The Calumet news., 1914-10-03
HOW HEALTH OF
AR MY IN FIELD
IS LOOKED after
All Powers Engaged in War Use
About the Same System

The problem of the care of the
wounded and Of the precautions that
may be taken to preserve the health of
the soldiers in the field is a problem
of efficiency.
The ideal army would be that in
which each soldier carried "A rifle, and
unhampered by other impedimenta
was able to devote his entire energies
to defeating the enemy in battle. Sim
| ilarly, the ideal medical corps would
be that which, without encumberng
the fighting forces with supplies,
equipment and nOn-combatant person
mel, would appear on the field at the
proper moment, render first aid and
whisk the wounded away from the
scene of combat to a place where all
the comforts and skill of modern sur
gical treatment are at hand.
Realization of these ideals, is. OF
course, unattainable. This is generally
conceded by all authorities. Yet it is
also admitted that, despite the trouble
involved by having a corps of medical
attendants To retard the fighting fore
es. the presence of such force i'm
proves the morale OF an army.
Powers Use Same System.
All the great powers now engaged
In the war in Europe employ practical
ly the same system. 1t contemplates
n division .
three portion: That which accompan-
les the fighting troops; that which
pertains to the base of supplies or the
line OF communications: and that
which is confined To the home terri
tory.
The principle is that only first aid
and emergency treatment should be at
tempted in the immediate zone of COM
bat Having received this aid, the
wounded should be transferred To the
base, where they can be given further
treatment without encumbering the
lighting troops.
At the base they are classified. and
those who are So seriously injured as
to be unfit for further service at the
front are sent to the hospitals at home
Those whose wounds are less serious
are sent to the convalescent camp.
where they are cared for until they
are ready to go to the front again.
Have Sanitary Division.
The sanitary troops of a division are
of two classes, those which pertain to
the regiment and accompany them in
TO battle, called regimental detach-
ments. and those which remain slight
ly in the rear, called the field hospitals
or ambulance companies.
Ecah ambulance company is equip
ped to establish one dressing station,
which is located as near the firing lines
as ii is practical to take the ambulance
es. The field hospitals are located
three miles or more behind the firing
lines, well out of the range of fire, and
usually where suitable buildings can
be utilized for hospitals. Each hospi- |
tai equipment, however. includes tent
age that can be used when needed. The |
ambulances of the division ply be-
tween the dressing station and the
field hospital.
Regimental Aid Stations.
In advance of the dressing stations
are the regimental aid stations, one
established by each regiment. The am
bulance company operates not only |
the ambulances but a detachment of
thirty or more litter bearers, who
bring back the wounded from the regi- |
mental aid stations to the dressing
stations. Modern army equipment in
cludes automobile litters, which make
possible rapid transportation.
Each regiment OF infantry is allotted
four surgeons and twenty-four enlisted
men of the hospital corps. who. before
"A battle, are ordered To report to the
senior surgeon, to act as litter bearers. |
About fiftyfour men are thus provid- |
ed To carry litters and to render first |
aid TO division. OF these, four are
non commissioned officers, who take
charge of the groups; four are assist
ants to the four surgeons, and four
remain with the surgeon at the dress |
ing station. There are thus left about |
forty-two men, or about twenty-one |
litter squads, to carry the wounded |
back to the regimental aid stations. |
This makes about one litter to every |
seventy five men on the firing line.
The three surgeons, in addition to |
the one in charge OF the regimental aid |
station, are assigned one to each of |
the three battalions of the regiment. or
one surgeon to about 500 men.
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