Nursing in America 165 School, fourteen general but small hospitals, one for incurables, one for consumptives, and one for skin and cancer cases. An extensive development of post-graduate work also took place, and many- special hospitals, whose work was most valuable, but too limited in variety for pupil nurses, found no difficulty in maintaining staffs of post-graduate students. Post-graduate courses for nurses began to be offered shortly after 1890, at least six hospi- tals offering such courses by 1900. Post-graduate training may now be secured in practically every branch of nursing work. The conscious and orderly development of the nursing profession began with the national union of nurses and their contact with one another in yearly conferences. The earliest association was called the Associated Alumnae of Training Schools for Nurses, and was formed of alumnae societies, both of Canada and the United States (1898), for there was an intimate bond between nurses of the two countries and it was only when incorporation became necessary that they separated. Alumnae societies are now a matter of course in every school, but a national organization needed to have ampler ^ and more flexible form. Broader societies grew up — the county, then the state society. Individual membership in these groups will now carry one on
