Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1919-08-29
FED CROSS NURSE IN GREENB1IE3,


assembled at the Court House at .
o'clock Tuesday afternoon to en-
courage and support the Red Cross
Chapter of the county in its appli-
Gallon to the County Court for aid,
with an appropriation of 5000
per month toward the salary of a
professional Red Cross county
nurse whose energies and activi-
ties are to be given to the promo
ton Of the health and we'll being of
school youth and the people gen
erally-a work TO which the Ameri-
can Red Cross, aided by National
and State governments, is turning
its attention, now that the war is
over and its services are no longer
needed in alleviating the sufferings
of the sick and wounded soldiers.
Mrs. Dora Biggs, chairman of
the County Red Cross Chapter, first
addressed the Court briefly ex-
planning the proposition the Court
was asked to consider. She said
the salary of such a professional
nurse as it was desired to employ
would be ST 100000 a year, one-half
of which the Red Cross would pro-
vide for with all the necessary
equipment, ETC., the Court being
asked to provide for the other half.
After a few additional remarks tell
ing of the great health movement
now attracting wide attention
throughout the country, Mrs. Biggs
introduced number of persons
prominently affiliated with the
movement, among whom was Miss
Ophelia NJ. FeamSter, a Red Cross
nurse.
"A letter from Miss jamie Price.
who had recently made a personal
tour of a portion of Lcwisburg dis
trlct, was read. 1t reported about
q half dozen cases, some of them
touching and pathetic, all showing
The need of just such assistance as
q trained nurse could give and re-
vcaling distressing conditions-the
results Of ignorance or poverty
which a we'll regulated community
should not allow to go unrclicvcd.
Miss Feamstcr, who for some
years has had a large experience in
this line of work, and who is ma
tive OF our county, being a daugh-
ter of the late Thos. l.. Feamster,
of Lewisburg, explained the kind
of service the County Nurse would
Go in organizing the teachers and
the people in the health movement,
visiting the schools, instructing the
ignorant and the careless in the
laws of health, prevention of dis
eases, etc. In the rural districts,
particularly, where the people
have fewer advantages, she was
convinced the rural nurse would
render the most valuable service
and earn her wages many times
over.
MIR. Palmer, secretary of the Fay
cite County Chapter American Red
Cross, told of what was being done
in other states for the health of the
people. He reminded the Court
that very large percentage of the
young men drafted for war service
were found physical unfit the re-
suit often of ignorance or neglect
in youth, when the cause of the
defect might have been removed.
DR.. S. II. Austin, speaking from
the viewpoint Of a professional
man OF large observation and cx-
pcricncc. hearth, approved the
proposition TO employ County
Nurse.
Col. ThoS. II. Dennis, speaking on
behalf of Thc independent, did not
doubt the power or the right of the
Court to make the appropriation
asked and felt assured tnat the SER
vice OF a competent. we'll qualified,
enthusiastic nurse always at work
in the schools and homes of the
county teaching and insisting upon
the observance of the wcll-recog-
nizcd laws of health and means of
preventing the spread of disease
would bring excellent results and
lully Justify her employment. He
was satisfied that when the people
saw what the nurse was doing
preSlIning, Of course, that she knew
Ter busincSS-(and here we might
add no Other than graduate nurse
who has taken a special eight
months course under Red Cross in
struction after hcr graduation as a
trained nurse, can qualify for the
position of County Nurse they
would approve and Justify the ap-
preparation.
MIR. }. S. McWhortcr regarded
the appropriation asked for as an
investment and believed il would
yield the most satisfactory returns.
flc presented an order making the
approximation which fbc Court or
ter brief consultation, approved
and directed to be entered Of rec
ord.
Some one, faCctiously inclined,
remarked, during The pending of