The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-29
H0SPITALSIN THE FIELD.
Treatment of the Wounded According
TO the Plans of Army Surgeons.


In tho United States Army the hospital
corpg is divided into two attachments,
one Tor service IN the field hospitals. tho
other TO man the ambulanccs and Hters
for the removal OF tho wounded from the
Held. The plan OF Held hospital az
outlined by Col. FOrU God. Assistant sur
geon- General, provides for four lines,
separated by distances which Will be de-
teruined by the character OF the batue
field. The first line OF hospital service IS
coincldent with the line OF battle, and
includes the regimental surgeons, ORDER
lies and company bearers. On the sec
ond line are the first dressing stations
at the nearest point beyond range OK the
onemv's fire. Here ambulance surgeons
attend 10 the wounds. and ambulances
and liter bearers OF tho hospital corps
convey the wounded 10 the third line.
This is called the ambulance station.
Reception, operating. and dressing tents
are erected where tho wounded can Do
attended until they can be removed 10 the
division hospitals az tho base OF supplies
None OF the hspital corps serve IN the
line Of battle. The wounded are con-
veyed TO the first dressing stations oy
privates from the ranks. The army resu-
Iations provide that four priyates from
each company shall be designated az
COMPANY
"a handle wounded men and In first aid,
In addition 20 their regular duties as
armed combatants. They tight In ths
line until their services are required 70
attend tho wounded, whom they convey
10 the first dressing places. There the
injured are turned over 10 tho hospltal
corps. and the company bearers return 70
their places. They are under the dlrec'
tion Of their own officers, and nave
nothing 10 DO with the dressing oE
wounds. Their only care Is 70 convoy
the wounded beyond the rcach or ths
enemys FIRE. -. -.
AT the first dressing stations, where ths
wounded receive their hrst ATTENTION,
aside from such hastes bandasias as me
yeoimental surgeons may bo able 70 pro-
vida there Is a completely equipped neld
hospital In miniature. In the United
states Army the main medical stores
are carried In army wagons. but as these
cannot keep up with the line OF battle
IL IA proposed that pack mules be en-
Moved 20 carry supplies 20 these dressing
stations. A medical case or pannier' 80
built as 10 III the back OF mule con-
,ainss All the materials required. a va
rietv OF anuseptics. medicines Tor tho re-
lief of pain, bandages. spiints' plastef7'
and operating instruments. a COOK a'-
companies each OF the divisions, carry
ing a case Of portable cooking utensil''
AS soon as this detachment reaches -
station tents are put up, the medlcd'
cases arc opened and their cohtehl'
,laced In readiness for use; an operating
table is improyised by placing two OK me
folding HAMMERS together. 50 that tH.f
will AFFORD A place on which 20 lay tho
wounded while the surgeon Is "OIN,ls
over them. while the COOK setS up u's
tent and makes ready TO prepare "S"'
nourishment ho
Tho dressing places are intended 20 DO
only temporary stopping places lor VIC
wounded. As soon as their iniilouia
wants are attended 90 they are con -.
back TO the ambulance stations !" 49,
bamboo stretchers. carried by me liter
hearers OF the hospitals corps. Ihen'o
the ambulances carry them BACK 10 VIC
divlsion hospitals. The hospi.a proper
are near enough the base OF acton SO
sbat thew NAV be transported IN army
wagons and are equipped Win 4"'A "ue-
III ~ medical and surgical S~fP"''' N''H-
ser,,hle cor beds. and other cOhNeWencts
.,.htSh ora necessarily lacking IN the Held.
Hero the wounded are supposed 10 resi-
until they can be transferred 70 pefniA-
nent hospitals or 10 tho hospi'ai shlps; as
will probably be the case II me CUBAN
campaign. In case the army moves 50
-,,it,,~ that the army wagons cannot
- m or the country Is so rough that
~, cannot easily mako their way.
e,,,ng detachment Of the field hospital
viii be organized. consisting OF light am
huiance and medical wagons. which can
go wherever troops can march. They
will carry everything that tina heavier
supply trains contain. only In smAils
o,zzn<itiss.---N. y. Suz,-