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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D2546/ZZ/16
TitleLetter from Florence Nightingale to Dr Dunn lamenting the passing of a patient by the name of Mr Hitchcock and thanking Dr Dunn for caring for him and his continued care of other patients she has referred to him
Date4 Jan 1878
DescriptionShe also advises him on the care of other patients and describes holiday festivities at the hospital, and mentions a "carbonated soda treatment" that has been recently tried on a patient with burns
Samuel Hitchcock of Holloway was buried at Crich on 2 Jan 1878, aged 59.
Extent1 item
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
SenderFlorence Nightingale
Sender Location35 South Street, Park Lane
RecipientDr Dunn
Recipient LocationNot given
Archive CreatorChristopher Blencowe Noble Dunn of Crich (1836-1892), medical doctor
Florence Nightingale of Lea Hurst, Derbyshire and Embley, Hampshire (1820-1910), nurse and social reformer
Administrative History- Thomas Allison, aged 68, a widowed gardener's labourer, living with three unmarried daughters in Cromford Road, Holloway:  he died early in 1878
- William Yeomans of Holloway House; land agent to the Nightingale estate and Poor Law Guardian
- Eliza Limb, born about 1830, living at Up Hollow, Holloway
- Elizabeth Holmes, born about 1858, living at Commonside, Holloway with her parents William and Mary Holmes
- Fanny Dowding: Florence Nightingale's maid
- Rev. William Chawner: vicar of Crich, 1855-1875
- Charles Henry Lee, born in 1875, son of Andrew Lee and Elizabeth Lee, formerly Woolley, nee Henshaw (of Lea and Holloway)
- Mrs Swan (sometimes Swann) a local nurse mentioned in several letters, but not otherwise identified
- Mrs Cottrell: probably Grace Cotterill/Cottrell of Bonsall
Sources: Civil registration indexes, 1871 and 1881 census
Access CategoryOpen
FormatDocument
CopiesA digital copy can also be viewed on the public computers at the record office.
This letter has been digitised and can be viewed on The Florence Nightingale Digitization Project website at http://archives.bu.edu/web/florence-nightingale
Transcript or Index35 South St.
Park Lane W
Jan 4/78
My dear Sir
I heard that Samuel Hitchcock had not lived out the Old Year.  One cannot regret that he has another New Year than ours. I am sure that I owe you many thanks for your kind care of him. I should like to have known whether he was sensible quite to the last & whether he was ever able to be up. 
I was very sorry to hear that poor old Allison was fading.  I should be very much obliged to you kindly to do all that can be done for him.  He is a very old friend of ours & it was quite pathetic to see him with his grandchildren.  I will tell Mr Yeomans not to spare the money for his diet 
Also I hope that you will be so good as to attend to Widow Limb & to send her back to Buxton if you think well  Do you think she ought to have staid [sic] there longer? 
Elizth Holmes has written to me that she is very grateful for your kind care. 
Did the Carbonate of Soda treatment answer with the burn of Wheeldon's child? 
My maid Fanny is much the better for your last prescription thank you. 

I have enquired as you desired for Stained Glass Manufacturers about a Window in Crich Church in memory of Mr Chawner 
Morris
Queen Sq Bloomsbury
is the one recommended
If you would like to send
subject required
size of window
& about the sum to be expended Mrs Shore Smith would glady go to Messrs Morris & see what could be done, both as to beauty & economy. 

I ought to mention little Lee at St Thomas Hospital  We have sent to see him several times & sent him toys, of which however there is no lack  they say he looks 2 years bigger, better, stronger, solider than when they saw him, before he went 3 months ago.  He is perfectly happy & contented.  The whole ward was dressed up at Christmas: & a musical box, an elephant that would wind up & walk about, a Rocking horse which would hold four children, and various other wonders bestowed on the Ward delight the little Patients daily.  All had scarlet cloaks: little Lee is always good & never cries.  He is kept lying in his cot. 

May all New Year's blessings be showered on you & yours 
ever yours faithfully 
Florence Nightingale

Please give my kind regards to Mrs Swan, if you see her & ask her to remember her promise to see Mrs Cottrell & let me know how she is. 
I hope Mrs Swan is well herself.
F.N.

C.B.N. Dunn Esq.
AcknowledgementsTranscription completed by catalogue volunteer RJ, 2020
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