Scutari and its hospitals.

  • Osborne, Sidney Godolphin, Lord, 1808-1889.
Date:
1855
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Scutari and its hospitals. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material is part of the Elmer Belt Florence Nightingale collection. The original may be consulted at University of California Libraries.

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    patient. I had occasion in two different cases to see day after day, tlie most gratifying instance of this true brother officer attachment. I lielped to nmse one of them for many days; he was attended to the hour of his death by an officer, who had known little more of him than I had myself; one who has distinguished himself in a way second to none in this campaign; in no woman watching over her own child, did I ever see greater tenderness, patience, and self-denial, than I witnessed in the care taken of Captain Williams of the Scots Greys by Major Nasmyth ; that poor fellow had also the friendly sympathy and aid of many other officers at Pera: their whole tone and manner, made me admire them as much in the sick room of a comrade, as I could also give to them my share of the universal admiration of their conduct in the presence of the enemy. I may be wrong, but it is my honest opinion, that except where they have expressed a Avish for their presence, the wounded officer in the Hospital, is in reality happier in the absence of female I'elatives; if they arrive in time to be of use, there is much in the way of their power to give all the aid and comfort they would desire; their presence 1 know well, often causes the greatest anxiety to those they rome to nurse. If an officer is dying in the ward of a Hospital, his relatives may rest assured, all he expects of comfort, all he can desire of sympathy, is shown him by those about him. Where the wound has been severe, he has contemplated it's probable end; so too have those who share the ward with him ; they give him the soldier's true earthly comfort, the friendly sympathy, of men who shared the danger with him, and now bear in their own persons proofs of what it cost them. Is he to die ? it is amongst his brother officers, still in one of war's scenes; he left home to dare this fate ; faces from home alas ! too often recall the sacrifice he made for the service he then undertook ; they cannot alter the fact—.he is an officer dying with the Army on service ; their presence brings the painful revival of so many a home feeling, adds so much to make that death still more trying, that I do sincerely doubt, whether any joy from the greeting of the parent or the wife, makes up in the pleasure it may afford, for that calm which it certainly disturbs. In spiritual matters the Chaplains are kind and attentive to him ; in all other matters his brother officers, in tlieir manly sympathy offer all he requires. The dying officer does not forget home, or under-value it's call upon his heart; he is the son, the husband, or the brother; but as the soldier in service he knows that living or dying, service must separate him from his relatives.