The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-02-07
RAILUAY SURG ERR.
A Talk on tho Cases That Come Before
Medical Men Employed by Railroads.
trom Ne rtlcn baNv iress.

FROM te Utica Badv iress.
DIR. James &. Hunt lecturcd before the rail-
road men at their building last evening on the
subject, Railway Surgery" The audience
was good sized and sppreciatIve. and the differ
ent systems which enter this city were well rep
resented. DR.. Hunt placed before them n
skeleton and n l~ife-sized manikin by which he
wns able to ex plain his subject more thoroughly.
The lecture gave evidence OF study. lie said:
The brain and muscle OF over two million men
are employed TO construct, equip. and 10 operate
tho present railway systems. Our American
railroad officials have made great progress In
reducing the number and severity Of accidents,
ana our nrst-class roads now show that they
compare more than favorably in this respect
with the best companies throughout Europe.
The possibility Of railway accidents has
always been n source OF anxiety to railway man
ayers, and the shock received BY the public
should deepen interest In the means taken to
avoid these distressing occurrences. Many
OF sthc Injuries which the railway surgeon
has TO deal with are OF q peculiar nature
and often OF the greatest severity. while the
majority Of our injuries are what we would
consider OF a minor character. such ms would
result from coupling cars or accidents from
machinery. &c. Many OF these accidents hap
pen at night and at some remote point from
surgical assistance, and In the most disagree.
able weather, in which case the delay and ex.
posture are influences that may add greatly 10
the shock OF injury before the sufferer can re-
ccive any proper attention"
Or. Hunt here e explained n lifc.s'ze rhys!oloci-
cal manikin, also n skeleton showing the various
organs OF the body, ard continued:
-Four ffths OF the injuries that n railway sur
Keon is called to attend will probably be cia.srd
under the head Of minor surgery, md It Is these
cases that show the true surgeon Just "a much
rs the amputations, rc-ections. and operations
Of that class do. There ARE several points that
/ III n In nFRAa NVlR CnI an1 thA d., l. =.
wonderful recnnerative or healing power IN the
extremities, We are often called to look az a
there seems TO he no hope OF savingthe mem
Der. and there is u disposition to amputate. My
there is the least chance OF any cipcSIao
tion. either direct or collateral, L ALWAYS
iry ' tha sn'e an the sm i,"ssr or E mr~%sr; /, may
5y wnitins; a day or two i tho ""s proper Sser pree 'Hs.
very abundant supply OF blood vessels which
traverse and radin,e throughout every muscular
inxers and toes that unless the member il LAGER
rted around u, entire circumference we may
= healthy regenerativc action. A finger NAV
s sssiro oil m hn impor,nnce to = surgeon. but to a
v MnrE Sp n"n Ma wno ma!;r, hi. Living by hard
grasp or the hand. II 10 IA most serious matter.
! make II n rule never 20 sacrifice tho smallest
saving, rs think 1t is better surgery TO save
one finger than 10 cut on ten.
NV . wi kiFNltNI lTuuUlCS II the condition
OF the injured member when brought 10 us.
Nearly always we mad tho torn tissues and the
Sn51 to ret pa am a stasE w cahd SI", dust y |. IpI grease,
possible. Many accidents occur in machine
shops: They may, DO lacerated or confused
wounds. the wrenching of OF a finger or toe or
limbs, or they may be crushed. Cn:whecis.
saws, planning machines, &C., tear Off many a
limb or parts Of one. 1t il such injuries as these
that almost ALWAYS occur when there is no sur.
geon That can be had for some little time, and II
every train could have some idea OF what can NJ
done until n doctor arrives.
In cnsr ~ hemorrhnge. raise the limb. wash
cienii: II the blood comes in bright red lets. an.
ply the strap. above the bleeding points Just
t,xht enough 10 control the fow. DO not draw
u me blood l.. Of dark color. apply cloths wrung
a corrrsnondin limb ana place in a position, M
near iikeit ~ rossihlc. II can be held In place
gle or a blanket folded or rolled tightly around
1t; NJ" FL tIsa Vim s,rip' Of cloth.
ana keep the joint quiet.
In dressing, wasl every break OF tho ss In with
No. mn,rr u possible, then apply game or some
clean cloth N layers, Of three or four thick
nesses; hold in place Ivy II bandage, and notify
u" n.nrcs, comp"ny's surgeon.
" IA" injured man or woman feels faint md
weak !ny HIM with his lead low and give Him
some hot drink. Coffee Is ono OF the best:
orendy or whiskry II necessary. hut not much.
West and south, have II case completc with The
Instruments, bandng.,. &c. with printed direc'
lions as To the care Of injured person, %" IN .Very
train, Iii placed IN charge OF the conductor
who keeps II in his train box.
shock may be caused by n blow on the nit OF
me stomach or 1t may hr caused by fright: also
ny urlhklng Large quantities of Irp wafer, ii ia
quite common after II seriou, railroad accident,
! NJ Signs hre ins"nsihllltv, druoping eyelids,
ieehie breathing. great palcurss, with cold
,lAhmy sweat; q ho"ildrrcd, etupld condition,
teehlo Pulse. When you fini "A person In such "A
cnmHitlon ~ this. he may die pretty soon, and
VIII oefor" long unless assistance can I've given
MN In such cases L. requires very ptoinpt and
hsr",strni enort on the, part OF those present.
neht must be applied To the whnls body
II possible; Roll him up in hot blankets
Or give him u hot bath. II YOU have
the conveEiences. Bottles flled with hot
wafer answer very nicely. Tic two important
points TO amply heat are at the heart aud nil of
the stomach; In making your application Of
neat ne cnr"rni not 10 burn th, patient, for i'm
MS condition he would not feel pain from any
amount or neat which might severely bnrn him.
~ htilnulant yon may givc the patient hot
drinks. with whtsEey or brandy added. hut in
snnii quantities. and repeat every ten minutes
until the surgeon arrives.
=" fracture may he partial. complete. trans
verse. ooliqne, or longitudinal, single, double or
sT 81 m : simple, compound, or complicated.
absence OF normal contour and crepitua" N"'"'