Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-19
MORE DOCTORS NEEDED
MANY WOUNDS CAUSED BY MOD
ERIN GUN FIRE.
Report of Dr. Wilson's Visit to the
Variag After the Recent Fight
Near Chemulpo.

Never since the development of the mod
ern ironclad has the medical department
of the United States navy had SO perfect
an opportunity to study the terrific effects
on shipboard of modern heavy gunfire as
that presented in the short and fatal strug-
giles for life of the Russian crews of the
Variag and Koritz, and the department
has been waiting with the greatest inter-
est for the report of DR.. H. D. Wilson OF
the Vicksburg. This was received yester-
day by Surgeon General Rixey, and 1t Is
said to be of the greatest value not only
for the technical lessons it teaches, but also
as conclusively sustaining the statements
made by Captain Marshall of the Vicks-
burg as to the tender of assistance to the
Russian crews. The report bearing on that
incident is as follows:
Immediately after the Russian cruiser
Variag had returned from the fight with
the Japanese feet, and had anchored. l
was directed by the captain of this ship
Vicksburg) to go on board and oner to 90
anything possible In assisting to take care
of the wounded. The Russian commander
accepted the offer and requested me to go
below, where the wounded were being car
ried
1.-THE medical officers from the French,
English and Italian ships were on board
at work, they having arrived before me as
their ships were anchored much nearer the
Russian.
ION deck were most of the dead as they
had been instantly killed at the guns; below
the wounded were being cared for. each
medical officer selecting a convenient place
to dress them. 1t was impracticable to do
more than apply dressing of most tenn
porary nature, as there were SO many
cases needing immediate attention. and
also it was not known but that the Japa-
nese would resume the fight at any time,
as the Russian ship had not surrendered
when she returned to the inner harbor.
1.-The greater percentage of the wounds
were of serious nature, as all had been
caused by the explosion of large shells
(from eight to ten inches).
"Of the wounds dressed, nearly all were
in the lower extremitfes, which is accounted
for by the fact that while many were hit
in various parts of the body, the pieces of
shell, ETC., were so large as to cause death
whenever they struck the body or head.
mo attempt was made to perform opera
tons, and as soon as dressings were ap-
piled the wounded were put in boats and
taken to some of the foreign ships as the
Russian captain intended to leave his shin
and sink her. / offered to send any wound
ed on board the United States ship Zafiro
(which was in porD the commanding Of
fioer of the Vicksburg had directed me to
proffer her services for the wounded The
offer was declined by both the captain and
the executive officer, they informing me
there was sufficient room on the other war
ships.
MANY of the wounded died later from
the operations and from the direct effects
of the wounds, as the parts We're so dam
aged as to make an operation absolutely
hopeless.
THE Russian ship has as good If not bet
ter sick bay Accommodations than the aver
age vessel, but it was totally Inadequate to
the call made upon it.
Il think the engagement showed that it
Will be impossible to attend the wounded
during an engagement between modern
ships, unless the number of medical atten-
dants is tremendously increased. With the
present allowance the wounded would be
obliged to take entire care of themselves
until the fight was over.
I'm this battle the ships were from 1900
| to 1000 yards apart, and actual firing not
| lasting over twenty-five minutes, yet over
| 100 men were disabled. 1t must also be
| taken into consideration that here the main
| battery only was used the ships not being
| hit once by rapid fire projectiles.'