The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-03-17
$4,000 ONLY
OBTAINED FOR
HOSPITAL
Emergency-CasuaIty Drive for
$780, 900 Will Come to
Its Close Today.

The 100000 campaign of Emer-
gency and Casualty Hospital comes
to a close today. The more than
600 workers will gather tomorrow
in the ballroom of the new Willard
Hotel to make final reports. Since
the campaign opened on March Z,
workers have collected nearly
| $17O,000
Col. Edward Clifford, campaign
chairman, today sent out an ap-
peal. to all those whom workers
have not approached to send in
contributions.
There are thousands Of persons
whom our workers will not reach
but who want to contribute" Col
onel Clifford said. "These persons
should mail or bring their dona-
tons to campaign headquarters,
Fourteenth and G streets north
west"
Renews Acquaintance.
A little incident that took place
at Emergency Hospital few days
ago brought to light the happy
aftermath Of one of the most dis.
tressing cases in the records Of the
institution.
Little Thelma Lee Pickett, seven
years old, smiling, rosy-cheeked,
fairly bubbling over with the care
free happiness of childhood, came to
renew acquaintance with her friends
| among the doctors and nurses who
literally saved her life when she
was brought to Emergency last year
as a victim Of Fourth Of July fire.
works.
Her present appearance made a
striking contrast, in the minds of
those who had cared for her. with
the terribly burned and twisted lit
tie figure that was brought in on
the verge Of death. July 8, Of last
year.
She had been playing with some
leftover fireworks, some "sparklers, 81
and, fearful that she might be seen
with them, tried to hide one behind
her back while 1t was going. She
held 1t too close and in an instant
her clothing was a mass Of flames
Saved by Heroic Work.
Her cries brought help quickly
hut not before she had received
burns that ordinarily would be fatal
The Emergency ambulance rushed
her to the hospital on one of its
thousands Of such trips, and ther
began a battle for her life that
lasted the better part Of two
weeks.
The little life was in danger OF
being snuffed out at any moment
and only heroic work on the part OF
the doctors and nurses saved her.
; Much Of the credit for her re
markable recovery is ascribed t.
DIR. Noble Dick, who was at thai
time one of the hospital physicians
but Is now attending the University
of South Carolina. DIR. Dick tool
particular interest in the pitifu
case and for some time was watch
ing over the little patient almost
constantly. Hospital officials recall
that he spent many hours caring
for her when he was supposed Il
be off duty, devoting much of his
leisure as we'll as working hour!
to a ceaseless effort to save thu
little girls life.
DIR. John l.. De Mayo, another
Of the hospitals physicians who I.
; still with Emergency, and Mis-!
Rubey Payne, one Of the nurses II
charge of the children's ward, wer,
among those most active in takint
care Of the case and were warmly
greeted by little Thelma on her re
, cent visit to the hospital.
Father Disabled Vet.
DIR. William B. Marbury was tn,
attending physician, and was an
other who spent many hours in tn,
work. Thelma's father is a dis
abled ex.service man and could no
come to the hospital with her, bu
her mother was with her almos
constantly during her fight for life
The little patients burns EXTENDED
over almost her entire back and he
arms were burned so severely tina
they were twisted out of shap
and could scarcely be moved. Con
tinuous baths were necessary ant
were given day after day, repre-
senting a severe ordeal for doctor
and nurses as well as for tn
patient.
Very little hope was held out 70
her life when she was brought t,
the hospital, but everything pos
sible was done, and success wa
finally the result, after nearly tw,
months Of the most difficult ant
exacting treatment.
Treated Six Weeks.
After leaving the hospital, Thel
ma had to be brought back to tn
dispensary for redressings and treat
ments over a period Of about 81,
weeks. The case attracted wild
attention at the time on accoun
Of its extreme severity and becaus
Of the remarkable results obtaine'
by the treatment.
The patient was described as ,
mighty lucky girl" at the hos
pital on her recent visit when /
was shown that she had com
pletely recovered.
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"Grab plenty Of speed before leav
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