«Merge Record #»«Title» - Schulz-Falster Rare Books

Third (first 1859) and most important edition of what is arguably Florence
Nightingale's most important work. "Based upon Nightingale's extensive knowledge
of English and Continental hospitals, the work was the most exhaustive study to date
of hospital planning and administration. She blamed the majority of hospital deaths
on overcrowding, lack of light and ventilation, and the collection of large numbers of
the sick under one roof" (Norman). Nightingale is best remembered, of course, for
alleviating these conditions at the barracks hospital in Scutari during the Crimea
War, gaining the hearts of the British nation and earning the epithet 'The Lady of the
Lamp'.
This edition contains the excessively important papers recommending uniform
hospital statistics together with the forms for achieving those. These were a
breakthrough both in hospital administration and in the gathering of statistical
information with a view to using that information for bettering situations.
Nightingale had first presented these papers at the International Statistical Congress
of 1861. The Congress, which took place in London, was chaired by Adolphe
Quetelet, whom Nightingale greatly admired. The first female to be elected a
member of the Statistical Society (in 1858), Nightingale had worked closely with
William Farr (the society's president and the Registrar General) preparing the
programme for the section of the Congress covering Sanitary statistics and preparing
the papers on hospital statistics. She and Farr did this with the help of Farr's assistant
and right-hand-man, Willliam Hammack (whom Nightingale invariable called
Hammick), to whom this present volume is dedicated. Hammick was amongst those
invited to use Nightingales' rooms in Old Burlington Street and to attend breakfast
parties there during the Congress. Several of Nightigale's letters to William Farr
contain references, or 'messages' to Hammick, usually ones thanking him for his
assistance with her work.
Provenance: This copy if inscribed in Nightingale's hand at the head of the title to
"Mr. Hammick in remembrance of much kind & efficient assistance rendered.
Florence Nightingale London Kinan/63." Twenty years later the book was presented
"To Dr. William Hammond of Nuneaton in remembrance of his kind attention to
James T. Hammick Summer-hill House 18 Dec. 1883" and in 1916 Hammond
presented the book to the Library of the British Medical Association (inscription at
foot of front free end-paper signed and dated September 21st). Tipped on to the inner
margin of the Preface is an accompanying presentation letter from Hammond to the
librarian and the volume bears the stamp of the BMA on the title-page, preface,
index, foot of p. 155 and verso of plan II.
James T. Hammick (Hammack until 1831) was first elected a Fellow of the Society of
Statisticians in 1846. He was employed at the General Register Office and worked as
one of the Census Commissioners. By 1870 he was an Assistant to the Registrar
General and was on two occasions an official representative at International
Statisitical Congresses. He served on the Society's Council from 1861 before
becoming the Treasurer in 1868 and he held that post until 1874 when he resigned
due to ill-health although he remained a member of Council, his name disappearing
from the lists of Council Members and of Fellows after 1878.
Bishop and Goldie 101; see Garrison-Morton 1611; Norman 1599.
53.