A FINE CHARACTER.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1917, Page 6

A FINE CHARACTER.

BRITAIN'S FIRST LADY DOCTOR. Dr. Louisa Garrett Anderson, whose death was reported recently, was a prominent figure in the national life for nearly sixty years (says the New Zealand Times). As a pioneer student of medicine, refused admittance to examina. tions by the j Colleges of Surgeons anJ Physicians, h«r name became famous in the 'sixties. A successful practitioner, with the coveted title of AI.D., worn with great distinction, who became president of a branch of the British Medical Association in the 'nineties, she increased her fame greatly, and near the end of the century she became the first woman Mayor in England, adding greatly to her renown and usefulness. But the pioneer of the 'sixties, and the honored winner in the struggle for woman's right to do great professional work of the nineties, eclipsed herself in the Great War. As soon as the war broke out she placed herself at .the head of the movement for establishing voluntary medical units. , That movement was much needed, for the medical service of the war was sadly behindhand. It was noted, for example, by-Dr. Martin, of Palmerston. in his book of "The Soldier in Khaki," that the campaign appliances were little better than in the days of Napoleon.

The practical mind of Dr. Garrett Anderson noted the want, and. with characteristic energy and promptitude, supplied it, and supplied it well. She organised a Woman's Hospital Corps, comprising twenty members—doctors, nurses, and orderlies. Of the nurses, 'four were men, showing the inadequacy of the nursing service. With the assistance of Dr. Flora Murray, Dr. Garrett Anderson established this corps in Paris, at Claridge's Hotel, and started work under the protection of the French Government. The corps did great work, for, though small, it was perfectly well organised, splendidly equipped—entirely by private subscription—and magnificently led. Very soon it attracted the attention cf the British Medical Department at the base. Lord Eslier wrote a great eulogy, and the corps was asked to start a hospital of 200 beds at Wimmereux, the pleasant fishing village a mile or two north of Boulogne, much frequented by the British tourist in pre-war days. The request was complied with, and the Wimmereux hospital ibe-' came famous. Its work was so good that,. Sir Alfred Keogh offered to organise a Women's Military Hospital in London of 550 beds. Some of the Wimmereux staff —by that time largely Increased from the original numbers tha,t started work in Paris—went over, and under Sir Alfred Keogh's supervision started the proposed Woman's Hospital, in the old St. Giles Union. It was thoroughly equipped in up-to-date fashion. There was on the staff an ophthalmic surgeon (Dr. Amy Sheppard) and a dental surgeon (Mrs, Handoy Read); t'he staff was graded for pay in the same way as male members of the R.A.M.C.; the nurses were attached at Queen Alexandra's Impbrial Nursing 1 Service; and all the orderlies were women. The innovation of woman orderlies was very successful, and so greatly appreciated that prediction has been made that a man hospital orderly will before long be as extinct as the Dodo and the Moa. The superior tenderness, skill, jirnl efficiency of the women has earned fliat prediction. The impulse thus given by Dr. Garrett Anderson led to the establishment of similar institutions. The Women's Imperial 'Service League organised a unit for Antwerp, which arrived in that unfortunate city in time to do a few days' fine work under lurid conditions. After a fortnight's strenuous work under the Belgium Red Cross, doctors St. Clair Stoddart (Mrs.) and Helen Hanson, Florence Stanley, Joan Watts, and Mabel Ramsay, the unit had to make a strategic retreat. Absolutely the last civilians to leave, they got away under tire on the top of a London motor 'bus, packed with ammunition; they ran the gauntlet of s'hells over the big Seheld bridge, and, as their hind wheels got away over the bank, the structure was blown up. Following the same impulse Scotland, through the Scottish Federation of the National Union of Women's tSuffragete Societies, under the leadership of a famous group of women doctors, established a number of "Scottish Women's Hospitals." The most famous of them went to Serbia and served through that most disastrous campaign. Coming to Salonika the 1 French general regarded them as gifts from the gods, and his men kept a chivalrous eye on them. Whenever they wanted a road or a culvert", or the removal of some troublesome Obstruction to their work, or fuel, the thing was done, and in its place a number of respectful smiling Poilus. Then also the woman orderly came into her own, the French doctors regarding their work and deftness with increasing admiration. Great is the power of Scotland, organising, plodding, working, doing things as they ought to be done, few word 9* "aw&le" strew Sut the i*

puis? came from Doctor Garrett Ander- i s'.nn. She was as half a century before; she had been—the pioneer. With only; this difference, that the success came! to the pioneering at once. / Lord Kitchner knew her value, and at! the outset, when her impulse was realis-1 ing. lie put liei into a ( liig*i position.':' and (rusted lo her iiiijiik-ilv. We shall! not look upon her like again readily. Nor! shall ue often see a great career bearing] such magnificent fruiL in its last days.j The best v,'e ean sa v of hei is that ill! l.ho best parts of the magiiiiiccnt'liospital; system established for the vast armies bfi the war she still lives.