Health care in the Zabaikalskaya oblast during the regime of ataman G. M. Semenov (may 1919 -jan 1920)

The article is devoted to development of the health system in the years of the civil war on the territory of Zabaikalskaya oblast during the period of Ataman G.M. Semenov “subordinating” to the government of Admiral A.V. Kolchak. On the basis of materials of periodicals, archives and memoirs, the author revealed the essence of reforms in the medical field produced in the summer and autumn of 1919. Cause-and-effect relations of occurring changes were analyzed. The information about military medicine and the mobilization of medical personnel in the 6th East Siberian corps and military hospitals was understood. The attempts of local authorities to keep the doctors and paramedics to work in civilian medical institutions were detailed. The article also includes information about the work of the medical forces in guerrilla groups that supported the Soviet power. Interesting data was used to characterize the process of evacuating the sick and wounded soldiers from the combat zone. The work of private practitioners was considered in detail. The information about establishing logistics in the region with medicines and medical goods was provided. Attention is drawn to the activities of foreign medical organizations. Opening in Verkhneudinsk (Ulan-Ude) American Red Cross hospital, as well as the activities of Japanese military doctors was specifically mentioned. In addition, the activities of the scientific societies of the Zabaikalskaya oblast were studied. Much of the work was devoted to combating the epidemics. In this regard, the causes of diseases, disasters, mortality, and control measures were undestood. Information about the sanitary cleaning in cities, open baths, disinfection plants, promotion of healthy lifestyle, organization of epidemic mobile units was provided. The spread of epidemics contributed to the movement of large masses of people, which have a special place. Detail information about how to increase places in the military hospitals, the construction of the infectious barracks, supply them with medicines, bed sets, linen and shoes was discussed. Casualties among medical personnel did not remain without attention. Insufficient funding, lack of medicines, mobilization of health workers, mass migration of people, the apathy of the military and civil administrations of Zabaikalskaya oblast had a negative impact on the course of fighting infection. The main reasons for the wide spread of epidemics, especially of typhus, were highlighted later response to the problem, lack of sanitary cordons, the reluctance of the administration to make the unpopular measures on allocation of refugees because of the requisitioning of the premises was strongly reminiscent of the nationalization of the Bolsheviks.

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