The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-20
Lady Dudley's Appeal
In Behalf of the Irish

The following letter has been addressed
by Lady Dudley, wife of the lord lieutenant
Of Ireland. to the press of the country, and
copy has been received by the Journal:
May 1 be permitted through the medium
of your paper to appeal to the Irish people
in America for u share of their charity
or behalf of an undertaking which would.
l think, recommend itself to them were
they better acquainted with the necessity
of it? l speak of the fund for the establish
ment of district nurses in the poorest parts
OF Ireland which has been in existence for
nearly year.
In many parts Of Ireland, especially those
known the 'congested districts" no pro-
vision is made for nursing the sick poor
in their own homes. The popula ton is
purely agricultural and acutely poverty
stricken, and the boards of guardians in
these districts cannot supply even the or
binary maternity nurses. The people as
sist one another, the poor supporting the
destitute; but a rate in aid of the nursing.
fund cannot be levied in these districts
for that would merely be taxing the al
ready overburdened population in one di-
rection to benefit them in another
Moreover, as there are seldom any resi-
dent gentry or well-to-do inhabitants of
the middle classes, it is equally impossible
sources. During the last year sufficient
money has been collected to establish and
endow eight Jubilee nurses. -Four of these
have been at work some little time Four
more will be so shortly. But applications
from districts equally poor and necessitous
are coming in constantly, and, unless the
fund receives further assistance the an
swer sent to such applications must be I'M
favorable | can. perhaps. best bring the
real condition of affairs home to your read
ers by citing typical case that of
Knocknalower, in a Western union which
| have recently visited. In this bleak moor
land district of rocco acres there is scarce
ly a dwelling of any kind except the
wretched cabins of the 5000 small land
holders and so utterly poverty stricken is
the place that it is difficult TO find a doctor
who will remain. no less than ten appointed
having resigned during the last five years
In this district the valuation is only Us "a,
while the rates amount 10 5S l0d on houses
and 2s Cd on lands. IL will therefore be
seen that il would not be practicable TO
provide nurse at the expense OF the rates
In many parts of the district the people
have TO journey a whole day across the
boys to obtain medical relief They have
also had 20 be kept alive by special relief
works on eight occasions in the last TWEEN
" years.
| feel confident that the work of supply
ing properly qualified district nurses for
places like this only requires TO be brought
more prominently to the notice of the Irish
people in America TO insure for IL no in
considerable measure of support.
l. / shall be happy 10 furnish particulars of
the scheme, with an account of work done
10 any one who desires further informa-
ton. Annual subscriptions or donations
msy be sent TO me, or TO the secretary. the
Bank OF Ireland, Dublin. marked Lady
Dudley's Fund for District Nurses"
Yours faithfully, RACHEL DUDLEY.
Viceregal Lodge, Dublin. March 4. 1904.