112 A Short History of Nursing In 1848 an order of Sisters of Mercy was founded by Miss Sellon, which had extensive epidemic experiences, and developed a well-planned hospital training. (The frequency of epidemics is explained by the insanitary conditions generally prevalent. It was only after Murcheson, in 1838, had ad- vanced the theory that disease was caused by filth, that cities began to install sewage systems.) St. John's House, founded in 1848, was the first purely nursing order of the Anglican church and has had an important part in English nursing reform. For a long time its Sisters had entire charge of the nursing in King's College hospital. The influence of St. John's House has been very great and wholly admirable. After King's College established its own training school St. John's House continued for a long time as a private institute. In 191 8 it terminated its corporate existence. The Sisterhood of All Saints, whose first head was Miss Byron, was founded in 185 1. It became an important factor in hospital nursing. St. Mar- garet's, founded by the Rev. Dr. Neale in 1854, had many members who devoted themselves to nursing, but they had little training. The influence of the Anglican nursing orders was very great, because the women who entered them were of admirable culture, refinement, and capacity.
