Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1913-02-05
Victims of Balkan War Saved
From Death by New Surgery.
Wonderful Work of Doctors ard
Nurses at Hospital in Belgrade
Men Shot Through Head or
Heart Often Recover.

Belgrade, Servia.-The human side
of war, as shown in the improvised
military hospitals of Belgrade, pre-
sents many touching scenes. Every
school in Servia has been turned into
a hospital. Here, where there are a
great many wounded from the battle
of Koumanova, and from the Skin
mishes about Monastir, not only the
schools. but every available building.
including the local barracks and SUI
gar factory. has been transformed into
wards with neat rows of white beds.
Practically every country in Europe
has sent corps of surgeons and
nurses to the war The United States
has done its share by contributing to
the work of these devoted Red Cross
toilers about $12,O00-more than any
other nation. The surgeons are all
greatly interested in their cases, for
modern warfare, with small. powerful
ly driven steel bullets, presents re-
markable wounds.
At the time of the American Civil war
arms and legs were Topped on by thou
sands to prevent blood poisoning. In
these days of antiseptic surgery there
is almost no amputation. One soldier
was shot through the middle of the
finger; his whole finger has been
saved. A number were struck when
firing from lying posture, the bullet
passing through the head, straight
down through the heart and out at
the thigh. The lives of several SO
wounded have been saved. It used to
be considered fatal to be struck in
heart or head, In these hospitals there
are men who have been shot right
through heart or head and who will re-
cover. Often it is not considered nee
essary to extract bullets which have
lodged in the body. The wound is sim
ply disinfected and allowed to heal.
Nothing is more significant of the
fine quality of the Servian peasantry
than the speed with which their
wounds have cicatrized. The surgeons
are amazed, and lay the phenomenon
to pure blood untainted by alcohol.
Many brought here within the last two
months have recovered, and gone back
to the front.
One of the most interesting hos
pitfalls is in charge of the Russian
corps, in the local exposition building.
Nearly all the nurses here are women
of good family, number of whom got
experience in the Russo-Japanese war.
Enter this ward That blond young
irnuip0 cheats ncor fha door II,
the corridor is the daughter of the
Russian ambassador. These are
wounded Servian officers in here It
is the visiting hour. In Servia, it is
the custorl to congratulate a soldier
who receives a wound. In comes a
dumpy old peasant woman. her wrin-
kled face beaming, and drawing forth
an orange from her clothes she toddles
straight toward one of the beds. where
follows tender greeting between her
and her soldier son. Speak to this
handsome young fellow.
yes, sir, I was one of the 10000
Servians who went to help the Bull
garians around Adrianople after our
own work was done. / was wounded
in shrmiSh in the trenches. But
you should talk to that officer over
there. He is major and hero"
81 got my wound at Koumanova-
or. rather. my I've wounds" His face
lighted up with pride as he spoke. I'VE
had driven the Turks back that day
and at night they tried to retaliate,
We charged them through the dark
and / was caught in their volley. The
servian officer, sir. is always at the
head of his men,"
In the next ward are some private
soldiers nearly we'll One is playing
rustic flute and other are dancing
-kolo." the national country dance,
with some OF the pretty Russian
nurses