The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-10
rnE hnssoNs FROM JAPAN.

Among the many wonderful devel- opments brought out by the war in the East there has been nothing more surprising and more important than that connected with the medical and surgical departments of the Japanese army. Tn all wars 1t is known that a large per cent of the losses of any army will result from disease. An- other large per cent will be from wounds which should not be fatal That disease kills and disables more than battle is expected. That many of those who are wounded will die or be permanently disabled is also expected.
 These are recognised facts. or have heretofore been considered 90. but Japan has thoroughly discredited them. The Japanese have not only minimized dis ease, but have almost banished it from their army. They have not only re- duced the per centage of deaths from wounds but have almost abolished them. When . wound is not in vital spot which renders all human aid vain their surgeons and nurses pull the wounded soldier through the danger in almost every instance. When one of their soldiers Is wounded he is at once taken charge of-or as soon as Is possible--and the preliminary steps taken to treat his wound He may be and others may be put on the train or on a transport and carried to a distant place. but it doesn't matter. From the very beginning he Is treated with such skill, intelligence and care that only necessarily fatal wound fails of cure.
 But this successful cure of the wounded is not entirely the result of skiifull and careful treatment after the wound is received. Much of its suc- cess is due to the condition of the patient at the time of receiving the wound. The diet, the regimen, the care and the skill of the physicians keep the soldier in such good condition that he is not only largely free from disease but when he is wounded his system is in the best condition to COuuttEdCt tH0 etIGCto OL Wodhubs
 Herein lies one of Japan's most nota- ble and important achievements. Her scientists and medical men have made such 8 thorough and accurate study of diseases and their remedies, of other diseases and their prevention. and of germs and their treatment, that the soldiers are at all times models of health, strength and endurance. They are almost always ready for any duty required of them and are able to per- form 1t. That they entirely escape disease is not true, of course. but they have more nearly reached that point than any army was ever known to do heretofore. They have a small army of trained nurses and skilled attend- ants who know their duties and per- form them promptly. loyalty and in- telligently. It Is natural conse- quence of their sound condition at all times that wounds are far less fatal than is the case In other armies. In short, their health fits them for the arduous duties of soldiers life and fits them to bid defiance to wounds.
 The importance of such conditions can only be fully understood by those who have a practical knowledge of army life. Any old soldier who served through our four years of war can tell of the hospitals and their inmates. They can give intelligent accounts of the per centage of men in the hospitals, and how at each roll-call so many were always reported in the hospitals or absent on sick leave. These old sol diers will also tell how the wounded died by hundreds and thousands under such care and treatment-or lack of it --as our authorities were able to give them. And the records of our soldiers in Cuba and the Philippines is simply horrible on account of the number of deaths from disease that occurred. An army officer will tell us that a sick soldier is one of the least useful parts of an army for they are not only use less as soldiers but are an expense and 8 hindrance to the well.
 Japan is not only giving the world a wonderful example of courage. en- durance, patriotism and military skill, but she Is giving lesson of priceless value in hygiene and medical skill.