New Britain herald., 1917-03-01
WORKERS OF MERCY
 CONTINUE EFFORTS
Surgical Dressings Committee Active in Relief for Suffering

| The local branch of the Surgical 1 Dressings committee, National Civic Federation. Woman's department. New England section. has just re ceived the following communication from the chairman, Mrs. Frederick s. Mead: N
 We have 1S0 branches in all parts of New England and a central depot at the Peter Bent Brigham hospital in Boston. .ss 1 In 1916 we shipped abroad 3,4oO,- 900 surgical dressings. The demand l for our dressings increases. We hope this year to send more. Four thousand volunteers, inspired | by a desire to relieve suffering and by wish to show in a practical way their sympathy gave their services. Money is needed to buy materials and to pay the expense of packing. More money is needed this year than before because of our increased output and because of the great in- crease in the cost of materials. If you sympathize, won't you help
 To justify this appeal we print the opinions of our Surgeons advisory committee and of. our financial ad- visors:
 We have no hesitation in endorsing the work of the Surgical Dressings committee. The dressings made are always of the first order of, excellence and, as some of us know from per- sonal experience. are perfectly adapt ed for us in the war hospitals abroad.
 HARVEY CUSHING, M. D.
 JOHN w. ELLIOT. M. D.
 ROBERT B. GOODNOUGH, M. ID.
 CHARLES ALLEN PORTER. M. D.
 HUGH WILLIAMS. M. D.
 We have kept in constant touch with the financial affairs of the Sur gical Dressings committee and are satisfied that the management is efi- cient and economical.
 GEORGE WIGGLESWORTH.
 WALTER c. BATTLES.
 ARTHUR ADAMS.
 Surgical dressings, the S. D. c. make more than forty different kinds, are used by surgeons to dress the wounds. The better they are made, sterilized and packed, the better tho wounded's chance for life. After life is saved comes convalescence, when comforts are of great aid-but sur gical dressings come first in point of time and importance. The surgical dressings committee make only sur gical dressings and certain hospital supplies,
 There are now in New England over four thousand women who have. been taught by the surgical dressings committee to make surgical dressings of the required standards. This will be of great help in case of need at home.
 Beside this important statement. the New England Section, sends from it's headquarters in Boston. a letter to all branches. For lack of space only the most significant paragraphs will be quoted here.
 "I know that your branch is eager for instruction in the present crisis in order to fulfill it's duties in the best way for our own country and the nations we are already serving.
 ''In the event of our country be- coming involved in war the Red Cross, is, as you know, the only re- lief organization authorized by our government. In this present crisis the services of the surgical dressings com mittee were pfced at. the disposal of MT. Eliot Wadsworth. acting chair man of the Red Cross. hope, more- over. that all members of the surgical dressings committee will join the Red Cross individually and take part in the Red Cross activities. We believe that there will be no need to retain for use in this country the dressings made in the surgical dressings branches at the present time, but should the United States really need surgical supplies on large scale. the women of the surgical dressings com mittee will, I am sure, be the first to place their supplies and their ser vices at the disposal of the Red Cross for the country's needs.
 ''The work which the surgical dressings committee is undertaking for the Red Cross will take all our available nurses for several months. I therefore, beg you to continue your work for European relief along your usual lines.
 "Mr. Godfrey Dodge of the Ameri- can Distributing Service writes, urg- ing immediate and continued ship ments in order that there may be enough dressings ready for the opera tions which will be carried on in such gigantic scale in the Spring.
 we are assured by the shipping agencies that ships and cargoes will go forward as usual.
 Believe me for the committee,
 Yours very sincerely,
 "(Mrs. Frederick S.)
 Katherine R. Mead,
 Chairman"
 The local committee will be glad to hear of new volunteer workers. Chairman-Mrs.H H. E. Humason. Treasurer-Mrs w C. HunRerford. Secretary-Mrs G. S. Talcott