(1.) These women are Head-Nurses. They will think themselves more comfortable “finding themselves” than managing on the substantial and somewhat unvarying provisions of the rations. Some take coffee rather than tea; some tea rather than coffee; many would rather pay for white sugar than not pay for brown. Considering the nature of nursing-work, when faithfully done, it is better they should enjoy and be refreshed by simple meals to their taste than by unpalatable larger portions; especially if the former can be done at no additional cost or trouble to the Queen.
(2.) Because it averts complaints.
(2.) You thus relieve the Superintendent and Matrons of all communication with the department of the Purveyor-General; of all the mistakes, accidental or otherwise, which might occur; of all complaints of quantity or quality of provisions; of amenities such as those experienced at Balaclava General Hospital, &c., &c., &c.
Of five London Hospitals, the three endowed Hospitals pay all their Head-Nurses in money, and give no board. (This is strictly correct, although, to avoid a long unimportant detail, I have simplified things in this paragraph, and in the two concerning the pay of Head-Nurses and Nurses.) The London Hospital gives its Head-Nurses wages, and a fixed quarterly payment vice the rations of bread, meat, and vegetables, to which they are by the rules entitled. This change was made not very long ago, to end the frequent complaints of quantity, quality, and price, made, perhaps with foundation, by the Nurses. The Westminster Hospital paid its Head-Nurses partly in money, partly in rations of cooked provisions, and there were repeated and general complaints of the quality, quantity, and cooking of the provisions issued to them.
It is therefore to be considered whether the simpler and better plan be not to give the Nurses a fixed money payment, and let them “find themselves,” unless the War Department object to rations not being issued in part payment.
Abroad in many cases, in war in all cases, rations would be desirable. A fixed calculation as to expense should be made.
Experience and consideration will probably give rise to the following conclusion—except in war and in retired stations abroad, not to have Rations; still less to let the Nurses “find themselves,” for the following reasons:—(1.) It is important that the Nurses should not have this excuse for being absent from their duties—“that they have been to get provisions.” (When absent, it should be in pursuit of health and exercise.) (2.) If the Nurse is to cook for herself, greater accommodation will be required than the one room recommended, otherwise the necessary cleanliness cannot be observed. To commute the Rations for mess-money, to put this mess-money in charge of the Matron, wherever there is a market; wherever there is none, to let her “draw” for such provisions on her own indent, as she thinks best, upon the Purveyor, appears to me the safest course. For with regard to this question of dieting the Nurses it should never be forgotten that, in all cases (how much more in those where great physical fatigue and mental anxiety are involved) that principle is the best, if such can be established, which settles diet with a view to producing the highest physical efficiency. Variety and mode of cooking are two essential elements in this. And there can be no doubt that, if a Matron will take the trouble to consult the tastes of her Nurses, together with the above conditions, a better diet might be laid down than could be secured by leaving them solely to their unassisted vagaries and ignorance of what is really the best diet. Community of cooking also implies economy. Also the Nurse ought not to be permitted to starve herself, to save money. Her time is too valuable to allow of her cooking her own dinner; but she should always prepare her own breakfast and tea, when and of what she prefers herself, if she feels inclined to do so.
If not commutable,
Where, however, the system of rations must be adopted, three ways remain of working it:—