The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-08
MODERN BULLET WOUNDS.
Some iIIutrntion of Their Effect and
How They Are Treated.

Some ilIutrntion of Their Effect and
How They Are Treated.
From the Kansas City Journal.
Capt Boltwood ,of Ottawa, who was in
the war of the rebellion and also com
manded a company in the Twentieth Kan
sas, writes interes ling,y of the effect of
bullets as follows: Great as have been
the Improvements in firearms, 1t seems 10
me that they have been as great in surg
cry In the Civil War man was plac d
en- sire cher and carried back to the field
hospital. without waiting to stanch the
blood, placed on the operating table, the
wound probed for the bullet or amputation
performed if thought necessary, the part
bandaged and, as a rule. cold wafer APP
Piled for several days. Many deaths en-
sued, and of en- gangrene got in the hospi-
tails with very fatal effect
Now, when man is wounded, the hos
p.tal men c1me up and before he subject
is moved an antiseptic bandage is app led.
There is no field hospital, but the man is
placed on a stretcher and taken TO some
spot designated, where he remains until
he can be removed to the base hospital.
On his arrival there the bandage is re-
moved, a new one applied, and this is gen
orally not disturbed for week. No water
is apr lied. and no Irobing is done for the
bullet, which, unless located near the sur
face, is allowed to remain until the patient
has recovered. Then il is cut out, or al
lowed 10 remain ,as thought best. In case
of fracture of the bone, IL is frequently
placed in a plaster cast and allowed time
to get well. No gang enc has ever appear
ed in a Manila hospital and up 10 within
a short time previous to our departure but
six ampu,ations Of arms or legs had &C.
CURED.
I'm the matter OF firearms, actual SER
vice in the fled demonstrates that theo-
ries do not always apply when 1t comes 10
actual field service l have read of Ger
man experiments with the Mauser rifle,
and of The experiments of our government
with the Krag and Lee rifles. All went
to show that the effect Of these guns was
something terrible. The bullets would pass
through at least four bodies and while a
the point OF entrance The wound was small
az the point OF exit ii was fearfully large.
The liver and other internal paris were
reduced TO pulp, and In one case nearly
ha.f of a mans skull was torn away.
my observation of wounds received in
the field was quite to the contrary. Court
land tlemming, Of my company, was shot
in the lower add men end the bullet re
move d nom near he spine. He is ow wed-
Sergt Morse was shot near the temple,
the ball passing 1t is said through two
thickness of the skull, boring out inch
es in rear Of he point Of entrance He re-
ported for duty in three weeks. Lieut.. Col.
Wallace was shot entirely through the
body, The BAN passing through the lungs.
He reported for duty in thirty days.
Compared with the Springfield, or Rem
ing ton, The 'Krag' or Mauser' wounds are
slight. At Bacalor where we used as mary
or more 'Krags' than Springhelds and
where nearly a hundred dead were found
on the field, IL was he opinion Of the sur
geon that three-fourths q chem had been
Killed by Springfield bul cts. II the Spring
field were given the range OF the Kiag,'