The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-03-01
THE ANNJtAn REPORT.
Civic League Nurse Work for The
Year 1918.

We are again taking advantage of
the kindness of The Daily Item to
make public the annual report of the
Nurse Work Of the Civic League of
Sumter. The statistical report Of
Miss Antonia Gibson, r. NJ, follows:
i Total number Of patients, 272.
Total number Of visits paid pa
tients, 1904.
Births, 90.
Deaths. 10.
Sent to Tourney Hospital, 26.
| Number Of tubercular patinets, 49,.
Deahs from tuberculosis, s Gin
cluded in above all colored).
Number cases typhoid fever, l..
Deaths from typhoid, none.
Number OF cases influenza, 147.
Deaths from influenza, 2.
Number CT families on visiting
list, rs.
Number Of welfare visits to others
than patients, about 1000,
Above we have given a bare state
ment Of facts. In between the lines
is written a history of inestimable
service We wish that every one in
Sumter could realize fully what our
nursing service means to the COM
munity. Great as is its value from
|a humanitarian point Of view, its ed.
ucational value. is even greater.
When cur nurse goes into a home,
She not only tends the sick whom she
has been called to see, but by pre-
cept and example she teaches the
well how to take care Of them
selves and others In the matter Of
sanitation at leas,, every man is his
Brothers keeper. If our premises
are filthy, if we take no precautions
in illness and permit flies and dirt
our neighbor is endangered. If he is
unsanitary in any or all particulars,
we and our children will suffer: All
this is being taught by our nursing
service, and we believe it has had
enormous practical results in inproy-4
ing the health conditions Of Sumter.
1t is therefore with no hesitation
that we urge the cooperation OF
every thinking man and woman III
Sumter. Like every other institn-
ton our nurse service needs money to
keep it up. We hope that the many
W
continue to do So. ard if possible in
crease their subscriptions, and we
also hope that the many. who have
never. given cent will realize the
importance Of this work in the com
munity, and will see. that it does not
collapse for a lack OF funds.
Except for the two terrible cpl
denies of influenza which we shall
mention later, the year has been
comparatively free of illness. No as
sidoc:s, only one typhoid case, and
from those ofttinae prolific causes, is
a splendid record for any town.. and
proves the efficiency Of our nursing
service One more tubercular pa
tient with the same. number OF
deaths (S) as last year. This year
has seen the establishment Of our
long needed tubercular hospital. So
far there have not been many pa
tents sent to Camp Alice-but We
know communities. have to be edu7
Gated up to their improvements.
Efficient work has already been dcne. |
and we look for large results in the
future. In December the Civic LeagEe |
sent Miss Gibson to Boston to take
special course in the care and feed /
ing of babies. She feels that the ex-
perience has been very beneficial and
has already helped her in her work.
She is certain that already one little
life has been saved by the added
knowledge she gained on her trip.
Sc 1,1 q L
IN Sumter as it is throughout the
country for its series Of epidemics OF
influenza. In the first epidemic in
October Miss Gibson saw forty-Se ven
cases and had two deaths, then she
herself succumbed to the disease
and was i'll for about a month. He;
work was carried on by the splendid
Relief Committee Of the, Civic League
The second violent epidemic started
about Christmas, and for weeks Miss
Gibson visited from fifty to sixty pa
asked Miss Smith, r. N, to assist in
the work which she did for one week.
During the epidemic Miss Gibson and
Miss Smith visited one hundreG.
cases, but no deaths occurred
though there were several severe
cases of pneumonia. The GONZALES
cents are being looked after and al
Of them are doing we'll. but we would
he glad to have more milk than We
have so far been able to procure.
Fifteen quarts are being distributed
each day at the school to children
who need the nourishnIent. We need
more for the homes and will bel
glad to have contributions or to COM
.nunicate with with any one who can
sell. and deliver, one or more quarts
a day.
Mrs Hugh C. Haynswortf.
Chairman Nurse Deartment
Receipts in the Civic League Nurse
Fund from February 1918 to Feb
ruarv 1919 have been as follows: