Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-06
Old Theories Held to Be Wrong.

Florence Nightingale, Dr. Woodward
said, 'Once declared that d great many
men and good many women believe that
only one of three things is necessary to
make an effective nurse. The first, she
said was woman dissatisfied in love
The second. she said. was a woman gen.
orally disagreeing with the world. The
third, she said, was woman with in
aptitude for anything.
The career of the Washington In
structive Visiting Nurse Society," he con-
tinued, shows that those old theories
have all been turned tOpsy-turvy. In this
organization nurse who is dissatisfied
with anything, disappointed in things or
lnapt in any way is likely to have short
shrift- Your nurses have to have not
only the qualifications of all other nurses
but they must have deep sympathy in or
der to be able to instruct l have found
that they have it,
II am glad to be able to testify to my
intimate personal knowledge of the value
of this charity. L was talking with Com
missioner Johnston yesterday about this
organization, in its relation to the health
department work. l can vouch for his in
terest and approval. L doubt very much if
there is any public agency in the District
of Columbia that comes close TO the
work of the health department as Your
organization does
Our alley babies practically turn
ed over to your society, and in conse-
quence the death rate has shown con-
siderable Improvement Your Organiza-
ton has most of all others to do with
milk for needy babies. When the health
department IS in distress In nursing mat
tiers IL Is TO your organiZat on that We
turn with most confidence, and when we
need help from you we never fail to get it.
Il believe that the ministrations of
your nurses have had much TO do. perhaps
most TO do, with the great Improvement
m the homes of the poor. You have pre-
vented the growth of bl ndness resulting
from diseased eyes among new.y born
children. The word Instructive in the
title of your society has been lived up to,
because you have taught others how to
meet conditions as they may meet with
them afterward In life.
Your soc ETY. Is in every respect worthy
of the aid and support of the public. and
l wish for you every success, promising
YOU. always. the cooperation and sup
port of the District health department"
Tells of Work of Nurses.
In presenting the annual report of the
board of managers of the society. Mrs
Grnnell told of how THE nurses ply their
merciful trade at the bidding Of private
individuals. as we'll as school or church.
when the doctors call, or hospitals want
their discharged cases cared for"
Fruit and Flower Guild of the society
brings. and of the nurses who spend sum-
mer months at the Red Cross day camp
caring for tuberculous children, In the
winter to nurse puny children in the city
under the direction of the health depart
ment or other poor patients at the direc-
ton of the Associated Charities.
She spoke of the work of the nurses
who distribute the milk and eggs pro-
vided by the Washington diet kitchen.
and of nurses who now devote themselves
10 the fight against infant mortality. She
spoke of the free supply and distribution
of milk by George NJ. Oyster, jr., and
told of the cooperation in the infant NOR
tally work of the George Washington
out-patient maternity service under the
charge of DR.. w. H. Lawson.
The report advocated. again. school
| nursing in the District, and declared that
! the necessity for the school nurse has.
| III fact. been demonstrated all over the
| country, so that Il is hard for those TAX
| ing an interest in the progress or the