At the Interim Conference of the International Council of Nurses

Kai Tiaki : the journal of the nurses of New Zealand, Volume XVII, Issue 2, 1 April 1928, Page 100

At the Interim Conference of the International Council of Nurses

I joined a party m Paris of 150 English nurses. Miss Cornish among them. We arrived m time for lunch after which we had a drive through Paris and later afternoon tea and addresses at the Red Cross headquarters. We then left by train for Geneva. Here we were billetted m different hotels. There were six English nurses and we two New Zealanders at one. One of the English nurses was the Hon. Felicia Naughton, who has published an anatomy book of which I seem to have vague memories. We attended a garden party that afternoon at a most charming country residence. The hospitality of everyone all through was a revelation. In this case after an all-night railway journey it was a real God-send to get into a lovely shady garden, to be fed on beautiful ices and fruit, for the heat was intense. The Conference business opened that evening, July 27th, 8.30 p.m. That afternoon the various hospitals were open for inspection. I went to the General Hospital, and would like very much to have seen the Maternity Hospital, but it was impossible to be everywhere. There did not seem to be much difference m the management of patients, except that surgical cases are kept for the first week following operation m a special ward. In the women's medical wards each patient had an uncovered bed pan on her lockers, and all lockers seemed to be loaded with patients' belongings — two facts that worried me. The theatre was m a new block and seemed very up-to-date, but on the whole not very different from our own. One little nurse could speak halting English, and it was amusing extracting informa-

tion from each other. They wear what uniform they had from their training schools. The matron, being a trained nurse, could wear what she chose ! ! So was capless. (I thought she was the housekeeper). The probationers were called Madamoiselle. The president, Miss Gage, of China, opened the session m the evening, followed by the League of Nations, Labour, Red Cross, Swiss, Medical and other representatives. Music was sandwiched m between addresses. Five hundred nurses were calculated to be there. Mostly English and French, though 32 countries, at least, were represented. Miss Cornish, a Timaru nurse and myself, the only new Zealanders that we know to be there. Imagine the din at times. All women, and so many languages. The English language was used chiefly on platform to our advantage, however, translations of all addresses were typed, so we eventually knew all about it as did those who were not English-speaking. Some of the speakers, as is usual, were very poor, and we lost what we could understand m several cases. Also the continual moving m and out of people was a hindrance to enjoyment. Instead of keeping doori rigidly closed during a speech, they wer«i constantly opened to admit people. Every day sessions were held, and we listened to different opinions with delight, and though perhaps not always m sympathy of agreement. The subject of standardising nursing technique got a good thrashing. Some of the arguments and suggestions were really ridiculous and others more sentimental than practical. The trained nurse got a good dissecting as nurse and sister m charge of proba-

tioners — a subject of deep interest to me, etc., etc. One afternoon we had practical demonstrations of nursing procedures from which we learned nothing new but enjoyed. Among a number of exhibits pertaining to nursing we were delighted to find a wee bit of New Zealand. Two dolls dressed and other examples of uniform worn m Hamilton Hospital. I signed for an ante natal clinic outfit or something just to show that we could do something m New Zealand too. Unfortunately we missed most of the closing session, as we had gone for a trip during the day which was unavoidably delayed, and we returned late at night tired to death. The different uniforms of nurses interested me. Some of the religious orders were quaint, poor things they looked dreadful, so many clothes and such heat. We were taken to see the Palace of Nations, and were all photographed there. A most interesting visit was to Dr. Rollier's clinic at Leysin for sun cure of T.B. cases (surgical only). It was marvellous to see the results they obtain. Winter and summer they live m the open, and when able to walk clad only m loin cloth. Switzerland is a glorious country, and up there among the Alps it is beyond description, enough to cure a mind at any rate of trouble. 500 cases are under treatment at present and are billeted m different hostels like private hotels, some m small hospitals, and all under the care of the Dr. and his assistants. We also had a wonderful lecture and were shown lantern slides of different cases. Socially we were lions ; we were given a civic reception m the foyer of the theatre, a very glittering affair. Altogether we had a very strenuous ten days.