“As to the other class of inmates of the workhouse infirmary—those whose ailments are curable—mere economy requires that the most efficient means should be taken to cure them as speedily as possible, so as to preserve them and their families from becoming paupers. “Thus justice and expediency alike counsel the introduction into the workhouse of the best known system of nursing. Probably nothing which the skill and kindness of medical men can do, no food or physical appliances which the guardians can supply, no oversight or care which they, acting through pauper nurses, can bring to bear, are wanting in the Liverpool workhouse; but it is to be feared that much of this care, liberality, and thought fails of its object for want of a sufficient number of reliable and duly qualified nurses to carry out the instructions given, to administer food and medicine to the patients, to dress their wounds, and so forth.” This appeal was supported by two letters of Miss Nightingale and Sir John M^cNeill, G.C.B., President of the Board of Supervision (the Scotch Poor Law Board). _Letter from_ Miss Nightingale. 115, Park Street, W. _February 5, 1864._ My dear Sir, I will not delay another day expressing how much I admire, and how deeply I sympathize with the Workhouse plan. First let me say that Workhouse sick and Workhouse Infirmaries require quite as much care as (I had almost said more than) Hospital sick. There is an even greater work to be accomplished in Workhouse Infirmaries than in Hospitals. In days long ago, when I visited in one of the largest London Workhouse Infirmaries, I became fully convinced of this. How gladly would I have become the Matron of a Workhouse. But of a Visitor’s visit, the only result is to break the Visitor’s heart. She sees how much could be done and cannot do it. Liverpool is of all places the one to try this great Reform in. Its example is sure to be followed. It has an admirable body of Guardians; it is a thorough practical people; it has, or soon will have again, money. Lord Russell once said (what is quite true), that the Poor Law was never meant to supersede private charity. But whatever may be the difficulties about Pauperism, in two things most people agree—viz. that Workhouse sick ought to have the best practical nursing, as well as Hospital sick—and that a good wise Matron may save many of these from life-long pauperism, by first nursing them well, and then rousing them to exertion, and helping them to employment. In such a scheme as is wisely proposed, there would be four elements. 1. The Guardians, one of whose functions is to check pauperism. They could not be expected to incur greater cost than at present, _unless_ it is proved that it cures or saves life.