Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-10-06

paired, the men were served with salt
horse rich meat, fermenting tomatoes,
beans, etc. The aggravating conditions
produced by this increasing irritation
of the intestinal tract as a result of the
improper diet soon produced disease
that fioored the forces. l and other
surgeons begged for rice, but could
not get it. Uncle Sam seemed to think
that the same diet which was used
enough for the heat of the tropics. The
result was that the whole army was in
state bordering on collapse at the
end of the war and for every man who
was killed in the six weeks IA died of
disease"
THE Japanese ration, however, is or
the best,' said the American surgeon.
"The non-suppuration of the bullet
wounds and the rapid recoveries speak
volumes for the fine physical condition
and freedom of the systems of the
Japanese troops from infiammatory
conditions, such as those resulting
from a rich meat diet. And then,
again, the Japanese system of treating
the wounded is of the best. The les
son is being again proved by the sur
geons of this country that the fate of
The wounded rests in the hands of the
one who applies the first dressing, and
that bullet wounds should not be
touched, much less explored by prob
ing or otherwise, before the 'first-aid'
a1tiseptic dressing is applied. Opera
tive interference is justifiable on the
battlefield only in cases of extreme ur-
gency where extensive hemorrhage eX-
lists, or where the wound is in the re-
gion of the throat and suffocation is
imminent. AS a rule, gunshot wounds
are bloodless. Primary hemorrhage,
unless resulting from the very rare ac-
cideu. Of cutting some large vessel, is
usually absent altogether or can be
readily controlled by compress or
first-aid bandage. Even in the case of
wounds in the abdomen the law of
non-interference applies with equal
force. In our war with Spain so per
cent. of all cases of abdominal wounds
not operated on recovered, while all
operated on died. Seemingly the prac-
tice of the Japanese in not operating
is also having splendid results. That
is evident from what we have seen in
these hospitals today"
l was told by the Japanese army
doctor with whom l spoke that as far
as they can gather from statistics fur
-. 4
wounded and killed has been five to
one In conversation with the doctors
also learned some details regarding
their work in the field. While the sur
geons lose the pleasure of operating
it is evidently a pleasure to the sur
geon to operate-they have much work
to do in keeping the armies under their
care up to the highest standard OF
health, so that in the emergency of
battle the soldiers may be fitted to do
their duty. The surgeons are also
sanitary engineers, and they select the
/ sites for camps, arrange camp drain
age, and inspect all water supplies
| The Japanese army surgeons are doing
valuable work in inspecting water sup.
plies. 1t is the rule of the Japanese
armies il the field to send a corps of
medical experts in advance, and before
the army pitches camp every source of
water supply in the vicinity and every
well has been chemically analysed.
Placards are placed at all places where
there is water. Some of the placards
read: This water is good" others,
This water is bad;'' and others,
This water should not be used unless
it is boiled for half an hour" These
precautions and the good ration in use
prevent intestinal troubles, and, of the
l 900 or more sick and wounded in To-
kio, there are only six cases of intes-
final affections, like number of dys-
entery cases, and five typhus cases,
all of them convalescent at the date of
writing. My visit to the hospitals was
most interesting. 1t is evident even
TO the most casual visitor that the Jap
anese medical arrangements are com
parable with those of any other nation,
and the comparison is often to the dis
advantage of the nation with whom it
is made.