Even  the  doctors'  ideas  about  the  nature  of
disease  were  often  misty  and  indefinite,  and
the  science  of  Medicine  had  but  little  claim
to  be  ranked  among  the  exact  sciences.  But,
thanks  to  the  great  progress  and  discoveries
of  modern  science,  all  these  things  have
been  greatly  changed  for  the  better.  The
causes  of  disease  have  become  so  much
better  known  and  its  processes  and
effects  so  much  better  understood,
that  most  diseases  are  now  much  more
manageable  and  the  resulting  mortality  has
been  greatly  reduced.  In  short.  Medicine-
including,  of  course.  Surgery— is  rapidly  es-
tablishing its  claim  to  be  ranked  among  the
Exact  Sciences.
And  how  have  these  changes  been  bronghb
about  ?  By  substituting  accurate  scientific
methods  of  observation  and  practice  for  the
crude  and  indefinite  methods  of  the  past.
But  the  doctors  themselves  would  have  been
powerless  in  carrying  out  these  changes  bub
for  the  able    and  valuable    assistance  of  the


2


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modern  trained  nurae;  aud  for  the  introduc-
tion of  this  Bj^Btem  of  ekillfal,  trained  nurs-
ing, with  all  its  untold  benetitB,  the  Profeeeion
of  Medicine  and  the  world  at  large  must  'or-
ever  remain  under  a  load  of  obli(;ation  to  the
great  founder  of  the  syatem,  IViiss  Florence
Nightingale.  The  trained  nurse  has  become
almost  as  necessary  in  the  treatment  of  the
sick  as  the  doctor  himself,  and  if  in  serious
or  prolonged  illness  the  two  go  not  hand  in-
hand,  much  unnecessary  Buffdrins;  and  many
preventible  deaths  must  be  the  inevitable
oon8e({uences.
