Evening journal., 1915-05-12
Serbia CharneI House of
Typhus; Some Americans Victim.

there was in all Serbia. with popu-
lation of 100000 people, only 900
doctors. The service of these had to
go at once to the army. leaving the
civilian population without medical
help. OF this heroic little band Of
doctors one third have already fallen
victims to the epidemic which they
we're fighting. With those who remain
and with the other doctors who have
been sent by various foreign govern
ments, together with 140 which the
Serbian government secured by offer
ing a salary of $3.50 a month to any
| physician who would come. there are
now in all Serbia still very few more
than 1000 doctors. This is about one
! physician for every 5000 of popula-
/ ton.
Terrible as this lack of doctors is,
ii is nothing in comparison with the
! lack of hospitals and medical sup
plies. So scarce were the latter fol-
lowing Serbia's last great battle that
! the bandages had to be taken from
! those less seriously hurt and reused
on grave cases. In the frightful fever
which burns up typhus victims, cold
! packs have to be used Aside from
! there not being enough doctors and
nurses 10 apply these to more than
one in thousand, there was not in
all Serbia even enough sheets for that
/ purpose. All white cloth in Serbia
that could possibly be used for bind
ing up the wounded was long ago
dedicated to that purpose.
Americans Among Victims.
While medical authorities say ty-
! plus is spread by the bite of an in
fected louise, the American physicians
in Serbia are unanimous in declaring
that in reality it is highly contagious.
The deaths among doctors and nurses
has been especially high. During
February. in the vicinity OF Nish. 100
physicians we're stricken with the
epidemic. The American Red Cross
units have suffered severely. So far
the deaths include Dr. Macgruder of
Washington; DR.. James F. Donnelly,
former quarantine officer of the Port
of New York: DR.. Albert Cook, of
Brooklyn; DR.. Kara. of Chicago, and
Mrs. Zelma Gucher of Chicago.
Many other Americans have been
fortunate enough to recover. Among
them are Drs. S. II. Hodge. of Knox
Vile: and T. W. Nesbit, of Upland,
Cal. They survived so weakened that
the Red Cross director ordered them
home.
But the need was so great they re-
fused to leave and rendered their SER
vices to the Serbian government which
gladly accepted them. Dr. Ryan, of
Scranton, has been down with the
malady, but is recovering. He has
been decorated with the Cross of the
White Eagle. by Serbia. and the Cross
of the Legion Of Honor by France for
his heroic work in Belgrade
Nearly every physician in Serbia to-
day has from 1000 to 1000 patients
in his hospital camp. He has an as
sistant and one or two nurses. AL
though they try hard, it is impossible
at times to prevent the patients in
delirium killing themselves.
Black Flags Mark Homes.
When the epidemic was at its height
the mortality rose TO 40 per cent. II
is now declared to be down to 10 per
cent. Although confident that. with
the help now at hand the disease will
be checked, the Serbian government
admits that the conditions afterward
viii be most pitiful All clothing and
personal effects must be burned. The
replacing of these without outside
help will be a matter of years for the
poor peasants
A black flag in Serbia marks each
house where the disease has victims.
but each flag usually means two or
three. Twenty centuries ago from the
heart of what is now Serbia went mp
cry for help that has since rung
down the ages. Il was the cry 10
Come to Macedonia and help usi"
The same cry is ringing out today,
forced by spiritual and material an
guish far greater than that of the
spiritual need that called out its first
utterance. Serbia admittedly IL look
ing TO the United States for much OF
the help that will be necessary to
save her population from the distress
in which they now exist.