HEROES AND HEROICS.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.")
am glad to see that "A Student in Arms" has used his able pen to describe the treatment of soldiers in hospital from the patient's point of view. I have done a certain amount of nursing in a small V.A.D. hospital for about a year, and perhaps I do realize some of the difficulties of those in authority, though I have not in any way been responsible for the working of a hospitaL One chief difficulty is the drink." A small percentage of the men are certain, if allowed absolute liberty, to return frequently in a state of intoxication. This is highly injurious to the patient ; and it is very hard on a nurse to have to look after men in that condition, and it is not in any real sense part of her duty. Yet in spite of my very strong feelings on that point I say : "Give the mon all the liberty you can." You say, Sir, our object is to cure him, and make a man of him again as quickly as possible.
But, Sir, no good doctor or nurse leaves out the question of a patient's mental state "Cheer the patient" would be a good motto for the ward. If you keep the men in and make the hospital
• house of detention, they fret and grumble and get depressed. The mere fact of not being at liberty irks them. They want distractions from their ills, and not always to feel that they are invalids, and not only invalids but prisoners. I think it is difficult, but not impossible, to allow the men greater liberty than is generally done. It is their due. A large majority of decent, sensible men ought not to be penalized because of the shortcomings of the minority of weaker brethren. I should suggest that some of such a majority be induced to look after the minority of offenders. So many men in a ward might be responsible for the proper return of the whole number, on the clear understanding that if there were any delinquents outings for the whole ward would be stopped for a considerable period. Also in many hospitals there are too strict rules about visitors. I cannot close without giving a tribute to the unfailing courtesy and nice feeling of the soldier patients towards their amateur nurses which I have experienced and observed, [Of course, there must be as much liberty as possible. We must not forget, however, that none suffer more from an ill-disciplined hospital than the well-behaved patients—always the majority. They loathe the discomfort caused by the irregular minority.—E. Spectator.]
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