Lentvaris and the First World War: the Tyshkevich family's efforts

Lentvaris in the 20th Century: a microcosm of global health issues

Lentvaris, as a small town in Lithuania, may seem like an isolated place far from the global problems of the 20th century. However, the town was not immune to the major issues of its time, including tuberculosis, wars, and dental problems. The place was affected by many things that the world at the time had issues with.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, tuberculosis was a veritable scourge of God, accounting for around 15% of deaths worldwide, or 1.5 million deaths per year. Vaccines, antibiotics, and hygiene have helped to control the disease, but back then, there were no other options. Dr Stanislovas Markevičius came up with the idea to promote the organization of summer camps for children suffering from tuberculosis in the countryside, and Count Vladislovas Tiškevičius supported this idea by offering his estate in Lentvaris as a location for the camps^[1].

The establishment of the sanatorium was still in the planning stages, so the Count did not have a dedicated space for it. However, he supported children's holidays, camps, and treatment on his estate, accepting children from both noble and poor families. Summer camps with tents and bonfires for the Scouts, a Polish children's and youth movement, became popular in the estate's woods.

At that time, there was already a hospital and a dentist's office in Lentvaris, which were available to children when needed. The hospital had 12 beds, two wards for men and women, and a separate ward for women in labor. Kazimieras Okuličius worked as a general practitioner and provided free treatment and advice to all the employees of the palace and the inhabitants of the area. The Count himself paid a steady salary for his services, and Šaniavska was the nurse and midwife who had two assistants.

The effort for health of children as the priority

The Counts of Lentvaris were not limited to the hospital in Lentvaris. In urgent cases, patients were referred and transported by carriage or train to the nearest city hospitals in Trakai or Vilnius. Marija Kristina and Vladislovas Tyshkevich also raised money for the first children's hospital in Vilnius, which opened in 1906^[2].

At the beginning of the 20th century, even something as simple as dental treatment and repair was a problem, especially in Lentvaris, where it was difficult to attract the necessary specialists. Count Władysław Tiškevičius, therefore, decided to study dentistry in Warsaw for two years and to repair the teeth of his subjects and the surrounding population for free. The population was not large at the time, but anyone who wished could spare two hours a day.

However, this system of health and wellness in Lentvaris was disrupted by the First World War. As soon as the war began, the Tyshkevich family offered their help to the seriously wounded.

The main hospital was located in the railway station, and three more spacious buildings and 100 beds were set aside for wounded soldiers. Equipment and staff came from Liepaja, and Vladislovas Tiškevičius, assisted by his brother-in-law Konstantinas Liubomirskis, took charge of the hospital.

There were many wounded people, and the work was very difficult. It was a day and night duty, as every wounded crew had to be received and supplied. As there were huge battles near the Virbali border, soon all the places were occupied. The hosts had to provide food, bandages, bedding, and towels for everyone. They also helped to write letters to the families and to call a priest for the dying. The Countess looked after the hospital kitchen and laundry.

Help for the people with dental treatment habits

Dental treatment and repair were also a problem during the early 20th century, particularly in Lentvaris, where it was challenging to attract the necessary specialists. Count Władysław Tiškevičius decided to study dentistry in Warsaw for two years and provided free dental services to his subjects and the surrounding population.

Despite the lack of popularity in dental hygiene, the Count encouraged people to brush their teeth and offered tooth straightening services. His actions helped to prevent infections and deaths resulting from untreated dental problems.

When World War I began, the Tiškevičius family offered their help to the seriously wounded. The family established a field hospital in Lentvaris, with three more spacious buildings and 100 beds set aside for wounded soldiers. They provided medical care to the wounded soldiers, wrote letters to their families, and called priests for the dying. Countess Marija Kristina took charge of the hospital kitchen and laundry^[3].

The field hospital was mobile and moved from Lentvaris to St. Petersburg and later to Persia. Vladislov Tyshkevich traveled to places near the hottest points of the front as the head of the hospital, while his wife continued to nurse the wounded in Lentvaris. The family's efforts were crucial in providing much-needed medical care and support to wounded soldiers during a time of crisis.

Lentvaris may have been affected by global problems during the 20th century, but the Tyshkevich family played an essential role in establishing a structured system of health and wellness in the area. From supporting summer camps for children suffering from tuberculosis to providing free dental services and medical care to wounded soldiers during World War I, the family's actions helped to improve the lives of those around them. Their efforts serve as an excellent example of how a community can come together during times of crisis to support and care for one another.