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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D2546/ZZ/37
TitleLetter from Florence Nightingale to Dr Dunn questioning him about the patients she is most anxious to hear of
Date24 May 1879
Extent1 item
LevelItem
RepositoryDerbyshire Record Office
SenderFlorence Nightingale
Sender Location10 South Street, Park Lane [London]
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- Ann Yeomans, born about 1843, wife of William Yeomans, (land agent to the Nightingale family and Poor Law Guardian), living at Holloway House
- Harriet Broomhead, born about 1823, living in Holloway
- Mary Gregory, born about 1805, living at Commonside, Holloway (1871 only)
- Ann Peach, born about 1825, living at Holloway Common with daughter Louisa, born about 1866 (1881 only)
- Eliza Limb, born about 1830, living at Up Hollow, Holloway
- Martha Sheldon, born about 1822, living in Holloway (1881 only)
- Lydia Prince, born about 1810, and son Adam Prince, born about 1846, living at Commonside, Holloway
- Mary, wife of John Bratby, former servant to the Nightingale family, living in retirement in Holloway
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 IndexMay 24/79
My dear Sir
You are so occupied & I am so occupied that I scarcely like to say how little intercourse we have now about our Patients! 
But I venture to trouble you now with some questions about some of them: for whom I am anxious  I have also this reason that Mrs Yeomans has most kindly done the cooking for poor good Widow Broomhead & for poor old Widow Gregory ever since I left Lea Hurst  And she cannot be expected to go on cooking for them always.  She has never complained of the trouble  But Mr Yeomans & I have both suggested that she should stop. And had I not been cast down & overwhelmed with work, I should have written to you before to take your wishes with regard to these poor people. 
My Aunt, Miss Julia Smith, is now, as you know, at Lea Hurst.  And she is very kind to some of them.  And spring is come at last. 
She and Mr Yeomans thought that it was time now "to stop"  altogether with poor old Gregory: except what she will have for Lea Hurst, where we shall too probably, if it please God, succeed my Aunt. 
Do you approve of this?  And would you wish her (Gregory) still to have her allowance of Brandy from Mr Yeomans (which has been continued ever since a year or [crossed out] last autumn)?  People are strongly of opinion that this should be discontinued. What do you say? 
Widow Broomhead  I am afraid she is a great sufferer & so good a patient.  Is she near her end?  I feel I cannot longer ask Mrs Yeomans to cook for her But I should be truly obliged to you to tell me what she truly requires: occasionally or regularly, if necessary.  And this she shall have.  She has also an allowance of Brandy: and shall continue to have it, if you order it.  (Indeed, as you know, I never give Brandy without your orders)  I am sure you continue your kind care of this poor woman.  She is on Cocoatina.  So is old Gregory. 
Widow Limb 
how is she?  I am afraid you think very badly of her prospects.  She is a good and most patient sufferer. 
Would you also kindly tell me what she requires?  And she shall have it.  She is on 2lbs Meat weekly Cocoatina, Milk & Her sons are very good to her. 
Widow Peach's daughter 
how is she?  She has 2lbs meat weekly, milk & Would you kindly tell me what you wish for her? 
Martha Sheldon I understand is very ill: If she requires something occasionally would you kindly tell me what would be best
[unclear if there is a page 2 that is missing]
3.
Lydia Prince is one of the most difficult cases one has to deal with (I do not mean in your kind Medical arttendance which I hope will never fail her  I would you order her Brandy of Mr Yeomans, if she needs it)  Her sons were so good as to inform me, thro' Mr Yeomans. when I was at Lea Hurst, that they "did not do anything for her, because I did." And it is true: I put money into Adam Prince's mouth to drink by helping his mother 
Yet the old lady will not apply for parish relief which is the only way, I suppose, of summonsing the sons?  I am trying to make some arrangement for her with Mr Yeomans.  She is a case constantly on my mind.  She is a splendid old lady and I cannot bear that she should want.  While to spend money on making that vagabond Adam more of  a vagabond is a sin.
Please continue, if you will be so good, to attend old Liddy 
Thank you for your kindness to that poor old creature Gregory. 
Mrs Bratby is come back from Ramsgate.  Would you kindly look in upon her sometime?
AcknowledgementsTranscription completed by catalogue volunteer RJ, 2020
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