The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-04-04
THE FIELD HOSPITAL
Treatment of Wounded Planned by
Army Surgeons.
The Service Is Provided with Every
Convenience for the Care and
Comfort of Uncle Sans
Soldiers.

Soldiers.
In the United States army the hospi-
tai corps is divided into two detach-
ments, one for service in the field hospi-
tails, the other to man the ambulances
and litters for the removal of the
wounded from the field. The plan of
field hospital, as outlined by Col. For
wood, assistant surgeon general, pro-
vides for four lines, separated by dis
tances which will be determined by the
character of the battlefield. The first
line of hospital service is coincidcnt
with the line of battle, and includes the
regimental surgeons, orderlies and
company bearers. On the second line
are the first dressing stations, at the
nearest point beyond range Of the enc
my's fire. Here ambulance surgeons at
tend to the wounds, and ambulances
and litter bearers of the hospital corps
convey the wounded to the third line.
This is called the ambulance station.
Reception, egatiug and dressing tents
are erected, where the wounded can be
attended until they can be removed TO
the division hospitals at the base of sup
plies.
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 privates
from each company shall be designated
as company bearers. They are taught
how TO handle wounded men and in
{ A.
duties as armed combatants. They
fight in the line until their services are
required to attend the wounded, 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 enemy's fire.
At the first dressing stations, where
the wounded receive their first atten-
ton, aside from such hasty bandaging
as the regimental surgeons may be able
1 to provide, there is a completely
equipped field hospital in miniature
/ 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 to carry
supplies to these dressing stations. 4
medical case CT Pannier, SO built as to
fit the back of the mule, contains all
the materials required, variety of
3 .,s~ e., 41o -
! pain, bandages, splints, plasters, and
4 operating Instruments A cook accom-
panies each Of the divisions, carrying
a case Of portable cooking utensils. As
soon as this detachment reaches its
station tents are put up, the medical
cases are opened, and their contents
placed in readiness for use; an operat-
ing table is improvised by placing two
of the folding partners together, so
that they win afford place on which
to lay the wounded while the surgeon
is working over them, while the cocI,
sets up his tent and makes ready to
prepare light nourishment.
The dressing places are intended to-
be only temporary stopping places for
I the wounded. As soon as their imme-
! date wants are attended to they are
conveyed back to the anbulance sta
tons in light bamboo stretchers carried
by the litter bearers of the hospital
corps. Thence the ambulances carry
them back to the division hospitals.
The hospitals proper are near enough
\ the base of action so that they may be
transported in army wagons and are
| equipped with full outfit Of medical
and surgical supplies, comfortable Get
beds, and other conveniences which are
necessarily lacking in he field. Here
the wounded are supposed to rest until
they can be transferred to permanent
hospitals or to the hospital ships. as
will probably be the case in the Cuban
campaign. In case the army moves 50
rapidly that the army wagons cannot
keep up, or the country is SO rough hat
they cannot easily make their way,
flying detachment Of the field hospital
will be organized, consisting 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.-N. Y. Sun.