Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-02
NEIGHBORHOOD CELEBRATIONS
TO PROVIDE SAFETY FIRST

safety first" is to be the slogan of In
dependence Day Neighborhood celebra-
tions are planned for the patriotic holi-
day by so or more sectional committees
under the supervision of the executive
committee of the Citizens Reconstructed
Fourth Association.
Programs which promise fun as varied
as could be pictured in the widest flights
of childish Imagination are prepared for
and a day of safe and sane pleasure is
to overshadow anything that has hereto
fore been undertaken.
Fireworks exacted heavy toll in the
city and suburbs last Independence Day.
Four lives were sacrificed and 236 injuries
were sustained during the celebration OF
the nations birth. according to figures
secured from the city hospitals and COM
piled by DR.. Samuel Wolf, chairman of
the Accident Committee of the Citizens
Reconstructed Fourth Association. This
was a disappointment to the association.
which had hoped to make a record in
the small number of injuries.
Prominent doctors and surgeons of the
city deplore the indiscriminate use OF
fireworks and firearms and disapprove
OF the carelessness of parents, who under
the mantle of patriotism, close their eyes
to the imminent dangers of Fourth of
July explosives. "Sparklers,' which were
a special delight to children and parents
lessness, were found to be quite the con-
trary, and were the cause of several in
1urtes. according to reports of the Acci-
dent Committee of the association.
Burns Of the face and hands are the
most common among the cases brought to
the hospitals" said DR.. John Livngood,
In charge Of the minor accident ward of
Jefferson Hospital today Fire crackers
exploding in the hands. sky rockets held
through ignorance after ignition, pin
wheels and Roman candles exploding un-
expectedly. seem to be the most fire.
quent causes of injuries.
In every Fourth OF July injury there
Is the possibility of the development OF
tetanus. owing to gunpowder and dirt
being imbedded in the wound with the
wadding. There has been a wonderful
decrease in the death rate from tetanus
since the universal use of the anti
toxin, but the fact must not be over
looked that 1t has come hand in hand
with more safe and sane observance
OF the day."
Fourth OF July tetanus has virtually
disappeared" said DIR. ]. Chalmers Da
Costa, professor of surgery at Jefferson
Medical College. THE administration of
the tetanus antitoxin treatment has re-
aueed the number of known cases from
'oo IN 1900 to seven cases in 1912"
Fine particles of gunpowder are often
-.Nffh AAto the eyes, SAID DF. 10. A.
ehumway, instructor in opthalmology at
me University of Pennsylvania and visit
ing oeulist for several city hospitals.
Ihey are exceedingly difficult to remove,
olten causing serious injury ON account
OF infection after attempts to remove
tnem Frequently they penetrate the eye
pan, causing injury to the delicate struc-
lures such as crystalline lens, thus pro-
oneing cataract. Where an explosion As
from high explosive and near TO the
eye the eyeball Is at times completely
shattered and must be removed. This Is
frequently known TO happen in examin-
ing an nnexploded piece OF fireworks,
suen as flower pots. the result being not
eiss.i, enly the destruction OF the eye but con-
s'u'assple s.I5,Aot destruction OF the bony orbit
fleees OF metal are often blown into
me she eye by explosion OF toy pistols, also |
9ls OF copper from cartridge shells. In
me ~ latter case the injury is usually fatal
- me eye because the copper cannot be
removed BY the method usually emnloved
namely the magnet"