CALCUTTA HOSPITAL NURSES' INSTITUTION,

REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER 1871.

       THIS institution has been in existence twelve years, and has not decreased in usefulness,
as will be seen by the reports of the two principal Medical Officers, Dr. Chevers and Dr.
Ewart. There are 14 nurses in the Medical College Hospital, including the Matron, Mrs.
Bowler, and 9 only in the General Hospital, for the funds being low last year, the Matron,
Mrs. Hickey, offered to take more of the work and so dispense with the services of one nurse.

       She and Mrs. Bowler are most hardworking and obliging, and the Secretary finds that
the women recommended by them almost invariably make the best and most respectable
nurses.

       In consequence of the ready response made to the appeal at the beginning of last year,
the Committee find themselves with a balance in hand, which they think will allow them to
offer two nurses to Dr. Chevers for the wards which hitherto have only been attended to by
coolies. Three have long been wished for, and if quarters can be found for two, it is
earnestly hoped that the present rate of subscriptions may be maintained, without which it
would be impossible to provide for the extra expense.

       As much care as possible is taken in selecting the nurses, but very great difficulty
exists in finding suitable women. Numbers present themselves simply because they want a
home, whilst they know nothing of work or nursing. Even the most willing have to learn,
which entails a great deal of extra labor on the matrons.

       This can only be remedied by a training establishment for nurses, which it is to be
hoped we shall see at some future day in Calcutta.

       Thanking the public for past help and begging to remind them that there are frequently
200, mostly Europeans, at one time in the General Hospital, and the same number, Euro-
peans and Natives, in the Medical College Hospital, not including the extra Native wards,
this report may be best concluded with the valuable testimony of the chief medical officers
of the hospitals, contained in the following letters.

EMMA ATLAY,  
Honorary Secretary.

       I HAVE again great satisfaction in stating that during the past year Mrs. Bowler, the
Matron, and the nurses of the Hospital Nurses' Institution under her, have for the most
part worked most efficiently and usefully, and have rendered an incalculable amount of
valuable aid to the sick in this hospital. I can scarcely imagine a public charity better
calculated to do good, both in its objects and in its administration, than is the institution in
question. It is a constant source of regret to the officers of this hospital that the funds of
the Hospital Nurses' Institution are still so low as to be inadequate to provide us with a
full staff of nurses.

   MEDICAL COLLEGE HOSPITAL;                                                                    NORMAN CHEVERS, M.D.,
                    CALCUTTA,                                                             Principal, Medical College, and Senior Physician.
         The 20th January 1872.

R