invented from day to day, with a perseverance
worthy of a better object; and since the
inventors of those murderous engines are encouraged
by the majority of European states, who
strive which shall be the most formidably armed;
Why not profit by an interval of comparative
calm and tranquillity, to resolve a question of
such immense importance both in a humane and
a Christian point of view? Societies of this
kind, once constituted, and having a permanent
existence, would remain in some sort inactive in
time of peace; but they would be there, ready
organised, in the eventuality of war breaking
out. It would be their duty to gain the good
will of the authorities of the country which gives
them birth, and to solicit from the sovereigns
of belligerent powers permissions and facilities
requisite for carrying out their good work.
Such societies, therefore, ought to have, as
members of their head committee, men of known
respectability. The committee would appeal to
every philanthropic person who would consent
to devote himself temporarily to the work;
which would consist, first, in affording (in
co-operation with the military intendances; that
is, with their aid and under their direction in
case of need) assistance and nursing on a field
of battle, while the conflict is still raging.
Secondly, in continuing, in hospitals, the care of the
wounded, until their complete recovery. Such
spontaneous devotion would be met with more
frequently and easily than is generally imagined;
and many persons, once sure of being useful, and
assured of their power of doing good, would be
willing, even at their own expense, to fulfil, for
a short time, so eminently benevolent a task.

There are plenty of historical examples to
prove that a sufficiency of self-devoted persons
may fairly be reckoned on. The name of John
Howard is not forgotten. The image of Miss
Nightingale traversing by night, with a little
lamp in her hand, the vast dormitories of
military hospitals, and taking note of the state of
each patient in order to procure him the most
pressing requisites, is vividly fresh in the
memory of many a soldier.

If organised parties of volunteer nurses, male
and female, had been present at Castiglione on
the 24th, 25th, and 26th of June—or at Brescia,
or at Mantua, or at Verona—what incalculable
good they would have done! They would have
rendered enormous service in the fatal night
between Friday and Saturday, when groans and
melting supplications were uttered by thousands
of wounded men, who, in addition to the acutest
pains, were suffering the inexpressible torments
of thirst.

If there had been sufficient help at hand to
take up the wounded on the plains of Medola,
and at the bottom of the ravines of San Martino,
and on the ridges of Monte Fontana and the
mamelons of Solferino, the poor soldier would
not have been left on the 24th for long long
hours, in fearful pain and the still worse dread
of being abandoned, to make useless signals
with his hand entreating the litter to be brought
in that direction. Nor would there have been
incurred the horrible chance, next day, of burying
the living with the dead. Nor would the dying
soldiers, who were forsaken of all, in the
ambulances of Castiglione and the hospitals of Brescia
(and many of whom had no one to speak to, who
could understand their language), have rendered
their last sigh with curses and blasphemies, if
they had had any one about them capable of
listening to and consoling them. Sympathy has
a marvellous healing power. During the war of
Italy, some soldiers were seized with home
sickness to such a degree, that without any other
disease or any wound whatever, they died of it.

A task of this nature is unsuited for hirelings,
who are repulsed by disgust, or rendered
unfeeling, harsh, and indolent, by fatigue. On the
other hand, immediate succour is all-important;
the patient who might be saved to-day, cannot
be saved to-morrow. Loss of time leaves the
door open to gangrene; and gangrene speedily
secures its prey. Consequently, there is a
crying need of male and female volunteer nurses—
of diligent persons, prepared and trained to the
duties, and who, recognised and approved by the
leaders of the militant armies, will be aided and
supported in their mission. The number of
persons attached to military ambulances is always
insufficient, and would still be so were it doubled
or tripled. It is impossible to avoid having recourse
to foreign assistance. Let such assistance,
then, be there, ready prepared to hand.
To carry out this good work practically, a
certain number of persons must devote themselves
to it heart and soul; but it certainly will not be
stopped for want of money. In time of war,
every one will contribute his mite in answer to
appeals from the committee. The difficulty does
not lie there; but the whole question rests on
the serious preparation of the work, and the
establishment of the societies themselves.

If the terrible means of destruction now at
the disposal of nations have a tendency, as is
supposed, to shorten the duration of future wars,
individual battles, on the contrary, are only all
the more murderous. And, in the present state
of things, no one can tell how suddenly war may
break out, in one direction or another.

MR. CHARLES DICKENS'S READINGS.
HANOVER SQUARE ROOMS.
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