Graduating Trained Nurses

Wednesday evening the first class of the Training school for nurses graduated and received their diplomas in the University chapel. The platform was occupied by Pres. and Mrs. Angelí, Dr. and Mrs. A. B, Prescott, Regent and Mrs. Barbour,Regents Whitman and Cocker, Prof. Knowlton, Dr. Vaughan, dean of the medical faculty, and Prof. D'Ooge. The university Orchestra furnished the music. Prof. D'Ooge delivered an earnest invocación. Dr. Angelí made a few reraarks in which he said there were few more important days in the history of the University than this the graduation of the first class of trained nurses. They were all much indebted to skillful nursing. Physicians know how much skillful nursing helped tö make difficult oparations successful. It wasasubjectof congratulation that women took this vocation, and that so many women turned their attention to this profession not for mercenary motives but to alieviate pain and suffering. On the recommendation of the medical faculty their work had been approved and as the board of regents thought it proper that they should receive their diplomas f rom the hands of a woman, the pleasant tisk was conferred on Mrs. Angelí. Thereupon Emma Botsford, of Amhertsburg, Ont.; Roberta Brown, of Ann Arbor; Anna Corrick, of Sarnia; Ont.; Anna Harrison, of Richmond, Ind.; Ida Sauermann, of Paris, Ont.; and Lena Tucker, of Lafayette, Ind., walked upon the platform and received their diplomas. The young women were all dressed in the pretty regulation nurses' cos tume of white aprons and caps. Another young woman who also received a diploma, Josephine M. Allen, was unáble to be present. Regent Barbour was then introduced and made a most felicitious address. He said the University was very proud when its first medical class graduated and it feit just as proud at the graduation of trained nurses. They were tliè pioneers in their proiession. While nursing was very old the profession was very new. It was the result of the progress of man's humanity. A rather profane physician said a nurse was the right bower of a doctor. They had not kings and queens to nurse, but when they got a knave he was entitled to their best care and skill. They would novv just begin to feel the importance of their profession. They had the power to show the importance of trained women and what they could do for humanity. He fancied that the time would come when there would be no sickness in which they would not be called. There was no one profession which opened so broad a field. Dr. V. C. Vaughan, dean of the allopathic medical faculty, was called upon, who showed the work that the young women had done in the past two years. They had practically done all the work of" nursing over 3,ooo patients. They had heard lectures and had been quizzed upon them, and he hoped they would go into the world to do credit to the University. Dr. Vaughan gave a short history of the first introduction of hospitals, which were a modern institution. The people of the State of Michigan feit that the University vvas a burden to them, and they did not realize what returns they received from the work done in the hospital. Only about 57 per cent of the people applying could be treated, for want of room. He made an earnest plea for more wards and a proper residence for the trained nurses.