| Show AT THE FRONT How Skilled Modern Surgery Cares for th0 Wourjdod with I I Appliances Gathered from tho Field 1 purgon colon1 W F Slevnon who I known i tho world ovr i for his splendid sjslcmntlilnB and bringing to a high state of perfection tho service ser-vice of the hospital torps on the field Of battle and whose Idias have been adopted In all armies has prepmed the following description of the latest and most advanced methods which will In view of the war with Spain be read nllli the Brcntfst Interest As he remarks re-marks the methods are the same In all clllvUcd countllei the render can rendllv apply the following facts to the Anrlmn IITlO 110 much dpnll on the employ mnl ot cOlclnl n ror rrordln assistance to the wounded In eam palgns can only be thoroughly understood under-stood and appreciated by those who have hud practical experience ot the honors of wnr uln the Held of battle bat-tle Not only the future condition of th Mollms of war ns regatd suffering nnd the utcfulnesi ot limbs but even the preservation nt life Itself Is I In I i volvotl In the methods which are mnde I Ua 01 ror Ih collctlng und lIccor1ng ot th wounded Th annn officers reported after the wnr ot 1S7071 that large numbers of men died In the field hospitals three or four davs after their admission nut so much from the Immedlite effects of their wOllnd In oonqllenc of the gener al oahnllllon cf vitality follow In on long exposure on the field which on Mm occolono hntl hn unvoldhl Tor the prevention too ot the nggra atlon of the conditions of the wounds Ihemsln as well as to Insure the possibility of treatment on the lines or nodern surgers It Is all Important that wounded men be rapidly picked up and carried out of danger of further Injury In-jury to where nourishment con be supplled to them and their wounds attended at-tended toBin to-Bin besMei l this ever feeling of humanity liromts us to old the wounded soldiers at the earliest moment mo-ment and to lho utmost of our power pow-er and to Place him where he will feel that his comfort and his urgent requirement re-quirement are certain to receive l Out rare and attention so niccssary to hta recovery and so well deserved for so r1ct an tlhren to ulh a 1111 his carrlcO as he has curried It to the extent of risking life Itrvlf In the armies ot every civlllied nation In Hie world the methods to bo employed em-ployed for these purposes are In modern mod-ern times laid down by regulation and In all they are bused on the ssme general principles with some slight ntl ullimporlani rlallon taled by the circumstances of poi tlculnr rases In former times no systematic methods meth-ods for the performance of these important im-portant duties had been decided on tot the English army Until I the liar 1S77 there wiis no unit In I the llrltlsh nun whose spiclal business was to collect and attend to the wants of the wounded wound-ed men where they fell upon the field Tven at a lolcjv period as the time of the Crimean war the only men available for the purpose of helping n ollntla mn orr tho 1Ild wero Iho regimental bandsmen or his comrades com-rades In the corps to which he belonged be-longed and no means could have been more Inefficient than they They had Or bn taught anti knw nothing 01 how 10 mo ami carry ollndtI men nor of course had they any appreciation ap-preciation of the risk wounded men are exposed to when moved by Inexperienced Inex-perienced hands Moreover their coin rada In Ih rglmnl hd olh work on hand and were there for other purposes In the jear 1ST a conn mlttee with the late Sir Thomas Longmore Col Hrackenbury tvnc Ma Jor Iemml n A mmb a assembled lii London by the comander Inchlef A scheme for a bearer com pny drawn up by thl commIUe and thls was the model on which the barr compon n 1 prant orgnn Izcd Is I based This hearer company wns nrol tried In clllat wrlr In the ZlIlu ar or 1879 nnd us we Inrn Irom Longmor On Ounahol Wound II oratlona wro thOlI aUnd lth uch uccovery man ho 111 mnded being at onc pleked up nnd irrled to the rear lor iurclcil aid that the secretary or itnte for war called the attention or the 110u or Commnn 10 Ihm peclally to tno courage or the nearer who kept ilose up to the nttacklnK troops and to the rapidity with which all the wounded were placed undet hospital treatment11 For purposes of description the mmn lor m < llcI In ot thIck th-Ick ntl wOllnded In a campaign 1ld down IIv rMIIIllon mo b dl vlded Into three tines The first line of assistance Is I composed com-posed ot the regimental aid and the bearers companies The second line comprises the field hospitals nnd the stationary hospital on the IIn 01 oommunllon OM Tho third line the general hoipltal lIt Ih hlle 01 oroUon anI It tho b b on a eolooard hopltnl hlp The first line The reglmnlI ald Whn on aUvo Ic r corl o rglmnl ha a meuo > omcr oUaCha to I during the campaign four men pr IQudron or Iwo mn pr conllII are trained during ixvice time In stretcher beirrr workhow to lift and carry woundM men on stretchers and In Irln nut 111 to woundd on the fitId The medical ofilc r and these trained stretcher bearers form part of the first line of medical assistance viz 1 th regimental aid the bearer company com-pany forms tho other part A bearer company Is I a body of men composed of lh medical i lsff corps and Its reserves Including the mllltla reserve re-serve especially trained and practiced prac-ticed In affording lint al 1 to wounded men placing them on stretcher carrying car-rying them t where urglc1 trl mnt cm b given t thm < and In Ickln Ihem Into nlbulnc wagon lor nm vjinri > to th field hospitals It II eommondd an administered by omeora ot the any maleal surr The peronn1 or a ber ompsny consists of three officers of the nny medical staff one warrant officer 01 l sergeants one bugler nnd llflythn rank and file of the medical staff corp Of the latter thirtytwo r slretchr ber s for eight ttehe nt tOllr men each > and the remainder are corporals cor-porals privates rooks servants etc The transport of t bearer company may be either hI I or pack In the former ease all the stores baggage tens eurglcal appliances etc are curried cur-ried In service wagons of different pit terns na In the latter on IIJ iark mules I Whoel Imneporl I u h lh Illr 01 tho rountry permlls In en I I l tnl lain wnrrnr Whe heled trnsort II nvalIle tn amhllanc wagon 1pll1 lor lhe rrlago of the woun 0 eah clabla or accommodating a i arag 01 nlna mn some lying tlown an 8mo rttn uJ Whn onl mulo 1ranlporl cn b 1d caoll nd J doo or LIIhol d noli are m played 7 he working of the first lino of mid Icnl assistance on the noltll l curried out In the following manner Tin medlcnl oincerR of i orps accompanied by the trained teglmintnt bmers twdve tor a cavalry teglment n Mxtoen for nn Infantr ngiment cnrrjlng one her h-er for every two men place thrms li In rear of tho regiments to which the belong As men fill woundd the > are attended to by the medlcul ollleir n far ns may be practicable for It Is I Im IHWslhle thai he ean personally treat them all and carried to I tpot undercover under-cover If one he available pl short distance If not this first post of ass stnnc mUI 10 nr CMllhd undo In tho In 1ld h rlo1 treal mnl 01 thl Ial 1 Ih halleld tIe t-Ie the lmIt 1lnd tor l II I < llotlncl 1ld down hy lglIl Uon th11 Ih medlr1 omcr aM Ih borr mllno 10 s touch vvllh their f rg IO I r a ar rrl W ofnjh g i tin rfTrrl application I of frt II I drcsilngs which every olllcer und man carries on his person to the api ertures In th skin the relndoring of fractured limbs provisionally Immovable so ns to prevent aggravation of thcs Injurlett by transport by the use of extemporized ealcmlor ized splints such as swordi baonetn scabbards rllles sticks etc nil nf whleh are sure to be nvalublei UI controlling e > f perlous hemorrhage by surgical means and pocslblv the Injection I In-jection of morphia In certain cases He jond this nothing can uo attempted l eause touch with the regiment must be I kept up It then a pi lee under covr I alIble Iho wOllnI1 or carried tinre If not they must be left lying nn the field In either case they are picked up liter by 1 the bearer coin pan panThe The bearer company K I In theory Is I supposed to nork In the rear of the regimental aid but practically the two portions of the first Inc of assistance assist-ance perform their duties In the same part of the field clone In rear of the fighting Inc The work of a bearer company lurIng lur-ing bat Is I carried on In three see llvni a It were lit the dressing eta tlon at Ih rllcl Iatlon anll > the stretcher squads In rear of the light Ihe medical officer In command selects a place undercover out of range or out of the line of fire Here the dresMng station Is I established An Ol rnllng tent Is I pitched the surgical equipment of dressing materials In Irumnl bndag Ic I opnd 0111 lnllolUO SuiloiVare prepared water Is I boUed and everthing got In ror the nUmroll opemllon which may be required and for tho neal treatment of the wounded us coon us they arrive Nourishing food Is I prepared nnd for this pun > so a cook forms part ot the personel nt the dressing station A good water supply Is I almost a necessity but If one cannot Ira obtained the water carl nf the com piiny must be utilized All ll the surglcsl work at the dressing I station Is performed per-formed by tne surgeon major of the Irearr eompanv assisted by one of the Jlnlor omeers Th colletlllg 1Uon I Ih loc to vhere the wounded are carried by tho tlchr br ror to Ih < lrln staTlon 1 should hi a ar Ih nghUng IIn Jolbl bnl uIr cove or 0111 01 Ih IIn 01 nr Th lle tor Ih alld 0leUng h 10 1Uon hol1 8 lelet bv a rd blwn Ihm ultble lor Ih hoarr eompny lronslorl nd con neoUnlC tho fonner wllh Ihe nld ho pll In the rr an < thy hollitl h 10 togIHr whn polbl 0 10 luen the labo 01 Ih Iranslorl ani mls Ih colleUna IUOII r embld Ih t1I mbulnc waon for the onCO ot th woundd to te elllg lnUon nl on to tho nld bOI II Th Ihlrlylwo Imchr wlh Ihlr Ight trelch tonnlng two relchr cUon 01 1x I mh IInd rour Irtchr ch und un-d the or Ih ond Juolor medical commn 0111 rrom Ih 1 1Ullg olaUon pIck up Ih 0Ilnd1 left behind by the regimental old crl them < to the collecting station d havlllg arord1 uch mdl1 trtmt a may h neY 10ltl them Into the ambulance wagons for transport to the dressing talon The surgical work at and In front of the collecting station must like that of the regimental I be of the simplest kind At this part of the field no operative procedures can be attempted except the lleallon of bleeding vessels fractures of long bonefl should be put UI 1lh cImporr pllnl nd opn wv > unds should be eovered with first field drcrlngs without being wipe or cleaned In any vvaj or touched by hands or Instruments I more than tills be don at the fiont Infection of the wounds Is I sure to occur and antiseptic septic cr aseptic surgery the grcit object ob-ject to be aimed at by surgeons In warfare war-fare as well as In civil practice will be rendered Impossible or more difficult at the posts further to the rear The amount and the kind of surgical work which must be performed a the dressing station will largely depend on whether or not the field hospitals are up and In their places I they ore elose nt mnd and ready for tho reception recep-tion of pitlents the Uhors ot the medical med-ical officers will be considerably reduced re-duced bUilt not all the primary sur elcal work of the battery must be done 1 Ih e dressing station In either case Ihc wOllod mllt b 1 ni an rneret apUC IL larg lumbr or Irmr op ratlon c rlnl b rqll lrOOI mmObZ ton pportu alratly ullIel 10 lrc tur1 1mb mUI h n I oa to I IMnc lor I puro Ind Umu lant nd 1I0urlehmnl mUI b 11 tu the 1lenl to rcuvr thm frol tho more or I prololln conplilulon 1 hok whih I UIIlIy Ieli A Ih Itlent ar Ihy r In Ih ambllln wnglO which 1te r nled IIr dlptlntI 10 Ih 1IltI hopll II charS or corporl n a wagon orely The second line of assistance In I composed com-posed of the field hospitals and the sta tlonary hospitals on tin lines of communication com-munication with the base of openi 11 The field hospitals aro lightly equipped rnoveablo hospitals capable of being easily olid rapidly opened out and packed up They are Intended only for the temporary treatment ot 100 patients each and are supplied with wheel or puck transport as tho nature of the countr may render advisable ad-visable They are clhlaLU Into half hospitals each for fifty men when this may be required No special hospital dlel lIppllI 10 Ihm ae to 1ltI rllon roked tho medl1 om mi dlrcl nd by uch trl n 101 comlort Ihey my orr helllg ud In thor thy or trml nondlole holIol Th Iddln conlt < a bllk1 nd a wMerroor ehel rr eh pII I blto1 1lng ulplle < l Wh allllolo huUdln nre nallhl Ih hoplll may h tbllh1 II Ibm itlnrwlse the tents are pitched nd huv should nlwu > IK I placed an lar to the drelog station as possible n tn horln the Journejs of the nm hulnc Thr nu1 b an mlle walr uppl Field hospitals It mllt I alnays be r nmbd mU1 alvne wlh Ih divisions to hlh thy a atch during the acUv oprton ot Ihe tUKI they art Inoldd mrI lor Ih npoiniy n mmodllol 01 Ih Unded ImmdlII < nt r a h A COItlnt trenm 01 010 js of sick und wounded mUI thIr e be Kent lp Irom Ih1 lownrd th6 taUoO < hopt on Ih IIn or emmunha 101 Ild tho 1le henn gg mn1 Is I Imminent the field hospitals mll1 lie emptied so as to be ready to 10ve torwnl 1 cclv Ih 1oundd Irm Ihe battle field ard 1hen Ihl I InpIII II 11 10 01 Y Iartlc ular hOSIltul II olneu < lI or th erous htllr 01 Ih c OCCIIIlog I It 1111 he left behind to 101 l 11lf hoplal < m the lines of ei om mUlllcaton and n empty hospital f forward to take It II Dllrng and ImmelatI alr a grenl vrfot battle the tress or nork in U 1ld l hospital I luall very gieat Illr o e I d t rrl II ultaneouily 1uod must b given thol man Irlmnr olralon mUI be inrfcimel fractures mui belncot Into position und rendered Im lOMhl wound must b rendered ns < itlc and dtensed In a word 1 the surgical necessities of pel hups 100 mlI om et them slightly and some of thel l ler rlbly Injured will require Inml con sideration and trettment T nr not In modern times piocedui hll CI be hurtled performed lIo In a perfu ctory mnn on the cOlltrr they equlrf to nchll Ih ueflll results obtained by scientific surgery allo1 Ih al nlcty or mnnlllIla tldn lon all coreTndetallwhlcliTheYiio terlologlst expends on his expcHments In the laborator Failure In the la I bortor mean on tho I ort or-t but 1 failure to keep Infec 1 tOt lion from a woundor to lender It harmless If It be present inenna pain and suffering from surgical Infective dlea 10 or 11mb nd In man 00 or 1fe Itself1 The stationary hoipltals on the llnei 01 communllon r 10r pnannl and better equipped establlshmentsthan those Just described They are dieted ctil lh il f n hospitals that Is the patients In 1 them a rod as culy I ly I ccord Ing to the usual hospital diet scale They are Intended for the reception of 200 men and stretchers to be used aa bedsteads are supplied for tills number Iatlents can be treated In them until such time as they arc sulTlflently recovered re-covered to bear the Journey towards the base of oprations without ilsk They should be established In buildings If possible but It none are available tents are supplied The number ot theso hospitals which will be required on any laitlcula CUI plg dpond lIalllrlY on the dls Inc the oop nII Inlo the countr on In tct Ih Inlh ot tho IIn 01 commllnlctlon ami on tho chmel ot tho r alld man I ansport trom tho Inl 10 Ihe bIt b-It ft railway bo available If the rood b > good or It I Ierw can I 1Id t 1 Ihm 1 h nca < n n cae Ih hOllhl b plcd nnr to the IIno 00 which the sick COOV tra1 o IluII Th Ihlrd Ino 01 mdl1 Ilan In a c1mpalr conIlo i nt the enrl lospttat at the baM and hospital ships The general hospitals at the Inso ot operation r lull cullptl Ih Imllor 1lItulon al hor an1 Ihy nr o < mlnllr1 on Ih 0 1111 Thy lIhr 4000r 0 mo To nrh 1 1h < I mllllry depol 101Mll ar > treatcHl In them UIII um Ienl ooverd to be 1rharget to the rnllltnr depots whllc Ihy am nt to rejoin their corps al Ihe tml or If unlikely thebe nhh to IMf on further part In 1 the n I f lifJr I 1 pml Ielltl unO for olr or lor IlIrlho trallt 1 oall 01 Ih hOIIII I the numlr 0 elk ond ollnded nlng from the Ironl qlirn arnopn1 nt the h 1I0lnl hlp or thlhd t plates where Hie situation ot the base I of operations lenders It possible and the cllumolac or tho nmpnln incke It advisable that they shoull hWY h-WY < They aro i supplementary to the general hospitals at the base and lire as perfectly equipped as station sta-tion hospitals ut home They accommodate accom-modate 0 men with an additional fitly spare cols for emergencies In nnlol wllh thm hlllmhlpo are emplmcdfor Inking bad cnses to HOB land or elsewhere these sro specially llttel fer tho reception and treatment at sick oml wound men Two medical store depots are rstab llthed In most campaigns one nt the anI on III Ih lIn I nr Ih most ndvanced stationary nbl hot jltal The regimental nfilrers Ihe llhmnr i mnr t r l pn h pltals replenish their supplies ofdriigs surglml materials nnd Instruments Irom Ih ohnllor1 mI1 Ior dol nnd1 the latter I itself kTnt ruTly ciulpped from the one at the base hich receives Its suppllca direct from England All Ihe nursing duties In the field hospital nro performed by the men ot the medical staff eorpi while at the has horpltnls and In the hospital ships the ladles of the army nursing oolc nr mplo1 wlI The above although n mere sketch 01 tho medl1 arongm nt hi down I y regulation will supply a fairly ac curt I1a 01 11 mu which N emlloy cd In wrrar i for the cure and tleKtn nt of the nick nd wOlllde The egulatlons for tho mdlclI i r Ia l concl Inolrllclloo 10 how < Vrjthlns should b Inn nll rllh mUll 10 m < 10 gh WIV 10 lrlllotanc n lallon annol at d need not be ton rlgl lly adhered to hn othr mlhd ot nrrllngmnl nVd < distribution seem likelyto pro duce better results |
