The Crimean War : the British Army and Miss Nightingale / by Charles Shrimpton.

  • Shrimpton, Charles, 1815-
Date:
1864
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Crimean War : the British Army and Miss Nightingale / by Charles Shrimpton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    out the same principle in the construction of their huts. In France and in Italy, on the contrary, there is a per- fect horror of fresh air. It seems ridiculous to say, that even in these countries, no one can deny that air is ne- cessary for the support of life. Is it not then inconsis- tent, that, in these countries, every precaution should be taken to prevent pure fresh air from penetrating into their Hospitals, even when these establishments are built on the best plans, and with the special object of ventila- tion? This absolute horror of pure fresh air, which exists at all times, and in every class of society, is quite sufficient to account for the absence of all care for ven- tilation in the construction of the French and Sardinian huts. The question of ventilation has been practically solved in the Crimea, and on so large a scale that we trust the disastrous experiment may never be repeated. May we, however, hope that this lesson, in which the lives of thousands, and often the honour of nations, are at stake, may not be forgotten? If ventilation has proved itself of such vital importance in the temporary huts of the Crimea, is it not of still greater importance in the per- manent Hospitals? We have seen that nothing can be more conducive to the restoration of health than the free circulation of pure fresh air in the interior of Hospitals. Yet we find that this essential condition is not attended to in the Hospitals of Paris, and the attention of the Aca- demic Imperiale de Medecine has been roused to enquire into the mortality that undoubtedly arises from this cause. Here again, as on all occasions, we find the voice of Miss Nightingale raised in the cause of humanity. On the 22d of April, 1862, we had the honour of addres- sing the following letterto theAcademie, on the sanitary state of the “ Hopital de Lariboisiere,” communicating Miss Nightingale’s opinion on the subject.