success till the lamented death of the matron, Miss Hill; and then, as we think unfortunately, a change was made and the plan interrupted. Since then no entire staff has been supplied by the Nightingale Fund, and it is obvious that there can be little satisfaction in sending one or two nurses as individuals here and there, where there is no sufficient or satisfactory control over them. That would be to throw away good material in a vain and useless endeavour.

We feel, therefore, that to find and supply the superintendent must be our first aim and object, and with her at least a few good assistants, who might then train others to work with them.

And in proposing this, we do not feel that it is such a hopeless task as some would have us think, partly because, without in the least lowering our standard or our claim for good women, we do not think the same amount of skilled training is needed for all the nurses as in a general hospital, though it is certainly required for the heads, much less assistance being given than by the numerous medical officers in hospitals. Such cases as enter there every day are not likely to go to workhouse infirmaries. And then, again, we feel that, as regards age, we might be able to modify the rules on this point also many a respectable and hard-working woman, past the age for hospital acceptance, might find a place and sphere, after a certain probation and under due supervision (for on this point everything depends), in tending the aged infirm and chronic incurables in our workhouse infirmary wards.

And far from being an unattractive sphere of work to women who desire to do good and help their fellow

creatures, we have reason to believe that many would see in it a field of vast and interesting usefulness, with wide limits of influence over those who would come, and probably remain long, under their care.

Lastly, we have no desire to multiply associations or charitable claims unnecessarily, and we would seek to carry out our objects in as simple a manner as possible. The three ends we have in view may briefly be said to be

I. To find women both for superintendents and nurses. 2. To train them for their work by a probation both in hospitals and infirmaries.

3. To obtain admission for them, when so trained, into existing asylums and infirmaries, and for this end we earnestly desire the help and co-operation of all managers and Boards of Guardians.

This paper was read at a meeting held at the house of Constance, Marchioness of Lothian, 10, Hyde Park Place, on July 25th, 1879, when the following resolutions were passed :

I. That the present state of nursing in the majority of workhouse infirmaries and sick asylums is capable of improvement.

2. That it is desirable to promote the employment of paid and efficiently trained nurses in all workhouse infirmaries and sick asylums.

3. That the appointment of a hospital-trained ladysuperintendent to be at the head of each staff of trained nurses is essential to the efficiency of the system.

4. That an association be formed to carry out these objects, to be called an "Association for Promoting Trained Nursing in Workhouse Infirmaries and Sick Asylums, in co-operation with the Local Government Board and Poor Law Guardians." We may add that the sanction and co-operation of the Local Government Board has already been obtained for this plan.

APPENDIX IX.

I CANNOT refrain from adding one more fact concerning a London workhouse which I visited, and where the master, his wife, and daughter were for years the only paid officers besides the porter and taskmaster. I used to hear strange, but true, stories about them. Some years after their dismissal, the daughter was readmitted, as a pauper and a confirmed drunkard, in the very house where she used to employ the women to embroider her fine petticoats, and set an example of vanity!

ELEUSIS CLUE 180, KINGS ROAD

CHELSEAS.W.