The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-06-02 00:00:00

NATIONAL HEALTH.

The distribution of certificates, awarded by this
Society for Proficiency in Nursing and Ambulance
Lectures, took place at Grosvenor House, in London,
on Monday. The chair was taken by the Duke of
Westminster, and there was a large attendance.
The proceedings were opened by the Duke, who
said the society was one the importance of which
could not be measured by the amount of pecuniary
support it had received, because that support had
only been of a slight and slender character—
far too slight and much too slender for the excel-
lent objeet it had in view. (Hear, hear.) Never-
theless, the society had been of great use during
the years it had been established, not only in
regard to the actual work in which it had been
engaged, but also in the way in which it had been
the means of stimulating public interest in the ques-
tion, whereby others had been induced to establish
sanitary aid associations and other institutions of a
kindred character, not only in London, but in differ-
ent parts of the country. He hoped that all the ladies
present would be induced to undertake the duties of
trained nurses ; but, of course, this was too much to
expect. He had said so, because he knew the need
that existed for a large supply of trained nurses for
the sick poor throughout the country. (Hear, hear.)
He was, however, glad to say that this institution
was making a good start in connection with the
Queen's Jubilee Fund, and they were in hopes
of arriving shortly at some very tangible result.
(Hear, hear.) They had reason to anticipate that
they might ere long effect a lodgment in St.
Katharine's Hospital, and that in due time that now
very useless institution, with its income of £lO,OOO
a year, might be put to a really beneficial and prac-
tical use. Her Majesty had already expressed her
approval of this suggestion—(hear, hear)—and it was
to be hoped that the institution might be made a
great centre for the training of nurses, not for the
metropolis only, but for the country generally.
(Hear, hear.) It would be remembered that only a
few years ago a great statesman—the late Lord
Beaconsfield—had, in one of his speeches, dwelt on
the want of attention to sanitary matters, the motto
he then put before the country being " Sanitas
sanitation, oinnia sanitas." (Hear, hear.) It was
gratifying to notice that some fruit was
a'ready being borne in the direction pointed
oat by that distinguished man. In a conver-
sation he (the Duke of Westminster) had recently
had with Sir Douglas Galton they had dis-
cussed the question as to the desirability of amalga-
mating the Parkes Museum of Hygiene, the Sanitary
Institute, and other societies having the same or
similar objects in view, and it seemed to them that it
would be advisable to bring about such an amalgama-
tion. (Hear, hear.) If such a proposal shoulA be
carried out he would be glad to place a site in Buck-
ingham-palace-road, which might be available next
year, at the disposal of the amalgamated bodies.
(Hear. hear.) He was afraid he could not say he
would altogether give the site, but he thought it
would be of advantage to have a central institute,
whereby much good was to be hoped for the came
they all had at heart. (Hear, hear.)
The certificates were presented by the Duchess of
Wes inhister.