The evening times., 1900-03-16

LONDON. March THE problem OF
caring for the wounded during a stiff fight
attracted no end Of attention early in the
conflict and events have proved the wis
dom OF this careful consideration. Some
Of the most eminent surgeons at the front
have become enthusiastic over the arrange
ments made for giving aid Immediately
the battle was over
One OF them. Sir William MacCormac,
telling Of the work done at Mooi River,
says:
During the three days after my arrival
the two hospital trains made ten journeys.
carrying the wounded between them from
Frere 10 Estcourt. TO the hospital to Pie
termaritzburg. and to the hospital ships
At Durham. Each train can convey sixty
nine patients lying down. and a great
many more patients sitting up. During
these ten journeys they brought down
close upon lilo cases. and there are. at
the date of writing this still about $50 10
bring. The field hospitals with the brig
AIDES in the lighting line were situated
about nine miles from the Tugela River on
the further side.
The wounded we're carried by stretch
ers and ambulances back across the river
TO the Stationary Field Hospital. situated
on this side OF the Tugela. twenty Two
miles up The stream from Frere. This hos
pital has become enlarged from its origl-
nal size OF $50 beds to one Of 400 beds The
wounded have been treated and operated
upon in this hospital and as they become
fit for transport have at once been convey
ed by hand stretchers and wagons across
the twenty-five miles Of plain 10 Frere
Station. The strCtChers are carried by
volunteer ambulance bearers.
After this excessively tedious journey
the patients are az once loaded. on arrival.
into the hospital trains. the excess being
temporarily accommodated IN a field hos
pital Of 100 beds al Frere. The hospital
trains are well supplied with luxuries. and
the wounded are al once led with comfort
ing soup and drinks. On their arrival az
Mooi River those OF the wounded who are
destined 20 remain al this hospital are con-
veyed Ia q most comfortable and easy man
uer by means OF the MacCormac- Brooke
wheeled stretchers TO the hospital on a
kill about half mile from me station
TukinE Wounded from SPIon Kop.
Fred'-ick Treves. consulting surgeon
with the forces in a letter from spear
mans Hill. dated January Is, writes.
In spite Of the immense number OF the
wounded they were all got under shelter
by Thursday night had had their more Sc
rious injuries attended 10, and had been
made as comfortable as circumstances
would admit They bore evidence OF the
excellent work done IN the field hospitals
These hospitals bear the brunt OF the trou-
bic and carry out the FIRST treatment. They
did spleudidly OF Wednesday and Thurs
day. The volunteer ambulance corps and
the large body of coolie bearers did ex-
CelleUt service. The larger number Of the
wounded were on the top Of Spion Kop.
The path down was two miles. was
steep, and in places very difficult. The
carriage Of The wounded down the hill had
all 10 be done by hand. From the foot OF
the hill tC the hospital the carriage was
by ambulance wagons. and In some cases
by c0olie bearers. All the stretchers had
hoods. There was no doubt that the
wounded suffered much on account Of the
tedious transport but in was rendered as
nearly perfect as possible. As 70 the
wounded there was the usual proportion
OF minor injuries but on the whole the
wounds were more severe than those re-
Ceiyed ar ColeusO. This is explained by
the large number Of wounds from she'll and
shrapnel The men. moreover. were much
exhausted by the hardships they had un-
dergone. In many instances they had not
had their clothes of for q week or ten
days.
Foruot His Own SuUerEug