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Archive Reference / Library Class No.D2546/ZZ/46
TitleLetter from Florence Nightingale to Dr Dunn reporting that Mrs Limb's, a typhoid patient, condition has deteriorated, and asking for advice regarding her continuing treatment and for the treatment of other patients
Date4 Oct 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
- Nurse Swann: a local nurse not otherwise identified
- James Foulds, born about 1820, with son Henry, born about 1858, living in Plaistow, Crich (1871 census only). Henry Foulds died October-December 187
- Robert Wildgoose, manager, Smedley's Mill
- Sarah Allison, born about 1832 living in Cromford Road, Holloway (1871). In 1881 she is at the household of her nephew, John Allison, proprietor of a hydropathic establisment  in Ardwick, Manchester
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 IndexWidow Limb 
Lea Hurst
Oct 4/79
My dear Sir
I saw Nurse Swann yesterday (Friday) & she descrbed poor Mrs Limb as in such a state that I told her to stay with her till tomorrow or Monday. 
Doubtless you saw her, Mrs Limb, today. 
Do you think that a Water bed or Water cushion would be of any use to her? 
And do you not think the stove in her room might be lighted with advantage? 
Mrs Swann says that she is so in want of air & the stove so near the bed that she is afraid to light it.  But surely a fire & an open window produce the best air: & perhaps her bed could be moved. Half the battle is in arranging or "nursing" the sick room by the District Nurse so as to give the poor Patient a chance. 
What are these spasmodic fits of gasping for breath?  ^and are they dangerous to life?^
Poor woman: she is so terrible a sufferer that she puts us all to shame by her patience. 
James (or Henry) Foulds:
the son of the old man whom you kindly attended till his death last year
has sent in a very piteous claim for assistance. 
He says he has been 10 months in bed: that he wants nourishment: that you will tell all about him as his kind doctor:
that you ordered him beef tea & lamb
& a sea voyage.  
that he cannot get any of these things. 
that if his strength could be got up by nourishment, he would like to go to Liverpool as being "sea" air. 
I should be very much obliged to you would tell me what you recommend. 
And do you know if he used to work at the mill? & whether he has an allowance from there? 
(I must not get into disgrace with Mr Wildgoose as I did about the father, James Foulds, last year.) 
Thank you for your account of Sarah Allison.  I have sent her the diet you desired & some Cocoatine.  It appears she is very fond of Coffee: but Coffee is not usually fond of persons with weak digestions.
[a second page appears to be missing]
AcknowledgementsTranscription completed by catalogue volunteer RJ, 2020
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