FOR VISITING NURSES ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN THE WORKING AND P. BLAKISTON, SON & CO., 1012 WALST STREET. COPYRIGHT, 1893, BY P. BLAKISTON, SON & Co. PRESS OF WM. F. FELL & Co, 1220-24 SANSOM ST., PHILADELPHIA. W201 S53 1893 PREFACE. In presenting this work to the public, the writer feels that possibly she may interest her readers in a branch of nursing which has by no means been fully canvassed. Work amongst the poor always assumes more or less of a philanthropic character, and appeals to the sympathies of the warm hearted, or arouses the thought of the social economist as to why and wherefore so much energy is needed: and work amongst the sick poor has especial need for consideration; for sickness is one of the accidents in life against which prudence and thrift do not always ensure their most ardent votaries; and which calls for all the graces humanity can muster to deal with efficiently. To be sick is an evil, all will admit; to be sick and sunk in the depths of poverty as well, so that little can be done to mitigate the sufferings attendant upon illness, is an aggravated form of the evil. To lessen the miseries of the very poor when |