Serbia and Salonika

Abstract

The Girton and Newnham Unit established their hospital in Gevgheli, Serbia. Edith wired up the electric supply for lighting and X-ray equipment. Casualties arrived from the retreating Serbian army. The weather deteriorated, with a biting wind and freezing temperatures. Within a month the hospital was abandoned, and they returned to Salonika. Uncertainty about their future gave rise to an acrimonious meeting between Edith and Louise McIlroy. By early January the Unit had been re-established on swampy land near the sea. With little need for radiology, Edith set up an electrotherapy department, using her high-frequency equipment for electrocautery and deep heating and improvising radiant heat applicators and mechanical exercise machines. News of the April uprising in Dublin caused concern. The summer was hot and insect-ridden, with much staff sickness. Edith returned home in September 1916, after helping to establish X-ray equipment in Ostrovo. At home, she was critical of the design of a new SWH X-ray van. Edith returned to Salonika for a further 6 months from February 1917 but failed to secure war office agreement to become a radiologist in a military hospital. Edith was awarded the Order of St Sava. She left, with Mallett, in July.

Appendix

The following is a complete and exact transcription of the detailed financial agreement between Edith Stoney and Louise McIlroy for reimbursement for goods and equipment that Edith left in Salonika when she returned to England in July 1917 [25]. For completeness, Edith added at the end a summary of the costs, which gave a total of £231:17:0, noting again without comment the agreed price of £150.

LIST OF X_RAY GOODS

Agreed price £150—Agreed between Dr. McIlroy and Miss Edith Stoney—The Apparatus left with the S.W.H. at Salonique by special request from Dr. McIlvoy.

12″ Spark coil in special portable box with condenser—(this was used for the corps from June 1915 - July 1916 when no other had been supplied; it is much better than the new one supplied with many of its fittings being of pre war German make)—£36:0:0

Spare parts - MacKenzie Davidson Interrupter - spare motor switch board - milliampere meter , ameter, on special baskets, oscillograph, 2 valve tubes - lead wires - sparkgap regulator etc.- special portable box for Interrupter & switch board.—£30:3:0

Upright Tube stand with special set of diaphragms and special portable base—The tube box specially protected also safe for treatment work etc. The stand made with graduated arms for accurate work—cost more than £10:18:6

Fluorescent screen, 12 × 15 with lead glass protection and special protecting handles—spare lead glass—(this is really a very special American pre-war screen & cost £15 originally). £9:3:0

2 fans, 3 tubes, stereoscopic apparatus—localising apparatus. £37:10:0

15 doz. whole plates, 8 doz. 10 × 12 plates, 12 doz. packages of developer - dark screen holder fluoroscope- developing dishes—£34:2:6

Other things I have supplied are now worn out or out of date and are not included here as 6 boxes of 6 cells each accumulators £36. —stretcher couch with underneath rail etc. £11. - Intensifying screens—chemicals—viewing box, etc. (£18 omitted from the text but indicated below)

Clothes, tools measuring instruments, resistances, switch boards, books, hand camera, plate glass viewing box, hand stereoscopic charging board for accumulators, small hand grind stone, stock of small Gaiffe switches & store of nails sirens etc. & other electrical fittings have to be returned to London. These are other than those measuring instruments etc. above mentioned, most of the tools, the charging board, switches etc. and grind stone etc have been replaced by things belonging to the corps. The list of corps things was left with Miss Moir—my own tools etc are in special packing cases as also my winter clothes—These boxes are open, or if locked Miss Baughan has the keys, so that they can be looked over if desired before being packed. Miss Moir knows about the resistances switch boards, and charging board having to be replaced. I left replacements for these ready, but my own were up, and better than those Dr. Erskine sent me in July 1916 .

(Sgd) Edith Stoney 26/9/17

The Tent and Camp bed were −£18. This was not included in the £150.