WOMAN'S WORK AT THE SEAT OF WAR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2035, 23 July 1885, Page 3

WOMAN'S WORK AT THE SEAT OF WAR.

(Fiom The Queen.) rlovv often has kind Sir Walter's invoation to " Woman " as a " ministering uigel, when pain and anguish wring the >row," been quoted in connection with ,Ins subject ? Through the minds of how nany maids, wives, and widows has wsscd the thought that, if it be not :\actly "sweet to die for the fatherand," it is undoubtedly so to tend and :oinfoit those to do so. And yet, pcil.ips, few who quote the flattenng itanzi, ov dream of being an eai tidy angel, ia\ c more than the faintest idea of the jciuble subject in question— for teinlile t is, with all the mysteries of life, death, md human anguish ; with its hea\y •esponsibihtiea and continual demands, lot only on physical endinance, but laidcr still, on moial and mental self,ontiol and self-foigetfulness. The ast thnty yeais ha\c, howe\cr, it-ought to many Englishwomen <i ;learei notion of what musing really inplies than obtained amongst them, ,vhen the unfitness of some who aspired :o nurse our sick and wounded in the Crimea is reported to have forced from ;he gentle lips of Miss Nightingale the ■cmark that a "disappointment v\ love is lot the only qualification for being a good nirse." She herself has done more to promote a practical knowledge of nursing ihroughout Gicat Britain than anyone, md well does she deseive the honoiable istecm in which her name is held. In the nelancholy revelations of the state of the British Militaiy hospitals at Scutari nade by " S. G. 0." and others, the one jii^ht spot is the account of the gallant itruggle slie and hur band of volunteer mrses made against the pte\ ailing want )f organisation, wheicby the comforts ibeially ordeied for the sick and wouuded ncn failed m countless cases to reach ;hem. Miss Nightingale's nui sing staff, howjver, though tl • most widely known, was lot the lust band of Biitish female niises that had worked in militaiy hospials, but succeeded a sisterhood, which, inder the management of Mrs Bridgeman, vegan the work in field hospitals after Balaklava. Their thorough efficiency helped the medical staff, who ippicciated this new factor in hospital management as much as the patients, transforming, as it did, the rude " hut " into neat comFortable "waids." All subsequent dibits in the direction of female musing in our militaiy hospitals bear the impress of Miss Nightingale's original <>\stcm, and, dming the Indian Mutiny, Lidy Canning, wife of the late [Joveinor Gcneial, obtnimd pel mission fioin the Government to lntiodute such a staff into the laige base hospital at Allaha bad into which the sick and wounded fioin the front were received dining the final nnerations under Lord Clyde, the captuie of Lucknow, and the extinction of the mutiny. This musing staff consisted of a snpetintendent, Mrs Esther I'iL'got, and si\ nurses ; and their efficiency not only won unstinting piaise for the hospital from Lord Clyde, Lord Strathnairn, Lord Sandhui st, and all the inspecting generals, but was recognised bv the Government of India, and endoised on behalf of the Home Government by the Secretary of State. It was considered also l>y many hiflh authoiities that the moral influence of the nurses was most beneficial in the wards, and the patients not only showed their gratitude over and over again, by w riting to the superintendent long after having been discharged fiom the hospital, but by carefully abstaining when theie from words or acts which would offend their ears or pain their delicacy. Since that time nursing sisters have be come a lecojnnsed part of the Bntish army medical staff. Their headquaiteis are at Netley, but some are attached to other military hospitiU, with a superintending sister in charge, and they boar the (listinU title of " Her Majesty's Nursing Sisters ' They must all be in the position of ladies by buth or education, and must have gone through thoiongh training in some good civil hospital befoie they can be admitted to a military one. When applying to serve in army hospitals they engage to give three months' notice before leaving, and, of course, are sent wherever their services are most needed. In the wards their authority is analogous to that of a sister in a civil hospital, their duties being similar ; they take the orders of the medical officer, and aic lesponsible to him for their being properly carried out. 'I he work which in civil hospitals is done by nuraes and ward maids is heie performed by hospital oiderhes, trained especially for it. The sisters wear uniform— a grey dress (the matenal varying aecoiding to climate), laige white apion with bib and pockets, little seal let cape on the shoulders, and at Home a white frilled cap : abroad a large white lawn handkerchief folded corner-wise, and phced on the head, with the ends knotted under the chin ; a giey cloak and bonnet complete the dtess The system has worked so well in the military, it has now been adopted in the naval service. Six sisteis went to the Zulu and four to the Boer war, and at the present time 10 or 20 are at the seat of war, at Ramleh, Cairo, Wady Haifa, Assouan, on the hospital ship, Ganges, and in the base hospital, Suakim, and on April Bth several mote left London for Suez. Working with these are the sistcis sent out by the National Aid Society, who at first went through training in a military hospital, engaging to serve for three years ; but now they are engaged from civil hospitals after being thoroughly trained. At the present tune four have gone from St Maiy's, l'addmgton, for duty at the Victoiia Hospital, Sue/, the highlj respected m.ition of St. Maiy's being of the number. All English folk will join with us in wishing them strength both of body and mind for the harassing duties they have gone to do. Many young ladies will possibly envy them the opportunity of nursing the sick and wounded ; to such we would say this one woid : Befoie em baiking on that mission, ask youis* If, and wait for a soberly truthful answer : — "Am I piepared to face sights and hear sounds, more painful than w ords enn tell, without flinching ? To bear loss of ease and lest, trials of temper, heat, cold, discomforts of every kind, and utterly to forget myself in the endeavour to soothe a little sorrow, or ease a little pain ? Have I good health, strong nerves, and plenty of patience and self-control ?" If your conscience cannot give a decided affirmative, be suie your share of helping the sick and woi-ndod will be better done at home than hi tho hospitals.