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Show MODERN RIFLE IS DISCUSSED 1 President of Surgical Association Associa-tion Speaks on "Surgery of War" at Congress. WILL BANISH SHRAPNEL Surgeons Filled With Astonishment Aston-ishment at Harmlessness of Modern Gun Humane Weapon. New York, N. Y April 13. The modern rifle used by the armies of the world was called a ''comparatively harmless weapon" today by Dr, A. Depage, president of the Internationa) Surgical association, at the opening of the fourth congress of that organiza tion. President Depage, a Belgian, and one of the foremost surgeons of Europe, Eur-ope, spoke on the surgery of war. He protested, In the name of the association asso-ciation against the use of shrapnel and urged that the civilised nations abolish these death dealing projectiles for the same reasons that brought about the banishment of explosive bullets. bul-lets. Dr. Depage said: "From a medical standpoint the horrors of warfare in modern times have been greatly decreased. Soldiers in the armies of the leading countries coun-tries have been Instructed in the use of first; aid packages which they carry car-ry In their ammunition belts. These first aid packets were made necessary by the deadly shrapnel. These missiles mis-siles make it impossible for ambulance men to circulate on a field of battle. bat-tle. Instruct Armies of World. "It Is now necessary that the armies of the world should be Instructed .in the fundamentals of sanitation. Ex perlence In recent wars, notably those in the Balkans, teaches this. A soldier should know the dangers of infection and should have at his command com-mand simple facts, such as that' in case he be wounded In the abdomen It Is better to rest motionless for hours, if necessary than to walk to a field hospital station. "In the heat of excitement during a battle, military surgeons are likely to be rushed for time. For that reason, civil consultation surgeons should be 'placed In army hospitals. Their presence wduld give the Institutions Insti-tutions a neutral character, which they,have not at present. Modern Gun Harmless. "During the last wars, a fact that filled the surgeon's with astonishment was the comparative harmlessness of the modern gun. It is a humane weapon. I have seen bullets which had pierced the abdomen or the breast or even the back of the brain without producing any serious consequences. "This Is very interesting at a time when the effects of the cannon have become more deadly than ever." ' |