The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-18
DR.. EAVES SAYS THE
CHRISTMAS SEALS
ARE SELLING WELL
Good Reports Are Being
Received From All Over
the State-Appeals, for
Sustaining Members

The Rev. George Eayes, secretary, of
the Jefferson County Anh-Tuberculosis
association. is very optimistic over the
results from the Christmas seals cam
paign, which is now in progress. He re-
ports that good sales are being made
and expects to net at least $2500 for local
work from the sale of the stamps. In
discussing the campaign, DR.. Eaves said
last night:
How goes the seals sale? Fine! 1t
was begun early and was we'll thought
out. But it is early as yet to estimate
result Last year we made estimates
which were not reached IN fact. Never
theless we have conservatively issued
stocks of seals, and We hope that we
may not fall short of $3.50 from that
source alone for use by our local associa-
ton.
Turning to the work outside the Bir-
mingham district it is encouraging to hear
good reports from many small communi-
ties where the work has been done by
the school children This is new fea.
ture and praise is due to jefferson county
teachers who have thrown energy into
lillS phase OF euucdllOlldl leduefSnlp.
I'VE have been able to secure the tenn
porary aid of a nurse from the National
Red Cross nursing service for some spe-
cial investigation in a semi-rural part of
Jefferson county. The results will be pub
lished when the work has gone little
further
Two points should be clearly kept in
mind. The first is the campaign for
pledged membership, belonging to what
We call the sustaining member group.
These pay not less than 81 monthly, and
provide a steady income throughout the
year. We not only need more money
wisely to extend the work. but more
equally distributed income. We have been
frequently in debt for nee essary supplies,
a condition caused by insufficient means
in our general fund. 1t is wrong to the
merchants with whom we deal, though
they have been uniformly kind. Hence
also we have been forbidden to enlarge
our operations. though the work is cry
ing to be done more adequately.
"A committee of business men. with
some professional men, has begun can
vass for the raising therefore of strong
sustaining membership. The money so
obtained will come in monthly or quar-
tery, and will be spent on more visiting
nurses. to segregate hundreds of ad-
vanced tuberculosis in the homes of the
people, supplying necessary extra food,
sputum cups. and other apparatus for
safeguarding the public. It should in
terest the people to know that we have
spent on an average SO month for
sputum cups. during the past year. We
get these at manufacturers prices, and
buy them in quantities. 1t is on such
things as well as care for many pat
tents as possible at our Red Mountain
sanatorium, that the money is needed.
We hope that the committee soliciting
members on this basis will De heartily
welcomed everywhere.
This brings up the second point: the
benevolent side of the work, while il is
true that we are not primarily charity
but a health service. much the larger part
of 1t is for those who cannot pay. The
nurse service, most valuable OF all,
though unseen by the public. is entirely
free, as is the dispensary and clinic de-
partment. Now and then we get a thank
Offering from someone examined by our
physicians at the dispepsary, but this
is rare and unasked. That work is for
the poor: also two-thirds to four-fifths
of the patients at the camp are unable
10 pay. 4 HIS spur the lHltItSl
and generosity of the committees those
who sell the seals. and those whose aid
is asked. The association mostly needs
money and members.
Hearty response Is being made to the
churches seals appeal all over Alabama
this year. Many of the editors of coun-
ty papers are featuring the matter, the
schools have taken 1t up, and in many
cases progress has been made towards
county associations. These associations
will easily gain more means as their
purpose is better understood by the pub
lic-at-large. They win employ visiting
nurses in the first place. as Tuscaloosa
association has been doing during the
past year.
For instance. the Rev. Mr.. Briscoe. OF
Camp HILL is reaching through the coun-
ty, and making a splendid beginning. lie
is the Baptist pastor there. The ladies at
Chandler, in Butler county, got up d
bazar, sold seals and one way or an
other raised s673O. which they have sent
to DR.. Stabler, the county secretary, at
Greenville.
Decatur il doing finely apd 50 is An
niston. Many places are ordering new
supplies of seals. On the whole we may
conclude that great impression has
been made through the seals. on the am
biton of Alabama to fight tuberculosis" "