A N.Z. NURSE IN SERBIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 January 1916, Page 2

A N.Z. NURSE IN SERBIA.

| HORRORS OF THE INVASION. .., London, November 18. Jvurse A. Miller, ot Tnvereargill, who contracted fever white serving on the staff of the Anglo-Serbian Unit in Serbia is at present in London, and has kindly given us a few details about the hospitals there. '•'One of .the'many units to answer the call to Serbia," writes Mrs. Miller, "was the Anglo-Serbian in charge of Dr. and Mrs. James Berry, of the Royal Free Hospital, where the former was senior surgeon and the latter senior anaesthetist. "The party consisted of a full hospital ; staff; surgeons, physicians, anaesthetist, radiographer, dressers, dispenser, nurses, and lady and gentleman orderlies. r "The destination of this unit was Vrnjatchka Banja, a district situated amongst tho beautiful Serbian hills. Here there are public baths supplied by a hot sulphur spring, from which the place takes its name. In the summer time it is a popular health resort. Just outside the village is a large hydropathic establishment—"Terapia" which was given to the unit and is used as the main hospital. The village school was set apart from the same purpose. Later on, as the staif was increased, four more buildings were added—the "Dryhavna Cafona," or State cafe; the typhus baraque, which was built by ourselves; tile "Mercur," a villa standing in the town with a large plot of grass attached; and the "Athena,",another villa in the town. Some of these buildings were very difficult to arrange on satisfactory sanitary lines. However, these difficulties were overcome. For each hospital was built a brick destructor of simple form, constructed by a builder who is one of our Austrian prisoners, and cauldrons for boiUnq clothes, made by a local Serbian tinsmi'J). A water supply was also laid on. "These six hospitals contain a total of between SOU and 600 beds,: and are now in a satisfactory hygenic condition. We are well supplied wii.li Austrian prinrners, between 60 and 73 of whom an« as orderlies in the lospita's. Much of the ward work is done by them, and they prove willing and intelligent worker*. We are thus able to run the hospitals with a comparatively small British staff, for the nursing sis.U.-a direct and supervise the orderlies. The language question is not so difficult as one might suppose. Most of the orderlies, speak German, and thero is no difficulty in soon learning enough for hospital work. Dr. ind Mrs. Berry both speak Serbian, anrl .classes were formed to help the resf, of u?. but one soon understood alt the wants of the patients without spending any lime in study.

"After the Austrian inras'on there was an enormous number of wounded. and very inadequate means of dealing with them. The first batch of patients were cases from other hospitals in the town, 'ihe majority .vero surgical cases. We are provided with an X-ray apparatus, which has been very valuable. "The patients are sent in batches from other towns as" we have room for them, and their condition is a sad one. For months they had been packed in ilnhcgiepic Serbian buildings, and had received Very little attention. A Serbian doctor wo«W dress their wouttl's when he could fl«d time, winch was,not often, and untrained orderlies could not look after them very well. Untiling and any change of clothing, was evidently unknown, consequently these jsqor men were covered with vermin. The railway station is about two miles oil, so they are brought in bullocK. waggons and taken immediately to the mtblic sulphur baths, which have been adopted' for washing the patients. Our doctors am! gentlemen orderlies have a busy lime. Well protected by overalls they set to work, -'ill patient* are s'uved and thoroughly washed, thc'V wounds dressed I'nd clean'entiling supplied before ba;ng admitted tn hospital-the'r evn clothing being thoroughly disinfected by boiling, and returned' to them when they leave. The patients are then received into the "Dryhavna" Hospital, situated close to the'baths, and after a few days are passed on to the other hospitals according to their need. "Frequently a number of cases were suffering from typhus fever, but owing to Ihe thoroughness of cleansing and destruction of vermin the fever did not assume at Vrnjatchka Banjo- the terrible proportions it did in many parts of Serbia. ; '•The work is most interesting, and the Serbs are extremely grateful. Tfiey are very quaint and primitive people, especially the peasants. They often few days' journey in their bullock waggons to be treated by the ''Englezi dotora," and when the fever and surgical work was hick we were able to do a little to help «he civil population. "Women have been treated both medically and surgically in the sinal) wards, and al-o children suffering from diphtheria. A favourite way of showing their gratitude i< by presenting us with a" small roasted jug, all complete, wiili head and Mil, and beautifully decorated with flowers. On the recovery of her child, after an operation, one mother was so pleased that she carried a squealing pig to the hospital and placed it right in Or. Berry's arms, .ft was interesting to see our dignified chief graciously accepting this gift. One of our orderlies was fortunate enough to have his camera at hand and took a snapshot. ''We have received many testimonials as to the value of the work of our unit, both with regard to hospital treatment and hygienic conditions in general, and the Serbian authorities are loth to allow any members of foreign units to leave." Miss Miller has almost recovered from her attack of fever, and hopes soon to be on active service again.