Filatelista

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Prof Dr Milan Radovanovic

1915 FRENCH MEDICAL MISSIONS IN SERBIA

By the end of December 1914. after the battles on Kolubara and in Suvobor, with preterhuman efforts of its soldiers, Serbia threw off Austrians beyond its borders with great war salvage and 70.000 POWs. These brave soldiers, exhausted through three consecutive wars. needed to rest, while the state needed the time to reorganize their army and fill in the ammunition reserves.

Then appeared a new enemy transmitted by the Austrian POWs - Typhus (image 1). Soon, hospitals were almost flooded. The sick were lying in the hallways, stairways. even in stables. Doctors and nurses were endangered themselves. During the epidemic 200.000 people died from typhus fever. Out of 200 Serbian doctors, all were infected and suffered the disease, 125 died (4). Serbia asked its Allies for help. as the Serbian forces were helpless before this adversary.

AUSTRIANS CARRIRD TYPR{S TO SRRBIA

Rockefeller Relief Commission Finds Troops the Source of the Great Epidemic.

SAYS 300,000 ARE IN NEED

And the Country Is Practically Helpless in thc EmcrgcncyCholsra Outbreak Predicted,

Image 1. New }ork Times of March 26, 1915 (4)

Medical missions came from all sides of the world: Russia, England, France, USA. Switzerland. the Netherlands, Denmark and others. In France, the Minister of War sollicited the assistance of the doctors who were willing to risk the typhus in Serbia. There were 3400 doctors who came to the call. The advantage was given to those who had experience with infectious diseases, especially in French Colonies where this disease was spread.

By mid March 1915. French Military Medical Mission, headed by colonel Jaubert, boarded on a ship in Marseille and via Thessaloniki arrived in Nis on March 27. French Medical Mission under the command of Colonel Jaubert was composed of 100 doctors whose main task was to fight typhus. which was carried out from April to August 1915. Out of total of 107 doctors, 54 were sent to the military units. while 48 were stationed within the civilian medical services. In the hospitals established in Belgrade and Nis and with the help of medical missions. the mortality rate was reduced from 35% to 4% (2).

The original letter of commander of French missions in Serbia, colonel Jaubert. with his signature (in the lower left corner of the letter) from Serbia to France by the way of Embassy of France in Serbia, is shown on image 2.