Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-24
FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND
WOUNDED FRENCH SOLDIERS
BEING CARED FOR.
REFUGEES FROM BELGIUM
ADD TO DIFFICULTIES
Hotels and Other Buildings Take"
Over by Government and Converted
Into HospitaIs-shortas Of Nsess-
sary Supplies to Properly Treat
Wounded and I'll.

[Corre spondence of Associated Press.]
London, Dec. 13.-The throwing of
500 600 wounded French soldiers and
thousands of Belgian and French
refugees into northern France has led
to a terrible condition there. Mrs.
Harry Floyd, wife of widely known
English artist. who has returned here
temporarily from service in French
hospitals. declares. Suspension of in
dustries and the difficulty in obtaining
supplies from abroad has made the
problem of sustaining life a serious
one, she says.
Hotels and other buildings have
been taken by the government for hos
pitfalls in all the towns and villages Of
northern France and adequate furnf-
ture has been provided for most of
these said Mrs. Floyd. But the
crying need is surgical instruments.
ana esthetics, antiseptics and all sorts
of hospital supplies and clothing for
invalids brought from the battlefield
wearing only the tatters of uniforms.
"At Limoges, which is not large
place. 10000 wounded and 10000
refugees arrived in single day in
October. In many of the government
hospitals L has been necessary 20 put
the beds so close together there is not
even a passageway between them and
the patients must be moved over each
other. At Ameins. Calais and other
towns near the fighting line conditions
are much the same.
Shortage Of Hospital Supplies.
Il was at Houlgate for many weeks
assisting there in hospital which ac-
commodated $50 patients. We ex-
hausted our antiseptics. At times we
We're without ether. l even saw nurses
rewashing old dressings because there
were no new bandages to use on
wounds. All the anti-tetanic serum
was exhausted and ii is not possible
to obtain more in France as its manu-
facture has been exhausted. Great
Britain has forbidden the expectation
of this serum as Il requires all 1t
manufe ctures and che United States
is the only source from which we can
now obtain 1t for use IN French hospi
ts.s. This serum is especially neces-
sary as much Of the territory over
which the troops are now fighting has
been heavily manured for centuries.
Consequently ali wounds instantly be-
J come infected and tetanus is very gem
cral.
| 1T has been necessary to operate
without ether because it could not be
had. Peroxide of hydrogen is seldom
obta.nable. Alcohol Of a5 degree
strength. so indispensable In the emer-
gency hospitals. can not be had The
surgeons and nurses do the ,Sest they
can without supplies. but immediate
assistance is necessary II .he lives Of
patients are TO be saved in many of ia
, hospitals, 1t is impossible TO give ty-
pho!d patients proper treatment be-
caus" of lack of help and Lack Of sup
plies. Special nurses can not DC pro-
vided for fever patients. They are no,
available. Often one nurse win care
for scores OF patients bo.h day ard
night. She must sleep occasionally
! She has no time TO battle the fever suf-
ferers. even IL she had the necessary
equipment II is not uncommon for
fever patients to wander about at
night in their delirium. What chance
have they to recover under such con
ditions?
! Must Have Assistance.
DIR. Haden Guest has established q
number of Anglo French hospitals. The
American ambulance has done wonder
full work and the French government is
making every effort within it's power
to meet the extraordinary emergency
but it must have assistance. More sur
geons, more nurses and more supplies
are required Immediately if the lives
Of thousands of wounded are to BIZ
saved. The situation is growing worse
all the time because Of the spread OF
typhoid among troops that have moi
been innocnlated against the disease
Men who develop the disease under
present conditions are practically
doomed to death"
Mrs. Floyd is an organizer Of tn.
French Wounded S. o. S. Society fol
the special purpose Of affording i'm.