Despite the source presenting Nightingale as a kind hearted and caring person, the source fails to show any signs of Nightingale improving the medical conditions. The source was written in 1855, within the years of 1854-1855 Nightingale had a higher death rate than most other nurses, one historian even described Nightingale’s hospital as a ‘death camp’. Upon arriving at Scutari in November 1854, she did not do much in the way of reform and much of her time was spent arguing with her superiors about her own status and position. Accounts by her nurses suggested that she was very difficult to work with and was generally a moody person.
This source is not very reliable as it fails to highlight the troubles Scutari hospital was having, as well as falsely informing the public of Florence Nightingales ability to tend the sick.
Source two; an extract from Trevor Royle, states that ‘much of the medical mismanagement was to change with the arrival of Florence Nightingale and her nurses...’ This source is in favour of the statement, and from my own knowledge I am aware that Nightingale carried out some reforms and challenged the poor management. She spread out the beds and improved the cleanliness throughout her hospital. Better food as well as a list that includes fresh air and more linen are all listed by some historians as improvements introduced by Nightingale at Scutari. Although there could have been a better amount achieved by Florence, as she was limited in the amount of nurses she was in charge of. Although Nightingale managed 39, Mary Stanley; her rival, managed a larger team. However, the source then claims that ‘had she not arrived when she did the disaster would have been much worse’. The source is failing to mention the significance of other individuals, such as Mary Seacole.
Seacole was so determined to help in the Crimean War that she ended up teaming with a distant relative, and together they set up their own company; Seacole and Day. The company’s aim was to buy medicines and home comforts and set up a store and ‘hotel’ near to the front line at Balaclava. This became a huge success and it wasn’t the only thing Seacole did, she was at the front line of all the major battles tending to the wounded and dying. Mary Seacole had such an impact on the soldiers that they used to consult with her rather than her doctor.
Source two is reliable in the sense that it reports the good which Florence Nightingale did, and the reforms she brought into action, but it fails to see that there were others out in the Crimea, trying to improve medical care available to the solders.
Source three; from Alastair Massie, Crimean war, acknowledges points from both sources one and two. Source two has stresses the good Florence Nightingale did in terms of the reforms, and source three doesn’t disagree. Alastair Massie freely claims that ‘...Florence Nightingale did much to alleviate the hardship of the sick...’, but also realises that ‘it was the work of the sanitary commission’ which improved the medical care for soldiers. From own knowledge I am aware that the Sanitary Commission was led by Doctor Sutherland, and set about cleaning up the hospital at Scutari in March 1855. They drained the cesspool on which the hospital was built, installed new floors, cleared rubbish from the corridors, disinfected the walls and generally improved sanitation. However, the Sanitary Commission would never have arrived at Scutari if Nightingale hadn’t have called them up.
Source three also makes reference to the high death rate there was in 1854/55 which was mentioned in source one. Due to the Sanitary Commission, the death rate fell from 42% down to 5.2%. Florence Nightingale is displayed as having caring traits in source three, the same traits which made her a great figure for the press to latch on to. Overall this source is the most reliable out of the three, as it takes into accord the good Florence achieved as well as the achievements of others.
In conclusion I do not agree with the view that it was largely as a result of the work of Florence Nightingale that medical care for British soldiers improved during the Crimean War. There are certain aspects of Nightingales work which led to medical improvements, but Nightingale was only responsible for allowing the improvement to begin. It Florence who called out the Sanitary Commission and gained publicity from The Times and funds for the hospital, but there were other nurses and people who were making a difference and improving medical care as well.
by
ella1234 (student)
