MODERN NURSING

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22413, 28 May 1938, Page 8

MODERN NURSING

* ; ■ FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE’S PIONEER WORK ADDRESS BY DR. L. L. AVERILL Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing ahd thfi llfiPOillfi Of Crimea, was the subject of an interesting address given last night by Dr. L. C. L. Averill, at the meeting of the Parents’ National Educational Union, held at Dr. Averill’s home, Bealey avenue. . , . The family name was Shaw, but. Florence Nightingale’s father assumed the name of Nightingale when he inherited certain property in Derbyshire, Dr. Averill said. She was born in Florence in 1820, a contemporary of Sir James Young Simpson, Professor of Obstetrics at Edinburgh University, and the discoverer of the use of chloroform, and Lord Lister, known as the father of modern surgery.

When only 17 Florence Nightingale felt that she was destined for some big work, and was filled with & desire to help those round her. Her father was somewhat sympathetic to her wishes, but her mother was not. In 1845 she wished to become a probationer nurse; but her parents would not allow it, and she was sent abroad. She took the opportunity of visiting hospitals wherever she could, and in Rome she came in contact with the Catholic nursing sisters. She studied their methods, rules, and discipline, and later applied them in her own work. At this tijne also she met Mr and Mrs Sydney Herbert. The former was then Secretary at War, and was later of great assistance to her. She refused offers of marriage on her return to England, feeling that she was called to devote herself to the sick and sorrowful. Later she was given permission to go to Germany, where, she studied at Kaiserworth, and then went to Paris and received more training at'the hospital of the Catholic Sisters there. On returning to London she took charge of a hospital for women of small means, but this did not satisfy her. The Crimean War broke out, and an expeditionary force was sent from England, but there was little provision for the care of the sick- and wounded. It was decided that nurses must be sent, and Mr Herbert asked Miss Nightingale to take charge of the expedition, and accordingly in 1854 she set out on her great work with her little band of nurses collected from various parts of England. She had to

Christchurch Swords Club on Thursday evening. Epee exhibitions were given by two of the visiting officers, and several bouts were held between club members and the visitors, the honours going to the officers. The system of judging used by the club and the rules under which bouts were conducted were exactly the same as those in' France.

The members of the Canterbury team who are travelling to Invercargill at the week-end for the, interprovincial match for the Southland Amateur Sports Trust Shield, should derive considerable benefit from their bouts with the French - officers. • •■■■■■■■■'

contend with military opposition, medical jealousy, and lack of organisation. She worked first at Scutari, where she took charge of the barracks hospital, and made several visits to Crimea. She had immense influence with the men, but she spurned adulation. Queen Victoria interested herself m Florence Nightingale and her work and invited her to Balmoral. The great pioneer devoted her energies during her long life till her death in 1910 to army medical reform, Indian reforms, and workhouse reform; and she was adviser-gfeneral for hospitals. But the training of nurses was her greatest aim. In 1855 was established the Nightingale fund, to which £ 1000 was contributed in New Zealand, and all the money collected Miss Nightingale put into a trust fund to establish schools of nursing. The first school was in connexion with St. Thomas’s Hospital, where 15 selected probationers began their training. . Later King’s College Hospital was founded for the training of midwives. The practice of nursing by educated women was not new—it had been in existence in 390 A.D.—but Florence Nightingale was responsible for the foundation of modem nursing, and so assisted greatly in the emancipation of women. In 1907 King Edward awarded her the Order of Merit and in 1908 she was given the Freedom of the City of London.

Mrs Peter Wood occupied the chair at the meeting. A vote of thanks to the speaker for his interesting address was proposed by Mrs H. Wyatt, and supper was served by the hostesses, Mrs L. C. L. Averill and Mrs Vesey Hamilton.