The Women's Victory—and After: Personal Reminiscences, 1911-1918
John Stuart Mill · en
Lecturing to members of the medical profession in Glasgow on gas
gangrene, he paid a splendid tribute to the work of the Scottish
Women's Hospital at Royaumont. He had, he said, seen hundreds and
hundreds of military hospitals, but none the organization and
direction of which won his admiration so completely. Every duty in
the hospital, from those of the chief surgeon to the chauffeur of
the motor ambulance, was performed by women. He was impelled to
express his admiration of the manner in which cases were treated. The
military authorities had such confidence in the hospital that they
were ready to trust to its care the most severe class of cases. Of the
bacteriological department of the hospital, which was arranged by Dr.
Elizabeth Butler, Dr. Weinberg was equally enthusiastic. He was struck
with the most perfect order which prevailed, notwithstanding the
apparent entire absence of anything in the form of rigid disciplinary
measures. He attributed this order to the fact that the patients
recognized how devoted were the staff to their care and interests.
It was the soldier's natural recognition of the excellent services
and attention given by all the staff, and particularly by the chief
surgeon, Miss Ivens, who was ably assisted by numerous colleagues all
inspired by the same devotion. Incidentally, Dr. Weinberg expressed the
opinion that he could not imagine any activity on the part of women
that would more effectively further the cause of the women's movement
than the institutions carried on by the Scottish Women's Hospitals.