. 


In  connection  with  our  correspondence  with 
Mr.  Bruxner,  we  ha\e  received  several  letters 
from  Queen's  Nurses,  all  of  whom  urge  the 
necessitv  of  pensions  being  granted  to  them. 
One  writes  :  "  I  find  it  quite  impossible  to  save 
out  of  mv  very  moderate  salary.  I  love  district 
nursing  better  than  any  other  work,  but  must 
in  the  near  future  give  it  up,  as  I  am- alone  in 
the  world,  and  must  try  and  keep  myself  out 
of  the  workhouse.  I  think  the  Queen's  Nurses 
should  be  treated  as  .'\rmy  and  Navy  nurses, 
and  earn  a  pension ;  they  do  quite  as  much 
good,  work  much  harder,  and  have  no  sort  of 
practical  recognition. " 

.Another  writes  :  "  I  very  strongly  object  to 
the  depreciation  of  District  Nursing  which  year 
bv  vear  is'  taking  place.  In  many  districts 
where  a  Queen's  Nurse  could  and  should  be 
emploved,  her  work,  which  requires  such  very 
special  training,  is  being  given  over  to  a  mid- 
wife, with  the  title  of  village  nurse.    Why  is  it 


December  21,  1912     Zljc  Brltlsb  Sourual  of  HAursino 


nut  possible  to  have  a  Government  District 
Nursing  Service — we  are  doing  real  national 
work  in  preventing  sickness — pensioned,  as 
other  Government  nurses  are?  I  read  with 
indignation  Mr.  Bruxner's  very  discourteous 
letters,  which  proves  how  contemptuously  he 
regards  trained  nurses.  .  .  .  We  need  and 
deserve  a  pension." 


The  Glenkcris  District  Nursing  Association, 
in  the  Stewartry,  have  decided  to  engage  a 
"  Queen's  "  Nurse,  at  a  cost  of  about  1^1 10  a 
year.  

The  '■  factorv  nurse  "  was  a  happy  American 
idea  which  has  found  favour  in  England. 
Trained  nurses  are  now  at  work  in  connection 
with  several  important  manufactories.  Quite 
recently  Messrs.  S.  Courtauld,  Halstead, 
Essex,  silk  manufacturers,  have  appointed  a 
qualified  nurse,  Miss  Butler,  to  study  the 
welfare  of  the  workpeople  and  the  conditions 
under  which  they  work.  A- dispensary,  con- 
sulting-room, and  office  are  to  be  built  for  her. 
Miss  Butler  will  distribute  the  firm's  charities, 
establish  a  library,  and  organise  the  boot  club 
and  other  clubs.  The  factory  dining-hall,  estab- 
lished twenty  vears  ago,  and  open  soon  after 
five  in  the  morning  to  supply  coffee  at  a  farthing 
a  cup,  is  to  be  reorganised  so  as  to  give  a 
service  of  breakfasts  and  dinners  at  a  cheap 
rate.  ____^__ 

The  third  and  fourth  volumes  of  "  .A  History 
of  Nursing,"  now  in  the  press,  will  be  pub- 
lished by  Putnam's  Sons  early  in  the  New 
Year.  .All  the  work  of  editing  the  contributions 
has  been  done  by  Miss  L.  L.  Dock,  who  has 
gathered  the  material  from  all  over  the  world, 
harmonized  it,  and  prepared  it  for  the  printer. 
Miss  Dock,  with  her  usual  generosity  to  the 
nursing  profession,  is  to  receive  absolutely  no 
financial  returns,  these  being  turned  over  to  the 
treasurer  of  the  International  Council  of 
-Nurses.  No  nurses'  library  can  be  considered 
complete  unless  the  four  volumes  of  this  great 
work  are  to  be  found  on  its  shelves.  The  his- 
tory of  the  nursing  profession  to  date  will  thus 
be  at  the  disposal  of  every  nurse,  and  those  who 
would  honour  their  cloth  should  acquaint  them- 
selves with  it. 

The  Christmas  number  of  the  American 
Journul  of  Xursiiif;  contains  as  usual  many  in- 
teresting papers.  That  on  the  Army  Nurse 
Corps,  by  the  present  Superintendent,  Mis.s 
Isabel  Mrlsaac,  R.N.,  is  illustrated  by  pictures 
of  charming  Nurses'  Homes.  That  of  the 
quarters  at  Fort  Bayard,  New  Mexico,  shows 
a  most  picturesque  building.  The  galleries  have 
manv    vines  growing  over   them,    shrubs   and 


llowcrs  completely  surround  the  house,  a  small 
pergola  occupies  a  corner  of  the  lawn,  and  a 
corral  for  the  nurses'  saddle-horses  has  been 
built  in  the  rear.  The  hou>c  stands  quite  alone, 
and  gives  a  superb  view  of  the  mountains  from 
every  window,  or  rather  from  every  door, 
because  all  of  the  windows  on  the  galleries  are 
French,  which  allow  the  beds  to  be  rolled  out 
for  sleeping.  In  fact,  the  entire  staff  of  nurses 
at  Fort  Bayard  sleeps  out  of  doors.  Riding  is 
the  chief  amusement  of  the  nurses  at  this 
station,  the  corral  containing  a  dozen  of  the 
typical  ponies  peculiar  to  the  south-west.  "  The 
sight  of  the  group  of  nurses  galloping  over  the 
hills  makes  one  wish,"  writes  Miss  Mclsaac, 
"  that  every  city -bound  nurse  in  the  land  might 
join  them  long  enough  to  have  all  the  city  air 
blown  out  of  her  lungs." 

.Many  friends  will  be  pleased  to  hear  news 
of  Miss  Snively.  She  is  now  home  again  in 
Toronto,  and  busy,  as  usual,  'with  good  works. 
.Amongst  her  interesting  activities  we  find  her 
teaching  a  Sunday  class  of  Chinese.  Onc' 
morning  weekly  is  given  up  to  the  Women's 
Foreign  .Missionary  Society,  of  which  she  is  a 
member.  Membership  of  the  Women's 
Canadian  Club,  the  Historical  Society,  the 
Social  Service  Club  of  the  Toronto  General 
Hospital,  and  study,  keep  Miss  Snively  from 
having  much  time  to  spare.  She  is,  of  course, 
a  member  of  the  most  influential  nurses' 
societies  in  Canada,  and  we  are  not  surprised  to 
learn  that  she  is  being  called  upon  to  address 
graduating  classes  of  nurses  out  of  her  ripe 
experience.  

The  Johns  Hopkins  Nurses  Alumna  Maga- 
zine has  a  delightful  report  of  the  Inter- 
national Meeting  at  Cologne,  which  ends  with 
the  writer's  impressions.  She  says  : — The 
impressions  straight  through  the  Congress 
were  of  great  enthusiasm,  cordiality,  and 
ixiTV,  with  a  strong  undercurrent  of  growing 
energy,  courage,  vitality,  :ind  a  gathering 
sense  of  power.  The  Congress  marked,  in  fact, 
a  strong,  genuine  impulse  forward  in  our  work, 
and  showed  also  within  our  ranks  "  peace, 
harmonv,  and  concord." 


THE    RETURIN    OF    MISS    BRODRICK. 

We  are  pleased  to  know  that  Miss  .Mbinia 
Brodrick  is  home  again  in  Kerry,  having  spent 
a  most  enjoyable  and  instructive  time  across  the 
Atlantic,  and  that  she  will  contribute  her 
"  Impressions  on  Nursing  in  the  United 
States  "  to  this  journal  .it  an  early  date.. 


5o6 


Zhc  British  3ournaI  of  IRursino. 


December  21, 


1912 


SCOTTISH    MATRONS'    ASSOCIATION. 

The  quarterly  meetiny-  was  held  on  Saturday, 
December  7th,  in  the  N'ictoria  Infirmary, 
Glasgow. 

In  the  absence  of  the  President,  Miss 
Melrose,  Vice-President  of  the  Association, 
occupied  the  chair. 

Many  letters  and  telegrams  of  apology  for 
absence  were  received,  "fhirty-six  members 
were  present,  several  coming  from  a  consider- 
able distance.  There  was  no  special  business 
before  the  meeting.  Discussion  and  informal 
exchange  of  opinions  on  some  points  in  nursing 
ethics  took  place,  and  it  was  arranged  that  t\\o 
members  should  read  short  papers  at  the  next 
meeting,  which  is  to  be  held  in  Edinburgh  on  or 
about  ISIarch  ist,  1913. 

A  delightful  tea  was  provided  by  Miss  Camp- 
bell, Matron  of  the  Infirmary.  Afterwards  the 
guests  were  invited  to  visit  the  various  depart- 
ments.       , 

The  Plenum  system  of  ventilation  obtains  in 
this  Infirmary,  and  a  very  interesting  demon- 
stration and  explanation,  given  by  the  engineer- 
in-charge,  was  greatly  appreciated  by  the 
members  of  the  .Association. 

IRISH     NURSES'    ASSOCIATION. 

At  the  monthly  meeting  uf  the  Executive 
Committee  on  December  7th  a  resolution  was 
proposed  and  passed'  that  the  fee  for  proba- 
tioners should  be  raised  from  is.  to  2s.  6d.  per 
annum,  the  resolution  not  to  come  into  force  till 
March,  1913.  A  scheme  was  also  proposed  and 
accepted  by  which  every  eight  nurses  should 
have  the  right  to  nominate  a  representative 
from  among  their  number  to  represent  them  at 
the  meeting  of  the  Executive. 

The  bridge  drive  organized  by-  Miss  Carson 
Rae  for  the  I.N. A.,  and  the  dance  organized 
by  the  Irish  Xurses'  Association,  which  took 
place  on  December  4th  and  nth  respectivelv, 
were  both  most  enjoyable.  The  dance  was  well 
supported,  there  being  nearlv  400  present. 

THE  PASSING^A  PIONEER. 

The  recent  death  of  Miss  Katherinc  JNI.  Lumsden, 
so  well-known  for  her  devoted  pioneer  nursing 
work  at  Aberdeen,  was  sympathetically  referred  to 
at  the  quarterly  meeting  of  the  Aberdeen  District 
Nursing  Association,  when  a  resolution,  recording 
her  passion  for  the  mitigation  of  suffering  in  man 
"and  beast — together  with  her  quick  insight  into 
the  needs  of  the  poor — and  power  of  leading  others 
to  assist  in  her  beneficient  labours,  was  unani- 
mously- adopted.  It  was  resolved  that  a  copy  of  the 
resolution  should,  with  an  expression  of  deep 
sympathy,  be  sent  to  Miss  Lumsden's  brother  and 
sister. 


OUTSIDE   THE   GATES, 


WO.VIEN. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Council  of  the  Royal 
College  of  Surgeons  of  England,  held  last  week, 
Miss  Lily  Fanny  Pain,  of  the  Royal  Free  and 
National  Dental  Hospitals,  having  passed  the 
required  examinations  of  the  Board  of  Examiners 
in  Dental  Surgery,  was  admitted  the  first  lad^■ 
Hcentiate  of  the  Roy-al  College. 


Early  in  the  New  Year  the  Franchise  Bill  will 
be  before  the  House  of  Commons.  It  will  either 
give  votes  to  all  immature  youths  alone,  or  at  th? 
same  time  enfranchise  a  few  responsible  women. 
The  women's  suffrage  societies  are  making  demands 
and  appeals  to  the  men  who  govern  this  reactionar\- 
countiy,  of  late  with  a  lack  of  all  sense  of  either 
justice  or  humanity.  In  a  memorial  presented 
by  representative  women  to  members  of  the 
House  of  Commons  it  is  stated  : — 

"  The  further  extension  of  the  franchise  to  men, 
without  anv  recognition  of  the  claims  of  women 
to  citizenship,  will  add  a  new  bitterness  to  the 
struggle  which  women  have  carried  on  for  so  man\- 
years  on  strictly  constitutional  lines.  To  readjust 
the  Parliamentary  Franchise  on  the  basis  of 
citizenship,  and  to  pretend  to  give  a  vote  to 
every  citizen  of  full  age  and  conipetent  under- 
standmg  '  while  still  excluding  every  woman,  will 
be  a  betrayal  of  every  principle  of  representation, 
and,  to  quote  the  Manchester  Guardian,  will  be  '  an 
outrage  and,  we  hope,  an  impossibility.'  " 


As  reported  by  the  Standard  : — 
"  The  news  that  a  Bill  amending  the  Danish 
Constitution  and  granting  equal  suffrage  to  men 
and  women  has  been  passed  in  the  Danish  Folk- 
thing  by  a  majority  of  05  to  12  is  an  opportune 
encouragement  to  English  Suffragists  on  the  eve 
of  the  Committee  Stage  of  the  Government 
Franchise  Bill." 

The  news  has  been  received  with  the  greatest 
satisfaction  by  suffragists  in  England,  and  warmest 
congratulations  have  been  sent  to  Fru  !Munter, 
who  communicated  the  telegram  to  Mrs.  Fawcett. 


After  y-ears  of  obstruction  in  the  Commons,  the 
Criminal  Law  Amendment  (\Miite  Slave.  Traffic) 
.\ct  received  the  Royal  Assent  last  Friday,  and 
(praise  be)  comes  into  operation  at  once.  Let  us 
hope  its  provisions  may  be  actively  prosecuted. 
That  it  has  been  possible  for  this  horrible 
traffic  to  flourish  all  o\'er  the  world,  with  London 
as  a  centre  depot,  should  make  the  most  selfish 
woman  pause  and  think  of  all  the  heartbreak 
and  agoRy  which  her  apathy  has  helped  to  make 
possible.  It  is  good  news  that  many  of  the 
degraded  beings  living  on  the  profits  of  infamy 
are  scuttling  out  of  this  country  ;  it  should  be 
made  impossible  for  them  to  pursue  it  elsewhere. 
The  conviction  of  women  forcibly^  expressed, 
that  had  they  had  political  power  tliis  Act  would 
have  been  in   force  years   ago,   has,   we  have  no 


Dccenihcr  21, 


191 


Zbc  British  3ournal  of  H-lursino. 


507 


doubt,  shamed  those  who  govern  us  without 
consent,  into  passing  it  at  last.  Anywaj',  it 
proves  tliat  the  earnest  convictions  of  women 
cannot  be  altogether  ignored,  and  is  so  far  a 
sign,  and  an  encouragement  to  further  efforts  to 
obtain  the  vote,  so  that  on  our  knees  we  wear 
away  no  more  stones  by  importunate  claims. 
What  can  be  more  demoralising  than  such  cringing 
importunities,  when  our  very  souls  are  at  stake  ? 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


In  connection  with  the  Court  of  Domestic 
Relations  in  Chicago  there  has  just  been  established 
a  Babies'  Court,  the  first  one  of  its  kind  in  the 
world,  says  the  Standard.  To  this  court  Mrs. 
Mary  I.eavitt  has  been  appointed  as  clerk,  and  it 
will  be  her  duty  to  try  to  settle  disputes  between 
parents  concerning  children,  and  deal  with  special 
baby  cases.  Trained  nurses  are  in  attendance 
at  the  court,  and  the  waiting-room  has  been 
fitted  up  as  a  large  nursery,  with  cots,  toys,  and 
books — in  fact,  everything  possible  has  been  done 
to  beguile  the  tedious  waiting  for  the  infant 
public,  and  keep  them  on  their  best  behaviour. 
Mrs.  Leavitt,  who  has  been  connected  with  the 
Court  of  Domestic  Relations  for  some  time  past,  is 
dubbed  by  Chicagoans  "  the  mender  of  broken 
hearts,"  as  during  the  present  year  she  has,  by 
her  extraordinary  tact  and  sympathy,  satisfactorily 
settled  2,770  cases  of  marital  unhappiness  out  of 
court. 

JOY    AND    DUTY. 

"  '  Joy  is  a  duty  ' — so  with  golden  lore 

The  Hebrew  rabbis  taught  in  days  of  yore, 
.\nd  happy  human  hearts  heard  in  their  speech 
.Mmost  the  highest  wisdom  man  can  reach. 
But  one  bright  peak  still  rises  far  above, 
.Vnd  there  the  Master  stands  whose  name  is  I.ovc, 
Saying  to  those  whom  weary  tasks  employ  : 
'  T-ife  is  di\inc  when  Duty  is  a  Joy.'  " 

Van   Dyke. 

COMING     EVENTS. 

December  25//;, — Christmas  Day.  l'"cstivities  in 
hospitals,  infirmaries,  and  kindred  institutions. 

January  6th  to  j6tli. — Post  Graduate  Course  of 
Lectures  on  the  Feeding  and  Care  of  Infants,  with 
special  attention  to  the  Milk  Problem.  Fee,  /i  is. 
Apply  to  Hon.  Secretary,  Dr.  Janet  E.  Lane- 
Claypon,  18,  Craven  Terrace,  Lanca.ster  Gate, 
London,  W. 


A    WORD    FOR   THE    WEEK. 

Innermost  depth  of  home  !  Sweet  secrecy  of 
dwelling  !  O  secret  place  to  dwell  in,  where  is 
no  dullness,  no  bitterness  of  evil  thoughts,  no 
throng  of  temptations,  and  griefs  crving  for  help  ! 
Is  it  not  the  secret  place  into  which  that  well- 
deserving  servant  shall  enter,  to  whom  his  Lord 
shall  say,  "  Enter  thou  into  the  joy  o£  thy  Lord  !  " 
— .S.  A  ugustine. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  jar  these  columns,  tve  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


THE    HAND  OP   FliLLOWSHIP. 

To  the  Editor  oj  The  Brhisii  Journal  of  Nuusinc. 
Dear  Madam,  —  Miss  Barclay  and  I,  two 
New  Zealand  nurses  who  attended  the  Dinner  at 
the  Hotel  Cecil,  on  the  14th  inst.,  feel  we  should 
like  to  express  our  appreciation  of  your  Imperial 
spirit  towards  Colonial  nurses.  You  have  always 
extended  the  hand  of  fellowship  to  them,  and  it 
is  this  spirit  of  Imperialism  which  must  in  the  long 
run  bring  out  all  that  is  best  for  the  development 
of  the  Nursing  Profession,  and  also  help  to  unite  . 
the  many  daughters  of  the  Mother  of  our  great 
l-:mpire  yours  trul>. 

ICniTH  Af.  A.  Mf.lvii.li;. 

REPLIES  TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 

Mrs.  Ledebocr,  Driebei'^eii.  -  Membership  of  the 
International  Council  of  Nurses  can  only  be  at- 
tained in  a  corporate  capacity.  In  Holland,  you 
should  become  a  member  of  the  Dutch  Nurses' 
Association,  which  is  affiliated  to  the  International 
Council.  Apply  to  the  Hon.  Secretary,  Dutch 
Nurses'  Association,  13,  Van  Eeghenstraat, 
Amsterdam. 

Richmonditc. — The  abbreviation,  "  S.  &  M.  U.," 
refers  to  the  words  in  (/)  at  the  beginning  of  the 
paper,  i.e.,  "  Save  and  Measure  Urine."  The 
administration  of  anal  stimulation  to  a  new-born 
infant  is  carried  out  in  the  usual  way,  but  it  is  not 
often  employed. 

OUR     PRIZE    COMPETITIONS. 

Di;ci:MBKK. 
December   2.8th. — What    symptoms    would    lead 
you  to  suspect  apoplexy  ?    Give  nursing  treatment 
of  apoplexy. 

Janu.xrv. 
January    i\lh. — How        would        \ou        control 
Tonsillar  Hemorrhage  ? 

NOTICES. 

Owing  to  the  Christmas  holidays,  our  issue  of 
December  28th  will  go  to  press  early  in  the  week. 
AH  adverti-sements  for  the  Advertrsement  Supple- 
ment should  reach  the  office,  431,  Oxford  Street,  W. 
not  later  than  10  a.m.  on  the  morning  of  Monday, 
December   23rd. 

The  Editor  hopes  that  every  reader  who  values 
The  British  Journal  of  Nursing,  will  get  o.ne 
or  more  new  subscribers  —so  that  its  constructive 
work  for  the  profession  may  receive  ever  increasing 
support.  Address  of  OfTice,  431,  Oxford  Street, 
London,  W. 


5os      Z\K  36ritii3b  Journal  of  H-lursituj  Supplement.  December  21,  1912 


The   Midwife, 


TRIPLET  LABOUR. 


An  interesting  case  of  a  triplet  labour  under 
close  observation  in  a  m^ernity  hospital,  re- 
corded in  a  foreign  contemporary,  is  published 
in  the  British  Medical  Journal.  The  patient 
was  33  years  old,  and  there  had  been  several 
twin  pregnancies  among  her  blood  relations. 
She  herself  had  been  pregnant  once  before, 
three  vears  earlier,  and  was  delivered  spon- 
taneously at  term.  Conception  occurred  in 
Julv,  191 1.  The  uterus  grew  very  large,  and 
twins  were  diagnosed.  Pains  set  in  on 
March  19th,  1912.  The  breech  of  a  fetus  pre- 
sented, and,  after  a  few  hours,  a  female  child, 
weighing  4 J  lb.,  was  delivered.  The  proximal 
side  of  tfie  cord  as  well  as  the  distal  was  liga- 
tured. The  second  fetus  presented  transversely. 
A  tense  bag  of  membranes  could  be  felt,  and 
was  ruptured  ;  then  an  arm  prolapsed.  Version 
was  practised,  and  evolution  proved  somewhat 
difficult  owing  to  extreme  shortness  of  the  cord, 
but  at  length,  and  without  difficulty,  a  second 
female  child,  weighing  under  4^  lb.,  was  de- 
livered. The  uterus  remained  large ;  the  pre- 
sence of  a  third  fetus  was  overlooked,  but  on 
palpation  of  the  uterus  an  hour  later  it  was 
detected.  Its  head  presented,  but  there  was 
almost  complete  uterine  inertia,  so  the  child  was 
delivered  by  version.  It  was  a  male,  weighing 
onlv  a  little  over  3  lb.,  yet  well  nourished. 
Owing  to  the  inertia  the  placenta  had  to  be 
extracted  within  thirty  minutes,  and  much 
blood  had  already  filled  the  cavity  of  the  flaccid 
uterus.  The  mother  suckled  the  boy  only  ;  at 
the  end  of  three  months  he  weighed  5 J  lb.,  yet 
seemed  healthy ;  the  female  children  at  the 
same  date  weighed  one  over  8  lb.,  and  the  other 
7J  lb.  The  placenta  weighed  about  i  lb.  3  oz., 
and  measured  iif  in.  in  diameter.  All  three 
cords  were  distinct,  and  inserted  marginally ; 
one  insertion  was  velamentous.  There  was  a 
bag  of  membranes  for  each  fetus,  and  a  septum 
between  the  adjacent  membranes,  which  seemed 
to  be  formed  out  of  two  perfect  amniotic 
cavities  and  one  chorion.  The  septa  coalesced 
at  the  centre  of  the  placenta.  The  umbilical 
arteries  were  injected  \\ith  coloured  soot ;  then 
it  was  found  that  no  vascular  communication 
existed  between  the  placentas.  Blue,  ochre, 
and  carmine  were  used,  and  the  coloured  areas 
were  distinct  and  sharply  limited.  Thus,  added 
to  the  fact  that  there  was  a  male  as  well  as  two 
females,  this  evidence  gained  hv  injection  indi- 


cated that  the  pregnancy  was  not  univitelline 
nor  bivitelline  coexisting  with  a  univitelline 
ovum,  but  trivitelline  with  subsequent  fusion  of 
the  adjacent  parts  of  the  three  placenta^. 

CENTRAL  MIDWIVES  BOARD. 


EXAMINATION     PAPER. 

The  following  are  the  questions  set  to  candidates 
for  the  examination  of  the  Central  Midwives 
Board,  on  December  i6th  : — 

1.  Describe  the  position  of  the  bladder.  What 
bladder  troubles  may  arise  during  pregnancy  and 
Iving-in  ? 

2.  What  advice  would  you  give  and  what 
investigations  would  >ou  make  when  engaged  to 
attend  a  woman  in  her  first  confinement  ? 

3.  Gi\e  the  signs  in  the  second  stage  of  a  vertex 
prescntaiion  which  would  determine  you  to  send 
for  medical  assistance.  Wliat  might  you  do  whik- 
awaiting  the  doctor's  arrival  ? 

4.  Describe  the  mechanism  of  delivery  of  the 
rJter-coniing  head.  What  may  delay  the  birth 
of  the  after-coming  head  and  how  would  you 
manage  such  a  case  ? 

5.  What  would  you  do  for  a  baby  in  convulsions? 
Mention  the  causes  of  convulsions. 

6.  Name  the  conditions  included  under  tlie  term 
venereal  disease.  Describe  the  local  manifestations 
in  the  mother  and  child  which  would  lead  you  to 
suspect  the  presence  of  any  form  of  venereal 
disease.   What  is  the  midwife's  duty  in  such  cases  ? 

NOTES  ON  MATERNITY  HOSPITALS. 


The  General  Lying-ix  Hospital. 

The  Ladies'  Association  of  the  General  Lying-in 
Hospital,  York  Road,  have  sent  in  their  annual 
contribution  of  work,  consisting  of  nearly  300 
garments,  all  made  to  hospital  pattern.  What 
a  tremendous  help  this  work  is  only  those 
responsible  for  the  hospital  linen  really  know. 
The  constant  wear  and  tear  renders  the  life  of 
garments  verv  short,  therefore  constant  supplies 
are  alwavs  needed,  and  leisure  moments  could 
not  be  used  to  better  purpose  than  in  helping 
in  this  way. 

The  Romanv  Amateur  Dramatic  Club  presented 
"  What  the  Public  Wants,"  a  play  in  four  acts 
by  Arnold  Bennett,  at  the  Royal  Court  Theatre 
in  Sloane  Square,  on  December.  i6th  and  17th, 
in  aid'of  the  funds  of  the  Hospital.  This  afforded 
an  opportunity  of  combining  pleasure  with  help  for 
a  verv  deserving  charity. 


Their  Majesties  the  King  and  Queen  have  given 
their  patronage  to  the  National  Association  for 
the  Prevention  of  Infant  Mortality,  of  which 
:\Ir.  John  Bums  is  President. 


WITH  WHICH  IS  INCORPORATED 
EDITED   BY  MRS   BEDFORD  FENWICK 


No.   1,291 


SATURDAY,     DECEMBER   28,    1912. 


NURSING    IN    I9I2. 


Unce    iinjrt,    accordiny    lu    our    cusluin,    wl- 
review  the  chief  events  of  nursing  interest  in 
191 2,  and  the  present  outlook. 
The  N.vtion.al  Council  of  Traineij  Xikses  of 
GRE.vr  Britain  and  Ireland. 

The  National  Council  of  Trained  Nurses 
appears  to  be  the  only  association  of  nurses 
in  this  country  which  attempts  to  safeguard 
their  professional  and  economic  interests,  and 
is  alert  in  watching  the  signs  of  the  times. 

It  has  endeavoured  to  secure  the  direct  repre- 
sentation of  Trained  Nurses  on  the  Conjoint 
-Advisory  Committee  under  the  National 
Insurance  -Act,  but,  unfortunately,  its  efforts  to 
obtain  justice  in  this  connection  have  not  met 
with  success,  and  tlic  trained  nurses  of  this 
country,  whose  help  is  essential  to  the  success- 
ful working  of  the  .Act,  are  the  only  class  of 
professional  or  industrial  workers  who  have 
been  deliberately  denied  such  representation. 
The  application  of  the  Council  for  increased 
representation  on  the  National  Council  of 
Women  of  Great  Britain  and  Ireland  has  re- 
sulted in  the  appointment  of  a  second  delegate. 
Both  representatives  attended  an  extraordinary 
meeting  of  the  Council  in  November,  and  voted 
for  the  Resolution  re-affirming  the  opinion  of 
the  Council,  twice  previously  expressed  by 
Resolution,  in  support  of  Women's  Suffrage, 
and  a  further  Resolution  urging  the  Government 
to  amend  the  Franchise  and  Registration  Bill 
now  before  Parliament,  so  as  to  remove  the 
anomalies  and  disabilities  existing  in  the 
present  law  with  regard  to  Women's  Local 
Gfivernment  Franchise,  and  to  safeguard  the 
powers  already  possessed  by   women. 

The  International  Library,  in  charge  of  Mrs. 
Stabb,  is  becoming  a  very  useful  and  valuable 
reference  library,  containing  complete  volumes 
of  the  official  organs  of  the  National  Associa- 
tions of  Nurses,  and  other  books  and  documents 
of  historic  interest. 

The  Council  also  at  its  .Annual  Meeting  sent 
a  Resolution  to  the  British  Red  Cross  .Societv, 


deprecating  its  policy  in  refusing  to  include 
thoroughly  trained  women  nurses  in  tiie  units 
sent  to  relieve  the  sick  and  wounded  in  the 
-Near  East,  and  expressing  the  opinion  that 
only  nurses  who  are  fully  trained  should  be  sent 
in  this  capacity,  and  that  no  base  hospital  can 
be  considered  efficiently  equipped  which  has  not 
such  a  staff. 

The  Matrons'  Council  of  Gre.m  Britain 
AND  Ireland. 

The  membership  of  the  Matrons'  Council 
continues  to  steadily  increase.  It  has  continued 
its  policy  of  holding  meetings  in  provincial 
centres  as  well  as  in  London,  and  early  in 
November  met,  by  invitation  of  Miss  K.  V. 
Macintyre,  at  the  Royal  .Albert  Edward  In- 
firmary, Wigan,  w'here  its  members  received 
tiic  greatest  hospitality  and  kindness.  After 
the  business  meeting  an  open  meeting  was  held, 
when  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  gave  an  address 
on  State  Registration  of  Trained  Nurses. 

The  Council  is  exceptionally  fortunate  in  its 
President,  Miss  M.  Heather-Bigg,  whose  quiet 
moral  courage  in  approaching  public  questions 
secures  for  her  the  respect  of  every  member  of 
Council. 

The  Leagues  of  Certificated  Nurses. 

It  is  to  the  Leagues  of  Nurses  that  we  must 
look  for  the  development  of  that  esprit  de  corps 
which  is  not  only  of  the  utmost  professional 
importance,  but  also  is  the  only  means  of  build- 
ing up  a  strong  body  which  can  safeguard  the 
economic  interests  of  trained  nurses,  which  at 
the  present  time  are  attacked  on  all  sides. 

It  is  remarkable  what  unanimity  of  feeling 
exists  not  only  in  the  individual  Leagues,  but 
also  in  their  mutual  relations,  a  circumstance 
which  proves  that  the  aspirations  of  thoroughly 
trained  nurses  are  identical,  and  that  where 
divergencies  occur  in  the  nursing  profession 
they  are  not  between  the  thoroughly  trained, 
but  are  a  result  of  inadequate  standards,  and 
the  impossibility  of  appreciation,  on  the  part  of 
the  half-trained,  of  the  ideals  and  opinions  of 
fuHv-trained  nurses. 


XLl)C  36inti5b  3oiu*nal  of  H^ursiiui.     December  28, 


1912 


We  congratulate  the  Presidents  and  the 
editors  of  the  Journals  published  in  connection 
with  these  Leagues  on  the  admirable  way  in 
which  they  are  produced  and  edited. 

The  International  Council  of  Nurses. 

The  most  important  and  far-reaching  event 
of  the  year,  as  affecting  the  nursing  profession, 
has  been  the  Triennial  Meeting  of  the  Inter- 
national Council  of  Nurses  at  Cologne,  and  the 
gathering  of  some  600  nurses  of  23  nationalities 
at  the  Congress  and  Nursing  Exhibition 
organized  by  the  German  Nurses'  Association 
in  connection  with  it. 

The  Congress  has  been  fully  reported  in  this 
Journal  and  in  the  official  organs  of  the  other 
affiliated  National  Councils,  and  we  will  there- 
fore only  briefly  allude  to  the  points  of  chief 
importance  in  connection  with  it. 

I.  The  Resolutions  passed  unanimously  by 
the  Grand  Council  of  the  International  Council 
of  Nurses  endorsed  (a)  the  principle  of  State 
Registration  of  Nurses,  and  called  upon  those 
Governments  which  had  so  far  denied  this 
obviously  just  demand  to  reverse  their  attitude 
of  inaction ;  (t>)  declared  its  adherence  to  the 
principle  of  woman  suffrage  as  a  great  moral 
movement  making  for  the  conquest  of  misery, 
preventible  illness,  and  vice,  and  as  strengthen- 
ing a  feeling  of  human  brotherhood. 

Resolutions  passed  in  the  sessions  of  the 
Congress  dealt  (o)  with  the  overwork  of  nurses, 
(b)  with  the  position  of  the  Matron,  and  (c)  with 
the  social  condition  of  nurses  in  the  affiliated 
countries. 

The  paper  which  aroused  the  greatest  interest 
of  the  Congress  was  undoubtedly  that  by  Dr. 
Hecker,  dealing  with  the  Overwork  of  Nurses, 
which  is  an  epoch-making  thesis,  for  which  the 
nurses  of  the  whole  world  owe  him  a  most 
sincere  debt  of  gratitude.  It  has  been  trans- 
lated into  English  for  the  International  Council 
of  Nurses,  and  is  being  published  in  pamphlet 
form. 

The  Report  on  Preliminary  Education,  drawn 
up  by  Miss  J.  C.  van  Lanschot  Hubrecht,  Hon. 
Secretary  of  the  Committee  on  Nursing  Educa- 
tion, and  showing  what  has  been  done  in  the 
countries  affiliated  to  the  International  Council, 
is  a  valuable  contribution  to  the  literature 
published  by  the  Council. 

The  Council  also  determined  to  found  an 
Educational  Memorial  to  Miss  Florence 
Nightingale,  and  it  was  universally  felt  that  the 
only  international  memoria'  appropriate  to  so 
great  a  teacher  was  one  which  would  emphasise 
her  life's  work  as  a  teacher  of  the  fundamental 
laws  of  nursing,    and   of   sanitary  science,    of 


which  nursing  forms  a  part,  and  which  would 
benefit  the  nurses  of  the  world. 

The  Council  elected  Sister  Agnes  Karll, 
R.N.,  who  has  done  so  much  to  further  the 
international  solidarity  of  the  Nursing  Profes- 
sion, to  the  position  of  an  Hon.  President,  it 
also  elected  Miss  A.  W.  Goodrich,  R.N.,  Presi- 
dent for  the  ensuing  triennial  period,  and  ac- 
cepted invitations  from  the  United  States  of 
America  to  hold  the  next  meeting  in  1915  at 
San  Francisco. 

Professional  Associ.\tions  of   Nurses. 

The  Poor  Law  Infirmary  Matrons'  Associa- 
tion is  now  formally  constituted,  with  Miss 
E.  C.  Barton  as  President.  In  November  a 
deputation  from  the  Association  was  received 
at  the  Local  Government  Board  office  by  Mr. 
Francis,  Secretary  to  the  Orders  Committee, 
on  the  subject  of  the  position  of  the  Superin- 
tendent Nurse  now  under  consideration. 

The  Midland  Matrons'  Association,  of  which 
Miss  E.  M.  Musson  is  President,  continues  to 
take  an  interest  in  current  events  as  they  affect 
nurses,  and  during  the  year  an  address  has 
been  delivered  before  it  on  the  National 
Insurance  Act  and  the  formation  of  a  Trained 
Women  Nurses'  Friendly  Society  by  Miss  M. 
Mollett. 

The  Superintendents  working  under  Queen 
Victoria's  Jubilee  Institute  for  Nurses  have  the 
advantage  of  professional  association  through 
the  Northern  and  Southern  Associations  of 
Superintendents,  at  the  meetings  of  which 
many  subjects  of  professional  interest  are  dis- 
cussed. 

Nursing  in  the  Government  Services. 

The  value  to  the  State  of  the  services  of 
trained  nurses  receives  ample  proof  in  the  fact 
that  almost  every  Government  Department 
finds  it  necessary  to  employ  them  directly  or 
indirectly. 

The  Admiralty  through  Queen  .'\lexandra's 
Royal  Naval  Nursing  Service,  in  connection 
with  which  a  Reserve  of  Naval  Nursing  Sisters 
has  been  established.  It  is  to  be  regretted, 
however,  that  there  is  still  no  Nursing  Depart- 
ment at  the  Admiralty  with  a  Matron-in-Chlef 
in  charge.  This  is  the  most  urgent  need  of  the 
Service,  and  nothing  would  tend  more  to  raise 
its  efficiency. 

The  War  Office. — It  is  to  be  regretted  that 
the  conditions  of  service  in  Queen  Alexandra's 
Imperial  Military  Nursing  Service,  providing 
for  the  admission  to  the  Service  of  candidates 
holding  a  certificate  of  "  not  less  than  three 
years'  training  and  service,"  have  not  Vet  been 
revised,    and    "  a    certificate    of    three    years' 


December  28,  1912     <L\K  Bvittsl)  Souiiial  ot  Biirsmo. 


5'^ 


training-  "  substituted.  Every  hospital  of  stand- 
ing in  tiie  country,  with  the  exception  of  the 
London  Hospital,  now  certifies  its  nurses  after 
not  less  than  three  years'  trainintf,  and  the  re- 
quirements of  a  whole  public  Service  should  not 
be  lowered  because  one  hospital,  for  economic 
reasons,  maintains  an  obsolete  standard. 

The  Service  is  also  prejudiciall\  affected  by 
the  fact  that  promotion  to  the  higher  posts  is 
apparently  reserved  for  those  trained  at  the 
London  Hospital,  a  system  which  discourages 
the  best  class  of  woman  trained  in  other  hos- 
pitals from  entering  it,  which  is  calculated  to 
do  great  injury  to  the  Service. 

The  .Army  Nursing  Service  Reserve,  under 
the  control  of  the  Nursing  Board  at  the  War 
Office,  is  intended  to  supplement  the  regular 
Service,  in  the  event  of  war,  either  at  home  or 
abroad. 

The  Territorial  Force  Nursing  Service,  under 
the  control  of  an  .Advisory  Council  at  the  War 
Office,  is  now  thoroughly  organized  for  home 
service  in  case  of  invasion.  It  has  its  own 
Matron-in-Chief,  and  Matrons  of  important 
Civil  Hospitals  throughout  Great  Britain,  with 
the  assistance  of  a  committee,  organize  the 
hospital  staffs  and  act  as  Principal  Matrons 
in  time  of  peace.  Provision  is  made  for  a 
nursing  staff  of  1 20  members  for  each  hospital, 
the  full  staff  required  being  92.  .All  members 
are  required  to  report  to  the  Principal  Matron 
once  a  vear,  who  is  responsible  for  the  accuracy 
of  the  Roll. 

The  Local  Government  Board. — Poor  Law 
Nursing  in  infirmaries  and  workhouse  wards, 
under  the  Local  Government  Board,  through- 
out the  kingdom  varies  greatly  in  quality.  In 
many  of  the  larger  infirmaries  separated  from 
the  workhouses  the  standard  of  training  is 
equal  to  that  of  the  general  hospitals,  although 
the  proportion  of  patients  to  nurses  is  high  in 
all.  In  some  of  the  smaller  infirmaries  attached 
to  workhouses,  and  in  workhouse  wards,  the 
diflficullv  of  obtaining  nurses  is  acute  and  the 
quality  of  the  nursing  suffers.  Considerable 
frictiqn  is  caused  by  the  fact  that  the  trained 
Superintendent  Nurse  is  placed  untJer  the  un- 
trained Master  and  Matron  of  the  Workhouse, 
and  in  many  petty  ways  her  life  is' often  made 
so  uncomfortable  that  many  good  nurses  will 
not  put  in  for  these  posts.  It  is  to  be  hoped 
that  some  satisfactory  solution  of  this  perennial 
difficulty  will  be  found  by  the  Committee  of  the 
r^ocal  Government  Board,  which  now  has  this 
question  under  consideration.  Probably  the 
best  method  would  be  to  separate  the  offices  of 
Master  and  Matron  and,  in  the  smaller  work- 
houses, and  to  require  the  Matron  to  be  a  trained 


nursi-.  She  could  then  take  her  position  as 
head  of  the  nursing  staff. 

The  Board  of  Education. — The  School  Nur- 
sing in  Elementary  Schools  under  the  London 
County  Council  is  a  department  of  the  work 
of  the  Board  of  Education. 

The  Home  Office. — At  present  no  Nursing 
Service  is  organized  in  connection  with  prisons 
under  the  Home  Office,  although  some  of  the 
wardresses  on  duty  in  the  prison  infirmaries 
have  had  a  certain  amount  of  training.  Yet  it 
is  certain  that  such  a  highly  skilled  Nursing 
Service  is  urgently  needed  in  prisons,  where, 
besides  the  acutely  ill,  many  of  those  under- 
going sentence  are  mentally  unstable,  feeble- 
minded, inebriate,  and  diseased.  The  organiza- 
tion of  a  Prison  Staff  of  well-trained,  specially 
picked  women  would  be  of  great  benefit  both  to 
the  prisoners  and  to  the  Government  Depart- 
ment responsible  for  their  health. 

The  appointment  of  trained  nurses  as  Prison 
Matrons  is  also  a  reform  greatly  to  be  desir^ed. 

The  Colonial  Office. — The  Colonial  Office 
does  not  employ  nurses  directly,  but  depends 
upon  the  Colonial  .Vursing  Association  to  select 
those  needed  for  service  in  Government  Hos- 
pitals, and  as  private  nurses  in  Crown  Colonies. 

The  Foreign  Office.— A  limited  number  of 
nurses  for  British  Protectorates  are  selected 
through  the  Foreign  Office. 

The  India  Office. — In  connection  with  Queen 
.Alexandra's  Military  Nursing  Service  for 
India  there  is  a  Nursing  Board  at  the  India 
OlTice  which  interviews  and  recommends  candi- 
dates for  appointment. 

Fevkk  Nursing. 
The  Fever  Nurses'  Association,  of  which  Dr. 
F.  Caiger  is  President,  is  w-orking  to  system- 
atize the  education  of  fever  nurses  and  to 
obtain  recognition  for  this  experience  as  part 
of  a  nurse's  training,  and  many  nurses  are 
showing  their  appreciation  of  the  certificate  in 
fever  training  given  after  examination  to  those 
who  pass  through  the  prescribed  curriculum. 
Under  a  system  of  State  Registration  of 
Nurses  a  scheme  of  reciprocal  training  between 
general  and  fever  hospitals,  which  the  Fever 
Nurses'  Association,  as  well  as  the  Metro- 
politan Asylums  Board,  desires  to  see  estab- 
lished, will  doubtless  be  defined.  Meanwhile 
the  Association  is  doing  good  work  in  en- 
deavouring to  organize  the  training  through- 
out the  fever  hospitals. 

Mental  Nursinc. 
The  Asylum  Officers  (Employment,  Pensions, 
and  Superannuation)   Bill,   introduced  into  the 


Z\K  ISnti^I?  30Unial   of  1HlU»ilUj  December  28,  1912 


House  of  Commons  by  \"iscoant  \Volmer,  has 
not  yet  become  law,  although  the  Select  Com- 
mittee which  last  year  reported  upon  it  stated 
their  ,  n'nion  that,  with  certain  amendments,  it 
roceeded  with  in  order  that  it  might 

-  I'lO  doubt  that  the  hours  of  Asylum 
are  in  many  instances  excessive, 
a- ._  .. ^.„..,  oe  so  even  in  the  case  of  attendants 
ufMDn  the  sane,  over  ei^htv^  hours  on  duty  a 
week  being-  by  no  means  uncommon.  When 
we  consider  the  mental  anxiety  inseparable 
from  the  care  of  patients  of  unsound  mind,  it 
will  be  recognized  that  legislation  is  urgentl}- 
needed. 

In  the  examination  of  the  Medico-Psycho- 
logical Association,  which  provides  a  uniform 
examination  throughout  the  .\sylum  world, 
mental  nurses  have  an  advantage  over  those 
with  general  training  . 

Private  Xursixg. 

The  nursing  of  patients  in  private  houses  is 
becoming  increasingly  important,  as,  with  the 
advance  of  scientific  medicine  and  surgery, 
greater  demands  are  made  upon  their  know- 
ledge and  skill.  Added  to  this,  women  of  the 
highest  rv'pe  are  needed  for  this  branch  of 
work,  as  their  position  in  houses  disorganized 
bv  illness,  where  not  onlv  the  patients,  but  very 
often  the  relatives,  are  dependent  on  their 
resovu"cefulness  and  wisdom,  is  extremely  re- 
sponsible. Many  such  nurses  are  to  be  found 
in  the  private  nursing  world  whose  services  are 
invaluable  to  the  public.  On  the  other  hand, 
many  undesirable  women  exploit  the  public 
under  the  guise  of  the  nurses'  uniform. 

Private  nurses  are  supplied  (i)  through  co- 
operations and  societies  managed  for  the 
benefit  of  the  nurses  ;  (2)  through  hospital  com- 
mittees and  institutions,  which,  in  most  in- 
stances, make  a  considerable  profit  out  of  the 
earnings  of  their  private  nurses,  following  the 
regrettable  example  of  the  London  Hospital, 
which  makes  thousands  of  pounds  annu- 
ally from  this  source.  It  is  a  quite  unjustifiable 
method  of  supporting  a  charity.  There  is  only 
a  certain  amount  of  private  work  available,  and 
the  fees  derived  from  this  source  should  be  paid 
to  the  nurses  who  earn  them,  after  the  ex- 
penses of  management  have  been  defrayed. 

The  Managers  of  Scottish  Hospitals  are  to 
be  congratulated  that  they  have  never  imjKJsed 
this  tax  on  the  nurses  trained  in  their  institu- 
tions. 

We  are  glad  to  note  that  a  number  of  hos- 
pitals with  private  nursing  staffs  are  following 
the  example  of  St.    Bartholomew's   Hospital, 


and  giving  their  nurses  the  option  of  working 
on  the  co-operative  system. 

District  Nursing. 
District  nursing  work  is  undertaken  by 
women  of  every  degree  of  professional  training 
and  social  status,  from  the  thoroughly  trained 
Queen's  Nurse  with  a  three  years'  certificate, 
and  six  months'  special  training  in  addition,  to 
the  nurse-char,  who,  under  the  Cottage  Benefit 
(Holt-Ockley)  nursing  system,  resides  in  the 
home  of  her  patient,  cooks,  cleans,  and  scrubs 
for  the  famih",  washes  the  children,  and  perhaps 
sleeps  with  the  patient.  The  Queen's  Nurses 
have  proved  of  the  greatest  value  to  the  com- 
munit}-,  not  only  in  the  care  of  the  sick  poor, 
but  as  social  workers  in  the  prevention  of 
disease,  and  in  raising  the  general  standard  of 
health.  It  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that,  for 
the  sake  of  cheap  philanthropy,  a  class  of  so- 
called  nurses  are  being  extensively  employed 
bv  lav  committees  in  rural  districts,  whose 
knowledge  of  nursing,  and  therefore  the  value 
of  whose  services  as  nurses,  is  of  the  slightest. 
In  many  instances  their  status  is  really  that  of 
midwives  (who  in  their  own  department  are 
invaluable  workers),  and  they  should  be  known 
as  such.  The  efficient  care  of  the  sick  poor  in 
rural  districts  would  probably  best  be  solved 
either  by  the  establishment  of  a  central  fund 
in  connection  with  the  Queen's  Institute,  from 
which  the  nurses  in  districts  too  poor  or  too 
scattered  to  be  able  to  maintain  a  fully  trained 
nurse  could  be  subsidized,  or  by  the  establish- 
ment of  a  State  Nursing  Service,  but  it  is 
unfair  to  the  sick  poor  to  supply  them  with 
incompetent  nurses,  and  to  ask  them  to  con- 
tribute to  their  support  on  the  assumption  that 
thev  are  efficient. 

There  have  been  several  changes  in  the 
important  f)Osts  under  Queen  Mctoria's  Jubilee 
Institute  during  the  year.  Miss  Macqueen, 
Nursing  Superintendent  for  England,  has  re- 
signed, and  is  now  working  in  the  Near  East 
in  connection  with  the  Macedonian  Relief  Fund. 
She  is  succeeded  by  Miss  .\lice  J-  Buckle. 

Miss  J-  Cowper,  Superintendent  of  the 
Scottish  Branch,  and  Miss  Lament,  Superin- 
tendent of  the  Irish  Branch,  have  resigned. 
Miss  A.  M.  Peterkin  was  first  appointed 
to  succeed  Miss  Lamont.  but  subsequently 
accepted  the  invitation  of  the  Sk:ottish  Council 
to  become  Superintendent  in  Scotland.  Miss 
A.  Michie  was  then  appointed  Superintendent 
of  the  Irish  Branch. 

Miss  Cathlin  Cicely  du  Sautoy  has  been 
appointed  Insfjector  for  Wales,  in  succession  to 
Miss  PUgrim,  who  has  been  transferred  to  the 
Lancashire  and  Cheshire  area. 


December  2«,  1912      <Ibc  Bilttsl)  Sourual  of  IFlurstnQ. 


513 


School  Nlrsinc. 

A  branch  of  nursing  which  is  rapidly  increas- 
ing is  School  Nursing  in  connection  with  public 
elementary  schools.  In  London  the  special 
service  under  the  London  County  Council, 
under  the  superintendence  of  Miss  H.  L. 
Pearse,  is  steadily  increasing  in  numbers,  and 
recently  four  additional  Assistant  Superinten- 
dents have  been  appointed  to  deal  with  the  in- 
creased work.  The  nurses  are  required  to  have 
a  three  years'  certificate  of  training,  and  their 
work  is  very  specialized  and  of  f^'^reat  national 
importance.  The  salaries  paid  to  the  nurses 
do  not  compare  favourably  with  those  of 
teachers  working  under  the  same  authority, 
and  though  they  have  been  slightly  raised  this 
year,  so  that  a  nurse  who  begins  at  ^80  rises 
by  annual  increments  to  ;^i05,  instead  of  ;^9o 
as  heretofore,  yet  taking  into  consideration  the 
cost  of  living  in  London,  it  will  be  realized  that 
the  commencing  salary  should  be  raised  if  the 
best  class  of  nurses  are  to  be  attracted. 
Further,  the  increase  of  salary  must  not  be 
entirely  regarded  as  increase  of  pay,  as  more 
hours  of  work  are  exacted. 

In  the  provinces  the  office  of  School  Nurse  is 
often  combined  with  that  of  Health  Visitor, 
Tuberculosis  Inspector,  or  Inspector  of  Mid- 
wives,  such  nurses  usuallv  working  under  the 
direction  of  the  Medical  Officer  of  Health  in 
connection  with  Health  and  Education  Depart- 
ments. The  combination  of  midwifery  with 
school  nursing  is  not  desirable,  owing  to  the 
constant  likelihood  of  contact  with  infection  in 
the  schools. 

Nurses'  Social  Uniox. 

We  are  informed  that  the  Nurses'  Social 
Union  has  had  a  very  successful  year.  There 
has  been  a  steady  influx  of  new  members,  and 
a  continually  increasing  demand  for  new 
branches. 

The  new  Constitution,  providing  for  Full  and 
Associate  Membership,  the  former  to  be  a 
three  years'  certificate,  and  the  granting  of 
distinctive  badges,  was  ratified  by  the  Council 
in  April,  and  will  be  adopted  by  all  branches  at 
the  close  of  the  year  191 2. 

Miss  .Amy  Hughes,  General  Si>perintendent 
Q.V.J.  I.,  remains  President.  Among  the 
newly-elected  \'ice-Presidents  and  Members  of 
the  Council  are  Miss  Gibson,  late  Matron,  Bir- 
mingham Infirmary  ;  Miss  Rogers,  late  Matron, 
Leicester  Infirmary ;  Mrs.  Kanthack  de  \'oss, 
late  Sister,  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital;  and 
the  Hon.  Albinia  Brodrick. 

Miss  Haughton,  Matron,  Guy's  Hospital, 
has  become  President  of  the  London  Division 


of  the   Union,   and  .Miss  Gibson  its  Honorary 
Organiser. 

The  Lxhibition  held  at  Bristol  in  June  was 
organised  and  chiefly  carried  out  by  members 
of  the  Union.  It  proved  most  successful  from 
all  points  of  view,  and  much  praise  and  grati- 
tude were  accorded  to  the  workers,  as  also  to 
the  helpers  who  look  charge  of  the  N.S.U. 
Exhibits  at  the  Gloucester  Exhibition  in 
October. 

.N'ew  branches  have  been  formed  in  the  fol- 
lowing areas  : — Richmond  (Surrey),  Southsea, 
Gloucester,  Cornwall,  and  Leeds.  It  is  ex- 
pected that  within  a  few  months  several  other 
new  centres  will  organise  branches. 

The  special  work  of  this  Union  is  to  associate 
nurses  and  others  together  for  the  furtherance 
of    social     improvement     in     the    community, 
especially  in  relation  to  the  national  health. 
The  Nurses'  Missionary  League. 

The  Nurses'  Missionary  League,  which  is  a 
u  holesome  agency  in  keeping  alive  ideails  in 
the  nursing  profession,  has  now  a  membership 
of  over  1,800  members,  588  of  whom  are  volun- 
teers for  active  service  in  the  mission  field,  204 
being  already  abroad.  The  success  of  the 
League  is,  indeed,  causing  some  anxiety  to  its 
committee,  for  there  is  an  urgent  necessity  for 
enlarged  headquarters  to  meet  its  growing 
needs  if  the  development  of  the  work  is  not  to 
be  hindered,  which  entails  a  larger  income. 
The  National  Insurance  Act. 

The  National  Insurance  Act,  which  came  into 
force  on  July  15th,  1912,  is. the  first  Act  in 
which  the  small  earnings  of  nurses  have  been 
directly  taxed.  .As  they  are  compelled  to  insure, 
trained  nurses  have  endeavoured  to  form  a 
Society  of  their  own,  the  Trained  Women 
Nurses'  Friendly  Society,  of  which  the  manage- 
ment is  in  professional  hands.  Here  again  they 
must  realize  that,  with  some  notable  exceptions, 
the  Governors  of  hospitals  have  swept  their 
nur.ses  into  the  Nurses'  Insurance  Society, 
which  is  practically  a  branch  of  the  Prudential 
-Society,  concerning  which  it  is  not  necessary  to 
notify  that  all  the  well-paid  posts  provided  by 
the  nurses'  money  have  been  given  to  men. 
The  Educational  Movement. 

The  Bill  for  the  State  Registration  of  Nurses 
has  again  been  introduced  into  the  House  of 
Commons  by  the  Right  Hon.  R.  C.  Munro- 
Ferguson,  M.P.,  but,  as  it  did  not  gain  a  place 
in  the  ballot,  no  time  could  be  granted  for  its 
second  reading  in  the  present  turmoil  of  politics. 
Great  efforts  must  therefore  be  made  in  the 
future  to  impress  the  Government  with  the 
national    importance    of   the   question    of   pro- 


514 


Ziic  36inn5b  3oui-nal  of  H-lursino.      December  28,  1912 


viding  a  guarantee  of  nursing  efficiency  to  tin- 
public,  as  without  it  the  public  is  cruelly  ex- 
ploited by  the  inefficient  nurse,  when  life  and 
death  may  be  hanging  in  the  balance. 

The  demand  for  reform  is  made  by  the 
Central  Committee  for  the  State  Registration 
of  Xurses,  which  represents  organizations  of 
medical  men  and  trained  nurses  with  a  conjoint 
membership  of  not  less  than  30,000.  It  re- 
mains to  be  seen  for  hcfw  long  a  little  clique 
of  metropolitan  hospital  chairmen  can,  through 
social  influence,  deprive  the  community  of  their 
rights  in  this  connection,  and  the  profession  of 
nursing  of  the  legal  status  which  is  long  over- 
due. -Anyway,  1913  must  see  us  up  and  doing. 
Scotland. 

The  Examinations,  both  in  general  nursing 
and  fever  nursing,  instituted  by  the  Local 
Government  Board  for  Scotland  are  now  regu- 
larlv  held,  both  medical  practitioners  and 
Matrons  acting  as  examiners.  The  questions 
set  cover  the  ground  very  thoroughly. 

The  Scottish  Insurance  Commissioners  have 
placed  Miss  A.  W.  Gill,  Matron  of  the  Royal 
Infirmary,  Edinburgh,  on  the  Advisory  Com- 
mittee for  Scotland.  Miss  Gill  was  nominated 
by  the  Scottish  Matrons'  Association,  the 
Scottish  Society  of  Trained  Nurses,  and  other 
bodies.  Scottish  nurses  are  to  be  congratulated 
that  a  nominee  of  nurses'  organizations  has 
thus  been  appointed  to  a  seat  on  the  .Advisory 
Committee. 

In  addition  to  the  Scottish  Matrons'  Associa- 
tion, with  Miss  A.  W.  Gill  as  President,  nurses 
can  now  be  organized  through  the  Scottish 
Society  of  Trained  Nurses,  the  Association  for 
the  Promotion  of  State  Registration  of  Trained 
Nurses  in  Scotland,  and  the  Scottish  Nurses' 
Association.  All  of  these  Societies  support  the 
Bill  for  the  State  Registration  of  Trained 
Nurses.  The  Scottish  Society  of  Trained 
Nurses  has  recently  established  a  "  Nightin- 
gale "  Prize,  to  take  the  form,  in  the  first 
instance,  of  a  medal,  to  be  competed  for  by 
trained  nurses. 

The  Royal  Infirmary,  Edinburgh,  still  con- 
tinues to  allow  trained  nurses  in  the  city  to 
attciid  the  lectures  given  to  the  nursing  staff  at 
the  Infirmary — a  great  advantage,  which  we 
have  no  doubt  is  appreciated  at  its  true  value. 
Ireland. 

In  Ireland  the  Irish  Matrons'  Association, 
the  Irish  Nurses'  Association,  and  its  Ulster 
Branch  form  a  strong  force  making  for  pro- 
fessional organization  and  advancement.  Miss 
E.  Hanan  has  been  appointed  Secretary  of  the 
Irish  Nurses'  Association,  in  succession  to  Miss 
Carson-Rae. 


A  Catholic  Xurses*  Association  has  been 
formed,  of  which  Miss  Barrett  is  the  present 
President,  an  object  being  that  nurses  of  the 
Roman  faith  should  have  an  Association  to 
safeguard  their  own  interests.  To  us  it  is  re- 
grettable that  the  question  of  the  religious  faith 
professed  by  nurses  should  enter  into  the 
organization  of  their  professional  associations, 
which  are  common  ground  on  which  all  nurses 
can  meet. 

Miss  M.  Huxley,  who  has  done  so  much  for 
nursing  in  Ireland,  has  been  appointed  the  first 
woman  Governor  of  Sir  Patrick  Dun's  Hospital, 
Dublin,  of  which  she  was  for  many  years  Lady 
Superintendent.  It  is  generally  recognized  as 
a  well-merited  honour. 

The  Nurses'  Insurance  Society  of  Ireland  has 
been  formed,  with  an  office  at  29,  Gardiner's 
Place,  Dublin. 

The  Irish  nursing  world  and  the  nursing 
world  in  general  has  sustained  an  irreparable 
loss  bv  the  death  of  Mrs.  Kildare  Treacy,  who 
rendered  services  of  the  very  greatest  value  to 
the  cause  of  nursing  organization. 

Our  DoMi.MOxs  Beyo.vd  the  Seas. 

Ill  India  the  Associations  of  Nursing  Super- 
intendents and  Nurses  are  now  affiliated  in  a 
National  Association — with  Miss  Tindall  as 
President — and  have  entered  the  International 
Council  of  Nurses. 

The  conjoint  Associations  presented  an 
.\ddress  to  the  Queen-Empress  on  her  visit  to 
India,  and  received  a  gracious  reply  from  Her 
Majesty. 

LadvMinto's  Indian  Nursing  Association,  for 
providing  skilled  nursing  for  private  patients, 
continues  to  do  good  and  successful  work.  Her 
Majesty  has  accepted  a  specially  bound  copy  of 
its  report. 

Great  efforts  are  being  made  throughout  the 
Empire  to  raise  the  standard  of  nurse  training. 

In  Canada. — Under  the  Hospital  Act  of  the 
Provincial  Legislature  of  Ontario  provision  is 
made  for  the  State  Registration  of  trained 
nurses.  Throughout  the  Dominion,  Associa- 
tions of  Nurses  are  organized  to  obtain  regis- 
tration, and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  their  efforts 
will  ere  long  be  crowned  with  success. 

In  Australasia. — In  New  South  Wales  the 
Australasian  Trained  Nurses'  .Association  has 
passed  a  resolution  approving  of  affiliation  with 
the  International  Council  of  Nurses. 

In  Victoria  a  Bush  Nursing  Scheme  is  being 
slowlv  established. 

State  Registration  of  Nurses  is  now'  in  force 
in  Queensland,  under  conditions  satisfactory  to 
the  .\.T.N..\.     Western  Australia  has  also  a 


December  2S,    191; 


CDc  Biitisb  3oiu'nal  of  Bursino- 


similar  provision,  and  we  may  look  forward 
with  confidence  to  the  eventual  establishment 
of  a  thoroughlv  satisfactory  syslem  of  Nurses' 
Registration  throughout  the  Comnionwealih,  as 
the  system  of  voluntary  registration  now  in 
force  could  hardly  be  bettered. 

New  Zealand. — The  affiliation  of  the  Trained 
Nurses'  Association  of  New  Zealand  to  the 
International  Council  of  N'urses  has  been  the 
important  event  of  the  year. 

Miss  J.  M.  Orr,  Matron  of  the  Taunton  anil 
Somerset  Hospital,  has  been  appointed  Lady 
Superintendent  of  the  Auckland  Hospital,  and 
under  the  new  system  of  management  it  is  con- 
fidently anticipated  that  the  nursing  arrange- 
ments of  this  large  hospital  will  be  materially 
improved. 

South  Africa. — An  Order  of  "  King  Edward 
Nurses  "  has  been  established  as  a  memorial  to 
the  late  King,  of  which  the  Kini^  has  become 
a  patron  and  Queen  Mary  and  Queen  Alexandra 
patronesses. 

Miss  J.  C.  Child,  an  Hon.  Vice-President  of 
the  International  Council  of  Nurses,  attended 
the  Cologne  Congress  from  Basuloland,  bring- 
ing official  reports  on  registration  in  United 
South  .Africa. 

Abroad. 

In  the  United  States  of  .America,  Acts  for  the 
State  Registration  of  Trained  N'urses  have 
become  law  in  the  States  of  New  Jersey,  Dela- 
ware, Louisiana,  Rhode  Island,  and  South 
Carolina,  bringing  the  number  of  States  in 
which  Registration  is  in  force  up  to  35. 

The  name  of  the  American  Society  of  Super- 
intendents of  Training  Schools  for  Nurses  has 
been  changed  to  the  National  League  of  Nur- 
sing Education.  The  Nurses'  National  Asso- 
ciated AlumnEB  has  become  the  American 
Nurses'  Association,  to  which  the  Superinten- 
dents' and  other  important  Societies  arc 
affiliated. 

In  Germany. — In  Germany  the  splendid 
vitality  of  the  German  Nurses'  Association  and 
its  President,  Sister  .\gnes  Karll,  was  demon- 
strated bv  the  organization  of  the  International 
Congress  at  Cologne,  which  has  received  workl- 
wide  recognition. 

The  future  of  German  nursing  can  well  be 
left  in  the  capable  hands  of  the-  earnest  and 
highly  educated  women  who  are  moulding  its 
future. 

In  France. — In  Paris  the  Nursing  School  of 
the  Assistance  Publique  is  making  steady  pro- 
gress. From  the  first  the  School  has  been  en- 
couraged to  take  an  international  interest  In 
nursing  matters,  and  Mile.  Clement,  the 
Matron,  and  other  representatives  attended  the 
Cologne      Congress,      and      Mile.      Danviray, 


recently  the  Dinner  to  Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  in 
London. 

For  our  colleagues  in  Bordeaux  the  year  has 
been  a  sorrowful  one  owing  to  the  death  of 
Dr.  Lande  and  the  illness  of  Dr.  Hamilton, 
whose  pioneer  work  is  now  bearing  fruit  in  the 
demand  for  the  pupils  of  the  Bordeaux  Schools 
for  positions  as  Matrons  and  Sisters  in  many 
French  towns. 

In  Belgium. — In  Belgium,  both  in  connection 
with  the  new  .School  in  Brussels  and  elsewhere, 
progress  has  been  notable. 

In  Italy. — In  Italy  the  Nursing  School  at  the 
Gesii  e  Maria  Hospital,  Naples,  so  ably  super- 
intended by  -Miss  Grace  Baxter,  now  numbers 
amongst  its  graduates  four  Directrices  and 
eleven  head  nurses  in  hospitals  and  Government 
cliniques. 

The  Nursing  School  at  the  Policlinico  Hos- 
pital, Rome,  under  the  able  guidance  of  Miss 
Dorothy  Snell  and  Miss  M.  .A.  Turton.  has 
made  phenomenal  progress,  and  the  certificates 
of  the  first  graduates  and  a  medal  designed  by 
herself  have  been  presented  to  them  by  Queen 
Elena. 

At  .Milan,  Spezia,  and  elsewhere  nursing 
schools  on  modern  lines  are  also  being 
organized. 

In  Holland  the  Dutch  Nurses'  Association 
has  now  a  central  headquarters  in  Amsterdam. 
It  is  contending  with  the  same  difficulties 
as  the  intelligent  minority  in  other  countries 
who  appeal  for  State  recognition. 

In  Denmark,  Danish  nurses  are  still  working 
to  obtain  legal  status,  and  progress  is  being 
made,  though  slowly. 

In  Finland  the  nurses,  who,  in  common 
with  their  compatriots,  are  passing  through 
troublous  times  have  the  sympathy  of  the 
nurses  of  the  world. 

In  Norway  the  nurses  have  organized  their 
National  As.sociation,  with  Miss  Bergljot 
I.arsson  as  President,  and  have  founded  a 
magazine. 

In  Sweden,  Parliament  has  appointed  a 
special  Committee  to  enquire  into  the  condition 
of  .Swedish  nursing,  of  which  Miss  Emmie 
Lindhagen  is  a  member. 

InCoxcllsiox. 

In  all  these  countries  nursing  is  in  a  most 
hopeful  condition,  and  there  is  a  wonderful 
awakening,  but  nowhere  has  the  demand  of 
nurses  for  legislation  in  regard  to  their  profes- 
sion met  with  such  lack  of  justice  as  in  Great 
Britain.  Nowhere,  however,  has  the  attempt 
to  suppress  it  met  with  such  determined  resist- 
ance, and  there  is  no  doubt  that  before  long 
justice  will  have  to  be  done. 


5x6 


CLbc  36i'(ti5b  3ournal  of  IRurstno       December  28,  1912 


NURSES   OF   NOTE. 


MISS   CATHLIN   CICELY   DU   SAUTOY. 

Miss  C.  C.  du  Sautoy,  who  has  been  ap- 
pointed Inspector  for  Wales  in  connection 
with  Queen  \'ictoria's  Jubilee  Institute,  and 
whose  picture  appears  on  this  page,  has 
had  a  distinguished  professional  career.  In 
addition  to  her  nursing  qualifications,  she  holds 
first-class  diplomas  for  cookery,  laundry  work, 
and  domestic  economy,  obtained  from  South 
Wales     University,     and     also     an     advanced 


CHRISTMASTIDE. 

Hail  !   thou  ever  blessed  morn, 
Hail  !   Redemption's   happy   dawn. 


"  How  I  hate  Christmas  !  I  shall  be  quite 
thankful  when  it  is  over  ;  I'm  not  going  to  have  a 
good  time  at  all  ;  it's  all  very  well  for  kiddies,  but 
for  grown-ups  it's  a  wretched  time,  and  for  those 
who  have  lost  someone  dear  to  them,  at  Christmas 
they  feel  it  more  than  ever."  I  wonder  how  many 
times  during  the  last  fortnight  I  have  heard 
remarks  like  these — and  have  thought  to  myself  : 
how  very  morbid  ! 

She   has   quite   forgotten   or   has   never   learnt 


physiology  certificate  from  South  Kensington. 
For  five  years  she  was  lecturer  to  the  proba- 
tioners at  Tredegar  House  on  Physiology, 
Cookery,  Chemistry  of  Food,  &'c.  She  was 
then  trained  for  three  years  at  Guy's  Hospital, 
where  she  won  the  gold  medal  and  other  prizes. 
She  is  also  a  certified  midwife,  and  holds  a 
Sanitary  Inspector's  Certificate.  She  received 
her  training  in  district  nursing  at  23,  Blooms- 
bury  Square,  W.C.,  and  was  appointed  a 
Queen's  Nurse  in  June,  1906,  and  held  a  single 
post  until  December  of  that  year,  when  she  was 
appoirited  County  Superintendent  and  Inspector 
of  Midwives  in  Somerset. 


that  :  "  None  of  us  Uvctli  unto  himself,"  and  that 
"  He  who  joy  would  win  must  share  it  ;  Happiness 
was  born  a  twin."  Christmas,  a  "  wretched  time  "  ! 
What  nonsense  !  It's  a  beautiful  time.  Of  course, 
we  miss  our  loved  ones  then,  don't  we  always 
miss  them  ?  But  we  believe  in  the  Communion  of 
Saints  and  know  that,  though  unseen,  they  are 
joining  with  us  when  we  sing  "  Venite  Adoremus 
Dominum."  I,  who  write  to  you  these  very  feeble 
words,'  have  lost  nearly  everyone  nearest  and 
dearest  to  me  and  yet  am  so  looking  forward  to  a 
very  happy  Christmas.  Just  tliink  a  moment  : 
it  is  the  birthday  of  Our  Lord  Christ,  aren't  you 
going  to  sing  that  beautiful  hymn,  "  Venite  "  ? 
With  one  heart  and  one  voice  let  us  all  kneel  and 


December  28,  191 2     cbc  Bvttlsl)  3ouunal  of  H'luvsino. 


5'7 


adore  the  Child  Jesus,  "  who  for  us  and  for  our 
salvation  came  down  from  Heaven,  and  was  made 
Man."  That  fact  alone  should  fill  us  with  gladness 
and  thankfulness.  And  all  day  long  we  may  be 
sharing  our  joy  with  someone.  After  church,  there 
will  be  Christmas  dinner  to  think  of ;  I  am  going  to 
take  mine  to  a  \-ery  poor  patient  who  is  a  chronic 
invalid.  It  will  have  to  be  quite  a  Benjamin's 
portion,  this  dinner  of  mine,  as  six  persons  are 
to  partake  of  it  :  the  invalid,  her  four  children,  and 
myself.  I  shall  love  to  see  her  sniilc  when  I  lay 
the  snow-white  cloth  and  place  on  the  table  no 
end  of  good  things,  and  mfUce  it  all  pretty  with 
fiowers,  and  holly,  and  mistletoe  ;  never  will  they 
have  had  such  a  feast  I  And  then  her  surprise 
and  joy  when  she  sees  I  am  remaining  for  the 
dinner,  that  I  am  going  to  be  her  guest  !  What 
fun  it  will  be  I  I  can  scarcely  wait  till  Christmas 
morning.  In  the  afternoon,  when  I  leave  this 
happy  family,  I  am  going  to  the  Hospital,  where 
long  ago  I  was  a  timid  little  "  Pro.,"  to  help  with 
the  Christmas  tree  and  hear  the  kiddies'  screams 
of  delight  as  their  toys  are  presented  to  them, 
and  see  the  ward  where  I  first  learnt  to  use  a  broom 
and  wash  cups  and  saucers,  make  a  poultice,  dress 
wounds,  and  learned  a  multitude  ot  other  useful 
things,  one  of  which  was  that  "  pros."  might  be 
seen  but  not  heard — they  were  very  "  small 
potatoes  "  when  I  was  a  "  pro."  When  the  tree  is 
stripped  of  most  of  its  beautiful  attire  of  toys  and 
tinsel,  there  will  be  such  a  tea  for  everyone, 
after  which  some  of  the  students  and  nurses  will 
act  and  sing  and  amuse  everybody  generally, 
and  when  we  ha\e  all  enjoyed  oursehcs  so  much 
and  feel  that  we  just  love  everyone  and  arc  glad 
to  be  alive,  and  so  sorry  that  Christmas  Day  is 
nearly  over,  we  shall  wander  round  the  wards 
again  before  taking  our  departure,  and  if  you 
listen  quietly  you  will  hear  the  women  and  children 
talking  things  over  ;  they'll  all  be  saying  what 
a  happy  day  they've  had,  and  how  the  music 
made  them  forget  their  pain.  The  old  Irish  woman 
will  be  there,  and  you'll  hear  her  exclain^  :  "  Shure, 
an'  oi  niver  had  such  a  day  in  all  me  loifc,  I  felt 
as  if  Our  Blessed  Lady  was  with  me  all  the  toime," 
and  the  little  boy  who  was  "  run  over,"  why,  he'll 
say  :  "  ^Vlly  do  Christmas  only  come  but  once  a 
year  ?  I  hope  I  gits  run  over  agin  next  Christmas, 
so  I  can  come  to  Hospital  Christmas  tree  agin." 
The  lights  are  low,  the  patients  are  all  in  bed. 
Let  us  sing  them  to  sleep  : 

"  Glory  to  Thee,  my  God,  this  night, 

For  all  the  blessings  of  the  light  ; 

Keep  me,  O  keep  me.  King  of  Kings, 

Beneath  Thine  own  Almighty  wings." 
Tell  me,  was  Christmas  Day  "  wretched  "  ? 
Was  it  only  for  kiddies  ?  I  think  you  will  all  say 
you  had  a  great  share  of  happiness  in  it ;  if  not, 
then  let  me  speak  to  you  in  the  words  of  Owen 
Seaman  : 

"  Come  now,  I'll  cure  your  case,  and  ask  no  fee  : 
Make  others'  happiness  this  once  your  own  : 
All  else  may  pass ;   that  joy  can  never  be 

outgrown  !  "  Sister  Marie. 


IMPRESSIONS    ON    NURSING    IN    THE 
UNITED   STATES. 

No.  I. 

My  chief  mission  in  the  States  being  that  of 
a  beggar,  there  was  regrettably  little  time  left 
for  the  study  of  questions  of  interest  to  us 
nurses.  Indeed,  one  felt  day  by  day  what 
magnificent  opportunities  were  being  thrown 
away  wholesale. 

For  the  freemasonry  of  our  profession  is 
nowhere  more  emphasized  thfm  in  America. 
The  words  "  A  nurse  from  Ireland  "  opened 
not  only  every  nursing  door,  but  apparently 
also  every  nursing  heart.  Our  friends  of 
triennial  Congresses,  Miss  Dock  and  Miss 
Nulling,  leading  the  van  as  usual,  spread 
before  my  hungering  mind  feasts  of  knowledge 
and  instruction  quite  impossible  of  digestion 
in  the  one  hasly  meal,  a  month  only  in  length, 
in  which  I  endeavoured  to  assimilate  them. 
One  had  the  happy  sense  of  being  made  to  feel 
at  home  because  one  was  a  colleague.  That 
was  my  first  lesson,  and  one  that  I  shall  not 
soon  forget. 

V'cl  hurried,  and  necessarily  superficial,  as 
observation  under  such  circumstances  as  mine 
must  be,  I  am  surprised,  now  that  I  sit  at  home 
once  more  in  my  dear  little  kitchen — very 
smoky  this  evening,  owing  to  a  north  wind — 
how  vivid  and  how  definite  an  impression  the 
nursing  minds  and  methods  of  the  States  have 
made  upon  me. 

It  must  be  freely  admitted  from  the  outset 
that  day  by  day  the  things  which  pertain  to 
health,  and  therefore  to  godliness,  are  becom- 
ing more  generally  recognized  over  there,  both 
by  Governments  and  by  individuals,  than  is  the 
case  amongst  ourselves.  Hygienic  wants  and 
necessities  are  coming  to  the  front  as  accepted 
facts,  instead  of  being  put  in  the  corner  and 
discreetly  covered  up,  to  breed  disease  and 
misery.  "  In  this  Stale  no  public  drinking- 
cups  are  allowed  "  is  the  legend  in  certain 
stations.  Many  now  carry  their  own  cups, 
often  collapsible,  in  consequence.  In  the  long- 
distance trains  going  West  from  New  York  an 
attendant  comes  through  the  cars  at  frequent 
intervals  to  sweep  up  the  dust. 

In  the  same  trains  you  can  obtain  from  the 
attendant  a  paper  cover  for  the  seat'of  the  w.c, 
which  you  fold  up  and  retain  for  the  journey. 

Spitting  on  either  the  railway  or  trolley  cars, 
and,  indeed,  also  on  the  sidewalks,  which  we 
call  pavements,  is  strictly  forbidden. 

Even  the  Department  of  Agriculture  views 
its  responsibility  in  this  matter  broadly.  In  its 
list  of  Farmers'   Bulletins  occur  some  twentv 


5i8 


Cl)c  Brltlsb  3ournal  of  HAurstnG.     December  28,  1912 


or  thirty  directly  connc-ctid  with  lliu  puliHc 
health.  Bacteria  in  Milk,  How  to  Prevent 
Typhoid  Fever,  Tuberculosis,  The  Sanitary 
Privy,  House  Flies,  The  Care  of  Milk  and  its 
use  in  the  Home,  Some  Common  Disinfectants, 
Care  of  Food  in  the  Home,  Harmfulness  of 
Headache  Mixtures,  Preparation  of  V'egetables 
for  the  Table,  Principles  of  Nutrition  and 
Xutritive  Value  of  Food  are  treated,  each  one 
in  a  separate  pamphlet,  q,nd  nothing  could  be 
more  carefully  compiled,  simpler,  or  more  in- 
structive than  those  which  I  have  read. 

Sweets,  known  as  candies,  are  largely  sold 
on  small  street-stalls  in  Xew  ^'ork.  For  these 
a  glass  cover  is  provided,  to  keep  off  the  dust 
and  the  microbes.  To  be  sure,  these  covers 
may  often  be  seen  propped  open,  but  that  is  not 
the  fault  of  the  public,  but  of  the  occasional 
individual. 

Milk  is  delivered  in  sealed  bottles,  and  spring- 
water,  which,  alas  !  needs  to  be  bought  in  Ne^\- 
York,  in  large  gallons  with  spring  stoppers. 

Even  the  street  sweepers  are  dressed  in  clean 
white  clothes,  hats  and  all,  the  latter  resembling 
the  pith  helmets  of  Eastern  travel. 

It  may  be  asked  :  "  What  has  all  this  to  do 
with  Nursing  and  Nurses?  " 

Much  every  way.  In  a  community  in  which 
hygiene  has  once  begtm  to  be  recognized  as  not 
only  a  necessity  but  a  public  right,  the  ministers 
of  hygiene  will  be  estimated  at  their  proper 
value,  and  respected  for  the  grave  importance 
of  the  duties  that  they  are  called  upon  to  per- 
form. From  this  it  must  follow  that,  the 
demand  on  those  ministers  being  for  the  highest 
and  most  responsible  quality  of  work,  not  of 
healing  merely,  but  primarily  of  education  and 
of  prevention,  thev  themselves,  the  ministers, 
will  respond  to  that  demand  of  necessity.  We 
shall  expect  to  find  in  such  a  community  a  great 
stirring  in  the  profession  of  nursing,  an  in- 
creasing breadth  of  view,  a  reviewing  of  the 
standard  of  training,  a  setting  aside  of  old  pre- 
judices, a  recognition  of  the  newer  methods 
required  by  the  new  responsibilities,  the  loss  of 
pettiness,  the  onrush  of  magnificent  ideals, 
guarded  and  controlled  bv  stalwart  common- 
sense  and  reflecting  wisdom. 

In  all  this  the  State  of  New  York  is  leading, 
very  finely,  onwards  towards  the  light.  And, 
in  what  I  have  to  say  further,  I  should  like  my 
colleagues,  both  at  home  and  in  the  States,  to 
grasp  from  the  outset  that  I  do  not  pretend  to 
imagine  that  perfection  in  nursing  matters  or 
in  matters  of  hygiene  generally  either  has  been, 
or  is  about  to  be,  reached,  either  in  New  York 
or  in  any  other  State  in  the  Union.  This  paper 
may,  I  hope,  fall  into  the  hands  of  some  of  our 
superintendents,   committee  ladies,   and   nurses 


in  New  York,  Cleveland,  Haltiniore,  Boston, 
and  elsewhere.  They  are  not  blind  to  the 
defects  of  their  systems ;  if  they  were,  there 
would  be  an  end  of  effort,  instead  of  the  cease- 
less activity  which  characterizes  them.  Let  me 
assure  them  that  I  am  only  turning  a  blind  eye 
for  the  moment.  My  purpose  is  to  emphasize 
those  things  in  which  we  may  learn  from  our 
friends  away  to  the  West,  for  that  is,  after  all, 
one  of  the  chief  objects  of  leaving  one's  own 
country.  I  have  no  patience  with  the  nit 
admirari  doctrine  which  is  the  special  charac- 
teristic of  the  travelling  idiot  abroad,  and  which 
has  earned  for  too  many  English  men  and 
women  the  hearty  distrust  and  dislike  of 
Americans  in  particular. 

Apropos  of  this,  an  Irish  friend  told  me  that 
he  had  the  delight  of  seeing  the  amazing  glory 
of  the  maple  woods  in  New  York  State  this 
autumn.  "  Oh,"  said  the  friends  to  whom  he 
tried  to  express  his  sense  of  their  wonderful, 
glowing  beauty,  "do  you  really  like  it" 
English  people  generally  say,  '  How  gaudy  '  "  ! 

The  editor  is  quite  unaware  that  I  am  hoping' 
to  inflict  upon  her  and  you  three  papers.  In 
this,  the  first  one,  I  was  firmly  minded  to  let  no 
personal  reminiscences  intrude,  but  to  deal  with 
a  very  big  subject  from  a  fitting  height.  But, 
when  you  come  to  know  Kerry  better,  all  of 
vou,  you  will  understand  that  never  was  there  a 
Kerry  woman — no,  nor  man  either,  little  as  they, 
dear  things,  kncjw  it — that  could  deal  with  any 
question  without  parentheses  as  long  as  St. 
Paul's,  in  the  course  of  which  much  personal 
history,  to  our  remotest  ancestors,  may  b<- 
gathered.  And  so,  having  strayed,  I  shall 
stray  again. 

That  reminds  me,  by  the  way,  of  a  yearling 
bull  of  mine,  who  has  a  pasture  of  his  own,  but 
who  turns  up  smiling  in  the  cabbage  garden, 
or  at  the  haystack,  by  ways  of  his  own,  no 
matter  how  often  he  may  be  put  out,  faithfully 
and  regularly — and  is  scandalously  fat  in  con- 
sequence. 

I  said  I  should  stray  again.  No  matter. 
Where  was  I?  Just  three  thousand  odd  miles 
to  the  West,  I  think,  in  New  York,  a  State 
where,  I  need  hardly  say.  Registration  of 
Nurses  is  in  force. 

Here,  in  the  town  of  Albany,  a  magnificent 
-State  education  building  was  dedicated — or,  as 
we  should  say,  "  opened  " — in  the  middle  of 
October.  It  was  built  at  a  cost  of  ;^8i7,744. 
New  -^'ork  claims,  and  rightly  claims,  to  have 
been  a  leader  in  education.  It  is,  as  the  official 
editor  of  '  its  Education  Department  writes  : 
"  The  first  to  erect  a  separate  building  to  stand 
exclusively  and  aggressively  for  its  concern 
about  the  intelligence  and  the  character  of  all 


December  28,    191 


Cbe  BvltiiJD  3oiivnai  ot  iRurstnG. 


5'9 


its  people."  The  whole  educational  work  of 
the  State  is  here  directed,  whether  in  schools, 
colleges,  universities,  libraries,  or  museums. 
Here  are  supervised  the  certifuation  of  nurses, 
the  entrance  into  licensinjj  and  practice  of 
medicine,  dentisitry,  pharmacy,  and  other  pro- 
fessions. In  the  building,  .Miss  Goodrich, 
R.N.,  Inspector  of  Nurse  Training  Schools,  has 
her  office.  Here  the  Regents  appoint  a  board 
of  "  examiners  in  nurse  training,"  amongst 
other  professional  examinations,  and  here  com- 
plete records  are  kept  of  all  candidates  who 
have  been  admitted  to  such  examinations. 

The  nurse  training  schools  in  New  York 
State  number  129.  We  hear  a  good  deal  at 
home  of  "  medical  schools  ";  in  the  States  wc 
hear  also  of  "  nurse  training  schools."  The 
nursing  department  has  ceased  to  be  a  mere 
appendage  to  the  hospital.  By  the  consent  of 
lay  boards  and  professional  workers,  the 
scientific,  ethical,  practical,  and  social  service 
education  of  the  nurses  has  come  to  be  recog- 
nized as  a  matter  of  urgent  moment. 

Albinia  Brodrick. 


TOYS    FOR  TIMES. 

Who  will  get  the  Competition  Toys  wc  cannot 
say — it's  all  a  chance.  In  the  hospitals  the  suppl\- 
is  sure  to  be  ample — so  we  favour  a  ])lan  of  going 
out  on  Christmas  Eve  into  the  jjoorcst  highways, 
with  baskets  full  of  toys,  looking  for  "  Pegg\- 
Paleface,"  and  such  of  her  companions  as  may  be 
toyless.  It  doesn't  matter  a  jot  if  they  arc 
undeser\'ing. 

Imagine    the     following    polite     conversation  : 

"  why,  Peggy,  what  are  you  doing,  waiting  out 
side  this  'ere  pot-house  ?" 

"  What's  that  to  you — and  Peggy  aint  mv 
nime  ?" 

"  Oh  !  aint  it  ?  T  'umbly  beg  \cr  pardin,  but 
I'm  Mother  Christmas — and  I  thought  as  how 
you  was  one  of  them  little  gels  as  'adn't  got  no 
toys." 

"  There  aint  no  such  a  person.  But  what  yer- 
got  in  yer  baskit  ?" 

"  Peep  inside." 

Peggy  peeps,  and  clutches  the  Prize  Gollvwog. 
"  What  ill  yer  ave  ?    Please  yerself ." 

Peggy  pleases  herself  vastly.  She  clings  to 
the  golly wog  ;  and  "  tikes  "  a'  wool  ball  for 
"  biby."  She  also  holds  up  her  pinny,  and 
"tikes  "  fruit  and  nuts  and  lollypops. 

Her  face  is  all  a-glow. 

"  Good-night,  Rosie  Redcheek." 

"  Gam  !" 

And  so  on,  till  the  baskets  axe  empty. 


OUR  PRIZE  COMPETITION. 

WHAT  SYMPTOMS  WOULD  LEAD  YOU  TO  SUSPECT 
APOPLEXY?  GIVE  NURSING  TREATMENT  OP 
APOPLE.XY. 

\\"c  have  pleasure  in  awarding  the  prize  this 
week  to  Xliss  Lucy  M.  Park,  Registered 
N'urses'  Society,  431,  Oxford  Street,  London, 
\V.,  for  her  paper  on  the  above  subject.  Wc 
hope  to  publish  the  paper  next  week. 


APPOINTMENTS. 


We  hear  from  many  sources  that  never  before 
have  so  many  beautiful  gifts  been  sent  for  distribu- 
tion amongst  the  poor. 


LADY     SUPERINTENDENT. 

Coleraine  Cottage  Hospital. — Miss  Wilhelniina 
Ingleby  has  been  appointed  Lady  Superintendent. 
She  was  trained  at  the  Royal  Bucks  and  Croydon 
Hospitals,  and  has  been  Actmg  Matron  of  the 
Passmore  Edwards  Hospital  and  the  Welshpool 
Cottage  Hospital. 

NURSE      MATRON. 

Ida  Convalescent  Home,  Scarborough.  -  -  Miss 
M.  Isabel  Stones  has  been  appointed  Nurse 
Matron.  She  was  trained  at  Guy's  Hospital, 
London,  has  done  private  nursing,  and  been 
Sister  at  Lambeth  Infirmary  and  Hertford  County 
I  Fospital. 

Infectious  Diseases  Hospital.  Halstead,  Essex.  —Miss 
Beatrice  B.  S.  Bennett  has  been  appointed 
Nurse  ^Matron.  She  was  trained  at  the  Bromle>- 
and  Beckenham  Joint  Hospital,  Kent,  where  she 
has  been  Charge  Nurse  and  Night  Superintendent.- 
She  has  also  been  Charge  Nurse  at  the  Brighton 
Union  Infirmary,  and  Charge  Nurse  and  Deputy 
Matron  at  tlic  Isolation  Hospital    f^uton. 

NIGHT     SISTER. 

Newport     (Mon.)     Union     Infirmary Miss     Bessie 

Scott  has  been  appointed  Night  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Shirley  Warren  Infirmar\',  South- 
ampton, where  she  temporarily  acted  as  Ward 
Sister  and  Maternity  Sister.  She  has  also  been 
Charge  Nurse  at  the  Steyning  InfiiTnary,  and  at 
the  Newport  Union  Infirmarj-.  She  is  a  certified 
midwife. 

SISTER. 

Essex  County  Hospital,  Colchester. — Miss  Rhoda 
Trembath  has  been  appointed  Sister.  She  was 
trained  at  the  Great  Northern  Central  Hospital, 
Holloway,  and  has  taken  charge  there  of  a  Male 
Surgical  Ward. 

Glasgow      Maternity     and      Women's     Hospital ■ 

Miss  Helen  .Vndcrson  has  been  appointed  Sister 
of  the  Out-patient  Department.  She  was  trained 
at  the  Edinburgh  Royal  Infirmary  and  Glasgow 
Maternity  Hospital.  She  has  been  Charge  Nurse 
and  temporary  Sister  at  the  Edinburgh  Royal 
Infirmary,  and  Staff  Nurse  in  the  Out-patient 
Department  at  Glasgow  Maternity  Hospital. 
She  holds  the  certificate  of  the  Central  Midwives 
Board. 


520 


CCbe  36iiri£ii)  3ournal  of  murstno      December  28,  1912 


SISTER    OF    X-RAY    DEPARTMENT. 

General  Hospital,  liirmingham.  —  Miss  ;\Iuiiel 
Duesbury  has  been  appointed  Sister  of  the  X-ray 
Department  at  the  General  Hospital,  Birmingham, 
not  Sister  of  the  Massage  Department.  She 
was  trained  at  the  same  institution  where  she 
also  took  Sisters'  holiday  duties.  She  was  also 
Ward  Sister  at  Grantham  Hospital,  and  has  been 
Out-patient  and  Massage  Sister  at  the  Salop. 
Infirmary-. 

CHARGE     NURSE. 

The  Workhouse  Infirmary.  Cifckfield Miss  H.  M. 

Turnill  has  been  appointed  Charge  Nurse. 
She  was  trained  at  Edmonton  Infirmary,  and  has 
been  Charge  Nurse  at  the  Newport  (Mon.) 
Infirmary,  and  at  the  Plymouth  Infirmary. 

The  Infectious  Diseases  Hospital,  Goole.  — 
INliss  Lillian  Hardy  has  been  appointed  Charge 
Nurse.  She  was  trained  at  the  Leeds  Union 
Infirmary,  and  has  been  a  pri\'ate  nurse  at  the 
Leeds  Public  Dispensary  and  charge  nurse  under 
the  Metropolitan  Asylums  Board. 
SCHOOL    NURSE. 

Tottenham  Education  Committee. — Miss  Elsie 
Allen  has  been  appointed  School  Nurse.  She 
was  traine'd  at  the  Prince  of  Wales  General 
Hospital,  Tottenham. 

HEALTH     VISITOR. 

Northampton     County     Council The     following 

three  ladies  have  been  appointed  Health  Visitors: — 
Miss  Winifred  Sadler,  trained  at  the  Chester 
General  Infirmaiy,  and  who  has  been  District 
Nurse  at  Wclton,  Northants,  and  at  Liverpool. 
Miss  Mary  Bown,  who  has  been  Head  Nurse  at 
the  Children's  Hotel  at  Southport,  has  done 
private  nursing,  and  has  for  four  months  acted  as 
Health  Visitor.  IMiss  Elizabeth  H.  Curtis,  who 
has  been  a  District  Nurse  at  Birkenhead. 

QUEEN  ALEXANDRA'S     IMPERIAL    MILITARY 
NURSING    SERVICE. 

Staff  Nurse  JNliss  Eva  C.  E.  Lindsay  resigns 
her  appointment  {December  loth). 

QUEEN      VICTORIA'S     JUBILEE      INSTITUTE 
FOR     NURSES. 

Examination  Questions,   December  19th,   1912. 

1.  What  do  you  know  of  flies  as  carriers  of 
disease  ?  What  precautions  as  regards  food  and 
sanitation  does  this  function  of  flies  render  neces- 
sary ? 

2.  \Vhat  is  the  meaning  of  the  term  "  Food 
Values  ?"  How  are  food  values  taken  into 
account  in  the  preparation  of  diets  ? 

3.  A  baby  of  three  months  old  has  to  be  weaned  ? 
WTiat  advice  would  you  give  the  mother  re  her 
breasts,  and  the  feeding  of  the  baby  ? 

4.  What  precautions  should  be  taken  against 
the  spread  of  diphtheria  during  an  epidemic  of  that 
disease  ? 

5.  Describe  in  detaO  how  you  would  disinfect 
your  clothing  and  bag  after  a  case  of  septicaemia  ? 

6.  Explain  the  kind  of  case  you  would  ask 
(a)  the  Charity  Organisation  Society,  or  private 
charity,  to  help  ;  (6)  the  Poor  Law,  either  by  out- 
relief  or  admission  to  Infirmarv. 


NURSING  ECHOES. 

If  all  goes  well,  this  issue  of  the  Journal 
should  reach  you  on  Christmas  Day,  when  no 
doubt  the  majority  of  nurses  will  be  far  too  busy 
to  read  it.  Nevertheless,  tc^  one  and  all  we 
wish  a  very  happy  day  and  all  good  luck  in 
the  coming  year.  The  year  that  is  passing  will 
long  be  remembered  as  grievous  in  the  ex- 
treme, in  which  women  have  spent  many  a  sad 
and  terrible  hour,  suffering  many  things  for 
conscience  sake.  But  as  all  that  we  are  hoping 
and  working  for  must  inevitably  come  to  pass, 
on  we  go,  full  of  life  and  spirits. 


Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  will  bring  forward  a 
resolution  at  the  Aiinual  Meeting  of  the 
Lyceum  Club  in  January  that  Trained  Nurs- 
ing be  a  qualification  for  membership.  Those 
who  hold  a  University  qualification,  or  have 
rendered  public  service,  artists,  authors, 
journalists,  photographers,  musicians,  gar- 
deners, workers  in  arts  and  crafts,  are  all 
eligible ;  so  far  nursing  has  not  been  included 
in  the  list,  but  it  is  time  it  was. 

The  omniscient  one^ — a  youthful  and  budding 
medical  genius,  no  doubt — who  patronises  the 
art  of  nursing  in  the  London  Hospital  Gasette, 
remarks  in  its  recent  issue  :  "  Though  the  time 
will  probably  never  come  for  the  art  of  Nursing 
to  be  taught  as  a  University  course  in  which 
one  may  graduate,  still,  the  organised  demon- 
strations now  being  given  by  the  sisters  to  the 
dressers  and  clerks  show  how  much  can  be 
done  on  these  lines.  That  there  is  more  to  be 
done  for  a  patient  than  admitting  him,  and  pre- 
scribing physic,  is  never  more  clearly  shown 
throughout  one's  student  days  than  at  these 
demonstrations.  If  well  organised  and  adver- 
tised, .we  imagine  that  if  they  were  given  out- 
side, large  numbers  of  the  intelligent  public 
would  welcome  the  opportunitv  of  seeing  what 
to  do  and  how  to  do  for  the  sick." 


The  demonstrators  in  nursing  who  venture 
to  exhibit  the  elements  of  their  highly  skilled 
art  to  dressers  and  clerks  at  the  London  Hos- 
pital may  take  heart  of  grace.  The  time  has 
already  come.  The  fact  is  that  nurses  cati 
graduate  and  take  a  degree  in  Nursing  at 
Teachers'  College,  Columbia  University,  New 
York,  and  nothing  is  more  certain  than,  at  an 
early  date,  if  the  science  of  medicine  is  to  keep 
pace  in  this  '  country  with  the  strides  it  is 
making  elsewhere,  that  nursing  must  be  recog- 
nised as  its  indispensable  adjunct,  and  will 
receive  the  educational  status  which  is  its  due. 


December  28,  1912      CDc  JSvitiiJb  Souuual  of  Buryiiui. 


52' 


The  more  trained  nursesknow  of  their  posi- 
tion under  the  National  Insurance  Act,  the 
more  unjustly  they  realise  they  have  been 
treated,  and  we  are  not  surprised  to  learn  that 
the  fact  of  the  Commissioners  having  decided 
that  young  medical  officers  receiving  small 
salaries  in  hospitals  are  exempt  from  compul- 
sory insurance,  whilst  the  sisttrs  and  nurses 
are  compelled  to  pay,  is  considered  proof  posi- 
tive of  the  manner  in  which  they  have  been 
penalised.  They  want  to  know  what  "  contract 
of  service  "  consists  of,  if  receiving  a  small 
salary  from  the  Governors  and  being  under  the 
control  of  the  committee  as  to  their  daily  hours 
of  duty  and  general  discipline  does  not  consti- 
tute it.  A  Sister  of  a  London  hospital  writes  : 
"  Why  have  I  to  pay,  if  my  house  surgeon  is 
not  compelled  to  do  so?  My  salary  is  ^^5  a 
year  more  than  he  receives,  and  we  are  both 
engaged  by  the  committee  and  have  our  agree- 
ment with  it.  Is  this  another  case  of  one  law 
for  the  man  and  another  for  the  woman?  Any- 
way, I  am  so  disgusted  with  the  way  nurses  are 
treated  in  this  country  that  I  am  off  with  a 
friend  to  British  Columbia  in  two  months'  time. 
Xo  more  compulsion  for  me  for  the  sake  of 
taxing  my  poor  little  earnings." 


In  this  connection  there  is  no  doubt  that  of 
all  classes  of  women  workers  the  trained  nurse 
has  been  most  discriminated  against  under  the 
Insurance  Act.  She  has  been  purposely  ex- 
cluded from  representation  by  the  Act  and  the 
Commissioners  ;  she  is  taxed  for  an  infinitesimal 
return,  when  in  the  past  she  has  been  specially 
favoured  in  sickness  bv  free  and  most  generous 
treatment  by  the  medical  profession.  More- 
over, the  bulk  of  her  work  is  to  be  handed  over 
by  Insurance  Committees  to  County  Nursing 
Associations,  who  employ  semi-trained  women 
at  wTetched  salaries,  and  who  are  making 
arrangements  to  profit  by  this  indefensible 
system.  No  wonder  we  hear  daily  of  well- 
trained  nurses  hurrying  off  to  the  Colonies. 
Within  the  past  month  we  have  said  good-bye 
to  two  going  to  South  Africa,  one  to  British 
Columbia,  one  to  Vancouver,  three  to  Aus- 
tralia. As  these  practical  women  are  a  valuable 
asset  to  any  community,  the  Colonies  will 
benefit  in  no  small  degree  by  the  lack  of  con- 
sideration shown  to  them  at  honir. 


We  have  not  advised  trained  nurses  to 
agitate  for  exclusion  from  the  Insurance  Act 
because,  after  our  experience  of  the  tactics  of 
the  Government  towards  them  as  a  class — and 
of  the  Insurance  Commissioners  in  particular — 
wc  felt  such  an  agitation  would  prove  useless, 
as  it  has  done.     Women's  monev  is  absolutelv 


necessary  in  this  scheme  of  taxation  to  meet 
the  huge  official  expenditure,  and  women's 
money  the  Commissioners  are  determined  to 
have.  The  only  question  of  importance  to  the 
profession  is  :  How  long  are  women  to  be  com- 
pelled to  pay  taxes  and  contribute  to  the  sup- 
port of  men,  without  political  representation? 
To  the  idle  kept  woman  these  economic  ques- 
tions do  not  appeal,  but  to  the  hard-working 
professional  woman  they  are  of  vital  import- 
ance. The  truth  is,  any  man  can  take  your 
hard-earned  money  without  your  consent  so 
long  as  you  are  voteless.  If  you  complain  of 
this  as  robbery,  which  it  is,  you  are  described 
as  a  fanatical  fool.  Never  mind  that,  but  do 
mind  your  slavery ;  resent  it,  and  fight  for 
personal  responsibility  and  citizenship,  and 
power  over  your  own  purse. 


We  arc  sorry  to  note  that  the  Dundee  School 
Board  have  decided  to  shelve  till  June  the 
application  of  their  school  nurses  for  an  in- 
crease of  salary,  so  that  they  may  be  raised  to 
the  same  terms  of  employment  as  their  col- 
leagues in  Edinburgh.  They  are  meantime 
paid  £~o  per  annum,  with  ;^5  for  uniform.  It 
was  reported  that  in  Edinburgh  the  nurses  are 
remunerated  with  ;£8o,  a  uniform,  and  £^  for 
laundry.  Not  at  all  too  much  when  one  thinks 
of  the  \\  ear  and  tear  of  their  duties. 


-At  the  usual  monthly  meeting  of  the  Catholic 
Nurses'  Association,  Ireland,  held  at  the  club 
rooms,  51,  Mountjoy  Square,  Dublin,  seven  new 
members  were  elected.  It  was  decided  that  all 
members  should  be  notified  that  the  payment 
of  half-yearly  subscriptions  to  the  Assnrintinn 
is  due  on  January  ist,  1913. 


The  \'ictorian  Order  of  Nurses  in  Canada  is 
constantly  increasing  in  usefulness,  and  has 
now  250  nurses  at  work,  but  considering  the 
enormous  distances  in  the  Dominion,  many 
more  are  required  to  meet  the  needs  of  new 
settlers,  who  cannot  afford  to  pay  for  the  whole 
time  of  a  trained  nurse.  The  Duchess  of  Con- 
naught  is  greatly  interested  in  the  service,  and 
is  doing  her  utmost  to  further  the  collecting  of 
j^rioo.ooo  to  finance  the  Order  and  extend  its 
activities.  Headquarters  are  at  Ottawa,  where 
the  Lady  Superintendent,  Miss  Marv  Ard 
Mackenzie,  R.N.,  is  resident.  She  is  this  vear 
President  of  the  Canadian  National  .Associa- 
tion of  Trained  Nurses,  and  a  woman  of  fine 
attainments  as  an  educationalist.  Like  so 
many  Canadians,  she  owes  to  the  United  States 
her  liberal  professional  training — at  the  Mas- 
sachusetts General  Hospital,   Boston,  and  the 


Zl)C  Brittsb  3ournal  of  TRurstng.     December  28,  1912 


power   as   a  .«;raduate   of   that   school   to   write 
R.X.  after  her  name. 


REFLECTIONS 

FROM    A    BOARD    ROOJI    MIRROR. 


WOMAN'S     WORK. 

Mrs.  St.  Clair  Stohart,  Commandant  of  the 
Women's  Convoy  Corps,  contributes  to  Satur- 
day's Standard  a  most  bracing  account  of  the 
march  across  Thrace,  and  the  organization  of 
the  hospital  for  the  wounded  at  Kirk  Kilisse. 
Hearty  congratulations.  With  the  conclusion 
of  her  article  we  fully  agree  : — 

"  It  is  impossible  to  give  here  more  than  this 
brief  outline  of  the  nature  of  our  work,  all  done 
with  improvised  materials  in  empty  buildings  in 
a  Turkish  town,  with  difficulties  of  language 
and  scarcitv  of  food  to  be  coped  with.  One  fact, 
however,  I  should  like  to  emphasise,  that  this 
work  which  we  are  doing  is  pre-eminently  Woman's 
work.  It  was  said  at  the  beginning  of  the  war 
that  the  dutv  of  tending  the  wounded  in  the 
Balkans  was  "  not  fitted  for  women."  To  mv 
mind  this  was  s\-non\Tnous  with  saying  that  women 
were  not  fitted  for  the  work.  Now,  though 
there  may  have  been  some  hardships  and  pri\a- 
tions,  as  thev  are  termed,  which  women  are  not 
usuallv  called  upon  to  face,  yet,  judging  by  the 
spirit  with  which  these  have  been  encountered 
by  the  women  with  whom  I  have  been  privileged 
to  act,  the  fact  ma>-  I  think  be  regarded  as 
established  that  trained  and  disciplined  women 
are  fitted  for  any  work,  under  any  conditions, 
wherever  alleviation  of  suffering  is  the  object. 
.\s  commandant  of  the  Women's  Convoy  Corps, 
I  a  mgrateful  that,  owing  to  the  sympathetic  help 
of  Mr.  Noel  Buxton  and  his  fellow  members  of 
the  Balkan  War  Relief  Fund,  British  women  have. 
if  only  to  a  small  extent,  been  represented  in  the 
work  of  helping  to  relieve  the  sufferings  of  the 
Balkan  peoples  in  their  valiant  struggle  for 
freedom." 

It  is  reported  from  Sofia  that  Mr.  Noel  and 
Mr.  Harold  Buxton,  who  have  arrived  there 
from  Kirk  Kilisse,  speak  in  the  highest  terms 
of  the  work  done  by  the  Women's  Convoy 
Corps,  which  arrived  just  in  time  to  handle  the 
stream  of  wounded  which  poured  in  from 
Chataldja   between   November   21st   and    28th. 


TRAINED     NURSES     APPRECIATED     IN 
TURKEY. 

Mrs.  Bedford  Fenwick  has  been  requested  by 
the  British  Red  Crescent  Society  to  select  two 
more  thoroughly  trained  nurses  for  work  in 
Turkey,  as  those  already  helping,  both  with  the 
sick  and  the  refugees,  have  been  a  great  suc- 
cess. Arrangements  are  being  made  as  we  go 
to  press. 


^\'e  are  not  surprised  that  the  King  has  expressed 
his  regret  at  the  falling  off  of  subscriptions  and 
donations  to  the  amount  of  ;£50,ooo  to  King 
]£dward's  Hospital  Fund,  as  the  London  Hospitals 
ha\'e  come  to  look  for  substantial  help  from  the 
Fund.  Xo  doubt  the  Insurance  Act  is  greatly 
responsible  for  this  loss  of  public  charity.  So 
long  as  it  costs  nearly  /loo.ooo  a  year  in  salaries 
to  administer,  by  direct  and  indirect  taxation, 
the  public  will  have  less  for  charity. 


The  British  Medical  Journal  published  in  its 
last  issue  approximately  accurate  figures  showing 
that  of  13,731  doctors  who  have  voted  on  the 
Government  terms  for  national  insurance  work. 
11,309  were  in  favour  of  refusing  service  and 
2,422  against  such  a  course — a  majority^  of  more 
than  four  to  one. 


By  a  majorit}-  of  1S2  votes  to  21  the  special 
representative  meeting  of  the  British  ^Medical 
Association  decided  last  Saturday  to  reject  the 
proposals  of  the  Government  and  to  adhere  to  its 
previous  decision  to  decline  ser^^ce  under  the 
National  Insurance  Act. 


As  January  ijtli  is  drawing  very  near  much 
anxiety  is  felt  as  to  how  medical  benefit  is  to  be 
provided  under  the  Act,  not  only  by  those  com- 
pelled to  insure,  but  by  hospital  governors,  whose 
fears  have  by  no  means  been  allayed  by  the 
opinion  of  the  Chancellor  expressed  at  an  inter\-iew 
with  hospital  chairmen. 


According  to  an  official  statement  i.ssued  by 
the  National  Health  Insurance  Commissioners, 
the  Chancellor  explained  that  the  main  work  of 
the  hospitals  was  not  touched  by  the  Act,  inasmuch 
as  the  treatment  afforded  to  insured  persons  under 
the  Act  was  such  treatment  as  could  properly  be 
given  by  a  general  practitioner  of  ordinary  com- 
petence and  skill,  whereas  tliis  was  just  the  kind 
of  treatment  that  a  hospital  did  not  exist  to  give. 
Insured  persons  would  need  as  niuch  as  ever  the 
aid  of  hospitals  in  order  to  obtain  the  treatment 
defined  as  "  adequate  medical  relief." 


The  following  ladies  and  gentlemen  have  con- 
sented to  be  Vice-Presidents  of  the  Soutli  London 
Hospital  for  Women,  which  has  just  received  a 
gift  of  a  site  at  Clapham  Common  and  an  anony- 
mous gift  of  £23,000  with  which  to  erect  the 
hospital  : — Adeline  Duchess  of  Bedford,  Winifred 
Countess  of  Arran,  Mscountess  Castlereagh,  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester,  the  Bishop  of  Cluchester. 
the  Bisliop  of  Southwark,  the  Bishop  of  Kingston. 
Lady  Robert  Cecil,  Sir  Edward  and  Lady  Busk, 
and  Sir  Norman  and  Lady  Lockyer.  Full  infor- 
mation about  the  hospital  may  be  obtained  from 
the  Hon.  Secretar^^  Miss  H.  S.  Wea\-er,  Cedar 
Lawn,  Hampstead  Heath. 


December  2S,  191J      Cbe  BvtttsI)  Soumal  Of  H-luvstnG. 


523 


FEEBLE-MINDED    CHILDREN. 

We  regret  that  owing  to  a  printers'  error  it 
was  stated  in  our  editorial  of  last  week  that  30  per 
cent,  of  children  of  school  age  throughout  the 
country  were  feeble  minded.  It  should  have  read, 
according  to  Sir  (ieorge  Newman's  report,  "  that 
it  would  appear  that  medical  inspection  indicates 
about  0.50  per  cent."  are  so  afflicted.  That  is  to  say, 
not  more  than  }  of  I  per  cent. belong  to  this  category. 
This  percentage  is  quite  sufficiently  serious  to 
demand  the  most  careful  consideration  of  general 
causes  of  this  national  evil. 


PROFESSIONAL  REVIEW. 


STUDIES    IN    INVALID  OCCUPATIONS. 

.\  M.^NVAL  FOR  Nurses  and  Attk.ndants. 

A  book  little  known  in  this  countrj-,  but  one 
which  deserves  the  attention  of  all  nurses,  is 
"  Studies  in  Invalid  Occupations,"  by  Miss  Susan 
E.  Tracy,  published  by  WTiitcomb  &  Barrows, 
Boston,  U.S.A.,  who  states  in  her  Foreword  that 
these  studies  were  brought  into  systcmatised 
form,  and  first  tested  by  practical  application  in 
the  classes  of  the  Training  School  for  Nurses  of  the 
Adams  Nervine  Asylum,  Jamaica  Plain,  Massa- 
chusetts, with  the  interest  and  unfailing  sj'mpathy 
of  its  Superintendent,  Dr.  Daniel  H.  Fuller,  who 
contributes  the  introduction  to  the  book.  The 
closing  chapter,  relating  to  the  work  for  the 
insane,  is,  we  are  told,  supplied  in  great  kindness 
by  Dr.  E.  Stanley  Abbot,  of  McLean  Hospital, 
Waverley,  Massachusetts. 

The  value  of  the  book  is  increased  by  the  per- 
fectly bewitcliing  illustrations.  The  frontispiece 
is  "  A  Group  of  Colonial  Clothes  pins,"  including 
John  Alden  and  Priscilla,  and  George  and  Martha 
Washington,  while  up  through  the  centre  rides 
Paul  Revere  with  the  friendly  Indians  in  the  rear. 
All  these  are  made  from  clothes-pins  (the  ordinary 
wooden  sort,  with  which  clothes  are  fastened  to  a 
line  to  dry),  dressed  in  paper.  The  cloth  animals 
are  also  excellent,  and  one  of  the  prettiest  pictures 
is  that  depicting  a  group  of  eggshell  toys.  A 
nurse  whose  fingers  could  create  half  of  the  things 
she  is  taught  to  make  in  this  book  would  certainly 
be  an  invaluable  acquisition  in  a  convalescent 
household,  more  especially  with  children. 

Dr.  Fuller,  in  his  introduction,  points  out  that 
"  there  is  a  growing  tendency  on  the  part  of 
many  physicians  to  depart  from  the  custom  of  the 
past  generation  by  prescribing  fewer  drugs  and 
these  more  rationally."  It  is  his  belief  that 
"  suitable  occupation  is  a  valuable  agent  in  the 
treatment  of  the  sick.  It  has  its  place,  not  as  a 
panacea,  but  as  an  important  , adjunct  to  other 
forms  of  treatment,  and  sometimes  it  is  quite  all 
the  treatment  necessary.  It  has  been  used  too 
exclusively  by  the  specialist,  and  too  little  by  the 
general  practitioner,  although  there  is  much  clever 
use  of  it  by  resourceful  doctors  and  nurses  which 
is  never  widely  published. 


"  Occupation  for  the  sick  is  not  employed  so 
much  as  it  might  be  profitably,  partly  because 
of  ignorance  of  the  great  good  that  may  be 
accomplished  thereby,  and  partly  because  of  the 
difficulties  which  appear  to  stand  in  the  way  of 
its  satisfactory  use.  The  busy  doctor  and  the 
busy  nurse  may  feel  that  they  ha\c  not  time  to 
initiate  any  regime  of  this  kind,  even  if  the 
usefulness  of  it  is  apparent.  More  frequently, 
perhaps,  through  lack  of  ingenuity,  an  occupation 
cannot  be  provided,  much  less  maintained,  by 
either  the  physician  or  the  nurse. 

"  The  psychology  of  work  is  a  subject  of  im- 
portance and  interest,  but  it  is  not  necessarj'  for 
the  physician  to  be  a  psychologist  to  prescribe 
work  wisely  for  the  patient  whose  physical, 
nervous,  mental,  and  moral  characteristics  he 
has  made  the  object  of  keen  observation  and  study. 
It  must  not  be  inferred  from  the  above  that 
occupation  can  be  used  successfully  in  a  haphazard 
manner.  Not  only  must  the  nervous  and  physical 
strength  be  carefully  estimated,  but  the  tempera- 
ment, natural  tastes  and  disposition  have  to  be 
taken  into  account  in  the  kind  and  amount  of 
occupation  suggested,  as  well  as  in  the  manner 
and  place  in  which  it  is  presented.  Different 
physicians  will  have  different  theories  as  to  the 
psychic  processes  involved.  Immediate  or  more 
remote  results  may  be  aimed  at,  and  the  precise 
conditions  to  be  treated  may  be  of  a  subtle 
nature." 

Methods  of  Teaching. 

In  the  chapter  devoted  to  "  Methods  of  Teach- 
ing," the  author  points  out  in  relation  to  nurse 
pupils  that  they  will  be  of  many  sorts.  "  Those 
of  quick  insight  who  select  material  with  little 
hesitation,  and  take  themselves  off  to  some  quiet 
corner  to  bring  back  some  charmingly  worked-out 
scheme.  Perhaps  there  will'  be  two  out  of  ten 
of  this  class.  The  average  pupil  works  along 
rather  laboriously,  but  with  a  certain  interest 
and  satisfaction  in  results.  After  these  come 
the  trials,  those  whose  hands  seem  not  to  be  a 
part  of  them,  those  who  work  while  the  instructor 
is  beside  them,  and  then  wait  until  she  gets  around 
again.  Perhaps  the  saving  grace  in  the  work 
is  its  variety.  The  pupil  who  made  shipwreck 
of  a  Canton  flannel  dog  turns  out  an  excellently 
bound  book  ;  the  one  who  flounders  and  gasps 
o\'er  a  piece  of  paper-folding  will  knit  a  shawl 
with  good  steady  strokes.  But  because  they  are 
nurses  and  will  be  called  to  suit  all  sorts  of  men 
and  minds  they  must  learn  to  do  the  things  for 
which  they  care  little,  if  b)-  so  doing  they  can 
supply  the  needed  interest  to  the  patient  dependent 
upon  them." 

The  Teacher. 

Concerning  the  teacher,  we  read  that  "  the 
desire  to  place  occupation  studies  in  the  curri- 
culum of  the  training  schools  makes  way  at  once 
for  the  question,  "  Who  shall  act  as  teachers  ?  " 
A  very  different  set  of  qualifications  is  necessary 
in  the  teaching  of  the  sick  from  those  that  suffice 
in  teaching  the  well ;    therefore,  those  attempting 


524 


JTbe  JSritisb  3onrnaI  of  murstna 


December  28,   1912 


to  teach  nurses  the  art  of  teaching  the  individual 
patient  must  tlicmselves  possess  hke  quahfications. 
One  teachng  in\'ahds  should  be  familiar  with  the 
hmitations  imposed  by  all  sorts  of  diseases.  She 
should  be  able  to  find  just  the  thing  which  a  person 
suffering  from  chest  troubles  might  safely  do  with- 
out aggravating  symptoms  ;  while  she  should  be 
no  less  appreciati\-e  of  orthopcedic  cases.  She  must 
detect  eye-strain,  and  know  and  heed  the  early  signs 
of  fatigue  before  the  patient  is  himself  conscious 
of  it.  Nervous  disorders  ajad  temperamental 
differences  must  be  read  and  appreciated  indi- 
vidually. .  .  .  There  may  be  a  feeling  that 
most  successful  nurses  are  far  too  busy  to  take 
time  for  this  special  training.  The  group  wliich 
promises  well  for  this  is  made  up  of  those  nurses 
who  have  already  had  a  somewhat  long  experience 
in  private  nursing  ;  who  have  come  to  a  realisation 
of  the  great  need,  and  also  feel  the  strain  of 
nursing,  so  that  a  six  months'  course,  to  be  fol- 
lowed by  an  opportunity  to  teach,  sounds  refresh- 
ing. A  class  made  up  in  this  way  would  be  a 
desirable  and  certain  aid  to  the  work." 

Dealing  with  "  typical  invalids,"  the  author 
writes  of  the  "  child  of  poverty  and  the  child  of 
wealth  "  ;  and  shows  that  when  occupation  treat- 
ment is  introduced,  the  poor  child  is  rich,  because 
of  his  apparent  poverty  ;  the  rich  child  is  poor, 
because  of  his  riches.  I?ut  a  nurse  who  can  fashion 
a  great  variety  of  interesting  objects  from  the 
barest  scraps,  becomes  in  the  estimation  of  any 
■  child,  rich  or  poor,  a  sort  of  magician." 

Occupations  for  patients  in  restricted  positions, 
in  quarantine,  one-hand  lessons,  in  the  hospital, 
for  grandmother,  and  for  the  business  man,  are 
all  most  practically  and  interestingly  described. 
The  old  man,  with  waning  powers,  recei^-es  special 
consideration  ;  and  the  tr\-ing  time  between  the 
calculated  and  actual  time  of  a  confinement,  is  not 
forgotten  ;  while  patients  "  without  sight  "  have 
a  chapter  to  themselves.  We  have  previously 
referred  to  the  valuable  chapter  on  the  clouded 
mind.  English  nurses  are  indebted  to  Miss  L.  L. 
Dock,  who  presented  "  Studies  in  Invalid  Occupa- 
tions "  to  the  International  Nursing  Library,  for 
their  introduction  to  this  altogether  delightful 
volume. 

M.  B. 


NURSING    IN    ITALY. 

We  hope  the  advertisements  which  have 
appeared  in  this  Journal  recently  for  a  Matron  and 
Nurses  for  the  Public  Hospital  at  Spezia,  in  Italy, 
have  been  well  responded  to.  We  know  that  the 
requirement — a  knowledge  of  Italian — will  deter 
many  otherwise  suitable  candidates  from  apply- 
ing. '  As  English  nurses  are  now  so  often  called 
upon  to  start  a  good  nursing  system  on  the 
Continent,  and  to  work  in  different  countries,  it  is 
becoming  very  necessary  that  those  entering  the 
profession  at  liome  should  acquire  a  knowledge  of 
languages. 


BOOK  OF   THE   WEEK. 


MIGHTIER    THAN     THE     SWORD.* 

The  career  of  a  journalist  and,  incidentally,  of 
many  journalists,  is  set  foilli  in  these  pages. 
Fleet  Street  is  its  environnrent.  It  is  powerfully 
written,  this  book,  and  full  of  strong  purpose. 
The  men  and  women  of  its  pages  are  the  workers 
of  the  world,  all  of  whom  have  a  definite  goal  in 
view.  Almost  it  might  be  said  that  it  is  a  trifle 
too  strenuous.  It  deals  almost  exclusively  with 
the  profession  which  supplies  its  title,  and  will  be 
read  with  great  interest  by  those  who  are  engaged 
in  like  work. 

The  gradual  absorption  of  these  people  by  its 
insistent  claims,  its  strong  call  and  hold  upon  them, 
is  graphically  described  in  the  opening  pages  in 
the  person  of  Ferrol.  looking  back  over  an  interval 
of  thirty  years.  The  girl  in  the  familiar  old 
cathedral  town  who  had  fulfilled  her  destiny  in 
inspiring  him ;  the  gradual  nausea  that  came 
over  liim ;  the  monotony  of  it  all  that  fell  like  a 
weight  upon  his  heart ;  his  coming  to  London  ;  the 
gradual  estrangement  of  liis  love  ;  "  none  of  the 
pang  of  parting ;  he  was  striving  and  struggling 
upward — all  men  travel  fastest  when  alone.  Now 
to-day  he  was  Ferrol  of  '  The  Day '  who 
whispered,  and  Berlin,  Vienna,  or  San  Francisco 
gav-e  him  his  needs.  The  clerks  in  the  counting- 
house,  the  advertising  men,  the  grimy  printer's 
boy  in  the  basement,  the  type-setters,  and  the 
block-makers,  messengers,  tj'pists — they  were  all 
bricks  in  the  edifice  which  was  built  up  for  the 
men  who  wrote  the  paper — the  edifice  of  which 
Ferrol  was  the  keystone." 

But  he  always  cherished  that  memory  of  his  one 
romance  that  had  tapered  away  out  of  his  life, 
and  caused  him  to  seek  out  young  Humphn,-,  the 
son  of  her  subsequent  marriage,  and  give  him  his 
chance  as  a  journalist. 

Full  of  ambition  and  confidence  as  he  was,  his 
first  launching  on  the  journalistic  world  was  an 
instruction  to  "  nose  out "  a  tragedy  at  the 
"  London  end."  Rivers'  parting  words  were 
ringing  in  his  ears.  "  And  don't  you  fall  down, 
young  man,"  he  had  said,  using  the  vivid  meta- 
phor for  failure.  "  The  busy  people  of  the  street 
surged  about  him  as  he  stood  still  for  a  nroment 
trj'ing  to  think  where  he  should  begin  on  the 
London  end.  He  thought  how  Wratten  ■  would 
have  known  at  once  where  to  go  how  easily 
Tommy  Pride,  wdth  his  years  of  training,  would  do 
the  job."  But  Humphry  was  not  of  the  stuff  of 
which  failures  are  made. 

His  meeting  and  wooing  of  Lilian,  who  was 
employed  in  the  Special  News  Agency,  is  a  welcome 
incident  in  the  storj^  and  the  girl  is  of  good  stuff, 
with  an  elusiveness  about  her  that  is  verj'  attrac- 
tive. "  For  days  and  days  she  had  withstood 
the  eager  batten,'  of  his  assault  upon  her  heart. 
'  No,'  she  had  said  gently,  '  you  are  a  dear  boy 

*  By  Alphonse  Courlander.  T.  Fisher  Unwin, 
Adelphi  Terrace,  London. 


December  2S,  191 --      JEbc  JSuttlsh  Soumal  of  H-lurstno 


525 


and  1  like  you  .  .  .  but  let's  be  friends." 
Then,  following  the  engagement,  comes  the  mean 
and  cruel  jilting  of  her. 

"  He  remembered  he  was  going  to  ask  Ferrol 
for  a  rise  in  salarj'  ;   he  came  back  to  the  desk." 

"  Oh.  Mr.  Ferrol,"  he  said,  "  I  ought  to  tell  you 
I'm  going  to  be  married." 

"  ^tarried  !  "  he  said  harshly  ;  "  you  damned 
young  fool.  .  .  .  It's  all  very  well  for  you  : 
you  may  progress,  you  may  develop — you're  bound 
to,  for  men  knock  about  and  gather  world  experi- 
ence. What  of  the  woman  at  home — cooped  up 
with  her  babies  ?  Eh  ?  Have  you  thought  of 
that  ?  Where  would  your  home  be  ?  You  haven't 
got  as  far  as  that,  then  ?  The  woman  stands  still, 
you  march  on.  She  can  lift  you  up,  but  you  can't 
lift  her  up.  You  can  link  up  the  things  of  life, 
but  the  woman  who  has  not  been  able  to  progress, 
ignorant  of  anything  but  the  petty  little  things  of 
to-day  ?  Then  you  hear  people  saying,  '  How  on 
earth  did  he  come  to  marry  her  ?  He  didn't 
marry  her,  it  was  another  man — the  man  he  was 
twenty  years  ago.     Do  you  see  ?  " 

Humphry  looked  about  him  forlornly.  ..."  I 
understand     ...     I  see  what  you  mean." 

There  is  no  doubt  that  this  work  is  far  above 
the  average. 

H.  H. 


LETTERS    TO    THE    EDITOR. 


Whilst  cordially  inviting  communications  upon 
all  subjects  /or  these  columns,  we  wish  it  to  be 
distinctly  understood  that  we  do  not  in  any  way  hold 
ourselves  responsible  for  the  opinions  expressed  by 
our  correspondents. 


CHRISTMAS     CJREETINOS. 

To  the  Editor  of  The  British  Journal  of  Nursing. 

Dear  EnnoR, —  l^lease  accept  an  Australian 
Christmas  greeting,  and  may  the  coming  year  be 
most  successful  in  every  way  ;  and  inav  we  both 
be  able  to  mark  1913  as  the  year  that  State 
Registration  of  Nurses  came  into  force  both  in 
England  and  Victoria. 

Yours  sincerely, 

Melbourne.  CIretta   Lyons. 

[We  thank  most  heartily  all  friends  from  many 
lands  who  have  so  kindly  remembered  to  send 
greetings  to  the  Editor  of  this  Journal  at  this 
happy  season.  That  of  Miss  Gretta  Lyons  is 
typical  of  the  interest  taken  by  trained  nurses  all 
over  the  world  in  its  work  for  the  nursing  pro- 
fession at  home  and  abroad,  and  the  community 
it  serves. — Ed. J 


COMING    EVENTS. 

December  2jth. — Christmas  Da\-  Festivities  in 
Hospitals,  Infirmaries  and  kindred  institutions. 

December  lylh. — The  Lord  Mayor  and  I-ady 
Mayoress  attend  a  Christmas  Tree  partv,  Evelina 
Hospital  for  Sick  Children,  Southwark  Bridge 
Road. 

December -^oth. — London  Homoeopathic  Hospital, 
Great  Ormond  Street,  W.C,  Christmas  Tree  for 
Children  in  Barton  Ward. 

Jamiarv  i.';'.--The  Trained  Women  Nurses 
Friendly  Society.  Meeting  Committee  of  Manage- 
ment, 431,  Oxford  Street,  London.  W.   5  p.in. 

Jaiiuarv  2iid.- — Chelsea  Hospital  for  Women, 
S.W.,  Christmas  Entertainment.  Tea  and  Tree. 
4  to  I.. 30. 

January  6lh  to  iblh. — Post  Graduate  Course  of 
Lectures  on  the  Feeding  and  Care  of  Infants,  with 
special  attention  to  the  Milk  Problem.  Fee,  £1  is. 
Apply  to  Hon.  Secretary',  Dr.  Janet  E.  Lane- 
Clavpon,  18,  Craven  Terrace,  Lancaster  Gate, 
l.oiidon,  W 

A    WORD    FOR   THE    WEEK. 

Fate  knocked  at  the  Door  of  Death, 

My  soul  in  her  hollow  hand  ; 
Angels  open-d  it.     Lo !   God  .saith, 

To  whom  gave  He  this  command  "- 
Take  him  back  to  the  Gates  of  Life. 

And  set  his  feet  in  the  wa\-. 
So  he  and  his  children  and  his  wife 

Will  praise  my  mercy  alway. 


REPLIES   TO   CORRESPONDENTS. 

Midii'ijc. — Most  of  the  text-books  for  midwives 
are  on  the  same  lines.  I'ossibly  a  book  dealing 
with  obstetric  nursing  would  be  helpful  to 
you.  "Nursing:  its  principles  and  practice," 
by  the  late  Mrs.  Hampton  Robb,  published  by  E.  C. 
Koeckert,  715,  Rose  Building,  Cleveland,  U.S..\., 
IS  excellent.  '  The  Nutrition  of  the  Infant,"  by 
Dr.  Ralph  \'incent,  price  los.  6d.,  contains  informa- 
tion with  which  e\ery  midwife  should  be  ac- 
<iuainted.  It  is  published  by  Messrs.  Bailhere, 
Tindall  &  Cox.  "  Infancy  and  Infant  Rearing," 
by  Dr.  J.  B.  Hellier,  price  3s.  6d.,  published  by 
>iessrs.  Charles  Griffin  &  Co..  Ltd.,  is  also  very 
useful. 

OUR    PRIZE    COMPETITION. 

January  ^ih. — How  would  you  control  Tonsillar 
Haemorrhage  ? 

January  nth. — Describe  the  chief  abnormalities 
of  the  Pulse. 

January  18th. — Describe  the  most  unusual  and 
interesting  obstetrical  case  you  have  nursed. 

Jaituarv  z^th. — What  are  the  principal  requi- 
sites in  the  care  of  rachitic  children  ? 


A    NEW   YEAR'S    GIFT. 

The  Editor  hopes  that  every  reader  who  \alues 
Tm;  British  Journal  ok  Nursing  will  make  her 
a  New  Year's  gift  of  a  new  subscriber,  so  that  its 
constructive  work  for  the  profession  ma\-  receive 
ever  increasing  support.  Address  of  Office,  431, 
Oxford  Street,  London,  W. 


5-6      ^bc  Biitisb  3ournal  of  IRureino  SuppIemcnt.Decembe^  28,  1912 

THe   Midwife, 


MIDWIFERY    IN    1912. 

The  work  of  the  Central  Midvvivcs'  Board  in 
examining  and  registering  midwives  has  pro- 
ceeded as  heretofore.  The  gradual  elimina- 
tion of  midwives  not  holdnig  any  qualification 
of  training  from  the  Roll  is  being  accomplished 
(i)  by  the  removal  by  the  Board  of  ignorant  or 
criminal  midwives  after  due  investigation ; 
(2)  by  the  voluntary  resignation  of  others  who 
I  eel  unable  to  comply  with  the  rules  of  the 
Board ;  and  (3)  by  death.  During  the  past  year 
304  midwives  have  been  removed  for  these 
reasons. 

Nothing  has  proved  more  effectively  that 
women  are  willing  to  pay  for  their  training  and 
to  submit  themselves  to  an  examination  in 
order  to  obtain  a  qualification  granted  by  the 
State  thart  the  history  of  the  Central  Midwives' 
Board's  examination,  which  takes  place  every 
two  months ;  that  in  October  this  year  was  the 
largest  yet  held,  668  candidates  entering  their 
names.  No  less  than  2,268  midwives  have  been 
registered  in  1912,  and  37,395  since  the  Act 
came  into  force. 

One  effect  of  the  Midwives  .A^ct  is  to  give  to 
midwives  in  the  public  estimation  a  position 
which  is  not  accorded  to  the  trained  nurse,  and 
there  is  a  danger  of  work  which  belongs  to  the 
nurse  passing  into  the  hands  of  the  certified 
midwife.  Already  County  Nursing  Associa- 
tions recognize  and  inspect,  as  village  nurses, 
certified  midwives  with  a  few  months'  experi- 
ence in  general  nursing,  and  there  is  a  further 
risk  of  midwives  being  employed  as  nurses  to 
care  for  the  insured  sick,  and  also  as  School 
Nurses  in  connection  with  the  medical  inspec- 
tion of  school  children.  No  stronger  argument 
could  be  brought  forward  in  support  of  the 
urgency  of  the  demand  for  the  State  Registra- 
tion of  Nurses. 

Certified  midwives  will  do  well  to  claim  full 
recognition  for  the  legal  status  they  possess 
under  the  Midwives  Act,  and,  financially  and 
otherwise,  to  strengthen  the  honourable  posi- 
tion they  now  enjoy  as  midwives ;  and  to  decline 
to  be  employed  as  nurses  unless  fully  trained 
as  such,  or  to  be  utilized  to  do  the  cheap 
philanthropy  of  other  people. 

The  Central  Midwives'  Board  has  now  sold 
out  its  last  security,  representing  funds  in- 
vested from  the  registration  fees  received  on 
the    passing   of   the   Act,    and    any    excess    of 


expenditure  over  income  will  now  have  to  be 
paid  by  the  County  Councils.  This  proves  that 
the  £1  IS.  registration  fee  is  not  sufficient  to 
meet  the  expenses  of  administration  and 
examinations,  and  that  a  higher  registration 
fee  should  be  required. 

The  introduction  of  a  Preliminary  Course  for 
pupils  at  Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital,  and  of 
Post-Graduate  Lectures  at  the  Midwives'  Insti- 
tute, proves  that  the  minimum  three  months' 
training  is  not  found  to  be  sufficient  bv  those  in 
touch  with  the  practical  work  and  needs  of 
midwives. 

The  Midwives'  Institute,  the  Union  of  Mid- 
wives,  and  the  National,  Association  of  Mid- 
wives  are  the  principal  Societies  of  certified 
midwives,  and  all  have  been  actively  engaged 
during  the  past  year  in  promoting  their 
interests. 

The  National  Insurance  Commissioners  have 
placed  one  midwife  on  each  Insurance  Com- 
mittee appointed  under  the  Act,  and  midwives 
have  also  seats  on  the  Advisory  Committees. 
This  is  entirely  the  result  of  the  legal  status 
they  enjoy  under  the  Midwives  .Act. 

A  Midwives  Bill  for  Scotland  was  introduced 
in  April  last  into  the  House  of  Commons  by 
Mr.  G.  N.  Barnes,  M.P.  for  Glasgow  (Black- 
friars),  but  no  progress  has  been  made  with  it. 

In  both  Queensland  and  Western  Australia 
midwives  are  now  registered  under  State 
authority.  In  both  these  States  midwives  who 
are  not  trained  nurses  are  required  to  have 
twelve  months'  training,  whereas  midwives 
registered  by  the  Central  Midwives'  Board  are 
allowed  to  practise.  This  brings  up  the  ques- 
tion of  equitable  conditions  of  reciprocity,  as  it 
is  certainly  unfair  that  -Australian  midwives 
with  twelve  months'  training  should  be  under- 
cut by  midwives  with  onlv  three  months'  train- 
ing from  overseas. 

If  midwifery  is  ever  to  become  a  well- 
remunerated  profession  for  women,  its  educa- 
tional standard  must  be  raised  considerably. 
As  evidence  of  the  feeling  amongst  midwives, 
and  those  responsible  for  their  training,  that  a 
higher  standard  is  necessary,  it  is  interesting 
to  note  th-at,  in  reply  to  an  enquiry  by  the 
Central  Midwives'  Board,  the  authorities  of 
the  Home  for.  Mothers  and  Babies  at  Woolwich 
intimate  that,  as  their  term  of  training  is  for 
twelve  months,  the  lectures  would  not  be  suit- 
able for  ordinarv  candidates. 


December  2S,  1912  ^bc  ^Stitisb  3ournal  of  IHursuiG  Supplement. 


CENTRAL    MIDWIVES    BOARD. 


THE     MONTHLY    MEETINU. 

At  the  monthly  meeting  o£  the  Central  Midwives' 
Board,  held  on  December  19th,  at  which  Sir 
Francis  Champneys  presided,  the  following  business 
was  transacted. 

Report  of  the  Standing  Committee. 
The  Standing  Committee  reported  that  a  false 
and  fraudulent  certificate  of  birth  had  been 
tendered  by  a  woman  desirous  of  becoming 
a  candidate  for  the  examination  of  December  i6th. 
The  Board  decided  to  refer  the  matter  to  the  Public 
Prosecutor,  and  that  he  be  asked  whether  he 
intends  to  take  proceedings  in  the  case. 

In  connection  with  a  case  reported  at  the  last 
meeting  of  the  Board,  when  it  was  alleged  that  a 
certified  midwife  had  given  a  false  reference  in 
order  to  obtain  a  post,  a  letter  was  read  from  the 
Chief  Constable  of  Windsor,  suggesting  that  either 
the  Board  or  the  Matron  of  the  Monmouthshire 
Training  Centre  should  lay  an  information  against 
the  midwife  under  the  Servants'  Character  Act 
of  1792.  It  was  decided  to  cite  the  midwife  to 
app>ear  before  the  Penal  Cases  Committee. 

Replies  were  received  from  the  following 
hospitals  as  to  admitting  to  their  midwiferj- 
lectures  pupils  not  on  the  books  of  the  hospital. 

The  Clapham  Maternity-  Hospital,  the  East  End 
Mothers'  Home,  the  General  Lpng-in  Hospital, 
the  Kensington  Union  Infirmar\-,  and  the  Xew 
Hospital  for  Women  expressed  their  willingness 
to  do  so.  It  is  the  practice  of  four  out  of  the  five 
institutions  at  the  present  time,  the  fee  for  the 
course  varj-ing  from  £2  2s.  to  £5  5s. 

The  British  Lying-in  Hospital,  the  City  of 
London  Lying-in  Hospital,  Queen  Charlotte's 
Hospital,  and  the  Home  for  Mothers  and  Babies 
at  Woolwich  declined  to  do  so,  the  Cit\'  of  London 
and  Queen  Charlotte's  Hospitals  gi\-ing  as  the 
reason  that  the  tendency  of  adopting  this 
Suggestion  would  be  to  lower  the  standard  of 
midwiferj-  training  by  making  it  c;isy  for  pupils 
to  adopt  the  cheapest  and  easiest  course  of 
training.  Queen  Charlotte's  Hospital  further 
reported  that  this  decision  was  unanimously 
adopted  at  a  meeting  convened  by  it  with  repre- 
sentatives of  other  Maternity  Hospitals. 

The  authorities  of  the  Home  at  Woohvich 
explained  that  they  were  shortly  amalgamating 
with  the  British  Lying-in  Hospital.  A  further 
difficult\-  in  complying  with  the  desire  of  the 
Board  was  that  it  was  the  ahn  of  the  Home  to 
raise  the  standard  of  training  for  niidwives,  and 
trained  nurses  received  six  months'  training, 
other  pupils  twelve  months.  The  lectures  would 
therefore  not  suit  the  requirements  of  ordinar>- 
candidates. 

The  Board  decided  to  communicate  with  the 
Maternity  Nursing  Association,  Myddelton  Square, 
E.C.,  asking  whether  outside  pupils  can  be 
admitted  at  that  institution. 

The  dates  of  the  ordinarj-  Board  Meetings  for 
1913  were  announced. 


AppUcations  for  the  removal  of  their  names 
from  the  Roll  were  made  by  ten  midwives.  The 
Sccretar\-  was  instructed  to  remove  the  names  and 
to  cancel  the  certificates. 

The  application  of  Dr.  Harold  Wacher  for 
recognition  as  a  teacher  was  approved,  and  that 
of  Dr.  Ellis  pro  hac  vice. 

The  application  of  Miss  Edith  Smith,  certified 
midwife,  for  approval  to  sign  Forms  III.  and  IV. 
was  granted. 

The  meeting  then  terminated. 


PENAL   CASES    BOARDS. 

A  Special  Meeting  of  the  Central  Midwives 
Board  was  held  at  the  Board  Room,  Caxton 
House,  on  \\''ednesday,  December  i8th,  to  con- 
sider the  penal  cases.  Sir  F.  Champneys  presided. 
Of  the  sLxteen  cases  which  came  under  considera- 
tion, no  less  than  eleven  were  struck  off  the  roll. 

Struck  off  the  Roll  and  Certificate 
cancelled. 

Jane  Brook  (Xo.  6,580),  Bradford  ;  Elizabeth 
Calcroft  (Xo.  2,845),  ^'otts  ;  Marj-  Jane  Dearden 
(Xo.  5,862),  Lancashire  ,  Fanny  Emery  (Xo. 
1,955),  Salop;  Mary  .\rm  Hammond  (Xo.  20.844), 
West  Suffolk;  Annie  Mason  (Xo.  2,037)  ;  Stafford- 
shire: Ann  Rumble  (Xo.  18,913),  Kent;  Ahce 
Rebecca  Webb  (Xo.  20,824),  Bucks  ;  Sarah  Carr 
(Xo.  20,784)  ;  Annie  Griffiths  (Xo.  20,843),  Salop  ; 
Sarah  Linton  (Xo.  16,591),  East  Sussex. 
Cautioned. 

:Mary  Ann  Exley  (Xo.  30,969),  West  Riding. 
Adjourned  till  S.\turday. 

Sarah  Camps  (Xo.  5277),  Lancashire. 
Adjourned. 

Ehzabeth  EUiman  (Xo.  17,707),  Devon.  Local 
Supervising  Authority-  to  be  asked  to  report  in 
three  and  six  months.  Mary  Jane  Davies  (Xo. 
12,018),  :Merthyr  Tydfil.  Local  Super\-ising 
.\uthorit>-  to  be  asked  to  report  if  she  can  and 
does  use  a  thermometer.  Emma  Snowling  (Xo. 
20,692),  Great  Yarmouth.  Local  Super\-ising 
Authority-  to  be  asked  to  report  on  her  work.  If 
she  does  not  improve,  to  be  struck  off. 

The  remaining  cases  on  the  agenda  were  left 
over  for  consideration  on  Saturday,  December  21st. 

In  all  the  deaths  of  four  women  were  reported  ; 
one  case  of  complete  blindness  in  the  infant,  and 
one  of  blindness  of  one  eye. 

In  the  case  of  Sarah  Carr,  aged  80,  it  was  stated 
that  she  had  been  practising  for  fift>'-six  years. 
She  wrote  sapng  it  was  not  true  that  she  was 
dirts' ;  she  had  always  kept  herself  clean,  having 
nothing  else  to  do.  The  doctor  had  thought  her 
clean  enough  when  she  delivered  a  patient  three 
times  for  him  and  he  had  done  notlving  but  receive 
the  fees.  Patient  in  question  died  of  puerperal 
■fever.  Mary  .Vnn  Exley  explained  a  charge  of 
assault,  and  her  subsequent  imprisonment  for  ten 
days,  as  the  result  of  extreme  provocation  from 
a  neighbour,  who  "  struck  me  witli  a  pint  pot.  If 
I  am  a  midwife,  I  am  not  to  be  crucified." 


528      ^be  Britisb  3ournal  of  IRuvsino  Supplement,  o^^mbfr  28,  1912 


Annie  Griffiths,  wlio  was  charged  with  being 
(inder  the  influence  ol  drink,  lost  the  patient 
upon  whom  she  was  in  attendance. 

•Mary  Ann  Hammond.  The  medical  man  stated 
that  when  called  to  the  patient  he  found  her  in 
a  moribund  condition. 

The  case  of  Sarali  I.inton  raised  points  of  great 
interest.  The  :\Iedical  Officer  of  Health  for  East 
Sussex  attended  in  person.  Was  she  under  an 
obligation  to  notify  the  Local  Supervising 
Authority  when  liaving  been  sent  for  as  a  midwife, 
and  finding  the  case  one  of  abortion,  and  not 
having  examined,  slie  refused  to  undertake  it, 
but  sent  for  medical  assistance  ?  The  Board, 
having  heard  the  case,  ruled  that  she  was  not,  as 
two  persons  could  not  be  in  charge,  and  clearly 
a  medical  man  was.  With  reference  to  Dr. 
FuUerton's  remark  that  the  I-ocal  Supervising 
Authority  thought  she  ought  to  have  been 
removed  from  the  Roll  on  a  previous  charge,  the 
chairman  said  it  was  not  the  function  of  the 
Local  Super\-ising  Authority  to  tell  the  Board 
what  they  ought  to  do.  "  We,  and  not  they,  are 
answerable  to  the  High  Court  of  Justice."  He 
also  pointed  out  iiat,  on  the  previous  charge 
referred  io  Dr.  FuUerton,  had  defended  the  mid- 
wife, saying  she  was  a  sober,  respectable  woman 
who  had  done  her  best.  The  woman's  name  was 
removed  from  the  Roll. 

Annie  Mason.  The  Inspector  of  Midwives 
who  was  present,  said  that  she  prevented  the 
midwife  from  wiping  the  child's  eyes  with  a  dirty 
handkerchief  moistened  with  saliva. 

]£mma  Snowling,  of  Great  Yarmouth.  The 
Medical  Officer  of  Health  was  present  and  gave 
evidence  in  this  case.  The  child  in  question  is 
now  quite  blind.  In  answer  to  the  Chairman,  he 
said  there  was  no  Inspector  of  Midwives  for  his 
district,  though  the  two  Health  Inspectors  were 
both  midwives.  The  chairman  said  that  probably- 
efficient  supervision  might  have  saved  the  sight 
of  this  infant,  and  he  would  suggest  the  JNIedical 
Officer  of  Health  should  persuade  the  Council  to 
have  full  supervision  and  to  remember  they  were 
the  guardians  of  the  children.  Judgment 
being  suspended,  the  ^Medical  Officer  of  Health 
asked  that  the  case  might  be  reported  as  a  warning 
to  others. 

.\n  infant,  in  a  case  attended  by  Rebecca  Webb, 
lost  the  sight  of  one  eye. 


On  Saturdav.  December  21st,  a  second  special 
meeting  of  the  Board  to  consider  penal  cases.  Sir 
Francis  Champnevs  jircsiding,  was  held  with  the 
following  results  : — 

Struck  off  the  Roll  and  Certificate 
Cancelled. 

Marion  Bristow  (No.  19,714),  Surrey  ;  Sarah 
Camps  (No.  5,277),  Lancashire  ;  Maria  Cleverly 
(No.  14,593),  Wilts;  Harnah  Hope  (No.  7,196), 
Cheshire  ;  Mary  Ellen  Jones  (No.  12,464),  Cheshire  ; 
F:iiza  Mercer  (No.  26,846),  Middlesex;  Annie 
Payne  (No.  20,574),  Birmingham  ;  Margaret 
Pemberton  (No.  15,985),  London  ;  Elizabeth 
Soden  (No.  4,925),  Birmingham  ;   Ellen  Strickland 


(No.  31,074),  Surrey  ;  Mary  Sutton  (No.  31,996), 
Pembrokeshire  ;  Alice  Swain  (No.  2,984),  Man- 
chester :  Sarah  Ann  Tunstall  (No.  2,282),  Stoke- 
on-Trent. 

Severely  Censured. 
Emma  Lange  (No.  16,172),  Barrow-in-Furness. 
Report  asked  for  in  three  and  six  months'  time.    . 
Censured. 
Lilv    Jane    Reynolds    (No.    31,006),    Middlesex. 
Report  asked  for  in  three  and  six  months'  time. 
Cautioned. 
Jane    Cox    (No.    933),    Wigan  ;      Sarah    Ellen 
Gamble  (No.  32,215),  Manchester. 

Charges  Not  Proved.     No  Action  T.\ken. 
.Alatilda  Hill  (No.  11,912),  ^Nfanchester. 

Adjourned. 
Emilv  Ward  (No.  29,233),  Southampton. 

Restored  to  the  Roll. 
Deborah  Blower. 

NOTES    ON    MATERNITY    HOSPITALS. 

Queen  Ch.\rlotte's  HosriT.\L. 
The  preliminary  training-school  of  Queen 
Charlotte's  Lying-in  Hospital  has  already  justified 
its  existence,  although  the  first  class  of  candidates 
have  only  just  finished  their  examination.  For 
the  preliminary  training  here,  as  elsewhere,  has 
shown  the  fitness  or  unfitness  of  the  candidates 
before  entering  the  wards,  and  so  prevents  much 
imnecessarv  friction,  to  say  nothing  of  the  great 
ad\-antage  to  all  concerned  of  the  acquirement 
of  the  elements  of  their  work  before  coming  into 
actual  *^58tltac1;  with  their  patients.  The  pity 
is' that  there  is  no  Central  Preliminarv  Training 
School  which  could  prepare  all  pupils  and  pro- 
bationers for  all  hospitals,  and  so  save  much 
unnecessary  expense,  with  far-reaching  benefits 
o  all  concerned. 

THE     LAST    WORDS    FOR     1912. 

"  Youth  asked  the  lark  : 
'  Why  dost  thou  sing 

When  clouds  are  darkling  ?  ' 

Replied  the  lark, 
'  Behind  the  dark 

The  light  is  sparkling  !  ' 

Youth  begged  the  Hours 

Death  not  to  bring, 

Though  clouds  were  lowering. 

Replied  the  Hours, 
'  In  Heaven's  bowers 

Roses  are  flowering  !  '  " 

The  dawn  is  not  distant. 

The  night  is  not  starless, 

And  Love  is  Eternal. 

Once  again  I  hear,  softened  by  distance,  what  to 
me  is  the-  sweetest,  most  weird,  and  yet  the 
saddest  strain  of  music  ever  written.  At  the 
farthest  limit  of  the  parade  grounds  the  bugler  is 
sounding  Taps.  ;  Lights  out,  lights  out ; 
Fare  well ;    Good-bve. 


'•'     --( 


^*^'"  ■-y^«.'^ 


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