The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-08
DR. ANNIE ROBINSON


 eS more people than Dr. Annie M. Robinson. one of the city's most promi- nent physicians, philanthropists and all around splendid citizens
 Dr. Robinson's large clientele-the hun- dreds of people to whom she ministers in sickness and in suffering bear wit ness to the fact that she is ore of the busiest women in this community, yet despite the tremendous amount of work she is doing, and despite the fact that her time seems almost as fully taken up as it is possible for it to be, this big hearted, generous, sweet woman has gra- ciously taken on more work, more re- sponsibility, in accepting the state chair manship of the American Wonens hos pital campaign for medical aid for Ser bia and the near east.
 II is a big, generous thing for pr. Rob- inson to do, and she deserves the hearty cooperation and support of every man, woman and child in the state of Alabama, for. as she says, this work is not peace work, but war work even though the var seems practically over, yet the cry ing need of Serbia and the near east Is calling for our support and love"
 When Dr. Rosalie Slaughter Morton. New York's distinguished physician, was here a few weeks ago she was so lin- pressed with pr. Robinsons ability that she enlisted her sympathy and cooper ation in the work she is inaugurating in America for Serbia and the near east countries, and in speaking of her accept ance of the state chaifmanShip, Dr. Rob. inson said yesterday:
 T think the one thing that made me decide positively to do my very best for this work-to sacrifice any and every thing for it's success-was just one little incident, the turning point, I may say, in the story of Serbia's women-their hes roic pathetic courage. Tn all history have never read or known of such an in cident Dr. Morton told the story so wonderfully and so graphically of how, after Serbia had held her own against the Austrians, then against the Austrians and the Bulgarians, and again when third country joined the other two and it made three against, Serbia-she had to retreat-and in the meantime the wom- en and children were being starved, tor tured and racked by pain and suffering the poor women dying out in the snow and ice on the roads where the retreat : ing troops came back-instead of lying down and making themselves comforta.- ble, died in sitting posture-so that the snow would fall over them and cover them. so that their half-reclining forms would look like shrubbery-trees-any thing in order that their soldier men wouldn't think they were dead bodies, but merely something incidental to the snow-covered surroundings.
 q felt that country that could pro- duce such heroism in women deserved the sympathy and love of everybody, Dr. Robinson said, and so during this drive, which will last until May D, l want all of us to do our share toward raising our quota of money to send 10 these courageous people.
 After all they have suffered during the war;" Dr. Robinson said, now they are further stricken by the dread typhne epidemic, which is menacing that lana Only 140 physicians are left since the great war; in many instances there al 25, 900 people within a radius who nave no physician, no drug store, no access sories of any kind when it comes to ill., ness Our women physicians in Amer ica are volunteering to go at once to ty- phus- stricken Serbia and the near east. They are not afraid of the disease; they are willing to sacrifice themselves what is needed more than anything else IS the American hospitals and it is for the maintenance of these institutions that we are endeavoring to raise $25O, GOO in Amer ica."
  medical aid to Serbia and the near eaS' are. affiliated with the Red Cross" sa,o pr. Robinson. land there are some vita reasons why the money is needed at once and needed badly. In a little pamphlet jissued from headquarters in New York the question, Why? is asked and an swered Why the money must be forth swers are these:
 ha Sprhi1n government mas officially informed the executive commit tee of the American womens hospitals of Serbias need for medical aid. Because Serbia not only bore the brunt of the struggle from the very be- ginning of the world war, but had been ] fighting to preserve her freedom in two wars immediately preceding; no less thar Belgium her land was ravaged by the enemy the Serbians endured all witl I stoc fortitude, asking and receiving lit 1 tie of the generous help we gave to oth' CTS; their present desperate call for med 1 ical aid demands our immediate re- 1 sponse.
 Because the war is not over when country which fought our cause-whicf endured by far the greater burden-is left no less desoiate and helpless thar l if our cause had suffered defeat. ! Because disease and epidemics alt breaking out in Serbia, Armenia, Syria and other parts of the near east. Int 1 civilians as well as the soldiers, under l fed, starving, ill-clad, often without shelter, dazed and worn out with years of suffering and terror, are natura prey to disease. Typhus, influenza ant 1 dysentery are relentlessly taking theil l toll and skin diseases are causing horri l! ble torture. Because the children, dumb, bewil