Text + Transcription © F.Coakley , 2020
This report on Report on Dartford War Hospital was produced by two special Attaches, Drs F Schwyzer and A J Vischer, of the Swiss Legation who had taken over from the Americans to represent German interests in the UK.
This hospital was created to handle the many injured military prisoners of war who had been moved to the UK - in early 1917 it was extended to cover the civilian internees who would previously have been treated in a civilian hospital close to their internment camp - the German Hospital at Dalston was commonly used for those in camps close to London or for more specialised services. The two Island camps because of obvious transport difficulties continued to use Noble's Hospital and the Asylum at Union Mills for the majority of treaments not undertaken in the camp hospitals.
We have the honour to submit a report covering a second visit of inspection to the Hospital for prisoners of war at Dartford on July 17th, 1917.
Direction
Lieut. Colonel Bond whose excellent work has already been mentioned in our previous report of March 13th, 1917, is the Commandant, and the surgeons-in-charge, are also the same as our last visit.
Patients Prisoners of War
The number of patrients is now 819, comprising 37 German officers (3 naval), 729 other ranks, and 53 civilian prisoners. up to March 31st, 3726 patients were admitted, and of these 79 had died. From April 1st, 1917, to the date of our visit, 1170 cases have been admitted and 45 deaths have occurred. This relatively high mortality is due to the fact that in one transport there were a great many very serious cases while the lighter cases in April and in the beginning of May, were sent to other hospitals. At present there are a number of bad jaw cases in the hospital. They are concentrated in one ward, under the skilful treatment of a dental specialist. All dental work necessitated by wounds, and extractions and temporary fillings are done by the local dentist and charged for.
Artificial legs are supplied by Markel Charities. Hitherto these charities have also supplied artificial eys, but from now on, these will be provided by the hospital, free of charge.
There have been no lunacy cases in the hospital during the last 4 months, but at present there are many more or less severe neurasthenica.
In a separate ward are 32 patients, 21 of whom are civilian and 11 military, suffering from tuberculosis of the lungs. One civilian, whose case was mentioned in the report on Whitley Camp, Coventry, has recently been transferred back. Eight of the tubercular cases are serious and
probably all are eligible for repatriation, or for internment in a neutral country.The general rule is that patients are kept in the hospital as long as bacilli are found in their sputum. Should examinations prove negative for two months they are returned to camp.
The military patients were visited by D. F Schwyzer, and the civilians by Dr. A. L. Vischer
Military Patients
The Military patients look well dressed and clean in brown hospital uniforms with bright red neckties.
Two huts have been reserved for the officers. At the time of our visit most of them were outside, on easy chairs or beds. Hauptmann von Schirach is the senior officer and he and all the other officers declared unanimously that they are well treated and well cared for in every respect and that they have no complaints whatsoever. Several volunteered information regarding a hospital in Rouen and about the care shown to them when picked up on the battlefield. They affirmed that the treatment in the hospital and the transport by ambulance were very good and carefull. Several of the officers are very severély wounded and a few still have septic temperatures, but they all seem to be on the way to recovery. Amongst others we saw Lieut, zur See Wieth, who has both legs badly broken. He fell with his burning airship from an altitude of 5,000 metres losing consciousness on the way down and being somewhat scorched by the flames. However, when the ship struck the ground he must have been thrown clear, and thus he was saved, while most of the crew were burnt beyond recognition. He never regained consciousness until he arrived at the hospital. he is doing very well now and had no complaints to make about anything. Stabearst Pfeiffer is on parole outside the hospital compound. He is better than he was a few months ago and likes the hospital very much.
We spoke to many of the severely wounded men who were lying on their beds, either in the open air or in the huts. The covalescents and slightly wounded were attending an afternoon concert given under the management of a civilian prisoner musician Mr. Herzog. Mr Kletzin (organist from Hamburg) played the violin and Dr. jurie Adler, accompanied on the piano. We heard the Rondo of Hayden, played very beautifully.
Civilian Patients
There is a special ward for civilian prisoners of war, containing 32 patients. Some of these were transferred from the German hospital Dalston when it was closed to prisoners of war a few months ago, some were sent from various camps at the beginning of the year for repatriation and others have come from the camps to undergo operations. Sixteen have been passed for repatriation, and needless to say, are anxiously awaiting its resumption.
Amongst the cases being nursed in the civilian ward are disseminated sclerosis, asthma, hydronephrosis, malignant tumour of the stomach, several bad heart cases, tabes, etc.
We heard no complaints from the patients who are well satisfied with the treatment they are receiving. They may receive two visits, each of twenty minutes, once a month.
Resume
Dartford War Hospital is, as stated in the report of March 13th, 1917, as good as one can wish a hospital to be. Not a single complaint was made against the housing, nuiitrition or treatment. We feel we must defend this institution and its Commandant against an attack made on it, which was published in one of the largest German newspapers in may 1917 (Frankfurter Zeitung). Of course we do not know how the hospital was run a year or two ago, and whether the author refers to conditions as they were then. We further will not deny there might have been who was tactless enough to act as complained of in the paper. We wish, however, to state emphatically that to our knowledge since we have seen this hospital no adverse criticism was justified or called for. All the shortcomings of the hospital complained of have been rectified long ago.It certainly speaks well for a prisoners' of war hospital if, from all the 819 patients, not a single complaint was offered, though we had every opportunity of talking to the prisoners as the Commandant, who accompanied us on our inspection, tactfully left us alone with the men in most of the huts.
That this good feeling was genuine could be seen from the way in which the Commandant spoke to the men and they to him. He knows most of the patients personally and was able to give a synopsis of the more serious cases. The prisoners do not seem to feel that the Commandant is their enemy or jailor, but that he is their friend, and most would submit to any operation or treatment recommended by him.
As far as the surgical treatment goes no ground for criticism could be found. The cases seemed to be treated just as one could expect in a hospital staff. We feel sure that Lieut. Colonel Bond will be gratefully remembered by thousands of German prisoners of war.`
In a few cases so far found it would appear that the hospital initially discharged its patients to Alexandra Palace camp from where they would be included in a party for tranfer to an Island camp
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| Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The
Editor Text + Transcription © F.Coakley , 2020 |
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