NURSES

The Biblewomen & Nurses Mission was founded as the London Bible and Domestic Female Mission in 1857, with the aim of bringing religious education to the poor. See the account of the founder Ellen Henrietta Ranyard (1810-1879) in the Oxford DNB. In 1868, Ranyard expanded the organisation to include the nursing of the sick poor in their own homes, in response to what the 'Biblewomen' saw of the sick, and three years later the Mission began to receive support from the Mercers Company. After Ranyard's death she was succeeded as Hon.

Two pages, cr. 8vo, fold marks, good condition. "Do not I know that sort of critic. He probably knows nothing about Hospitals. It is so easy to make general statements. "Wasted" indeed. I wonder how one could waste money in feeding these poor people many of whom would be far better if we could feed them up. A short time ago one of our doctors suggested suet & treacle for his patients and got the reply 'we can't afford it'. It is miserable economy to starve patients. And as to nurses it is absolutely essential that their food should be appetizing & varied.

[1] + 38pp., 12mo. Stapled into brown printed wraps, with the title and printer's slug on the cover, which also carries the price of two shillings and sixpence. In good condition, on lightly-aged paper. Introductory note reads: 'These few pages refer to war-time troubles at home and in hospital, and other people's love laments. C.P.' Unpretentious poetry, giving an insight into the work of a V.A.D.