New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-26
NEW PUBLICATIONS..
MILITARY SURGERY.

..
limo. pp M. Robert CLARKE x Co.
The first of tue works named above treats III
o very succinct manner, oil various iniPo''""'
topics belonging 10 military surgery ana is RECON-
mended by IFS conciscness aud simplicity, as a
convenient manual oi reference for tue practlcal
surceon 1t is intended, especially, as guide
for tho young practitioners WHO nave hastily en-
listed in the volunteer service, and aims to iur-
pish them with valuable hints aud directions
amid tho wegbty responsibilities of their POSI-
tioD.
The general duty Of the surgeon on the battle
feld 10 briefly iDdlcated:
While the battle i. progressing it is the duty OF the
surgeon sud Of his assistants 10 remain in TIE rear OF
tie eonbatauts, as much us posslbe Out OF naIih
way, but at the same time ready an1 on the "IVh W
render the Pompcet possible ad' ihey mus. oe ar ar
Guseycd, aud IN he tu possession Of their WIS Ohe
of the lea0g differences between military ana eiVli
practice the instantaneous action so often oenandeo
by the and the delay frequently admitted oy Tue
other.
The first duty Of every surgeon is to the officers and
men of bis own corps; but the field of battle, or.
soon after the battle over, he Is often brought i
contact with tie members Of other regiments, or even
Nith tue wounded Oi the eUemy; and under ca CIR
cumslances the dictates Oi humanity not less hau Inc
usages Of war; demand that be should render his SER
wherever they may be likely to be useful The
meet upon such occsone, and, when ts Is tue case,
their conduct ehood iuva'iaby be characterized by he
courtesy OF the geutlCmdI, not the aspelty OF Tue
enemy They should not forget that they are breufen
of the uoIle profrssou, aching IN tue calaey o
pinsteing aug, s u The sick a, d The dying. county
and cause alike should be forgotten in generous deeds
BY the usayts OF war, IN ali civilized countries the
surgeons always respected by ne enemy, H. uuiins
an engagement they happen to fall accidentally INTO
Their ands. TIER lives are regarded rs sacred tue
more So as they conn arairely deienseess lney
are not. however duiiug tie rage ana ,noke Oh the
battlefield always easily distinguishable from the
other oticess or even common soldiers The green
cash tbeir dsliucive badge OF Office, does not always
afford them immuDy beCause II Is not always fecog-
nized: and is s worthy Of COZ 0isderaion whether,
an additional safeguard, the word surgeon should
not be Oidered III legiOle characters upon piece
of cloth be thrown tue chest ia tine OF bait
tle The rig iicsiuce OF such badge could hot be
mstgken by frieud foe and would be the means OF
saving many valuable lives.
A few sensible words on the qualifications Of
nurses may DO remembered to advantage:
Finally, in older to comple hospital equipments
well-traiued nurses should be provided; for good
nursing is Indispensable III every case OF serious dis
ease whatever may be Its character. lie Importance
of this subject, however Is now 60 well appreciated as
not to re4uire any special comments here.
The question To wtetber this duty should be per-
formed by men or women s OF no material conse-
ouence, provided it tie well done. The eligibility of
women for tns task was thoroughly tested IN the
Crimea, through The agency OF that n0be-leafied
daughters OF land have already rendered their SER
vices TO tie Government for this object. No large
and welreg gulatt hos its can get on without come
male nurses and they are Indispensable III camp and
field prscti,e. -
1t Is not my purpose here to point ont the qualities
which Constitute good female nurse, Ii VIII sufhee
to say that Size shUcld he keeny ahye TO ber duties,
and perform them however nela or dIsasteiul Win
promptless and aaeIiy. Ste must he tidy IN ler
appearance, with cheerful couutenance, light IN her
oep noiseess, tenier aud thoughtful in her manners,
perfect mistress OF her feelings healthy, able TO tear
fatigue, and ast twenty-five years OF age Neither
the crinone the silk dress must enter into ler
wardrobe the former ID too cumbrous, while the latter
by its rus lug is fret The patient aud disturb bis
sien WLs1erirg and walking on tiptoe as has be EN-
truly observed BY Foreuce Nightingale, are an abon-
inston in the suck chamber. Finally a good NUS
never fails 70 anticipate all or neatly all Tue mole im
portant wants of the sufferer
The information presented in regard TO gun
shot wounds nay be of service beyond the Limits
\ of the profession:
Gunshot wounds, in their general character partake
of tie nature OF aeered and confused wounds. The,
are of couse, the most and dangerous LESSONS
met witt in nil tary practice often killing instantly
or at all events muliating tue pateut destroy
him within few hours or days after their receipt.
The mist formidable wounds of the hind made by
the conica rifle and msket balls and by cannon balls
the latter often carrying away the greater portion of
limb, masbing ano puliiiyiug the muscles and Wis.
cera in the iEOst tnghrul and destructive manner
while the former commit terrible rayages among the
bones, breaking them INTO numerous fragments, each
6f which may, s turI tear up the soft tissues in
way ptrhaIs not ese miechiev0us than the ball itsef
The old round ball much vss fatal weapon than the
couial, wli;h seldom becomes fattened aud which
has been known to pass through the bodies of two men
and lodge in that Of third 70 ne distance off.
When a ball lodges it makes generally oulv one orr
fee; but it should be remembered that it may make
two three, and four aud last bury itself more
or less deeply. Such cases are, however, uncommon.
Should tie missile escape, there will necessarily be
two openings; or If sharp bone and be there
by divided or cut IN pieces, as sometimes happens
there may be even three. The oihce OF enrante aud
the Oice Of exit dieI IN their appearances The rt
is suall round aud often little dscolored from the
explo Of the der the other the contrary is
comparatively large, sht-lk-, eveited and free from
color. Tbese differences, however frequently very
trifng, paItiy yuaIly TIE ball 10 projected with great
velocity and il do not encounter any bone. The open
ing of entrance made by the round ball is often little
depressed inverted but such appearance ex-
tiemtly uncommon In wounds made by the conical
ball.
II is often o matter of great importance to deter
mine, when two openings exist In limb, whether
they have beeu made by one ball, which has pas ed
out or by two balls, which retained Tie question
Is Of grave importance, both iu practical aud in
nedico-lega point OF view; but its solution is unfor-
tuDstely, not sways possible. Sometimes the openings
of entfsnce and exit materially modified by tho in-
PRODUCTION but nOii-eecae OF foreign BODY as a piece
Of breastI Plate, belt, buckle along with the ball.
which alone passes out, by the latteDing tf tall
against bone, its division by bone into several
Fragments, each OF ich may afterward produce a
separate oiifice. Geuerlly sIeaking the inisse at
the place OF entrance, carries away piece a ekn and
rend the ekin where escapes the former being often
found ia the wound.
Ballots sometimes glance, bru.sing The skin but not
penetrating II; st other times they effect an entrance,
but insea0 OF pasriDg III straight line are detected
coursibg pefhas, partially rouDd the head, Chest or