Evening star., 1926-09-23
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

ton of the durable victims, the re-
building of some of the shelters de-
stroyed, the feeding of orphans, chill
dren and homeless adults, and the
prevention of disease due to exposure
and insanitation. Thousands must be
| inoculated against typhoid, tetanus
and other diseases.
An article written by DR.. Reddin,
| published in a recent number or the
| Red Cross Courier, throws light upon
| that phase of relief of which the
public knows little. It is based upon
the last Winters flood in the Mid
west.
Summarizing his review or the
| work, DIR. Reddin explains:
Medical relief work has three dis
| tinct phases, each calling for diff
| ferent type of service.
| "First-The immediate emergency
| period, which lasts for one or two
| days, in which everybody rushes into
the stricken community to lend every
possible assistance. This Is the time
when doctors and nurses are too busy
| caring for the seriously injured TO
spend time for organizing. 1t Is the
| time when clubhouses. churches and
| libraries are turned into emergency
| hospitals. There is never a dearth
| of nurses or doctors.
"Second-The replacement period,
which begins about the third day. by
which time much of the excitement
| has subsidized, because emergency re-
| lief has been given, and groups and
individuals coming from distance
want to get back to regular work.
This period began about the third
day and reached it's maximum on the
fourth. 1t really does not constitute
an emergency, unless large groups
suddenly withdraw without giving at
least "a hours notice to those who
are temporarily in charge OF the
work.
'"Third-Finally, there is the third,
or consultation and rehabilitation.
period This begins at about the END
of the first week, and really overiaps,
to some degree, the second period. BY
this time the needs of the patients
have been thoroughly investigated
and the Red Cross medical director
has arranged with medical societies
in the larger communities to furnish
the best cOnsultants in orthopedlc
surgery. brain surgery. differential
diagnosis, neurology, dentistry, oph-
thalmology and psychiatry."
DR.. Reddin pointed to the volunteer
services of a leading surgeon of the
Missouri Baptist Sanitarium, DR..
Klinefelter, who, without pay, re
viewed every case of fracture in three
hospitals, performed so operations,
and lit is safe to say that this serV-
ice actually prevented the permanent
Gripping of at least so men, women
and children"
1t is the repeated experience of the
National Red Cross that the doctors.
surgeons and nurses never count the
measure of their personal sacrifices
If there be an emergency to be met.
Nor is the American public mig
gardly with it's financial cooperation.
The National Red Cross always has In
its treasury funds for quick use, with
out waiting for public donations.
Thus within a few hours 100000 was
forwarded, and signed checks with
blank amounts supplied TO responsible
officials on the scene. There was no
waiting for the million dollars which
has flooded in from all directions
within three days. Nor for the three
of four million which may yet be
needed, not in an effort to cover the
hundreds of millions OF damage, but
to assuage the suffering Of the sur
vivors, feed and shelter, and in some
cases provide the weak with prolonged
disqualification.
All contributions must be sent to
National Red Cross headquarters.
whence the funds needed will be sent
forward This requirement Is neces-
sary to prevent confusion and to make
accounting possible. All expenditures
are audited three times-by the Red
Cross accountants, by the local or
ganizations and by the accountants
Of the War Department.
While the Red Cross ia not a part
or the Government, the Government
is directly "A part OF the Red Cross.
FOR the President of the United States
~ It's president in fact aS wei as In
name and the War Department
financial experts give It's FUNDS th"
same systematic accounting that "
does with Army expenditures tn"
active head 20 the national urEnniEa
tion lv Judge John BARTON lhvn",
fufwor secretary of th" lutermr ~
President MllFuuHs rRhlnot, wh"
scrsra without salary aud pays hiH
own expenses a. du one ~ more
Other hlgh ofioiais
tCopTsshL iVaa. w. Pea D. csiIiaaA