Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-09

position to vaccination that was over
come only with difficulty.
Poland was immediately divided up
into forty-nine sections, in thirty-fVe
of which it was possible to install Ger
man physicians. and additional doctors
are being brought in as fast as pos
sibIe. The first duty was to establish
sanitary conditions. With but few eX-
ceptions the cities and towns had never
heard of a drainage system. me
streets were disease breeders, and the
public convenience stations were dah-
gerous in the highest degree. In many
places, including LODI with its 100000
inhabitants. the public was dependent
for water o n wells that were spreaders
of disease. Seven thousand of Lodz 9
10, 0G0 wells have been examined and
purified, and the balance Will De nj
for use within a few weeks.
Much to the establishment of the
Polish population. and not without OPP
position, the official notification or dis-
ease was required. especially IN the
prisons, the hospitals and other pupilc
Institutions where the Germans iomno
cholera, typhoid and typhus ri1e. Inc
opposition to these measures was such
that it was necessary to lay down Sc
we're penalties for failure 10 comply
with the new regulations.
Even the schools We're discovered 10
be disease breeders, through the me-
dium of teachers who were sick. Great
as the shortage of instructors was, ana
is, many had to be forbidden attend
ance on their schools in order 10 check
epidemics; A thorough house-cieam,ns
throughout the length and breadth OF
Poland was Immediately begun.
Smallpox was the worst thing with
which the had % compat.
in a n~ortheasterly direction. and which
was checked only by the vaccination Oh
wee 400, 900 and 100000 persons
The epidemic is broken now, but the
u ~ IL &c M
nossible because of a lack of personnel
and Of vaccine.
Cholera Is Stamped Out.
Tvphus to a smaller extent existed,
principally in LodZ where strict German
methods were introduced. Cholera was
prevalent along the right bank of the
Vistula, practically all of which has been
stamped out by this time. To prevent
the disease from travelling into
via the water route. cholera prevention
stations were installed all along the Wis
tula from Warsaw to Thorn. only IN
fected dundee prisoners not far enough
advanced to give evidences OF the dis-
ease have ever carried it into Germany.
Such hospitals as existed IN Poland
were in part destroyed when the Ger
mans arrived. and the latter had to erect
new structures in addition to putting the
old ones IN commission again. Some 2oD
hospitals, six disinfecting establish
ments, each capable of handling 1000
persons daily. fourteen smaller fnstltu-
tons of the same sort and countless i'm
provised sterilizers have been built
during the past few months.
The Germans found an astonishing
number of mad dogs, which apparently
had acquired the rabies by starvation
and by feeding on the Stagnant remains
of food not destroyed by fire. Many SOL
diers were bitten and infected. Dogs by
the hundreds have been shot, and the
hospitals have been supplied with the
very latest and most effective h~ydropho-
bia preventives and curatives.
Since the German medical forces not
only must handle disease but also pre-
vent il where possible, the strictest pos
sible watch is kept on all foodstuffs. a
bureau has been established which main
tains veterinary surgeons, examines
slaughter houses and p~rosecutes purvey-
ors of impure foods.
In order that existing needs might be
supplied. the expectation ban in Ger
many on certain Inducements was lifted
and Poland today is in d position to re-
ceive all that il needs in the p~harnaceu-
teal line. Pharmacists in Poland are re
CURED to list all their supplies and spec
uIation in such supplies has been re-
duced to "A minimum by heavy penalties.
German hygiene declared the physi-
clan in charge of all the work in Poland.
remains as a heritage to whatever gov
eminent takes charge. We have estab-
IiShed d basis on which others in the
future can build"