108 THE ZEMSTVOS DURING THE WAR
for by transfers to other institutions (special) for further treatment,
thus making a total of 74.4 per cent. In the first month, there were
evacuated 6.6 per cent plus 13 per cent, which makes 19.6 per cent of
all admissions. In the second month the respective figures were 20.7 per
cent plus 15.2 per cent, making 35.9 per cent. In the third month we
find 15.6 per cent plus 3.3 per cent, totalling 18.9 per cent. In the
fourth month a considerable residue is formed, which shows a tendency
to tarry in the hospitals rather long and makes up one fourth part of
all admissions.t?
In the zemstvo hospitals the patient found himself surrounded by
an atmosphere of sympathetic care, so much so that it even pro-
voked protests by the army authorities; the head of the army medi-
cal department in his orders on more than one occasion thought it
necessary to remind the Unions of Zemstvos and of Towns that they
were dealing not merely with patients, but with soldiers who were
expected to return to the army, for which reason the régime and
discipline in the hospitals should be similar to what they were in the
army. However, little attention was paid to orders of this kind, par-
ticularly during the first year of the War. It is true, the “regula-
tion” diet, though nutritious, was very modest. As a general rule,
the patients were given in the morning tea and half a pound of white
bread ; for dinner they had soup and meat, with porridge and black
bread; at four o’clock they were given tea and white bread, and at
seven-thirty they received supper consisting of two courses. Patients
on this regulation diet were to receive only three-quarters to one
pound of meat, one pound of white bread, one and one-half to two
pounds of black bread, nine zolotniks'® of sugar, and one and one-
half zolotnik of tea.
Side by side with this regulation diet, however, the zemstvo hos-
pitals made very extensive use of dieting “by special prescription of
the doctor,” with the result that we find on the menu of various hos-
pitals such comparative luxuries as boiled milk, milk porridge, eggs,
cutlets, and fruit jellies. Not only were most of the zemstvo physi-
cians inclined to allow their patients all kinds of privileges, but in
addition the patients were surrounded by the tender care of patrons
and patronesses and women’s committees, whose members kept unin-
12 Izvestia (Bulletin), No. 10, pp. 59-60.
13 One zolotnik — 0.15 ounces.
