The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-28
WORK OF THE RED CROSS
THE ORGANIZATION SPENDING MucH
MONEY FOR SICK SOLDIERS.
Supplying Medicines, DeIicacies ana
Many Things the Government Does
Not Furnish Its Fighters,
FLORIDA T.mes-Union and Citizen.

Florida T.meS-Jnlon and Citizen.
| Few people in Jacksonville have an idea
| of the great good that is being done among
| the sick soldiers by the American National
| Red Cross through its agent, DR.. Kent
| who has been here nearly ever since ths
| first regiment arrived. 1t can truthfully
| be said that without the assistance that
has been rendered by the Red Cross in the
| caring for sick soldiers many of the CON-
| forts and even necessities that they enjoy
would be practically unknown things. and
| the Red Cross even goes SO far as to sup
ply medicines that are not to be found on
| the requisition blanks of the United States
| medical department.
| Most people fail to understand why it is
that the great and rich government of the
| United States does not supply everything
that is needed to care for sick soldiers-men
who have volunteered their lives and their
| services in behalf of their country to up
hold its honor and integrity, men who are
not working for wages (for the wages of 4
private are a mere pittance)-and why that
| these soldiers should be dependent upon
| charity-for the Red Cross is simply a big
| charitable institution-for many of the
| things that are absolutely necessary during
| illness and to restore them to health and
strength.
1t is true that the government reguia-
tons provide that the rations that soldier
would otherwise eat if well can be disposed
| of for such delicacies that are needed when
| sick. and yet that such measures do not
| begin to supply the needs and necessities
| is shown by the almost thousand and one
| things that the Red Cross is constantly
| called upon to furnish to the army hospi-
| tails, and without which much suffering
would unquestionably result.
| A Times Union and Citizen representative
called on DR.. Kent yesterday to ascertain
what is being done here by the Red Cross
| DR.. Kent's office is located in the Dey
building, on Adams street, just west OF
Main, and here he keeps on hand supply
of such things as are constantly being need
cd in the hospitals. Among the articles may
| be enumerated com starch, condensed milk.
matted milk gelatine, tapioca, calves-foot
| jelly, Quaker oats, pepsonoids, clam boull-
! lon, SOAP crackers, besides numerous other
| things, and when the articles wanted
| not on hand Dr. Kent sends out and pur-
chases them from the merchants of the
city.
AS an instance of this kind, it may lie
stated that when the recuperation camp
was established at Pablo DR.. Kent pur-
chased the furnishings for the mess tables.
including knives, spoons, forks and dishes,
| besides cooking utensils wash basins and
| also mattresses, SpongeS, cuspldorS ana
other things. Without the aid of the Red
| Cross these things would not have ben
| available, and yet they are things that
were absolutely necessary, and which it
| would seem that the government would
| Itself supply.
! barrel of sugar, barrel of rice, barrel
of barley, together with clam bullion;
Quaker oats, extract of beef. condensed
nnIf cd mill 0ai
starch, calves foot jelly, soda biscuits ana
other things that were necessary for the
| convalescents One bill was shown 10 the
Times Union and Citizen of purchases mace
i for this purpose of things not on hand,
| which amounted to $l6l.
DR. Kent as sthe representative of the
society also finds field of usefulness in
supplying the hospitals with milk, fur
nishing all, or nearly all, that is used IN
the three division hospitals in Jackson
VILE This amounts to $50 gallons
daily, being purchased at an average cost
$3.50 per day This milk is as necessary
to soldiers who sick with typhoid
fever as medicine is. and the fact that
the government is dependent on, or at
any rate relies on, the Red Cross to fur
rish this shows how essential the Red Cross
is to the government in the care of its sick
soldiers.
It should be stated in this connection
that the medical department of the Sew
enth Corps and DR.. Kent as the repre-
sentative of the Red Cross, have worked
in the utmost harmony, and every facility
possible has been extended TO DR.. Kent
to enable him to carry on the good WORK
that the Red Cross is enabled to do ny
reason of the charitably disposed people
of the United States.
is doing here may be cited in the ice that
is furnished daily, not only 10 the division
ing the drinking water. The ice bill alone
for the first twelve days of this month
amounted to $1,02l.05. When the troops hfst
came here this ice cost IS per ton, ana then
it went up to IS on account of the great
demand for ice in the peach districts OF
Georgia 1t has now dropped to 81. The Red
Cross furnishes 600 pounds of ice daily 10
every regiment in camp unless II be one or
two regiments that have recently arrived,
as much ice as is needed at the hospitals.
The Red Cross also sends ice to the recup-
Grafton camp at Pablo. 1t is STATED tnat
the government furnishes $50 pounds per
regiment TO be used for the keeping OF
meats.
1t is impossi.le to give list of the things
that DIR. Kent has distributed since his ar
rival here, but IL amounts to a great deal
and the money value is great. He has been
limited in his expenditures only by ms
needs of the sick soldiers. and that he Is
using this authority in the best interests
of the sick goes, without saying ,oo,
Among the other things that have Deeh
purchased may be mentioned cots, sheets.
pillows and pillow cases. pa amas ana othett
things. Dr. Kent stated yesterday thar
of 1900 sheets, 600 pillow cases, 2o05 pa
jamas and 500 buckets to be nsed in the nos.
has also purchased in the city, and nao ~
his office yesterday. ready for delivery;
some six dozen mosquito nets, and staltu
that he had ordered fifty more nets mac
To enumerate the many things that DI
Kent has distributed or to tell of the goc1
work that has been done here by the ReI
Cross is impossible. He has only 10 10
informed of what is needed and when IL
is not at hand ii is purchased and forWaIu
ed to the hospital. There is no governmeht
red tape about it, and for this reason 70
is frequently called upon TO furnish tnihss
that could be secured from the government
were it not for the delay in getting them.
1t might be stated that where the gol,
eminent leaves off in caring for its slCA
the Red Cross steps in and takes up INC
labor, supplying such things as are needeo
for the men in their weakened condltloh.
1t is possible that III the Red Cross ola hot
exist the government would Itself supply
these things. the duty being forced upon -
by the very necessity of the case, even Il
not by public opinion. In some of the caInps
at the present time, the Red Cross has hos
an agent and many of the delicacies anu
necessities that are supplied at the Hospitals
here are lacking. This is said to be uue
at Fernandina, where the Red Cross Is Hos
at present represented, although DR.. Kent
has sent over few things. II stated yes
terday that If the troops remained at Feis
nandina, an agent of the society Wouiu
probably be sent there.
When the troops first came to jackson.
vile. the Red Cross offered to send fehl1io
nurses here for the hospitals, but TINS oiIeF
was refused. just as the government nas ~,