Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1898-10-06
WORK OF THE RED CROSS
BATTLEFIELD HORRORS LED TO THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOCIETY.

Henri Dunaut SO Shocked by the Scenes
He Witnessed at soIferino That He
Formed n Corps to Work In the Cause
of Humanity-Some Interesting Facts.
The history of the Red Cross So
ciety is but little known in the United
States. Our peace-loving people have
been for SO many years free from the
terror of war which has continually
confronted European nations that we
became supremely indifferent to tho
emergency that at some time might
arise, when we should be called upon
to take care of the sailors and soldiers
wounded in the defence OF our coun-
try.
1t is nearly forty years since M.
Henri Dunant,a a native of the republic
of Switzerland, witnessed the battle
of Solferino, and was Mortified OBJ
server of the unnecessary suffering of
the wounded from lack of care. Be-
ing greatly impressed by the sight he
published little book called Sou
venir de Solferino," and pointed out
the urgent necessity of forming corps
of surgeons and nurses who could
work in the cause of humanity, re-
gardless of nationality, and who might
be protected by flag of neutrality,
and be permitted to serve on the field
of battle and aid the wounded. This
little volume appealed to all who read
it, and the outcome was convention
held at Geneva, Switzerland, in Au-
gust, 1864, by representatives from
sixteen of the great nations of the
world, who then signed compact of
strict neutrality that assured, under
certain specified regulations, COM
plete protection to the members of the
association when caring for the
wounded on the field of battle. The
flag of Switzerland is heraldically de-
scribed as ''on a field gules, cross
argent" and the society adopted it
out of compliment to its birthplace,
only reversing the colors. Today the
insignia of the international COM
mittee is the red cross on white
field, and is the only military hospital
flag in the civilized world which pro-
tects all persons from molestation who
work under it Or rightfully wear the
emblem when performing their GER
vice. The insignia is jealously
guarded, and the brsssards and arm
let's, that are sewed on the sleeve
when issued in time of war, are
marked with private devices, SO that
both armies may be protected from
spies, and that none but those en-
gagged in the work of helping the
wounded shall be immune"
M. Gustav Moynier, president Of
the Society of Public Utility, was
elected and still remains president of
the international committee of the
Red Cross, the headquarters of which
are at Geneva. Sixty-two nations
have signed the compact. In 1882,
Miss Clara Barton, who had already
distinguished herself by her services
as nurse during the civil war, was
delegated by the president of the
United States torepresent her country
at congress of the Red Cross COM
mittee, and she was made member
of the international board ofmanagers
when the United States government
signed the international treaty. 1t
was at Miss, Barton's suggestion that
line of work was adopted by the in
ternational committee, so that each
nation might pursue an occupation in
time of piece that would qualify it to
be of service in an emergency, there
by keeping. its national Red Cross
ciation in an active state Of organ
izatlo4 1t was determined that the
study OF disepses, methods of treat
ment, more -4icularly without the
use of al ~'ants, and the
educe s anu should
be pu, IN the formatl.. fthe
constitution of the American National
Red Cross association a still wider
range OF activities was adopted. 1t
was hoped that we should have no
wars, but calamities and disasters
were always to be apprehended, and
the organization determined to pro-
vide aid for such emergencies. Other
nations, seeing the usefulness OF what
has been called the american amend
ment" are following our example and
adding the amendment to their con-
stitutiona. During the past seventeen
years the American Red Cross has
given aid to sufferers in fifteen dis
asters or famines, the Russians, Ar
menians and Cubans being those who
have received aid outside Of our own
countrymen.
Notwithstanding the fact that Miss
Barton advocated starting hospitals
during peace, no such work has been
done in America, with the exception
of one institution which Miss Barton
installed and opened in the city of
New York in 1894 It was founded
by Miss Bettina Hofker-now the wife
of DR.. A. Monae Lesser--a graduate of
the Mount Sinai training school for
nurses, the daughter of general of
the Prussian army, and whose mother
and aunts had served as assistant
nurses during the Franco Prussian
| war.
The life of professional nurse is
one Of constant self-sacritice, but at