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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D2546/ZZ/42
TitleLetter from Florence Nightingale to Dr Dunn expressing her happiness that Harriet Limb, a typhoid patient, is recovering well, providing updates on several other patients and requesting his continual advice in caring for them
Date7 Sep 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- Limb: probably a reference to Eliza Limb of Holloway, born about 1830; one of whose daughters was Harriet Limb, born about 1862
- Jemima/Jamimah Brown, born about 1810, living at Commonsdie, Holloway
- Mrs Swann: mentioned as a nurse, but not otherwise identified
- Robert Wildgoose, manager of Smedley's Mill
- Edward Gaylor of Belper, medical officer
- George Sclater-Booth, president of the Local Government Board 1874-1880
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
Sept 7/79
My dear Sir
Thank you for your kind note very much.
As to the Limbs:
I am most thankful that they are going on well under your kind care.  But do you not think it very bad for the two sisters - one convalescent & one very ill of Typhoid to lie in the same bed: & both in the same room with the mother? 
We had provided a bed in Widow Brown's, where Mrs Swann could have undisturbed sleep
C.B.N. Dunn Esq.
in the afternoon: while Mrs Brown could wait on her Patients. 
But we find that the three Patients are all in the same room: the two fever cases in the same bed: While Mrs Swann occupies the smaller room which used to be occupied by husband & wife. 
Would you kindly remedy this in the way you think best? 
We are sending Clear Soup without vegetables (what we make for my Mother) to Harriet Limb, according to your orders: & milk & soda water to the married sister. 
Would you be so very kind as to write to me any orders about these poor bodies' diets? 
We send only 2lbs Meat weekly Milk & Cocoatine to Widow Limb & Beef Tea: should she have anything else? 
Should Harriet Limb have Mutton Broth? 
I am glad that Mr Wildgoose undertakes the Medical advice for Harriet Limb *
But you must allow me to undertake the next. 

*Harriet Limb has been given to understand from the Mill that she would be allowed half pay during her illness: I hope this was not done without Mr Wildgoose's knowledge.  You see he says he did not know 
I feel so uneasy about the Holloway drainage that I lie thinking of what we ought to do.  It has beeen suggested to me from London:  "have you no District Medical Officer of Health to apply to?"  But he is Dr Gaylor: is he not? Then I am advised to "write & invoke the aid of Mr Sclater Booth & ask him to send an Inspector to look at our village."  "The Local Govt Board always delight to interfere if they can get a chance." 
What do you think? 
And what was the drinking water which Harriet Limb & her sister were using?
AcknowledgementsTranscription completed by catalogue volunteer RJ, 2020
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