Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-02-10
DOING SPLENDID WORK

| For MEMBERSHIPS Been in Exist
| ence Ten Years-All Urged to Join
Dues Only One Dollar 4 Year.
All Alexandria has prolited and is
profiting by the work Of the Anti
| tuberculosis Society, and yet it IS
believed that there are many Alex
andrians especially among the recent
arrivals, who know nothing of its ex-
! istence.
Just ten years ago the Alexandria
branch of the society was organized.
It's original design was to help by
propaganda and by active service III
the crusade against tuberculosis. 1t
has been, and continues to be, reSpon-
sibie for sending at various times,
tubercular patients from Alexandria
to the State tuberculosis Sanitarium
and paying their expenses while there.
Soon, however, this sphere Of useful
ness was broadened to include work
amongst all the sick and suffering of
Alexandria.
In 1911, through the generosity Of
the Hon. c. c. Carlin, and with the
cooperation of the Alexandria Hos
pital, the society was able to engage a
district nurse. Since then, the growth
Of the city has made 4 second nurse
necessary. Since last July, Alexandria
has mad the benefit of the service of
two district nurses, engaged and main
tanned by the Anti-Tubcrcuosis So
cicty, which has become, therefore,
also a visiting and instructive nurses
All through the heat of last summer
and during the prcvelancc of typhoid
these nurses did most faithful wcrl:
among the many needing their care
and attention. When October brought
the most terrible epidemic that has
ever ravagcd the community, the m
ilucnza committee was unable to OBJ
tain outside nurses and so the bulk Of
the house to house nursing fell on
these two.
During the month of October they.
made over one thousand nursing visits
They worked day and night, and many
households have had cause to bless the
rames of Miss Shots and Miss Br.s-
tow, both amongst the INDECENT poor
and amongst others, vino would glad
ly have paid for outside help, but were
unable to find it at any price.
Several members of the AntiTuber-
culoss Society also took active posi-
tions on the Influenza Committee and
many of the needed supplies were fur
nishcd through their efforts and dis
tributcd by the district nurses.
Since the waning of the epidemic
many patients suffering from the af-
ter effects of influenza have been visit
ed and instructions in sanitation and
health measures given by
these nurses. 1t is blieved that in Il
number of these cases, the danger of
the development of tuberculosis, or
other serious complication, has been
thus prevented.
The funds of the society are raised
by membership dues, one dollar per
! ear, assisted by the proceeds of an
occasional entertainment and the sub
scriptions of few public, spirited
The sum of fifty cents
i visit is also paid by the Mctropoli-
tan Life Insurance ompany for cach
nursing visit, made to Il patient who
holds policy in that company. THIS
amount was augmented during the
nine years proceeding 1918. by the
sum of $3.50 yearly, allowed 70 the
society by the City Council, for its
care Of the poor of the city. The So
ciety has no office expenses, every cent
contributed goes directly into the
Of patient at Catawba,
the payment of the salaries of tn@
district nurses, and the purchase OF
medical and surgical supplies used
Gy them.
This work. which certainly vitally
concerns everyone in tbc community.
has been so far, carried on by a COM
parative few While the individual suo-
scriptions have been generous, they
have not been many in number. The
membership is small and the society
is anxious to enlarge it TO include
every Alexandrian who has the health
and public welfare of his city at heart.
Supplies, money, and above all, an au-
.omobilc for the use Of the nurses in
making their rounds arc all urgently
needed if this most important public
work is to be adequately and efficient,