Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-12
THE VISITING NURSES
THIRD ANNUAL MEETING OF DIS
TRICT SOCIETY.
Addresses by Commissioner Macfar-
land and Others-Outline Of Work
Among the INDECENT.

The third annual meeting OF the Ihser ucl-
i've Visiting Nurse Society OF this city was
held yesterday afternoon IN the banquet
hall of the Arlington Hotel. Notwltnstano
ing the inclemency Of the weather sucn
personages as Lady Herbert, the wa1e OF
the British ambassador; Mrs. Harriet Blame
Beale, Mrs. w. w. Rockhin and Mrs
Cowles, wife Of Captain Cowles U. s. N.
who are interested in the noble work OF the
society, were in attendance and took an
active interest in the meeting.
Aften calling the assemblage to order and
reading the reports Of the various officers
of the organization Mrs. Arnold Hague,
who presided. introduced Commissioner H.
B. F. Macfarland as the first speaker
THE District government" said the Com
missioner, has direct interest in the
work of this society, although it is carried
on entirely by private persons and by pri-
waite purses 1t is integrated with the work
OF the health department and that of the
board OF charities and of their subordlna ties,
the physicians and druggists to the poor, as
well as with the opera tons Of the Associat-
ed Charities and other benevolent societies.
therefore 1t is fitting for me to speak off,
claiiy as we'll as personally in commenda-
ton OF the methods and re sults of your So
clety. Your success, achieved in such
Drlel time, has been of value, not only to
the immediate objects of your benedcence
but to the entire community. We have so
many charitable organiza tons tina, some of
US would rather see the number reduced
tnan increased, for the sake of efficiency
as well as economy; but you have demon
strated in three years that we had need
OF your society. 1t has admirably carried
OUT IT'S purpose to provide trained nurses
and to instruct them in the care of tha,r
SICK, and with the aid of churches and
other organizations has met their Immediate
neeos. at the same time aiding the official
charitable agencies, diminishing the dan
gers OF contagion and promoting the gen
eral health OF the District
The Country Physicians.
President Eliot Is quoted as saying that
VI oil Social servants known to him the
country physicians are the most altruistic.
e .nust nave overlooked the instructive
,sathe nurses, who for forty years in
England and this country have been mai.
ing a noble reputation nv noh,a 1,,a.,- :,
tnlnK, nurse, said a poor old voraa e..
Doiuoh' Cnat you must be a fallen anpeI
Inc thought that these nurses were as -
se,s iresh from heaven must have been in
II Inherently. AS 1 read their own poodas+
stories of typical days In the ondina~v
round or their duties under your society
Gays spent In wise and tender ministry IN.
Ss-to ssagreeaole and even dangerous con-
dattons, thought Of them as among mo
herolnes OF our race. Such a society with
such agents. doing such work. deserves
ana doubt not will receive, a great In
crease IN It's list OF annual subscribers from
among the charitable people of this Distrfnt
imam whom l know none more penarons
All or us especially who have known in
our own homes the help and comfort ne ~
eiaiileu nurses minlstra tons should show
our gratitude by aiding you to send traino1
nurses to our less fortunate brothers ana
sisters" As aho
Work Among the INDECENT.
Rev. Philip NJ. Rhinelander rector ~ ,ho
Church Of the Good Shepherd DENOTED 49,
work OF the society among the INDECENT NJ
the District. especially in the nortbea s+ern
secuon OF the city. and congratulated the
ladies upon their heroic efforts. dec,arino
the work is for good cause and shonId he
continued. AT the close of Mr. Rhineland
ers address, Miss Nutting, in charge Of the
pu1se corps at the John Hopkins Hospital,
ierred to the work in this city, and gave an
interesting account OF the existing condi-
tons In the larger cities
Dr George M. Kober, in an address
enumerated the many instances when the
members OF the society render valuable
and untir1ng assistance to the medical
fraternity In the care of the sick and ey
pressed hope that the good work be con-
siilueu. Dr kober concluded his remarks
by declaring that the work of the society
was one OF the most uplifting and Christian
like charities in the city. Mrs Henry Cabot
Lodge. wife Of Senator Lodge, president of
the society, also addressed the meeting.
1t was stated that although the treasu-ar's
report placed the balance Of funds On hand
at $3,27S 56. more money is needed to carry
on the work and that the society will be
thankful for subscriptions Of any amount.
Report Of the Secretary.
The secretary's report showed that during
the eleven months ending January 81, the
society received 1855 new calls, attended
1891 new patients. sent 26O patients to dis
pensary and made more than Is, 600 visits.
The object of the society is to provide
trained nurses to visit and nurse the Door
in their homes, and to instruct them in the
care Of their sick.
The work is intended to supplement, not
to duplicate or interfere with, the proper
function Of hospitals. Ordinarily only such
cases are attended as hospitals do not re-
ceive or where the circumstances of par
ticular patients require home treatment
The members Of the board Of managers
are: President, Mrs. Lodge; vice president,
Miss Tuckerman; treasurer, Mrs. H. s. B.
Beale: secretary, Miss Mary Hopkins; Mrs.
Ashton. Mrs. Bayard. Mrs. Catlin. Mrs.
Cowles Mrs. Hague, DR.. Anne A. Wilson.