MEDICAL FACILITIES, HEALTH CONDITIONS, AND SANITATION IN THE KRASNOGORSK AREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001500460001-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 21, 2002
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: July 3, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
SECRET
SECURITY INFO T;ON
COUNTRY USSR (Moscow Oblast)
SUBJECT Medical Facilities, Health Conditions,
and Sanitation in the Krasnogorsk Area
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GENERAL
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This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18. Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of Its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form Is prohibited.
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
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3 July 1953
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1. Krasnogorsk, which occupied an area of two square kilometers, had a population
of about 15,000 in 1952. The city was situated on a hill just above Pavshino,
which was on the Moscow River. Transportation facilities at Krasnogorsk in-
cluded bus service to Moscow, which was twenty-five km. away, and a one-track
railroad to Moscow. This train, on the Moscow-Riga railroad line, could be
boarded at the Pavehino station or at a stop near Krasnogorsk which was called
Krasnogorsk Platform by the Soviets. Air transportation was not available at
Krasnogorsk.
2. The region surrounding Krasnogorsk had apparently been used in the time of the
tsars by the Moscow upper class as an area for summer homes and estates. The
Soviets converted many of these homes into sanatoriums. A sanatorium was
located in Chernevo, which is between Novo-Nikolskoye and Krasnogorsk; this
sanatorium may have been for the use of the soldiers assigned to duty at the
radio station and what appeared to be a military establishment there. I saw no
evidence of a military hospital in Chernevo. A new sanatorium, for the use of
high-ranking army officers, was located in Arkhangelskoye, a short distance
from Pavshino. This was a three-story stone building, 25 M. x 25 m., situated
on a hill overlooking a small lake. The sanatorium had been erected in a park
in which an old estate house of. pre-revolution days was also located. The
estate house was apparently not used as part of the sanatorium.
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Living conditions were very cro*ded'iri -Krasnogorsk a single"room gen-
eral]:y'constituted' the 'home of iii entire 'family. The dwellings included
stone -apartment buildings i:n the central -portion of the city , stone
arid=*ood 'apartment'houses in the 'subu' bsi and 'old'wooden houses .scat-
tered throughout the area sketchespage 3-7 on which the apartment houses are shown.
DISEASE INCIDENCE
14. I have no information on actual health statistics in Krasnogorsk, but
believe the 'incidence of tuberculosis was ' very high. Tuberculosis appar-'
ently seemed to present the only disease problem to the Soviet health
atthoritiee in Krasnogorrsk. I' 'recall that several cases of typhoid were
r6ported`in-1947, and'tdople"were then iaimuniged against this disease.
Worm infestation was very widespread. Tablets or powders of a composition
unknown to me were dispensed for treatment of the infestation.
MEDICAL FACILITIES
5. The hospital'at Krasnogorsk was located at the edge of the city. Vedicai,?
surgical, gynecological,-'and infections disease sections were available
at this hospitalwhich had about 200 beds and which was always crowded,
..The cityra polyclinic was 'located in an L-shaped.. two-story building in`
the center of town. It was staffed by specialists who treated the patients
reporting to it. A dental office was also attached to the polyclinic;
during the early postwar years anaesthetics were never available at this
office. This situation later i#i-oved', and two female dentists Joined
the staff the' office wai 4ren6vatsd and i` assume" that 'treatment was quite
good. However, metals were unavailable for fillings and only cement was
used to fill cavities,
7., The polyclinic was equipped with an x-ray machine but it was rarely opera-
tive: either it was in need of repair or there was no film; or,if it
functioned properly, there was no operator on duty.
There was a small five room. hospital in Novo--Nikolskoye to which patients
with nervous disorders were referred. This hospital was also used by
the Krasnogorsk hospital authorities as a place to refer incurables or
patients who they knew were going to die. Apparently it functioned more
as a sanatorium than as a hospital.
The Soviet patients were eligible only for local treatment; when necess'T,
Geriiin patients were referred to Moscow clinics for special or supplementary
care,
10. A dispensary known to the workers as a %dxavpunki; was located in the
factory iii"Krasnogorsk' 'This dispensary occupied three or four rooms in
the factory and was staffed by one-or two doctors'-and three nurses., It
furnished emergency medical care only. The factory operated on two and
sometimes three shifts, during which the dispensary was always open. I
do not recall that it was called a 9 I have not seen
any install,4?tion bearing this name.
EEALTH ADMINISTRATION
11.1 The public health office was located in the building which housed the city
administration department. I-do not recall that this office had any dis-
ease control sections.: Tuberculosis control did not exist and tubercular
patients were treated only.when they reported to the polyclinic. I doubt
that these patients were over sent to a sanatorium for care,
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12. A sanitation, or hygiene division appeared to be'somewhat active in Bras-
iiogorsk. Placards dealing with-health practices, sanitation, etc., were
regularly posted in the factory; polyclinic, and pharmacy. I believe
these placards came from Moscow.
13.- Maternity and child care was furnished by the polyclinic. Births regularly
occurred at the hospital. and never at home.
1)4. 1 do not have any information on child' immunization. I believe smallpox
vaccinations-were administered, Adults were immunized against typhoid
several times following the incidence of this disease reported in 19117.
15. To my knowledge, no Red Cross or Red Crescent society existed in Krasnogorsk.
,FOOL AVAI1ABI1IT_Y.,ANR, INSPECTION
16. Food was'generally purchased at the Krasnogorak market place. To my
knowledge, there were no health officers stationed at the market place to
check the quality of the food. There were no slaughterhouses in the city.
Meat sold at the market place was imported from Moscow and always bore
a 'stamp., presumably an inspection stamp.
17. Fresh'fish was sold"from large barrels.' Dried fish was also available:
dried,'salted, or'in a_ sauce. Avery popular "Finnish" fish-filet was
imported from Moscowe"- Vegetables' were also obtained from Moscow. These
were very clean and neatly packed.
18. I'usually Ate'my lunch at'the factory," as did most of the Germans. We
a'voided' the 'dirty- city- cafes,' located' in the "cellars of the atone apart-
raeOnt houses. -'Lunches served 'in the factory ranged in 'price from one to
fcur`rublea;'no f ned'1nii6h_"w46'availAble and customers ordered soup,
aiteat,''fish, and bread 'separately ;" I- noticed that the Soviets usually had
t"o spend all'their salary" in order to' get enough food. They always
drank a great""deal'Of'water, and I attributed this to an attempt to com-
pensate for an inadequacy of food,
19. Milk, available only iii "bulk, "was- sold at the market place or could be
purchased from 6ma1S "fa mid s,- --It' wa?""`not pasteurized. A special curdled
milk i is sold iii ti ties at:'the"pharmacy, and I 'believe the polyclinic
doctorsoccgaiona~:l 'recommended that'chidren drink this curdled milk
hither than the raw iflilk "sold' it-'the market place. To ' nUr knowledge, dairy
cattle "were -riot''tuberct ,in 'tedted. -A -city 'health agency may have exer-
a eed"same.. coritirol of -tfie "quality of iai].k'sold' 'in. Krasnogorak. I am
...
off' milkcand$otfierafoods -but-tFieee"ardinandesp were rare sanitary "control
were rarely enforced.
Milk sold in Moscow was pasteurized; food quality was controlled.
WATER SUPPLY
20. 1G~asnogorak"had'a public"water'eupply" system.' The'water was pumped from
wells and stored in taixke" set up-in 'an earth-covered, cave-like instal-
l,ation' in. a 'billy. district. This water apparently came from wells; it
was not'Obtained from the Pliting'Lake ' I do not know whether the water
was treated but it was always palatable.
21. This public supply furxiished'the city adequately,"even during the summer
months'. In the villages around' Xraanogorsk the inhabitants utilized small
open wells. About 80 per cent of the Kraanogorsk population was: serviced
by the public system..
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22. The water from the public supply was apparently safe.:to use without
prior treatment, and I do not-recall having seen any signs at the.
factory forbidding the drinking"of tap water'there. The city pharmacy
sold'mineral'water'which came from the Caucasus Mountain area for
medicinal purposes..
DISPOSAL SYSTEMS .
23. There was probably an operating sanitary sewage disposal system in the
stone apartment section in the center of the city. Water closets or
latrines were used in the other apartment homes. I have no idea what
percentage of the population was served by the sewage system nor how
this sewage was disposed. I do-not know whether the open latrines were
cleaned or disinfected. I do not believe that human excreta were used.
as. fertilizer.
2l. Although the city was located on a hill, the rain water rut-off
conditions worn i ! w : ? ; (Q 'J. There were no storm sewers., and
ponds or swampy areas were seen after rainstorms.
25. The city'had no'regular garbage collection. I saw garbage cans on the
streets-iii the stone apartment area in the center of the city, but
these wdre`'usueliy-filled and the refuse apparently was never picked up.
There" eras a voluntary garbage disposal program `in operation in the
apartments' where the Geri h6 -liven. The garbage' was discarded in a pit
about 300 meters-from the -Wood' acid stone apartment area; the pit had
been a tank trench during the war.
26. The Soviet dead were buried; cremation was, 'not employed. Most deaths
accurred"at th6'hoepital. 'Actual-burial *as performed by relatives or
friends, since ' no undertaker' service was available. The cemetary was
located several kilometers outside the city in the direction of Moscow.
PEST CONTROL
27. I believe that a pest control"unit existed as'part of the health office.:
Rowever,-bugi,-fleas,'flies and'lice were found throughout the buildings,
so I "aseiame' that'the lest control unit was ineffectiveIn its attempts
to coiabat the'insects9-thisunit employed a very odorous liquid but I
do not know its composition.
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M emort sketch of KRASt4OG01R5K Are&
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