GEN. SAWYER: stated that the women were very anxious to have their suggestions.
CAPT. BLACKWOOD: stated that he wished to pay his tribute to the splendid work that has been done by the nurses. He said he had experienced hospital work when they were dependent upon the most undesirable man that could be found to take care of the sick. The man who could not do anything else was the one that took the place of the nurse. He also told his experiences in Boston when the influenza epidemic came, how in less than a month over 1300 cases were being treated by a staff of nurses scarcely larger than before, how the women worked day and night without rest and often without food, and how many of them lost their lives in the struggle.
He stated that one of the most important questions confronting us today is the question of pay of the nurses, that they had not been recognized in the way that they should be, that stenographers whose work is not as valuable receive from $100 to $150 a month and nurses from $60 to $100, and that effort should be made to pay them more in proportion to their qualifications. He stated that the charwomen received more than the nurses.
He stated further that the ratio of nurses to the number of patient which had been stated as 1–10 was too much to expect in hospitals such as his, where only about 15% of the patients were bed patients.
COL. EASTMAN: stated that this should be one nurse to every ten bed patients.
SURGEON STITES[STITT?]: said he did not believe any Commanding Officer could run a successful hospital without the cooperation of the Chief Nurse. He spoke also on the statement previously made “Kindness without familiarity”, stating that if too friendly some patients think others get more attention because of familiarity with the doctor, nurse or attendant.
SURGEON HEDDING: gave the situation at Ft. Bayard, ten miles from anywhere, with 1100 patients and 86 nurses taking care of them. He stated that the Public Health Service had authorized the keeping of 50 riding horses. He said that the nurses were happy, that the men were happy, and that many nurses were asking to come to Ft. Bayard.
GEN. CUMMING: asked Captain Wieber to talk.
CAPT. WIEBER: stated that he was from Ft. Lyon, Colorado, 7 miles from the nearest city, an establishment with 400 patients at the present time and nurse corps of 21. He said that the nurses were happy and content with the work given them. He also wished to give his tribute to the field and other nurses in the service. He stated he had had the same experience as Dr. Blackwood in the early nursing service, and that some of the men who took care of the sick were half idiots. He said he fully realized now the value of female nurses, and believed he could not get along without them.
GEN. CUMMING: “That next subject is a very important one—‘Diet’—to be presented by Miss Clara M. Richardson, Asst. Supt. of Dietitians, U. S. P. H. S.”