| Description | Letter from Amelia Nyasa Laws, Valence, to her relatives, regarding lateness of letter; she spends all her free time sleeping; further problems with her papers at the Mairie; helping out with the officers' meals, which is difficult as everything comes over from the 201, the gas goes on at the last minute, and everything has to be done quickly; some are on special diets and the whole thing takes 1 1/2 hours; Mme. Chabaud was very grateful but Amelia is reluctant to do it again on top of her own work; return of Mme. Soureillat, to Amelia's delight; the weather has turned cool and Amelia is now wearing a shawl for their outdoor meals; Mlle. Combe does not, which is unwise; she has now developed bronchitis; visit to see the four patients transferred to the Hôpital Général; Gaudal's foot has drainage passages through it but it is not to be amputated; 'He is having the Carrèl irrigation of the wound, as he had here'; description of the method, which has been developed during the war, and involves the use of Dakin, a special chemical combination, in which the dressings are steeped; it is especially used for wounds where the bones are exposed, and enables them to be kept constantly supplied with antiseptic; Mlle. Combe grew worse on Thursday evening and needed oxygen and injections of camphorated oil; her father was sent for; she improved and worsened again during the week; four of the patients have developed influenza or bronchitis and now require poultices, ventouses and tisanes; the care of Mlle. Combe has added to their duties. [Letter breaks off without signature] |