American National Red Cross

“ Every member of the Red Cross who reads the several short reports from Turkey in this number of the Red Cross Magazine must be stirred by a deep sense of pride in the great work of humanity which is being carried on by the Constantinople Chapter of the American Red Cross. In the dreadful cholera camp of San-Stefano, in the hospitals filled with sick and wounded soldiers in Constantinople, among the starving refugees, children, women and old men, in Salonica and Asia Minor, the story is the same. ”

“ To have the rural nurse a resident in the community, her services for all regardless of any lines of distinction, to have intelligent nursing care for patients in their own homes, and instruction and demonstration given in the principles of hygiene, not only of person but as applied to home surroundings, are advantages which have been appreciated wherever the visiting nurse is established. ”

“ To afford women the opportunity to learn how to protect their own health and that of their families.
It must be distinctly understood that this course of instruction for women is only intended to prepare them to render emergency assistance in case of accident, to give more intelligent care to their own families under competent direction, and, in exceptional cases, to assist in relief work under the supervision of the Nursing Service of the American Red Cross. ”

“ After fulfilling the requirements for the organization of a class and the instructor has been formally appointed the class is free to begin work, and very interesting work it proves to be. The course of instruction in first aid begins with an introductory lesson in anatomy and physiology followed by nine lessons with practical demonstration in the care of emergencies and accidents most likely to be met with in the every-day walks of life. It is most desirable that each pupil be given an opportunity to practice on a model or manikin the various points covered in the lessons. ”

“ Men elected to such important positions in the governments of the various States must find little time at the beginning for matters other than those pertaining strictly to their new offices, yet out of the twenty-three new Governors fifteen have already accepted the Presidency of the Boards in their respective States. That the Red Cross can make this announcement gives it great satisfaction, and it feels confident that the remaining eight new Governors will also accept the leadership of their State Boards as soon as the first rush of their new administration is over. ”

“ It is important that the rural nurse be informed upon the various branches of public health nursing and social service, as carried on in cities, in order that she may initiate work along these lines in country places where it is often wholly unorganized. She should be able to recognize contagious diseases and minor ailments among school children. By giving simple health talks in the schools, she is able to utilize one of the most advantageous avenues for influencing the home life of her people. ”

“ Gradually the city has taken over more and more of the expenses of the camp, but the boat is still known as the Red Cross Day Camp, and the money made by the sale of the seals pays the remarkably good superintendent of the boat, furnishes carfare to and from the camp, for those patients who cannot afford to pay, and also pays for any special training which the committee deems valuable to the patients. This year a cobbling teacher has been employed to teach the boys how to mend their own shoes; an expert course of corrective exercises was given by a trained man ”

“ Local societies and clubs, the aim of which is to improve unfavorable conditions that exist in their communities can establish a no more fruitful source of helpfulness than by the employment of a visiting nurse. Red Cross Chapters will find in such an undertaking not only a means of creating interest in local work of the Red Cross, but opportunity of enlarging their field of usefulness to the community. ”

“ No sooner does one Red Cross Christmas Seal Campaign end than preparations for the next begins. While the public sees and hears of the seal only during the months of November and December, when the seals are on sale, a very large amount of preparatory work is necessary in order that the sale may reach every section of the country and may be carried on with the publicity and system which are necessary to success. ”

“ There are, however, several individual nurses meeting the needs of rural communities, and often under trying conditions. In isolated regions they are cut off from helpful association with others doing similar work and the stimulus that comes from identification with an extensive organized effort. The Red Cross has planned a service of which these nurses may become a part, which will assist them to establish and maintain high standards.
Rural nursing as it now exists is generally carried on under the supervision of a committee which may include several sub-committees. ”

“ This extensive scattering makes the work of relief very difficult; nevertheless much has been accomplished already and by systematic canvassing by American missionaries and native agents it is hoped that much of the suffering and need of the refugees will be discovered and relieved. Relief of over-crowding, supply of adequate clothing and bedding, opening of soup kitchens and supply of food other than the dry bread given by the government, distribution of fuel and medical aid, indicate the principal lines along which the Red Cross must work for the next two or three months. ”

“ When a disaster is of such magnitude or character that local agencies of relief are prostrated or overwhelmed, the Red Cross is prepared to provide the necessary machinery for relief distribution; in smaller disasters the Red Cross simply joins hands with other local agencies and lends its strength and influence to concentration of resources and cooperative effort. ”

“ The origin of the Mexican White Cross dates back to the revolution which Francisco I. Madero led against the government of Porfirio Diaz. As a result of the severe fighting between the insurgent and federal forces along the United States border in the spring of 1911 many men were seriously injured. At that time no systematic medical service was provided by either army, and the Mexican Red Cross, which had been organized only a short time previously, had not undertaken to send nurses and physicians to the front. ”

“ Organization of Classes.
Women desiring to form a class in either first aid or home nursing should secure a sufficient number of names—not less than ten or more than twenty-five—selecting one to act as president. The president so selected should then communicate with the Department of Instruction for Women, American Red Cross, Washington, D. C. A roll will be supplied on which the names of the members of the class will be inscribed and answers given in respect to certain essentials. ”

“ The Red Cross Seal Committee of Ohio, in 1912, sent a visiting nurse for one month to each of twelve small cities throughout the State as a prize in the seal-selling contest. Interest in visiting nursing was thus stimulated to a degree that several of these towns have [56] since been insisting upon a permanent nurse, and have raised funds necessary for her support.
Hospitals, dispensaries and medical attendance are seldom as accessible in the country as in cities. ”

“ Brave men and women giving of their time and strength and skill, disregarding danger and hardship and forgetful of their own personal affairs, are making a record of effective accomplishment under extreme difficulties in that foreign country which should touch the deepest springs of American patriotism. ”

“ If the House declines to accept the Senate amendments a committee is appointed from each side to confer and try to agree on the items in dispute. Usually both Senate and House accept the recommendations of the conference committees.
So the House passed the Public Buildings and Grounds Bill without the Red Cross item and the Senate was asked to insert that item. It did so. Then opposition arose because the Red Cross building was a memorial to the loyal women of the Civil War. It was argued that the Confederate women were just as brave and devoted and self-sacrificing as the women of the North ”

“ The dyke is built in layers, which are one foot thick after they are pounded. Each layer is pounded until it is of the consistency of rubber and is then tested in this unique way. An iron rod is driven down and into the small hole thus made water is poured from a tea kettle. If the water does not soak away the layer has been pounded sufficiently. These pounders are skilled workmen and were originally paid 250 cash worth of grain per man per day, but they proved to be so lazy that we had to invent a sliding scale of wages. ”

“ We now have more than five hundred representative nurses serving on these committees throughout the United States, and their co-operation and interest may be depended upon to further any work undertaken by the Red Cross. They have been most active in the sale of Christmas Seals and have co-operated with local tuberculosis agencies, often serving on special committees. In organizing our Rural Nursing Service we have sought their advice and assistance. They have suggested nurses for rural work and have given valuable information in regard to the needs of their own communities. ”

“ Thus far, in fact, most of those who have received aid have enough money for a little salt and a few olives, for a few candles and a bit of charcoal. But lately we get the complaint more and more frequently that these resources are exhausted and that the bread ration no longer suffices alone. Once in two weeks, in fact, each person gets a half bowl of soup. This is made possible by a very efficient little soup kitchen which the Catholic sisters have opened. But this, too, is certainly only a trifle. Again, as wintry weather comes, we get calls for clothing, bed quilts, etc. ”

“ The situation at the threshold of the United States, particularly at the California boundary and near El Paso, Texas, became so serious that the American Red Cross undertook to provide physicians, nurses and hospital care for such of the wounded men as could be reached without going into the interior of Mexico. ”

“ Fees collected from patients are not sufficient for this, as all sick persons are not able to pay for the services of the nurse. As a rule, patients are expected to pay for professional visits, according to their means, but those unable to make any payments should not go uncared for. The responsibility for raising the necessary funds rests with the local committee, which also superintends the work of the nurse.
A general supervision by the Red Cross is maintained through occasional visits of the superintendent of rural nurses and through monthly reports of their work. ”

“ About a year before the seals were issued, there had been formed in Brooklyn a Tuberculosis Committee, that had at that time limited funds but was struggling to carry on various pieces of important and rather expensive work. One of the needs of the community was more adequate hospital facilities and a day camp for tubercular patients. The camp was to be established for mothers and children, and it was hoped at that time that a class might be formed for children, who could go on with their school duties. ”

“ The officials everywhere express the hope that they will be able to send the refugees back to Europe for the spring, but, of course, nothing definite can be planned as yet. Whatever may be the political outcome of the Balkan [21] war, a large number of the refugees will undoubtedly remain in Anatolia, and the Red Cross may then consider the advisability of providing employment for these people, supplying them with farm implements, etc. The large majority of the refugees are women and children, many of these having been rendered widows and orphans by the war ”

“ It seems clear, however, that as the harder part of the winter comes, aid will, in many instances, have to be given in other ways than the one I have mentioned, as 12 ounces of bread a day will not indefinitely keep the body and soul together. ”

“ It was the aim of the Holman Association, incorporated in 1911, “for the promotion of rural nursing, hygiene and social service.” to expand as resources permitted to meet the needs of rural communities in the United States, but the society has recently been disbanded.
There are but few instances where rural nursing has been extended by a single organization to cover any considerable area. A pioneer work was started seventeen years ago in North Westchester county, New York, where the District Nursing Association now employ six nurses and covers about twenty villages. ”

“ Women of the finest type are needed for this work and those who have had specialized training in public health activities. Several visiting nursing associations to be utilized as training centers for Red Cross nurses offer good opportunities for students to become familiar with social work of various kinds through lectures, study courses and affiliations with philanthropic societies in the city. ”

“ On the completion of each course of instruction an examiner will be appointed, to be paid by the Red Cross. Such examiner will be other than the instructor of the class.
No one will be allowed to take an examination in any course who has not attended at least three-fourths of the lessons of that course. ”

“ As soon as a pit reaches a depth of four or five feet it is measured by the foreigner in charge and the head man of the ten is given a ticket which is really an order on the office for the value in grain of the work done. Measuring these pits takes almost all of one foreigner’s time, and as two-thirds of the workmen are dirt pushers, the foreigner has in his direct control that fraction of the whole. The dirt pushers receive 450 cash per fang of 100 cubic feet. ”

“ Much needless suffering is now caused the ill and injured on account of the ignorance of unskilled persons. It has been said that the fate of the injured is dependent on the care which their injuries first receive. ”

“ His important treatises on ammonium, phosphoric acid, opium and the falsification of pharmaceutical products in Turkey, his contributions to European and American exhibitions, made his name well-known abroad, and in 1910 he was unanimously elected honorary president of the newly-organized “Society of Pharmacists in Turkey,” in proof of the grateful affection of colleagues and pupils, and of his own superior scholarship and value. He leaves behind him the record of a long life admirably spent. ”