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

by Florence Nightingale

(1.) Shall the Nurse cook her own Rations?

(1.) Let each Nurse receive, and cook her own rations.

(2.) Shall the Matron cook and send them?

(2.) Let the rations be delivered en masse to the Matron, who has them cooked, sending her proportion to each Nurse.

(3.) Shall the Matron have each Nurse’s Dinner cooked for her, as she likes best?

(3.) Let the Matron, requiring a small payment to cover expenses, arrange that each Nurse can receive her dinner cooked as she wishes it. There is something of this sort at the London Hospital; where the Nurses (and Assistant Nurses) have the right of sending their joint to be boiled or baked in one of the kitchen stoves.

Of these different ways, the first would be liked best by the women—a thing to be considered, in subordination, and as a help to their respectability and their efficiency—still it is, for some reasons stated above, objectionable. However, in this, as in far more important things, it is essential to consider everything as tentative and experimental for some years to come. Do not be fettered by too many rules at first: try different things, and see which answers best.

With regard to rations, it is as well to explain that there were two ways of drawing them for the nurses during the war. In some of the Crimean Hospitals, it was arranged that the same ration should be drawn for a Nurse as that appointed by Regulation for a Medical Staff Orderly. This answered, as may be supposed, exceedingly ill. There was considerably more of some articles, such as bread and meat, than the women could eat; and the surplus had to be wasted or returned to the Purveyor—a serious complication. Of some articles, such as tea and sugar, there was as much too little; and these had to be drawn as extras, except such as the Superintendent-General found it easier and more simple, as she generally did, to provide herself.

The other method was for the Local Superintendent to draw daily on the Purveyor for such articles as she judged necessary; and by thus drawing en masse, a considerable saving was, of course, effected for the Queen, the tastes and health of women were consulted, and there was no complication of accounts.

Where rations are to be drawn at all the latter method should be always followed; and as the former might be understood by the word “rations,” it would be better to call them by some other name, as it must be obvious that such a method could never answer for women.