The evening times., 1898-04-20
SURGERY IN TIME OF BATTLE.
Modern Methods of Treating Wound
ed Anoat and Afeid
(From the Brooklvn Eal

AfEoin lne BROOKLYN EaEle.)
Now that hostilities between the United
States and Spain are imminent it is time
ly TO note what the appliances of mod
ern surgery can do TO alleviate the suf-
ferings of those who may be injured,
whether on board ship or in the field.
In civilized modern warfare ii is con-
sidered of the first Importance that the
general health of the forces operating on
sea and land be maintained, and that aft
er injury all that can be done for the
men be done quickly and skillfully with
the view of restoring them to health or
at all events of rendering them, at the
earliest possible moment. fit for renewed
service. When a patriotic officer or sol
dier is temporarily disabled in the serv-
ice of his country it is a civilized and
humane principle, as well as an econom-
ic one in the management of a fighting
force. that he be restored to health and
rendered able TO resume his place in the
ranks at the earliest possible moment
In this respect, and as compared with
what took place during the civil war it
is Interesting to note TO what a high state
of perfection the hospital service, both on
sea and land, has been brought as a re-
suit of the Introduction into the Army
and Navy OF nearly all the best known
appliances of modern surgery. Some Of
the salient details of these systems were
explained by a student and expert 10 an
Eagle reporter in the Eastern district
yesterday.
During the civil war the Eagles In
formant began, wounds inflicted. as a
rule, were more shattering in their char
acter than they are likely TO be during
the land operations Of the coming war.
This is due to difference in the ammu-
lit 4 sod ht- hot ha
mics of America and Spain. The rifles
used by both armies are OF a smaller cali
ber and of a much longer range. | need
not go into the details, but merely review
the probable effects OF wounds inflicted
by the weapons When, during the civil
war a soldier was struck by a bullet on
the bony structure of the body, the
chances were that some of the bones
were split. Now, the wounds are certain
to be more of the nature of straight
punctures or directly perfOrating shot
wounds The bullets. as Understand
are very small and solidly metallic. and
of a character that might make a direct
puncture, even at long range, through
the entire structure of the body. Such
wounds might be only slightly felt for =
brief length of time by the combatant
and it is possible that he would continue
fighting for a little while before he would
yield.
Say. for example, the lungs were pGT-
forated by shot. In that case the com
batant for a little while would simply eX
perience a feeling of weakness and might
continue in action until excessive hemor-
rhage would compel him TO succumb. In
former times, a shot from an ordinary
rife in the same spot would mean instant
death. AT sea, of course, the conditions
would be somewhat different. There the
chances of being hit by missiles or splin-
ters are greater In such an environ
ment as the deck or gun room of a battle
ship comminuted or compound fractures
of the bones or vital parts of the body
would often result. Even i'm these cases.
however there is this difference between
former and modern surgical practice.
'In former times the lives of the
wounded were often endangered from
septic or outside interference; that is to
say. the carrying into the wound by the
splinter or bullet of any foreign sub
stance, such as piece of the clothes
the sailor wears, or any outside sub
stance of whatever kind Now improv-
ed methods of aseptic treatment are per-
fectly understood in the United States
Navy; in fact, so well understood that
IL is possible to get a primary union of
the injured parts in many cases where
this was formerly unknown and untried
TACT tldi our naval ana army sur
geons can do this affords two important
advantages: First, the possibility of get
ting the patient on his feet again, al
though of course much would depend on
the extent of the injury, in perhaps
eight or ten days after the infliction of
the wound; and secondly. by the appli-
cation of the new treatment the patient.
instead of contracting gangrene during
the time stated, as i'm former times
would be regaining strength and health.
Then take injury to the Kidneys VI
tai portion OF the body This, in former
times. and in fact up to a comparatively
late date. would mean death Now the
kidney can be removed. The operation
is known as nephrectomy. first perform
ed successfully by Carl Mite, but in a
radical manner. in Berlin, about fifteen
years ago The kidneys had been re-
moved before that. hut the modern an
terror or front incision for the removal of
the organ is done with much dexterit:'
and with no more risk than ordinar-
laparotomy. This is another instance
which gives the soldier an additional