Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-24

attendant was awakened by q loud
rapping on the panels Upon opening
the door he found the semi-conscious
soldier who had made himself SO popu-
patient garb of an Austrian hospital
and his left leg. recently amputated
below the knee. had scarcely begun to
heal at the stump. He was Immediate
They treated me well over there"
he explained to the interpreter. but
there is no place like this. stole away
and crawled back.
rehabilitated his orchestra and once
again the rooms rang TO the tunes o,
patriotic and sentimental songs.
Some of the patients have won tro-
phies upon the battlefields. and II is
not unusual TO see a nurse wearing a
medal presented to her by an admirer.
Among the American nurses who re-
Gently returned was one who had n
battered sword. an iron cross. q Rus
sian Cossack cap and numerous bullets
and pieces of shrapnel that were given
to her by appreciative soldiers.
1t Is fact that some OF the nurses
have received many as forty pro-
posals of marriage, though as yet there
have been no weddings celebrated be-
tween American nurses and Austrian
AS Tor engaRementS-wel III,
there are rumors and rumors!
The doctors are given an exceptional
opportunity to ascertain the attitude
or their patients toward the war and
decorated patient was asked wheth-
er. II he were given the choice, he
would prefer to have his arm. which
had been amputated. or the iron cross
There was some hesitation before he
answered, and when he did there was
moisture in his eyes.
God, man! how can you ask? I have
a wife and one child to support Ny
work is with the lathe. I can never
return to 1t with one arm. How can
you ask which prefer"
There is no reason to marvel why
those men fight and beg to chance blood
poison rather than undergo an opera
ton to remove a limb. What can
they do in a commercial world when
handicapped by the loss Of an arm or a
streets of Vienna to observe what is
in store for them
On every building under construc-
ton. In every machine shop. at every
carpenters bench. with few excep-
tons. women are doing the work they
left-forever. They know. despite
press and government statements to
the contrary. that when the glamour
and hero worship of immediate war
Is past the employers will not dis
charge competent women who work
for one-half mans wages to employ
former laborers who are manned and
only one-half efficient.
1t is serious outlook for them. and
the morbidness which Is natural
sequel to their thoughts is one of the
greatest diseases the surgeons are
called upon to combat. Many OF their
patients lie day after day in a stupor.
unyielding to medicine. suffering no
pain, yet sinking slowly. hour by hour.
because they see no reason why they
should fight to live.
To overcome their natural apathy,
mild athletic contests are planned
sightseeing parties are arranged and
picnfcs into the surrounding hills are
conducted by the surgeons and nurses.
The Prater. Vienna's Coney Island. is
a favorite resort. and the dip" scenic
railway. moving picture shows. etc.
are patronized generously. usually
without cost to wounded soldiers.
There is a continuous. racking strain
upon the nerves Of the nurses. who
Ing than the doctors. as they some
times remain in the wards as long As
twelve hours without change. Recent
ly an American nurse who had In.
tended to serve year was compelled
to return months sooner than she de-
sired, because of a nervous break
down. The collapse came after a par
ticularly distressing scene In her ward.
one which, by reason Of its symbolism,
is worthy Of narration.
soldier was brought in with .
shattered leg which. after the GUS
tomary. consultation. was amputated.
When he awoke from the effects Of
the anesthetic his wife was in the
ward. but he could not see her be-
cause. as he thought. of light gauEe
covering his eyes. The wife was sob
biEg Historically, and the nurse was
called upon not only to administer to
the patient, but also to quiet her.
Let me see my wife! Oh. let me see
my wife," the unfortunate man cried,
over and over again. and the woman
Joined her plea that the bandage be re-.
moved.
The nurse endeavored to explain that
the patient must not view his stump.
lest the sight cause relapse. but his
wife insisted tearfully. nor would she
leave the ward when requested. There
upon the nurse, already overwrought
by her arduous duties. attempted gent
ly to conduct her to the door. but in
the struggle the woman broke away
from her and snatched the bandage
from her husbands eyes.
The unexpected sight of the soldiers
empty sockets unnerved her and the
tainted, Willie lHc SlIlChcu HuoDdHO
continued to plead for the removal of
the bandage he still believed to be over
his eyes.
Thus it is not only the actual labor OF
hospital service which American doc
tors and nurses experience for the bene-
fit of Austria's wounded. but the con-
formation of a continuation Of shocks
and horrors unmet with in the profess
sion at home-scenes likely to under
mine the strongest nerve systems and
demoralfze the natural cheerfu1ness and
optimism Of their healthy minds.