REPORT OF THE CALCUTTA HOSPITAL NURSES' INSTITUTION
For the year ending 31st December 1873.
Committee.
MRS. FERGUSSON.
MRS. DAMPIER.
MRS. COLQUHOUN GRANT.
MRS. PIGOTT.
MRS. FAGAN.
MISS MILMAN.
M R S . U P T O N .
MRS. BROWNLOW ATLAY,
Honorary Secretary.
MRS. JACKSON, Honorary Treasurer.
IN reporting upon the condition of this institution, the committee are glad to be able to
give a much more cheerful account at the end of its 14th year than they could at the begin
ning. Thanks to the exertions of Dr. Ewart and Mr. Murray, President of the Chamber of
Commerce, a large sum was raised amongst the merchants, whose names are added to the
subscription list. This has enabled the committee to give three more nurses to the General
Hospital, where the patients have greatly increased within the last 18 months. There are
now 13 nurses and a matron in this hospital as well as the Medical College Hospital. Some
years back Dr. Chevers begged for more nurses ; but when the committee were able to offer
them, in 1872, quarters could not be found for them in the Medical College Hospital :
consequently 5 extra ones have been granted to the General Hospital, where the increasing
number of patients made them so necessary. The letters of Dr. Chevers and Dr. Ewart
speak for the utility of the nurses, and of the untiring zeal of the two matrons and several of
the older nurses. We have, therefore, only to thank the public for the help they have given,
earnestly begging that it may be continued.
EMMA ATLAY,
"On my return to the hospital, six weeks ago, I was very glad to find that, although the
great need for additional nurses in the three Native male wards has not been supplied, the
establishment of nurses is, especially as regards the experienced and indefatigable matron and
the senior trained nurses, upon a very efficient footing. Generally speaking, the junior
nurses appear to deserve some praise but among them I notice that which again calls for
the remark that, in addition to good character, the leading requirements in a nurse are
intelligence, activity, and aptitude in nursing. I have for many years urged the necessity of
demanding from those who recommend nurses, evidence that applicants are known to possess
these essential qualifications. I have always considered that the services of the nurses are
invaluable and indispensable in this hospital."
" MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL,
" January 12th, 1874.
" NORMAN CHEVERS, M.D.,
" Principal."
"I have much pleasure in again bearing my testimony to the efficiency of the nurses
attached to the various wards of the General Hospital. Much of the orderliness and scrupu
lous cleanliness of the wards is due to their unceasing application to their very onerous duties.
They have now become so essentially necessary to the working of the institution, that it would
b e u t t e r l y i mp o s s i b l e t o g e t o n s a t i s f a c t o r i l y wi t h o u t t h e m.
" Their position is frequently very trying, requiring for its proper and decorous mainte
nance the strictest integrity, urbanity, judgment, patience, and discretion. In the display of
all these qualities the nurses have generally distinguished themselves, and thereby given
pre-eminent assistance to my assistants and myself in the execution of our duties.
" Still there is room for improvement. But I feel more and more satisfied that perfection
will never be accomplished until they are placed under the control and supervision of a lady
superintendent who has been trained in all the requirements of hospital nursing in the large
civil hospitals in England. I earnestly hope the time is not far off when this want will not
only be recognized, but liberally supplied.
" As the nurses almost invariably come to us absolutely untrained, the wonder to me has
always been how rapidly they fall into duties which, to be successfully performed, demand
Nursing at the
Medical College
Hospital, the
principal's
testimony.
Nursing at the
General Hospital,
testimony of the
surgeon
superintendent.