The San Francisco call., 1895-10-14

brave, patient workers pursues its arduous
daily tasks.
The passer- by on Potrero avenue gives a
curious glance at such part of the building
as can be seen above the high wall and is
glad it has not been his lot to languish in
pain within those walls. But he never
gives thought to the noble young lives OF
the care-takers.
a few years ago the nurses at the City
and County Hospital were not what they
are to-day. They had not ad the careful
training OF the girls who are now the min
listers TO the suffering in the institution.
Five years ago Mrs. G. j. Lemon, wife
of Professor Lemon of Oakland, realized
the needs of the institution IN that direc-
tlon, and chiefly through her instrument
tality the San Francisco Training-school
for Nurses was esta blished.
The superintendent was Miss Ida n
Forsyth of the Philadelphia Hospital
Her successors in that position have also
been graduates of the Quaker City school,
and to that fact is due the adoption of the
uniform in vogue in st. Thomas Hospital,
England. The wearers OF the natty blue
cotton dresses, jaunty white caps and
small martial-leoking blue capes all laugh
lngly claim kinship to that saint in the
calendar of nurses, Florence Nightingale
whose pupil Miss Fisher was
we are her lineai descendants, ," smil-
lngly avowed one OF the corps.
The school will graduate five young
ladies IN December. Miss May Meade is a
San Francisco girl. Miss Ransom is from
Winnipeg, Miss Wood from Pennsylvania.
Miss Ryan from Boston and Mrs. Reed
from Portland. 1t is notable fact that
among the twenty applicants TO enter the
school are young women from New Eng
land and the South as well as sections
less remote.
Tho broad
the character OF the City and County Hos
pital IS invaluable. Scarcely a disease in
the long category of human Ills is omitted
In the diagnoses of the cases of suffering
within its walls, and the pupils have their
quota OF service IN the care of all classes of
cases.
You do not seem very robust. How
can you endure such slghts?" was the
query to one of the nurses. ''Oh, we can
do almost anything II We determine to-
was the reply, and then, softly, 'they
need help SO much, you know"
And the qualifications for entrance upon
the two years OF work and study are a fair
education, cheerfulness, patience infinite,
steadfastness OF purpose, sympathy tenn
pered with Judgment, and kindly senti-
ment without n trace of far-fetched senti-
mentality, in the language of the superIn-
tenGent. The girl who has dreamy fancies
about sitting by bedsides and reading tn
the pain-racked figure will soon have her
illusions dispellcd by demand for more
material ministrations.
The corps OF nurses, who are all pupils
in the school. is nineteen strong, compris-
ing about half the number necessary.
Hence the work incumbent upon the youne
women who comprise it is far from light.
Yet, Notwithstanding their too onerous
burdens, there are evidences in plenty of
faithful performance OF their tasks
Miss Mary Patton. the new
ent of the San Francisco Training School
for Nurses, is modest, prepossessing little
lady. who is jealous in the discharge of her
duties. She has high ideal of nurses
mission, and by her progressive methods
is infusing new energy and enthusiasm in
her pupils. One of the alumnn of the
Training School for Nurses in the Phila-
delphia Hospital. her career since her
graduation, in 1856, has been steady pro-
gression.
Carrying with her an inspiration iron,
the noble life of Miss Alice Fisher, her in
structor, she did efficient service consecu-
lively as night superintendent of the Uni
yersity OF Pennsylvania Hospital, head
nurse of the Penn Hospital, Philadelphia:
chief nurse of the Cooper HOSPITAL AT
Camden, NJ j.; matron of the Phila-
delphia Hospital, in which there were 100
inmates, and superintendent of the Train
ing School for \ urses at ALLEGHENY
hlSS dttOli pidtcS sOule valuable
innovations in the course Of instruction at
the City and County Hospital. Cooking
is a fad with me, if | have one" she re-
marked. TOO much stress can hardly be
laid upon the necessity of nurses being
able to cook the delicate dishes required
for inyalids.
''They should know how to prepare
soups, jellies and custards, and
cook meats in such way that they are at
once appetizing and digestible. l hope to
establish at the City and County Hospital
a Giet kitchen, and TO make practical ex
perience in that department an esse ntial
part of the course of training for nurses.
II consider such training Indispensable.
1t is my purpose, too, to include instruc-
tion in massage. This is of great assist /
ance in the care of nervous patients. | do
not intend, of course. TO turn out experts
in massage but to enable the nurses to en- |
ploy it in an intelligent manner when il
becomes necessity, as is sometimes the |
case to induce Sleep"
Prominent ladies who know of the faith |
full, quiet labors of the elect among the