Page:McCosh, John - Advice to Officers in India (1856).djvu/256

 '''2. THE SICK ROOM'''.—If the most painful and dreary hours of our lives are spent in the sick room in England, even though surrounded with affectionate relations and every comfort that can mitigate disease,how forlorn must be the position of the bachelor in India in his solitary room, prostrated by sickness, unable to rise from his bed, unable to lift a glass of water to his lips, and hardly able to express his wants to his unsympathizing attendant,who feels aggrieved at the extra demand made upon him by his afflicted master. How often have I heard a patient utter, would that my sister were here! Would that my mother were here! Would that my wife were here in their days of trouble.

It is very much to be desired that a band of sick nurses should be available for officers and their families in times of sickness. These are not wanted in our hospitals, where every arrangement is as complete as circumstances admit of.

It is gratifying to see that the wants of the sick room of officers in India, are attracting so much public attention, and I cannot advocate the cause better than by giving the following extract from the Bengal Hurkaru, being part of a review of a public meeting held in Calcutta,in honour of Miss Nightingale.

I have witnessed that lady still young, accomplished and beautiful, throwing aside the luxuries