Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-05-09
0NOrtester 4ailp Spp.
REBECCA TAYLOR, THE GOOD NURSE,
FROM DIR. JAMES JAcKsoN's NEW BOOK,

II n
am tempted to take this occasion 10 put
IN print statement of the merits of nurse
in the Massachusetts General Hospital, who
began her career there few months after il
was opened, and after service of thirly.tour
years, lett that excellent institution few
mouths since. Trustees and medical men
VINO have been familiar with the hospital, sill
understand at Cnce that | have reference TO
Miss Rebecca Taylor l believe that there is
not person living, who has been connected
win the hospital Tor so many years, -perhaps
may say Tor half as many years, as she was.
II any person is to be excepted, it is myself
From the day on which the house was opeued
to this day, about forty years, l lave been
nominally connected with it; and, so tar as a
strong interest in i. is concerned | have been
connected with it from the first conception of
its establishment. But my active service in it
extended only through its first fifteen years.
Since then, for about twenty five years, have
been only consulting physician. But my
excellent friend, Miss Taylor. gave her per
sonal services, with occasional visits to the
country for heatl's sake, for the whole period
OF thirty -four years and this in the office OF
head nurse, doing all its duties till few of
the last years of her service. 1t is certain
that she would not have retained her office so
long, if she had not meriled some Distinction
All, who have known her, will rememb-r the
great mOdesty OF her department. She never
obtruded herself on the notice OF any one and
never sclalmed any distinction. 1t has long
been my remark that ply sicians and nurses
might be divided into two classes, viz those
who keep in view their own glory and those
who look only TO the welfare of the patients
under their care. Miss Taylor was of the last
class. With most of us there is experienced
regard to both the considerations above
mentioned. With her l never saw that she
Thought at all OF her own glory. She was
uniformly devoted to the sick in her wards
i'll the most quiet manner, and most ten
derby, too but she never substituted terms
of endearment for faithful and punctual
attendance. l remember that she commit d
mistakes in administering medicines twice
Both tines when j inquired into the circun-
stances. she told me at once, IN distinct
voice, lit was my fault, sir" She would have
been unhappy, if she could not have made the
avowal OF her errors. | do not doubt that
she might have explained them away, but she
would not attempt to do it. There were two
instances, Under my observation, in which she
had reason to think ill OF the character OF the
patients in her wards. She did her duty tow
ards them; but it was with GOODNESS, which
she seemed unable to suppress III proportion
as her palients were helpless, her attentions 10
them were more assiduOus | must indulge
myself in giving one instance the reader may
pass it over, it lie pleases.
Many years ago there was placed in Miss
Tayl0l's ward very respectable Dutch wo-
man, who had recently arrived in this country
and could not speak word of English. She
was past fifty years of age, with smooth and
fair countenance, and one expressive of kind
ness and genlleness. Her good looks might
have influenced any body, and no doubt might
have had some effect on our good nurse. AS
none OF us cOdld speak the Dutch tongue, we
obtained help from two learned Germans /; but
after tour or five days, we were able to relieve
them from further attendance. AT this time,
Miss Taylor had established language of
signs with the patient, and watched her SO
closely, that size was able TO give us a very
satisfactory account OF the case from day 10
day, and with her Intervention the manage
ment of the case was SO successful, that the
patient was dismissed well after a week or
two. Mcanw lille our Dutch woman learned
10 speak two words of imperfect English,
which she repeated daily, pointing TO our Miss
Taylor. These words were 800 goot,-too
goot"
will add, that reminded Miss Taylor Of
this case, lately when | called 10 see her be-
fore she left the hospital She remembered
it, and told me that in other instances she had
not found it difficult to maintain satisfactory
intercourse with patients who could not speak
our language. Ii is obvious that this could
not happen without TIE most devoted attention
on the part of the nurse
There is not any comparison to be made
between our good nurse and Miss nightingale
The latter is lady of education, and in a
different rank i'll life. She sees how impor-
tant is the office Of nurse. She has studied
the duties, | may say the high duties OF a
nurse for the sick. She has brought science
to her aid, and she has the energy 10 teach
the operatives the way TO do their work, ard
the care and fidelity requisite to do it effectu-
ally. L have no doubt she has set examples
to her pupils in the hospitals, in which SHE
has taken the oversight OF the patients 1t is
evident from her writings that she has not
been mere looker-on. My friend is one OF
much humber pretensiOns. She has been
hired nurse. She sought an employment for
her living. Having gained an appointment,
she gave herself to her duties. Filled with
sense OF duty. she brought all her faculties
into exercise, without hustle, and without pa
rade. She did not think of reputation, of
gaining a character. She must have had sys-
ten and industry, for always found her to
work was done in proper season. Her fideli.
ty, her tenderness, her patience, were proved
by the uniform satisfaction shown by the sick
under her care. One, who saw her casually,
might think her cold. Her manners were al
ways calm. She was never in hurry rare
ly, if ever, agitated. But the strength and
warmth OF her feelings were shown by the
consistency and tenderness with which she per.
formed the trying duties Of her office; hence
the confidence which was placed in her by her
patients.
Miss Taylor is small woman, but well
proportional She is not slender and never
showed weakness, though not fitted for hard
and heavy labor. She is well formed but
the contour is derived entirely from the mus
Giles, while there is none OF the rotundily
caused by adipose matter near the surface
Her face is thin, the features well defined, her
nose and chm distinctly prominent her eyes
blue, decidedly handsome, and, with her
mouth, full of expression. Everything about
her shows calmness and compoture Of mind
She uses lew words, but they are opposite,
very definite, and are uttered distinctly.
Though she never shows any violence in
her manners, she maniests, at all times.
SO much firmness that, as l suspect. she
has rarely met with any resistance from
from those under her control. never heard
that any one complained Of her She seldom
fouMl fault with others. / think if any un.
happy and captious individual in her ward
had found fault with her, all the other inmates
of it would at once, have risen up i'll her de-
fence. AT one time very excellent and intel
ligent woman, whom had recommended for
some years as a private, or family nurse, be-
came very sick, and was brought to our hospi-
tai in dreadful and helpless state. She was
pasied, and had extensive bedsores at the
time OF her admission, so as to be very often
sive. She retained her mental faculties, and
was well qualified 10 crilcise a nurse. "Oh,
sir" she would exclaim to me, "you don't
know,-nobody knows,-what an excellent
nurse and what an excellent woman Becky
TavIor is ~