IV. Answer the questions.

1. Why was Trafalgar Square laid out in London?

2. What kinds of events take place in Trafalgar Square?

3. When and where was Horatio Nelson born?

4. Why was Horatio's uncle surprised at his nephew's intention to go to sea?

5. How long did it take Nelson to receive his first naval rank?

6. Why did Nelson lose command of his ship in the West Indies?

7. What kind of a naval commander was Nelson?

8. How did Nelson respond to Spain's actions as an ally of France?

9. Why did Nelson receive the title Baron of the Nile?

10. Under what circumstances did Nelson meet Lady Hamilton?

1l.Can you see the "Victory" today in Britain? Where?

Points for discussion

1. Trafalgar Square in London.

2. Nelson's activities in the Mediterranean Sea.

3. The Battle of Trafalgar — the greatest sea battle between the English and combined French and Spanish fleets.

"The Lady With the Lamp"

Of the many great English women, perhaps, most outstanding is Florence Nightingale, who is known as "the Lady with the Lamp", for this is how she was called by the wounded British soldiers during the Crimean War of 1853-56 between Britain and Russia. Florence Nightingale has gone down into history as a person who did so much to help the wounded soldiers during the Crimean War, who despite all official opposition changed the whole system of hospital organization in the army. She changed the whole idea of hospital organization and is the founder of modern nursing.

The activities and contribution made by Florence Nightingale to the British health service to a great degree resemble the outstanding contribution made by Nikolai Pirogov, the famous Russian surgeon, to Russian medical organization. It is interesting to note that just at the same time when Florence Nightingale was nursing the wounded English sol­diers, Nikolai Pirogov was performing his operations on the battlefield during the defence of Sevastopol.

Florence Nightingale came of a very rich and influential family. The Nightingales moved in the highest social class. They had two large country houses and a big mansion in London. They travelled a lot all throughout Europe, and Florence was born in Italy in the city of Florence in 1820.That is why she was called Florence. She was highly edu­cated in literature, art, music, Latin and Greek. She could speak fluently Italian, French, German. Florence was very attrac­tive, and everyone expected her to marry one of the numerous rich young men who often came to her home.

Since early childhood Florence took care of the villagers who became ill, and nursed the sick dogs and cats and horses round her family home. She had a great wish to become a nurse. Her parents were horrified and they did everything to prevent her from becoming a nurse. But Florence who had a very kind heart, was determined to achieve her aim. Like Yevfrosinniya of Poiatsk from Belarus, the great educator of the 12th century, who despite her beauty and possibility to marry very rich aristocratic admirers became a nun in order to devote her life to learning, Florence was not to be turned aside either.

Whenever she went abroad, she visited hospitals, she read books on nursing, reports of medical societies. She spent some weeks as a nurse in a hospital in Paris, then three months in a nursing school in Germany. Finally she won a great moral victory when her mother with tears in her eyes agreed to Florence's wish to become a nurse. In those days nursing was done by women of the lowest moral class, and so it was not a popular profession. Moreover, when women were charged in the courts, they were often given the choice of either going to prison or to hospital service.

So with her parent's agreement she founded a nursing school in London known as an "Establishment for Gentlewomen During Illness". She had been there a year when in 1853 the Crimean War broke out. It was from there that she wrote to the Minister for War offering her services as a nurse. The Minister who knew her personally agreed.

Meanwhile, the situation in the Crimea was terrible. Reports from the battlefront described the terrible conditions in the hospitals where the wounded soldiers were treated. The main hospital of the British army was located at Scutari in Turkey. It was an old barracks, where the floors were broken and the building swarming with rats. The air was bad, and the wounded were lying in dirty rags and bandages. Thousands were dying due to such terrible conditions. The only nurses were old soldiers who knew nothing of nursing and were quite unable to do the work.

Having received the permission from the War Minister, Florence left for Scutari with thirty-eight nurses. On arrival she found the conditions even worse than the reports had stated. Practically, the barracks in Scutari did not resemble any hospital. There were no clothes, towels, soap, knives, plates. There were no bandages, no linen to make bandages, few medicines and any proper food. Florence and her party of nurses brought large quantities of food medical supplies and other necessary things. Everywhere Florence met with inefficiency, and everywhere she had to overcome difficulties which were created by the officials. However, despite these terrible conditions Florence coped with the situation successfully. She had a kind heart, but a will of iron.

The nurses worked twenty-four hours a day. Florence spared no one. She did not spare herself either. The nurses dressed the soldiers' wounds, helped the surgeons in their operations, eased the pain of the sick and comforted the dying. At night, carrying a little oil-lamp to light her way, she walked by the beds of the soldiers, comforting them, giving them new hope of recovery. Quite soon she became known as "The Lady with the Lamp".

Florence and her party of nurses changed the whole situation at the hospital in Scutari. They turned the barracks into a real hospital, scrubbing the floors and walls, cooking the men's food, washing their clothes, preparing new bandages, helping the surgeons with their operations Meeting irefficiency of local officials, she wrote letters to the War Minister, other members of the Government of England. At times she wrote letters of anger in order to raise public awareness. Often she would get very rude answers, but Florence would not give in. She managed to establish order. In 1855 Florence was appointed Inspector of all hospitals in the Crimea. This meant new hardships for Florence Nightingale, because she had to take long journeys in snow, rain and cold. Quite soon she became ill, but continued her work from her bed. Florence could easily return home, but she didn't do this until the last soldier left the Crimea in 1856 after peace was declared.

Florence returned to England to become invalid for life. She couldn't leave her house, often not even her bed, but she continued to go on with her work with the same feeling of determination as she had previously displayed in the Crimean War. Important changes were introduced in the organization of hospital service, teaching of nurses. But these changes were implemented due to Florence's great energy, because the officials did not like to introduce changes. However, now, a most popular fig­ure, she had the strong support of the public, and even of Queen Victoria, who became a great admirer of her. Florence Nightingale wrote books on nursing and founded the Nightingale Training School for nurses at St. Thomas's Hospital in London, which was the best hospital in Great Britain. Being a great expert in nursing, foreign governments consulted her on the organization of health services in their countries. Though a complete invalid after the Crimean War Florence Nightingale led a most active life of devotion to help people in need. In 1907 she was given the Order of Merit, the highest civil honour which the British Government could give, and the first ever given to a woman. Florence Nightingale died at the age of 90 in 1910, having won the hearts of the civilized world for her life-long contribution to help the people in pain and in need. The foundation of the International Red Cross was a logical continuation of her outstanding activities.

Comprehension Check