REPORTS TO RED CROSS.
March 18th, 1909.
I have the honor to submit the following report:
The weather on the Fourth of March was unusually stormy, especially early in the morning, and six of the tents (Nos. 1, 4, 5, 11, 12 and 16) were blown down and the ice and snow made them so heavy that it was impossible for the men to place them again in position.
Cases at stations Nos. 1, 4, 5 and 11 were treated in the ambulances—that is, the slight ones, and the others were taken to the hospitals. Stations 12 and 16 were removed to a room in the District and War Department Buildings, respectively, and very comfortable quarters were provided indoors for these two stations.
On March the second I took Sergt. Frank G. Motz, of Company H, Engineer Corps, around to the different places where you wished the tents pitched, and early on the morning of March 4 he had his corps of eight good men at work pitching the tents. I was with them until they finished at six o’clock in the evening. These men deserve great credit, as they were compelled to work in the rain all the afternoon and they were wet to the skin, but did not give up until the last tent was pitched. The next morning when they knew it was snowing they came out without orders and pitched some of the tents that had blown down.
Too much praise cannot be given the good corps of nurses that so faithfully did splendid duty on that day. I visited several stations about nine o’clock in the morning and no one was there but the faithful nurses under your command. There was not a station at which the nurses did not report. In the reports from the different physicians much praise is given the nurses for their excellent work.
Every station had work to do, except No. 19, which was not on the route of parade.
Eighty-one cases were cared for—ten surgical and seventy-one medical—twenty-eight females and fifty-three males.
I most earnestly recommend that the next time the Red Cross is to do duty along the line of march and the weather is not good that rooms on the ground floor be utilized for Emergency Stations instead of tents.
FRANK E. GIBSON, M. D.,
In Charge of Ambulance Stations.
Washington, D. C., March 3-8, 1909.
D. PERCY HICKLING, M. D.,
Chairman Sub-committee on Hospitals and Ambulances.
Sir—I respectfully report that the Red Cross Hospital, at the Pension Office, organized by the Inaugural Committee, was opened March 4, 1909, at 9 A. M., and closed March 7, 1909, at 11 A. M. During the maintenance of said Hospital 24 cases were treated, which varied from incised wound of index, third phylanx, to la grippe; most of the cases were syncope and the majority of these were in males, this being due to the heavy snow. I wish through you to thank the Red Cross, the physicians, the nurses and the Red Cross stretcher-bearers for the hearty co-operation given, and especially Lieutenant Judge, of the Metropolitan Police Force, for the excellent assistance given and the order maintained.
Thanking you for the honor conferred, I am,
Respectfully,
(Signed) E. W. REISINGER, M. D.,
Physician in Charge
I have the honor to submit the following report:
The Relief Station situated in a room at the Union Station was in operation March 1 at 12 noon, the first case being treated at 5.30 of that day and the last one March 7 at 2 P. M. The total number of cases treated was 105.
The ambulances were used to transfer seven additional cases to hospitals.
The character of the cases treated was varied, practically an equal division of medical and surgical. Most of the cases were not serious, the patients being able to leave the hospital shortly after first aid was rendered. The serious cases were sent either to their homes or to permanent hospitals. There were one doctor and two nurses constantly on duty, the doctor being relieved every two hours and the nurses every eight.
The Washington Terminal employees were most kind and courteous and seemed to appreciate the work.
Very respectfully,
NELLIE REED, Head Nurse.
Mr. Barney Robinowitz, one of the Relief Column members, also made an excellent report of the work done at Station No. 8.