Evening star., 1936-05-24
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

The oxygen tent treatment of pneu-
monia and kindred diseases had its
birth 81 years ago. and this important
historical humanitarian event Is visual
lied Tor future generations in painting
which holds place of honor in the
Army Medical Museum and Library.
Because he believes in honoring those
who save lives even more than in honor
ing heroes who have come to fame
through destruction of lives, Rep. Harry
L. Haines of Pennsylvania directed the
attention Of his colleagues in Congress,
and the public at large. on Friday, to a
birthday anniversary celebration in York,
Pa, which was once for a brief period
the National Capital.
In the court house at York last Friday
gathered the judges. doctors from far
and near-all the important personages
In that entire area-to pay tribute to DR..
George w. Holtzapple. now "a years of
age. who gave the first oxygen treat
ment to pneumonia patient in a crude
but effective way-so effective that the
patient continued to live for the past 81
years and joined in the celebration.
Less than year out of medical school,
DR.. Holtzapple was practicing his pro-
fession in Logansville, York County, Pa.
a very small village. He was called to
a dying man who pleaded for "air." A
brilliant thought exploded in the doc
tors mind-"air"-'oxygen'- give it
to the patient. He raced home and picked
up blow-torch, glass tube. rubber tube,
bucket Of water and fan. On the
floor Of that humble home he produced
at ha
wife by the bedside with the fan to force
1t across to the man straining for air.
That was the beginning of the present
method Of treating pneumonia and SINH
lar cases with an oxygen tent. That
scene has been painted and hangs in the
Army Medical Library, together with a
portrait Of DR.. Holtzapple. Three years
ago that scene was dramatized over the
the radio by the National Broadcasting
Co. Representative Haines has a bill
pending in the House Library Commit
tee to give this doctor a Congressional
Medal Of Honor. He has been honored
repeatedly by the American Medical So
ciety and similar organizations.
In the World War he was one of the
first medical men to offer his service, but
on account Of his eyes he was rejected.
He took an active interest in all phases of
war work and was especially valuable in
training Red Cross nurses.
Three veteran employees Of the House
have been celebrating completion of IS
years in service-Patrick j. Haltigan,
reading clerk; william j. Donaldson,
superintendent of the House press gall
lery. and James P. Griffin of New Jersey,
who started in as page in the press GAL
lery and is now a minority employe of
the House.
Grimm Is an unaSSuming fellow but
an earnest worker. He is one of the
most popular of the veteran workers in
the Capitol He started his duties as
page on April 4, 1911, and has been a
guide. counselor and friend" to several
hundred young men who, since then.
have worked temporarily as page and
graduated to fields Of higher endeavor
"Once a friend, always a friend" is
Jimmy's motto. He is sincere and de-
pendable-and he is sought daily to help
lame brother over the stile. He was
Republican chief page for six years, was
assistant doorkeeper for eight years and
is now practically indispensable to the
Republican side Of the House because Of
his experience and contacts. He has no
political ambitions and Is well content
to "just give service"
When the women's suffrage fight was
at fever point and group of hecklers led
by Mrs. O. H. P. Belmont threw q silk
banner from the House gallery when he
was addressing the House, demanding
what he was going to do about equal
rights for women" Representative
Charles A. Kerbly OF Indiana "a former
newspaper mani boosted Jimmy" Grif-
I'm up while he grabbed the heckling
banner. At one time he was in charge OF
the locks on House members desks.
Uncle Joe" Cannon used to keep q sup
ply Of good cigars in his desk and quite
frequently complained that pages Cor
others purloined them-Jimmy Grifnn
did q clever piece of sleuthing to prove
that the pages were not guilty.
Senator Bennett Champ Clark Of
Missouri is former parliamentarian Of
the House: was one Of the II charter
members and chairman Of the Paris
caucus which organized the American
Legion. He Is author of "Old Man Elo-
quent."
Representative Melvin ]. Mas of Min.
nesota was . World War aviator.
Representative Roy o. Woodruff OF
Michigan practiced dentistry for 10
years: served In both thA Suanisi1s