History of medical practice in Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

476 History of Medical Practice in Illinoishad changed, and on April 2, 1883, the first revenue came to the school—$12 for one week's service. Very soon the charge was raised to $3 a day and$15 a week, of which amount only $12 a month went to the nurse. Therewere two purposes in this system: (1) to increase the income of the school,and (2) to render to the sick outside the hospital a service at once valuableand useful to the public in introducing the idea of trained nursing. Thereports on these nurses were all favorable.In May 1882, Miss Brown resigned her position and was succeeded by MissM. E. Hemple, a Bellevue graduate who had been successively head nurseand then assistant to Miss Brown.The close relationship between the school and the medical profession iswell illustrated by the following comments in the second annual report:"The Training School for Nurses had done excellent work in Cook CountyHospital"—Dr. Moses Gunn. "Having had some small share in the work oforganizing the School and in the education of the present corps of nurses,it is needless to say that I not only endorse the movement, but that I shallhereafter urge the employment of the graduates in my practice"—Dr. RalphN. Isham. "The practical results of the Training School will be more fullyfelt and appreciated by the public when its graduates take the place of theGamps and Prigs who for so many years have been the bane of the doctorand the bugbear of the patient"—Dr. Charles Adams. "The nursing hasbeen as near perfection as anything can well be; it has been almost pastcriticism. In an observation of hospital practice of many years, I have neverobserved such excellent nursing. The School is educating in a most admirableand thorough manner, nurses for the sick generally, so that the public,as well as the hospital patients, may have trained nurses"—Dr. NormanBridge. "Since the Illinois Training School for Nurses was given chargeof certain wards in the County Hospital, I am satisfied that the patientsare better cared for in every way, so far as nursing, diet and prompt andcareful administration of medicine are concerned, and Ibelieve that theresult has been lives saved and the lowering of the death rate in the wardsplaced under their care"—Dr. D. A. K. Steele. "The more I see of thesenurses the greater my admiration. Today the humblest occupant of a bedin the County Hospital receives a more skillful and humane nursing thanthe wealthiest citizen could procure where no trained nurses are to be had"—Dr. S. D. Jacobson.In the spring of 1883, two great events took place: the opening of thenew home and the graduation of the first class.The years 1883 to 1890 were a period of steady growth and progress. Theschool had ceased to be an experiment; it was well known, and its nurseswere in constant demand. With its limited number of workers, however, itwas difficult for the school to meet all the demands made upon it and there