1 62 A Short History of Nursing John S. Billings. This opportunity she used to the fullest extent to give expression to the various sub- jects then pressing for utterance. On the pro- gramme of papers, there were among others: "The Necessity of an American Nurses' Association" and "Alumnas Associations, their Need and Import- ance." Miss Hampton took for her own subject "Educational Standards" in which she urged a three-year training with an eight-hour day for pu- pils. At this meeting also was read the paper con- tributed by Miss Nightingale called : "Sick Nursing and Health Nursing." In this article Miss Night- ingale, who was then in the thick of the English struggle for organization and registration, gave earnest warnings to American nurses which arose from her point of view on those questions, and which were not even understood by her hearers, so different was their outlook. It must also be added that her expression "Health Nursing" was not comprehended in its full import at that time. After the sessions were over the American So- ciety of Superintendents of Training Schools for Nurses was formed, and steps were taken by it to encourage union among nurses, with a view to a future national society. The Superintendents' Society has undoubtedly
