The times., 1898-04-24

is, doubtless, a large percentage among
them who are gifted with the emotion
that makes a man dare follow whenever
his flag leads the way. But there are
others. Hundreds of excitedly imagina-
tive women, without the least apprecia-
ton of their own ignorance in nursing
war cases, are rushing TO military bu-
reaus, newspaper offices and the Red
Cross HEADQUARTERS. offering services
that would be not only absolutely worth
less but hindering, except that the author
tiles have too much wisdom to accept
them. II is certain, of course that the
Secretary of War would gladly accept
the services of efficient feminine volun-
teers, 10 have their names enlisted on
the Government pay-rolls and dispatch
them 10 the scene of confiict-not to
serve as soldiers, of course but as nurs-
es in the Army hospitals, and thus do
their most valuable work by fighting
death and disease in the ranks
AS a matter of fact since the war
cloud has loomed so large before us the
military authorities have been djscussina,
the necessity of asking feminine aid. in
the event of a declaration of war. and
the sending of men to the assistance of
Cuba. Such tentative Investigations
made so far have been inspired by the
fact that in one important department
the Army's hospital service is danger
ously deficient. There is no corps of
capable nurses to be called upon.
Since the Crimean war in 1855. when
2l,OO0 soldiers died of neglected wounds
and camp diseases: and since our own
civil war, during which the nursing was
painfully inadequate and the average of
deaths directly due to this lack was
frightfully high, it has been recognized
that' 1or lack of the proper attention in
the hospitals more men are lost and
more suffering incurred in times of war
than by mortality in battle. During the
thirty-four years that have elapsed since
Sumter was fired on, we have not consid-
cred it worth while to make any special
appropriation or provision for trained
nurses educated to serve in the Army. We
have hospitals at West Point Washing
ton and elsewhere for the soldiers; at
tached to every regiment is it's physician
and ambulance corps. and the regiments
of the National Guard are similarly pro-
Vided, but should an American force be
ordered to engage tomorrow any foreign
enemy, the staff of nurses for the field
hospitals would be absolutely Inadequate
The Government patronizes no hospital
or training school whence a corps of
necessary for volunteers to come forward
TO act in this capacity. 1t is very easy
to estimate that thousands would quickly
proher their time and talents in case the
actual need arose. Thousands of earnest
but unframed women or frivolous. eX-
citement-loVing creatures are always
ready for an experiment, but to care for
sick soldiers and the grievously wounded
in some strange and dangerous climate
ha n led
hands, cool, educated and experienced
minds. 1t would ask for a body of train
ed highly diplomaed nurses, and the
great majority of them women.
Already efforts have been quietly made
| to ascertain how far the Army could rely
on the established training schools to
supply this grave deficiency in the medi-
cal and surgical department. Though
there are in the city of New York alone
something like 2GOO women graduated
honoraby from the hospital schools, not
one of these could be forced against her
will to enter the Government service
Women are not liable to draft laws and
if the public, who recognize this very
naturally asks why the Army would not
employ men in this capacity, the prompt
reply can be made that men are excel
lent fighters, but the poorest sort Of
| nurses. Those who go into the Army to
nurse are usually rough, only half-train-
ed they give their patients careless at
tention and, in the civil war, the male
nurses were even caught pilfering from
and cruelty neglecting the invalids.
The care of the sick ought then be
confided to women, ana though there is
not the least doubt if the Government
issued a call for nurses. those trained
for the service would promptly and
bravely respond, another serious ques-
ton arises. Our women are taught for
the hospital work and to care for the
sick in private houses, or the poor In
the city slums. Between these three
classes of patients and the soldiers suf-
fering from a gunshot wound, from camp
fevers, from over-eXhaustion and expo
sure, is a very different sort of patient
indeed. More than this. work in COM
Portable siek-room, with every modern
convenience at hand or within call, is