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sufficient nurse。 Her sarcasm searched the ranks of the officials
with the deadly and unsparing precision of a machine…gun。 Her
nicknames were terrible。 She respected no one： Lord Stratford；
Lord Raglan； Lady Stratford； Dr。 Andrew Smith； Dr。 Hall； the
Commissary…General； the Purveyorshe fulminated against them
all。 The intolerable futility of mankind obsessed her like a
nightmare； and she gnashed her teeth against it。 'I do well to be
angry；' was the burden of her cry。 'How many just men were there
at Scutari？ How many who cared at all for the sick； or had done
anything for their relief？ Were there ten？ Were there five？ Was
there even one？' She could not be sure。
At one time； during several weeks； her vituperations descended
upon the head of Sidney Herbert himself。 He had misinterpreted
her wishes； he had traversed her positive instructions； and it
was not until he had admitted his error and apologised in abject
terms that he was allowed again into favour。 While this
misunderstanding was at its height； an aristocratic young
gentleman arrived at Scutari with a recommendation from the
Minister。 He had come out from England filled with a romantic
desire to render homage to the angelic heroine of his dreams。 He
had； he said； cast aside his life of ease and luxury； he would
devote his days and nights to the service of that gentle lady； he
would perform the most menial offices； he would 'fag' for her； he
would be her footman and feel requited by a single smile。 A
single smile； indeed； he had； but it was of an unexpected kind。
Miss Nightingale at first refused to see him； and then； when she
consented； believing that he was an emissary sent by Sidney
Herbert to put her in the wrong over their dispute； she took
notes of her conversation with him； and insisted on his signing
them at the end of it。 The young gentleman returned to England by
the next ship。
This quarrel with Sidney Herbert was； however； an exceptional
incident。 Alike by him； and by Lord Panmure； his successor at the
War Office； she was firmly supported； and the fact that during
the whole of her stay at Scutari she had the Home Government at
her back； was her trump card in her dealings with the hospital
authorities。 Nor was it only the Government that was behind her：
public opinion in England early recognised the high importance of
her mission； and its enthusiastic appreciation of her work soon
reached an extraordinary height。 The Queen herself was deeply
moved。 She made repeated inquiries as to the welfare of Miss
Nightingale； she asked to see her accounts of the wounded； and
made her the intermediary between the throne and the troops。 'Let
Mrs。 Herbert know；' she wrote to the War Minister； 'that I wish
Miss Nightingale and the ladies would tell these poor noble；
wounded； and sick men that NO ONE takes a warmer interest or
feels MORE for their sufferings or admires their courage and
heroism MORE than their Queen。 Day and night she thinks of her
beloved troops。 So does the Prince。 Beg Mrs。 Herbert to
communicate these my words to those ladies； as I know that our
sympathy is much valued by these noble fellows。' The letter was
read aloud in the wards by the Chaplain。 'It is a very feeling
letter；' said the men。
And so the months passed； and that fell winter which had begun
with Inkerman and had dragged itself out through the long agony
of the investment of Sebastopol； at last was over。 In May； 1855；
after six months of labour； Miss Nightingale could look with
something like satisfaction at the condition of the Scutari
hospitals。 Had they done nothing more than survive the terrible
strain which had been put upon them； it would have been a matter
for congratulation； but they had done much more than that they
had marvellously improved。 The confusion and the pressure in the
wards had come to an end； order reigned in them； and cleanliness；
the supplies were bountiful and prompt； important sanitary works
had been carried out。 One simple comparison of figures was enough
to reveal the extraordinary change： the rate of mortality among
the cases treated had fallen from forty…two percent to twenty…two
per 1；000。 But still； the indefatigable lady was not satisfied。
The main problem had been solved the physical needs of the men
had been provided for； their mental and spiritual needs remained。
She set up and furnished reading…rooms and recreation rooms。 She
started classes and lectures。 Officers were amazed to see her
treating their men as if they were human beings； and assured her
that she would only end by 'spoiling the brutes'。 But that was
not Miss Nightingale's opinion； and she was justified。 The
private soldier began to drink less and even though that seemed
impossible to save his pay。 Miss Nightingale became a banker
for the Army； receiving and sending home large sums of money
every month。 At last； reluctantly； the Government followed suit；
and established machinery of its own for the remission of
money。Lord Panmure； however； remained sceptical； 'it will do no
good；' he pronounced； 'the British soldier is not a remitting
animal。' But； in fact during the next six months ￡71；000 was sent
home。
Amid all these activities； Miss Nightingale took up the further
task of inspecting the hospitals in the Crimea itself。 The labour
was extreme； and the conditions of life were almost intolerable。
She spent whole days in the saddle； or was driven over those
bleak and rocky heights in a baggage cart。 Sometimes she stood
for hours in the heavily failing snow； and would only reach her
hut at dead of night after walking for miles through perilous
ravines。 Her powers of resistance seemed incredible； but at last
they were exhausted。 She was attacked by fever； and for a moment
came very near to death。 Yet she worked on； if she could not
move； she could at least write； and write she did until her mind
had left her； and after it had left her； in what seemed the
delirious trance of death itself； she still wrote。 When； after
many weeks； she was strong enough to travel； she was implored to
return to England； but she utterly refused。 She would not go
back； she said； before the last of the soldiers had left Scutari。
This happy moment had almost arrived； when suddenly the
smouldering hostilities of the medical authorities burst out into
a flame。 Dr。 Hall's labours had been rewarded by a K。C。B
letters which； as Miss Nightingale told Sidney Herbert； she could
only suppose to mean 'Knight of the Crimean Burial…Grounds' and
the honour had turned his head。 He was Sir John； and he would be
thwarted no longer。 Disputes had lately arisen between Miss
Nightingale and some of the nurses in the Crimean hospitals。 The
situation had been embittered by rumours of religious
dissensions； while the Crimean nurses were Roman Catholics； many
of those at Scutari were suspected of a regrettable propensity
towards the tenets of Dr。 Pusey。 Miss Nightingale was by no means
disturbed by these sectarian differences； but any suggestion that
her supreme authority over all the nurses with the Army was； no
doubt； enough to rouse her to fury； and it appeared that Mrs。
Bridgeman； the Reverend Mother in the Crimea； had ventured to
call that authority in question。 Sir John Hall thought that his
opportunity had come； and strongly supported Mrs。 Bridgeman or；
as Miss Nightingale preferred to call her； the 'Reverend
Brickbat'。
There was a violent struggle； Miss Nightingale's rage was
terrible。 Dr。 Hall； she declared； was doing his best to 'root her
out of the Crimea'。 She would bear it no longer； the War Office
was playing her false； there was only one thing to be done
Sidney Herbert must move for the production of papers in the
House of Commons； so that the public might be able to judge
between her and her enemies。 Sidney Herbert； with great
difficulty； calmed her down。 Orders were immediately dispatched
putting her supremacy beyond doubt； and the Reverend Brickbat
withdrew from the scene。 Sir John； however； was more tenacious。 A
few weeks later； Miss Nightingale and her nurses visited the
Crimea for the last time； and the brilliant idea occurred to him
that he could crush her by a very simple expedient he would
starve her into submission； and he actually ordered that no
rations of any kind should be supplied to her。 He had already
tried this plan with great effect upon an unfortunate medical man
whose presence in the Crimea he had considered an intrusion； but
he was now to learn that such tricks were thrown away upon Miss
Nightingale。 With extraordinary foresight； she had brought with
her a great supply of food； she succeeded in obtaining more at
her own expense and by her own exertions； and thus for ten days；
in that inhospitable country； she was able to feed herself and
twenty…four nurses。 Eventually； the military authorities
intervened in her favour； and Sir John had to confess that he was
beaten。