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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D2546/ZZ/50
TitleLetter from Florence Nightingale to Dr Dunn thanking him for his help with the "Buxton Hospital" and noting that she was helping to pay for the care of Mrs Limb and Lizzie Holmes in the past year
Date8 Nov 1879
Extent1 item
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
SenderFlorence Nightingale
Sender LocationLea Hurst
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- Eliza Limb, born about 1830, living in Holloway
- Elizabeth Holmes, born about 1858, living at Commonside, Holloway
- Elizbaeth Bunting: not identified
- Ann Gladwin, born about 1824/1830, living in Holloway
The "person who gives his name to the hospital" refers to the Duke of Devonshire
- Joseph Smith and wife: not identified
- Fanny Dowding: Florence Nightingale's maid
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 IndexLea Hurst
Nov 8/79
My dear Sir
Very many thanks for your kind trouble in the matter of Buxton Hospital.
I am not a "subscriber" & have positively declined to do so, until the Nursing arrangements (which have been unparalleled in England for badness) are put into permanent good order. 
The way I managed for Mrs Limb & Lizzie Holmes was by paying 10/6d a week for each which was [crossed through] ^became^ last year 12/- a week: & I am not quite sure that it has not been farther raised to 14/- but believe it is 12/-.  These are the ordinary terms for non-subscribers. 
I beg to enclose a Cheque for £4 4s: which will be 3 week each for Elizth Bunting & Mrs Gladwin
at 14/- if that is the amount.  If not the 6/- each I daresay will be acceptable for the journey.
I do not know whether Mrs Gladwin is bed-ridden. 
I conclude that you are satisfied that the Nursing for helpless Patients is now what it ought to be. 
For, if you remember, persons who were able to shift for themselves were very well satisfied with their treatment, even while the bed-riddden ones were suffering the abominations we know of.  (And the person who gives his name to the Hospital told me distinctly this when I appealed to him in London.)  
Do you not think that if Elizth Bunting has relatives in Buxton, she had better reside with them, & be an Out-Patient? 
I should be glad to hear what you have kindly done for poor old Mrs Joseph Smith (of Lea) & whether it was a case of Paralysis & difficulty about the Urine. 
My Fanny is much better.  She fancies there was much stronger Acid in your last medicine.  I shall be very glad if you will kindly direct what she is to do in London.  She is hoping for the Effervescing Steel. 
Pray believe me
ever yours sincerely
Florence Nightingale
C.B.N. Dunn Esq.
AcknowledgementsTranscription completed by catalogue volunteer RJ, 2020
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