the appropriate insignia of the American Medical Association to be as
follows: A shield on which is emblazoned the American eagle holding in
its talons a laurel wreath within which is the knotty rod and entwined
serpent and the letters A. M. A.
The explanation of the emblem so devised would be as follows: The eagle
represents the national organization of the United States; the laurel
wreath stands for the crown which the Romans bestowed on the healing art;
the entwined serpent is indicative of power, wisdom and health, and the
knotty rod signifies protection and support in the difficult problems of
the treatment of disease.
SUMMARY.
The insignia and device of the red cross belongs to another organization
and its use is not proper for the medical profession. It represents a
character of work entirely different.
From the fact that Mercury was the Roman god of trade and commerce and
his magic caduceus was the symbol of authority over trade and commerce
and was the enchanted wand of prosperity, it is not adapted to be an
emblem for the healing art.
The knotty rod and serpent of Esculapius is the ancient inheritance of
the medical profession, and the history of this symbol, together with its
mythology and its legends, prove its appropriateness, for the reason that
the serpent was considered by every race on the globe as a great power
and man’s mind used it as a symbol of wisdom and health.
The knotty rod is an expressive representation of support, protection and
comfort in the difficult problems arising in the management of disease.
[Illustration: AFTER A BATTLE.]
THE STORY OF THE RED CROSS
IV.
War Sacrifices.
Feeling the need of getting away for a brief time from these harrowing
scenes, at six o’clock in the evening of June 27th Monsieur Dunant
left Castiglione for Cavriana, where the Emperor Napoleon had his
headquarters. On his journey, which was made in a little carriage hired
at Brescia, he had to pass over the scene of the recent carnage. He
describes the view, “Here and there were still pools of blood, and
numerous fresh mounds of earth marked the last resting places of the
victims of the 24th.” Even in the cemetery of Solferino, not only were
the monumental crosses and grave stones bespattered with blood, but the
whole burying ground in dire confusion was strewn with sabres, muskets,
havresacks, cartridge pouches, mess-tins, helmets and belts, most of
which were twisted, bent and broken.
Arrived at Cavriana, Dunant at once inquired for Marshal MacMahon whom
he knew personally. His inquiries surprised a group of generals sitting
on common chairs before the humble cottage which their sovereign had
made his temporary abode. They began to speculate as to his mission and
as to who he was, for that a simple tourist would take such risks at
such a time was altogether beyond their comprehension. The corporal who
accompanied Monsieur Dunant in the capacity of servant, was impenetrable:
he knew nothing, while replying respectfully to their questions. Their
curiosity was still further augmented when they saw Dunant set out for
Borghetto, the headquarters of the Marshal, where he arrived about
midnight. He pictures the drive amidst the camp fires, where whole trees
were burning, the lighted tents of the officers, the peaceful murmurs
of the army seeking its repose, the starlit Italian sky and the solemn
silence after the noise and the emotions of the previous days.
At six o’clock next morning he was cordially received by Marshal
MacMahon, after which he returned to his wounded at Castiglione.
The 30th of June found Dunant at Brescia, where in the old cathedral were
over a thousand wounded. Here the women of all classes vied with each
other in supplying the needs of the unfortunate brethren in their midst.
They brought oranges, jellies, biscuits and other dainties. Even the
humblest widow contributed her sympathy and modest gift.
The population of Brescia, normally 40,000, was nearly doubled by the
multitudes of sick and wounded brought there. The Italian doctors to the
number of 140 were assisted by the students of the medical colleges.
Committees were formed to receive gifts of bedclothes, linen and
provisions of all kinds. In the vast halls of the various hospitals and
in all the churches thousands of battered remnants of humanity were the
subjects of amputation, to many of whom the word was as the sentence of
death.
Monsieur Dunant depicts some of the terrible operations performed by the
surgeons who were forced to work with untrained assistants. Scenes so
full of pathos and the horrors of mental and physical anguish that could
men be brought to even a partial realization of their meaning war would
become impossible. Nothing in the world would be worth the aggregate of
human suffering unless the cause was justified by a greater aggregate of
human misery and torture.
“The feeling,” says Monsieur Dunant, “that one experiences of the great
insufficiency under such serious conditions is one of indescribable
suffering. It is extremely painful to realize that one is unable to aid
all or to reply to the many supplications for relief because of the vast
number needing assistance. Long hours must pass before even the most
unfortunate can be reached; stopped here by one, called there by another,
all equally worthy of pity, each step clogged by numbers clamoring for
help. Why turn to the left when on the right so many are dying without
a word of consolation, without even a glass of water to quench their
burning thirst. The thought of the importance of a life one may save,
the desire to assuage the tortures of the sufferers, and to revive their
courage; the continued, enforced activity that such moments impose,
give a supreme energy, a longing to carry succor to the greatest number
possible. One becomes no longer affected by a thousand pictures of this
formidable tragedy, the most hideously disfigured bodies are passed with
indifference, scenes more horrible than any described, which the pen
refuses to depict, are gazed at blankly. Sometimes the heart is suddenly
brought near to breaking by some pathetic grief, by some simple incident,
by some unexpected detail, which touches our deepest feelings, which
tears the most sensitive fibres of our being and brings a realization of
the horror of this tragedy.
“For a week after the battle such cases as drew from the doctor a shake
of the head and the observation, ‘Nothing can be done!’ were simply
abandoned to their fate—to die. Though hard, this was quite natural,
considering the scarcity of doctors and nurses and the enormous number of
patients. An inexorable and cruel logic ordained that precious time and
care should not be wasted on hopeless cases when sorely needed by so many
thousands who might recover.
“Search well the hospitals of Lombardy and where was there to be found
that glory for which at the commencement of the sanguinary conflict these
men rushed with light heart and fleet foot to shed the blood of their
brethren?
“The Battle of Solferino is the only one of the nineteenth century at
all comparable as regards the terrible slaughter on both sides, with the
battles of Leipzig and Waterloo. It counted in killed and wounded: 3
field marshals, 9 generals, 1,566 other officers, 40,000 non-commissioned
officers and men. Besides these, 19,665 cases of fever, dysentery,
etc., in the Brescia Hospitals; 30,000 cases of typhus, etc., among the
Austrians, making a total of 91,243 victims of the battle of Solferino.”
Monsieur Dunant asks the question: “Why have we thought good to recall
these scenes of grief and desolation, to recount such lamentable and
gruesome details, and to draw such vivid pictures of despair?”
His answer is another question: “Would it not be possible to found and
organize, in all civilized countries, permanent Societies of Volunteers,
which in time of war would render succour to the wounded, without
distinction of nationality? Those good old women and those beautiful
young girls of Castiglione could not by themselves save the lives of many
of those to whom they ministered. It was necessary that their efforts
should be supplemented by those of experienced men and women, capable,
firm, accustomed to order and discipline. Had such assistance been
forthcoming in adequate measure at Solferino, many of the horrors need
not have been related, and the living would not, as in some cases, have
been interred with the dead. For the accomplishment of such a noble duty
there must be willing volunteers, well-trained and instructed—not lazy
and ignorant mercenaries. The army medical corps is always insufficient
and needs to be augmented by voluntary public assistance. Thus only can
the horrors of war be minimized.”
FIRST AID AND RELIEF COLUMNS
CALIFORNIA.
FIRST AID COURSES FOR SAILORS.
BY DR. G. H. RICHARDSON.
In the January BULLETIN you have an idea of how the work was started and
I gave weekly lectures to the “Sailors’ Union” and bi-weekly lectures to
the “Harbor No. 15,” completing the course about a month ago.
I found that it was useless to endeavor to do much with the men of the
Sailors’ Union, for they are here today and away tomorrow, and while
apparently interested in the lectures there could be no permanent results
obtained. With the “Masters and Mates” it was, however, different, for
they are better educated and realize fully the importance of our efforts.
I found here also that the card system was not practicable, for many of
the officers could not attend regularly and besides I thought we should
try to develop some uniformity which could be utilized all over the
country.
To this end I wrote and obtained from the Surgeon General of the Public
Health and Marine Hospital Service, 100 copies of the “Handbook for
the Ship’s Medicine Chest,” (Stoner) and am using this book now with
excellent results.
I am giving each member of the Harbor a copy, obtaining a receipt for
same, and in the lecture follow closely the instruction laid down in the
book.
I have placed on the Bulletin Board of the Harbor the subject and date
(with pages in book) of the lecture and give them in the afternoon of
every other Thursday at 3.30 o’clock. This I find better than in the
evenings for the officers and I have from 25 to 35 present each time.
This book, as you will note, has an ideal medicine chest outfit and
strange to say very few of the officers knew of the book until I gave
them a copy.
I am going to give about eight lectures from the book and then have
planned to write you for instructions. Dr. Blue has suggested that when
candidates for license as masters, etc., be examined for their eye-sight
and color blindness, that an examination in First Aid could be given
them. This brings up the question as to how far the Red Cross and the
various departments should work together and in my mind is the most
important question before our organization today.
In talking with Captain Westcott of Harbor No. 15 here he seems to
think that his association should make attendance of its members on the
lectures obligatory, and at the same time by a change in the By-Laws make
each member become a Red Cross member. I think from what I can learn here
that it would be carried unanimously, for I have an excellent reception
at every one of my lectures.
Therefore, to be concise, my plan is tentatively—
a. Make each member of the National Association of Masters,
Mates and Pilots a member of the Red Cross, arranging with the
Public Health and Marine Hospital Service for books, we to
collect receipts for same and keep the records.
b. Have “First Aid” Committees in each local Branch, who,
with a Secretary, should keep in touch with the work, assign
physicians to lecture and examine and arrange for examination
of candidates and keep record of same.
c. Endeavor to have laws passed which shall make it necessary
for each ship to have a properly equipped chest on board and a
copy of the authorized book.
d. Arrange with the Secretary of the National Association of
Masters, Mates and Pilots to have him publish in his journal
the dates and names of lectures, making them uniform in every
place, and where the lectures are to be held.
RELIEF COLUMNS
On Monday, February 5th, at Copper Hall, Lane College, Dr. Geo. F. Somers
delivered a witty and entertaining lecture on “First Aid.” A trained
litter-squad from the detachment of the First Unitarian Church composed
of Messrs. Eastman, Addison, Meyerink and Mikkelsen appeared and gave a
practical demonstration in illustration of the lecturer’s subject. The
lecturer ingeniously introduced them, by saying, “There is a gentleman
here who has met with an accident. Are there any Red Cross men present?”
The squad seated individually in different parts of the auditorium
assembled about their supposed “victim,” who was bandaged, and splinted,
much to the amusement of the audience.
[Illustration: FIRST-AID SQUAD WHICH ACCOMPANIED ATHLETIC TEAM TO
AUSTRALIA.]
The first county of California to organize a detachment was Alameda.
Under the auspices of the State Branch, a very active and ambitious
Detachment and Woman’s Auxiliary of the Legion of the Red Cross was
formed at the conclusion of a banquet given by the ladies of the
congregation of St. John’s Presbyterian Church. The detachment and
auxiliary meet together at monthly lectures upon sanitation, hygiene, and
allied subjects given by specialists in these different fields.
The detachment under the assistant directorship of Dr. J. N. Force is
being drilled by Senior Sub-director Paul Y. Yost, commander of the
California Cadets of the University of California.
[Illustration: THE “MARIPOSA.”]
The detachment of the Columbia Park Boys’ Club have been training a squad
of four young men, Messrs. Wing, Cliffs, Clover and Peterson, who will
accompany the athletic team of this famous organization to Australia.
Through the courtesy of Dr. McCoy, of the Public Health and Marine
Hospital Service, they will be drilled by Mr. James Leek.
The young men will start prepared for First Aid in the field and will
doubtless have something to do during the football contests. This is
perhaps the first squad of the new Legion of the Red Cross to be in
service beyond the border of the United States.
By the steamer “Mariposa” on Friday, April 21, bound for New South Wales,
a sergeant and a squad from the Grand Legion of the Red Cross, California
Branch, accompanied the Columbia Park Boys’ Club upon their six months’
tour of the Antipodes.
With their credentials went a recommendation to Major G. L. Mullins, M.
D. Knight of Grace of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Commissioner of
the Commonwealth of Australia.
SAN FRANCISCO, March 18, 1909.
This is to certify that Leon Wing, sergeant of a squad from
the detachment known as the “Columbia Park Boy’s Detachment
of the Grand Legion of the Red Cross” is a duly accredited
representative of the California Branch of the American
National Red Cross, a branch of the International Red Cross
established under the Treaty of Geneva.
We extend the hand of fraternity to the St. John’s Ambulance
Association of Great Britain and recommend this squad and its
sergeant to the kind offices of those representatives of the
St. John’s Ambulance Association in Australia.
The Columbia Park Boy’s club has set a national standard
of efficiency in training boys in clean living, thinking
and athletes and it is both the pride and pleasure of the
California Branch of the American National Red Cross to wish
this, the first squad of a detachment of the Grand Legion of
the Red Cross to visit another nation, God speed and a hearty
welcome in the Antipodes.
(Signed) BENJAMIN IDE WHEELER, President.
MRS. JOHN F. MERRILL, First Vice-President.
MRS. THURLOW McMULLIN, State Secretary.
DR. G. H. RICHARDSON, Field Agent.
WM. LATHROP MCCLURE, Sec. Legion (Asst. Dir.)
ILLINOIS.
The Illinois Relief Columns took a prominent part in the Memorial Day
Parade, of which a report will be made for the October Bulletin by Dr.
Blech. To Dr. Blech’s energy, interest and work much of the success of
this Illinois Legion is due.
One hundred and sixty men in Khaki uniforms took part. The Legion was
under the command of Director J. B. Weintraub and marched in the Fifth
Division, of which Division Dr. Blech was Marshal, assisted by the
regular staff officers of the Red Cross Corps. Captain J. Ralph Shook,
U. S. A. Medical Service, acted as Division Adjutant. He has given the
Legion much encouragement and says of it that it has done as well as any
hospital corps, regular or volunteer, he has ever seen.
NEW JERSEY.
Mr. Chris. D. Fisher of the Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia, Baltimore
and Washington, the Northern Central and the West Jersey and Seashore
Railroad Companies writes of the work done at their car shops at Camden,
N. J. Mr. Fishers says:
“I have been in communication with Mr. Speakman and think we will soon
have the New Jersey Column in working order. We have another of our shops
where 750 men are employed thoroughly organized and the men are doing
excellent service. I enclose a copy of the notice which is posted around
the shops.”
NOTICE.
The following men have taken a thorough course in “First Aid to the
Injured” and have received certificates from the Red Cross Society
qualifying them to render first aid to injured persons:
George Boenig, Erecting Shop.
Walter Davidson, Machine Shop.
Henry M. MacSweeny, Power House.
Edward Bright, Pipe Shop.
Fred. Dean, Tin and Copper Shop.
William Welch, Blacksmith Shop.
William Wink, Blacksmith Shop.
Thos. McCorkendale, Boiler Shop.
Mr. Boenig will act as head of the Relief Staff and take full charge of
all cases of serious injury.
In case of serious injury to an employe Mr. Boenig should be notified at
once, and until Mr. Boenig arrives the Red Cross man assigned to that
department, or the one who happens to be nearest to the scene of the
accident should give the injured person all the assistance possible and
be prepared to assist Mr. Boenig, if necessary, when he assumes charge
of the case. The patient should be taken to the Storeroom as quickly as
possible where he can be kept quiet and better attention given him, and
it will be the duty of the Chief Watchman and the Storeroom attendants to
keep all unauthorized persons out of the Storeroom, except in the case of
a relative of the patient, who will be admitted upon application to the
Chief Watchman. The Chief Watchman will make all necessary arrangements
for taking the patient to the Hospital, if necessary, either by wagon,
shifting engine, or ambulance and in the latter case notify the Master
Mechanic’s office, from which office the ambulance will be called.
In the absence of the Chief Watchman the Watchman on duty will attend to
the above, and in the absence of Mr. Boenig, Mr. Bright will assume his
duties.
No stimulants whatever must be given to the patient unless administered
under the instructions of one of the Red Cross Staff, as such stimulants
are very likely to interfere with the work of the hospital surgeons, or
may cause injury in other ways.
In all cases of injury sufficiently serious to cause a man to go home,
the Chief Watchman should be notified at once through this office, so
that he can get the necessary information for making his report.
For the present all minor injuries, such as cuts and bruises, will be
attended to in a small room which has been fitted up under the Machine
Shop office, where necessary medical supplies and appliances are kept on
hand.
All Foremen will please see that C. T. 75, Accident Report, is made up
promptly in duplicate and sent to this office, for all cases of injury
sufficiently serious for the man to quit work, or in all cases where the
Foremen think the nature of the injury demands it.
H. H. MAXFIELD,
Master Mechanic.
NEW YORK.
The Relief Columns of the First Legion of Brooklyn held a public concert
with an exhibition of the Drill and First Aid work of the Column. There
were about two hundred persons present, who showed great interest in
the illustrated lecture and exhibition drill. Special mention should
be made of the energetic and successful work of Mr. Bosworth and also
of Assistant Director Ferguson whose drilling and training was so well
demonstrated in the exhibition drill. Dr. Hyatt, with the aid of the
stereopticon, showed pictures of Henri Dunant, founder of the Red Cross;
of the Swiss flag and how it was reversed, making the Red Cross flag;
of the Red Cross work during the Japanese-Russian War; of the relief
after the San Francisco disaster; of the relief columns in its different
activities on duty Memorial Day, 1908; en route for the Inauguration in
Washington, of its functions and litter duties. Captain Siler of the U.
S. A. Medical Service was present at the entertainment.
Captain Siler writes of the value of organizing relief columns in mining
districts. In some mines a number of the men have received excellent
training in First Aid and could be easily organized into Relief Columns.
A number of the Mills Training School Male nurses are considering the
formation of a Column which in case of necessity could be assigned as a
body to certain hospitals as nurses. In case of war the services of such
a relief column of trained nurses would be of great value as they could
be sent much nearer the front than women nurses.
CASE REPORTS FROM MEMBERS OF FIRST LEGION.
Total number of cases reported from May 24, 1908, to May 31, 1909,
inclusive—59.
SUMMARY.
Heat prostration 9
Sprained wrist 1
Fainting 2
Wounds of face 3
Sprained ankle 1
Crushed toes 1
Contused wounds of foot 1
Drowning accident 1
Collapse after rowing contest 1
Infected arm from scratch 1
Contused wounds of head 1
Dislocation of thumb 1
Lacerated wounds of hand 4
Alcoholism and unconsciousness 1
Burns 2
Lacerated fingers 10
Amputated fingers 1
Amputated hand and foot 1
Fractured nose 1
Fractured leg 3
Epilepsy 1
Fractured skull 2
Injuries to the eyes 1
Scalp wounds 5
Lacerations of leg 1
Dog bite 1
Boil on neck 1
Nausea 2
--
59
Respectfully submitted,
JOSEPH FERGUSON,
Assistant Director Commanding.
TUBERCULOSIS DEPARTMENT
THE CHRISTMAS STAMP DESIGN COMPETITION.
Over twelve hundred designs for the Red Cross Christmas Stamp
were received in response to the circulars sent out announcing a
competition. The general average of these far exceeded the most sanguine
anticipations. A large proportion of the drawings were excellent in
execution and in ingenuity of arrangement and a fair number were of
distinct artistic merit. Many, which were commendable in design and
technique, could not be considered because they were too elaborate and
too full of detail to stand reduction from three inches to seven-eighths
of an inch square. This dimension required simple masses and distinctness
of lettering and especial prominence of the Red Cross itself.
[Illustration: ENLARGED DESIGN OF RED CROSS CHRISTMAS STAMP FOR 1909.
COLORS TO BE RED AND GREEN.]
The exhibition was a remarkable object lesson proving a wide-spread
interest in decorative design and a high average of taste and skill in
this direction.
At the request of the Red Cross the Fine Arts Federation of New York
named the following jury to pass upon the drawings: Mr. F. D. Millet, Mr.
C. Y. Turner and Mr. Paul Bartlett. After a long and careful study of the
exhibition, the following awards were made: Mr. Carl Wingate, New York
City, First Prize; Mr. Augusto Bissiri, South Framingham, Massachusetts,
Second Prize; Miss Grace D. Gerow, Jersey City, New Jersey, Third Prize.
The following persons were awarded Honorable Mention: Miss Sara B. Hill,
of New York City; Mr. William F. Rauchsnabel, San Francisco, Cal.; Mr.
R. A. Dunn, Providence, R. I.; Mr. W. P. McDonald, Cincinnati, Ohio;
Miss Mary W. Bonsall, Philadelphia, Pa.; Mr. John H. Zeh, Philadelphia,
Pa.; Miss Maud H. Lanktree, Berkeley, Cal.; Mr. Joseph N. Pearce,
Philadelphia, Pa.; Mr. Silvio Paini, Columbus, Ohio; Mr. William Von
Zell, Indianapolis, Ind.
(Signed) F. D. MILLET,
For the Jury.