Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 March 1919 — ANOTHER LETTER FROM DR. GWIN [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER LETTER FROM DR. GWIN

THINKS THAT END OF WORK WITH BASE HOSPITAL. WILL SOON COME * The following letter has been received from Dr. M. D. Gwin and is published because of the interesting information which it contains. - . . ' Vicky, Feb. 11, 1919. L. H. Hamilton and Family. Dear Folks: Base 109 is the only remaining hospital functionary in Vicky now. We have all the cases in our charge and they vary all the way from typhoid fever to cooties and from shrapnel wounds all through the list to appendicitis, shell shocks and gas cases are numerous. In my immediate care tonight are 150 boys with troubles including appendicitis 2 cases, typhoid fever II cases, pneumonia 8 cases, pldural fluid 4 cases, shrapnel wounds 20 cases, erysipelas 1 case, mental diseases 5 cases, nephritis cases 10, heart disease 15 cases, shell shock 6- cases, diabetes 1 case, rheumatism 8 cases, influenza 10 cases, gas cases 5. In addition many peculiar diseases and convalescents. These cases are all grouped in one hotel which is supposed 'to care for all the serious cases. In all there are 750 si cl# patients left to us and about 17 physicians care for these. So it is obvious that soon we will be without patients for in three months we have gone from five hospitals to one and from 11,000 cases to 750. So far as we know we will close this great center and leave within about four to five weeks. For two months past I have worked seven days a week and rarely see my bed before one o’clock, yet there are hundreds of physicians in France today who are doing nothing 'but lapse into mental stages bordering on insanity. In fact France is a test of one’s stability; one of my patients remarked to his nufse that “France is certainly a bad country to live in an( j a 4 bad country to die in.” He spoke the truth and from my own personal view point it has been fortunate for me that I have been privileged to do about as I rhoose. For in choosing to select for myself the hardest work in the unit I have perhaps saved myself untold troubles. Sincerely,

M. D. GWIN.