The Glenwood post., 1914-11-14
HotN the Woun6o6 $olGofs NJ
Cared for Preaoty q IL
Field II oattie.
GOOD sAHoAelHa inPoarAnr
Every Man cssvsse esrse A. oSeas-
our0soNs and Nveoee AtAsad tho
Sufferers on Firing line sad
Then Send Them te the
hospitaIa

| There was time when Woun0o0
men were left unattended and exposed
ON the battlefield until the fighting
was over. Often it was the day after
an engagement, or later, before surg
lcal assistance reached the scene, and
soldiers were for the most part ig-
norant of the first principles Of caring
| for themselves.
| The ambulance organization now
prevailing in all civilized armies Gf,
indeed. one can apply the word civi-
lized to anything connected with war
fare) dates only from the end of the
eighteenth century. Gradually it has
been enlarged and improved until TO-
day every army has moving with its
men on the field complete hospital es-
ablishment-variously modified In de-
tails-for the collection. treatment and
care of the wounded Nntil they can be
removed to hospitals OF . more per
| manent character.
In 1892 a system Of so-called flying
field hospitals was introduced into the
French army by Baron Dominique
Jean Larrey. 1t provided for giving
the necessary FIRST surgical treatment
and removing the wounded quickly
from the field. Napoleon supported
this system Enthusiastically. Some
what later another Frenchman, Baron
Pierre Percy, organized a corps Of
stretcher bearers-men trained and
equipped for collecting the wounded
while a battle was in progress. rem
dering aid Immediately necessary and
carrying them to a place Of safety
where they may be further attended
The American Civil war marked the
beginning Of the modern ambulance
system.
One Of the greatest steps toward the
amelioration Of the condition Of the
wounded was the outcome of the con-
vention held in Geneva In 1s64-a
treaty by the terms of which the
wounded themselves, rs well as the
oficial staff of ambulances and their
equipment. should be under the pro-
lection Of a neutSal fag-the nag Of
the Red Cross.
But not only has this ambulance sys-
tenn reached a high state of perfec-
ton. The modern soldier is carefully
A.
education being a thorough under
standing Of human anatomy. The value
of this knowledge is at once apparent,
particularly in great battles. such IS
are now being fought in Europe, where
thousands are wounded in a single en-
gagement; for no matter how efficient
may be the relief service it is i'm
possible for the Red Cross workers to
care for these men as rapidly as they
fall Many soldier. however. is able
to save his own life or that of a COM
rade by stopping the flow of blood un-
til help comes
Soldiers First Aids.
Each man has with him when he en-
ters the battle package Of first-aid
supplies sterilized bandage, an an
tiseptic pad. bottle of water acidu-
lated with the best quality of wine
vinegar Ito assuage the terrible thirst
that comes to a wounded soldier), and
concentrated nourishment enough for
36 hours in a tin the size Of an ordi-
nary cigar case. These supplies vary
slightly in different armies.
An ordinary shot wound is frequent
ly not felt by fighting man, the sight
of trickling blood usually being his
first intimation that he has been
wounded. If he is able at once to
apply the antiseptic pad (thus pre-
venting the entrance of germs and
helping to stop the flow of blood) and
further to bandage the injured part
temporarily, he has taken a long step
toward recovery.
Proper bandasing plays so import
ant part in war surgery that the ut
most efficiency in it is required of Red
Cross workers. In the German army
and in emergency work is one that
bears the name Of its inventor, DR..
Johannes Won Esmarch. Every SOL
der carries one Of these with him into
battle. 1t u . three-eornered piece
Of linen and cotton, OF which the
base measures four feet and the sides
two feet ten inches. 1t can be used
folded or open and applied in - dif-
ferent ways, ~ shown clearly by Illus
trations which accompany 1t. The
o6icially manufactured EsmArch band
age has these Illustrations stamped
clearly on one side, but 1t Il pos
sible to make such . bandage out
Of old linen. sheets OF similar materi-
ais at hand. Doctor Esmarch, who
died In 1908, served ~ junior surgeoa
In the Schleswig- -Holstein war Of 1s4S.
was director Of the surgical clinic ut
Kiel and later head Of its general hos
pital and professor at the university
there. Aftsf the schleswig- Holstein
war Of 1854. during which he rendered
splendid service +, field hospitals. Ae
Was called to Berlin to take charge e
- surgical work b tie hes9atals