The most interesting educational movement, at this moment, in that
country, is Miss Nightingale's "Training-school for Nurses," which has
been in operation for three years in Liverpool. It was founded, after a
correspondence with her, in strict conformity to her counsel. As a
training-school, it may be said to be self-supporting; but it is also a
beneficent institution, and, in that regard, is sustained by donations.
A most admirable system of district nursing is provided, under its
auspices, for the whole city of Liverpool, all of whose suffering sick
become, in this way, the recipients of intelligent care, and of valuable
instruction in cooking and all sanitary matters. It is too tempting an
experiment to dwell upon, unless we could follow it into its details.
Its report occupies a hundred and one pages.
It seems worth while to look into this report, and examine in detail its
method of dealing with sickness among the poor. When Miss Nightingale
drew especial attention to the want of such schools in England in 1861,
some ladies and gentlemen in Liverpool came together, and entered into
correspondence with her. Out of that correspondence grew the Liverpool
school. The Liverpool Infirmary, the most considerable hospital in that
city, entered into the plan, and offered its wards for the instruction
of the nurses. The society proposed to itself three objects:--