New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-08
FILTH FED TYPHUS
IN GERMAN CAMP
British Doctor Tells of
Fight Against Disease
at Wittenberg.

London. April 2o.-Major Priestley
of the Army Medical Corps, has sup
plemented the recent official report on
the typhus epidemic among British
prisoners Of war in the Wittenberg
camp in Germany last year with
further descriptions of the horrors that
he encountered there. Major Priestley
was one Of six British doctors sent to
the Wittenberg camp by the Germans
when, it is alleged, the German medical
staff abandoned its post at the camp
after the typhus broke out. Three OF
the British doctors succumbed TO the
fever.
at is impossible 10 give an adequate
impression of the terrible condition In
which we found the camp said the
major. although $4,000 prisoners
were crowded into a space OF ten and
one-half acres, we might have been
walking through a camp OF ghosts for
all the notice that was taken OF our
nrogress. The men seemed dazed and
anathetic. That night we began, our
desperate fight against typhus' WIN AL
of the odds in its favor.
"Our only stimulant was camphorated
oil which. although slow in action, can
serve that purpose when other stlmu-
Ionts are Licking But that Is only one
indication Of the hopeless lack or faclil-
ties with which we were faced from tne
start There was not regular pea III
tho nIace and the mattresses were hlthy
and uncomfortable. Typhus is essen
tally filth diesase, and to COMBAT IL
successfully cleaning materials ana
changes Of clothing are prime necessi-
ties. Many of the men had only the
ragged remnants Of their uniforms,
their greatcoats having been lost or
taken from them by the guards, while
some had TO 90 about wrapped IN
blanket. with strips of blankets in place
of boots. Soap had been sent to the
prisoners from England. but the men
were not permitted TO receive any OF
their packages until Mr.. Gerard, the
American Ambassador, made his lnspec-
ton of the camp after the epidemic
was over.
THE most amazing feature OF the
endemic from the standpoint OF ph,y-
stefan was the number OF prisoners VINO
recovered from the disease. Diet means
much in typhus, and the best couId
give my patients was three small cups
of milk daily and occasionally some
watery soup. The highest death rate
was among the devoted men VINO Voluh-
teered 20 nurse their comrades.
THE physical misery and dIscom-
fort Of the camp would have made 1t
nth
denic. Many of the huts went with
out coal for a week at time IN the
midst of freezing weather. The light
ing was always insufficient and this
added to the depression. The room
for recreation was decidedly limited
and footballs sent from England to
the men were withheld from them, and
IL was not until March that the men
were able to get even the elementary
exercise of kicking ball about Inc
first we got were three sent TO me by
Ambassador Gerard.
Great improvements, for which the
inmates have Mr. Gerard TO thank,
have been made in the camp, the most
important being a well constructed
fumigator erected by the Germans
which reduces the chance OF another
[ outbreak 10 the minimum. lhe &c"
eral m command of the camp was re-
moved after Gerard's visit, but the
cowardly doctor in charge OF the med
! zeal arrangements still remains and
still wears his Iron Cross.
zone expects disciplinary rules In
prison, but none quite as severe as
| those which obtained while the cpl
/ demic ragged. Death seemed the only
penalty for any infraction Of the rules,
, while the guards maintained order
( from their safe refugees outside the
/ barb-wire limits Of the camp. num-
/ Der Of attempts 70 escape, some OF
which evidently proved successful,
were made. for no live prisoner was
ever brought back. The most whole
/ sale use of the rife as an instrument
Of discipline came on the day Italy
/ declared war"