27
MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL.
3. One woman who came to the hospital for a day is not included in the following
statement. Ten women have been under training ; two of them have been dismissed for
immoral conduct ; another dismissed herself it is believed when she found that she was
pregnant. She aborted and died of lock-jaw. One was discharged for habitual disobedience
of orders and absenting herself without leave. One woman ceased attending after a
fortnight 's instruction.
The above form five instances of what may be taken as failures connected with the
experiment of educating nurses. Three out of the five did learn something, but too little to
justify me in holding them up as examples of even partial success.
Of the other half, the report is a much more favourable one. One woman at present
under training has been too short a time with us to say much about her, but she promises to
do well. One woman after 18 months' training is known to have made very considerable
progress, but her friends decided that she should not practise, and she ceased attending at the
: hospital. Other three women appeared before an Examination Committee as detailed in the
next paragragh.
4. On the 3rd of January 1872 I requested Meer Ashruf Ali, the Native Teacher of
Midwifery, and Baboo Kristo Dass Sen, the Goodeve scholar, to associate themselves with me
and form a Committee of Examination to test the proficiency of the Native midwives. The
examination was limited to the subject of natural labor and the management of ordinary
cases. I suggested all the questions in English, but from my ignorance of the language in
which the examination was conducted, I can only offer a guarded opinion as to the result.
All three candidates showed a " good" knowledge of the subject, and I was peculiarly struck
by the volubility with which they answered and the readiness with which they understood
each question which was put to them. Having satisfied myself that they possessed the neces-
sary information on this large and important division of their subject, these three dhais
were directed to get up in the same way the subject of preternatural labor ; when they seem
to show a sufficient general knowledge of this further subject, it is proposed again to put them
to a similar formal test. The names of these three pupils are mentioned in the margin.
Results.
Examination.
Result.
Bunnoo, Pootee, Icha.
I have good reasons for believing that the fitness they showed
to learn was exceptional, and that none of the other women
we have had under training would at any time have attained
to such proficiency, even had they not been dismissed or absented themselves. One exception
to this observation has already been brought forward.
5. There are at present only four dhais, the other two vacancies have not yet been
filled up, as it seems very doubtful whether, under the circumstances, the Government will
feel inclined to continue an undertaking which promises such doubtful results. Should it be
determined to continue the experiment further, I believe I can easily fill up these two vacan-
cies without much delay.
6. Should it be determined not to continue the experiment further, I would suggest
that the women at present under training should not be dismissed at once, but that as each is
ready to go, no new pupil be recruited to take her place.
7. In my first report on the subject I drew prominent attention to the fact that if the
Government undertook to train women in a metropolis, who had been brought from a quiet
life in the country, they must be prepared for the most unpleasant contingencies. Thirty
per cent. of the women included in this experiment having gone astray, presents to my mind
a result so appalling, that I trust I may not be asked to continue an undertaking necessarily
attended with such unhappy results. Should the Government still decide on pursuing the
same course, I shall have some observations to make, which I for the present defer.
8. The fact that half of the women have proved themselves competent to acquire a very
fair share of such knowledge that they can make an average show at an examination, is most
encouraging. It proves that if the Government choose to conduct the experiment at a
Vacancies.
Suggestions re-
garding the fu-
ture.