The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-04-17
non MODERN SURGERY CARES FOR THE WOUNDED.

pefai Il usually very great. Large num-
bers OF wounded men requiring tmmedi-
ate attention arrive almost Simultaneous
" Food must be given to them: many
primary operations must be performed:
fractures must be got into poxiston and
rendered immovable; wounds must be
rendered asepsic and dressed-in q word.
al the surgical necessities Of perhaps 100
men. some OF them slightly and some Of
them terribly injured, will require instant
consideration and treatment. These are
not. ia modern times. procedures which
can be hurr.edly performed. nor in q per-
funcsory manner: on the contrary, ney
require. to achieve the successful results
obtained by scientific surgery. almost the
same nicely OF manipulation and care in
detail which the bacteriologist expends
on his experiments in the laboratory.
Failure in the laboratory means only the
waste or an experiment. but failure to
Keep infection from a wound. or TO rem
der II harmless IL 1t be present, means
pain and suffering from surgical infective
disease, loss Of limbs and, in many cases,
OF life itself
The stationary hospitals on the lines OF
communication are more permanent and
better equipped establishments than those
just described. They are '.disted hos
pita.s. that is. the patients in them are
led. as closely as may be, according 10
uiet-SCaIe. TneY
intended for the reception OF 300 men. and
stretchers. to be used as bedsteads. are
supplied for this number. Patients can
De treated In them until such time as
they are sufficiently recovered to bear
the Journey towards the base Of opera
lions without risk. They should be es-
taoiished IN buildings II possible, but IL
none are available tents are supplied.
The number Of these hospitals which
paign depends naturally. on the distance
the troops advance intos the country. on.
IN fact. the length Of the lines Of COM
muntcation. and on the character Of the
roads and means of transport from the
front to the base. II q railway be avail
able. II the roads be good. or X a water.
way can be used. fewer Of them wiz b
necessary. In any case they should b
placed as near to the tines ON which the
sick conveys travel AZ possible.
The third line OF medical assistance In
campaign consists OF the general hos
pita. at the base and hospital ships
The general hospitals at the base of
operations are as fully equipped a. the
similar institutions AZ home, and they
are administered on the same Inca They
accommodate either 400 or 500 men, To
each is attached a military depot.
Patients are treated in them until suf-
fciently recovered to be discharged to the
military depots, whence they are sent to
rejoin their corps at the front: or, II I'M
likely to be able to take any further part
In the campaign, they are invaded to
England for disposal as permanently un-
mt for service. or for further treatment
AS many of these hospitals as the num-
Der Of sick and wounded coming from the
front require are opened at the base.
Hospital ships are established at places
where the situation Of the base OF opera
lions render II possible. and the circum-
stances of the campaign make Il advis-
able that they should be employed.
They accommodate 200 men, with an ad.
ditional fifty spare cots for emergencies.
In connection with them steamships are
land or elsewhere; these are specially Mt
ted for the reception and treatment of
sick and wounded men.
Two medical store depots are establish
ed in most campaigns: one at the base,
and one at the front near the most adj
vanced stationary field hospital. Tho
regimental medical officers, the bearer
companies. and the field hospitals replen-
ish their supplies Of drugs, surgical ma
terials. and instruments from the adj
vanced medical store depot. and the lat
ter is itse.f kept fully equipped from the
one at the base. which receives its sup
pies direct from England.
All the nursing duties in the field hos
pitals are performed by the hospital
ships. the ladies of the army nursing
service are employed as we'll
The above. although a mere sketch Of
the medical arrangements lad down by
regulation. VIA supply fairly accurate
idea OF the means which are employed In
warfare Tor the care and treatment OF
the sick and wounded. The regulations
for the medical services give concise in
structions as to how everything should
be done. But rules must be made to give
way TO circumstances, and regulations
cannot, and need not. be too riRfdly Id.