214 THE ZEMSTVOS DURING THE WAR
Another field in which the medical bureaus rendered valuable assistance
 to the field detachments was that of surgical aid. Not only did
they provide these detachments with personnel, medicines, dressing
material, surgical instruments, but they also created special squads
of a lighter type which helped in giving first-aid to the wounded,
during periods of intense fighting, returning afterward to their normal
 functions of preventing the spreading of epidemics.
Among the chief service rendered by the Zemstvo Union to the
Russian army during the War must be included the extensive campaign
 of inoculation against cholera, typhoid fever, and smallpox.
The urgent necessity of such inoculation was realized for the first
time in the course of a conference held by the Unions of Zemstvos
and of Towns toward the end of April, 1915. At the beginning of
June of the same year the Zemstvo Union opened at Moscow a dispensary
 where patients were inoculated free of charge against typhoid
 fever and cholera.™ At the end of June a large detachment
was organized and dispatched to the Caucasus, its main object being
to inoculate against smallpox, typhoid fever, and cholera, and to
distribute quinine as a precaution against malaria.’® On the Austro-German
 front the question of a general, compulsory inoculation remained
 in suspense for a considerable time before a decision was
arrived at. Wherever the representatives of the Zemstvo Union succeeded
 in convincing the military authorities of the advantage of
this measure, they were given permission to inoculate the troops.
Thus, in one of the armies on the southwestern front, trial inoculations
 made during June, 1915, showed very satisfactory results.
so that during the following month the Union was given permission
 to inoculate about 13,000 more men.** In August, 1915, the
Union’s committee of the southwestern front, anxious to improve
the work of inoculation, convoked a conference of bacteriologists.
The conference was also attended by representatives of the medical
institutions at the front. Plans were drawn up for the proper organization
 of inoculation, and provision was made for a uniform
system of serum production and distribution. After this conference
serums were produced on a large scale, so that no further shortage
was felt. During the second half of 1915 the committee of the south
14 Jgpestia (Bulletin), No. 24, pp. 67-70.
15 Ibid., No. 29, pp. 75-90.
18 Ibid., Nos. 22-23, p. 72.