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NIGRA— NILSSON.

was the formation of a select band of ladj - snperintendents and of nurses to direct and minister in the hospital ward. At the request of the late Lord Herbert^ then Secre- tary - at - War« Miss Nightingale undertook the organization and conduct of this body. No eulogy can do justice to the talent, energy, and devotion she constantly dis- played in her self-imposed task. Suffice it to say that, by instituting order where confusion had before reigned, and by affording care and consolation, she alleyiated the suf- ferings of all, saved the lives of many, and earned the blessings of the si<^ and wounded, as well as the gratitude of her country. A testimonial fund amounting to fifty thousand pounds, subscribed by the public in recognition of her noble services, was at her special request devoted to the formation and main- tenance of an institution for the training and employment of nurses. Though debarred by impaired health from active participation in charit- able enterprises. Miss Nightingale assists the cause by her writings, intended to disseminate practical knowledge on the subjects in which she is so well versed. "Notes c«i Hospitals," a valuable work which had a very large circulation, ap- peared in 1869; "Notes on Nurs- ing," of which nearly a hundred thousand copies have been sold, in I860; and "Observations on the Sanitary State of the Army in India," in 1863. It is understood that, at the request of the War Office, she drew up a very volumin- ous confidential report on the work- ing of the army medical department in the Crimea, and this benevolent lady has a further claim on the gratitude of her countrymen for the active interest she has displayed in the Volunteer movement. Her latest publications are : " Notes on Lying-in Institutions, togetherwith a Proposal for Organizing an Insti- tution for Training Midwives and Midwifery Nurses,'*^ 1871 ; " Life or

Death in India : a paper read at the Meetingof the National Association for the Promotion of Social Science, Norwich, 1878. With an Appendix on Life or Death by Irrigation," 1874.

NIGRA (Count) Constantino, an Italian diplomatist, born at Cas- tellemonte June 12, 1827, studied law at the university of Turin, and took part, as a volunteer, in the war against Austria in 1848. Being severely wounded at the battle of Rivoli, he abandoned the military career, entered the diplomatic ser- vice, and acted as secretary to Count Cavour at the Congress of Paris in 1856. He took part in the negotia- tions between Piedmont and France which preceded the war of 1859, at which he was present with the gene- ral staff of Napoleon m. He was secretary to the Italian plenipoten- tiaries at the Zurich Congress, after which he was nominated, on Cavour's recommendation. Minister Plenipo- tentiary, first of Sardinia, and after- wards of the kingdom of Italy, at Paris. On the war of 1870 breaidng out, he was among those who made real efforts to prevent it, and then showed himself to the end, at least personally, devoted to the Emperor and Empress. He .was one of the few persons who, on Sept. 4, were by tiie side of the menaced and fugitive sovereigns. After having represented Italy at Paris for fifteen years as Minister Plenipotentiaiy, he was in May, 1876, appointed to fin the same post at St. Petersburg. He was nominated Italian Ambas- sador in London in Nov., 1882, on which occasion King Humbert con- ferred upon him the title of Count, in attestation of His Majesty's re- cognition of the eminent services he had rendered to his country. Count Nigra has published several works on the dialects and popular poetry of Italy.

NILSSON, Christina, daughter of a labouring man, born at Wed- ersldf, near Wexid, in Sweden, Aug. 3, 1843, at an early age evinced