Each Government has its own arrangements with regard to pensions; some posts include pensions, but not all.  The retiring age is usually sixty years.  There is, unfortunately, no pension obtainable from the Colonial Nursing Association itself.  This is certainly one respect in which it would be well if an alteration could be made; it is a question of funds and has already been brought forward for consideration.  There would be vastly more inducement for really capable nurses, no longer very young (the age limit for joining is thirty-five) to join the Colonial Nursing Association, and serve their country in foreign dependencies, if they were assured of even a small pension after ten years’ hard work in trying climates.

X

NURSING IN THE ARMY AND NAVY

The training required by Army and Navy nurses is that for general work.  Additional experience according to the branch of the service which the nurse wishes to enter is also useful.  Only fully trained nurses are appointed.  Some of the tending of the sick is done by the men themselves, under supervision.

In the Military Service the salaries are as follows:  Matron-in-Chief, L305; ordinary Matron, from L75 to L150; Sister, from L50 to L65; Staff Nurse, from L40 to L45, with allowance for board, washing, etc., and arrangements for leave and pension after twenty years’ service.

In the Naval Service the arrangements are slightly different, but the salaries work out at about the same.  Foreign service is obligatory.

There is also a small Army Nursing Reserve, but this is quite inadequate for purposes of defence, and great efforts have recently been made to supplement it by voluntary organisations, such as the British Red Cross Society.

XI

PRISON NURSING

This is, at the present time, carried out by the ordinary staff of prison warders.  There are all over England not more than two or three trained nurses among them, and it is most desirable that properly trained women should be in charge of prison infirmary wards, just as much as in the infirmary wards of workhouses.  Prisoners are just as likely to suffer from disease as other people, and they surely do not forfeit all claim to expert care, simply because they have, perhaps in a moment of weakness, yielded to temptation.  To one form of illness needing specially expert nursing, they are peculiarly liable—­mental disease.  It is almost impossible to gauge the amount of good which might be done both for the individual and for society by providing trained nurses to attend to these unfortunate people.

XII

MIDWIFERY AS A PROFESSION FOR WOMEN (OTHER THAN DOCTORS)