(Excerpted from: The Anglo French-American Hospital: An Account of the Work Carried On Under Homeopathic Auspices during 1915-16 at the Hôpital Militaire Auxiliare, No. 307, Neuilly-sur-Seine, In Conjunction With the French Red Cross Society, (Part IV). With Financial Statement, Medical Report, List of Subscribers', and Appendices I-VIII. By the British Committee sitting at London (1917[?])
It would be true to say that very few medications were truly effective,
certainly not in the way that modern medications are today. There was no
specific treatment for pneumonia, tuberculosis, angina pectoris, bacterial
infections nor a host of illnesses that can now be significantly improved
by medication. A glance at the list of diseases treated by the Anglo-French
Homeopathic Hospital reveals that nearly all the medical complaints were
incurable by the orthodox treatments of the time and all would fare as well
as they would if they were admitted to the orthodox General Hospitals. Many
would do better because of care that they were given by the dedicated nurses
and doctors. These doctors were all trained in orthodox medicine and knew
when to treat by Homeopathic principles and when to treat by standard methods.
The Hospital was opened at Neuilly in late 1914 and was disbanded on 15th. March, 1916 because so many of their staff were called up for military service in the RAMC. During its existence many surgical patients were treated in their operating room as well as medical patients; the Hospital had a particular interest in the care of indigent civilians as well as military patients.
RAISON D'ETRE OF THE HOMEOPATHIC HOSPITAL.
EARLY in the course of the great war, whilst the arrangements - later
perfected - for the sick and wounded were in the making, it became known
that the call for the reception of surgical cases was so considerable and
insistent as to relegate any elaborate provision for the inevitable medical
casualties to a second place.
The first winter - like the Crimean winter - indicated the necessity
for an amplified hospital service for medical cases also. A number of auxiliary
institutions for the wounded had been established in Franco-Belgium, while
medical cases were steadily rising in number. In the circumstances it seemed
hardly possible for Homoeopathy, as a public service, to rule itself out
from that volume of auxiliary hospital establishment which private initiative
was zealously creating.
In the threefold activities of medicine-prevention, the treatment of
acute, and the alleviation of chronic disease-Homoeopathy has a special
title to take a definite position. In the last century it had won its spurs
at a time of public crisis-the first cholera epidemic-by opening the doors
of the London Homoeopathic Hospital to the free admission of cholera cases,
and carrying out homoeopathic treatment so successfully as to obtain special
Parliamentary attention to its high standard of success. Before that time,
on the Continent, where critical comparison was made between the old school
and the new school results in the treatment of pneumonia, the honours of
the time again fell to Homoeopathy. That this school of therapeutics maintained
its powers unabated was evident by the published results of the London Homoeopathic
Hospital in such diseases of daily life as pneumonia and acute rheumatism.
Here again in a statistical comparison with results of treatment in other
institutions, the issues brought about by Homoeopathy were so striking as
to merit the attention of public bodies. Therefore it was with some past
experience - and some consciousness of special fitness that the project
was evolved of a homoeopathic hospital for medical cases as near as possible
to the scene of warfare.
THE DESIGN INTERNATIONAL, THE ORGANISATION BRITISH.
At a meeting of the Acting Committee of the International Homoeopathic Council held in London late in 1914, its deliberations included a proposition for the establishment of a Homoeopathic Hospital, under military control, for medical cases, on the Western front of the Allies.
The President of the British Homoeopathic Society (Dr. Wynne Thomas),
the President of the previous British Homoeopathic Congress (Dr. James Johnstone),
together with the Vice-President of the International Homoeopathic Council
(Dr. George Burford), met by arrangement the Chairman of the London Homoeopathic
Hospital, R. H. Caird, Esq., J.P., to consider the necessary preliminaries.
Their consultation issued in the nomination of a Provisional Committee constituted
by representatives of the principal homoeopathic activities in Great Britain,
and the publication of a statement of the case, with an appeal for funds
to those favourably inclined to the work. Thus did the leaders of British
Homoeopathy lead, and the response of the English-speaking homoeopaths the
world over was immediate and maintained. Fortified by this support, the
Provisional Committee nominated two Commissioners (Dr. Hoyle and Dr. MacNish)
to proceed to France to confer with the military authorities there, as well
as with the principal homoeopathic physicians in Paris. As the issue of
this investigation, the Committee decided to work under the auspices of
the French Red Cross Society, and to internationalism as far as possible,
the interest it was desirable to arouse of homoeopathic supporters in this
special procedure.
THE LOCATION OF THE HOSPITAL AT NEUILLY.
The instructions of the Commissioners had included, as requirements,
that the Hospital be as near as possible to the fighting line, while retaining
easy communication with England as the necessary base for staff and supplies.
The Franco-Belgian area, and the district served by the Calais-Paris railway
were especially noted for investigation ad hoc. After a primary visit and
report the Commissioners made a second journey, and concluded that Paris
itself offered indubitably the maximum advantages for the location of the
proposed Hospital. In this survey the Commissioners had the profit of the
counsel and personal co-operation of Dr. Bernard Arnulphy of Paris, whose
intimate knowledge of localities and their possibilities was of special
and particular value in the enquiry. The Commissioners further reported,
and their report carried Dr. Arnulphy's concurrence, that the Villa Borghese
at Neuilly-sur-Seine, already furnished as a large Sanatorium, was especially
suitable alike in location, size, ease of access and general fitness for
the institution proposed by the Committee. Other alternative sites and buildings
were also reported on, but inquiry proved that none of these was so suitable.
THE NEUILLY HOSPITAL. Beautiful for situation, the Villa Borghese, selected by the Board of Management as the most fitting for the establishment of the Anglo-French-American Hospital, was an up-to-date modern building, standing in its own grounds of about 5,000 square metres, in the well-known suburb of Paris, Neuilly-sur-Seine. The Villa consisted of the original building, with large entrance hall, ante-rooms, and spacious salons on the ground floor, each capable of accommodating eight or ten beds and suites of smaller apartments with bath-rooms on the floors above. The Annexe, an erection of more recent date and connected with the main building by a closed-in corridor, contained suites of rooms each provided with its own bath room, where hot and cold water was in continuous supply. In the grounds a wooden pavilion, containing eight small rooms, did good service for purposes of isolation and, in the latter part of the life of the Hospital, when surgical cases were more freely admitted, served as an intermediate location before men were drafted to depot or home for convalescence.
Having been in use for several years as a private Sanatorium the Villa Borghese contained everything necessary for the equipment of a hospital for medical cases. The Villa was lighted throughout with electricity, whilst a very complete heating installation ensured equal warmth to all parts of the Hospital during the severe weather.
After the later decision of the Committee to admit surgical cases the
Chambre Hydropathique, also on the ground floor, was converted into the
operating theatre.
THE MEDICAL AND SURGICAL GENERAL RECORD.
The Medical Record is of special interest as well as of ample range. The location of the hospital service entirely in Paris, ruled out at once cases of injury and illness direct from the trenches. The type of case allotted by the distributing authorities was thus less of the acute than of the chronic and often derelict type; cases whose restoration to health was of as much value per man to the military forces, but often infinitely more difficult to compass, than that of the acuter casualties of the battlefield, running a shorter clinical course. Such almost intractable instances of broken stamina and lost recuperative power, which are the trouble and perplexity of many military hospitals, were the staple of the Neuilly medical clinic.
The hospital, declared and recognised as a homoeopathic hospital, carried on its daily work on homoeopathic lines, and under the best homoeopathic auspices, exactly as any similar institution in this country. The therapeutics were throughout of the school of Hahnemann. The laboratory findings were made by Paris experts. The nursing sisters were fully trained and of British qualification; the probationer nurses had received their preliminary training in British hospitals; all the nursing staff had bi-lingual qualifications. The internal distribution of the hospital as rooms of moderate size, mostly en-suite, with smaller rooms in the detached annexe, was immensely superior to the usual barrack-like provision of huge wards, and lent itself easily to the separate treatment of special cases, particularly those of tuberculosis and typhoid. The latter cases were necessarily those of the later stage, when fit for transport, and also some with sequelæ of the acute period. Tuberculosis was always with us, as a distinctive or complicated malady; and to such an extent as to suggest that tubercle, latent or declared, was to be reckoned with in most of the chest cases. A good many of the patients transferred from other hospitals had their transfer papers marked or sur-marked "Bronchite," and this, with French physicians, implies suspected tuberculosis.
Analysis of the hospital records shows that among eighty medical cases, ten of typhoid or typhoidal sequelæ were treated; none died.
Of acute or chronic disease of the alimentary canal, e.g., gastro-enteritis, mucous colitis, etc., there were eight.
Nerve affections of the type of traumatic neuritis, neurasthenia, sciatica, etc., totaled eight.
Cases of affection of the respiratory organs, including pleuritic effusion, bronchitis, laryngitis, etc., amounted in all to forty.
The remainder of the medical cases were those of heart disease, renal disease, acute and chronic rheumatism.
Dr. Hawkes, of Liverpool, for some time Médecin-chef of the Institution, has, in his abstracts from the case books, given the following which may be taken as types of cases coming under his care:
Case. (Jules Henillon), coming originally from the Haute-Saone district, was admitted on March 20th with renal disease. The albuminuria slowly diminished and ultimately the tests were negative in result. He left hospital on July 13th and subsequently was reported fit for the front.
Case. (Louis Charcelley) from Tours, having had his right arm amputated on December 24th, was admitted to Neuilly Hospital on April 22nd, with respiratory symptoms. Though bacteriological examination of the sputum was negative as regards the tubercle bacillus, many other micro-organisms were discovered. The upper part of the right lung was not above suspicion, and pleuritic sounds were heard at the right base. He coughed much and suffered from perspirations. The amputation stump required continuous dressing as the bone was exposed. Under treatment he greatly improved in condition, gained flesh and the stump healed. Dr. Hawkes notes that this was a bad case and the patient's life originally despaired of.
Case. (Mahomet Fidale), an Algerian soldier, was admitted, who had received serious nerve wounds in the arm; the nerves of the left arm having been afterwards sutured (by operation). Notwithstanding this surgical procedure he had lost much of the power of the left arm. He had already spent eight months in other hospitals, and remained two months at Neuilly. During his residence under treatment, the neuralgic pain in the arm greatly lessened, and he was able to leave for his home in Africa on July 12th.
Case. (Francois Lafons), wounded in the thigh on August 14th, 1914, had typhoid on December fifth, followed by phlebitis of the right leg. He was admitted to Neuilly on March 27th, his leg still splinted. A long course of medicinal treatment with rest in bed and massage improved his condition, and on July Ist he was able to appear before the Court of Appeal, whence, we believe, he was sent home, where further restoration may be looked for.
Cases such as these do not run a rapid course, they do not allow a brilliant recovery, and properly belong to the so-called "wastage of war." But they constituted most of the hard work, persistent, often unpromising, of the hospital staff, and the patients were profoundly grateful for the benefits received.
At first and intentionally the surgery was limited to medical cases having surgical complications. This required naturally a dressing equipment, and later, as surgical necessities increased, a full operative installation was made by the hospital authorities, and a resident House Surgeon added to the staff. Surgical cases, having regard to the pronouncement of an eminent authority "that a wounded soldier is also a sick soldier," were now admitted to a section of the hospital beds. The Médecin-chef was at this time alike a homoeopathic physician of distinction as well as a hospital trained surgeon. Ultimately the surgical clinic was conducted by a specially appointed staff surgeon, with the co-operation of his professional colleagues.
Dr. Hawkes, during his term as Médecin-chef, obtained from Professor Hartmann (chief of the American Ambulance and a Paris surgeon of world-wide renown) the courteous assurance that surgical cases, requiring a highly organised surgical installation, or a special surgical experience, could be transferred, if necessary, to Professor Hartmann's own surgical clinic. Of this professional fraternity advantage was taken in certain cases whose particular needs required so wide a range of surgical skill; and special thanks are due alike to Dr. Hawkes who engineered, and to Professor Hartmann, who co-operated in so excellent a working arrangement. One case was that of a man with badly wounded left arm, thigh and leg where gas-gangrene had developed. He was transferred to Professor Hartmann's clinic for operation. The case was beyond surgical relief and the patient died. Other cases of a grave character similarly dealt with were uniformly fortunate in- their issue.
In the later months of the work at Neuilly the cases were increasingly surgical. Altogether they totaled one hundred and twenty-two. Many of these had been operated on at the base hospitals, cases of fracture having received the requisite surgical first-aid, and bullets and shrapnel fragments having mostly been extracted. Here the process of healing merely required watchful safeguarding, and the concussion injuries and contusions without open wound also required no active surgical interference.
Simple fractures of the shoulder girdle, arm or legs existed in fourteen cases. In one the left femur was doubly fractured. Another had a concurrent lacerated wound of the hip. A third with a fractured humerus was unfortunately the victim of a fatal typhoid infection.
Compound and complicated fractures numbered in all nine cases. One was that of shell wound of the left elbow, with double fracture of the bones constituting the joint. In another of compound fracture of the ribs, pleurisy was concurrent.
Wounds constituted by far the majority of surgical injuries treated: penetrating or perforating wounds of the trunk or extremities existed in fifteen cases. One was an instance of head wound with concussion, who had been trepanned, and still had defective vision. But the majority were thoracic injuries with or without penetrated lung.
Lacerated and contused wounds naturally bulked largely, the cases amounting to twenty-seven. They were mostly due to shrapnel; and chiefly occurred in the extremities; a few developed gas-gangrene. Of contusions without open wounds there were six cases.
Where any of these injuries were concurrent the cases have been placed in the category of the principal lesion.
LIST OF CASES.----Name----Malady or Wound.
1---Gueguen, Joseph---Typhoid.
2---Marty, Maurice---Pleurisy with effusion.
3---Antin, Joseph---Bronchial asthma.
4---Lefrancois, Louis---Effects of exposure.
5---Bosset, Joseph---Bronchial catarrh: Endocarditis
6---Caillon, Alexander---Lesion of jaw.
7---Ploteau, Moise---Bronchitis.
8---Gerondet, Emile---Bronchitis, particularly apical.
9---Jean, Eugene---Enteralgia and Anæmia.
10---Vassia, Jean-Baptiste---Pneumonic sequelæ.
11---Dutriaux, Gaston---Shrapnel injury to foot.
12---Verricles, Paul---Injury to left forearm (shrapnel).
13---Chachuot, Francois--Bacillary infection of right lung; Pleurisy with effusion.
14---Bapt, Jean---Typhoidal sequelæ.
15---Charpentier, Camille---Tubercular Peritonitis.
16---Lebris, Yves---Tubercular Pleurisy.
17---Bruand, Frederick---Bronchial catarrh.
18---Barracq, Jean---Bronchitis.
19---Paulet, Raoul---Albuminuria and Bronchitis: Syphilis.
20---Charcelley, Louis---Pleurisy; amputation of right arm.
21---Hauchcorne, Celestin---Left Pleurisy; chronic Bronchitis.
22---Lafons, Francois---Bullet wound in left thigh; Typhoid; Phlebitis.
23---Henillon, Jules---Albuminuria.
24---Warnier, Fernand---Bronchitis; Laryngitis; Neuritis.
25---Postie, Vincent---Bronchitis and Asthma.
26---Castaug, Severn---Typhoid; Gastritis.
27---Crinière, Georges---Gastritis.
28---Ralli, Jean---Bronchitis and Gastritis.
29---Blanc, Aristide---Typhoid sequelæ
30---Fuxo, Diego---Typhoid sequelæ.
31---Peyson, Louis---Influenza and Bronchitis.
32---Ereillard, Pierre---Convalescence from Typhoid and Pleurisy.
33---Lavergne, Louis---Pleurisy: residues.
34---Cassaquet, Leon---Acute rheumatism.
35---Dauphant, Louis---Pleuritic sequelæ.
36---Grandière, Louis---Bronchitis, Dyspepsia, Asthenia.
37---Gaullot, Paul---Pulmonary congestion.
38---Richard,Pierre---Congestion of lungs Hæmoptysis; Pulmonary congestion of right apex; Tubercular swelling in neck.
39---Rull, François---Convalescent (injury to both legs, sciatic nerve severed in one).
40---Mijoule, Francois---Wound of jaw.
41---Fidale, Mahomet---Nerve lesions. ,
42---Challet, Alphonse---Suppuration of cervical gland.
43---Pencislelli, Joseph---Chronic Bronchitis; Asthma; ,Hæmoptysis.
44---Valders, Gustav---Rheumatic Neuritis.
45---Gerondet, Emile---Chronic Phthisis.
46---Granville, Jean---Lead Colic.
47---Bauer, Adolph---Pleurisy.
48---Pelletier, Auguste---Chronic Cardiac disease.
49---Brière, Paul---Typhoid.
50---Biencort, Palmyre---Typhoid.
51---Bresquignan, Perrin---Neurasthenia, Shock; Bronchitis.
52---DuBoisguehemeuc---Dilated stomach; Headaches.
53---Sarragosa, Joachim---Chronic Pleurisy.
54---Battais, Pierre---Chronic Bronchitis; Neuralgia, Influenza.
55---Trappeau, Marcel---Laryngeal Phthisis and General Tuberculosis.
56---Gerard, Jules---Bronchitis; Emaciation.
57---Alrig, Guillaume`(died)---Acute Phthisis.
58---Chopard, Victor---Acute Rheumatism; Gastritis; Emaciation
59---Lelny, Emile---Acute Bronchitis.
60---Lartiges, Claude---Disease of stomach; Sore throat; Tubercular Bronchitis.
61---Basset, Pierre---Fracture of forearm. Gas gangrene.
62---Boniface, Octave---Sacro-iliac Osteitis, Abscess
63---Cazard, Emile---Bronchitis.
64---Gregoire, Jules---Phlebitis after Typhoid.
65---Selerne, Joseph---Mucous Colitis.
66---Fourel, Raymond---Bronchitis and Emphysema.
67---Satir, Camille---Bronchitis in right lung summit.
68---Marie, Maurice---Gastro-enteritis.
69---Mallaverne, Pierre---Acute Articular Rheumatism.
70---Carpentier, Alfred---Sequelæ of Tetanus.
71---Catelle, Alcine---Bronchitis.
72---Riou, Theophile---Sciatica.
73---Coste, August---Sciatica.
74---Auger, Eugene---Rheumatism.
75---Dionet, Gerard---Sequelæ of Typhoid Fever; Phlebitis of right leg.
76---Vittet, Ernest---Sciatica.
77---Bonnardel, Henri---Bullet wound in left hand; Gas asphyxia.
78---Lambert, Réné Jules---Double wound by a ball in the gluteal region with gas-gangrenous wounds in the calf of leg and in left side of chest.
79---Raull, Francois---Convalescent after injury to both legs. Sciatic nerve severed in one.
80---Greffier, Henri---Abdominal pain after operation for appendicitis.
81---Juste, Claud---After operation for appendicitis; Dental caries.
82---Caemaris, Alexander---Malaria.
83---Lucas, Paul---Acute gout.
84---Lacy, Gustav---Pleurisy and recurring Bronchitis.
85---Frutel, Albert (died)---Bacillary lesion at right apex; Koch's bacillus found in the expectoration. >
86---Bliss, Marie---Fracture of Radius.
87---Fortas, Casthène---Amputation of arm; Neuritis of stump; Tuberculosis.
88---Marillies, Ernest---Tuberculosis.
89---Deschambon, Alphonse---Headache.
90---Corneille, Jules---Wound of left shoulder (ball).
91---Vilmouey, Léon---Suspected Tuberculosis.
92---Cauchois, Louis---Shell wound left side.
93---Baque, Isidore----Injury right chest; Fistula~
94---Averzaw, Paul---Shell wound left foot.
95---Laisne, Alexander---Injury to hip, loins and face.
96---Chirouze, Francois---Bronchitis.
97---Aflalo, Albert---Bronchitis; wound of thigh.
98---Pineteau, Auguste, Lt---Complicated fracture of ribs; Pleurisy.
99---Ducloux (Commandant)---Penetrating wound of head (trephining); Concussion of brain causing defective vision; Purulent synovitis of left knee.
100---Merle, Captain---Fracture of humerus (result of bullet wound).
101---Pire, Réné, Lt---Wound of right hand.
102---Tétard, Julien---Bullèt wound lower third left.
103---Becket, Jean---Fracture of shoulder.
104---Logerot, Emile---Wound in right clavicular region.
105---Carrot, Antoine---Wound in left side.
106---Chaumont, Jules---Right leg badly bruised; Fracture of calcaneum.
107---Plisson, Jules---Splinters of shell in right and left gluteal muscles.
108---Carrion---Slight wound shoulder blade.
109---Foltier, Auguste---Wound of left leg (healed). Radiograph showed presence of shell fragnients; (evacuated to American Ambulance: operation).
110---Marché, Andre---Wound (bullet) of thfgh.
111---Gain, Louis---Injury to hand.
112---Beal, Lt---Resection of right knee followed by suppuration.
113---Cone, François---Injury to left thumb.
114---Stab, Henri, Non-Com---Eczema.
115---Laforgue, Jean (Commandant).---Fracture of Tibia
116---Denertie, Lt---Shell wound; Congestion of right lung.
117---Guenlophe, Lt---Amputated left arm; gangrenous stump
118---Puisson,----Convalescence after operation.
119---Satre, Capt---Fractured left tibia.
120---Questa, Mateo---Bullet wound in both legs.
121---Remond, Henri---Shell wound, lower third right thigh
122---Cortet, Louis---Wound in right thigh (bullet).
123---David, Maurice (died)---Deep wound left hand, left thigh and left leg; Gas-gangrene; removed to Professor Hartmann's hospital for operation.
124---Montrend, Rene---Wound of knee joint.
125---Tête, Paul---Septic wound left thigh, arm, shoulder.
126---David, iFrançois---Shell wound in hip.
127---Avenel, Armand---Shell wound of left ankle.
128---Etienne, Ernest---Shell wound, multiple contusion.
129---Cedoz, Armand---Superficial wound in head and thorax.
130---Grospalier, Luc---Superficial shell wound.
131---Guillot, Lucien---Multiple contusions.
132---Gauldry, Charles---Contusion of lumbar region and concussion.
133---Toussaint, Alphonse---Contused wound on the left side of head.
134---Dotte, Alphonse---Penetrating shell wound of thigh.
135---Giffet, George---Wound an posterior aspect of thigh.
136---Shiercelin, Alphonse---Multiple contusions.
137---Blanchard,----Multiple contusions.
138---Boulogne, A---Fragment of projectile in fight lung; another in thigh.
139---Renaux, Henri---Left inguinal hernia.
140---Sarjas,----Intestinal colic.
141---Duboc, Louis (died)---Fracture of left humerus; Enteritis.
142---Vaux,----Multiple wounds.
143---Ousselin, Leon---Wounds of left thigh and right arm.
144---Fouchon---Shrapnel wound of right knee
145---Guichard,----Fractured jaw (shrapnel)
146---Eymard,----Wounds in thorax.
147---Ferrier, Gaston---Surface shrapnel wound, in left forearm.
148---Deiahousse,----Compound fracture of forearm; exit wound somewhat jagged.
149---Lagirr,----. Appendicitis; residual condition after operation.
150---Dupuis, Charles---Shell wound in back.
151---Tisseau, Constant---- Fracture of left forearm; lacerated wound in left hip.
152---Languedoc, Henri---Multiple wounds in both feet.
153---Picot, Jean---Septic wounds in right shoulder
154---Duequencourt, Ferdinand---Frostbite, both feet.
155---Bahn, Augustè---Wounds of both gluteal regions
156---Penifort, Pierre---Shell wounds in left leg.
157---Barcux, Felix---Multiple grenade wounds; contusion of right shoulder.
158---Wheeler, Baird---Lacerated wound (bullet); Exit wound with muscular eversion.
159---Bedel, Joinville---Left leg amputated.
160---Kirch, Emile---Amputation of left leg below knee.
161---Geraud, Alfred---Shell wound of the left side in intercostal region.
162---Glananus,----Shell, wound on dorsal surface of foot; exit on sole.
163---Giradeau, Auguste---Bullet wound in left thigh.
164---Bazin,----Right thigh amputated. Stump having to be removed through gas gangrene supervening.
165---Bailleux, Etienne---Fracture of left leg.
166---Leroux, Auguste---Penetrating wound of right forearm.
167---Pépy, Pierre---Fracture of left leg.
168---Drouet, Alfred---Compound fracture of left thigh.
169---Sweeny, Gharles, Lt---Perforating wound left side of chest
170---Netteneau, Jules---Old fracture of jaw.
171---Bocquet, Besne---Perforating chest wound.
172---Victourau, Jules---Penetrating wound left thorax.
173---Loison, Ernest---Complicated fracture left tibia.
174---Richard, Emile---Lacerated wound in wall of thorax.
175---Cordier, Henri---Shell wounds of both legs and left hand.
176---Balceinte, Jean---Perforating wound of right thigh.
177---Renolleau, Pierre---Penetrating wounds of shoulders.
178---Eviard, Albert---Shell wound left elbow; double fracture of joint.
179---Bencher, Pierre---Compound fracture of right thigh.
180---Coic, Louis---Wound of right leg; gas bacillus infection.
181---Garnier, Theophile---Penetrating shell wound of left shoulder. ,
182---Robert, Jean---Penetrating chest wound; fracture of two ribs.
183---Touchot, Ferdinand---Perforating bullet wound of neck.
184---Mouiex, Joseph---Penetrating wound in left thorax.
185---Lucas, Yves---Compound fracture of left humerus.
186---Dehon, Gaston ---Hand amputated.
187---Thomas, Maurice---Double fracture of left femur.
188---Rigaud, Auguste---Simple fracture of left~femur.
189---Bosse, Alphonse---Penetrating wound left side
190---Morel, Henri---Wounds both hands, left thigh and leg; wound left arm; lesion of cubital nerve and paralysis.
191---Schmit, Edouard---Wound in left ribs.
192---Dutreve, Claude---Wound above the heel.
193---Coulon, Louis---Wounds of left hand and back.
194---Michellotte, Jean---Urinary fistula.
195---Colleau, Jean---Fracture of two ribs.
196---Hancement, Guillaume---Contusion of spine; sciatica.
197---Dufay, Albert---Bullet wounds in left buttock and right calf.
198---Charles, Réné---Complicated fracture of left tibia.
199---Moulin, Louis, Lt---Wound in left frontal region
200---Deslandres, Gabriel---Wounded by ball which entered thigh and injured sciatic nerve.
201---Bourgrois, Joseph---Fracture of humerus.
202---Haillot, André---Wound through right lung.
THE DAY'S DOINGS (BY A LADY). (Mary Lambert)
At 8 a.m. the Night Sister and her nurses were relieved and the Sister and nurses in charge of the patients during the day took over the wards. The patients had already breakfasted, their beds made and the Night Sister had given her report of each patient under her care to the Matron. Preparations were now made for the visit of the doctors and surgeons, who made their rounds every morning at 9 a.m., when, under their direct supervision, wounds and burns were dressed, and each patient underwent careful examination to determine further treatment or, in cases of convalescence, decision was arrived at as to his ultimate discharge.
The visit of the doctors over, those patients who were able to walk, even if only on crutches, made their way into the grounds, some to stroll about under the trees, others to sit and play dominoes or cards, whilst smoking the inevitable cigarette. The French poilu, not being provided with a hospital uniform, is a somewhat nondescript, if, at times, picturesque individual, during his hospital life, clad as he is in a medley of garments amongst which occasionally it would be difficult to find anything regimental besides his cap. Those to whom walking was forbidden or too painful to be indulged in, found a continual pleasure in the strains of an ancient gramophone, the gift of a kind visitor, upon which the "Long, Long way to Tipperary," accompanied by the poilus, not in French, but in a wonderful jargon in imitation of the English version, and the Marseillaise, were easy favourites.
From the disposition of the wards, mentioned in another section, those patients to whom perfect ease and quiet were essential, could indulge to their heart's content in silence and rest; their wards being sufficiently isolated that no sound from the outer world could reach them. So that one might be listening one moment, to laughter and merriment in the larger wards, and within a few yards, so to speak, patients were sleeping or resting quietly in silence broken only by the warbling of birds or the rustle of wind amongst the trees, whose leaves gently brushed their windows. Looking up at the hospital when it was bathed in sunshine, or on wintry days when the trees bowed their snow-clad branches, there was always an air of well being, always a hum of contentment or a restfulness that could be felt. In wards where amputations were slowly healing, men employed themselves for hours making baskets and nick-nacks of raffia, working steadily and happily for days to make some little return for the present of a few cigarettes, some bon-bons perhaps, or only for kindly words spoken from the heart and taken to the heart, with no material gift to enhance their meaning.
Dinner was served at 11:30; and in the afternoon at 2 p.m., visitors were allowed, and wives, sisters, sweethearts or friends arrived. For two hours there was a regular babel of voices in the wards where the cases of lesser injury and sickness were housed, and the sound of pattering feet as children ran merrily from bed to bed. In the other Paris hospitals visits were allowed only once a week, but at Neuilly greater latitude was given, and every afternoon the poilus might look forward to a visit from their friends.
Animals were of course forbidden, but for all that an Algerian succeeded in secreting his pet, a tiny chinchilla monkey, hidden away-in the ample folds of his tunic for a fortnight before he was surprised with it on his shoulder. He was shortly to be discharged to depot and his little pet (about six inches long and with a long bushy tail) was permitted to remain with him until that time; so wrapped in a shawl, this charming little creature with its wee pathetically human face, sat quietly on his bed, or perched confidingly on his shoulder the while his master worked assiduously as orderly, stretcher-bearer, or any other work to which he could (and always willingly) lend his aid.
At six o'clock the doctors paid their second and last visit to the wards, unless in cases of great sickness or danger, when their visits knew no definite times and were performed just whenever required, day or night.
The matron also made her final round, and after the evening meal the wards were prepared for the night. The hospital day begins so early that "sunset and evening star" finds the patients ready and willing to settle down. The busy tongue stilled, quietly the hospital lapses into silence, and once more the night sisters, with their noiseless tread and hushed voices, resume their duty for another night.
One day especially stood out in the hospital "memories " as of greater interest and happiness, when two men received the "Croix de Guerre." It was customary in Paris for those who are capable of doing so to attend at "Les Invalides" for their decorations, and the ceremony was performed in the open-air in the long galleries surrounding the courtyard where stand the new trophies of war, German guns, cannon and parts of wrecked aeroplanes and Zeppelins. The two, patients of Neuilly, however, were unfit for this exertion, and a high official came to the hospital with his suite to perform the ceremony. Preparations were begun early in the morning of the "great day," and the vestibule and salon leading therefrom were transformed into a bower of flowers, whilst the tricolour and the Union Jack were intertwined over the seats apportioned to the visitors. At three o'clock punctually, the General arrived, and was received by the assembled staff, medical, nursing and lay. The large doors opening into the Salon were thrown open, and as many beds as possible had been brought in and lined the walls, whilst willing hands among the patients themselves had carried down from other wards those who were unable to walk, the two poilus to be decorated being amongst those who had to be brought down in others' arms.
After a most affecting address, and a recital of the individual acts of valour which had won their distinctions for the men, the Croix de Guerre was placed upon their breasts by the General, who taking each man by the hand addressed him, "In the name of the President of the Republic I thank you," then placing his hands on the man's shoulders and kissing his cheek, "In the name of France I thank and embrace you."
The two heroes, who were perhaps the most retiring and modest men in the hospital, had done some wonderful acts of valour, one of them having volunteered to go out under heavy fire to mend telephone wires, continued his work after his leg was shattered, dragging himself laboriously over the ground, and being afterwards found unconscious from pain and loss of blood, but with his work accomplished.
After the ceremony the two men were carried into the diriing room where the General, visitors and staff drank their health, and chatted with them, the while the other patients were holding high fete in other parts of the hospital.
Speaking of heroes, perhaps, it will not be amiss to mention here one other of our Neuilly patients, an American surgeon, "Baird Wheeler," serving in the Foreign Legion, and who came to Neuilly suffering from a lacerated wound in the leg with muscular hernia.
Dr. Wheeler, by his cheery good nature endeared himself in an extraordinary
manner to the four other occupants of his room. They could not converse
with him, he knowing no French, and they no English, but for all that they
loved him. He was asked by the American Ambulance to join their staff, but
he was too much of a "sportsman," he wanted to fight for France-fought
and ultimately gave his life on the battlefield. Colonel Elkington, in his
memories of the Foreign Legion, mentions his death as a "special loss,"
and speaks of him as he appeared to the writers as a "splendid fellow."
For such as these, and for the alleviation of their sufferings the hospital
at Neuilly had its being.
The Anglo-French-American Hospital being under the aegis of the French Red Cross, two members of this body, Monsieur de Valroger and Monsieur Basquin, were deputed and voluntarily devoted their time to the necessary lay administrative detail in connection with the purely military side of the work at Neuilly. This included keeping the record of each patient's Hospital days (necessary in compiling the accounts for payment of the Capitation grant of Frcs. 2 per diem), arranging for the reception of patients, and returning them to depot on their discharge.
Dr. Bernard Arnulphy, who had for several months unweariedly discharged lay duties as Administrateur, and Professional duties as Consulting Physician, resigned the former office in November, 1916. Thereafter, at the instance of the French authorities, Mons. Verde Delisle was appointed to the vacant post. Dr. Arnulphy remained in office as Consulting Physician up to the conclusion of the work at Neuilly, and special record must be made of the continuous and unstinted labour given by this gentleman, both in lay and professional capacities, in the interest of the hospital. Particularly at the time of its institution, and also later in its daily activities, the negotiations and conferences with the French authorities were mainly conducted by Dr. Arnulphy, and his close personal relations with Admiral Touchard, the chief of the Paris Centre of the Croix Rouge Francaise were of great value in solving many problems of administration.
Monsieur Verdé Delisle on commencing his duties as Administrateur came over to London once and again, and conferred personally with the Chairman of Committee on various matters of moment concerning the conduct and extension of the work at Neuilly.
The services of Monsieur Delisle as an eminent financier were unreservedly placed, by this gentleman, at the disposal of the Committee, and proved of conspicuous value in the many-sided negotiations incident to the conclusion of the activities of the hospital.
It was mainly due to the sound advice of Monsieur Verde Delisle that
the Committee, on reviewing the situation in March 1916, resolved to recommend
the meeting of subscribers to bring this successful work to a termination.
During the active life of the Hospital the French military provision for the reception of medical and surgical cases had undergone sweeping changes in the distribution of patients; many of the lesser auxiliary hospitals had been closed down, and the mass of the cases was being concentrated in larger institutions or transferred to towns distant from Paris.
Concurrently the Homoeopathic imbalance previously existing in England had become to some extent rectified. The War Office and Admiralty respectively had ultimately accepted the offer of beds made by British Homoeopathic institutions early in the war, and an increasing number of patients from the Army and the Fleet were being sent to the Homoeopathic hospitals in England. Thus Homoeopathy had the opportunity of making its public service known and appreciated in this country. The extra work necessarily thrown upon medical staffs of the Homoeopathic hospitals, as well as the number of Homoeopathic doctors called to the colours in the R.A.M.C. made it increasingly difficult to maintain the requisite medical staff at the Neuilly Hospital.
It was deemed therefore advisable not to continue the work for an indefinite period after the original insistent call for its necessity had lessened. The fact also that the proprietor of the Villa Borghèse required the use of the building for his own purposes after the 1st April, thus necessitating a complete change of locale with the attendant large expense of removing such an institution, was another potent factor in convincing the Committee of Management of the advisability of readjusting the situation. This view was confirmed at the Meeting of Subscribers, held at the London Homoeopathic Hospital on 25th January, 1916, when it was decided that the work of the Hospital might properly be terminated, and that, if the patients under treatment could be moved, the hospital should be closed on the 15th March.
Beds, bedding, household linen and effects, hospital requisites of every description, drugs, dressings and whatever stores were in the hospital were transferred to the Service de Sante and to the French Red Cross who received them very gratefully, and expressed much regret at the termination of the activity of a hospital which had been such a material and efficient aid to their necessities.
The greatest care and precaution were taken alike by the Matron at Neuilly and the Committee in London to ensure that every detail of the hospital equipment provided by the subscribers and friends in England was thus transferred to the responsible official organizations appointed for the purpose. The Neuilly Committee considered itself fortunate in that all the stores, as well as material in actual use which had been entrusted to its keeping, were thus turned to similar account by the French official management.
Late in the history of the hospital it had been the wish of the French military authorities that the whole institution should be reserved for officers. This suggestion did not meet with the approval of the Committee of Management, not only on account of the extra expense entailed, but by reason of the consequent limitation in the grade of patients admitted for treatment. For this limitation the Committee had no warrant.
Created on 17th April, 1997.
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