Editor-in-Chief Consulting Editor Associate Editor

.A. E. ENGZELIUS, M. D. WM. N. BEGGS, A. B., M. D. BERNARD OETTINGER, M. D. ALLISON DRAKE, Ph. D., M. D.

.F. GREGORY CONNELL, M. D. ..MELVILLE BLACK, M. D. .E. T. BOYD, M. D. .O. M. SHERE, M. D. ...W. W. REED, M. D.

...WM. J. BAIRD, M. D. Single Copies, 25 Cents CORRESPONDENCE.

NEWS ITEMS,

Address all communications to

VOL. XI.

ABORTIVE NURSES' TRAINING

SCHOOLS.

In the October number of this journal last year we discussed some of the abuses in training schools, and especially the graft of unnecessarily extending the course from two to three years. At the same time we condemned those schools holding out false pretenses on having absolutely short courses. We present here a prospectus of such a school:

"Dear Doctor:

"We are pleased to announce that we have successfully conducted. Our

No. 5

Nurses' College now for four years. During this time one hundred have completed the course and they are doing excellent work in nearly every state in the union. The most flattering reports come to us of their successes. Nursing of every kind is discussed. We teach anatomy and physiology by outline. The outline, like a picture, when once impressed upon the mind can never be forgotten. Practical demonstrations are assiduously dwelt upon in teaching the chart, hypos, compresses, poultices, mustard plasters, ice bags, catheter, baths, packs, surgical instruments and

solutions of any strength, anesthetics, bandaging, preparation of sponges, ligatures, kinds of sutures, hygiene, asepsis, prophylaxis, changing of sheets, massage, obstetrical nursing, etc., etc. The strictest fidelity to the physician under all circumstances is insisted upon. The course is completed in six weeks. There is no drudgery of any kind. The whole time is consumed. by study and demonstration. Our school also is a wonderful help to hospital graduates who wish to review. Caroline Reed and Catharine Morgan, Toledo Hospital, Ohio, say: 'We are surprised and delighted with the work.' "Now, doctor, we desire to engage your kindest co-operation. In your daily rounds of service you often meet those whose present lot is a hard one and who possess the qualification for becoming good nurses. They cannot get into a hospital on account of age, or a lack of influence, or education; still they are in the world and must fight their way single-handed. No nobler vocation is open and no more magnanimous service can be rendered them by the physician than by his urging them to study nursing. Our course costs sixty dollars. This includes hypodermic syringe, a thermometer, a book on massage and obstetrical nursing and a beautiful diploma upon graduating.

a

"As a remuneration for his services we present every physician with a draft of ten dollars for each student who, through his recommendation, completes the course; or, if preferred, we will make a reduction in the tuition of ten dollars for each one so recommended.

"As a guaranty that we will carry out to the letter every promise, we would refer to the Mercantile National Bank, or any Mercantile Agency of Pueblo, Colo.

"Supt. Nurses' College."

It will readily be seen that the course of training proposed is ridiculously insufficient. It would seem that the principal return for the fee of $60.00 is “a beautiful diploma upon graduating.” In what respect this kind of a training school for nurses differs from the old diploma mills, now suppressed, but formerly so numerous in the medical profession, is not apparent. We have also in the last few years had similar samples in certain diploma hospitals, notably that of Niles, Michigan, and the other hospitals originated and conducted by the same gang.

It is to be noted that, according to this prospectus, there is no drudgery of any kind. It may be further noted that there is also no nursing of any kind, and, notwithstanding, they propose to graduate trained nurses. One might as well attempt to turn out a competent cook without the candidate having ever baked a loaf of bread.

There are two inducements offered for obtaining students to attend such. schools. One is the fee to every physician recommending a student. Of course this is to be placed in the same category with the division of medical fees, which is sometimes done, but generally recognized as strictly unethical and improper. The other inducement is that it appeals to women (and men, we presume) whose qualifications are

not such as to admit them to regular training schools of good standing. In the prospectus these are specified as age, lack of influence, or education. Lack of influence is, of course, not worthy of consideration, because there is no reputable training school for nurses in which a "pull" is a requisite for admittance. When it comes to the question of age, it must likewise be recognized that the training is best given between certain ages. If the candidate is too young, his or her chaiacter is unformed, and the seriousness of life is not recognized, consequently attention to instruction is apt to be a minimum. If the candidate is too old, the possibilities of making a good nurse are greatly reduced.

It may be assumed, however, that the third consideration, namely, that of education, is the principal one. These short-course, fly-by-night colleges appeal especially to those whose education is essentially deficient. It is true that "no nobler vocation is open" to them, but it is equally as true that the noble

vocation may be very easily rendered an ignoble one by being crowded with the unworthy.

We concluded our former editorial in the following way, and think it as applicable to-day, as then :

"Of course, the promises held out cannot possibly be fulfilled. A thorough training in nursing, no matter how diligent the pupil and exceptional the facilities of the school, is absolutely impossible in such a short period of time.

"When we add that schools proposing such courses usually conduct their instruction by correspondence and give no actual training, the absurdity of their claims becomes evident. If there is any profession in the preparation for which the principal constituent is, and must necesarily be, laboratory work, it is that of nursing. For her the laboratory work, i. e., the actual bedside nursing, is utterly indispensable.

"Therefore such correspondence and mushroom schools should be suppressed."

HYPERTROPHY AND STENOSIS OF THE

PYLORUS IN INFANTS.

Wachenheim, in American Journal of the Medical Sciences, April, 1905, gives an excellent review of the literature on the above subject with a tabu

lated synopsis of 35 cases recorded, cases that have come to autopsy.

The author reports a fairly typical case which came under his own observation, the history of which we quote in full: