ウェールズ再発見(その7) : ウェールズ人看護婦エリザベス・デイヴィスとフローレンス・ナイティンゲール

Abstract

Elizabeth Davis (Cadwaladur) was a Welsh woman who went to the Crimea to serve as a nurse. Her life was recorded in 1856 by Jane Williams in An Autobiography of Elizabeth Davis, Betsy Cadwaladyr: A Balaclava Nurse. The highlight of the autobiography is Elizabeth Davis's remark about Florence Nightingale which differs from Nightingale's reputation in England then. Cecil Woodham-Smith, a biographer of F. Nightingale, wrote an influential biography and accused Elizabeth of escaping from Miss Nightingale's discipline. Because of this, Elizabeth became a notorious nurse in Woodham-Smith's book. However, Elizabeth's autobiography gives us a different image of Elizabeth trying to do her best as a nurse. Elizabeth's autobiography is very interesting and useful for us even today.