Medicine

Florence Nightingale was the daughter of a well-to-do family in England. They wanted her to become a socialite ; to learn to give big parties and serve tea. Florence, however, had other plans. When she told them she didn't want this kind of life, her parents became very angry and her sister went into hysterics By the time she was 12, she was determined to "do something worthwhile". She liked books. She enjoyed caring for sick farmers on her father's estate. Once she even saved the life of an old shepherd's dog that had broken its leg.

At the age of 16, she was sure that God was calling her to serve others. She used every spare minute to learn from nursing books she had secretly obtained. She visited hospitals in London and the surrounding area.

Her parents didn't want her working in those "dirty" hospitals, but she was determined. They did many things to try to change her mind. Her sister pretended to have fainting spells. Her mother accused her of being immoral She finally reached an agreement with her father. If he would let her go to Kaiserwerth (KI zer wirth) hospital in Germany to study, she wouldn't tell anyone her plans. This way, her family wouldn't have to be "embarrassed" by her actions.

She was an excellent student, and after her graduation, she returned to London and got a job running a hospital. (Craig Nelson)

Home Cures
The majority of people in the Victorian age depended upon traditional remedies, herbal cures, and homemade prescriptions. Health advice was passed along by either a household manual or through word of mouth. Elderly women and certain servants had enough simple medical knowledge remedy most minor ailments.Even on the estates of the rich, at least one of the servants would be versed in herbal medicine. Such a servant would make poultices, lance boils, and sooth coughs. ( Kaitlyn O'neill )

The Victorians started to use more advanced medicines like opium, laudanum and chloroform. Also surgery got better and antiseptic was used more carefully. Even though this was available, people still used original medicines (herbel remedies). //** (John Hope) **//