Florence NightingaleBegun in the reign of George IV and ended in that of Edward VII, her life more than spanned the whole Victorian era. "Do you think you are improving?" had asked the Aga Khan. She would not have hesitated for an instant in her reply. Life for the majority had improved, was improving and would continue to improve. Grieved greatly by his imperfections, she still believed in the ultimate perfectibility of man. Few of the great Victorians brought about by their personal efforts more of the material improvements of the era than Florence Nightingale. Probably in her own mind the betterment of the soldiers' lot, in sickness and in health, that she had helped to bring about would have rated highest. Next to that would have come her efforts to better the health of the peasants of India. Today she is remembered first and foremost as the founder of the nursing profession in its modern form. Her 38 ragtag-and-bobtail women, who coped with the shambles at Scutari, and the 15 young ladies introduced into St. Thomas' in 1860, were the start of one of the greatest of all services to mankind. This was her achievement, and almost hers alone.--Page 246 |
Contents
Apprenticeship in Harley Street | 36 |
Chaos at Scutari | 60 |
Calamity Unparalleled | 90 |
Copyright | |
6 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
appointment Army Medical asked Aunt Balaclava Barrack Hospital became Bison Bosporus Bracebridge British army Burlington cholera Claydon Claydon House Crimea death doctors Dr Hall Dr Sutherland Embley England Fanny Florence Nightingale Florence wrote Florence's friends Gaskell Harry Verney heart Hilary Bonham Carter Infirmary Jowett Kaiserswerth kitchen Lady later Lea Hurst letter live Liz Herbert Lord Panmure Lord William Paulet Mary Mohl Mary Stanley McNeill military Miss Nightingale months mortality mother never night Nightingale Nurses notes nuns OPPOSITE Parthe patients plans poor probationers Queen reform Richard Monckton Milnes Royal Russian Sanitary Commission School Scutari Sebastopol sent Sidney Herbert Sir Bartle Frere Sir Harry Verney Sir John Sir John McNeill sister soldiers South Street Soyer St Thomas suffering Superintendent surgeons things took Tulloch wanted War Office wards woman women write