212 THE ZEMSTVOS DURING THE WAR
peace time. It was proposed to divide the entire length of the front
into a number of sectors. In the center of each sector an isolation
station was to be set up, in charge of a doctor, or at least a junior
medical officer. Gradually, hospitals containing wards for infectious
cases were to be opened in connection with the isolation stations.
Large hospitals for the treatment of infectious diseases, such as
cholera, typhoid fever, etc., were opened in the cities, and treat-
ment and medicines were given free of charge. Isolation stations
would take charge of suspicious cases, the houses from which they
were taken, as well as the clothing of the patients, would be disin-
fected and, when serious epidemics were discovered, anti-epidemic
detachments would be summoned.
The difficulty experienced in carrying out this scheme was that
the work had to be done with promptitude in unfamiliar surround-
ings. Then there were the constant changes of position, for the re-
treat of the armies inevitably gave rise to new problems from day
to day, demanding immediate solution. Thus, the Warsaw Commit-
tee began its operations on the left bank of the Vistula. Later it was
forced to organize its work all over again between the Vistula and
the Niemen, and finally found itself compelled to cross to the right
bank of the latter river as the enemy advanced. During the great
retreat of the Russian army, again, the medical organization of
the northwestern front found itself pushed back all the way to
Smolensk, and it was only slowly and gradually that it found it pos-
sible later on to advance once more into the province of Minsk. This
constant danger of further retreats made it necessary for the Union
to make careful preparations for prompt action in the immediate
rear. However, even in the provinces which were nearest to the war
zone matters were far from satisfactory. Thus, for instance, out of
a total of seventy medical sectors in the province of Smolensk, less
than one-half were in working order, for there was a shortage of
doctors, in consequence of their mobilization, for service with the
army. The Zemstvo Union found it necessary to fight infectious
diseases not only at the front, but also in the interior.
The number of medical institutions established by the Union in
localities where the heaviest concentration of troops was taking
place was constantly increasing, so that as early as November,
1915, after the retreat was over, the committee of the northwestern
front controlled 117 dispensaries and 48 hospitals for infectious
