Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-08
CARE FOR THE SICK.
NOBLE YOUNG WOMEN SPENDING
THEIR LIVES AS NURSES.
OLD DOMINION SCHOOLS EXERCISES.
Four Diplomas Awarded-Badges
and Special Marks of Merit-Ad-
Review of the Years Work.


yesterday afternoon to the graduates of
the Training School for Nurses at the
Old Dominion Hospital. Rev. Donald
Guthrie opened the exercises with a
prayer for the nurses about to go out on
their lifes work and for the increased
have graduated.
DR.. Tompkins, dean Of the faculty, then
announced that DR.. Upshur would read
the report OF the past years work in the
hospital which Miss Cabaniss, the head
nurse, had prepared.
THE YEARS WORK REVIEWED.
The report, in part, is as follows:
Many improvements have been adopted
in the system and management of the
Training School during the past year
viz a physical examination by a men,
Der of the hospital medical staff before
admission of probationers as pupil nurses.
The nurses registry is established and
its outlook is most encouraging. Pupil
nurses have been supplied as usual to the
Sheltering Arms Hospital, Old Ladies
Home, and Orphanage.
Graduates of northern hospitals have
applied for postgraduate course in the
school. Glasses and lectures for both
junior and senior pupils have been con-
Quoted as formerly.
The annual examinations are held In
october and June; the graduation eXer-
cises in June. The development of visit
ing nursing is encouraging, and leads us
TO hope that the plan Of this work will
very soon be understood and appreciated
by the community, and the public will
avail themselves of skilled nursing at
very small expense.
PATIENTS IN THE HOSPITAL.
In the past year the number Of patients
admitted to the hospital were as follows:
Part pay and pay patients ............ 53f
Free patients ........ ................... All
Operations performed .................. ZO6
Cases treated .......... ................. Soi
Patients in hospital March 81, 1885,. 80
Deaths during the year ................ p
The mortality rate is greater on ac-
count of the greater number of hopeless
cases received and provided for during
their last hours because the authorities
could not consent to subject them to the
additional suffering likely to be occa-
stoned by any eXertion or fatigue and thus
probably hasten death.
Through the courtesy of the Johns Hop
kins nurses alumnae our nurses alum
nae may be recommended for representa-
ton in the National Associated Alumnae
Of the United States and Canada. This
is protective association of graduate
nurses, intended to elevate the standard
Of the nursing profession and promote
its interest: therefore only the alumnae
of the schools OF the required standard
ha OF ar racnCniZ6d ShOnl6
this resolution be adopted, the much
needed reforms in our profession in the
South will follow and a State association
be speedily organized.
ADDRESSES OF DIR. MCAW.
Dr. McCaw made the address of the
ifternoon. He said he had been connect
ed with the hospital for forty years. and
seen the graduates over and over again
receive their diplomas and go out into
the nursing profession. He had seen,
too, another body Of nurses, who in the
good old times, were invaluable to ply
scians, as well as patients. The old col
ored nanny, by long years Of watching
by sick beds, used to become thoroughly
efficient. Without learning, she was able,
by experience alone, to gain more inti-
mate knowledge of disease than many
doctors. The old nanny is gone now,
but she has taught her successors the
value of watching a disease from the
bedside, an advantage which doctor
cannot have. "You nurses" DR.. McCaw
said. must avail yourself OF your privi-
lege. You must take specialties as well.
Study fevers only, or lung trouble only,
and before long we shall have women pro-
fessors in this college and more women
doctors outside yonder in the wider fields
of medicine.
THE BADGES PRESENTED.
Or. Tompkins next delivered the diplo-
mas to the four graduates OF 49, These
are Miss Bena Randolph Wilson. Miss
Helen Winder Barney, Miss Lillian Gar
nett Denzer. and Miss Eloise Johnston
niece of DIR. George Ben. Johnston.
Mrs. Grace Shields, president of the
Women's Board of Managers for the hos
pital, took DR.. Tompkins's place. and in
a fine, clear voice read the qualifications
Of the recipients of the hospitals badges,
concluding by presenting each or the
graduates with that mark OF distinction.
Two badges were given by the superin-
tendent as a special honor-one for gene
raj excellence and highest standing; the
other for faithful and cheerful discharge
OF duty, especially for cheerful responses
10 emergency calls. For general excel
lence and highest class standing TO MISS
Eloise Johnston. who also received the
hospital appointment to Mt Wilson SAM
tarium, Maryland. annually given TO the
pupil OF best standing during two years.
To Miss Helen Winder Barney, OF
Fredericksburg. the second honor was
gwen.
After the delivery of the badges the
graduates were nearly overwhelmed by
the numerous bouquets and baskets OF