the Hemicycle of the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the use of which was kindly
given by the Directors of that institution for the purpose, and a large
number of people visited the exhibition. On the afternoon of the last
day President Taft, who is also President of the Red Cross, examined the
exhibition with great interest and attention and approved the choice made
by the jury. A reproduction of the First Prize Design in the reduced size
is given in the BULLETIN. The October BULLETIN will contain reproductions
of all the designs selected by the jury for award and also a further
account of the exhibitions in Wilmington and Philadelphia where the
drawings were shown.
CLEVELAND, OHIO.
The Tent Colony for Tuberculous Children was opened in Cleveland
during the fall of 1907 through the co-operative efforts of several
organizations which had felt for some years the extreme need of removing
temporarily from their homes children who were probably suffering from
tuberculosis of the lungs.
[Illustration: CLEVELAND CAMP FOR TUBERCULOUS CHILDREN.]
The Camp accommodated eight children during two months that fall and
twenty during five months in 1908. The tents used are similar to those
at the Ottawa (Illinois) Sanatorium and were judged large enough for two
children each. Beside a nurse and assistant the Camp employs a cook and a
laundress with the occasional help of a cleaning woman.
In addition to the tents the equipment consists of three one-story summer
buildings—one for laundry and store-room, one for kitchen and bathroom,
and the third for children’s dining and wet-weather playroom, pantry and
nurses’ dining room.
[Illustration: PATIENTS AT THE CLEVELAND CAMP FOR TUBERCULOUS CHILDREN
SPEND MUCH TIME OUTDOORS UNDER THE TREES.]
[Illustration: SHOWING DESIGN OF COTTAGES IN CLEVELAND CAMP FOR
TUBERCULOUS CHILDREN.]
The children range in age from five to fourteen years, boys and girls,
and are selected after examination by the Tuberculosis Dispensary
physicians because they already show an envolvement or because their
physical condition, home environment or history indicates it as imminent,
but none are accepted unless the prognosis is at least fair.
The days are made as regular as possible in point of baths, meals,
rest-hours, lessons and play. Temperatures and weight charts are made up
daily and diet or rest regulated accordingly under the direction of the
physician on his weekly or semi-weekly visit.
[Illustration: ONE OF THE AMUSEMENTS AT THE CLEVELAND CAMP FOR
TUBERCULOUS CHILDREN.]
It is endeavored to observe a proper and effective technique. Kitchen and
laundry are fenced off from the rest of the grounds. The attendants eat
in separate rooms from the children and from dishes kept separate from
theirs. All utensils used by the patients are washed and sterilized in a
pantry which belongs to them and the children are seated at table in such
a manner as not directly to face one another. Their clothing and bedding
is put immediately after use into water and washed separate from the
attendants’ clothing.
The children have gained surprisingly in appearance and weight and the
medical examinations show in all cases, which prolong the treatment,
similar results in the lungs.
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
The New Hampshire Red Cross Branch is doing excellent work with the
proceeds of the sale of the Christmas Stamps. In speaking of this work,
an editorial in the Boston _Herald_ says:
“The proceeds of the sale of Red Cross Christmas Stamps are being used
by the New Hampshire Branch of the Red Cross and by the Federation
of Women’s Clubs in that State for addressing a pertinent health
talk to the people. A placard has been prepared bearing three concise
facts concerning tuberculosis—warning the public that the disease is
contagious, and pointing out methods for its cure and prevention. The
Boston & Maine Railroad has volunteered to place the placard in all its
New Hampshire stations. And a further circulation in public places will
be undertaken. The crusade against tuberculosis can be successful only by
educating the public. Curative and preventive success depend on public
co-operation. The simplest rules of living, cleanliness, exercise and
temperance are the most effective combatants of the disease. Every means
for keeping those rules before the public mind aids not only in checking
the spread of tuberculosis, but in advancing the general health of the
community.”
The Concord _Monitor_, in speaking of the distribution of posters, says:
“The posters, prepared by the New Hampshire Branch of the National Red
Cross, are now being distributed throughout New Hampshire. Through the
kindness of Mr. Frank Barr, Third Vice-President of the Boston & Maine
Railroad, copies are being placed in all stations and the agents have
been requested to see that they are displayed in a conspicuous place and
not defaced. The New Hampshire Federation of Woman’s Clubs is making
distribution in their several communities. The poster has attracted
considerable attention outside of the state by people engaged in the same
work elsewhere, as being most concise in every way.
Anyone desiring to receive copies of this poster can have them by
addressing the New Hampshire Branch of the National Red Cross, Monadnock,
New Hampshire, and enclosing two cents apiece for postage. It is
hoped that the state will be fairly ablaze with these and that people
interested in them will see that the posters are not injured or defaced.
It is the expectation to furnish a slide of this poster to all the moving
picture shows in the state, hoping they will assist in calling the
attention of the public to certain truths in regard to tuberculosis, by
displaying this slide.
NOTES
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
At a meeting of the Executive Committee, held May 5th, at which were
present all the members save Surgeon General Torney, who was absent from
the city, the Chairman submitted a statement of the remittances and
expenditures on account of the Italian Relief Fund up to date.
A report on conditions in Eastern Turkey, received from the State
Department, was presented by Miss Boardman. The action of the Chairman
in transmitting a thousand dollars to the American Ambassador at
Constantinople for relief purposes was ratified and it was voted to send
a further remittance of $5,000 from the General Emergency Fund.
By action of the Executive Committee the Red Cross Nursing Service was
placed under the management of the War Relief Board.
The President of the Red Cross has sent the following letter to the
Governors of the States and Territories:
“June 4, 1909.
“Sir: The purpose of this letter is to bring to your knowledge
the facilities of the American Red Cross for conducting large
measures of emergency relief or assisting in their conduct, in
any part of the United States.
“Its National Director, Mr. Ernest P. Bicknell, who devotes
his entire time to the executive duties of the Red Cross, has
had an extended experience in the organization and direction
of work of this character. Mr. Bicknell is prepared to proceed
immediately to the scene of any great disaster and confer
with the state or local authorities, as well as the local
representative of the Red Cross, in regard to the efficient
organization of relief. This service is wholly free and is
quite apart from any question of the source of the relief funds.
“The Red Cross is a national organization, the only one
chartered by the United States and maintained for the sole
purpose of relieving the sufferings caused by war or by
calamities in time of peace. In the United States, fortunately,
the Red Cross has been almost entirely free from the demands
of war, but has found an important and growing field in the
relief and rehabilitation of communities devastated by fire,
flood, storm or other disaster of an extent or magnitude
exceeding local relief resources. It operates under a special
charter from Congress and is governed by a Central Committee
appointed in part by the President of the United States from
the Departments of State, War, Navy, Treasury and Justice,
and is required to submit an annual report to Congress. In
the event of war the Red Cross is the only organization whose
agents in the military encampments and upon battlefields will
be officially recognized and authorized to maintain hospitals,
hospital ships, etc.
“Should any calamity occur within the bounds of your state
which requires large and unusual relief measures, you are
invited to make the freest use of the services of the Red
Cross or of its National Director in either an executive or an
advisory capacity.
“Since the reorganization of the Red Cross in 1905 the amounts
enumerated on the attached sheet have been raised and expended
at the places or for the objects stated. Very respectfully,
“WM. H. TAFT, President.”
AMERICAN RED CROSS RELIEF EXPENDITURES.
From January 5, 1905, to May 5, 1909, not including value of enormous
amount of supplies or expenditures of State Branches for relief work.
Philippine Typhoon $ 1,150.00
Japanese Famine 245,865.67
Vesuvian Eruption 12,759.25
California Earthquake and Fire 2,856,289.54
Valparaiso Earthquake 12,353.38
Gulf Storm 667.87
Chinese Famine 327,725.43
Kingston Earthquake 5,699.23
Russian Famine 9,000.00
Calabrian Earthquake, 1907 233.60
Mississippi Cyclone 2,767.38
South Carolina and Georgia Floods 942.05
Michigan Forest Fires 300.00
Canadian Forest Fires 1,000.00
Monongah Mine Disaster 3,782.11
Italian Earthquake, 1908 986,283.11
Armenian Outrages 6,000.00
Miscellaneous 75.00
-------------
Total $4,472,893.62
Net proceeds of sale of Red Cross Christmas Stamps,
1908, for local anti-tuberculosis work throughout
the country (approximately) $138,000.00
The total expenditure for all administration and
executive work during same period, including the
cost of publishing 201,000 copies of the Red
Cross BULLETIN, was $30,195.15
Expenses of administration two-thirds of one per cent.,
more than half of which has been paid from membership
dues and from the income of the Endowment Fund of
$115,000.
A meeting of the Emergency Relief Board was held in New York City on
Saturday, March 20th, at which nine members were present. There was a
general discussion of emergency relief work after great disasters.
The Red Cross Stamp and tuberculosis work were discussed informally.
* * * * *
The War Relief Board held a meeting in Washington on May 7th, at which
six members were present. The following resolution was passed, creating a
sub-committee on the Red Cross Nursing Service:
_Resolved_, That the sub-committee on the Red Cross Nursing Service shall
consist of a Chairman and fourteen other members, five to constitute a
quorum. The Chairman and five members to be members of the War Relief
Board, to be appointed by the Chairman of the Board: six members to be
appointed by the Chairman of the Board from a list of trained nurses
submitted by the Nurses’ Federation and three persons to be appointed by
the Chairman on the recommendation of the Board.
The subject of First Aid and Relief Columns instruction was discussed.
Other subjects considered were the equipment of hospital ships and
hospital trains and the use of automobiles for transportation of the
sick and wounded in case of war. Medical Director Wise had prepared
for the Board a very complete schedule for the full equipment in every
particular of a hospital ship of 200 beds and the cost for this purpose
of the reconstruction of a chartered ship and the necessary equipment.
The Board is greatly indebted to Dr. Wise for this elaborate, complete
and valuable report. The Board has already in its possession a list of
vessels suitable for reconstruction into hospital ships.
* * * * *
On the 29th of April the Red Cross forwarded to the Treasurer of the Darr
Mine Relief Committee of Pittsburg, Pa., a contribution of $402.32 for
the relief of the families of the victims of the explosion which occurred
last year.
This money was collected by the Pennsylvania Red Cross Branch. The
relief committee, in a letter acknowledging receipt of the contribution,
expressed its thanks to the Red Cross.
* * * * *
Because of his interest in the great work of the Red Cross His Majesty,
the King of Sweden, has graciously conferred upon Miss Mabel T. Boardman,
a member of the Executive Committee of the American National Red Cross,
the decoration of the King’s Own Medal. The medal is of gold: on one side
is the bas-relief portrait of the King, surrounded by his name, and on
the reverse side is Miss Boardman’s name and the date. The decoration
is worn suspended from a light blue ribbon. The light blue signifying a
higher degree of the decoration than the dark blue ribbon upon which it
is generally worn. The Dowager Queen of Sweden has always been deeply
interested in hospitals and like institutions and her son, His Majesty,
Gustavus V, by his sympathy in such work does much to encourage its
success and development.
* * * * *
The report on National Vitality prepared for the Conservation Commission
by Prof. Irving Fischer, President of the Committee of One Hundred on
National Health, is now ready for distribution. Copies may be obtained by
forwarding $1.00 to the Title Guarantee and Trust Company, Treasurer, 176
Broadway, New York City. All members of the Red Cross who order a copy
of this report before August 1st become thereby members of the American
Health League without additional expense, receiving regularly the
American Health Magazine. Mention that you are a member of the Red Cross
when you write.
CALIFORNIA.
The Nurses’ Auxiliary, a very valuable adjunct to the California Branch,
has undertaken to start factory lectures and demonstrations at noon
hour, beginning Friday, April 30. Miss Brown, Miss Rutley, Miss Killiam,
Miss Smith, Miss Jorgensen, Miss Fisher and Miss McCarthy, well-known
specialists in their different departments, are to talk upon hygiene,
dietetics, bedmaking, contagious diseases, tuberculosis, medical and
surgical emergencies and first aid. Several factories, laundries and
department stores are interested in these methods and consider them of
practical use to working women. The Y. W. C. A., through the co-operation
of Miss Smith, will make arrangements for evening lectures for
individual business women in offices and stores. About 150 young women
can be reached immediately. Miss Smith also reported that many young
married women employed in factories are much interested. There are many
wide-awake women in department stores and factories who not only support
themselves, but their sick relatives also. Very much good can be done
through the settlements and mothers’ clubs.
The Woman’s Auxiliary of the Relief Column has inaugurated a series of
talks on home nursing and prevention of disease under the direction of
Dr. Clara Williams.
The work is capable of infinite expansion on almost any scale. It bids
fair to reach sufficient magnitude to make the problems of organizations,
permanence, finance, equipment and membership of importance to the future
of Red Cross work. We cannot forget the essential functions of the Red
Cross are gravest in time of war and calamity in relation to great masses
of humanity, but there is as much patriotism expressed in teaching the
individual in time of peace to attain maximum efficiency and resistance
to disease.
CANAL ZONE.
Of the fourteen districts into which the Canal Zone Branch is divided,
seven have perfected their local organizations.
Entertainments for the Red Cross Fund have been given at Ancon, Corozal,
Paraiso, Culebra and Las Cascadas.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
This branch, which has about sixty trained nurses enrolled, has made an
arrangement with the Nurses’ Central Registry to send to it every three
months an accurate list of the nurses’ names and addresses. If a call is
made for nurses the nurse in charge of the Registry will find out what
nurses are immediately available for this active duty. The Registry will
be compensated by the branch for any such service rendered.
The District Branch has provided a box of First Aid supplies for a mining
camp in Edwardsburg, Idaho, a camp over one hundred miles from any
physician. One of Major Lynch’s Red Cross First Aid Works was also sent.
On May 14th Mrs. Edwards, whose husband is general manager of the Eagle
Mining Company, to whom this box was sent, wrote that the snow was still
deep and the mail was carried by dog trains. Her letter took twelve days
to reach Washington.
The Branch is also planning to equip a First Aid Station in Rock Creek
Park.
EDWARDSBURG, IDAHO, May 28, 1909.
My Dear Miss Boardman—I received today three boxes, and the men
who have called for their mail and been told of the Red Cross
help have been so gratified.
I really don’t know how to thank you, for I don’t believe you
could realize just how great the need is at times for just
those things you have sent.
Last Thursday Mr. Edwards was leading our cayuse loaded with
powder on a lonely rocky trail when the cayuse made a misstep
and went headlong to the bottom of the mountain. Mr. Edwards
was unhurt, but had he been injured or killed days might
have passed and I ignorant of his need of me. He came home
immediately and I think I shall never forget his white face
as he came up to the door of our cabin. He and I alone and
together have been so many times through the valley that I
sometimes start at the sound of my boy’s voice as he plays
outside with “Gingie,” his dog.
Will you please thank the District of Columbia Branch of the
Red Cross for the men of the wilderness and for me? Indeed I do
appreciate your thought of us. Faithfully,
(Signed) ANNIE NAPIER EDWARDS.
NEW YORK.
The New York County Sub-division plans to take charge of the First Aid
Stations during the Robert Fulton celebration. Arrangements have been
made to establish stations at the Union Station on Forty-second street,
in tents at the ferries, etc.
The County Federation of Trained Nurses voted on June 1st to affiliate
with the American Red Cross.
AUSTRIA.
On December 31st the Austrian Samaritan and Life Saving Society of
Vienna offered to the Italian Government their kitchen wagons to use in
the cooking of food for the thousands of hungry and homeless people.
The offer was accepted with thanks. Large amounts of money and supplies
were promptly contributed for this expedition, so that not a penny of
the regular funds of the society were required. The railroads gave
free transportation. There was much delay in reaching the scene of the
disaster because of the interrupted railroad service, and because the
lines were blocked with train loads of wounded and refugees who were
being aided by members of the Italian Red Cross at relief stations
situated in and about stations along the route. All along the journey
officials of the Italian Red Cross received and assisted this Austrian
Relief Expedition. The kitchen wagons were established at Catania, where
about thirty or forty thousand refugees had congregated. The next day
after their arrival some twelve thousand refugees who had not tasted warm
food since they left Messina received good, hot meals, the kitchen wagons
being in operation from six in the morning until eight at night.
CUBA.
Thanks to the kindness of the American Minister, Mr. Edwin Morgan, we
have received notice of the establishment of a Red Cross Society in Cuba,
together with copies of its statutes and regulations.
Mr. Morgan also forwarded a translation of the proceedings held at the
institution of the society kindly provided by Captain B. F. Clark.
The President and Vice-President of the republic are honorary presidents
and the active president is Dr. Diego Tamayo y Figueredo.
FRANCE.
The French Red Cross the day after the Italian disaster and as soon as
the news reached Paris decided to send to Italy Red Cross nurses.
The French Red Cross report says: “The question arose whether the
immensity of the disaster did not justify its intervention in the way of
aid. The Italian Red Cross was mobilized. Was it not the occasion to give
proof of the solidarity which exists outside of all boundaries uniting
the members of the universal Red Cross?” As the syndicate of the French
press agreed to take charge of the raising of a national fund for the
expense of this relief work, the society proceeded with its preparations.
On the 30th ten nurses with two Red Cross delegates. Viscount Harcourt
and Viscount Nantos, left for Naples. The following day a second
detachment of nurses from one of the Red Cross branches, the Union of
the Women of France, was sent, and a few days later a third detachment
from another branch, the Association of French Women, followed. Within
a few hours after their arrival at Naples they began active work in the
hospitals filled with injured refugees.
The Neapolitan Red Cross had erected a temporary hospital in a municipal
school building—a large and airy situation. Doctors there were in plenty,
but there was a great lack of nurses, so that those sent by the French
Red Cross, three of whom spoke Italian, arrived at a most opportune time
and their services won the confidence and gratitude of the physicians.
In the meantime the delegates of the French Red Cross were occupied
in the distribution of money and supplies. Two special trainloads of
clothing, hospital materials, etc., were sent from Paris, the first in
charge of Count de Vogue, son of the president of the French Red Cross.
Some of the supplies were given to the city government for distribution
and some to the Italian Red Cross to be sent to Sicily and Calabria. The
delegates wore a blue coat, with the Red Cross brassard on the arm.
At the termination of the active service of the French Red Cross the
nurses were presented with the Italian Red Cross diploma of merit and
with gold medals by the Duchess D’Aosta in the presence of many members
of the Italian Red Cross.
The hospital school of the French Red Cross was opened in Paris on the
14th of November, 1908, with simple ceremonies. The president of the
French Red Cross, the Marquis de Vogue, presided. Sixty-two of the nurses
who were in active Red Cross service in Morocco were in attendance and
added greatly to the interest of the occasion. One pavilion is devoted to
men nurses and the other to women. This is the crowning result of the 44
dispensary schools of the society.
GERMANY.
The German Red Cross sent to Italy a complete hospital equipment,
with five doctors, thirteen nurses and relief column men, which was
established at Syracuse. Money, clothing and supplies of all kinds
were forwarded from all over Germany to the main receiving station in
Berlin. Large quantities of tents, a dozen wooden barracks from the Rhine
Provinces and a hundred beds for orphans were among the gifts.
JAPAN.
The Japanese Red Cross has published its second English Bulletin. Its
active personnel consists of 3,487 persons, of whom 237 are doctors.
2,328 women nurses, 572 men nurses and 131 litter bearers. It has a total
membership of 1,397,344, with an annual income of $1,550,206. In 1907
it rendered assistance after fifteen disasters, aiding 3,810 injured
persons. Its funds amount to $7,000,000.
PORTUGAL.
The Portuguese Red Cross has lately had the misfortune to lose by death
its president, General da Cunha, a peer of the realm and one of the
founders of the society in 1887. He was one of the most eminent men of
his country and noted for the noble qualities of his mind and heart.
His goodness and simplicity during all the years of the high offices he
held under the government made him beloved of all classes. Just before
his death he learned that the Red Cross had opened subscriptions for the
earthquake sufferers of Italy. Only a few moments before the end came he
directed his family to immediately send a subscription from him before
his death prevented his doing so. These were his last words.
The society has elected as his successor Dr. M. A. Moreira, former
Minister of the Navy and of the Colonies.