American Homeopathy in the World War
by Frederick M. Dearborn, A.B., M.D.
Presented by Sylvain Cazalet
The Battle of Pougues-les-Eaux
A History of U.S. Army Base Hospital No. 44
– – – – –
As You Were !
A period of beaucoup celebrations
characterized the cessation of hostilities. The townspeople celebrated in their usual way of
promiscuous hugging and kissing, the feminine portion of the community being encouraged in
these expressions of joy by the soldiery; the patients celebrated in true American fashion by
noise-making in endless variety, the officer patients going “over the top” of Cognac
Ridge en masse; and the detachment men and officers of Forty-Four took cognizance of the great
event in a manner which caused the natives to “sit up and take notice.” The tension
under which the men had been working suddenly relaxed. Discipline was slackened, and free
expression was given to the relief and joy which all experienced by the realization that,
“Fini la Guerre.”The officers developed another reason for
jollification at this period. On the tenth of November the first of a series of proposed
birthday celebrations was held. The mess hall was profusely decorated, the tables were set in
civilized fashion, and there was an excellent “feed”; even menus and a trčs joli
birthday cake were provided, and the occasion was pronounced a great success, including an
“after meeting” held at the Janicot. Notwithstanding the fact that three more
birthdays occurred in November, and that others came in convenient sequence, the series came
to an abrupt end with the famous celebration of Captain Gilbert’s natal day on the eighteenth.
The preprandial exercises, the stately parades, the oratorial efforts, the touching references
to Harvard Square, and the terribly tragic termination of the affair at its most virile period
beggar description. Requiescat in pace.
The stream of cases entering the hospital quickly ceased to flow, and the work rapidly
decreased in amount; the daily census showed a steady decline in the number of patients, and
it became evident that the Battle of Pougues was entering its final stages. Immediately the
questions, “What next?” and, “When do we go home?” agitated the members of
the personnels, and the rumor-developers began active operations.During this period most of the officers were
granted five-day passes to visu Paris, and a little later many of the enlisted men and nurses
received passes to the gay metropolis. Opportunities were given to visu other places of
interest, and there was a general atmosphere of relaxation and enjoyment. A special dinner
given at this time to the members of the detachment was a “howling success.” The
“eats” were varied and luscious, there was an atmosphere of good-fellowship, and the
entertainment by home talent, consisting of music and speeches was a work of art.
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