LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
OUR MEDICAL DEPARTMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA. (To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."1 SIE,—As a constant reader of the Spectator, I was much distressed to read in your issue of August 11th Mr. Edmonds's letter re military hospitals in Natal. His state- ments are totally at variance with my actual personal experience, and I hold that an ounce of experience is worth a ton of hearsay evidence. My husband left Johannesburg on October 8th, 1899, viii Delagoa Bay, and was attached to the staff of the Fort Hospital, liaritzburg, on October 22nd. From there he was sent to organise a stationary hospital at Eatcourt on November 2nd. To this hospital he remained attached till April 30th, when he was transferred to a hospital ship. During this time he was a patient from January 18th to March 25th with a severe attack of enteric. Owing' to the kindness and courtesy of the military authorities, I was per. mitted to come from Cape Town to nurse him, and I remained at Estcourt till May 14th. The whole time I had free access to the hospital and ample opportunities of observing the
treatment of patients, the provision made for their comfort, and of conversing with the convalescents. I hardly once heard a complaint from the men as to their treatment either at Esteourt or in the field hospitals at the front. They admitted that in the field hospitals they had to put up with hardships, but they cheerfully accepted these as the inevitable accompaniments of active service. I may add that although at the time of my arrival Estcourt was rail-head, yet 1001b. of ice came up daily from Durban for the patients, and if anything was needed, a telegram to the officer in charge of the Government stores at the point always resulted in the article required arriving by next possible train.—I am, Sir,
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