The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-12
MrDIoAE A1D DUrIne Aor1oN.
Tho Part Surgeons Play on SEoasrn waruhips
DurinR n Rtnht.

When general quarters 7" is sounded aboard
the U. s. s. New York. the slck-bay lie imme-
diately converted into mr. operating room. IN
operating table is placed In the centre, the or
binary instruments for amputating limbs are
arranged in trays. and Immediately disinfected
by steam, aseptic dressings are laid out, and
antlseptic solutions prepared for Immediate use,
says DIR. Raymond Spear, us. N, In an article
printed yesterday by the Medical Netcs. In
former times during an action the doc
tors remained in tho sick-bay and tho wounded
were brought to them, but conditions have
changed, and now on a ship like the New York,
where there Is practically no protected place
during an action. this Is impossible. Tho In.
jurlcs on the old ships were spread out probably
over several hours. and the doctors could per
form many Of the necessary operations during
the Fight. The engagements between modern
ships do not last long. and operations during the
period OF action are not to be considered on an
Tho question which confronts the medical
known fact that the majority Of lives lost
during. q war are due to the loss OF blood, Some
authorities estimate the loss Of life from hemor-
comes the duty Of tho medical officers to take
measures to stop all bleeding from wounds. To
tion in first aid to the Wounded by the inedi.
cal officers. Each gun has It's own OUTFIT OF
inge. The men are instructed how to apply the
rubber tubing to the limbs In order TO arrest
SS being esp.sa hS" os to i%pTlS{ s asaIns, d tosebiSs;
wounds. and finally how to support limbs when
broken. and how to carry the wounded end
Each deck Of the Now York 10 divided up into
several compartments, separated by water
tight bulkheads. During an action these bulk
heads are closed. Under these conditions the
medical officers cannot roach oil OF the wounded
II they arc in different compartments; there
fore. II a man be injured sufficiently TO BIO dis
abled he Is attended to by some Of his com
panions. II an extremity be badly injured. q
piece Of rubber tubing IL applied so ae to arrest
hemorrhage, an aseptic dressing Is applied,
the leg Is bound to the other one for support, or
the arm is bound to the body If fractured, the
man is placed in a hammock, and dragged to
the best projected place noar by where he will
not be in tho way, and hore he waits for the
ships. II possible, thus offering the smallest
possible target for the shells that come through
the ships side.
The doctors take their stations In the most
protected parts OF the ship. behind the turrets,
and here establish dressing stations and attend
to all the wounded in the Immediate vicinity.
themselves as little as possible during action, as
their real work begins when the fight Is over.
Each surgeon carries n haversack, in which are
pieces OF rubber tubing for eontroIiing hemor,
case, hypodcrmiC syringe, and solutions OF
strychninc, and morphine ready for hypodermtc
use; and some hrstaid packages. Stationed
with each doctor is a nurse. who carries in a
knapsack surgical dressings. antisepticS, so!u.
tions, whiskey, SC.
When the action is over. the surgeons will
take n hasty survey OF the wounded and give
such attention as is absolutely. necessary TO
each. When the wounded have been attended
to. those cases needing immediate. operation
being established IL necessary. The wounded
will not be disturbed. but will await tho arrival
OF the hospital ship Solace, and will then be
medical attention during their transportation
to the hospitals In Key West.