Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-16
HOSPITALS IN THE FIELD.
Treatment Of the Wounded According to the
Plans Of Army Surgeons.

In the United States Array the hos
pital corps is divided into two detach-
ments, one for service in the field hos
pitfalls, the other to man the ambu-
lances and Filters for the removal Of
the wounded from the field. The plan
Of field hospital. as outlined by Col,
Forwood, Assistant Surgeon General.
provides for four lines, separated by
distances which will be determined by
the character Of the battlefield The
first line Of hospital service is co-inci-
dent with the line Of battle, and in
cludes the regfmental surgeons, order
lies, and company bearers. On the
second line are the first dressing sta
tons, at the nearest point beyond
range of the enemy's fire. Here am
bulance surgeons attend to the wounds,
and ambulances and little bearers of
the hospital corps convey the wound
ed to the third line. This is called the
ambulance station. Reception, opera
ting, and dressing tents are erected,
where the wounded can be attended
until they can be removed to the divis-
ion hospitals at the base Of supplies
None Of the hospital corps serves in
the line of battle. The wounded are
conveyed to the first dressing stations
by privates from the ranks The
army regulations provide that four
prVates from each company shall be
designated as company bearers. They
are taught how to handle wounded men
and in first aid, in addition to their
regular duties as armed combatants.
They fight in the line until their SER
vices are required TO attend the wound
ed, whom they convey to the first
dressing places. There the injured are
turned over to the hospital corps, and
the company bearers return to their
places. They are under the direction
of their own officers, and have nothing
TO do with the dressing of wounds
Their only care is to convey the
wounded beyond the reach of the enc
my's fire.
At the first dressing stations, where
the wounded receive their first at
tention, aside from such hasty band
aging as the regimental surgeons may
be able to provide, there is a COM
pletely equipped field hospital in min
iature. 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, it is
proposed that pack mules be employed
10 carry supplies to these dressing
stations. A medical case or pannier,
so built as to fit the back of the mule,
contains all the materials required, a
variety of antiseptics, medicines for
the relief of pain. bandages, splints,
plasters, and ting instruments.
A cook accompanies each of the di-
visions, carrying case of portable
cooking utensils. As soon as this de-
tachment reaches its station, tents are
put up, the medical cases are opened,
and their contents placed in readiness
for use; an operating table is improvis-
ed by placing two of the folding pan
niers together, so that they will afford
a place on which to lay the wounded
while the surgeon is working over
them. While the cook sets up his tent
and makes ready to prepare light
The dressing places are intended to
be only temporary stopping places for
the wounded. AS soon as their immed-
late wants are attended to they are
back to the ambulance sta
tons in light bamboo stretchers car
red by the litter bearers of the hospi-
tai corps. Thence the ambulances
carry them back to the division hos
pitfalls. The hospitals proper are
near enough the base of action
so that they may be trans
ported in army wagons and are
equipped with a full outfit of medical
and surgical supplies, comfortable cot
beds. and other conveniences which are
lacking in the field. Here
the wounded are supposed to rest I'M
til they can be transferred to perma-
nent hospitals or to the hospital ships,
as viii probably be the case in the
Cuban campaign. In case the army
moves SO rapidly that the army
wagons cannot keep up, or the coun-
try is so rough that they cannot easily
make their way, a flying detachment
Of the field hospital will be organized,
of light ambulance and
medical wagons which can go
wherever troops can march They
viii carry everything that the heavier
supply trains contain, only in smaller
quantities.