The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-12-02
JAPS LEARNED
FROM YANKEES
STUDIED AMERICAN SURGERY
METHODS IN PHILIPPINES.
DR.. Fitzgerald, Long Surgeon With
the Troops in the Islands, Says Mi
kado's Men Were Most Interested Of
All Observation-Disclosures Seaman's Con-
illusions Challenged. ,fs

DIR. R. j. Fitzgerald, who was surgeon
of the Thirteenth Minnesota volunteers
in the war in the Philippines, does not
agree with the criticisms made by
corning the methods employed. by the
medical departments Of the different
armies engaged in the recent Asiatic
campaigns. Major Seamans declared
that the Japanese methods were far su-
perior to those employed by other ma
tions. -.
81 have the honor to know Major
Seaman said DR.. Fitzgerald, today,
and highly. value and respect his
opinion. Il 1 know him to be one of the
most energetic students and critics Of
modern times and his accounts OF the
methods employed and results gained by
the Japanese surgeons are most inter
esting.
Nevertheless, wish to challenge
conclusions with the doctor as to the
character of this surgery compared with
that done in the American army dur
in the Philippines was extremely. diff
cult when one considers the climatic
conditions, which could not have been
worse when it is considered that we
were situated several thousand miles
from the base of supplies, will, a lack
available), with buildings formerly oc
cupied by Spaniards and Filipinos,
whose ideas of practical hygiene were
primitive in the extreme. All these
and many other obstacles combined to
prevent, the carrying out Of our ideas
of modern surgery, yet deaths were
few In the surgical wards, amputatlons
almost unknown.
"During the time that was opera
tor-in-chief at Camp Dewey, and later
lmy experience covering period Of
fourteen months, including the fall Of
Manila and the heaviest work of the
Filipino rebellion), had ample oppor-
tunity to Judge the effect Of wounds
made by different arms used, ranging
from the blunderbus of two hundred
years ago to the modern Mauser. In
this respect my experience differs from
that Of the Japanese surgeons who have
only the wounds made by modern weap-
ons to contend with--viz., the small
caliber rifle which makes a clean-punc-
tured wound, and is as nearly aseptic
and as merciful as any gun yet devised.
1t was not an uncommon sight dur
ing the stirring days of '98 and 80 to
see our boys in blue, some Of the fin:
est d Of Pfys he
to the operating table with wounds, the
character and location of which would
make surgeon of our civil war shake
his head IN doubt, and get, good re-
coveries were the rule and, as Major
seaman says, Ine VlCClmS 1VeQ TO ugnC
other battles.
"The methods employed in the pres
ent war by the Japanese in first aid
work in the. field, as mentioned by
Major Seaman, did not originate with
the Japanese, but were first recon-
mended by the French and afterward
adopted by the Germans the English
and the Americans. Our methods of
using the first aid packages were SINH
lar to those now employed by the jap
anese When a soldier was found
wounded the package was removed
and contents applied according to in
sstructions, all possible care being taken
ito avoid sepsis. The wounded man
was then transported to the nearest
dressing station where his physical
condition was looked after, but the
wound was not disturbed unless abso-
lutely. necessary The patient was then
transferred to the first reserve hospi-
tai at Manila, where his case was
thoroly investigated, and his wounds
properly and permanently dressed.
The fact that the wounds we're
closed early under antiseptic methods
Gas nearly as was compatible with ex-
listing conditions) and not tempered
with by -unskilled hands was the great
secret of success with us, as with the
Japanese at the present time. In my
clinics at the First reserve hospital I
had visitors from the medical ranks of
the navies Of the world and of all the
nations represented I found the jap
anese the most interested and the most
anxious to obtain inside knowledge of
our ways and MEANS