Medical College Hospital School of Nursing - Cap and Candle Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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syringe and opening towels which contained sterile forceps. She was working with such cool unconcern it was apparent she knew her work. Vtfhen he started on my foot again I crammed the pillow into my mouth and shut my eyes and when I opened them again the agony-wagon was at the next bed. Bright and early the next morning Miss Meals and the orderly appeared, bearing a curious black stretcher belonging to the X-Ray Department. They placed me on the stretcher and started toward the X-Ray room. The stretcher had to be borne down a stairway and into a narrow passage with white-washed walls which echoed to the rattle of metal ware and hum of dynamos. The orderly kicked open the door into the radiology unit and set the stretcher down outside the metal screen that walled off the X-Ray lamps. Miss VVeisman, the nurse in charge of the department, unpinned the chart from my blanket. As she directed, they lifted the stretcher and carried it somewhere into a black walled austerity to a metal table where she manipulated sliding bars, plates and switches. I am going to put you under the fluroscope and look at you directly, she said, cutting off the lights and taking my arm. I have good news for you, your foot is O. K. except for one small place where some barbed wire has been hiding. I'll Hash a film and Dr. Cross will remove it early tomorrow morning. Dr. Cross came in and decided to take me immediately to the operating room to remove the wire. In short time I was travelling through the narrow passage-way across the quadrangle to the operating room. Dr. Cross and Miss Ahlstrom were dressed in white caps, gowns and masks, wearing rubber gloves. I knew I was at their mercy and the success of the operation depended on their technique. Miss Musselman gave me the nitrous oxide and after a few struggles I was fast asleep. I did not waken until I was back in bed. Time passed very quickly and my health returned rapidly. I had no more trouble with my foot and on my departure promised to let them know how it progressed. It was indeed a wonderful memory to take to America with me, of the splendid work the American Red Cross was doing in other countries. 30

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this hospital? After inquiries, I learned that it was an American Red Cross Unit. Miss Seif, the superintendent, came to my bed and inquired as to my condition, asking if the ride from the base hospital had jarred my foot. She told me that since I was the only American soldier in the ward, Miss Meals would be assigned to give me as much attention as possible. Miss McConnell, whose duty it was to cheer up the patients was faithful to her trust. It was indeed a task, for there seemed to be several persons around whom one had to be cheerful. It was hard to humor them when they were sick, but their eyes lighted up at her frequent gifts of cigarettes, and French and American papers. Miss Seif came down the aisle one morning as impersonally as a commanding general at an inspection. She stopped short at my bed, surveying the littered counterpane with some surprise. You know you should not smoke in here, I thoroughly dis- approve of it unless you are on the groundsf' She shook the tobacco crumbs from my bed and cleared my drinking glass of cigarette stubs. Briskly she began to tidy my covers when the Doctor arrived. Dr. Cross, the ward surgeon, was a young man, possessed of dry humor and a passion for perfection of technique, which made dressings a spirited ceremony. There was a place in my foot that Cross always saved until last. XVhen he chose a probe for that he usually started a con- versation to cover his intentions. His assistant, Miss Findler, always knew what to expect, for when he said, small instrument please, she searched the white enamel agony-wagon for a probe, and he began his conversation. It was curious how a probe in the left foot rang a gong in the right side of the brain. Cross looked meaningly at Miss Findler, who was bending over moving basins from the lower deck to the top of the cart, setting rubber tubes on a glass 29

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THE END OF A NURSES DAY Seven o'clock, and the nurses's work was done for another day She heaved a sort of tired sigh and put the charts away. Then sat for a moment and bowed her head over the little white desk. I wonder, said she to herself, after all, am I really doing my best? Perhaps I could have begun the day with a brighter smile And answered the bells with 'right away' instead of 'after a while'. And I might have listened with sweeter grace to the story of Six's woes. She may be suffering more than anyone knows. And I might have refrained from the half-way frown, although I was busy then- XVhen the frail little girl with the blue eyes kept ringing again and again. And I might have spoken a kindlier word, to the heart of that rest- less boy And stopped a moment to help him find the missing part of his toy. Cr perhaps the patient in 18-A just needed a gentler touch, There are a lot of things I might have done and it wouln't have taken much. She sighed again and brushed a tear, then whispered, praying low, My God, how can You accept this day, when it has been lacking so? .Xnd Coil looked down . . . He heard the sigh, I-Ie saw the shining tear, Then sent His messenger to whisper in her ear . . You could have done better today, but, oh! the Gmnipotent One. Seeing your failts, does not forget the beautiful things you have done. He knows, little nurse, that you love your work in this house of pain and sorrow, So gladly forgives the lack of today, for you will do better tomorrouvf' The nurse looked up with a grateful smile, Tomorrow I'll make it right. Then added a note in the order book, Be good to them tonight. 31