paper bags and labeling; repacking in proper sized cartons; and marking cartons. Shipping instructions provided by the area office must be followed accurately. General Rules To Observe in Surgical Dressings Workrooms Workrooms should be well lighted and ventilated. If possible they should not be used for any other purpose. Additional space should be provided for cutting cotton and packing cartons. Dressings must never, under any circumstances, be made outside of authorized workrooms. Smoking in workrooms is not permitted. Finished dressings should be covered at all times. Although all dressings are sterilized before being used, cleanli¬ness and sanitary conditions in making and handling them are essential. There is a national ruling for all workers that hair must be com¬pletely covered. A new standard head covering was approved and advocated by national headquarters in March 1943. This is a veil made of any kind of thin white material. (See photograph on p. 2.) Chapters were informed of this change, and many of them have adopted it. It is hoped that all workrooms will conform. The veil makes a complete covering for the hair, and gives to workers a professional appearance which compensates to some extent for the lack of the uniforms, which have been dispensed with for the Production Corps except in the cases noted under Uniforms. (See p. 18.) Answers to Questions about Surgical Dressings Why the Red Cross Makes Surgical Dressings The question most frequently asked about surgical dressings is: Why are the women of America making surgical dressings by hand when they can be made so much more expeditiously by machinery? 6 The most definite and convincing answer to this is to quote from a letter written by the Surgeon General of the United States Army to the Chairman of the Red Cross, dated July 12, 1940: "Since it has been definitely established that machine-made dressings can be produced in quantity only sufficient for peacetime needs, it is the studied opinion of this office that in time of emergency full and complete reliance must be had upon the good offices of the Red Cross to furnish ready-made dressings." Since the date of the above letter, this country has entered the war, and the need has arisen for vast quantities of dressings for our Army. The commercial manufacturers make certain types of dressings, but they have neither the plants nor equipment to supply all demands. Therefore the making of surgical dressings has be¬come a definite Red Cross obligation and is one of the most valuable services rendered by the Red Cross to the Army. Agreement with the Army The Army pays for the gauze, cotton, cartons, and cost of trans¬portation. The types of dressings required, with the specifications for making them, are provided by the Surgeon General of the Army. It is necessary to follow these directions exactly and to insist upon care and precision in the making of all dressings. Gauze Shipments of gauze are often slow because of the difficulties which manufacturers encounter in the filling of orders. The quality of gauze is not always perfect, and this causes some wastage, but considering the vast amounts involved, the percentage of waste is small. Quotas The War Department informs the Red Cross national headquarters how many of each type of dressings are required. The national office then allots a quota to each area, and the areas allot to chapters on the basis of their estimate of the chapter's capabilities. The War 7