The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-07-14
BURSTING SPANISH SHELLS.
A Naval Surgeons Description - the
Explosion of PrOjectiles from
the Big Guns.

during the DOmDarQment OF San
Juan de Puerto Rico May IL the New
York was struck once by a 14-centime-
ter she'll at a distance of about $500
yards. The shell came over the stern
of the ship and struck an iron stanchion
three inches in thickness, which was
broken off at the point of contact. The
shell went on for distance of about
Is feet and exploded in a wooden boat,
which was covered with canvas.
The boat was demolished, the lighter
planking being badly splintered and
driven downward and forward against
a steam winch. The oars in the boat
we're broken, and one piece hurled for
ward along the spar deck, but did no
damage.
The canvas covering the boat was
torn and rent into shreds by the force
of the explosion and by splinters pass
ing through it and then caught fire,
showing that canvas under such condi-
tons will not stop splinters.
The shell itself burst into many
pieces, varying from the size of pea 20
large pieces weighing about five pounds.
The direction which these fragments
took was forward, downward, upward
and to both sides. many cf them going
over the ships side, others passing
through the copper ventilators and
smoke pipes and doing bat little dam
age.
The fragments that went downward
and forward struck about the port
eight-inch waist gun. where there were
y men stationed, killing one man and
injuring several others. The ma1 killed,
Wiedemark, was struck by 4 piece of
shell about two inches square by one
inch thick. 1t entered the left side of
the neck near the angle of the jaw, sew
cred the blood vessels. proceeded up
ward and backward into his brain, prob
ably injuring the medull, and lodged
under the skin just beneath the &C.
cipital proturberance.
The man fell forward, losing con-
seriousness Immediately. His respira-
ton ceased as soon as he was struck,
but his heart continued to beat for
about five minutes, when all signs of lie
disappeared.
Another fragment of shell of about
the same size struck man named Fett-
mann on the anterior inner surface of
the left thigh, about three inches above
the knee, and went through the limb,
taking backward and downward
course. The femur was shattered into
numerous fragments and the muscles
were torn considerably in the track Of
the wound.
The effect of the missile on the bone
was peculiar, in that the bone vas not
only splintered for about three incheS
Of its length, but it was also pulverized,
hundreds of minute pieces of bone being
imbedded in the muscles. The wound
of exit was smaller than the wound
of entrance, the piece of shell prob
ably entering the thigh edgewisC, turn
ing and presenting fiat surface at the
point of exit. At this point there were
shreds of tissue protruding from the
wound, showing that the ragged piece
of steel drew muscular fiberS and fascia
along with it.
The leg was operated on and a por-
ton of the femur resected; the splinters
and crumbs of bone were removed, the
fragments were trimmed off and wired
together, and a through and through
drainage established, the limb being
put up in a tenistrated plaster dress
ing. The wound at last accounts was
healing by primary union. and there
is every reason to believe the leg will be
saved.
Another man was struck in the left,
leg by piece of shell abou: one inch
by one and half inches by one-half
inch. 1t entered the leg about its mid
die on the outer side, went inward and
forward, growing the anterior surface
of the tiba. The fragments of bone
were taken out of the leg by the piece
of she'll
There were several other minor in
juries. Pieces of shell struck several
men, but did no damage. One man
felt something hot on his breast, and
upon investigating found a small piece.
of she'll that had burned its way
through his clothing and reached his
skin. The fragments of the she'll were
all hot, as was shown by burnt wool
and canvas. The men injured by the
she'll all said they felt burning, sting
ing sensation about their wounds, and
in some cases the clothing was scorched.
The shell receives great deal Of
heat from the friction it incurs in ieav-
ing the gun. Some of this heat is lost
through radiation i'll its flight through
the air. More heat is developed on the
impact of the shell, and still more en-
ergy takes the form of heat when the
missile eXplodes, making the fragments
hot enough to set fire to the wood.
All of the wounds made by the pieces
of shell were aseptic, but they all were
sluggish in healing, due to the lowered
vitality and burning Of the injured
parts.-Medcal News.
For an Anti-TObnccO Congress.
NJ. DecroiX a Frenchman, is organiz--
inc an internatiOpa al apti-tohorco cop-