The times., 1901-03-12
CARING FOR THE SICK POOR
The Annual Meeting of the Visit
ing Nurse Society.

Members Of the Organization A.
sembIed Mt the Home of Mrs. Lodge
Work in District Commended 10y
DR. Northumberland Report.
The first annual meeting of the Instruc-
tive Visiting Nurse Society was held yes
terday afternoon at the home of ITS
President Mrs. Henry cabot Lodge, on
Massachusetts, Avenue. In addition TO the
routine business. which was quickly dis
posed of. the large gathering was ad-
dressed 10y those who are particularly
well informed as to the work accom-
plisbed and contemplated. The Rev. +,
H. Barton. rector of ST. John $ Ohureh'
GEORGETOWN. spoke of the excellent work
which had been done. and particularly
commended the services rendered To the
sick 10y the local nurse, Miss jefferson.
DR. w C Woodward, the Health Officer
of the District gave short talk on the
work of the society. He read a number
of letters from prominent physicians, who
had formerly opposed the work in hand,
b,lt who had been won over to the hearty
support of the enterprise Toy the phenome-
nal results attained Miss Wald, of the
University of New York. told of what
had been accomplished 10y the society in
that city. DIT A Wore, ster, of Waltham,
Mass who is said to have done much for
district nursing. and who is the founder
Of a training school for district nurses I'm
Boston spoke TO the society in most en-
colraeinE manner. and said that with all
of the societies that had been formed in
this country and in all of the cities and
towns iu which the work had been under
H.r -.F.a "A d
single failure where the work Was once
commenced.
The first annual report ot the society
was submitted 10y Miss Mary Hopkins its
secretary. and was adopted. The report
is AN interesting one. and. in part, is as
follows;
similar societies have existed in other
places for many years. The idea origi-
mated in England, and was part OF the
system of trained nursing established in
1861 in liverpool bv William Rathbone.
NJ 2. The particular branch Of the
work which had as its fundamental prin-
ciples the employment OF educated and
refined wCmen TO care for and instruct
the sick poor in their homes, was put
into practical operation in Liverpool in
1874 and has since spread over the United
kingdom and Europe The first employ
meut in America of trained nurses in
the homes of the poor was 10y the
Womaus Branch OF the City Mission in
New York in 1877. Fifteen years ago, the
Womans Education Association of Bos-
ton established and gave the name In
srructive District Nursing Association Il
the first uOu-sectarian society of the sort
in America and about the same time
similar society was founded i'm Philaiel-
rr7 ra Ion
EaUiZed I'm 1883. Boston. Philadelphia
and Chicago are the largest non-se ctaIiau
district and Visiting nurse associations
in America. but New York Brooklyn
Buffalo. Baltimore. Kansas City, and
Newport, r. J., carry on their work on
plans similar to these.
Last February the first district nurse
was employed IN Washington. In six
weeks il was evident that services such
as she and other trained and devoted
women could give were not only welcome,
but pItifully necessary. An appeal was
made 10 the public in such form that the
managers were able TO put three addi-
uOnal nurses IN the field before summer.
with its attendant illnesses, came on. OF
their services during the terrible heat of
the past season, which. being their first,
was especially trying, too much cannot
be said. Consumption is very common
and the neglect Of any one case is a
direct menace TO the community Intel
ligent, patient instruction in the use OF
such preventive measures as can be
READY produced something ike response
bic efforts I'm families and neighborhoods
which heretofore have proved inCorrigi-
ble. The care Of babies and young chill
dren has been improved under the teach
ing Of The nurses. and the results ought
TO be shown in the greater VigOr in the
children and efficiency on the part OF the
parents.
Terrible cases Of illness and destitu-
tion are revealed and cared for. and con
hdential relations are established be-
tween families Of such people and the
helpful energetic visitor. She is not a
dispenser OF money. therefore begging is
not IN order. and there is no incentive TO
descending. She has come 10 minister
with her own hands 10 their suffering
bodies. and with the way thus won 10
their hearts and gratitude she becomes
a privileged person and power for good
In their midst. Often the nurse sees what
is hidden from the doctor. and the use Of
knowledge thus obtained may avert con-
dltiOus favorable To the spread Of dis
ease
In closing its report the board of man
ayers expresses "a hope that the public
may continue its support Of this most
worthy charity. II IS also the hope Of the
managers that wheue' er possible donors
may become annual subscribers for
either large or small amounts. for the
care OF a benevolent society being analo-
goCs 10 that Of any household. public OF
private however welcome gifts may be.
the annual income should be its measure
Of expenditure. Special training beyond
that of a hospital nurse is required TO FIJI
the places of superintendent and nurse.
and such women are entitled 20 generous
and certain support The salaries paid
are low compared TO the sums earned in
private nursing but the nurses accept
them and work early and late for them
N is the part of the managers who have
undertaken 20 supply such money 10 Sc
cure il beyond peradventure. and they be-
lieve that the intelligent people Of Wash
ingtou viii recognize their own obligation
10 assist such endeaVOT. Articles are con-
stautly required for the loan closets and
nurses medical bag equipment Such ar
ticlcs may be sent at any time TO the Of
fire of the superintendent. or VIII be call
81 for. 81 the society is notified. Any
information relating 10 the method Of
work Will be gladly given at any time by
the superintendent or by members Of the
board of managers
The society win administer any money
which may De given or bequeathed 10 il
for ls..r Hfl