The Portland daily press., 1885-03-27
PRICE THREE CENTS.
Nursing as a Fine Art.

Few facts in reference to the sick and :heir
welfare are more noticeable than the develop
ment of the art Of nursing in recent years.
Twenty years ago nursing was luxury very
much monopoiized by hospital patients, and
even in their case the luxury was somewhat
OF coarse character. There were, of course,
good, kind and wise women in those days
who had quick sympathies with the sick, and
whose presence and ministrations In wards
were like those of mother or good angel,
but they were not plentiful, and the work
doue was often performed unskilfully and
untenderly. 1t is not pleasant to recall what
must have been the sufferings of the sick in
earlier days in poorer hospitals, especially in
poorlaw hospitals, when given over for the
night iu the care Of nurse not considered
good enough for the day duty, and who pre-
pared herself for her noctural work by copi-
Gus potations of beer. The cry for a cup of
water or for change of posture by a thirsty
or restless patient was often unheeded, or
beeded to be rebuked. When kindness was
not at fault, intelligence was often wanting,
and superstition and ignorance had 1t ali
their own way. The best proof that this is
prejudice which still survives against pro-
fessionai nurses. There are large numbers
Of educated people who would not consent
op any terms to have 'Ehospitar' nurse. It
can scarcely be imagined that their objection
is to the training received in hospitals. 1t
must be traceable to experience of the old
order of nursing, or to the survival of some
Of its bad traditions.
1t would be unreasonable TO expect per-
In olufn thar
are subjected to gives them that little knoVl-
edge and that familiarity with big words
which are apt to spoil simplicity and to pro-
duee conceit. But after all this criticism
aud it is neither i'll natured nor uDjust-truth
compels US to say that medical men owe very
much OF their greater success In treatment
to the greater efficiency OF nursing, and that
that patient who an acute OF prolonged
disease refuses the help of good nurse, not
only does an injustice to the members
OF his household, but sensibly diminishes the
chances and the rate of his recovery; and
that tor one nurse who is selfish or incOn-
siderate, or Incompetent there are 10 who
are servceable and sympathetic, and who
add intiaiteiy to the comfort of siek-room
and TO the good chances of patient. Every
now and again one meets With nurse whose
art is in every sense fine art, and In whose
way OF making the bed of patient, prepar-
lug his food, or dressing his wounds there Is
an element OF genius that is missing In all
the boasted art Of men. That this is likely
to be more and more common experience
it Is.quite reasonable TO hope, seeing the
number of capable aud refined women who
give themselves to this work and to training
OF Others for it; and to help which earnest
and distinguished members OF our own pro-
fession afford in the education of nurses.
Nursing must, in truth, be fise art, or it
is nothing. 1t is calling in which coarse
ness is almost crime aud In which every
duty should be done delicaiely and lovingly.
The presence Of heavy-headed and heavy
footed people with hard hands and harsh
voices in sck-room is the best illustration
possible OF an error loci.