Question

Read the following passage carefully:
The name of Florenece Nightingale lives in the memory of the world by virtue of the lurid and heroic adventure of the Crimea. Had she died-as she nearly did-upon her return to England, her reputation would hardly have been different, her legend would have come down to us almost as we know it today-that gentle vision of female virtue which first took shape before the adoring eyes of the sick soldiers at Scutari. Yes, as a matter of fact, she lived for more than half a century after the Crimean War, and during the greater part of that long period all the energy and the devotion of her extraordinary nature were working at their highest pitch. What she accomplished in those years of unknown labour, could, indeed, hardly have been more glorious than her Crimean triumphs; but it was certainly more important. The true history was far stranger than even the myth. In Moss Nightingale’s eyes, the adventure of the Crimea was a mere incident-scarcely more than a stepping-stone in her career. For more than a generation, she was to sit in secret, working her lever; and her real life began at the moment when, in the popular imagination, it had ended. She arrived in England in a shattered state of health. The hardships and the ceaseless efforts of the last two years had undermined her nervous system; her heart was pronounced to be affected; she suffered constantly from fainting-fits and terrible attacks of utter physical prostration. The doctors declared that one thing alone would save her-a complete and prolonged rest. But that was also the one thing with which she would have nothing to do. She had never been in the habit of resting; why should she begin now? Now, when her opportunity had come at last; when the iron was hot, and it was time to strike. No, she had work to do; and come what may, she would do it. The doctors protested in vain; in vain her family lamented and entreated, in vain her friends pointed out to her the madness of such a course. Madness? Possessed-perhaps she was. A demonic frenzy had seized upon her. As she lay upon her sofa, gasping, she devoured blue books, dictated letters, and in the intervals of her plantations, cracked her febrile jokes. For months at a stretch she never left her bed. For years, she was in daily expectation of death. But she would not rest. At this rate, the doctors assured her, even if she did not die, she would become an invalid for life. She could not help that, there was the work to be done; and as for rest, very likely she might rest…when she had done it. Wherever she went, she was haunted by a ghost. It was the spectre of Scutari-the hideous vision of the organization of the military hospital. She would lay the phantom, or she would perish. The whole system of the Army Medical Department, the education of the Medical Officer, the regulation of procedure…rest? How could she rest while these things were as they were, while if the like necessity were to arise again, the like results would follow? And, even in peace and at home, what was the sanitary conditions of the Army? The mortality in the barracks, she found, nearly double the mortality in civil life.

Answer the following questions briefly:
1. Explain the statement ‘If Florence Nightingale had died in the Crimean War, her reputation would hardly be different.’
2. Why was Florence Nightingale’s work after the Crimean War more important?
3. Describe the conditions under which Florence Nightingale worked after her return from the Crimean war.
4. She was haunted by a ghost. What was the ‘ghost’?
5. Did Florence Nightingale follow her doctors’ advice? Give reason.

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Answer 1

Answer

1. Even if she had died her legend would have come down to us as we know it today of her gentle female virtue which first took adoring eyes of the sick soldiers at Scutari

2. For more than a generation Nightingale used to sit in secret, working her lever; and her real life began when she thought it had ended, she had arrived in England her health was in miserable state the tireless efforts had undermined her nervous system, her heart was affected by the doctors she suffered from fainting fits and terrible attacks utter physical prostration.