Note in Regard to the Russian Nurses Employed in the War-Hospitals of the Crimea.
The Russian nurses, in the opinion of their Master, the famous surgeon, Pirogoff, did other things besides what the Army Medical Director-General told the House of Commons they did. But it is to be observed—
In the first place, that much allowance is to be made for the confusion incident to Scotch and Russian surgeons talking French together, and going over many subjects in a very short time.
And in the second, that very likely some extra confusion arose in the minds of our Army Medical Officers from the fact of two entirely different sets of women having served in the Russian War Hospitals, viz.:
(1.) The Sisters of the Elevation of the Cross.
(2.) The “Frauen des Barmherzigen Wittwen Instituts,” (mentioned in a very cold manner in pages 4, 26, and implicitly, 27, of Professor Pirogoff’s pamphlet, “Die Gemeinschaft der Schwestern zur Kreuz-erhöhung. Berlin: 1856”); who are those spoken of at pp. 22, 23, above.
The Widows were so instituted, about forty years or more ago, by Mary of Wirtemberg, during so many years the venerated Empress-Mother. It is quite possible that in the war-pressure their services proved rather nondescript, they being neither sisters nor nurses, strictly speaking; or perhaps the sole reason why Professor Pirogoff has not one good word for them is, that they were not under his orders.
The Sisters of the Elevation of the Cross were a body of secular women, with a few Sisters of Mercy, formed by the Grand Duchess Helena, and placed by her under the orders of the famous civilian Surgeon Pirogoff, to whom the supreme surgical command in Sevastopol was virtually given. Several things are incidentally mentioned concerning them in his pamphlet, quite inconsistent with the constitution of an ordinary religious order.
One or two things in the pamphlet are incongruous enough to English ideas:—the narrative given, however simply and succinctly, of the performances of the sisters by name, the publication of the Professor’s evident disagreement with the first “Oberin,” or Superior, who served ten months, (the second, whom he so highly praises, had only served two when he wrote); the improvement, by which the Sisters’ concerns were “sat upon” by the Comité of Oberin, Chaplain, Doctor, and elder Sisters, &c., &c.
But the division of Professor Pirogoff’s war-nurses into three categories is a pregnant hint for future service, please God we yield it. These three categories consisted of (1) the “Verband-Schwestern,” or those who assisted the Surgeon in the dressings, and the “Feld-scherer” (Dresser) in preparing them. (2) The “Apothekerinnen,” or those who were in charge of all medical appliances for immediate use, and who superintended the “Feld-scherer” (Dresser) in the administration of medicines. (3) The “Wirthinnen,” who looked after the diets, clean linen, &c., of the patients, and the order of the hospital. Each “category” was responsible for carrying out the orders of the medical officers. To every Hospital-Baracke (hut) was attached one sister of each of the above descriptions.
In ordinary service the less nurses know of each other’s wards the better—in war service it is essential that as few women should serve as many sick as possible; and it is impossible to attempt assigning to each nurse the entire supervision of a ward. I think the categories, modified, of course, and adapted to the Queen’s service, might be most useful.
Another point usefully proved by Professor Pirogoff’s pamphlet is the extreme importance, if it be possible, of placing the nurses clearly under the orders of the Principal Medical Officer, though a further point is, if possible, to be secured, viz., that of the Principal Medical Officer being favourable to their service. As women they should be entirely under the control of their female superior, yet the Principal Medical Officer should have a certain clear amount of power in ordering that Superior as to their employment at particular stations and on particular services.
The Transport Abtheilung of the Russian sisters seems to have been an admirable, though very unpretending service. We might take a useful hint from it. Three Sisters accompanied the more numerous[1] convoys of Sick Transport from Simpheropol to Perekop, and provided the sick with tea, sugar, clean linen, medical and surgical appliances, &c., on the way.
Footnote:
[1] According to Professor Pirogoff sick were almost daily sent from Simpheropol to Perekop. They could not, therefore, be always accompanied by Sisters.