The Irish standard., 1895-11-16
n
NURSING PooR lEwlsH ElLEs.

NURSING RooR jEwlsH E1lLEs
a,fts From = 8.s.er Grsater Than !.
stotor,a Cross or Grl- s52 5.
mean y ,da'.
Lord Napier was one Of those who bore
Testimony to the fidelity with which the
nuns observed the rule Of non interfer-
ence with the Protestant patients, says
an. exchange. He held at that time
diplomatic position under Lord stratford
de Redcliffe' in Constantinople and we
relate his testimony in his own words;
During the distress Of the Crimean wal
the am bassador called me IN one morning
and said: Go down to the port. You
will find ship there loaded with Jewish
exiles, Russian subjects from the Crimea,
It is your duty to disemhark them. The
Turks will give yousa house in which they
may be placed. I turn them over entire
| ly to YOU / went down to the shore
and received about 200 persons, the most
miserable objects that could be witness
ed, most Of them old men, women and
| children, sunk in the lowest, depths of
Indulgence and despair I placed them in
the cold ruinous lodging allocated to them
| by the Ottoman authorities. L went
back to the ambassador and said: Your
excellency, these people are cold and I
have no fue. or blankets; they are hungry
and have no food; they are very dirty
and I have no soap; their hair is in an
undesirable condition and | have no
combs What am I to do with these
people?' 'Do?' said the ambassador, get
a couple Of sisters Of mercy; they will put
all to rights in moment went, saw
the mother superior, and explained the
case. I asked for two sisters. They
were at once sent. They were ladies of
refinement and intellect. was a stran-
ger and Protestant and I invoked their
assistance for the benefit of Jews. Yet
these two women made up their bundles
and followed me through the rain without
look, whisper, or a sign Of hesitation.
From that moment my fugitives were
saved No one saw the labors Of those
sisters for months but myself and they
never endeavored to make a single con-
vert" q
In his speeches in after times Lord
Napier repeatedly referred to the singular
zeal and devotedness constantly shown by
the sisters to the sick Of every denomina-
ton. On one occasion, in Edinburgh, he
remarked that the sisters faithfully kept
their promise. not to interfere with the
religion of nom Catholics, but. continued
his lordship, 'they made at least one
convert, they converted me- il not to be-
lieve in the Catholic faith, at least to be-
lieve in the sisters of mercy +.
The few months spent at Balaklava by
the devoted sisters witnessed a repeti-
tion of the deeds Of heroism which had
achieved such happy results at Scutari
and Koulali. The cholera and a malig-
nant type of fever had broken out in
those days in the camp. By night as
Well as by day the sisters were called to
help the patients, yet, their strength
seemed never to fail in their work Of
charity. Besides the soldiers there We're
sick civilians, Maltese, Germans, Greeks,
italians, Americans and even negroes,
and to all they ealdeavored to give some
attention. The medical orders reveal
the constant nature Of the nursing requir-
ed ait their hands. At one time. the doc
tor requests that sister would sit UP
with his Dutch patient in No. 8 ward to-
night Again, Sisters to sit up with
the Maltese and the Arab Kind at
tendance on Jones every night would be
necessary until notification to the con-
trary be- given keep the stump moist
"a little champagne and water to be
given during the night" 81 Elliot is to
be watched all night: the powder every
half hour; wine in small dose if neces-
sary"
The very: confidence placed by the ply
sicians in their careful treatment added
to their toll. AS the deputy surveyor
in-chief reported to the gov srmment in De-
cenber, 1866: The medical officers can
safely consign his most critical case to
their hands; stimulants or opiates order
ed every five minutes will be faithfully
administered though the five minutes la
Dor were repeated uninterruptedly for a
week.. The heroism of the nuns, how
ever, was now we'll known in camp.
and never did workers find more sympa-
thetic suborainates than the Sisters had
in their orderlies. The TACT that they
would never lodge complaints or have
the orderlies punished, only made the men
mere Jealous in their service. One of the
Sisters found it necessary to correct her
orderly. Perhaps, James, (she said),
you do not wish me to speak to you a
little severely He at once interrupted
her ''Troth, Sister, glory in your speak
ing to me. Sure the day Icame to Balak-
lava / cried with you when saw your
face One who had taken a glass too
much was so mortified at being seer by
the Reverend Mother--who1n the soldiers
call their comm anlder- in -chief-that he
sohbed like child. Another in the same
pretticamealt hid himself that he might
not be seen by the Sister. He had never
hidden from the enemy; a medal with
three clasps bore eloquent testimony to
his bravery. II don't like to say any
thing harsh" said the Sister. Speak,
Man, Interrupted che Nelinquent, the.
words of your blessed mouth are like
jewels falling over me- "a
One of the. Sisters writes We, have
not a cross .here with anyone. The med
ical officers all work beautifully with us.
They quite rely on our obedience Sir
John Hall, the head medical officer OF the