À nORE`_v'CE NIGHTINGALE, Englishwomen coming out here to nurse us ; it is so homely and comfortable ! " The heavy cares and duties which awaited them were terribly increased within a few hours of their coming by the arrival of six hundred wounded, sent down after the battle of Inkerman. The over -worked surgeons, " one and all," acknowledged that their services, at such a juncture, were invaluable ; even the most " hard-headed old Scotch surgeons," whom some of the croakers had feared would be constantly resenting raps from the scented fan of Miss Nightingale, admitted that the tender nurses "were not in the way except to do good." " Miss Nightingale," says one letter, in Novem- 'ber, " appears eminently qualified for the noble work she has undertaken. Her labours will spare the clergy many a sad sight of men sinking for want of proper nursing, and because food cannot be adminis- tered often enough. This is impossible with only hospital orderlies, but with the nurses, all who need will be supplied." But food, clothing, medicines, and extra medical aid were wanting ; and the men were constantly sinking through exhaustionwhen, if it had been at hand, a timely stimulant administered might have saved them. A letter, dated November 11, from one of the lady-nurses shows the terrible des- titution. " I have come out here as one of the Government nurses, and the position in which we are placed in- duces me to write and ask you at once to send us 20
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