Subsidiary Notes as to the Introduction of Female Nursing into Military Hospitals in Peace and War

by Florence Nightingale

The French “Sœurs” were not admitted to the Divisional Ambulances in the front: it was whispered, because of the corruption of the French Intendance, upon whom they tacitly exercised a very inconvenient “surveillance.” They served in all the General Hospitals at Constantinople; and to their admirable services, M. Baudens, Inspecteur-Général en Crimée, has rendered an “éclatant témoignage” in his “Mission Médicale en Orient,” published in the numbers of the “Revue des Deux Mondes,” of February 15, April 1, and June 1, 1857.

In these French Hospitals of Constantinople, the “Sœurs” appeared to do all the cooking for the sick Officers and that of the extras for the men.

I do not think that, in either French or Sardinian Hospitals, the care of bed-sores and such like, which can only be done by women, was sufficiently given to the “Sœurs.”

I have heard complaints made of this kind both by Officers and men; and “Sœurs,” both French and Sardinian, have been to me to look at the way in which we treated bed-sores, and to borrow air-pillows and water-beds.

There is such a difference however in different Hospitals, in time of war and of peace, &c., that I would not be understood to mean that any of these remarks apply absolutely or generally, but only to Hospitals I have seen.

It may be as well to mention that, talking of “French” and “Sardinian” Sisters, they all come from one “Maison Mère,” that of the “Filles de la Charité de S. Vincent de Paule,” at Paris. There is a “Maison Succursale,” at Turin. But all are of the same Order, and under the same head.

Let me mention Sœur Cordero, the excellent Superioress of all the Sisters employed in the Sardinian Hospitals of the war, with the warmest affection and respect. She was a woman of high rank, of the most captivating manners, but of the utmost simplicity of character, and of unfailing devotion to right and to God.

Russian.

It remains to mention the Russian system, which, as regards the organization of the duties of the “Sisters,” appeared to me by far the best I have known. I am at a loss to conceive what is meant by the following sentence in the Report by two of our Army Medical Officers on the “Russian Medical Department,” presented to the House of Commons. Speaking of the Sisters of Mercy, who are generally widows of officers, it is said “their chief duties appeared to be in taking charge of the linen and superintending the issue of extras.” This is founded on error of observation—as the Russian system seems to be the only perfectly organized system of female attendance in Military Hospitals, which was developed in the Crimean War. In it, the Sister has charge of all that relates to the bed-side of the patient; she receives the orders from the Medical Officer, attends him in his rounds; he confers with her afterwards; she even reports the “felchers” or dressers, as also the orderlies, as far as regards their discharge of duties at the bed-side of the patient. The orderlies are, of course, under the control of a Non-commissioned Officer, in all that pertains to discipline, clothing, meals, &c. The “felchers” are under a superior “felcher,” and under the Medical Officers.

There are female nurses, wives and widows of soldiers, under the “Sisters,” who are generally, as has been stated, widows of Officers.