The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-07-14

They Make CIcan-Cut Wounds That Are
Easily Healed.


Easily Healed.
The modern military small-bore rife.
with its armored bullet with mantle
OF steel. copper or nickel. is the result
OF a process of evolution into the details
OF which we need not here enter. The
reduction in calibre has gone on steadily
and il is a question whether the limit
has vet been reached. Italy and Rouma-
mia have adopted a calibre of no more
than .26-inch the American navy is about
10 be armed with a rifle Of only .S3-inch
calibrc. and Kruka and HELLER have on
tanned ballistic results with bullet on
only 1855 inch calibre which are unap-
preached by proiecuies Of larger size.
Practically now the armies Of all civilized
nations are armed with weapons whose
calbre is under .3l5 inches or nm.
In great measure our knowledge OF the
surgical results of this marked reduction
of cahbre IS based on theory, or the re-
suits Of experiment, on the bodies OF men
and animals. At all times the charact r.
OF a bullet wound depends on The weight.
form, density, and velocity OF the pro-
jectile and on the hardness or resistance
of the part hit. The comparatively large.
So 10 bullets OF the older ana larger bored
velocity. produced wounds with the char
acter Of which most medical men are
familiar. But the new rifles OF reduced
calihre. increased range velocity. and
penetration, with hard mantled bullets
introduce new factors OF importance from
the surgical point Of view.
The softer and large bore bullets pro-
duce wounds characterized by broad
zone OF deyitalizcd tissue about the point
or entrance. with a wound canal lacerat-
ed by The easily deformea ball. extensive
~ splintered bones great explosive action.
an aperture OF exit much lacerated and
gaping widely and with relatively little
hemorrhase. In the case OF direct hits
the action Of the new bullets may be sum
med up by saying that they produce clean
cut, slightly lacerated wounds OF the soft
parts, exert less explosive action. and
SPLINTER and displace bones less. except
az snort ranges. Their wounds offer the
Dest possible conditions for rapid and
perfect healing, being small, aseptic as
rule. and clean cut, but prone 10 bleed
freely and at once.
A. hong ranges. towards the end OF
their Night these long. thin bullets tend
TO somersault. and. by striking sideways.
often produce extensive splintering and
VI DONE liilfFtl ana IL
cochet hits with these new and mantled
bullets are especially 10 be feared, as
contact with any hard substance is sure
TO split the mantle. and the naked and
deformed bullet core then acts like the
hollow-pont bullets of express rifles.
This is factor which may cause pro-
tective works TO lose much OF their value
when attacked by troops armed with these
small calibre rifles
The increased explosive action given 10
the new bullets by increased velocity Is
more than counterbalanCed by their les
ser liability to become dcformed: hence
their explosive action is. on the whole.
less marked and less uniformly shown
than that Of the older kind. Il occurs
chiefly In the skull and IN connection
with the bones. In respect OF this ac-
ton on bones. especially long bones, II
is probable that experiments made on
horses. whose bones are much stronger
and more resistant than those or man.
have given us exaggerated ideas OF the
effects OF the small bullets on these It's
sues. but even so. the extensive hssur-
ing and communion are so severe that
considerable actual experience is needed
before we can be justified IN regarding
the new arm of small calihre as In any
way minimizing the horrors OF war
British Medical Journal