I 98 A Short History of Nursing colonies formed, and offenders classified, giving each one the work that he was able to do. Beyond this, Vincent de Paul would have had society as a whole contribute whatever else was needed. He saw that some individuals could never wholly support themselves, and believed it was the duty of an organized society to provide for the deficit. To deal with poverty he would first have had friendly visiting based on a systematic plan, that the poor might be personally known. Then relief was not to overlap or fail through inadequacy, but was to be effective and continuous. The groups of men and women who formed under his coun- sel for work on these lines constituted the first societies for organized charity. But this charity was not to consist only of alms, but of constructive aid. His support in bringing about hospital reforms was sought by women who had been his aids in friendly visiting. One of them especially, Mme. de Goussault, had been accustomed to visit in the H6tel-Dieu of Paris, and became so keenly con- scious of its needs that she persuaded him to or- ganize a complete visiting service of influential women. They were called the Dames de Charite, and through their efforts an excellent hospital social service department, as we might call it, was
