Section 118 of the latest edition of the U. S. Navigation Laws, enacted
June 7th, 1872, amended by Revised statute 4569 of June 26th, 1884, and
June 19th, 1896, reads as follows:
“Every vessel belonging to a citizen of the United States bound from a
port in the United States to any foreign port, or being of the burden of
seventy-five tons or upwards, and bound from a port of the Atlantic to
a port on the Pacific, or vice versa, shall be provided with a chest of
medicines.” ... The rest of the section relates to the use of lime or
lemon juice.
No mention, it will be seen, is made of what this “medicine chest” shall
contain nor whether there shall be any one on board capable of using its
contents.
Naturally there could be no uniformity in the equipment of these chests
for the law, not being explicit, left the matter entirely to the ship
owners who could use their judgment as to the requirements of their own
vessels.
Besides, in questioning several sea-going officers, I find that there is
no book on First Aid which is generally accepted as being a necessary
part of the chest’s contents. Many of them have only a book published in
1877, called “Ritter’s Manual,” the first edition of which was issued
some forty years before. The U. S. Public Health and Marine Hospital
Service published an excellent book in 1900, called the “Hand Book for
the Ship’s Medicine Chest,” but there is no law requiring its adoption by
ship’s owners and it is, judging from the opinions expressed by several
men with whom I spoke on the subject, considered too technical for the
average ship officers.
Many of the vessels sailing out of San Francisco provide themselves with
chests arranged by a prominent druggist of this city, and they contain a
small book, which he has published; it is to be expected that the special
preparations which he supplies are particularly dwelt upon.
While considering the subject, especially in regards to the needs of a
proper book on First Aid, I was impressed with the fact that whatever
book was adopted would be of service only to the degree that its contents
were understood and appreciated by those using it.
I therefore called upon the Secretaries of the “Masters, Mates and Pilots
Association” and the “Sailors Union,” of this city, and presented to them
for the consideration of their respective organizations, a plan whereby
a regular course of lectures bearing on First Aid and kindred subjects
should be given weekly to their members.
These gentlemen received me very cordially and I can best express their
opinions by submitting the letters they sent me which are quoted in full:
California Harbor, No. 15, San Francisco, Cal.,
Nov. 17th, 1908.
Lt. G. H. Richardson, M. R. C., U. S. Army, Post Hospital,
Presidio.
Dear Doctor:
After your talk last evening to the members of California
Harbor, No. 15, it was decided to at once begin the course of
lectures on First Aid as suggested by you. It seems a good idea
that the National Red Cross should take up this matter for it
will insure uniformity of instruction to those interested all
over this country.
The need of such a course of instruction has been apparent for
some time, but no one seemed to be able to devise a plan which
was practical.
If convenient to you, would like to have the first lecture on
Thursday evening, December 3rd, 1908, at 7:30 p. m., at our
lodge rooms.
I shall communicate with Golden Gate Harbor, No. 40, of this
city, and invite them to be present.
Thanking you for your kind interest in us and wishing you
success in your work, I am.
Respectfully,
(Signed) J. WALTER JOHNSON,
Secretary.
Sailors Union of the Pacific,
San Francisco, Cal., Nov. 17th, 1908.
Dr. G. H. Richardson, Lieutenant U. S. A., Presidio Hospital,
City.
Dear Sir:
The kind offer of the California State Branch, of the American
National Red Cross Society, made through you, to arrange for
a course of lectures to members of this organization on First
Aid to Injured, etc., has been submitted to the Union, which
accepts same, with thanks; has placed its hall at your disposal
any night of the week, excepting Mondays, and has pledged
itself to co-operate with you in any way it can, particularly
in the matter of securing large and regular attendance at the
lectures.
If knowledge on the subjects to be discussed is desirable in
people on shore, I should say it is a necessity to the men
who go to sea. Seamen have had to endure untold suffering,
and many of them have lost their lives, or worse still, have
become disabled for life, owing to ignorance of the very first
principles of First Aid. By law the vessels are required to
carry a medicine chest, but in the majority of cases not a
single man in the ship’s company knows anything about the
properties of the medicine.
The proposed lectures will be a blessing to the sea-faring men.
If you will kindly let me know in advance when you propose to
open the course, I shall do what I can to advertise it.
Respectfully,
(Signed) E. ELLISON,
Secretary.
It seems to me that the national character of the American National Red
Cross makes it pre-eminently the best organization for doing this work
and to establish it in all cities where a Merchant Marine exists.
These lectures have been arranged for and the first of the series will be
given on December 3rd, 1908.