The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-06-08
MODERN SURGERY IN WAR.
1t Reduces the Mortality From Wounds
Fifty Per Cent.
H0st0M Ifcrdd.

the hands that operate are also washed
in solution Of carbolic acid.
AS a result Of this practice it was
found that wounds ''hcalcd at the
first intcntion.' There was seldom
deed Of treating suppuration. suppu-
ration never appeared except when
the operator or some Of his assistants
had been guilty Of gross carclcssncss.
Bandagcs were left on until the flesh
had grown together again There was
no more washing Of wounds to be done,
nor any expectation Of fcbrilc Symp-
toms as matter Of course. Thc
patient was expected to leave his bed,
not wasted with slow fever. but hale
and hearty Between the new treat
mcnt and the old there was all the
difference between prevention and
cure.
1t was evident, Of course, to lister
and his followers that they were pro
tccting their patients against some
thing tangible and dcstructiblc that
could be made to feel the sting of
powerful acid. 1t remained for the
microscope and the brains of such
men as Pasteur, Koch, Prudcn and
Surgeon General NJ. Stcrnberg, of the
United States army, successfully to
investigate the nature and general
ways of that something. The power
OF the microscope happened to be
prodigiously increased about that time
by discoveries in practical optics, and
one OF the first results was the dctcc-
ton and identification of "streptococ-
Gus pyrogcncs. The name sounds
like that OF Il Byzantine Emperor, but
it only means "littlc necklace animal
that makes pus, and it is we'll de-
served name, for pyrogcnes is the
busy maker, first, Of that ''laudablc
pus' which is now known to be an
accumulation Of the victim precious
white blood corpusclcs, and, latter, of
the still more deadly symptoms of the
dark, glarious pus.
The way to guard against this dead
ly gangrcne and fever was, fortunately
for humanity. pointed out even while
its cause was only vaguely known.
The general principles of Lister 8
methods have been thoroughly and
systematically applied in our service.
Not only are there complete facilities
for ascptic surgery in the field hospi-
tails, which will accompany the United
States soldiers to Cuba or to the Phil
ipplncs, az well as in the sick bays Of
every man-of war. but in every regi
mcnt there are certain number of
men IN the ranks, each provided with
antlscptic dressing packed hcrmoti-
'cally. These are the trained bearers
OF first aid to the wounded. The
regulations allow of their leaving their
lighting positions, from time to time,
to bind up the wounds Of fallen COM
rades III such n way as to ctfectually
guard against 'scpsis," or the infec-
ton OF suppuration.
Less important than the considcra-
ton OF the actual saving of life. for
which one may look to the new sur
gerry, but still we'll worth nothing, is
the prospect that much larger num-
Der OF those who go into hospitals
wounded will come out not only alive
and well, but with their full compile
ment of limbs. Talking recently Of
the outlook for Uncle Sam soldiers
in the present war, DR.. John II. Gird
ncr, who has made special duty of
gunshot wounds, said
"ln the old days surgeon would
very often amputatc simply 80 save
his man from the dangers of gangrenc.
Now that gangrcnc has been provided
against, soldier who goes into hospi-
tai with two legs, even if bullet had
smashed both of them, may still hope
to walk on two flesh and blood legs
Tor years after the war