New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-01-10
Neppprk Dailp Wribnme
NEW PUBLICATIONS
NOTES ON TIE SURGERY OF THE WAR IN TIE
CRIMEA by GyoRGg n. T. MACLEOD, M. ID. Emo
nm 4D3 J. b. Lippinco.s Go.

NOTES on TIE SURGERY or THE WAR IN TIE
CRIMEA by GEoRGg n. Is. MACLEOD, d. ID. Emo
PIP. 4O3 j. B. LiPpinco.. 90.
The author of this " orb is inspired such ex-
cessiye share Of professional enthusiasm as to regret
:he termination Of the Crmean war, on accoun. %!
the loss which thus ensued 10 tho advancement OF
surgery. lie looks upon great war as a luminous
epoch in the progress Of surgical scence. wheh lne
slowly elaborated teachings of civil life are tested on
grand scale in The presence OF representatives. rom
every school," Without entering into his raptur's
on the exercise of war as an illustration OF science,
the me re coll.booded reader may gain no, hut e
imnoriant information from the perusal Of his VOL
ume. which, it il but fair to say, shows not ony
great zeal but clear observation and acute sagacty
His remarks on the dietetic arrangements OF tne
army are valuable for their practical sugyesio' 'u
NAV LIE considered with advantage by All pefsop'
charged with providing for the sanitary welfare VI
camp The food during the brst WINTER ana SP''"s
WAS defective both in quantity ard quah'y' ""''
meat and biscuit constituted the bulk OF the rallobS
while rice, coffee and sugar were spaungy d.S'ilo-
nted For months there was almost toia aose"0e
Of fesh meat and even tie sick for weeks hsn no'p
ing TO eat but salted food The coffee was not burned
and ground, and hence unfit for use. Inc sol
only before their meagcr fires, and this, with their
ration of spirits and often their biscuits and rum ~
once formed their only fa'e, The extensive Preya'
lence Of liberation Of the intestues was the cs'ee-
ouence. The want Of fresh bread and vegetables
was great priyation, especially for the sick and
those whose gums were tender from scuryy.
In the early pait Of the ,iege, the nrny depended
for fuel chiefly on tie underwood which covered
portion of the plateau and afterward on the roots OF
tho,e bushes. They had to dig for this wretched
supply among wet mud, and often beneath snow,
after they tired out 10y the exhe1sling duties OF
the day. A cheerful fire, accordingly, came to be
almost unknown.
Nor was the deficiency Of clothing lees disastrous
in it's effects The soldiers hits lad been left On
board chip when the landing effected, and they
were compelled to perform much Of tie trencb-work
in latiers during the severity Of Crimean Winter
Each soldier bad but single blnDket, which be ear
RED with lin into the trenches aud Of cour,e, It was
dirty and soaked with water when he cane 70 sleep
in il at night. H. soeless boots adhered 50 firmly 10
the swoll-n feet. tha, they were seldom removed
whom be lay down TO sleep.
Win such hagran, negecs Of the most Obvious
sanitary conditions il Is sarprsiug that the mum
Der Of those lost BY sickness bore large proportion
10 those who died from wounds received in battle.
la the Crimea, during the whole war, tho rro?os'
lion was III Of the former TO 81 OF the latter
and in tie period from October, 1851 20 April $50,
IN al average force of % 10 men, 2is were lost by
sickness agantt COS who died from wounds.
The author gves his decided testimony in favor Of
he use of snaestLec5 in imporan, surgical opera {
ions. In the British army, cbloroform ~ss almost
universally employed and not more than hal. dozen
,ases could be addaced in which il had deleteFiouS
effect.
largo portion Of tho volume is devoted to The
treatment Of gunshot wounds. and numerous cases
are described in detail, illustrating almost every
variety that is likely occur in military practice