MAJOR RICHARD SYLVESTER,
Chairman Committee on Public Order.
Dear Sir—In compliance with your request I have the honor to report the operations of the Hospital and Ambulance Service of the Committee on Public Order for the Inaugural period of 1909, of which, under your appointment, I acted as Chairman. In order to facilitate the work this sub-committee was organized by the appointment of Drs. George M. Kober and G. L. Magruder as Vice-Chairmen and Dr. P. C. Hunt as Secretary, the work being divided among four sub-committees, as follows: Sub-committee on Ambulance Stations, Sub-committee on Hospital at Pension Office, Sub-committee on Hospital at Union Station and Sub-committee on Inspection of Quarters. These Sub-committees were in charge of Drs. Gibson, Reisinger, Reeves and Gwynn, respectively.
SUB-COMMITTEE ON AMBULANCE STATIONS.
This Sub-committee cared for 81 cases, 10 surgical and 71 medical, 53 of whom were males and 28 females. This work was done under the most unfavorable circumstances on account of the weather, which not only interfered with the well-planned arrangements in many of their details, but made many of the physicians at some of the stations use Pennsylvania avenue as a thoroughfare to carry urgent cases to the Emergency Hospital instead of the longer runs to the other hospitals, as it was practically impossible to get the mules to pull the heavy ambulances over the snow-covered streets. While this was all done in violation of orders, yet suffering was materially lessened by so doing. Many of the tents were blown down, so that three of the emergency stations had to be established in three of the public buildings, namely, the District Building, State, War and Navy Building and the Marine Hospital Building.
Every station reported cases having been treated except No. 19. There were on duty during the day over 70 members of the Committee.
The work of the Red Cross is to be specially commended in connection with the Ambulance Stations, as they had not only furnished a complete relief equipment for each station, but two trained nurses in uniform at each station, all of whom, in spite of the weather, promptly reported for duty and rendered very efficient service. The stretcher men, trained and uniformed, at the expense of the American Red Cross Association, did excellent service and ought to be highly commended.
SUB-COMMITTEE ON HOSPITAL AT PENSION OFFICE.
The Hospital at the Pension Office was opened March 4th at 9 A. M. and closed March 7th at 11 A. M., having treated 24 cases.
The thanks of the Sub-committee are specially tendered to Lieut. Judge, of the Metropolitan Police Force, for the excellent assistance given and the order maintained, also to Mr. Graham, of the Inaugural Committee, through whose kindness supper was furnished to the Red Cross nurses on duty at the Hospital.
The work of the Red Cross Society in placing at the disposal of your Committee the equipment, trained nurses and stretcher men is highly appreciated.