THE WAR HOSPITALS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 10997, 21 June 1901, Page 6

THE WAR HOSPITALS.

CANTERBURY MAN'S EXPERIENCES. • (moM oub own oormspon*.. ent.) LONDON, May 10. One doy this week I had a chat with Mr Charles Pierson, of Cn_ristchur_h, who went from New Zealand to South Africa at the same time as the Second New Zealand Contingent, in the capacity of Hospital Dispenser, and had considerable experience on the hospital staff in South Africa-

"1 was more than twelve months in South Africa," said Mr Piersc-., "and was all the time in Natal a* dispenser in the hospital at the military base-"

"What was your experience as to the equipment and management of the military

__o-T_-ta_s?"

"Most favourable," said Mr Pierson. "Indeed, at the hospital at which I was engaged all th_s arrangements were simply pea-feet, There was nothing wanting in the way of medical comforts. The patients were able to get everything necessary to them, including such comforts or luxuries aa eggs, milk, soda water, brandy and even champagne." "How did you manage to keep up the supply of egg*?" "Well, most of them of course -were imported, chiefly from France, I fancy, and naturally you came across a doubtful one

CABLE NEWS.

now aad then. • Bofc M one way or another the patients were always kept well supplied with, good egg?, ar.d whenever the doctors specially entered that they ahonld have fresheggs these were procured somehow at whatever coat, and any luxury that "they were, thought to need, such as champagne, etc., ! was alwam obtained for them , regardless' of expense. "Fresh supplies of storee were brought to' the hospital every day as needed-' • "The only drawback," Mr Pierson went on to say, "Vas the staff being short-handed, and consequently overworked. But you must understand that the hardship fell entirely on the staff and not on the patients. Although the staff was so short-handed the work was splendidly done, and never neglected or inefficiently performed. Sometimes it happened that a staff ,only sufficient to deal with 300 patients had to look after 1100. This involved working hard all day as well as all one night in every three. This was no joke, bat it was dons, and done .thoroughly so far as £he patients were affected, f can undertake to say there was not a single instance of any neglect in that hospital."One thing," added Mr Pierson, "which was of great help to us in preparing for the cases, -was that advicee were sent beforehand from the various places as to the number of patients on their way to us, and the nature of their cases, co we knew exactly what to prepare for and! what arrangements fco make in readiness for their arrival. I must say a word, too, in favour of the Kaffir Police, and, indeed, of the Kaffirs generally. They are a wonderfully strong lot of fellows, and do capita] work, but you have to keep them hard at it. It does not do to treat them too kicdly, or else they think you are afraid of them, but if you keep them weil up to the mark they are splendid workers, and behave very well."

"How about the _—affir Police? Do you consider them trustwbrthv?" "Oh, dear, yes," replied Mr Pierson, "most thoroughly. When they know the duty they have to do you may quite rely upon their doing it. They would arrest or horsewbip their own fathers if they were ordered to do so.- They are no respectors of parsons where their official duties are concerned."

"You yourself are Home on sick, leave, I believe. Is it not so?"

"Yes," said Mr Pierson. "I was down with suppressed enteric, which is a very weakening and tiresome affair. I came Horns in the s.s. Pinemore. She had more than 1000 men on board, including invalids and time-expired men. I actt-d as dispenser during the voyage. I have been under special medical advice and treatment- since I have been in England, but had not sufficiently regained my strength to return to duty when my leave expired. However, I hail 'no difficulty in obtaining an extension of leave, and I return to the front next week."