The Story of Florence Nightingale (2)

• What was Florence Nightingale's biggest problem?
• Why wouldn't doctors listen to Ms. Nightingale?

Florence knew she had much to learn about nursing, so she visited hospitals in France, Germany and Ireland and learned everything she could. Upon returning home, she was an expert on hospital management.

In 1835 Florence agreed to take over a small London hospital. Her biggest problem was finding good, trained nurses, so she decided to train them herself. Soon people began to study her methods of nursing, sanitation and hospital organization.

About a year later, Britain became involved in a war against Russia. London newspapers were full of stories about the terrible conditions wounded and sick soldiers were suffering.

Sidney Herbert, the Secretary of War, asked Florence to help care for the wounded and sick. Needless to say, Florence agreed to go.

When Florence and the nurses arrived at the British hospital in Scutari (in modern day Istanbul), they were horrified. The hospital left men lying on the floor, and rats were running everywhere.

There was no running water and no heat. Many soldiers died before receiving help. In spite of the shortage of staff, the doctors wouldn't listen to her. They didn't like the idea of women in army hospitals -- until one day five hundred unexpected casualties arrived.

Language Lab
sanitation n. [sanit-健康]
the process of keeping places free from dirt, infection, disease, etc., by removing waste, trash and garbage, by cleaning streets, etc.
-This area's poor sanitation is the reason for the fast spread of the disease here.
- The restaurant was fined by the sanitation department because their food was not stored at the proper temperature.

suffer v.
to experience pain, illness, or injury
- The cancer patient is suffering tremendous pain.
suffer from
- The girl has been suffering from asthma since she was very little.
to become worse because of being badly affected by something
- Mike's marriage suffers because he's always working.

needless to say
used to say that the statement you are making is obvious
- Needless to say, Howard's job performance is the best in our team.
- Needless to say, all major companies are showing an interest in this mega-size project.

casualty n.
/ˈkæʒəwəlti/
a person who is hurt or killed during an accident, war, etc.
- The army suffered/took/sustained heavy casualties [=many soldiers were killed or wounded] in the town.

shortage n.
a state in which there is not enough of something that is needed
- There's a severe shortage of food and drinking water in this refugee camp.
- The summer camp was cancelled due to a shortage of funds.


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