Italian-born British nurse (1820–1910), popularly known as the “Lady with a Lamp,” who first came to prominence for her care of troops during the Crimean War. She pioneered modern nursing and hospital practice, and her prowess as a mathematician led her to develop a number of important innovations in the field of statistics. ALS, in pencil, signed “F. Nightingale,” four pages on two adjoining sheets, 5.25 x 8, black-bordered letterhead, March 19, 1868. Letter to Mrs. Fowler. In part: “I reproach myself with not having answered your question about Cottage Hospitals sooner, tho’ I feel perfectly satisfied that your opinion & mine exactly the same on this point.
1. I do not look upon the movement for Cottage Hospitals as creditable to the country. To improve the cottages as to prevent illness, or to make them fit for illness to be nursed in, & to provide Village Nurses, would have been far more creditable to our civilization.
2. If people want to found a Cottage Hospital, let them ascertain very carefully first whether it is needed—In Mining…Districts it may be needed. But in 9 cases out of 10, the money had better be spent. 1. in improving the County Hospital, where all serious surgical cases should be sent if possible. 2. in improving the cottages. 3. in providing a Village Nurse and medical comforts for the sick poor at home.
3. If a Cottage Hospital is certainly wanted, the hut form, in separate huts, is for the most healthy—wood upon brick—or brick upon brick.
The Hubert Convalescent Cottages are a very good form for Hospital Cottages too.
In Hospitals for Soldiers’ Wives & Children, we are now determined to sanction only the separate hut form—i.e. 3 huts: 60 feet apart…connected with a common kitchen by a wooden corridor …
4. I had been consulted (by Sir James Clark) about the proposed Ventnor Consumptive Hospital. I answered that Cottages would be best if they took in more but Patients who could walk 7 none other ought to be sent to a Consumptive Hospital.
[The Mortality rate of the Brompton Consumptive Hospital has been anything but satisfactory–tho’s there has been an inestimable comfort both physical & spiritual to many poor patients who have died there—of whom I have had many.]
Nightingale also adds a brief postscript, signed with her initials. Accompanied by an unsigned original carte-de-visite portrait. In fine condition, with scattered light soiling, some rubbing to the pencil on the final page, and a few words of text light but legible.
Given the topic, it is typical that the famed nurse would take such a personal interest in each cottage hospital and its staff. At the time, patients suffering from tuberculosis, then called consumption, was a somewhat common yet deadly ailment, were turned away from hospitals as there was no known cure for the disease. The correspondence bears surprisingly frank opinions, particularly regarding the Royal Brompton Hospital, a specialist heart and lung facility in London. It also carries with remarkably well-informed statistics to support her various viewpoints. The precision shown here was also used by Nightingale and others like her to dramatically improve 19th century healthcare, particularly when it came to British army medial care and barracks. Pre-certified PSA/DNA and RRAuction COA.
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