“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.