June 8, 1917. 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE and Reminder oe 13 
Instructive District Nursing Association 
BACH of the ten branch stations of 
the Instructive District Nursing 
Association in Greater Boston faces, 
among those common to all commun- 
ity nursing, some one problem pectu- 
liar to its own district. Among these 
problems none is more insistent, more 
exacting, more appealing to the hearts 
and skill of the nurses than the 
chronic cases, which are a marked 
characteristic of the South End. 
Scattered through the lodging 
houses of this locality, the Associa- 
tion now has in its care about a dozen 
such invalids, many of them very old 
women.  Bedridden, almost all crip- 
pled with rheumatism, yet clinging to 
life, clinging to their own independ- 
ence in their own little room, refusing 
to be taken to the Chronic hospital on 
Long Island—(the Robert Brigham 
hospital is so full that it is always 
difficult to get a new patient in, and 
these two are the only shelters open 
to such invalids)—these patients are 
visited, many daily, all constantly by 
the district nurse. She bathes them, 
changes their beds, shampoos and 
brushes their hair, and does whatever 
else is necessary or possible to pro- 
mote their physical comfort. More 
than this, she contributes much to 
their general well-being by her sym- 
pathy and tact, Many little acts of 
kindness help to lighten the long days. 
A patient who insisted a nurse 
should accept, against her wishes, an 
orange which had been given her, was 
delighted, at the nurse’s next visit, by 
a little jar of marmalade made from 
the orange. Another nurse who was 
taking a course in dietetics, would 
save the choicest morsels and dainties 
from her own lunch for one of her 
chronic patients, who came to look 
forward to them as the feature of her 
day. 
One very typical case is that of two 
sisters. When Mary was 80 and Kate 
60, Mary broke a hip and was bed- 
ridden for the remaining ten years of 
her life. For all these years she lived 
in one little room, visited daily by the 
district nurse, and cared for by her 
sister. She refused to be taken to 
Long Island; her sister was equally 
emphatic; so, their rent being paid by 
a nephew—(to do this he made a real 
sacrifice, as he was poor, with a large 
family)~they managed to exist. The 
sisters in a Convent nearby heard of 
them and sent each day a basket con- 
taining food for their dinner, from 
which they saved enough for supper, 
One year they were delighted by a 
Christmas present of two sheets for 
Mary’s bed and two percale aprons 
for Kate, bought by the supervising 
nurse with money from the Comfort 
Fund of the Instructive District Nurs- 
ing association, Last summer, money, 
given this same nures furnished ice 
cream not only for Mary, who had 
had none for years and who would 
open her mouth like a pathetic little 
bird to be fed it by Kate, but for 
others of the “‘chronics” who have no 
pennies for such luxuries and whose 
condition yet makes the coolness 
especially acceptable, often of real, 
physical benefit. Christmas a basket 
sent Mary by the Red Stocking club 
could not be enjoyed selfishly, but had 
to be hung in the window for others 
to share. 
Finally after ten years of unflag- 
ging selfless devotion, when she was 
70 and the bedridden sister 90, Kate 
began to break up. Shaking palsy 
made her loving service doubly diff- 
cult. Her legs swelled. She refused 
to see a doctor. One. day the nurse 
came to find her dead. Mary sur- 
Some Interesting Things About 
This Worthy Boston Charity 
separation from her sister or because 
of the change of conditions, nobody 
could tell. 
Mary was favored in having a sis- 
ter’s company, Many of these un- 
fortunates are alone day after day, 
year after year, the breadwinner away 
at work, the visits of the district 
nurse and the kindly neighbor being 
the sole break in the loneliness. And 
yet instead of depression, almost con- 
stant cheerfulness accompanies the 
gratitude shown the nurses by these 
sufferers, who unfailingly manifest 
the keenest appreciation of any com- 
fort or little luxury which the kind- 
ness of those better placed makes pos- 
sible for them. 
“Money contributed to help lighten 
dreary days for these quiet, unknown 
invalids is well spent, and such money 
is needed. Summer is long and ex- 
hausting to those confined in close 
city streets. 
The loan of motor cars is also very 
highly appreciated as nothing so de- 
lights the “chronics” who can_ be 
moved as a drive in the open air, 
which brings fresh sounds and new 
mental pictures and added courage to 
face the days to come. 
Fourtu oF JULY PLANS. 
The Fourth will be celebrated in 
Manchester this year in a quieter 
manner than in past years and there 
will be a more decided appeal to pat- 
riotism than usual. However, it will 
be a bigger demonstration than ever. 
In the words of a member of the com- 
mittee : 
“At 6.30 Fourth of July morning 
one of the best parades the town has 
ever seen will start from the Price 
school and march to Summer street, 
thence through Washington, Union, 
Central, Pine Pleasant and School sts. 
to the Common where there will be 
singing of patriotic songs, and a flag 
raising by the Boy Scouts. 
“The Fourth of July committee is 
hard at work to make this a great suc- 
cess and is being assisted nobly by 
different organizations as well as in- 
dividuals, judging by the response re- 
ceived from some. Edwin P. Stan- 
ley has been appointed as chief mar- 
shal. > Because of lack of enthusiasm 
for the usual sports the committee is 
going to treat the public to two rous- 
ing good ball games, one in the morn- 
ing and one in the afternoon. Man- 
ager Walen is going to give us the 
best he can find and it will be well 
worth the two admissions to see these 
ganes. <A bigger and better enter- 
tainment is being arranged for the 
children to be held in the Town hall 
at 1 o'clock. 
“In the square at 7.45 o’clock at 
night the Salem Light Infantry band 
will hold forth and promise the best 
concert they are capable of. It is the 
desire of the committee that the 
homes along the route of the parade 
have some display of the stars and 
stripes. This parade is to be entirely 
of a patriotic nature and is our chance 
to demonstrate the patriotism we 
have for our country and our flag. 
“Anyone having an automobile, 
which he is willing to lend for the 
parade, is urged to get in touch with 
Edward W. Baker, secretary of the 
committee, Such a loan will be ap- 
preciated. If any suggestions are de- 
sired by anyone regarding the decora- 
tion of a float the committee will be 
clad to assist in any manner pos- 
sible.” 
A new consignment of those fancy 
$1.25 waists for 95 cents. The Gert- 
trude Shop. adv. 
The Breeze $2 a year, $1 for 6 
months, postpaid, 
