-
Notes on Nursing for the Labouring Classes
- Wilfrid Laurier University Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
Notes on Nursing for the Labouring Classes Editor’s Introduction T he original Notes on Nursing: What It Is and What It Is Not was prompted by an 1858 letter from Edwin Chadwick to Nightingale encouraging her to think of ‘‘a change in the direction of your labour.’’ He had been asked to write this letter by her cousin Beatrice Lushington when Nightingale was discouraged. He explained how he had had to shift his activities when he was not successful to find work where he could have an impact. Nightingale ignored his first suggestion, that she give practical instructions to her ‘‘hundred thousand children, the rank and file of the Army,’’ on how to treat wounds and look after themselves when medical care was not available . He then suggested ‘‘some advice to nursing mothers or to young mothers on sanitary treatment before the arrival of the physician’’ and of sanitary matters generally regarding pure air, overcrowding, temperature, food and drink, exercise, bodily and mental, sleep, play, etc. As examples of what to tell young mothers, he suggested how to treat a cold, a furred tongue, headaches, skin eruptions, etc., all subjects which in fact made their way into Notes on Nursing: What It Is and What It Is Not.1 Nightingale wrote back that she had taken his suggestions ‘‘as to setting down a few plain hints; however much the present generation may be deficient in preventive knowledge, it is not so much their fault as that of the system of instruction.’’ But she did not want to ‘‘make enemies by too sweeping a denunciation of men educated to do one thing, because they do not or cannot do another,’’ presumably a 1 See Life and Family (1:533-34); on Chadwick and their collaboration see S.E. Finer, The Life and Times of Sir Edwin Chadwick. / 17 response to his suggestions about educating soldiers on hygiene. She hoped ‘‘in a few days, if the printers are faithful,’’ he would receive his copy.2 Chadwick responded warmly when he had: Your little book, Notes on Nursing, is a greater work than your large one on hospital management [Notes on Hospitals], for the public, because it will circulate wider and permeate deeper. The publication of your views on hospital construction (as I think I mentioned, that I had learned from Mr Robertson) has influenced the plans of new hospitals in the course of construction in the north. Though there may be failures in one direction there will be success in another. So it will I trust be with these Notes. Though the special school for sick nurses may be delayed or be mismanaged, yet you may be assured that the Notes will lead to extensive voluntary action, in directions which may not be foreseen. I would recommend therefore, that they may be more widely spread than the publisher may be accustomed to spread his publications.3 Notes on Nursing was published early in 18604 to immediate acclaim. But the edition had been hastily done and the printing was bad. Nightingale promptly began to add to and edit it as well as correct minor errors. The expanded and improved version, with larger, better print, and costing more, was produced in April 1860, the ‘‘library standard’’ edition. She explained to Dr Sutherland that she wanted both ‘‘a cheap manual for the uneducated and a library standard book for the educated,’’ to produce ‘‘a real permanent effect.’’5 When Harriet Martineau (1802-76), her friend and collaborator, commented on the bad printing of the original edition Nightingale was able to inform her that a new edition had gone to press and that a cheap edition was in progress.6 Nightingale asked Sir James Clark, the queen’s physician, to present a copy of the better version to ‘‘our beloved princess, England’s eldest daughter,’’ that is, the Princess Royal, and ‘‘in case it would be proper to present it to the Queen—as having a little more matter in a better type. . . . I don’t know the pro2 Postscript to a letter 28 December 1859, Add Mss 45770 f114. 3 Letter of Edwin Chadwick 14 January [1860], Add Mss 45770 f116. 4 It is sometimes dated 1859 from the date on the title page, but did not reach anyone until 1860, which date we use. 5 Letter 4 March 1860, Add Mss 45751 f153. 6 Letter of Harriet Martineau to Nightingale 16 June 1860, Add Mss 45788 f77, and letter of Nightingale 18 June...