THE ANGLO-SERVIAN HOSPITAL

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 6, 8 January 1916, Page 11

THE ANGLO-SERVIAN HOSPITAL

MR. AND MRS. BERRY'S BXPEDI TION. (FBOM OUR OWN COHREBPOHDINT.) LONDON, 19th NovemberOne of the many British units to answer the call oi Servia was the Anglo-Ser-vian, in charge of Mr James Berry, 8.5., F.R.C.S., Senior Surgeon and Medical Superintendent to the Royal Free Hospital, London, and Mrß. Berry, Senior Anaesthetist to the Royal Free Hospital. The party consisted of a full hospital staff—surgeons, physicians, anaesthetist*, radiographer, dressers, dispenser, professional nurses (one of whom was a New Zealand lady), lady and gentlemen orderlies. The destination of this unit was Vrnjatchkeo Banja, a district situated away back among trie beautiful Servian hills. Hero there are publio baths suj, plied by a hot sulphut spring, from I which the place takes its name There is I aUo natural mineral water I The New, Zealand _ nurse, who is at present in London, having been invalided borne on account of an attack of fever, writes: — "In summer time this place is a popu lar health resort, the people coming from all parts to drink the water and tako sulphur baths. Just outside the_ village is a large hydropathic establishment, 'Terapia,' which was given to this unit, and is used as the main hospital. Also the village school was set apart for tho same purpose "Later o_n as the staff was increased, four more buildings were added—'The Dryhoona Cafana,' or State Cafe; tha 'Typhus Baraque' (built ,4)y ourselves). the 'Mereur,' a fine villa standing in the town with a large plot of grass behind, and the 'Athena,' another villa,in the town. Some of these buildings were very difficult to arrange on satisfactory sanij tary lines. However, these difficulties ; were overcome For each hospital was built a brick destructor of simple form, constructed by a buildei who is one of our Austrian prisoners, and cauldrons tor boiling clothes, made, by a local Servian tinsmith. It was also necessary to lay on a water supply to these buildings. USING AUSTRIAN PRISONERS. " These six hospitals contain a total of between three hundred and four hundred beds, and are now .in a satisfactory hygienic condition. Wo a-re well supplied with Austrian prisoners, between sixty and seventy acting as orderlies in the hosI pitals—tho majority of Slav race, mostly Czechs from Bohemia. Much of the ward work is done by them, all of them proving willing and intelligent workers Wo are thus able to run the hospitals' with a comparatively snrntl British staff, the nursing sisters directing and supervising the work of the orderlies. . .- OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES. " The languago question is not so difficult »s one might suppose. Moat of tho orderlies speak German, and-there is no difficulty in soon learning enough' Servian for hospital work. Mr. and Mrs. Berry both speak Servian, and classes were formed to'help the rest of us, but one: soon understands all the wants of. the patients without spending any time over study. ."As regards the patients: After the Austrian 'invasions there had been an enormous number of wounded and very inadequate meam of dealing with them. The first batch of patients consisted of oases from hospitals in the town, mostly surgical, some suffering from long-con-tinued suppuration,; many of them with limbs in bad position, from neglect and other causes. Many of them were very ill indeed, some requiring amputation, but the most frequent operation has bee>i sequotrostomy for necrosis of the bone. We are provided with an X-ray apparar j tvs, which has been very valuable in ! thoso cases ' ' ' I " The arrival of patients means a busy day -They are sent'in .batches from other towns as we have room for them, and their condition is a sad one. For months they have been packod in unhygienic ' Servian buildings, receiving very little attention A' Servian doctor hasdressed their wounds, when ho could find time, which was seldom, and untrained orderlies ' gavo them some attention. Bathing and change of clothing were evidently unknown, consequently thoso poor men wore covered with vermin, and many of them with bedsores. They are brought from the railway station, which is two miles.off, in bullock wagons, and brought immediately to the public sulphur baths, which have been adapted for washing the patients. Our.doctors and orderlies have a busy day. Well protected by overalls they set to work. •. All patients are | shaved and thoroughly washed, . their wounds dressed, and clean clothing supplied before being admitted to hospit-ali their own clothes are thoroughly disinfected by boiling, and returned to their ownors • when leaving, . " They are then received into the Dryhorna Hospital situated close to the baths, and after a few days are passed into the other hospitals according to their suitability Frequently a number of those- cases were suffering from typhus fever, but owing to the thoroughness of cleansing and destruction of liee —by lice the disease is carried —the fever never assumed at Vrnjatchka Banja the terrible proportions it did in many parts of Servia." A QUAINT SERVIAN CUSTOM. This New Zealand lady finds the work most interesting, and the Servians full of gratitude. " They are ?ery quaint and primitive people, especially thn peasants These peasants often come a few days' journey in theij bullock wagons to be treated by the 'Engleze doktors'. When tho fovb' and surgical ■ work became less we wßre able to do a little to help the civil population. Women, mpdica! and surgical cases, have been treated in tho small wards, also children suffering from diphtheria. . They are very grateful. A favourite way of .'showing this gratitude is by presenting us with a small roasted pig, all complete with head and tail, and beautifully decorated with flowers. On recovery of her child after operation of tracheotomy, one motheT was so pleased that she carried a squealing pig to tho hospital and placed it right in Mr Berry's arras ■. It was interesting to see our dignified chief graciously accepting this gift. One of our staff was fortunate enough to have his camera at hand, and ho got a snapshot We have received many testimonies in' Servia as to the value of our work, both with/regard to hospital treatment and to hygienic conditions in general, and although there was when I left a dearth of patients' throughout .Servia, the Servian authorities were loth to allow any members of foreign units'to leave.. \ ...-"•- AN APPEAL " Servia still needs much help. If the war continues there is sure to be more fighting in which Servia will be engaged, so that substantial assistance mil be re-, quired We are told that when fresh fighting occurs, Vrnjatchka Banja will be reckoned a, surgical centre Several other hospitals are stationed here, one run by Greek' doctors and another by the British Red Cross."