History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

474 History of Medical Practice in IllinoisGreat interest was shown in it, and on November 15th the following resolutionwas passed:"Resolved, that in the opinion of the Chicago MedicalSociety a properly conducted society for the training of nurses is desirable,and that we will aid the Illinois Training School for Nurses as well as weare able."Miss Mary E. Brown, assistant superintendent of the Bellevue TrainingSchool in New York, was offered the position of superintendent in this newtraining school, with the privilege of visiting Chicago before deciding inorder that she might better understand the situation. In February 1881,her formal acceptance for a period of six months was received, and shebecame the "lady superintendent" at a salary of $800 a year.At the same time that negotiations were being carried on with MissBrown, the Board was endeavoring to come to a satisfactory agreement withthe County Commissioners. There was much opposition. The wardenstrongly opposed the whole idea, contending that he did not believe in"female nurses" and that he "had never found them as competent as men;"he had male nurses who had been in the hospital eight years, and he doubtedifthe "ladies could furnish any better ones." This argument was cleverlyturned against him when it was pointed out that the women nurses in thehospital were usually convalescents who left as soon as they were able,while the men stayed on year after year until they were so trained in theirduties as to become in a sense trained nurses. Mr. C. G. Ayers, Chairman ofthe Hospital Committee of the County Board, was friendlytoward theschool, and it was through his efforts that entrance was finally gained.Favorable action by the entire Board was not taken until about Decemberi. The Training School Board asked for and the Commissioners grantedthe same payment for the new nurses that had been given their predecessors.Entrance to the hospital now being a certainty,attention was concentratedon the problem of financing the school and securing a house for thenurses. Mr. N. K. Fairbank was Chairman of the Finance Committee. Asa firststep in the raising of funds, invitations were sent out for a publicmeeting to be held at the Appellate Court Rooms in the Grand PacificHotel on January 15th; this was the first time that the citizens of Chicagogenerally were invited to take part in this work which was to prove to beof such great benefit to their city. Dr. Hosmer A. Johnson presided, and theBoard of the Training School and many distinguished physicians andtownsmen were present. Dr. Johnson called attention to the fact that theinstitution was at the service of all the people in Chicago, and Mr. Fairbankasked those present to subscribe. He stated that he had promised Mrs.Lawrence $100, but after listening to what had been said, he was so impressedthat he was giving $500. Others responded with like generosity sothat the subscriptions of that one evening amounted to $1950.