Evening star., 1935-10-20
RED CROSS ACTS
TO CURB DISEASE
Annual Report Cites Pre-.
ventive Work Among
Mothers and Babies.


Prevention of disease occupied
prominent position on the roster of
Red Cross activities during the past
year, according to the annual report
of the American Red Cross made
public yesterday.
Safeguarding the lives Of mothers
and babies, through prenatal and
child health conferences, constituted
one of the chief lines of defense uti-
lized by the Red Cross in carrying on
the battle against pestilence and pre-
ventable diseases.
Recognizing that public health to-
day is a community concern, Admiral
Cary T. GraySon, chairman OF the
National Red Cross, revealed the So
ciety is placing increasing attention
on the state of the Nations health.
The report stated the organization Is
building a program for the coming
year with the aim in mind of as
sisting already organized health agen-
cies or inaugurating adequate health
services in communities now with
out one.
Increase Among Jobless.
Admiral GraySon pointed out. In
commenting on the report, that actual
studies have proved concluSively that
the incidence of illness is much higher
among the unemployed and people in
the lower income brackets than 1t Is
among those with moderate or more
comfortable incomes.
Public health nursing services were
maintained by $50 chapters in COM
munities scattered throughout the
United States, with 765 nurses being
employed by them in this work. Close
cooperation was given local and State
public health agencies in various Sec
tions of the country, in many cases
assisting local agencies in health prof.
ects where public funds were not
available.
A total of 214,444 cases was cared
for by Red Cross public health nurses
during the year, 1,156003 visits being
necessary in giving this care. Through
the same period 633. .944 school or pre-
school children were inspected by the
nurses. OF these, $685. 1923 were found
to be suffering from one or more
physical defects, while 195,l37 of these
children were treated by the Red
Cross or cooperating physicians.
Increase in Hygiene Course.
The report indicated an increas-
ing number of mothers and young
women are taking courses in home hy-
giene and care of the sick, which is
standardized subject in chapters in
all sections of the country. During
the past year 52,l96 persons have
completed this course and received
their certificate or cards, with 1888
instructors caring for the classes.
In the field Of prevention" Ad-
miral Grayson said. the Red Cross
has had an unusually busy year. We
have imnunized more than 54.700
children. most of them of pre-school
age, in an effort to combat the dan
gers of diphtheria, this work being a
major project in many Red Cross
chapters.
In combating pellagra, 388 chap
ters in the Eastern section of the
country and 70 chapters in the Mid
west are carrying on pellegra- control
work and distributing yeast. Between
$4,000 and 10000 persons have re-
ceived treatment during the past
year"
An indication of the increasing USE
fulness Of the Red Cross public health
nursing program was shown in the
report. It stated that cases visited
by Red Cross nurses increased 80 per
cent over the period covered by the
previous report.
Rogers Fund Aids.
Admiral Grayson revealed that the
Will Rogers Nursing Fund. made pos
sible through a gift of S25,000 last
year by the beloved actor and news
commentator, had assisted in support
ing public health services in 81 COM
munities of 27 States Mr. Rogers
expressed the wish. at the time the
gift was made, that it be used to guar
antee the continuance of public health
services where local funds were not
available. A complete report covering
the expenditure of the fund had been
made to Rogers shortly before his
tragic death.
Public health services in 47 chapters
Of the Red Cross in Northeastern
States were continued through a gift
of $4,000 made by the northern juris-
| diction Of the Scottish Rite Masons,
this sum being added to an earlier
gift of $4,000 made during the pre-
vious year.
AS means of eradicating MANU-
triton, especially among children, 270
home economists assisted chapters in
educational efforts to raise the nu-
triton level Of families In many Sec
tions Of the country. In So chapters,
155 of these home economists served
as instructors in Red Cross food and
nutrition courses. In addition, 4,141
Red Cross certificates or cards were
issued to students completing work
in these courses.