Commercial. No. 39 (1883). Further correspondence respecting the cholera epidemic in Egypt : 1883 [In continuation of "Commercial no. 34 (1883)".].
- Cookson, Charles A.
- Date:
- 1883
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Commercial. No. 39 (1883). Further correspondence respecting the cholera epidemic in Egypt : 1883 [In continuation of "Commercial no. 34 (1883)".]. Source: Wellcome Collection.
Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.
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![Another of the native doctors is of a sullen surly nature, does his work only under supervision, and I have no opinion of him. A gratifying contrast has been the conduct of the English officers of artillery, cavalry, and 1st Brigade. Colonel Duncan and the officers of the artillery, Majors Wodehouse and Rundle, have been constant in their visits, day and night, and have done all they could to cheer the sick and dying men. The artillery suffered more than any other corps, but every man was frequently visited. The officer commanding cavalry and his second in command (though only one case has occurred in the corps) have shown every anxiety to assist and have placed their services at my disposal. At the commencement of the epidemic Major Wingate was detailed as Commandant of the hospital and has almost lived there ever since. He effectually struggled with Egyptian laziness and disobedience of orders, and got the hospital discipline into working order. He had full powers to requisition on battalions and corps for men, stores, tents, &c., and managed to get all he wanted without offending any one: he has been firm and conciliatory in his relations with the doctors, and speaking Arabic fluently, he has spent his leisure moments at the bed-side of the patients. I cannot speak too highly of his services; a young officer of greater promise I have never met. To Major Turner I entrusted all arrangements for burial of the dead and conveyance of water to the hospital and camp of observation; both duties he executed promptly. At the early stage he was constantly in hospital, lifting men about, and on the first night, when attendants were useless, he performed the most menial duties of the hospital. Even when attacked by diarrhoea he continued to work day and night, and it was only by a positive order that I prevented him from continuing work, even when seriously ill—an illness entirely caused by his devotion to his duties. Major Haggard, entrusted with the rationing of the hospital, superintendence of convalescent depot, and various other duties connected with the hospital, has worked very well. Spending a great deal of his time in hospital and from his knowledge of the language has been of great assistance to me. Majors Shakespear, Piggott, Marriott, and Davidson have helped in every way. Major Shakespear has had charge of tents and camps, and has worked hard and well. I have discouraged the visits of these officers to the hospital, desirous as they were to assist, as their presence was not absolutely necessary, and I was anxious to have a reserve of officers in case of others falling sick. Major Piggott, however, spent the first day and night almost continuously in the hospital, and worked with great devotion at the time when example w'as required to put pluck into the attendants. Surgeon-Major Rogers arrived in time to treat all the early cases, except one that died before his arrival, and on his arrival the situation altered, all confusion ceased, the doctor in charge was replaced by a more courageous man, the orderlies worked well, equipment was completed and the hospital settled down into working order. All this was done quietly, but effectually, and the way in which Dr. Rogers worked was beyond all praise. I feel sure that the comparatively trifling loss to the number of seizures was due to his devotion and attention. Dr. Acland arrived at a time when the type was altering and the number of cases diminishing. But on his arrival two bad cases had just come in—Captain Ahmed Hamdy and a man of the 8th Battalion. He immediately devoted himself to his duty, and a more painstaking, patient, and hard-working medical man I never saw. Though a stranger to the military system he soon adapted himself to it, and has succeeded in getting both doctors and infirmiers to work for him cheerfully. His exertions are worthy of special mention by his Excellency the Sirdar. I have, &c. (Signed) F. GRENFELL, Brigadier-General, 1st Brigade, Egyptian Army. P.S.—I should propose that Drs. Rogers and Acland be called on for a Report as to the medical skill of the battalion and other doctors : their treatment if not successful is at any rate economical, starvation being the principal remedy in cases of choloraic diarrhoea. [1645] D](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b24914691_0013.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
