1947-01-18 — Page 3

THE EVERY

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, JANÚARY 18, 1947.

RUSSIAN INSTALMENT TWO

The birth of a baby

WAS in Moscow under the care of Russian doctors during the whole of my pregnancy, and when my son was born at the end of May, 1945, we were ten days in a Russian maternity home.

+

He was less than a month ad when be nearly died of double pneumonia, and n week later he was found to have whooping cough

ส

well. I had it when he was born, but I thought it was just a cough, and baby had caught it from me. The pneumonia' was a "complica- tion."

lie was four weeks in hospital and, except for the frat few days, I lived there in the same

room, feeding and helping to nurse him,

From then until we left the Soviet Union our Russian doctor kert watchful eye on us both.

year

a

An eventful

had provided more opportunities than I wished

to see how the elaborate Soviet sys tem for the care of mother and child could work in practice.

As soon as a woman is pregnant she is supposed to go to her local maternity clinic, which arranges for her to be looked over by the doctor there at regular intervala until the baby is due. Two months before the baby is due she will have re- ceived a visit from a sister attached

By JOHN LAWRENCE

Formerly of the British Embassy in Moscow

The author says: "I am indebted to Mrs Gifford, wife of the British Commercial Secretary, for per- mission to publish this account of her experiences in hospital."

The bables were under the care of two children's specialists-one for

bables and the other normal

for small bables..

There were various sisters: always one on duty in general charge of

treatment in the ward and others dealing with special duties, such o food and linen.

the

Al one stage she dived down his throat with a rubber catheter and Aucked up pneumococcal phlegm into Ier own mouth-quoting Richard Cœur de Lion an a precedent for such methods,

By "CANDIDUS”

When Will War Claims

Be Met?

was during the Anal phase of Oxygen was always available in Istened to

the Battle for Hongkong that I A broadcast from an

a convenient "cushion," and artificial American spokesman assuring his respiration-which had

to be re-nationals in the Far East that when sorted to frequently-was efficiently the arried out by the doctors.

Three blood transfusionS were carried out, and he waa' also given glucose intravenously, and on Ave occasions some of my blood Intra- muscularly, as I had just recovered frum whooping cough,

It was perhaps typical of the dramatic methods of Russian doc-

While we were away he developed a cough, 'and 'I brought him buck to see the doctor at the clinic, and sho diagnosed "grippe." She thought he would be botter in hos pilal, and went to ring up children's section of the First Mos-toring that after Krechmer had res cow Medical Institute.

stored the baby to life innumerable times by artificial respiration, she failed to diagnose an attack of wind, was not room for his diaphragm to and he nearly died because

there function.

THE TRUTH UNVARNISHED The bables were looked after by W suddenly collapsed and stopped Was ploning baby breathing, and she came racing down the corridor and revived him with artificial respiration,

another set of sistern.

Finally, there were the "nanas," friendly peasant women who carried food round, made beda, but nover touched a patient.

The nurses

hour or reckoning arrived, Amerien would exact full compensa- tion for the losses sustained by her people caught up In the net of Japanese aggression.

Although not directly concerned, the message consoled me in the thought that the British Government also would protect its people who were experiencing like siffering and loss.

being implemented, for a

The American promise is evidently news message stated that

recent McArthur had received instructions General from his Government to take steps that McArthur is acting, for Immediately to secure reparations from Japan.

While it may well be the Allies, the fact remains that we Bri- 1ish subjects in Hongkong have so were a mixed lot. far received little assurance that our As it was then clear that he was They ranged from raw country girls just claims will be met. extremely 11, she arranged for him to a refined woman who told me she that a year or so age, a form was It is true fogo at once to the local children's was an economist, but hospital hours but as far as I am aware, Govern- issued Inviting us to state our claims, The greatest care was taken to hospital, situated

across a court-suited her. The standard was low.ment has never held out the slightest avoid any infection and such wash-yard from the clinic, Double pneu- ing na hud to be done

monia was diugnosed.

There was also a serious lack of the contrary, for some unknown rea-

hope that claims will be met. This hospital, the Savyolovsky, I continuity, as the nurses worked 24 son, the very filing in: of a claim a small one of 80 beds for children, tours at a stretch and then hand 40 is believed to be a mere formality. under three years old, There were three doctors un elderly and woman of about 30. youngish Jewess and i Russian If they had not been competent and determined my I thought the food was good. Ithe frequently collapsed and stopped baby would certainly have died, as breathing--9 often as 12 times in

was carried

poinch

to the local child welfare clinic to make sure that she has the necessary out with permanganate of things for the baby.

and sterile wool held by a sister in forceps.

e

The maternity tome where baby is born is responsible for in- forming the child welfare clinic when it goes home, and the sister from the clinic (already on old ne- quaintance) calls to dress the baby' novel and to give any advice which may be needed.

A doctor from the clinic alia calls to verify that everything is going all right. Each clinic is responsible for the children under two, its area. WATCH, RING TAKEN AWAY

elderly.

Mothers were made to wash their hands before feeding their babies.

was certainly better than what I ate

seemed more imaginative than what in an L.C.C. hospital in 1942 and 24 hours.

I saw in St Thomas's before Wt.

the

No visitors were allowed, I there was a 'phone between every two bed which could be used between 11 am. and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. and 7 pm.

hours of,

+

I also saw three different sisters (which needed watching all the time in his ward who were friendly and could have been cared for. kind, but practically British standards.

untrained by

She held out no false hopes-like all Hussian dectors, she unvarnished

the truth-but hind

State medicine had not

resulted

On

to

ROUTINE IS NOT SOULLESS

IT is surely time that somebody took MOT

OTHERS were expected to help pressing the flome Government

up the matter with a vlaw to rangements were made for them to British subjects in Hongkong

surse very ill babies, and ar-recognise the fact that thousands of live in the hospital. Without them elsewhere in the Far East) are to- (und It is difcult to see how serious cases

day practically penniless as the direct seems to be a delibernite desire to result of Japanese aggression. There cloud the issue by stating at every possible opportunity that Hongkong the effects of the war, and that pros- has recovered remarkably well from perity, if not fully established, in at

wealth, amassed by those who not least just around the corner. There In a considerable amount" ja

only collaborated during the war, but who have since waxed fat in black are the thousands who carried on market activities. Against all such honourably during the occupation, and who lost their all during or be-

treatments were

but

no direct

1

MOTHER is allowed by law

Dombrovskaya, of the First Moscow Two days later Professor Y. F.

in any soul-destroying routine in days' leave with full pay before

that hospital. Babies were fed and Medical Institute, was called in She the birth and 42 days after, will 191

was a very good children's specialist nothing ever happened at the came

carried out, more should there be twins or com-

The usual stay in the home was good, in fact, that she had been time two days ranging or within an plicution. She is also entitled

to seven complete days. But if ກ to two parties, to meet Mrs Chur-hour of when it was supposed trx. three litres of milk a week from the patiënt ran a temperature or her chili. sixth month of pregnancy until four baby was underweight she would be months after the birth.

kep until the temperature ad sub- was under the care of Professorade or the baby was fully esta- Kolusoy,

blished, aminble, 01 bearded Chekhovian character with

If the mother was well and an- a competent

mouse of a womanxious to return home, but the taby nsulatant called Sladkova

was still weakly, it was sent to its Towards the end of my time. asked whether I could have my baby mother, would go and feed it there.

local children's hospital and the at the Grauerman Maternity. Home, which was neur our flat, and run by Professor Arkhangelsky, of

NO PREPARED BABY FOODS we had heard good reports.

Kolesov approved my ehnice. When the time came

went to the home about 7.30 one evening WES Immediately admitted.

watch and wedding ring were

J

whom

Babies were brought to the wards first things taken away and given on a trolley holding two dozen.

of the First Moscow Medical Insti- hahy moved to the children's section tute, which was equipped with all the best in the Soviet Union. to live there, too, as I was feeding | him every two hours.

I went

cause of the war,

of

now

was discharged. 1 made

After about three weeks my baby payment to the Polyclinic for Selen

le Workers, maternity home, wel- fare clinke or children's hospital. raised the matler ench

From small factories and businesses time, and All these services are free, and there the flatful of furniture, the same always received the same

to the larger industrial undertakings answer:

from the residence of distinction to is no machinery for collecting pay-story opplies, and the same need has ment.

This hospital appeared to be well equipped-mostly American goods. NORMAL

babies were fed every But there were

When I relured to Britain I took British light three hours from 6 a,in, till mid-lamps and Canadian Red Cross Ormond-street Children's

iny baby to a specialist night, and underweight babies every overalls. Everything was

at Great and two hours.

referred tie issured me he had made a com

Hospital. to as un "American present." My

and plete recovery there was some

and that he tla

pointed out that Slough, England on to have survived,

surprise when

must have been extremely well cared for one of the lamps), was not in the U.S.A. Each baby had a label round the aled more clothes and filed in in-neck with a number

Chief doctor

red-haired numerable forms

which corres-Crimen Jewers of 45 called Byela .until I Anally ponded to Its mother's bed. found myself wearing nothing but

Benediktovna Krechner and to her my vest and answering questions As I was in the ward for mare more than to any other Individual about the number of rooms in our than a week I saw 16 other patients.

was my baby's recovery due. flat, the amount of V.D. in the and they all fed their babies them- family, the Illnesses I had had, the selves,

to my husband for safe keeping.

But as I got further Into the home

education I had received and the sinte of my head (confirmed by quick look with the nit comb).

LABEL TIED ON MY BABY

الله

of

was a

She hardly left the hospital day or night for about a week, put of her leave it he was out of danger, and I was told by a doctor that cases eventually diagnosed his and

mothers unable to feed their whooping cough, which was such a my hables are rare, but when this oc-puzzling feature of the case. curs the clinic arranges for them to receive human milk and also makes cow's milk available cheaply. No Prepared babies' foods can be bought in the Soviet Union.

Bubles are kept tightly wrapped

cotton

then asked why I WAS

I had walted until the great age of 33 before having a baby. And before I could think of a convincing reply I had been stripped of my remaining up. They wear a little cotton shirt posscaslons-which were all given to a napkin, a large square my husband to take home-given a shower bath, fited out in a night-hends like a nun's colf,

material which comes over their Kown from a steriliser, and ushered

a blanket straight into the delivery room.

This was a big, tiled, well-lighted room with about a dozen hard, high couches round the wall, two of As my baby was rather small he which were already occupied by also had a wad of cotton wool over. women In a much more advanced his head. state of labour than I was

the

A doctor sat at a table in middle of the roon, whiling away the hours when she was not de livering by Alling in more forms,

I lay for some time on the couch while my neighbour was encouraged to greater efforts "What-you a big strong girl of 27!!

by being told: Why, there's a woman of 33,"

I watched her baby born

from

which envelops them like a papouse everything else. and a cotton quilt wrapped round

From the time he was born until he was undressed to put on his own clothes to go home I never saw his hands, feet or cars, and the hospita disapproved of our clothes and Shetland shawls, which British baby they thought far too thin.

Relations between patients and staff in the maternity home were amusing to anyone with experience

hand and

The only aftermath of his

illness

is a tendency for his mother to spit over her shoulder-Russian fashion, to keep off evil spirits when assure ing inquirers that he is now well.

quite

NEXT SATURDAY The children-how they are reared-and-educated.

artsen.

BRITISHI subjects have very Just and proper clalms, and Govern- ment is woefully failing in its duty if it is not fully alive to Its respon- sibility

and pressing the Home Government very strongly in the matter. It is the absence of any off- uncertainty, and yet the matter is so elal announcements or particulars of policy which create the feeling of obviously Important, and of such very wide interest. Omeial silence is so exasperating. The people con- cerned are not here for a spell of duty; are not provided with housing and do not look forward to pensions. [expect compensation.

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BENEFITED FROM

They have lost heavily and rightly ATTACKS ON HIS REGIME

Of the many things that he saw during six years as a war correspondent, ALAN MOOREHEAD tells two of the strangest stories:

THE BEETLES AND

THE BODIES

PROPOSE to regale you here intrigued me more than any with two stories which other in the whole course of the

war.

a range of about one yard, and half of British hospitals, where the staff doubt, an hour later she was able to see sull has the upper the arrival of my sun.

No anaesthette was given to any-treatments. one in the delivery room, nor did I Eto nay apparatus for adminis-

is

sverelive about temperature and

CAME FROM ALL WALKS

out

HERE

born on a quiet night-I was able to

go, straight into a ward instead

The patients in my ward

from all walks of life. There was

23. I

and

some

The moral:

that most creatures

found the beetles still plodding at that time, the same direction as forward in Indian file in the direction will blindly follow any leader any of the Atlas Mountains, which was, where. the Eighth Army was taking.

THE DIVER'S STORY

By Henry Buckley

Providence was kinder to General Francisco Franco dur--` ing 1946 than in the years immediately preceding it. From foreign attacks on his regime he has definitely benefited at home in that the attacks annoyed the middle and upper classes, which are the only ones at present in a position to !!! change the regime.

The year 1946 opened ominously for the dictator; a large and influential section of Spain's conservative classes showing great enthusiasm for the restoration of the monarchy.Į

NEW FLYING BOATS FOR

Don Juan felt the situation far HONGKONG

enough, advanced for him to move from distant Lausanne to neighbouring Lisbon.

The Arst of the Short Solent flying boats, 12 of which have of Spain's resistance the Socialists, Hongkong "Dragon Route," has On the left wing, the main groups been ordered for the London- Communists, Anarchists und Re-been launched, Already 21 Hythe publicans-hud at last formed a

de

Havilland

And it was evident that neither the You will find them trivial, no usage of armies nor the crash of was the practice, as Montgomery's

high explosives had interfered in the hardly

armics

proceeded more than sightest way with this immemorial northern coast of Europe, to send along the incidents with local colour; but habit of the beeties-a habit that down divers to explore the bottom for me they have a singular they hnd probably pursued since of the sea in each recaptured port. beauty, a weird sort of mystery. Alexander the Great himself were of British motor torpedo boats and national alliance of democralle forces, class flying beats are in opera-

beyond the days when Cambyses and tering it. I was told that if surgery

They searched for the wrecks was necessary It was carried

probably elsewhere, and that an anaesthetic looked on as the property of the though you can never be sure

deep-campaigning in the desert. a patient's symptoms were psychological importance as well. FOLLOW THE LEADER places and met disaster there.

other craft which had gallantly. was then given.

preceded

the armies into these Both the left and right opposition, tion on Empire routes, and the After the arrival of my baby via a patient to disregard the treat-

whole ward, who would often ad-about that.

without having official contact, had addition of the Solent will help was shown. him and asked to check

One day in Belgium a the Identity labels before they were

diver feelers out and there was a certain to meet the growing demand for of the soldiers argued: "Now, descended to such a ship on the amount of tacit understanding about ment

ONE prescribed. tied on to him.

if we disturb this habit, if we sea bed. This was a German vessel. They concern

beetles and direct the leading beetle on to As he crawled through the grey and I was lucky that my baby was

came bodies at the bottom of the sea. the tall of the last beetle, will they allmy wreck estimating the possibility

a joint effort by all those opposing high performance flying bout. Generalissimo Franco to prepare one a house-painter; a doctor who was

Civil counterpart of the Seaford One day in the desert, when not go round and round until they spending an uncomfortable day of the daughter of a well-known actor, the war hung fire and the die of starvation?"

of salvage he saw the grisly thing big push to unseat him. that divers sometimes see:, the bodica

four-engined military flying-boat, the so in the corridor. There were nine in English (unfortunately, she found some

or a school teacher; a student translator conquest of Tripoli was like following morning. In the evening the Sicel plates and the broken Monarchist issue was well in the powered by four Bristol Hercules

The experiment, was begun the of the crew lying Uke ghosts among

But at the end of the year, the Solent to a 30-passenger aircraft beds in my ward, which was rather.

distant too small to hold them comfortably. several housewives. So far

mo impossible to understand); and mirage on the horizon, infinitely with astonishment that the beatles

and receding the soldiers hurried back and saw rusting guns.

background and the national alliance engines; driving The beds were of iron, much harder, as the mattresses were same treatment as any other Russian soldiers came upon a line of circle still persisted, though one or A silently followed him. A current

of, the democratic forces was func-propellers. but felt could judge, I received exactly the remote in space and time, three were all tramping round and round

tioning with little vigour. Foreign very thin and the sheets were of woman sent to that hospital.

circle. On the second day the She turned to go they rose and poor quality

observers might well wonder what unbleached which crumpled very easily. All

beetles walking through the two beetles were My main

were growing groggy. dimculty linea came out of a steriliser.

Rusafans appear to be able

was sleep. Bard.

On the third day one beelle had set up by the diver's movement The medical attention seemed

without Itor, at least, to rely on

to do. They walked heads down, nose starvation

fallen out through exhatiation and ces them un from their resting places, and they followed him out good deal better than the accommo- cat naps of a few minutes at a time. to tall, utterly absorbed and beetles and closed the the other of the wreck and along the noft floor dation, although perhaps specialised. The doctors in the de-

the gap. too

The day after I got home a sister

enting as they wont whatever it

of the sea. fourth day three more livery room did nothing but deliver me from the local child welfare is that beatles cat.

beetles, collapsed but still, deßantly Shocked and distressed, he changed The three on duty on the night that clinic. Then a doctor, who gave me

and dazedly, the survivors kept up direction. They changed direction my baby was born were all women from the chemist.

a prescription for n "baby's outfit"

their march round and round in the too. and... all fairly young. As they

sand. On the fifth day the circle had seemed to work quickly and conf- This consisted of a thermometer, stepped out of line; one and all

NO beetle of independent spirit over staggered on.

shrunken by half, but sill they him, touching him. He went

He stopped. They clustered 'round dently, I was quite content to be in two rubber tents, two pipettes, their hands.

а large square of muslin, a square of they followed the leader wherever he On the sixth day the soldiers They followed; faster as he went macintosit, two gauze bandages, a

faster, slower as he slowed, He themselves had to break camp and chose to go. And it was remarkable move on. They went to that ghastly stopped. They reached out to him packet of boric acid powder, 4hat the leading beatle was no circle of insects, and, detaching one, another of pormanganate of potash different in shape or size or colour sat him off in a new direction across Frantically tugging at his rope he

again. crystals, and a tube of vaseline all from all the other bootles. very well packed in a wooden box.

the sand. Ammediately the others was drawn at last to the surface of The soldiers observed this pheno- followed, and soon they were feeding the sea. I continued to take the baby re- menon for a time and then went on new postures, regaining their gularly to the clinfe until I loft Mos-about their duties of the day. When strength, redoubling in size and fa cold reflection that there. Is no cow for the country.

I and no moral in this last only they returned in the evening they colour.

end to tho infinito horror'of a wor.

cotton

THE FOOD WAS GOOD

+

WHEN the twothers arrived in the ward they were looked after by three bright young women doctors who took it in turns to be on duty day and night,

the

on.

events, have brought about this de-

Both the Seaford and the Solent aro developments of the famous cline in organised opposition to Sunderland flying-boot and have Franco and would find it hard to put considerably improved preformance their fingers on any single fact. and load-carrying capacity, These Certain obvious factors helped provements have been brought Franco; the bumper wheat harvest, about by more powerful englucs and good olive crops, rains which helped by Increasing the size of the planing to mitigate drought, chauvinist pas-bottom in order to permit a much sions so easily intamed in Spain and higher take-off weight, fanned by constant attacks on the regime in the United Nations and.

While the Solent is filed with 30 veces Communist gains seats, it can also be used for night In France and italy,

flying, carrying 24 passengers in Ave cabins. The accommodation Includes Those are all factors which have ladies helped. But probably the factor

and gentlemen' dressing which has helped more than

rooms, a fully equipped kitchen, other to maintain General Franco

any incorporating a bar and spacious unshaken, is the fear of another civil promenado, cabin.!! war, which has played a leading rolo at every moment of crisis or doubt throughout the past year,

Salent, can fly non-stop for 2,500 Carrying 24 right passengers, the miles at a speed of 210 m.ph.