The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-11
TRIUMPHS OF SURGERY
GRIM DEATH HEATEN THROUGH
THEIR SKILL IN THE LATE WAR.
Case of Marshall, the Wounded Cor
Observation-Disclosures That onset
Others Less Agreeable.
New York Letter in Philadelphia Press.


rection, it is probable that certain expert
erces which are worthy of CONGRATULATIONS
and high praise would undoubtedly be the
subject of much comment
These experiences only emphasize the I'M
happy conditions which can no longer be
attributed to political purpose, private mall
ice or newspaper exaggeration since Gen.
Wheeler has admitted that they do exist
and has appointed the son-in-law of Gen.
Benjamin Butler to make investigation
without fear or favor. General Ames, who
is to make the investigation, married a
daughter of Gen. Benjamin Butler and was
familiar with the executive policy pursued
by General Butler when he conquered UNI
sanitary conditions in New Orleans and
made 1t even in the summer season the
healthiest camp of all those occupied by the
Union armies.
Then, too, in addition to General
Wheeler's admissions we have the state
ments made by officers like the Rev. Dr.
Vandewater, chaplain of the Seventy
first Regiment. The chaplain writes over
his own signature story of the experiences
of that regiment which cannot be imputed
either to political purpose, malice or to any
other wish than that the truth be stated.
and as he has published this in a weekly
periodical of semi-reIgious character the
charge cannot be made that the publication
was due to any of the impulses of what
is called yellow journalism.
But there is brighter side even in the
work of a part of the staff which has been
criticised. By and by, when indignation
has been appeased by investigation and the
liking of just responsibility, the country
will will learn some of the amazing stories of
herolsm, endurance and faithfulness to duty
when characterize the relations of the
great majority of the surgeons to the SOL
dlers. In Camp Wikoff the surgeons as
whole have been as tireless in their atten-
tlon 10 the soldiers as they would have been
mad the soldiers been private patients, ca
services. Many of the surgeons have worked
for twenty-four hours or thirty-six hours
without closing their eyes in sleep. Most
or tncm nave been able TO get not much over
1our or hve hours sleep in any one day.
They have fought disease stubbOrnly faith
fully and IN a good many cases have beaten
Their records when they are published
Will contain the most valuable information
as to the effect of climatic or other fevers
upon body of troops like that one en-
gagged in the Santiago compaign Their
record will make it clear that the mortality
would have been much reduced had it not
peen Tor those causes of complaint which
have created so much indignat alton through
out the country. They find that the ma
lorlty or the men who had prompt atten-
ton and constant care speedily responded
favorably to medical treatment and that
experience JuStities the surgeons in saying
and causes a peculiar listlesSness both Of
body and mind, yet modern medical meth
cas- are sufficient to cope with it so that
II is not to be dreaded as would have been
the case fifteen or twenty years ago.
DANGER OF TYPHOID.
Furthermore. the surgeons say that the
greater danger of typhoid is that which may
come through the prevalence of unsanitary
conditions in the camp or through the
spread of the contagion by soldiers who
have been permitted to go to distant homes,
especially in small places where scientific
sanitation is not practced. The first of
these perils, the surgeons corroborate Dr.
Sem in saying. will be peril that is a
crime unless it is averted, and it can be
But it is the story of the gunshot wounds
that is to furnish most important medical
lessons of this campaign. The surgeons
say that unless a man was too debilitated
by inciDient disease to resist the after eff
fects of the wound, it las been found in al
most every case that wounds respond
swiftly to the modern aseptic and antisep-
tic treatment. OF couI Sc those who were
wounded in vital organs were not expected
to recover, but in almost every case of that
kind, death followed within a little time
after the wound was received.
Some of the recoveries would have been
deemed at the time of the civil war or as
recently as the Turko- Russian war little
short of miraculous Now they are ac-
cepted as proof of two things, that the mod
else gives a more than even chance for the
recovery of the wounded man.
The case of Edward Marshall, the corre-
spondent, who was wounded at the time the
Rough Riders were ambushed, is perhaps
the best illustration of what modern sur
gerry could do with modern ,gunshot
struck the lowest vertebrae of the back
bone and shattered It. 1t then passed
around to the side Sy and lodged there. and Is
mortal when Marshall was first examined
by the surgeon, and 1t would have been
mortal few years ago. In many respects
the wound is similar to that which Presi-
dent Garfield received although in Mar
shall's case the bullet Gid not lodge in any
of the bodily organs and in President Gar
fields case it did lodge in the spleen.
The motor nerves controlling the legs were
cut by the bullet in MarshalPs case, and
that, together with the shattering of the
lower vertebrae, produced paralysis. Aseptic
treatment of the wound prevented blood
poisoning or any of the gangrenous effects
and Marshall would probably be up and
around to-day were 1t not for the fact that
the bullet cut the motor nerves He will
therefore be permanently paralyzed in his
legs, but the physicians are of the opinion
that he will be a perfectly well man. so far
as the. vital organs and the intellect are con-
cerned.
CRIPPLED FOR LIFE.
He will probably be compelled all his life
to depend upon wheel chair for getting
around, for DR.. Able is of the opinion that
the paralysis is so complete that he will be
unable even to use crutches. The wound
and its medical history will, in DR.. Abbes
opinion, furnish one of the important medi-
cal records of the war;
Gunshot wounds through the arm
through the leg. even in the hand. have re-
sponded so quickly TO the aseptic treat
ment, where broken bones were not in
volved, that men were reported as GONZALES
cent and almost fit for duty within three or
four days after wounds were received. In
the war of secession the flesh wounds fire.
quently gave the surgeons most anxiety on
sulting in blood poisoning, as well the
excruciating suffering which suppuration
created and which tended to reduce the vi
tally of the wounded man.
There has been comparatively little Suf-
fering from wounds received at Santiago
The aseptic treatment prevented that. The
use of the sponge, which was so common
during the civil war, has been almost en-
tirely abandoned.
accurate percentage of mortality to wounds,
but the surgeons are of the opinion that the
records will show that not more than per
cent. of those who received wounds, not
necessarily fatal in themselves. died from
the effect of them. 1t is estimated al Camp
Wikoff that not much more than per cent.
of the soldiers who have been in hospitals
or sick in their own tents have died.
1t is impossible to say how climatic Iever
may affect constitutions. Undoubtedly
some will be found who have been ruined,
Inc ftTrn0