Evening star., 1902-08-23
TRAINED NURSES IN PARIS.
The French City Having Its First Ex-
perience With Them.
From tho New York Evening Post

From the New York Evening Post.
Paris has her first trained nurses. This
is a fact startling enough to Americans
who have been accustomed to the trim.
calm heIpfuIness of graduate nurses in
their refreshing uniforms back beyond the
memory Of the present generation. 1t is
interesting to know that a>charming young
girl. English by birth. American from
choice, and now residing in Paris, is the
author of this new and useful innovotion.
the establishment of a society of trained
nurses in Paris. Miss Katherine MCLEAN,
the young woman in question, during her
sOjOurn in the French capital. has enjoyed
the good fortune of perfect health and
consequently, like many another visitor to
that city, did not realize that within the
confines Of the entire republic there could
not be procured the services of one trained
nurse.
a newspaper notice decrying the lack call
cd her attention to the matter. and deter
mined her to fill the need. Miss MCLEAN
IS and has been for several years secretary
Of the Students Club in Paris. Realizing
that she would have to offer the nurses
did she import them. some sort of d
guarantee of work, she went around among
the head physicians of Paris and sought
to interest them in the scheme. Many of
the doctors pOOh-pOOhed the idea at first
and predicted the most absolute failure.
Some of the doctors who understand the
CdEd blIltleS OF the trained nurse realized that
if she Were brought to Paris it would mean
money out of their pockets. Bandaging a
wound and dressing it and all such atten-
tiOnS given the sick are done by the doc
tor IN attendance no such responsibility
being left to the French Sarde maladc, and
If some one in charge were to administer
such help II would mean shorter visits
from him and less of them.
From few physicians Miss MCLEAN met
with every encOura cement. they promising
TO employ whenever necessary such women,
should they come to Paris. One Of the
physicians went so far as to call a
meeting Of the fraternity of GER
tain hospital for the purpose of discussing
the plan. Miss MCLEAN was invited to be
present and outlined her ideas for bringing
the nurses from London. having reduced the
expenses of the trip, their keeping, etc.
down to a minimum. All that she asked
was capital for sustaining four nurses for
three months.
The scheme seemed nothing more or less
than a doubtful speculation to many of
those present. and the enthusiasm cooled
somewhat when the chairman suggested
that each physician in favor of tha plan
contribute so much per capita. Nothing
was agreed upon at the meeting. but two
days later Miss MCClean received nOtifica-
tiOn that committee of the doctors had
been formed. and that she had been ap-
pointed directress, the necessary fund hav-
ing been raised.
She Immediately cabled an advertisement
to one of the big London dailies. applying
for experienced certificated nurses speak
ing French and willing to come to Paris
for the winter. to meet her at - Hotel
at II o'clock the day following the insertion
In the meantime she started after her
cable on the night boat After five DAYS
she returned to Paris. not only bearing
a list of those who would come, but with
the addresses Of others in case of emer-
gency.
The next step was to find a home for the
nurses, as they We're to come within ten
days. After some difficulty fiat was rent
ed In quarter of the town most likely to
employ them When the house was defin-
itely decided upon Miss MCLEAN had sew
erdl thousand circulars printed in French
and English which were mailed to most of
the prominent families, acquainting them
with the expected arrival of the trained
nurses.
Little by little the plan gained favor in
the eyes of even those who were at first
most opposed TO the innovation. The we'll
trained English nurses. with their sweet
calm. helpful ways. had not been in the
city two days before every one of them
was called out. and Miss MCLEAN was
obliged 10 tell others seeking the service of
her corps that none was at liberty She
then Immediately cabled to eight of those
en- the waiting list and now she has a
corps Of fifteen, all ready for active service.