IMAGF EVALUATION TESi TARGET (MT-3) V ^ ^ m // {•/ ,.**' < w- w. y 1.0 I.I 1.25 '' IIIM IIIIM " ilM |||||Z2 i^io |||||Z0 iiiiii U III 1.6 VQ & ^ /a ^ VI e. a, '<^. "V^" VI -^■t ^ o ^;. / /!<^ Photographic Sciences Corporation ^v^ iV # \ \ ^9> V €> *> « 6^^^^ A \^^-^' 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, NY 14580 (716) 872-4503 %^ Q- W, CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH ColleciSon de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques 1980 Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change thf usual method of filming, are checked below. L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. 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LIMITED I900 DEC 8 t964 267470 WHAT IS THE USE OF THE VICTORIAN ORDER OF NURSES FOR CANADA? By the COUNTESS OF ABERDEEN. Yes, what is the use of it ? That is the question which I desire to answer on my retirement from the Presidency, after the Order has been at work for nearly two years. But first, let me an«wer another question. WHAT IS THE VICTORIAN ORDER OF NURSES ? Its origin and history will not take very long to relate. Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. ORIGIN OF THE IDEA* The Order was inaugurated early in 1897, as the National Memorial of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in Canada, at the suggestion of the National Council of Women of Canada. THE SCHEME ACCEPTED AS NATIONAL. After some consultation with some of the leading medical men on the need of such an Order, a public meeting was held in Ottawa, on Wednesday, February loth, under the Presidency of His Excellency the Governor-General. The following resolution was moved by the Honourable Wilfrid Laurier, Prime Minister, of Canada, and carried iinanimously : *'That this meeting heartily approves of the general char- '* acter of the scheme described as the Victorian Order of Home ' ' Helpers, as a mode of commemoration by the Dominion of the ** Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and that a fund be opened for the " carrying out thereof." Inaugural meetings of an influential character were also held at Montreal and Toronto, and were addressed by leading citizens, such as Lord Strathcona, Senator and ]\Irs. Drummond, Senator Cox, the Mayors of both cities. Archbishop Walsh, Bishop Sullivan, Rev. Dr. Barclay, Mr. Hague, Rev. Edgar Hill, Rev. Dr. Potts, Hon. A. Hardy, Mr. Whitney, Dr. Roddick, Dr. Craik, Sir William Kingston, Dr. Thorburn, Mr. Gurney, Professor Robertson and others, and very representative committees were formed at these and other cities for the promotion of the scheme. Victoriati Order of Nnrses for Canada. NAME* The name of the Order was shortly afterwards fixed as " The Victorian Order of Nnrses for Canada," and on the advice of the friends of the movement in Montreal, and of Lord Strathcona, it was decided that only fnlly trained Hospital Nnrses shonld be admitted into the Order. NEED. The urgent need that existed, and still exists, not only in the outlying districts of Canada, but also in the cities of the Dominion, for thoroughly trained, practical women, available as nurses for those who have not the means to pay the $io or $15 a week required by private nurses was admitted by everybody, and it seemed as if there could be no better national scheme for cor niemo- rating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, dian the establish- ment, on a permanent basis, of a Victorian Order of Nurses, able to adapt itself to the needs of all parts of the Dominion. PROPOSED AIMS OF THE ORDER* The objects of the Order were thus defined : (ci) To supply nurses, thoroughly trained in Hospital and District Nursing, and subject to one Central Authority, for the nursing of the sick who are otherwise unable to obtain trained nursing in their own homes, both in town and coimtry districts ; (b) To bring Local Associations for supplying District Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. Nurses into association, by affiliation with the Order which bears Her Majesty's name, and to afford pecuniary or other assistance to such Local Associations ; To maintain, as a first necessity, a high standard of efficiency for all District Nursing ; To assist in providing small Cottage Hospitals or Homes. There was to be a Central Board, and in every district where a nurse was established a Local Board of Management, under whose supervision all arrangements for the nurse's work would be made, and by whom her salary, board and lodging would be guaranteed. All Victorian Order nurses must have a diploma or certificate from a recognized Hospital School, and be trained in district nursing, in maternity work, and have a know- ledge of cooking, dietetics, and the principles of home sanitation. They must be subject to the doctor in charge in each case, and the fees to be paid must be settled by the Local Board. PRELIMINARY ORGANIZATION. An organization for the collection of a fund to establish the Order was the next step taken, and the Lieutenant Governors of the Provinces, the Ministers and Ex-Ministers of the Crown, both for the Dominion and the Provinces, the Judges, the Bishops, and the reporesentatives of non-Episcopal Churches, the Senators and the Members of Parliament, the Presidents of •1 I .; M Vutorian Order of Nurses for Canada. Medical Councils and Provincial Boards of Health, and the wives of such of these gentlemen as were married, together with the Presidents of Local Councils of Women, were asked to be Vice-Presidents of the Canadian P'und for commemorating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and most of these I have named accepted. The Governor General became Patron of the Fund, and I undertook the Presidency, and on our invitation a Provisional Committee was formed for the collection of the Fund. I wish to name very specially the members of this Committee, as the Order owes its very existence and all its present and future usefulness to the earnestness and steadfastness with which this Committee persistently carried on the work committed to it in the face of tiie great and unexpected difficulties which it was called on to face and surmount : Lady Ritchie Mrs. Wm. McDoiigall Mrs. R. R. Dobell Mrs. Frank McDougall Mrs. Kirchhoffer Mrs. Havter Reed The Bishop of Ottawa Mr. Justice Burbidge Sir John G. Bourinot, K.C.M.G. vSenator G. A. Cox Sir Sandford Fleming, K.C.M.G. Mr. Hewitt Bostock, M. V. The Hon. Sir Henri Joly de Lotbiniere, M. P., K.C.M.G. Mr. McNeill, M P. Rev. W. T. Herridge, D.D., St. Andrew's Church, Ottawa Rev. Dr. Saunders, Dominion Methodist Church, Ottawa. Rev. W. Mackintosh, Congregational Church, Ottawa. Dr. McCabe, Principal Normal School, Ottawa. Mr. A. E. Forget, Indian Commissioner. Mrs. Edward Griffin, Hon. Treasurer. Professor J. Robertson, the Dominion Agricultural Commissioner, Jlott. Secretary. Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. An Advisory Medical Committee was also formed, to whom we could refer in matters of a professional character. This Committee consisted of : Dr. Roddick, President of British Medical Association for 1897. Dr. J. Stewart Dr. lyachapelle Dr. Powell, Dr. Craik Sir James Grant Dr. Sweetland Sir W. Hingston Dr. Wright Dr. Thorburn. Local committees, too, of a very representative character, did yeoman service, both in collecting sub- scriptions under adverse circumstances, and in popu- larizing and in spreading the right information regarding the aims of the Order. In this way funds were gathered at Montreal under the chairmanship x^f Dr. Craik ; at Toronto under Dr. Thorburn ; at Ottawa under Sir Sandford Fleming ; at Halifax under the Rev. Dr. Black ; at Vancouver under the Rev. E. McLaren ; at Hamilton under Senator Sanford ; at Kingston under the Rev. Principal Grant, and at St. jolin under the Mayor. We owe many acknowledgments to the members of all these committees, and trust the day will come when they will be proud of having acted as pioneers in this work. The Trustees appointed for the Fund were Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Senator Drummond, Senator Cox and Sir Sandford Fleming. OBJECTS OF THE FUND. The object of the Fund was to collect a sufficient sum of money for the permanent endowment of the I i I Victorian Order oj Nufses for Canada. Order for work in all parts of Canada — a sum which would cover : (/) The zvorking expenses of a Central Ojfiee ; (2) The salary of a Chief Lady Superintendent ; (j) The travelling expenses of the Nurses ; (f) The grants to districts unable to meet the expenses of a Nurse ; ( .,-) Grants for small Cottage Hospitals., and {6) A reserve for ivork where no remuneration or sub- scriptions ivere available. It was estimated that a million dollars would not be too large an endowment to meet these requirements if the whole Dominion was to be considered, as this would not mean an income exceeding $40,000, but while this might be aimed at, the Committee were not so sanguine as to think that this sum could be obtained at once, and they felt they would be amply satisfied if $ic 0,000 were subscribed the first year. OBSTACLES. This wish was not, however, to be fulfilled, for an unexpected obstacle presented itself to the scheme, in the form of a strong opposition on the part of several bodies of medical men who had misunderstood the objects of the Order and who pronounced against it, thereby greatly influencing public opinion in an adverse sense. 8 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, The grounds on which the chief objections were based were two-fold. Rumours had gone abroad that the Victorian Nurses were only to be partially trained, and secondly, that they were to act independently of doctors in country districts, and were thus likely to be employed in the place of medical men because of their lower fees, and thus the health of the whole community would suffer. It is scarcely necessary to say that both these rumours were wholly without foundation, and subse- quently when this was found to be the case the Order had no warmer friends than the leading medical men of the Dominion everywhere. Unfortunately, however, these misunderstandings created a great prejudice and suspicion of the scheme at a very critical stage in the collection of the Fund, and combined with the fact that the claims of local memo- rials of the Diamond Jubilee were everywhere being pressed with success on the inhabitants of each district, made the task of the Committee of the proposed National Memorial very uphill work. WHAT WAS TO BE THE NEXT MOVE ? The autumn of 1897 found us with some $30,000 collected, a part of which was to be given in instalments, and the bulk of which having been raised by local committees was to be used locallv. We were also in the possession of a number of facts which made us realize more fully than before the great need for such an Order of Nurses in Canada as was proposed j^ and t Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. were d that •ained, itly of to be ■ their lunity these subse- Order leii of idings me at 3, and nemo- being strict, tional which made us determine not to leave a stone unturned to get it established. Our Honorary Secretary, Professor James Robert- son, had had the opportunity of putting the outline of the scheme before a number of meetings of farmers and their wives in Manitoba and the North-West Territories, and evervwhere he found the idea hailed as a solution to a real and pressing anxiety overshadowing the homes of our farming classes. The Governor General and I also had many opportunities of placing the project before gatherings assembled to consider the subject in Ontario and in the ^Maritime Provinces, during official tours in those Provinces that year, with the result that a number of Local Committees were formed to collect funds and to prepare for the establishment of a Victorian Nurse in their midst later on. How then should we proceed ? Wc decided that our only road to success was at all costs, to GET TO WORK. 0,000 lents, local 30 in e us such and Those who objected to the Order said that anyway even if the idea were good it could not be made practical, and those who doubted said " show us actual work done, and we will support you." So we determined to take all hazards, and to use what money we had in giving some practical demonstrations. Before doing this, we felt it to be essential to place the scheme as it really was before the medical men in the various centres, and in order to enable us to do this lO Victoriaji Order of Nurses for Canada. effectively, we requested Dr. Alfred Worcester, of Wal- tham, Mass., who had made the subject of District Nursing a life-long study both in America, England and Europe, to come and give the results of his experience to meetings of medical men at Toronto, Ottawa, St. John and Halifax. The result was most gratifying, and this was evidenced in a special manner at a public meeting held at Toronto, when several of the most prominent medical men said that now they understood the real objects of the Order they most heartily and emphatically endorsed it. This by no means implies that the support of the medical men of Canada was from that time ours. This is very far from being the case, but from that time we have had many firm friends among their ranks, in addi- tion to those who advised us at the very outset, and since then the number of those co-operating with us and employing our nurses with expressions of satisfaction has steadily and largely increased, as may be seen from our reports. At the same time a Constitution and By-Laws had to be drawn up, and this was done through conferences between the members of the Central Provisional Com- mittee and the representatives of the Local Committees, and was only completed after several meetings, and after every provision had been fully discussed. For the drafting of this Constitution and By-Laws, and all other business documents, we are greatly in- debted to Mr. Justice Burbidge, who took infinite pains for us ; with him. Sir John G. Bourinot, Clerk of the House of Commons, also co-operated in this matter. Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, 1 1 5. of Wal- District land and perience St. John and this meeting- ominent the real liatically t of the This ime we in addi- :set, and li us and sfaction en from ws had Ferences il Com- mittees, ?s, and K'-Laws, itly in- s pains of the er. The Governor General was then able to formally submit to Her Majesty the Queen an application for a Royal Charter for the new Order on the basis of the proposed Constitution, and as the granting of a Charter to Colonial organizations is not a very usual occurrence, the official correspondence on the subject took some time, and it was only on the 19th of May, 1898, that permis- sion for the same was granted. The petition for this Charter was signed by the Governor General as Patron, by the Trustees of the Fund, by the members of the Provisional Committees and the Advisory Medical Committee above named, and by Dr. Temple, Dr. Grasett, Dr. Graham and Dr. Gei- kie of Toronto, Dr. Farrell, of Halifax, and Dr. Bayard of St. John. At the Court of Windsor, The 19th day of May, 1898. • Whereas there was this day read at the Board a Report of a Committee of the Lords of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, dated the i8th day of May, 1898, in the words following, viz.: " Your Majesty having been pleased, by Your Order of the 7th day of March, 1898, to refer unto this Committee the Immble Petition of the Earl of Aberdeen, Governor-General of Canada, and others, playing for a grant of a Charter of Incorporation to ' The Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada;' The Lords of the Committee, in obedience to Your Majesty's said Order of reference, have this day taken the said Petition into consideration, and do agree humbly to report, as their opinion, to Your Majesty, that a Charter may be granted by Your Majesty in terms of the Draft hereunto annexed." 12 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, Her Majesty, having taken into consideration the said Report, and the Draft Charter accompanying it, wa^'- pleased, by and with the advice of Her Privy Council, to approve thereof, and to order, as it is hereby ordered, that the Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain, one of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, do cause a Warrant to be prepared for Her Majesty's Ro>al Signa- ture, for passing under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom a Charter in conformity with the said Draft which is hereunto annexed. Lord Strathcona, the High Commissioner for Canada, took great trouble in forwarding this matter, and the late Duke of Westminster, one of the chief officers and Trustees of the Queen's Jubilee Nurses of Great Britain, also supported our claims to a Charter, and undertook, on behalf of the Queen's Jubilee Insti- tute, that there should be no objection to the Victorian Nurses in Canada being granted permission to wear the same badge as those given to the Queen's Nurses in Great Britain and Ireland. The permission to use this badge was given in the following letter from Sir Arthur Bigge, the Queen's Secretary, dated from Osborne, August 24th, 1898: " Dear Lady Aberdeen, • ' The Queen is very glad to grant permission for the '• Victorian Nurses in Canada to wear the same uniform and the " same badge (with the exception of the title round the edge " of the latter designating 'Canada') as worn by the Queen's " Nurses in Great Britain. • ' Her Majesty is pleased to hear of the good work being " done by the Order in Canada •' Yours very truly. '• (Signed) Arthur Biggk." J Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. M leration the ying it, was y Council, 3y ordered, ain, one of do cause a Dyal Signa- the United said Draft ;sioner for liis matter, the chief Nurses of a Charter, bilee Insti- : Victorian wear the Nurses in ven in the le Queen's 1898: isioii for the iforni and the jnd the edge the Queen's 1 work being R BiGGK." I AT WORK. Meanwhile the old Provisional Committee acted as Central Executive and proceeded to answer the challenge to " produce work." The first essential and most important step ws?s to obtain our Chief Officer on whose efficiency so much would depend. The Waltham Training School for training District Nurses possessed as Superintendent an ardent Canadian woman from New Brunswick who united all the know- ledge, training and persoaial qualities we were in search of, and very generously this School and Dr. Worcester lent Miss Macleod to us for three months, and subse- quently allowed her to resign her post so as to take a H Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, three years' engagement as Chief Lady Superintendent of the Victorian Order of Nurses in Canada. It is impossible to gauge the far-reaching effects of that appointment, for the history of the Victorian Order must always be inseparably connected with the name of its first Chief Lady Superintendent, Miss Charlotte Macleod. Very speedily the work began to shape itself after her arrival. The first provision to be made was Train- ing Homes where our first Nurses could receive the training in District Nursing which forms a necessary qualification for admission to the Order. By the energy of Local . Committees in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax, training centres were established in these four cities, and District Superinten- dents were appointed and nurses admitted. And here we found another difiiiculty which is not yet surmounted. The qualifications for a Victorian Nurse are high, involving a full course of two }'ears or more at a recog- nized Hospital Training School, six months' training in District Nursing and such knowledge of maternity work and of infectious diseases as may be required. And then the work is hard and the conditions surrounding it often uninviting. Add to this that the private nurses in Canada have always feared that the nurses of the Order might encroach on their ground and deprive them of work. We carefully guard against this contingency and believe that the order only opens new opportunities for the profession, but still the nurses do not see it, and so it has throughout been difficult to obtain a sufficient I Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 15 ^riiiteiident effects of rian Order le name of Charlotte itself after vas Traiii- eceive the necessary Montreal, Itres were uperinten- And here rmounted. \ are high, at a recofr- rainin<4 in :nity work And then ig it often nnrses in the Order 2 them of gency and mities for it, and so sufficient number of nurses of the right stamp to meet the demand. Nevertheless, we have been very fortunate in being able to obtain the services of so many able and earnest women who have earned golden opinions for the Order, some of which are quoted at the end of this pamphlet. During the early months of our work, the Order resolved to send a detachment of foiir nurses to the Klondike, the (rovernment undertaking to allow these nurses to accompany the detachment of soldiers sent to that district in May, 1898. A special fund was raised for the equipment of these nuises, which equipment was carried out by two mem- bers of the Provisional Committee, Lady Ritchie and Mrs. Fdward Griffin in co-operation with Miss Macleod. Of the results of that effort, more will be said later on. After the failure of negotiations intended to bring about a combination of the work of the Lady Stanley Institute in Ottawa and that of the Victorian Order of Nurses, a very charming gift was made to me as Presi- dent of the Order, of a house in Ottawa with furniture for the same at 578 Somerset street, which is now used as the headquarters of the Board of Governors and office for the Order, and also as the headquarters for our Chief Lady Superintendent and for the Ottawa District Nurses. F'or this we have to thank our staunch friend, Senator Cox. The actual signing of the Royal Charter only took place on December 28th, 1898, but after the document quoted above had been received granting our petition, the Central Board of Governors was constituted as fol- lows, with Mr. J. M. Courtney, C. M. G., as Hon. Treas- i6 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. urer, in addition to Mrs. Edward Griffin, and Dr. T. Gibson as Hon. Secretary in addition to Professor James Robertson : — The five original Governors appointed by His Excel- lency the Governor General as Patron of the Order. Appointed by the Montreal Local Association. Appointed by the Toronto Local Association. The Countess of Aberdeen, President Lady Ritchie, Hon. Mr. Justice Burbidge, Hon. Geo. A. Cox, Sir John G. Bourinot, K.C.M.G. Lady Laurier. — Appointed by the Ottawa Local Association. Hon. Geo. A. Drummond, Hon. L. J. Forget, Professor Robert Cr?dk, M.D. Professor H. T. Bovey, LL.D. Rev. J. Edgar Hill, D.D. Lidy Thompson, Hon. Sir James Edgar, K.C.M.G. Hon. G. W. Allan, D. R. Wilkie, Esq. J. D. Thorburn, Esq., M.D. J Lady William Seymour. — Appointed by the Halifax Local Association. Rich. Johnson, Esq., M.D. — Appointed by the P.E.I. Medical A^s'n. From that time we met in our own headquarters at 578 Somerset street. Up to that time we had been permitted to use the Governor General's office for our meeting's. The appointment of the five original Governors appointed by the Governor General was subsequently confirmed by His Excellency the Earl of Minto after the signed Charter had been received. The Local Boards of Management were also duly elected during the summer of 1898, according to the provisions of the Charter, and elected their representative., to the Board of Governors, being one for $500 of income possessed by each Local Association and an additional representative for each additional $1,000.00 of annual income. I 't I / Ictorian Order of Nurses for Canada, 17 d Dr. T. ;or James Governors His FCxcel- tior General I Order. a. e Montreal on. le Toronto on. .ssociation. ical A^s'n. larters at lad been \ for our overnors equently after the Boards of summer rter, and )veriiars, :h Local for each In connection with the Local Boards, I should like to mention the House Committees and the Relief Com- mittees in connection with these Local Boards who have so very materially assisted the wise management of the local work of the Order. At a meeting of the Board of Governors held im- mediately before Lord Aberdeen's departure from Canada as Governor General, at which all our by-laws were finally approved and confirmed, I tendered my resignation as President on the ground of my approaching departure from the country. The Governors, however, so entirely declined to accept my resignation at that time, that I felt I could not combat the decision which they had arrived at in their kindness, and I yielded on the under- standing that the Vice-Presidents, Senators Drummond and Cox would act for me. I further gave Senator Cox a power of attorney to deal with all matters of business connected with the house in Somerset street, of which I still remained owner. At the same meeting, we passed a resolution re- questing the Countess of IVIinto to become Hon. Presi- dent, and it was a great pleasure to me to hear personally from Her Excellency, on her landing at Quebec, Novem- ber 1 2th, 1898, that she would undertake that position, and to be able to present IMiss Macleod to her. On my return to England I had the honor to report on the Order personally to the Queen, who graciously expressed her great interest in its progress. To the Annual IMeeting of the Governors in 1899 I wrote reminding them of my opinion that they should i8 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. find another President who could devote time and thought and personal attention to the affairs of the Order, but it was not until I visited Canada in October, 1899, that I prevailed upon the Board to relieve me of the honourable duties which I was unable to perform. Such is a brief epitome of the history of the Order during my Presidency, up to November, 1899. During that visit to Canada I had the opportunity of meeting with the Local Boards of Management at Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton, as well as of attending a meeting of the Board of Governors, and the reports submitted to me of the progress of the Order during the year that I had been absent were of such a character as to cause me the liveliest satisfaction, and they enable me to proceed with confidence to answer the further question — WHAT IS THE USE OF THE VICTORIAN ORDER OF NURSES FOR CANADA > The districts where Victorian Nurses were at work at the end of the year 1 899 were as follows : — Montreal — A District Superintendent, Miss Haggart. Two fully trained Victorian Nurses. Four Hospital trained Nurses taking their training for District Nursing. Supported entirely by local subscriptions and nurses' fees. Expenditure.. 13,581.34 Receipts 2,657 • 22 time and s of the October, eve me of erform. the Order portunity 3^ement at veil as of s, and the he Order of such a ction, and nswer the [ ORDER e at work Haggart. "ses. king their iscriptions V i f ■ Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, 1 9 Toronto Training Home — A District Superintendent, Miss C. E. Eastwood. Three Hospital trained Nurses, taking their training in District Nursing. Supported entirely by local subscriptions and nurses' fees. Expenditure during first year. . 13,875.22 Including 517.00 for furnishing the Home. Receipts for same period 3.955-86 Including 150 00 Nurses' fees from patients. Note. — It has been decided to make Montreal and Toronto the only two Training Homes for the present, the size of their populations making these cities more suitable for this purpose than any others. Ottawa — Two Victorian Nurses. Supported entirely by local subscriptions and nurses' fees. Expenditure. . |i,586.oS Receipts 1,758.74 Halifax — Two Victorian Nurses. Supported entirely by IocpI subscriptions and nurses' fees. Expenditure. . 11,476,64 Receipts i>39i • 16 St. John, N.B. — Two Victorian Nurses. Supported entirely by local subscriptions and nurses' fees. Expenditure.. $511.06 Receipts 1,220, 14 20 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. Vernon, B.C. — Two Victorian Nurses, in charge of small Hospital and doing District Nursing as well. Supported by local subscriptions, nurses' fees, and a grant of $400.00 from the Central Fund. Expenditure . . $3,454 • 73 Receipts 3,101 .20 Regina, N.W.T. — Two Victorian Nurses in charge of small Hospital. Supported by local subscriptions and a grant of 1 100 from the Central Fund. Hamilton, Ont. — One Victorian N urse. Supported entirely by local subscriptions and nurse's fees. Expenditure.. I288.66 Receipts 1,623.55 Kingston, Ont. — One Victorian Nurse. Supported entirely by local subscriptions and nurse's fees. Expenditure.. f 3 70. 05 Receipts 622.51 Baddeck, Cape Breton — One Victorian Nurse. Supported by local subscriptions, nurse's fees, and a grant of $100.00 from the Central Fund. Expenditure., $572.32 Receipts $700 . 20 Victorian Order of Nurses Jor Canada. 21 charge of : District IS, nurses' ) from the charge of ns and a ral Fund. scriptions J * A * cnptions se. s, nurse's from the New Richmond, Quebec — One Victorian Nurse. Supported by local subscriptions and nurse's fees, and by a grant of $ioo from the Central Fund. Kxpenditure. Receipts . . . . $690 . 46 836.10 Dawson City, Yukon District — Four Victorian Nurses were sent to the Klondike in May, 1898. One of these had to leave owing to a serious operation ; one has been appointed Superintendent of a Hospital at Daw- son with the consent of the Victorian Order. One has taken a position at the Post Office ; and the District Sup- erintendent, Miss Powell, remains at worls till the Spring allows her to be transferred to another post where her services will be more required, in view of the great diminution of the popula- * tion in Dawson. This Branch was equipped by a special fund and supported by nurses' fees^ Government rations, some local dona- tions and the balance paid by Central Fund. 22 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. Six new posts were taken up in December., i8^g: — BRA^i^BRIDGE North Bay Thessalon Port Arthur Fort Wii^uam Fort Frances ■\ All started with the grant of $2,500 given by the Ontario Government, assisted by local subscriptions. Shoal Lake, Manitoba — A Victorian Nurse will be by May next in charge of a small Cottage Hospital erected by local subscriptions and donations from friends at a distance. Buckingham, Quebec — One Victorian Nurse. Supported by local subscriptions. j Expenditure . Receipts . . . . I 103. 50 408.20 A number of applications for nurses have been received from other districts, t.g.^ Michipicoten Harbor, Ont., and Maple Creek, Man., which will be responded to when the funds permit, when suitable nurses can be sent. WHAT ARE THESE NURSES DOING? The following are a few specimens of monthly reports from the various districts as submitted to their Local Boards of Management and to the Central Board of Governors : Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 23 i8g(^ : — of $2,500 vernment, tions. se will be Df a small by local ons from s. have been ill Harbor, responded ses can be ING? f monthly id to their tral Board I i SPECIMEN MONTHLY REPORT FROM OTTAWA HOME. Number of Nurses- - - - 2 Number of cases- - - - 20 Number of visits - - - - 239 One case required 4 hours daily. SPECIMEN MONTHLY REPORT FROM MONTREAL HOME. I 48 Total cases Total visits Four nights nursing. Five nurses employed. $48 fees collected. 3 operations attended. 33 obstetrical cases. SPECIMEN MONTHLY REPORT FROM HALIFAX. Number of nurses - - Number of cases- - Number of visits - - Eight nights nursing. 2 27 - 254 FIRST REPORT FROM ST. JOHN. The work was begun in St. John on the 20th July, 1899, with one nurse. A second joined her a month later. The totnl number of visits paid during the second month was no. i 24 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. SPECIMEN MONTHLY REPORT FROM NEW RICHMOND, P.Q. 143 visits made. 10 nights nursing. Assisted Dr. Thornton at 2 operations. 72 free visits m;.de. The following are selected from various reports and letters commenting on or summing up work extending over varying periods of time at different centres : — Second Annual Report of the Local Board of Man.^ agement^ Victorian Order of Nurses, Ottawa, At the close of this, the second year's work of the Victorian Order in Ottawa, the Local Board of Manage- ment begs to submit its Annual Report, and present its claims to the recognition and support of the people of Ottawa, as one of the philanthropic necessities of the city. The work of the Board, as its title implies, is the maintenance and management of the Home, whence the nurses of the Order go out daily, to minister with skill and tenderness to the sick poor, and the suffering of all classes, who may be in need of their services. The Home is the residence of Miss McLeod, the Chief Superintendent of the Order, when in Ottawa, and the household usually consists of the Local Superintend- ent, Miss Beer, one to three nurses, and a maid servant. The members of the Board take the supervision of the housekeeping in turn, two being appointed for each Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 25 MOND, P.Q. eports and extending es : — I of Man^ ttawa, >rk of the Manage- present its people of es of the ies, is the hence the with skill ing of all tveod, the tawa, and erintend- servant. vision of for each % month, and there has risen a laudable rivalry between these House Committees as to which shall reduce the monthly expenses to the lowest figure. Of course, dona- tions of provisions, house furnishings, etc., help materially to keep down the expenses, and it may be noticed that the list of donors acknowledged each month usually in- cludes the names of the housekeepers for that month. MEETINGS. Seventeen meetings have been held with an average attendance of eight, eleven (11) regular and six (6) special meetings ; of these the secretary has furnished a brief report to three daily newspapers. COMMITTEES. The Entertainment Committee has been helpful in providing for the two teas given to our collectors, and to the wives and daughters of Senators and Members of Parliament who interested themselves in the Home, and also in inducing Prof. Robertson to give his admirable lecture on " Foods '^ for the benefit of the funds. No other entertainments were held. Last summer, Mrs. Hutton kindly offered the use of " Earnscliffe " grounds, but the Committee were unable to avail themselves of that kind offer, before the weather became too inclement for a garden party. The Relief Committee, which included members of the May Court Club and King's Daughters' Circles, was organized to furnish the delicate food, fruit and clothing so often needed by the nurses to supplement their work among the sick poor. 26 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. The Membership and Subscription Committee and the Advisory Board planned and carried out a house to house collection for the work, which brought in $776.75 to our depleted treasury. Our collectors, among whom were members of the May Court Club, thus rendered valuable and timely aid, and the Board would express to these ladies its deep indebtedness. In October, during her brief visit to this country, the Countess of Aberdeen stayed two days at the Home, and at her request met the members of the Board and Committees, to learn of the progress of the work in this city. During the year our nurses have paid 2,728 visits to 147 persons, as against 1,947 visits last year, some patients receiving two or more visits each day. Thirty- five physicians have recommended the Victorian nurses to their patients, but we hope that many more of the city doctors will avail themselves of the services of our nurses for those who cannot command the undivided care of a trained nurse in their homes, and whom it may be inexpedient to send to the hospital. I339.75 was received in nurses' fees from those able to pay, and $39.85 has been expended in car fares by the nurses on duty. Further interesting details of the nurses' work will be given in the report of the District Superintendent, Miss Beer. Though we have had our anxieties and fears for the success of the work, we had, too, our encouragements and hopes. Our fimds have been very low at times, but many kind friends remembered us with timely donations littee and I house to n #776.75 ng whom rendered express to country, le Home, oard and :k in this 728 visits ear, some Thirty, in nurses ■e of the es of our ndivided n it may ^.75 was 3ay, and urses on es' work tendent, 3 for the g-ements tnes, but ^nations I Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 27 of house supplies or money. The work of the nurses is better known and more appreciated, and the balance in our treasury is still on the right side. Her Excellency the Countess of Minto has graciously manifested a sincere interest in our work, and has occa- sionally taken a seat at the Board and discussed ways and means for extending the membership and increasing public interest in the work of the Order. A more thorough canvass of the city, for subscrip- tions and contributions is in contemplation, and Her Excellency has selected the collection books and will herself distribute them to those appointed to collect. A personal letter to the collector will be a part of each book, and we sincerely hope that the returns of this canvass will be a substantial proof of the increased interest of the general public in the benevolent work of The Victorian Order of Nurses. M. H. AHEARN, Hon, Sec'y, February 15, 1900. Report of the Montreal Branch of the Victorian Order of Nurses. The Montreal Branch of the Victorian Order of Nurses opened its Home on the 7th of March, 1898, with a staff consisting of a Superintendent and one Nurse. The house now occupied was prepared for the reception of the nurses, through the efforts of the Ladies' 28 Victorian Order of Nurses jor Canada* Committee, who purchased the necessary furnishings. The expense of this was much lessened by contributions from various business firms and other friends. A committee of ladies was formed to act in connec- tion with the Local Board, and to deal with questions relating to the Home and nursing staff ; but submitting all important questions to the Local Board, which is composed of prominent business men and physicians. A small sub-committee of ladies discharge the duties of a Relief Committee, taking charge of all donations of clothing and other comforts for the needy patients, and has proved of great value in supplementing the work of the nurses. The Ladies Aid Societies of many of our churches and other friends supply the clothing, as well as old linen, fruit, flowers, magazines, diet tickets, etc. For the first few months one nurse with one super- intendent were found sufficient, but before long, as the work became known, the demand for our nurses increased and we have gradually added to our staff. At the present time we have our Superintendent, Miss Barbara Haggar; a graduate of the Montreal General Hospital, who re- ceived her district training in our own Home ; and a staff of seven well qualified graduate nurses. One of these fulfils the duties of night nurse, when the urgency of a case makes it necessary. During the first year the number of individual cases was 281, and the total num^ ber of visits 3,689. During the second year the number of cases increased, over 5,600 visits having been made. The fees from patients for the first year amounted to I281.00, nearly half of the visits being free. No charge I I Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 29 rnishings. itributions in connec- qiiestions ubmitting which is icians. A uties of a lations of ients, and e work of ny of our g, as well :ets, etc. one super- ng, as the 1 increased lie present Haggari. 1, who re- le ; and a One of e urgency t year the otal nuni'- e number ^en made. )unted to Jo charge * for attendance is made by the nurse when the circum- stances of a patient will not admit of it, but when a patient can contribute a small amount, however little, it is always received and the amount placed to the credit of the Order. In this way the patient can maintain his or her self-respect, and does not become pauperized. Although charitable service is the main object of the Order, yet our nurses are prepared to answer calls from physicians to patients who are able to pay for their services at the ordinary rates, and who only require a nurse's care for an hour or two daily — no continuous nursing is done. The requisite number of visits to patients have differed, some requiring a daily visit for one or two days, the emergency of other cases necessitat- ing one or two visits a day, varying from io to 30 days or even longer. The average number of visits per patient is 17. The districts visited extend to the extreme east and west of the city, the distances being great and conse- I quently consuming a great deal of valuable time. Regardiug nationality and religion, Protestants of every denomination, Roman Catholics and Jews have all been represented, many ot the latter being Polish and Russian Jews. We have had three Chinese patients, one Armenian, Canadians — both French and English, besides Scotch, Irish and English. Many of the cases have been most interesting, and have called forth the sympathy of the visiting nurse, who can frequently tell a tale of suffering patiently borne, amid poverty so great that the commonest neces- .J' 30 Victorian O^der of AMrses for Canada. saries of life were lacking. We feel that the Victorian Order of nurses supplies a felt want in the community, without interfering in any way with the hospitals or any known organization of a similar character. It is for all classes of the community, without respect to creed or nationality, and is for rich and poor alike. We have several times been cheered by visits from the honoured founder of the Order, the Countess of Aberdeen, and on the occasion of her last visit to us in October, 1899, two of our nurses w^ere invested by her with the badges of the Order. Her Excellency Lady Minto has also shown her warm interest in our work by her presence at our meet- ings. We now possess a sterilizer, so that antiseptic dress- ings are prepared by the nurses. When possible we also add to their training by giving them, during their pro- bation with us, a few practical lessons in plain cooking, and we have further arranged that those intending to enter the Order shall each in turn take charge of the house-keeping for a few weeks, thus making them com- petent to undertake the charge of a Nursing Home or Cottage Hospital. Although the work of the Order in Montreal is still in its infancy, we feel encouraged to hope that each year as it passes may be crowned with ever increasing success. Respectfully submitted, Charlotte Learmont, Secretary Ladies Committee. 1 Victorian Onier of Nurses for Canada. 31 Victorian )inuninitv, tals or any \ is for all creed or visits from ountess of =5it to us in ed by her shown her our meet- ?ptic dress- 3le we also their pro- n cooking, lending to rge of the them com- ■ Home or real is still : each year xi% success. f I ommittee. Report of the Toronto Branch of the Victorian Order of Nurses, by Miss Eastwood, District Superintendent, Jan. 1st— 24th Oct., 1899. • During this period of nearly nine months the nurses have cared for 193 patients, as against 114 during nine months last year. 121 of these have been pay patients, 72 non-pay patients. 3,441 visits have been made, as against 1,711 last year during nine months. We have been employed by 54 new doctors. This brings our list of doctors up to 119. Fees to the amount of $378.80 have been collected, as against $150 last year. We have taken care of 54 maternity cases. The nurses have assisted surgeons at 18 operations. In the cases where the life of the patient is drawing to a close, one can hardly over-estimate the value of the nurse, both to the patient and his friends. The patient and his bed are kept clean and fresh, bed-sores are prevented, wounds dressed, etc. Two cancer cases that we have had since January have exemplified this in a marked manner. Both were very trying to attend to ; they had been quite neglected until the nurse made her daily visit to care for them and dress their wounds. The nurse also showed the family by example and precept how to keep even the room of a cancer patient fresh. 32 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, Since January last we have had two babies whose sight has been saved by the constant attention of the nurses. We feel that our footing grows continually firmer, and that prejudices that arose from a misunderstanding of the modes and manner of conducting the work of the Order are dying out. Every once in a while I have a doctor formerly opposed say, " The Order is all right. Miss Eastwood." The patients constantly speak gratefully of the Order and most kindly of their nurses. One woman insisted on calling her baby after the Order — and it must be " Victorian," and as the family name is " Spice," it makes a curious combination. There is much done besides just the care of the sick person. Often when the mother of the family is the ii valid, help and direction are given the children. Lately in visiting a case, as the nurse was busy about her work, I noticed the general care she had of the family. Speaking to the eldest daughter, a small girl, it was " ]\Iary, it is time to put the kettle on now. I have washed the child- ren for you, and now you will brush their hair, won't you ? And (as a parting word) then it will be the right time to put on the potatoes for father's dinner," so of constituting herself a providence to the household. The graduates who have left our Toronto Home are all doing us great credit. We never have a day now without cases and last month made 150 visits. Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 3>3 bies whose tion of the ally firmer, lerstandiiig ^'ork of the r formerly 1st wood." lly of the >ne woman Liid it must ' Spice," it of the sick le ii valid. Lately in er work, I Speaking Mary, it is the child- lair, won't ! the right ler," so of lold. Home are and last « I We have three nurses in the Home at present, but feel that the winter's work will require four and soon hope to increase our staff to that number. Respectfully submitted, Charlotte E. Eastwood, District Super in tenden t. Extract from Letter from Dr. Thornton, of New Richmond, P. Q. " I am now writ'ng on the purely medical aspect. *' F'irst of all I, beg to report how thoroughly satis- fied we all are with our nurse. It is largely due to her good qualities that the order is so successful here. I personally am thoroughly satisfied with her as she is a well trained nurse and has great tact and discretion. *' The people iv or ship her for her great kindness and care of her putients, and what is a great thing, the entire absence of extra trouble where she is staying at any house. " Next, as regards the Order itself. I speak entirely from a personal standpoint, that of an ordinary country doctor living in an out-of-the-way count y district, where the people are mostly poor and very much scat- tered. I consider the Order is a great thing, and what in my humble opinion might be one of the greatest boons ever conferred on Canada. It is of the greatest advantage to myself to have free of all charge the ser- vices of a thoroughly trained nurse for my poorest patients. u (( U (( U (( a 34 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. u u u u i( a (( u u i( u (( u i( u a u (( a (( t( u u u u " In anxious cases I know all my directions will be thoroughly carried out and the patient properly nursed and fed. I cannot understand why the progress of the order has not been greater except from the fact that its objects are not thoroughly understood, or perhaps, rather, that there is a seemingly slight, but really from the doctor's point of view, great misunderstanding of the objects. *' I think another cause of the slow spread of the Order is that it is really unknown. To my mind the place for nurses of the Victorian Order is in the coun- try places like New Richmond or in large villages and perhaps small towns without hospitals. " I would throw out the following suggestion. You know we got our nurse as a parting token of regard from Lord and Lady Aberdeen for the district where they had spent many happy summers. They gave her to us for six months free of cost and supplied her with a horse, carriage and sleigh, also paying the horse's board. The nurse charged for any work she did and what she earned went to the local funds. " Now I think if some wealthy friend of the Order would do likewise, the Order might become really better known and spread rapidly. There are many wealthy people living in towns who have contributed largely to the funds of the Order. Now I would sug- gest that some of these, instead of giving to the central funds of the Order, should look around and see some country place with which they are in some way con- nected. Then having secured the willing co-operation Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, 35 ons will be erly nursed 3;ress of the act that its )r perhaps, really from tanding of ead of the y mind the n the coun- illages and stion. You of regard strict where sy gave her ed her with the horse's he did and f the Order ome really \ are many contributed would sug- the central id see some le way con- :o-operation '' of the doctor, let him pay the nurse's salary and board " with or without a horse as local conditions necessitated, " and let it be clearly understood from the first that she " charges for her services. " I think that judging from our experience here, " the nurse would remain permanently and the donor " would have conferred a great benefit on the place." It may be mentioned that at the close of the first six months of Nurse Brown's work at New Richmond, a public meeting was held and a sum of $500 was raised amongst the people themselves for the continuance of the work during the ensuing year, thus necessitating only a grant of ijsioo from the Central Fund to carry it on. Report from Miss Powell, District Superintendent in the Klondike. On arriving in Dawson with the advance guard of the soldiers, and practically without baggage or nursing provisions, after a march of 150 miles, on August 8th, 1898, I undertook the charge of the (^lOod Samaritan Hospital, entering on my duties as matron, teacher, nurse and maid of all work on the nth. Typhoid was at its height. Two log buildings, 50 feet apart, constituted the Hospital. In one of these — still far from completion — were 7 patients ; before the end of the week there were 18. At the end of the second week the other ward was floored, and also con- tained 18 patients — 36 in all. I 36 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canadi. These men had in many cases walked five, nine, perhaps twelve miles, from some of the creeks in the broiling sun, with their temperature ranging from ioi° to 103°, in two or three instances to 104°, their strength often failing before reaching hospital. On the trail, a few yards away, was a pile of stumps and roots which had been cleared from the building space. This became a resting place for many a poor fellow, often indeed to his undoing, as sometimes a man would lie there for an hour or so in the hot sun, to be found stupid or wholly unconscious. So it became our daily care to visit the stump pile, as well as the sur- rounding tents, for stray sufferers. I thougnt I had seen something of typhoid fever, perhaps in its worst form bad enough truly, but nothing like this. Of severe hemorrhage cases we had six at one time. Typhoid with pneumonia, with malaria, congestion of the liver, rheumatism, neuralgia, sore throat, discharge from the ears, and sore eyes. Such sick men ! nor was the sick- ness all, but the filth and the vermin; and we had so little to do with. Such things as we needed were not to be had, or if they were we had not the money to buy them. The few mattresses we had were taken from the convalescing men and given to the very sick men. Often a patient lay for days with only a blanket between him and boards, thankful if we could give him a sack of shavings. And yet, I must say not one of these patients had a bed sore, or even a chafe, so closely were they watched and attended. Blankets were scarce, the patients often using their own, and those were oftener Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, 37 five, nine, eks in the from ioi° nr strength e of stumps e building any a poor mes a man sun, to be ecame our as the sur- gnt I had 1 its worst Of severe Typhoid the liver, from the 5 the sick- we had so were not to ey to buy n from the sick men. et between im a sack i of these )sely were scarce, the Tc oftener than not alive with vermin. The work of trying to keep clean can easier be imagined than described. Dis- heartening it was, to say the least. The washing of a blanket cost four dollars ; our laundry bill ranged from fifty to seventy-five dollars a week. No disinfectants — there were not any in the place ; no sheets, nightdresses nor pillows. Each man rolled up his mackinaw coat, or his overalls, to put under his head ; the rough, coarse underclothing which he had on often being all he pos- sessed. A few towels — no materials for dressing, or bath cloths. Of dishes we had a few cups and plates for the patients ; they all drank in turn. The Nurses used their own if they had any, or borrowed from a neighbor. In the space between the two wards was a large rough table — and here in rain or shine, we pre- pared food for patients, made poultices, received supplies, cut out garments, held consultations, drew charts, wrote records, and often swallowed a hasty bite while watching a delirious patient within the wards. On the left was a tent which served as kitchen, dining room and store room. The ground was covered with shavings to keep our feet from the dampuess, and on which many a staggering patient threw himself down to wait until we had a place prepared for him, or to be told we could not possibly take him in ; and oh, how hard it was to send him away. The cooking stove was so small, it could easily be carried under one's arm, and our only utensils were two baking pans and some butter cans, and with these we had to prepare food for the patients and nurses. Tlie latter, however, ate but little, the atmosphere being anything but appetising. 38 Victoriaii Order of Nurses for Cafiada. In another tent, near enough to be within call, and so small she could scarce stand straight in it, the Matron had her apartment, and here on a postal sack filled with shavings and boards (chiefly boards) she slept — when she had a chance. Trained nurses were not to be had, and such as she had did not know how to watch a patient, and some of them needed careful watching. It is beyond me to describe the work of nursing under the^ e difficulties ; one must needs take part in it to understand. In spite of all the drawbacks the doctors expressed much satis- faction. Thus we worked, witnessing many heart- rending and sickening sights, improvising and planning, teaching and tending, night and day, until at the end of the fourth week, worn out for rest and sleep and weak for want of nourishing food, I gave out, a victim to typhoid fever. And oh, the pain and disappointment at having to give up when I was so much needed. When I had been ill thiee days my nurses came. There were hospitals waiting for two, and the third I must keep for myself. Nurse Scott was sent to the Barracks Hospital. This Hospital was fairly well equipped, and with a ser- geant of much experience in fever nursing, and an orderly, which was well, as Nurse Scott was not strong enough to undertake the more laborious nursing. She had some serious cases, and did good work. Nurse Payson, at Grand Forks Hospital, had some rather laughable as well as trying experiences. Leaving Daw- son on the 2 ist September, after the first fall of snow, she tramped twelve miles over Bonanza Trail through Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 39 1 call, and he Matron filled with :pt — when ich as she d some of tid me to ifficulties ; In spite inch satis- my heart- planning, the end of and weak victim to intment at d. When here were t keep for 5 Hospital, vith a ser- 3^, and an lot strong ing. She :. Nurse ne rather ving Daw- of snow, 1 through slush and mire, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Dickey. On arriving, she was taken to the hotel to ensure her a more comfortable rest, after her weary tramp. She was shown into a room without any light, save what came from the hall, and on looking around she discovered a number of men asleep. In dismay she went to the land- lord, and told him she could not sleep there amongst those men. " Lor', miss," he said, "you will find a row of women on the floor on the other side, (the men had beds) and you will find a place all ready for you, and if '% you will just wrap a blanket round you, and leave your skirts on the stair rail, I will see that your clothes are dry by morning." Nurse Payson accepted the situation with the best possible grace, and was soon lost to her surroundings. I She found in the hospital — if so the miserable building could be called — ten patients — bad cases — and simply no conveniences. Pole frames, over which a blanket was thrown for beds, not enough blankets to keep patients warm, no sheets, no towels, nor cloth of any kind, save a few flour sacks, a slop-pail, hand basin, and a soap-box the furniture. The basin and pail were borrowed from the butcher, perhaps the box too, for aught I know. Bread, bacon and rice, very little sugar, the daily bill of fare. No fresh meat, no butter nor milk, the patients' food being chiefly boiled rice and gravy ; yet they recovered. The nurse's sleeping room was a corner of a corner, called by courtesy the doctor's office; and here behind a little curtain, in an atmosphere thick with tobacco smoke, the tired nurse rolled up in her sleeping bag, lay on the floor. Of the hardships and 40 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. privations this nurse endured in this hospital during her six weeks of service, I can only say that they were many, and almost degrading enough to make one doubt the "blessedness of drudgery." On the 6th of January, 1899, Nurse Hanna took charge of Ward " A," Good Samaritan Hospital. This building was much improved by this time. A two-storey building occupied the space between and connected Wards " A " and " B." Many conveniences had been added and also manv comforts. Scurvv had broken out ; not a few of the typhoid patients were afflicted. Nearly, or quite all, were indigent, supported by Government expense, almost the very lowest grade of humanity, demanding much and giving small thanks in return. Nursing scurvy patients at best is disgusting work ; under these circumstances, doubly so. The scrubbing nnd cleaning of these miserable creatures — and how some of them would fight against the bath of which, from appearances, it is doubtful they ever had had but the very first one up to that time. Nurse Hanna did faithful work here, though suffer- ing from indigestion much of the time. The surgical cases were her care also ; of these there were not a few, as amputation often followed frost bites, and here her services to the surgeon were invaluable. The only trained nurse, and as such looked upon with jealousy by her fellow workers, bearing much, but making but little complaint, this nurse worked faithfully on, bringing comfort and hope to many a sick, unfortunate, discour- aged miner. (Signed) Georgie Powell. Victorian Order oj Nutses for Canada. 41 during her were many, \ doubt the [anna took »ital. This two-storey connected » had been )roken out ; d. Nearly, lOvernment humanity, in return. :ing work ; \ scrubbing d how some vhich, from ad but the DUgh suffer- he surgical s not a few, d here her The only jealousy by ig but little 1, bringing Lte, discour- >WELL. Extract from Letter from Lieut.-Colonel Evans, in Command of the Yukon Field Force (and now in Command of the 2nd Canadian Contingent to South Africa) to Lady Aberdeen: — " Selkirk. " I trust this letter will reach your Kxcellency in " time to enable you to convey to the Committee of the " Order the sincere appreciation which myself and all " ranks of the Yukon force feel in regard to services " rendered us by the Nurses of the Order attached to the " Force. As long as they care to stay at Selkirk there *' will be a headquarters for tliem constructed by the /' members of the Force in their own time, and as far as " possible furnished in the same way. . ^' Their presence with the Force during its march "of 150 miles has been invaluable. They and Mrs. '' Starnes were a great success on the Trail, gave no " trouble and were very plucky. ]\Iiss Powell is a great i*' walker. I " Here Nurse Scott holds sway, and not only the -*' Force but the surrounding country realize and apprec- *' iate the value of her presence and services. "At Dawson to see Miss Powell at work is an object :'*' lesson not to be forgotten. She is in full charge of the *' (rood Samaritan Hospital, Presbyterian, and is worked *' off her feet. This hospital, although not yet completed, J' is over-filled with patients, nearly all typhoid cases. Ji* The hospital consists of two log buildings about 25 42 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. u u u u (; (( (( u u a (C u u u (( u (( u (( u (( u u u feet long by 50 feet, one storey, and is built on a bog ill-drained and difficult to drain. She herself lives in a small tent, and as it freezes now every night, it is poor quarters for her after her day of severe and trying work. I hope they will have a cabin built before the other nurses arrive, but the hospital is at present rather hard up. i' To see and be in Dawson is to realize that house to house, or tent to tent nursing is out of the question, and but for the hospital authorities I cannot imagine where the nurses would find a home. " It costs a great deal to build a cabin ; logs are worth $10 each and wages run from $10 to $15 per day. " The Police Barracks are very small, poor shanties, and are not large enough for the detachment there. " Dawson is the sight of a lifetime, being built chiefly on a low, boggy flat, and partly on the sides- and nearly up to the top of a high mountain. The Main street is along the river front and is very dusty with an occasional mud-hole. It is lined with shops, store- houses and, last but not least, saloons, hotels and gambling houses. Thousands of idle men seem to walk this street day and night. " The street behind the Main street is nearly up to one's knees in mud, and the mud and swamp becomes deeper until the foot of the mountain is reached. The sight at night would more than astonish the staid Canadians of the east. ... It seems to be nobody's business to look after the sanitary arrangements of this town which has grown in a year from 500 to 20,000 a. Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 43 lilt on a bog self lives in night, it is t and trying It before the esent rather 2 that house he question, not imagine in ; logs are $15 per day. )or shanties, nt there. being built le sides- and The Main dusty with hops, store- hotels and en seem to learly up to np becomes iched. The h the staid be nobody's lents of this )o to 20,000 " people, one of the greatest mining camps the world has *' ever seen. It is an impressive sight coming in on the •* boat, this city of tents and cabins, covering the long *' stretch of bog and flats and climbing up the mountain *' side. Typhoid prevails in the town and a worse epi- " demic may break out, as the smells are awful. " The work of the Victorian Order in Dawson is a " great one, and the opening of the new hospital was *' providential. "(Signed) T. D. Evans." Note. — It may be mentioned that the members of the Yukon Force, in addition to building the Nurses' cabin at Selkirk gave over $300 towards their cabin at Dawson. Extract from the Official Report of Lieut.-Colonci Steele, in Command of North- West Mounted Police (and now in Command of Lord Strath- cona's Horse in South Africa) to the Comptrol- ler of the Force : — " North- West Mounted Police, " Territorial Office, Dawson, nth March, 1899. (( " Sir, — In reply to your letter re the Victorian " Order of Nurses, I have the honor to submit herewith *' the reports of Assistant Surgeon Thompson of the 44 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. Force, and Dr. Good, Medical Health Officer of the Dawson District, -which have been written at my re- quest. Both these gentlemen are well-known here and in the North-West of Canada, and I have every confi- dence in their ability. " For my part I may say that I endorse, most heartily, their remarks, and I believe that were it not for the good nursing and kind attention of Miss Scott several members of our force would now be in their graves. I " I consider that the Victorian Order of Nurses can render excellent service in this Territory, especially in the town of Dawson. It is very unfortunate that these ladies have been themselves attacked by illness, but as they have now quite recovered they will be able to continue their good work. I believe that in spite of all our efforts there may be a good deal of sickness next spring and summer and as most of our acclimated men will be leaving the Force those taking their places will naturally have to go through the same ordeal, when, if they have as good attendance as in the past, we may expect few fatalities. '' I have the honor to be, Sir, '' Your obedient servant. " (Signed) S. B. Steele, Supt:' 'a. Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 45 fficer of the in at my re- wn here and every confi- dorse, most : were it not f Miss Scott be in their Nnrses can especially in te that these Iness, bnt as I be able to t in spite of of sickness r acclimated their places ;ame ordeal, in the past, nt, ELE, Supty " ' B ' Division, North-West Mounted Pouce, " Dawson, Yukon Territory, 7th March, 1899. I*' To the Officer Commandttig^ ''N.'JV, M. P., Yukon Territory, " Sir, — I have the honor to report re the Victorian '* Order of Nurses as follows : — " That during the epidemic of typhoid fever which passed over this country last summer and fall, we were compelled to seek outside aid and assistance to nurse the members of the Force, in the Territory, who fell victims of the disease. In doing so we were fortimately able to secure the services of Miss Scott, who came down from Selkirk to help us. Too much cannot be said of the skilful and untiring devotion which Miss Scott, one of the Victorian Order of Nurses, rendered for seventy-three dayr>, during which time we had some of the most severe cases which it has been my lot to treat, and three of these cases were typhoid so severe that I fully believe that they could not have recovered at all but for the care and nursing. It is my opinion that the members of the Order, at present in Dawson, have been able to render great service to the suffering and the sick in the citv. It was unfortunate that sick- ness visited them, and shut INIiss Powell and her attend- ant off for a considerable time from rendering much valuable assistance which otherwise would have been available. ]\Iiss Scott, also, later on, became the 46 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. " victim of an operation, and has not since returned to " active work, although now, I believe, quite well. " I must speak in the highest terms of the work " done by these ladies in their self-sacrifice and devotion " to their honourable calling. '* I have the honour to be. Sir, " Your obedient servant, '* (Signed) W. E. Thompson, A, Surg:' " Dawson, Yukon Territory, " loth March, 1899. " To the Officer Commanding^ '' N, W, M. P., Fort HcrcJmier. " Sir, — I have the honour to make the following statement in reply to the communication received fron; yc'i on the 5th March, with regard to the usefulness of t V. O. N. to humanity in the Yukon Territory. Having made ample enquiries, I can state that in my opinion there is a field of great usefulness for the Order in just such a territory as this is. " I have seen and conversed with a number of those who have been nursed through serious illnesses by members of the Order, and I am quite satisfied that in not a few cases these patients owe their recovery to the faithful and careful nursing which they received from the nurses of the Victorian Order of Nurses. " The only fault to be found with the present con- tingent is its small number ; there is room here for a a (( u u (( u a (i u u ir Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, 47 nrned to 'ell. the work devotion i. Surg:' I , 1899. following ved froni Fulness of itory. te that in ;s for the r of those lesses by d that in iry to the /ed from sent con- lere for a much larger body. If all patients could receive the careful nursing which is given oy these devoted women, the mortality would be substantially decreased. Under the present circumstances the physician is too fre- quently handicapped by ineffectual nursing. " I know of a long series of typhoid cases where the mortality immediately and markedly declined as soon as the Order had charge of the patients. I have had an opportunity of conversing with many of these patients, and they speak most feelingly of the kindness and thoughtfulness exhibited during their illness. " I have formed the above favourable opinion of the Order not only from general report, but also from per- sonal observation in hospital and in private practice. " The Order has, I believe, some opponents in the older provinces, but when the noble work which they are accomplishing is more widely known, many of these will be turned into friends. But, in any case, whatever view one may have held in the older pro- vinces, the Victorian Order of Nurses will be warmly welcomed here. " I have the honour to be, Sir, " Your obedient servant. " (Signed) J. W. Good, '' Medical Health Officer ^^ for t/ie Dawson District.^'' 48 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. Extract from Letter of Rev. R. M. Dickey^ Pres- byterian Missionary in the Yukon, to the Countess of Aberdeen : — '* I am persiiaded you would like to hear somethiug of the work of the Victorian Order in the Yukon from an outsider. I had many opportunities of observing their work and I have no hesitation in saying that it was invaluable to many of the poor fellows in that country. They endured very bravely all the trials and privations of the journey and in the fever epidemic of the fall and early winter of 1898 nursed with a zeal and a self-sacrifice that cannot be too highly com- mended. " Personally I am indebted to one of them, Miss Hanna, for it was largely by her skill and care that I made a very rapid recovery from an attack in October, 1898." Extract from Chief Lady Superintendent's Report of Visits to the Regina and Vernon Centres : — " At Regina they have a small Cottage Hospital. " It was only a small tenement house which would " accommodate six patients that was taken in November. ^' One nurse was sent then, and in May we sent a second " nurse, and a sister of one of the nurses is also managing " the housekeeping part of it. " Fifty-six patients have been nursed there since *' last November, mostly men auJ boys who have not Victoria?i Order of Nurses for Canada. 49 y, Pres- to the mething :on from bserving g that it in that rials and deniic of :h a zeal ly coni- im, Miss e that I October, Report itres : — lospital. I would veniber. I second anamncr o o re since ave not homes ; and the doctors there told me had they not had this little house with the two Victorian Order Nurses, two-thirds of that number surely would have died. There was no place to take them to except to the hotel, and they were men who were unable to pay hotel prices ; and as you all may know, hotels are not very good places for sick people, especially those who have not very much money. " Then, at Vernon, B.C., they have a hospital. The building was in the first place intended for a hotel, and as an outcome of action by the Women's Local Council, a Board was formed to buy this building and use it as a hospital. " I was there a year ago last AugiiSt, and it was then under the management of a partially trained nurse ; and now I have just been there again, and the contrast is very great in the equipment of the hospital, in the comforts and home-like condition, and in the care of the patients, and they have a great many more patients there than they ever had before. Two Nurses of the Victorian Order were sent there last February, and since then they have taken care of over fifty patients, and these, too, have been mostly men who have not had homes, and the cases in both places have been typhoid — a great deal of that — and pneumonia and surgical. At Vernon the two nurses are not always required in the hospital. One goes out for continuous nursing and for district nursing as well. I found her down at Kelowna, about three hours by boat from ' X^ernon, taking care of a maternity case, and her ser- 50 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. u u u (( u i( u u (( u u vices were very much appreciated by both the family and the doctor. The doctor at Kelowna had never had a trained nurse there before to nurse a case for him, and so his wife was out taking care of the cases, and even among the half-breeds ; and to give you a little instance of the great kindness of the doctor and his wife in that place, they have taken in Indians in their own homes and nursed them through severe illnesses. On two occasions this was done ; and while I was at Kelowna the wife of this doctor was out at a half-breed's house looking after a very sick baby. " The Women's Council at Vernon very actively supports the work of the Order." Report of the First Twelve Months' Work of the Victorian Order of Nurses at Halifax: — Twelve months have now elapsed since the estab- lishment in this city of a branch of the Victorian Order of Nurses, the Home at 34 Grafton Street having been formally opened in April, 1898. At that time the Order met with but little enthusi- asm, and much opposition had to be overcome by those who were confident that once established it would abun- dantly prove itself one of the most beneficial institutions in the city. That confidence has been fully justified, and now, before calling upon the annual subscribers and the gen- eral public to contribute towards its support for another year, the Board of Managers desire to present a short Victorian Order of Nurses for Catiada. 51 t family iver had "or him, ises, and I a little and his in their illnesses. I was at If-breed's actively k of the the estab- ian Order ing been e enthusi- \ by those iild abun- istitntions and now, d the gen- 3r another :nt a short review of the excellent work of Superintendent Pride and the two nurses who have been under her charge. Seventeen hundred and fifty-one visits have been made during the year to patients in the City of Halifax and its suburbs, and in the town of Dartmouth. The greater number of patients belong to the artisan class of the community ; and many to the extreme poor. In some cases the work has been called for the daily visitation of paralytics, and those dying of consumption, cancer, etc., etc., in poverty stricken and most unsanitary surroundings. To such as these the skilled touch and tender ministrations of the nurses have brought untold comfort and relief. Quite a large proportion of the work has been con- tinuous. The time spent with each patient has varied according to the needs of the case, from one day or night to two or three weeks. All work of whatever kind is performed by the direction and under the orders of the physicians in charge of the case. No Victorian Nurse is permitted to attend any patiefit on her oicn responsibility. The many grateful testimonies from working men and women, or from weary mothers whose children have been nursed back to health, speak eloquently of the suc- cess of the Order. But, perhaps, their most valuable work has been among an important class of highly respectable citizens whose limited means do not permit them the luxury of the ordinary trained nurse at ten dollars a week. We are glad to note that many such have employed our 52 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, Victorian Nurses, and their words of high appreciation, were we permitted to make them public, would be most gratifying and convincing. This was just the point at which, it was predicted, there would be friction between the trained " private " nurses and those of the Order. This prediction, we are pleased to be able to report, has not been fulfilled. On the contrary, the very best of feeling and harmony pre- vails between the different members of the nursing fra- ternity. One of the most stringent rules of the Order forbids the Victorian Nurses to attend patients who are in a position to pay the usual fee of the ordinary hospital trained graduate. But, very frequently, demands were made on the Order by just such individuals. To meet this difficulty. Miss Pride, some time since, opened a Registry Office at the Home. As it has proved of great value, both to the' private nurses and the medical fraternity in bringing together supply and demand, we think we may claim it as one of the benefits of the Order. That the private nurses do so regard it is shown by their kind interest in the Victorian Nurses' work and by their willingness to assist them from time to time in their labours of mercy. The number of physicians employing Victorian Nurses has increased during the year from 3 to 16. Their names, and a few extracts from the many testimonials which have been cheerfully accorded at our request, are subjoined, and will serve to convince the public of the value of the Victorian Order to the com- munity. Vtctorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 53 ation, t most dieted, ivate " we are On ly pre- tig fra- forbids re in a ospital on the [Acuity, )ffice at^ 1 to the' ringing :laini it private erest in ^ness to mercy, ictorian [6. e many d at onr nee the ;he com- The city clergy also, whose daily work brings them into contact with the sick and suffering of all classes, speak very highly of the faithful and efficient work which is being done. The military authorities have shown their belief in the Order by obtaining from the Soldiers' and Sailors' Relief Association a grant of money in order that the wives and children of the soldiers in barracks might be cared for by the Victorian Nurses. This means an increase of work, and calls for the employment of a second nurse-in-training. The Order is not in the ordinary sense a charity, although much gratuitous work must necessarily be done. Small fees for attendance, varying from 5 cents to 25 cents, according to circumstances, are charged to those who, in the opinion of their medical man, can afford to pay. To patients in easier circumstances a somewhat larger charge is made, which we are bound to say has, in most cases, been cheerfully acceded to. In this manner the earnings of the Order during the year have amounted to $240. This money is handed by the nuises to the Board of Managers, and is applied to the General Fund for expenses. The fund raised one year ago has thus far been sufficient, with these earnings, to pay expenses and to leave a small balance. But the estimates for the coming year demand a contribution of at least eight hundred dollars if the work is to grow and expand as it should. We appeal to the Halifax public to give their support to the Victorian 54 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. Order, confident that its merits give us the riglit to do so, and confident also in the kind hearts willing to help the sick and suffering, and thereby to conserve to the community many useful and valuable lives. Report by Mrs Ballard, Hon. Sec. of the Hamilton Local Board of Management, on the first Three Months' Work of the Victorian Nurses, July — October, J 899. It is something over two years since the first meeting was called by Mayor Colquhoun, at the request of the Countess of Aberdeen, in the interest of the Victorian Order of Nurses. It was well attended and a keen interest was aroused in the cause. There were several other meetings later on, and finally a committee was struck, collecting-books, given out, and in a few days somewhere about $1500 was subscribed. Nothing further could be done in the meantime, until the Royal Charter was issued : when that reached Ottawa work was begun. In Hamilton our General Committee met last spring and elected a Board of Management. The Board at its first meeting appointed a Chairman, Secretary and Treas- urer ; resolved to make application for a nurse, and named a House Committee of seven ladies. Miss Macleod, General Superintendent of the Vic- torian Order, responded very promptly to the request of the Board of Management, and on July 26th, the nurse, Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 55 to do ) help to the lilton Three uly — eetmg 3f the torian roused > later -books, $1500 in the when spring I at its Treas- s, and le Vic- Liest of nurse. Miss Emily Dakin of Halifax, arrived, and the work of the Victorian Order of Nurses was fairly started, and surely never was there a ship launched in a better cause or freighted with a more precious cargo than the \'ictorian Order of Nurses, destined to carry comfort to some of God's suffering poor, to alleviate and soothe the pains augmented by want of proper care and knowledge of those who, otherwise, could have never had the luxury of a trained nurse — a privilege only enjoyed by the wealthy. Miss Dakin had not time to rest after the fatigue of the long journey from Halifax, for within eighteen hours after her arrival she was called to a family where the mother and six children were sick and not in circum- stances to afford a nurse or help of any kind whatever. Since then she has been in constant employment. The charge for a visit from the nurse varies accord- ing to the means of the patient, and runs from 5 cents a visit to 50 cents, unless when, in case of an operation, a fee of 1 1 will be asked. The length of her visit varies according to the requirements of the case, and it is dis- tinctly understood she never goes to a patient without a doctor's call and always under his direction. It may be of interest to some to know about what our expenses are : We pay the required salary - - $300 per year. Board and laundry - 216 Telephone . - . - 10 (( (( u u $526 56 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, % Car fare, we are assured, will not be exacted by the Street Car Company. The uniform was made here, the material having been sent on from Montreal. There was enough to make three dresses. We had nine aprons, a storm cloak, collars and cuffs, costing altogether about $35 for her outfit. Of course this does not include her winter cloak, hat, etc., but the members of the House Committee congrat- ulate themselves that they have been very careful of the trust committed to them by the Board of Management, those gentlemen having said, '' Get everything that is necessary and call on us to pay the bills." The following is a summary of the work done by Miss Dakin up to October 24th : — Number of cases nursed from July 27th~October 24th. ... 22 From July 27th — September ist 44 visits were paid " September I st — October ist 43 " ** " October 1st— October 24tli 62 " " ** July 27th — September ist 6 cases, 3 doctors " September ist — October 22nd 10 " 6 " There was a total of 144 visits paid under the orders of nine doctors during this period. Miss Dakin has been on duty five nights and aver- ages seven and a half hours daily. Fees from patients up to end of September, $9.05. It may give an idea of the work done by a District Nurse to hear of a case or tw^o. One, an old woman who has been paralyzed for 30 years — 16 years bed-ridden. When ]\Iiss Dakin was Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 57 called in, this poor woman was in a pitiable condition with bed sores. She has been quite healed and is in as comfortable condition as is possible under the circum- stances. It is needless to say the Victorian Nurse has a warm spot in this sadly afflicted woman's heart. One more case : The nurse was called to a home where the mother was ill — four little ones with no one to look after them through the day, the father being compelled to leave them to attend to his daily work — the house very dirty, no fire and everything out of order. The nurse asked the mother if there was any place where she could get hot water. She said a neighbour would give her some. Miss Dakin took twc? pitchers and went in search of the water, which she got, when she returned to the house and set to work — washed up the dishes, cleaned out the sink (which was clogged up with tea leaves, etc.) and made a fire — got something ready for the sick woman — - changed her clothing and put on clean sheets and made her comfortable — then turned her attention to the child- ren. Remember this home was not one of poverty — the father was getting steady work, though the wages were not large enough to hire help, and so he was compelled to leave wife and littlf" ones to get on as best they could. Think what a trained nurse was to them in such a time ! To meet our yearly expenses it has been suggested that each member of the House Committee take a list of twenty names and ask for $5 a year, and by doing this we shall be enabled to leave untouched the sum first collected. 58 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, We wish to record our sincere thanks to Miss Macleod, the General Superintendent of the Victorian Order of Nurses, for her judicious selection of a nurse for Hamilton. She has sent us a young lady of exper- ience, gentle manners, and one who seems to be thor- oughly in love with her work, which you may see is of no light order. When we think of what the Victorian Order of Nurses really means to many a sufferer, and of some of the results which we can see and of some which only One can see, who said " Do unto others as ye would that they should do unto you," and " Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of my little ones ye have done it unto me," we may rest assured it will yet become one of the greatest means for doing good. All of which is respectfully submitted. (Signed) E. J. Ballard. Report by Mr. J. B. Walkem, Sec**etary-Treasurer of the Kingston Local Board of Management, on the Work of the Victorian Nurse from May —October, J 899* In accordance with your request I have prepared for the information of the Council a short synopsis of the work which has been and is now being done by the Local Committee in Kingston. The Association was formed in the year 1898 during the visit of the Countess of Aberdeen. At first the work # llctorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 59 had many hearty supporters, both ladies and gentlemen, but whilst the former have been true to their allegiance, I regret to sav that the latter have not shown that interest in the work which might reasonably have been expected. Many obstacles were met with in the beginning. It was feared by some even amongst the medical profession that the advent of the \'ictorian Nurse would be the death knell of the present hospital nursing system and that the scheme would not receive the necessary support. Thanks, however, to the perseverance of the ladies, the scheme may be considered to be a success in this city. Through their efforts sufficient funds have been collected for the employment of a regularly trained nurse. In the spring of this year, 1899, the Local Committee secured the ser- vices of Miss Baker, who, besides being a duly qualified hospital nurse, has taken the course required by the Central Committee for those who wished to enlist in the Order. Sufficient money having been subscribed to justify her engagement for a year at $400 salary, she entered upon her duties in the month of May last. From her monthly reports I propose to frame a short account of what has been done by her. During the month of May some thirty-six visits were made, the patients being children and elderly people, and the sum of $2.30 was contributed. The system of payment allows the patients to contribute what they feel able to give. During this month there was a liberal contribution of clothing and necessaries for the sick which have been duly acknowledged in the Press. ^ 60 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, During the month of June seven new patients were added to the nurse's list and forty-nine visits were made. The cases were more important than those treated in May, an evidence that the nurse's qualifications were being better appreciated. A large amount of contributions in the way of clothing, etc., was received during this month and the sum of $3.80 was received from patients. During the month of July a great increase in the calls appears — no less than 100 visits having been made. Besides some very handsome contributions in the way of clothing, etc., the sum of $15.50 was received in fees. A small portion of this was really earned in June, but was paid in July. During the month of August 71 visits were made and the sum of $4.25 was collected. Large gifts of flowers, fruit, etc., were received for the patients. During the month of September 92 visits were made, and the sum of $7 was contributed by patients, besides the usual liberal gifts. During this month a sum amounting to $55.20 was kindly contributed by friends and handed to Miss Baker to be used for the benefit of a familv when the mother was suffering from consumption and had four young children dependent upon her. From the foregoing it will be seen that a strong and growing interest is being taken in the work, and that much good is being done amongst those who are unable financially to secure the services of the regular hospital nurse. Vicionan Order of Nurses for Canada. 6i I think it appropriate to append the following letter from the Rev. Principal Grant, who has been loyal to the canse from its inception. The Principal writes : — ** It seems to me that a reproach has been wiped away from Kingston by the institution of a Victorian Order nurse in our city. Hitherto, the rich when ill could have skilled nursing in the hospital or in their own homes ; now the poorest, and they need it most, can enjoy that imspeakable blessing. In Miss Baker, too, they will find not only a nurse and dispenser of medicine, but a teacher of sanitation, an assistant to the doctor, and a Christian friend. P'or all which thankc under God to the Victorian Order. — (Signed) G. M. Grant." The doctors of the city are beginning to realize the benefit of IVIiss Baker's assistance and any call from them is welcomed by her and meets with a prompt and hearty answer. The headquarters of the nurses are at the General Hospital, where Dr. Third, the INIedical Superintendent, is ready at all times to assist in forwarding this good and noble work. The collectors have again begun their work and find their work made easy by INIiss Baker's popularity. It is proposed to call the collectors the " Victorians " and to request them to solicit flowers, fruit and clothes, in fact anything that will be useful to Miss Baker in her work. Very truly yours, (Signed) J. B. Walkem, Secretary-Treasurer. 62 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. Shoal Lake — Extract from a Letter from Mrs, Vibert, Shoal Lake^ Manitoba, appealing for Help to start a Cottage Hospital and Victorian Nurse : — " I am so anxious about the establishment of a Cottage Home for a Victorian Order Nurse here that I can hardly sleep, and am writing you to beg you to help us, for 3^ou can fancy when we have no hospital or trained nurses nearer than Winnipeg, what a boon it would be. '' To give an exact case, a man was accidentally shot on Monday ; there was no train to Winnipeg till Wednesday ; the delay and inflammation caused by the long journey was so serious that blood poisoning set in and his life was lost. Accidents and emergencies are constantly occurring. As I write there have been six deaths in one family in the country not far awa}', and five in another, from diphtheria, and a trained nurse would have been invaluable. One hundred dollars has been promised by a lady in ^Montreal for a Maternity room (which was of great value in Brandon to people living in remote country places). Six hundred dollars has been promised, but we need a thousand. Do what you can for it, and you will have the comfort of know- ing that you will be blessing many in this new country where life is not easy and sickness has a deeper shadow than in more civilized places. If the cottage is once established it will be partially if not entirely self- supporting." Victorian Order of Nurses for Cafiada. 63 Mr. R. M. Wilkie, the most kind and faithful Sec- retary of the Local Board in Toronto, on seeing this letter undertook to show it to a few gentlemen, with the result that in a few minutes he obtained contributions amounting to $100 for the Shoal Lake Victorian Order Cottage Hospital. The Brandon Local Council of Women also under- took to stand by the district in the matter and gave $100 given to them by Mrs. T. McDougall, ot Montreal, for maternity work, and other contributions ; and in October their President, IVIrs. McEwen, reported that she had been able to obtain a practical and inexpensive design for a hospital from an architect in Brandon which was to be put up for $1,775, of which sum they had $1,575 i^^ t^^^ Bank, and that the building would be ready in a few weeks and that a Hospital Aid Society had been formed. Now the Victorian Nurse is estab- lished. WHAT PHYSICIANS SAY OF THE VICTORIAN ORDER. SirJaiNcs Grant^ M.D.^ Ottaiva : The Victorian Nurses have accomplished a good work, and supplied a much needed place in Canada. Their visits to the poor in each district exercise a cheer- ing influence, and their special aptitude at the sick bed- side exercises a most beneficial effect on those suffering 64 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. from disease. In the far west Yukon country their praises are sounded for the good work accomplished. Dr, Mader : '' The Victorian Nurses have supplied invaluable *' aid to many of my patients. Of a few they have been " instrumental in saving life. In the case of many " others they have greatly relieved suffering. They do " a work which without them would not be performed." Dr. Herbert H. Read : " I have much pleasure in giving my testimony to " the very great value of the services of the nurses of the '' Royal Victorian Order in the City of Halifax, from the " date of their coming. Their visits to the poor, and " their aid to many others who are not able to employ " trained nurses continuously, have proved a boon which " can hardly be over-estimated. They have giver help " and comfort when these have often been ver}- sorely " needed." Dr. Harley S}>iith^ Toronto : '* If I could have brought here an old lady 87 years, " who had been very kindly ministered to by these " nurses, probably she would give a more emphatic '' endorsation to the work and to the kindly help of these " nurses than I could do. Miss Eastwood will probably *' never forget the hearty handshake which she gave her " — it probably has left its impress upon Miss Eastwood's " hand up to the present time ! Victoriati Order of Nurses for Canada. 65 " This is one of the many institutions in which both I myself and others of the profession have experienced a very ^reat help and support ; and I think if we need any proof that this has been a need in our midst as well as in other parts of the country it lies in the fact that there has been such a very great demand for these nurses, especially during the past winter. You probably noticed in the papers a month or two ago that the nurses of the Victorian Order needed additional assistance. As Dr. Temple has said, it has in no way trespassed on the sphere of the trained nurses, because they also have been very busy this winter. The old charges or objections to the Order, made at the time of organization, I think we can now pass over as ancient history. We know that under the skilful leadership of the present Lady Superintendent there will not be any interference with the proper work of the trained nurse, and I m>self can speak of the care which Miss Eastwood always takes in seeing that there is no inter- ference with the proper sphere of the medical attend- ant." Rev. Dr. Potts : " Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, — I have " been requested to move a vote of thanks to the doctors " who have rendered such service to the Victorian Order " in Toronto, and in so doing I think I may take the " liberty of saying that as the days and weeks and " months go by, the Victorian Order is becoming more " and more entrenched in the thankful esteem and affec- 66 Victoriafi Order of Nurses for Canada. a u u (( (( u u u (( (( u u u (( (i (( (( u (( (( (( u (( a tion of the coiniininity. Some of us here had no doubt about the Order from the beginning. Others who did not look upon it as favourably as we have been accus- tomed to do from its inception, have changed their minds, and I think the reports presented today, espec- ially that of Miss Eastwood, would win honour in every part of the city and throughout the entire Dominion. My heart was greatly touched by the letter read from Manitoba. The sentiments expressed by that benevolent lady in Manitoba are sentiments that would be expressed from every section of the great North- West and from every part of our Dominion, and I believe as the years go by Lady Aberdeen will feel grateful — grateful to Ood — that she was moved to undertake the establishment of the Order in this country. " I believe that as we move along from year to year we shall have increasing encouragement in the wonder- ful work that shall be accomplished. We need not trouble ourselves about wealthy people. Wealthy people can secure trained nurses, but as we think of the poor people, as we think of a visit of an hour, as we think of the sums of money mentioned in the report — from 5 cents to 25 cents — and then remember the unspeakable blessing of such nurses in these homes, I believe that we are doing a service not only for humanity but for Christianity." Numberless other testimonies from medical men and other friends miglit be added, but I dare not further Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 67 lengthen this review of the work accomplished by the Victorian Order, even thongh, in view of the grave donbts which were expressed by many people at the ontset, I am tempted to emphasize the opinions of thoughtfnl, practical men and women. To conclude, therefore, let me remind the public in Canada that we have made good the challenge presented to us — " Shew us work done, and we will give you the support you ask." The work has been done, as I have shown, but it has been done from hand to mouth, and the Treasurers of our Ivocal Boards, and very specially the Treasurer of the Central Board of Governors, meet us with troubled and anxious faces and wonder how the year's expenses are to be met. I am not sure that it should be a matter of regret that we did not at first obtain the large endowment we asked for. The lack of it has proved the vitality of our movement, and has demonstrated that it will spread in a healthy way by local districts themselves making efforts to raise funds to keep a nurse. But the great majority of country districts and villages cannot raise the $600, for which roughly may be estimated the sum required annually to cover all expenses in connection with the establishment of a nurse. The people realize the benefits of such an institution. They have to possess a nurse to realize the difference that she will make in time of sickness and anxiety. And if we are to spread the Order in these districts where it is most needed, we must have a Central Fund, from 68 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. which generous grants can be made at the outset ; grants which can by degrees be reduced until the district be- comes self-supporting. The same thing applies to the erection of small Cottage Hospitals in outlying districts as centres for our nurses. And then there must be a certain number of organizing and office expenses, although these are reduced to a minimum by the care and vigilance of our Hon. Secretary. And finally, the Central Fund must be responsible for the salary and travelling ex- penses of the Chief Lady Superintendent, on whose efficiency so much depends, if the standard and work of the Order is to be kept at the high level we aim at. Part of her duty is to pay visits of inspection to all the branches and to help in the organization of new centres. This necessarily involves expense, although the railways of Canada have conferred on the Order the great kindness of a free pass for their Chief Lady Superintendent. According to our By-laws, each of the local branches pay a quarter of their revenue to the Central Fund un- less the donors direct otherwise, but we find that this provision is very irksome to the branches who find they have all they can do to keep themselves going and that although several have loyally carried out this undertak- ing, yet that it proves a burden which does not tend to make the Central Fund popular or wealthy by their means. My parting words as President must therefore be an earnest entreaty to the friends of the Order who believe in its power for good. Will not they ma)ce an effort to secure such support for the Central Fund as will place Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. 69 it on a sure basis for the carrying out of its objects as the National Memorial of the Diamond Jubilee ? Will not the)/ endeavour to influence the Provincial Governments to follow the example of the Ontario Legislature in giving annual grants to the Order, and will not they also endeavour ^o do what they can to strengthen the work locally by obtaining guarantees which will enable nurses to l3e started in various districts on trial for a time ? If Lord Aberdeen and I were to endeavour to carry out our natural desire to thank those who helped in the establishment of this Order and who have supported me as President during the first months of its labours, we should have to fill many pages. The recollections and associations connected with that work must ever bind us very closely to those who proved such faithful, persever- ing and patient colleagues, and to the Superintendent and Nurses who have done such noble pioneer work for the Order. Will all those with whom I have worked in the Order accept this expression of my very real gratitude to them as retiring President. I am glad to think that I still belong to them and they will know how near all that concerns the Order will ever be to my heart. It is with infinite satisfaction that I know the post of Presi- dent to be occupied by one who has been so wise and true a friend of the Order from its earliest inception as Mr. Justice Burbidge, and it is a source of great gratifica- tion to me to know that Her Excellency the Countess of Minto has not only become our Honorary President, but that she has manifested in so many ways her interest in 70 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. the Order and her desire to promote its development by all means in her power. And so standing at the parting of the ways, and looking back and looking forward, we may feel that we have much, very much to be thankful for, and that not less for the opposition which made us build our founda- tion securely than for the encouragement and gratitude which has so greatly cheered us. A great field lies before us and every motive urges us to advance with courage to occupy it. I do not think that any of us will ever have reason to regret being identified with a movement which is proving itself to be so truly patriotic. Once more then, " Forliuia Sequatury ISHBEL Aberdeen. Haddo House, Aberdeen, F'ebruary, 1900. Victorian Order of Nurses /or Canada. 7' HOW TO SECURE THE SERVICES OF A VICTORIAN ORDER NURSE. Those interested in obtaining a V. O. Nnrse for their District may form themselves into a District Com- mittee of not less than five members, and elect their own officers. A canvass of the District shonld be made to find how much can be raised for the nurse's support, annual subscription being guaranteed wherever possible. It takes about $600.00 to support a V. O. Nurse for one year, including salary, board, laundry, etc. If this amount cannot be fully subscribed, an application may be made to the Board of Governors through the Hon. Secretary for a grant in aid, which can sometimes be given. If matters are satisfactorily arranged, the Executive Council of the Board of Governors, which meets the first Thursday in each month, sanctions the Committee and recommends Miss Macleod to send a suitable nurse for the District. Copies of the by-laws, and specimens of the by-laws and methods used by local centres, will be forwarded on application to the Hon. Secretary. CHIEF REGULATIONS FOR V* O. NURSES. Any nurse may be admitted to the \'ictorian Order of Nurses for Canada, who : (a) Has a diploma or certificate from a Hospital Training School approved by the Executive Council ; 72 Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada. (b) Has been trained in district nnrsing and in the nursing of maternity cases, and has such experience in the nursing of infectious diseases as the Executive Council may require ; (c) Has received the approval of the Chief Lady Superintendent ; (d) Is willing to enter the service of the Order for two years, and to go wherever sent, and to nurse under the supervision of the District Superintendent, or Head Nurse or alone subject to the directions of the doctor in charge of the case and the Local Board of Management or District Committee of the Victorian Order. The Board of Governors or the Executive Council may in exceptional cases, and for what appears to them to be good and sufficient reasons, admit a Nurse to the Order although all the requirements herein prescribed have not been complied with. Candidates who have no knowledge of district nursing may obtain such training at one of the Training Homes of the Victorian Order, in Montreal or Toronto. Applications for admission to the Training Homes should be addressed to one of the District Superintend- ents, and should be approved by the Chief Lady Super- intendent and laid before the Local Board of Manage- ment. The candidate, if approved, will be received into the Training Home on trial for one month, in order to enable her to become acquainted with the nature of the work of nursing patients in their own homes, and to enable the District Lady Superintendent and the Local Victorian Order of Nurses for Canada, 73 Board of Management to ascertain her fitness for the work. If snitable, she will continne the course of train- ing in the practice of District Nursing, with technical instruction for five months, during which period she will be considered a Probationer. The Probationer will receive an allowance of fifteen dollars a month. vShe will be provided with board and laundry and as far as possible with a separate bedroom or cubicle and a sitting room in common ; also with uniform dress, which must be worn on duty, and con- sidered the property of the Order. After admission to the Order, and on being assigned a District, a Victorian Nurse will be paid a salary of not less than three hundred dollars a year, with board, lodg- ing, laundry and uniform. Those who are appointed to be Superintendents will be paid a higher rate of salary according to the work and responsibility req'iired of them. The nursing of patients shall be conducted under the direction of a medical practitioner. A nurse shall be on duty for eight hours daily. On Sundays she shall only attend cases requiring special or immediate attention. A nurse shall be entitled to one month's holiday annually.