New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-05

r,os. q, the wounds during this preliminary
;oa u,;u consist of Commissions and fractures
antiscptic dressings and treatments will FIRST
NJ ALL be undertaken. and amputations or serious
surgical operations will be attempted only wheh
DELAY would be fatal Wounds on board snip AT z
much less liable to become poisoned with foui
matter than on shore, and aseptc as well as
antiseptic dressings will. In almost all cases. DC
the first step Fractures are likely to be par
ticularly common during the first period OF
naval engagement, and for this emergency large
numbers OF wire setting frames should always
be ready at hand.
In regard to aiding the wounded during the
action at close quarters. Or. Bonnafy SAID; FOR
tunately. the close-quarter phase OF the action
cannot last long. but while II does last IL VIII pe
utterly impossible to do anything Whatever ior
the wounded The leading naval mcdical anu
surgical authorities in France and Italy are no"
endcavoring to organize their work 50 that the
autonomy of each fighting compartment shal'
correspond with an autonomy Of surgical RELIEF.
With this object in view the following general
rules have been drafted for general guidance:
RULES FOR GENERAL GUIDANCE.
First. the ships surgeons-there are four or
more of them on board each battle-ship In time
of war-shOud not be collected together. put
should be distributed about In different places
so as to be ready to act in the compartments
containing the greatest number OF men. second.
the hospital aids and male nurses Should DC 50
divided and stationed that each fighting com
nartrnent shall have at least one aid. together
with a good supply of instruments. bandages'
and antiseptic dressings. prepared beforehand.
ready for instant use. Third. temporary surgi-
cal stations should be established at various
/ ho kq N thp steering
gear room. in the dynamo chambers. beneath
,he magazines. etc These stations for dressing
wounds should he designated beforehand, and
should vary in conformity with the construction
- each ship Fourth. the crews should be drilled
and accustomed to handling and caring for the
wounded. and each individual on board should
h.. provided with a 'paquet individuellc d. panse-
men,'-a separatc surgical dressing -case-and
h. taught how to Use it. Fifth not until after
the enlargement viii il be- possible TO attempt
IN do much for he wounded or to transport them
10 the main hospital ward. Sixth all the naval
hospital- ships should bc provided with great
abundance IF spare boats. RATS llfe-saving APP
paratus and means FOR towing disabled torpedo
boats or gunboats. and their officers and crews
should be accustomed to the sp"cia. wOik OF
saving life and rescuing ship"recked men.
whether belonging - v'gses OF their own fleet
or Of those Of Tn" enemy"
Dr. Bonnafy WAS especially DESTROYS hat steps
be taken so as 10 secure the extension 81 the
international Rcd Gross % beliigcr'nt navics
a. well as forces operating on land. II Is essen
tial that each feet hc accompanied Ivy two or
more hospital ships whore the surviving
wounded may Se collected after the engage
ment and properly cared for The present divis-
ion OF each warship into numerous fighting
cornpar tments VIII n must be bcrmetically closed
az soon as the action begins and between
which no communication Is possible while the
engagement lasts. is the great obstacle 10 sur
gical aid on board ship during the naval battles
Of the future. Dr. Ionnafy expressed the great
est confidence In the systcm adopted by the
present French Minister Of Marine. Adinira!
Pcsnard. which makes each hghurG compart-
mcnt or unit correspond with unit % surgical
aid which ~ totally dinercnt from the former
plan 81 large surgical ward for the entire
ship. with details Of none ombatanfs to collect
the wounded ana bear them in siretcsers to the
surgeons tables
The requirements of modern naval war
make it absolutely impossible 10 communicate
during an action with the different batteries
turrets OF compartm :nts II The snip without
interfering with the working of the guns or Of
the torpedo tubes. Consequently in the French
navy the surgical and medical service is dcccn-
traiiz,-d much possible on each ship The
only Capitalization is reserved for the hospital
ships which are provided "ith great number
OF skilled surge ms and male nurses. and medical
and surgical supplies and stores sufficient not
only ior whole neet. hut also to establish field
hospitals on shore N case the necessity FOR so
doing should arrive