96 A Short History of Nursing The limitations of the nuns' nursing work before the Sisters of Charity appeared became more ob- vious as medical knowledge went in advance of nursing. The Sisters might not care for, nor even look at, any of the parts of the human body except head and extremities. It followed that they could not prevent bedsores, nor keep patients clean. No one knows just when this tradition arose. If it is older than we think, it may explain much of the persistent effort of women through early and late Middle Ages to shake off clerical rule and work under free nursing systems. At any rate, as medi- cal science grew, this tradition of false modesty became more and more untenable for women who had to care for the sick. Then, too, they were continually called away from nursing duties for reHgious exercises. Possibly this had always been so, but it now began to show more clearly as a defect in system. The upbuilding of modern nursing began with the ^ . . work of Vincent de Paul and the French, Beginnings of organized women associated with him in hospital charity and reforms and in the creation of the Sisters nursing under of Charity. From the labours of St. Vincent Vincent came also the main structure de Paul of modern methods in dealing with the many-sided problems of destitution and relief.
