The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-10

Distract nursing ASSOCIATION WAS neiu III
the lecture room OF the Providence Pub
lie library at 4;so o'clock yesterday after
noon with the president, DIR. George l..
Calm In the chair. A large number OF
persons. both men and women, were In
attendance representative OF the leading
Charitable and philanthropic organiza-
tions OF this city. Bishop McVickar and
his sister, Miss Mcvickar. were among
the interested ones and many others.
The meeting was called TO order shortly
after 4:So o'clock by the president. after
which the annual report OF the secre-
tary. Miss Katherine u. Greene was pre-
sented.
This report was In part as followsi
sEcRETARY's REPORT.
that sick persons who cannot 60 to the
hospitals. and who cannot afford TO pay
for a nurse may receive proper care In
their homes.
The practical work started In June 400.
as an experiment. The work grew stead
lily. a large number Of visits were made.
nurses welcomed everywhere and the re-
suits OF this plan OF caring for the sick
were excellent.
The committee was convinced that dis
trict nursing was a direct, intelligent
and efficient method of providing neces-
sary help
The association is working hard to sup
ply the four nurses that the city needs.
Sick persons must be taken care OF In
some way. IL they can be nursed by
those trained TO the work suffering is
greatly reduced, danger OF contagton Is
lessened and good ways OF doing what
must be done are taught.
The association aims to provide such
help for all the sick poor in the city.
n 40 fhA Ia artA .af fhs.
nurses already at work must be assured.
and two more nurses must be obtained.
The work is large one and Is entire
ly dependent upon generous voluntary
contribu tons but the association. after
two years experience feels justified In
asking interest and help from all In the
city OF Providence.
Miss Greene presented also the report of
the treasurer tho same showing the fol-
lowing figures: Received from Nov 1901 to
date. sll7b.05; expenses, sl1A.5o; balance.
$5O55. "a AZ
PRESIDENT FAUNCE's ADDRESS
Following the report of the secretary.
President Faunce. of Brown University,
was introduced as the first speaker. In
beginning he alluded TO the efficient
work OF DR.. Collins and expressed graft
fcation because of his return to this city
after a prolonged absence: He then
dwelt briefly upon the conditions In the
world today with those Of our fathers.
I'm some respects" he said. I'VE are
ahead OF our fathers and mothers and In
some respects we are behind them.
I'VE are conscious today Of the loss OF
a certain dignity. a certain leisure OF
spirit. the loss OF a certain repose and
greatness which we do not have in these
days OF hustle and hustle. There is a
consciousness OF decay In the responsible.
ity for self; the sense OF conscience Is
not so keen as II once was and the sense
OF responsibility not so strong
but the sense OF responsibility In the
social community is. believe stronger
than ever before. The old question. Am
I my brothers keeper" is answered fairly
and squarely," Yes. today We are becom-
ing conscious OF one anothcrs needs; we
are coming TO realize that we need ply.
sicians to prevent disease and skilful
nurses to help cure disease. The great
province OF medicine Is preventive and
what We need is a chaDce TO have nature
work n cure with the aid OF sound broad
and skilful nursing" President Faunce
closed with a Just tribute TO the trained
nurse and her noble work. He was fol-
lowed by Rev. Willard c. Selleck who
read letter from Judge sweetland Of this
city expressing his great regret at being
unable 10 be present and speak as he had
been announced TO do. The letter briefly
commended the work which IL being done
by the association and urged Its needs,
these being summed up chiefly In these
words:
"All II needs is a book account and four
good nurses
Mr.. selleck added a word OF commend
alton after which Rev. Samuel Fl. Webb
spoke briefly
STORY OF A DAYS WORK
Miss Kenny. the senior nurse Of the as
sociation. then told the story OF days
work by one of the district nurses The
story, which follows. wiz give very
clear and comprehensive idea OF the no.
BILE work which these nurses are doing
I'm our midst.
The nurse Is at the office at the r. /.
hospital between s and 8 every week day
morning. Here she writes her records of
the previous day and receives new calls.
She arranges her visits according to
the urgency OF the cases and the location.
She takes her supplies from the supply
room I'm her nurses bag and starts on
her rounds.
On this day her first visit was to a
mother and daughter, both very sick.
The daughter had been sick five years
with rheumatism and dropsy. Both feet
and legs had to be dressed, also five bed
sores on the DACk. Inc nurse DatneO the
patient, combed her hair made the bed,
etc. Hypodermics had TO be given three
times a day.
The nurse then went into the next
room and cared for the mother, who had
some spinal trouble She made the bed.
bathed the patient, prepared an egg nog
and made her as comfortable as possi
BILE.
The next call was TO an obstetrical
case. The mother had phlebitis, which
had kept her In bed most Of the time for
many weeks. She prepared food for in
fants. which was so kindly sent to the
supply room, was found extremely usefuh
I'm feeding the baby. There were seven
other children. the oldest bright girl
OF l3. who did most OF the work for the
family. The father was a shiftless man
out OF work three -fourths Of the time.
The first visit was made To this family
the day before Thanksgiving Ths
weather was bitterly cold. There was
only one little stove 60 heat three rooms.
and several panes Of glass In the win
dows were broken. The nurse spent some
time In tacking cardboard over the holes.
so that the room might be made rt-
tie more comfortable.
The next patient was n colored girl. rs
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