Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-14
TREATS OF MANY SUBJECTS
Reply to Mr.. Dalton's Charge of In
justice to Railroads.
FACTS TO MEET THE SITUATION
Interstate Commerce Commission
Quoted as Authority-Ki1led and
Injured Statistics.
By WILLIAM e. CURTIS.

Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
The Red Cross Society is becoming
more and more practical and is getting
closer and closer to the everyday life Of
the people. In the past 1t has been dis
tinguished by affording relief in times of
great calamities. famines. epdemics,
floods. fires and plaques, but as the or
ganization spreads throughout the country
and becomes localized it's merciful mis-
sions reach the thresholds Of the school
house and the home. Miss Boardman,
the ingenious and energetic secretary,
who is always devising some new plan
Of usefulness is now circulating q little
pocket edition Of THE American National
Red Cross Text Book; A Manual Of In
| struction: How to Prevent Accidents, and
What to Do for Injuries and Emergen-
cies" 1t was prepared by Maj. Charles
Lynch OF the Medical Corps of the United
States Army, who distinguished himself
as medical attache with the Japanese
army during the late war with Russia
and has recently been detailed to make a
special study of possibilities Of Red Cross
aid to armies in time Of war.
Taft Endorses Red Cross Manual.
The book is published for the Red Cross
Society. and Is being circulated from the
headquarters in the War Department with
the hearty Endorsement OF Judge Taft,
who was president of the Red Cross So
ciety long before he was elected President
OF the United States. Brig. Gen. r. NJ.
O. Reilly, surgeon general of the United
States Army, writes the preface. in which
he explains the necessity and the useful
ness OF the booklet. which. he says, will
fn All a nlaro ftS In the
over-increas1ng movement for the RELIEF
of human suffering"
Notwithstanding the many excellent
works already in existence on frst-aid In
OReilly, none Of the writer's, so far as I
know, have given much thought to teach
ing the prevention Of accidents. While
this subject Is necessarily treated rather
briefly here, at least enough Is said to call
attention to the Importance Of prevention
as contrasted with cure, and, for this rea-
son, 1t seems to me peculiarly appropriate
that this book should have the indorse-
ment of the Red Cross, as the benefcent
mission of that association, like that of
the good physician in treating disease.
should be to go deeply into causes which
are responsible for the physical sufferings
of humanity, rather than resort solely to
palliative measures.
Another novelty in the present manual
is that 1t treats not only of first aid as
columns. bodies designed to administer
first aid as organizations Army condi-
tons emphasize the necessity for the crea-
ton Of organizations in order that first
aid may be given with maximum eff
cheney. And there are many situations in
civil life, such as vast concourses OF peO-
pie, great fires. railroad disasters. which
equally demand first-aid organizations in
stead of individuals. who. however we'll
taught they may be, must, under such
circnn stances work at cross PURPOSES.
unless they are united into a disciplined
body in which the specia! duties of each
are carefully Defined
Tells What to Do in All Cases
DR. O'Reilly might have added some
thing about the Importance of the little
book for the household, for ii seems to
contain directions for every possible &C
cident that may occur to human creatures
from conclusion Of the brain to chill
blains There ought to be copy on
every farm and ranch, in every factory
and workshop, on every foot ball field
and in every gymnasium. There ought to
be a copy in every automobile Every
railway conductor and brakeman should
be required to carry 1t in their pockets
for it tells them what to do in every kind
of accident. Organizations seek such
books for the instruction and guidance
Of their members. but they must be
brought to the attention of the household.
where l think this will be most useful in
preventing as we'll as In relieving little
accidents that occur daily and the little
Affections that children and grown peo-
pie suffer. These are often thought to be
so insignificant that no attention is paid
to them, like mosquito bites. stings of
insects poisons from ivy. burns and
scalds, wounds from f1shhooks or shot
guns DR.. Lynch has explained what to
do under every circumstance and condi-
ton.
Recommended as a Text Book.