Rock Island Argus., 1914-12-21
SIDELIGHTS
-ON--
European War

Berlin. - Correspondence of The
Associated Press.) The German sur
geons have begun 10 talk about their
experience in healing the wounded in
this war. Prof. Payr of Leipsic Uni
versity. who is acting as Surgeon-Gen-
eral to the Saxon army, recently de-
livered an address at one of the i'm
provised hospitals on the line of the
German communications, in which he
gave much interesting information on
this subject.
Payr pointed out that the balls used
in shrapnel shells produce much mote
dangerous wounds than rifle bullets.
They carry into the body fragments
Of clothing. a corresponding quantity
of dangerous germs; and they are
much more likely TO be lodged in the
body. There was sUppuration in 20 to
70 per cent OF cases. The same dan
ger is still more serious with wounds
from fragments OF shells II was
found, too. that this war has been
especially marked by the great num-
Der Of such wounds. Not only do she'll
fragments carry germs into the body
with bits of clothing, but the danger
Gus gasses from the shrapnel explos-
ion often adhere 10 the fragments and
balls in sufficient quantities TO poison
the wound. Lock-jaw is often pro-
duced by wounCs of this character:
but BY vaccinating patients with a te-
tanus serum the German surgeons
have materially reduced the ratio of
deaths in such cases since the first
weeks Of the war.
Especially dangerous are the
wounds caused by fragments OF bombs
thrown by aviators. Even very small |
fragments often produce much more !
wounds than much larger !
pieces OF ordinary shells. These small |
fragments penetrate very deep into ]
the body. cutting through all blood |!
vessels; and thick masses of muscle |
are cut through as with a sharp knife. |
Aeroplane bombs also frequently /
cause bad burns.
So far as simple flesh wounds from |
small calibre rifles are concerned, |
Payr found that these heal very rap
idly. In most cases the wounded were |
able TO return TO the ranks within a 1
week or two. Even in cases of chest |
where the ribs are not touch .
ed, healing is usually very rapid. even |
though the lungs be penetrated.
\ new kind of wound has been caus-
ed by the sharp steel arrows thrown at !
great heights by French aeroplanists. |
These arrows have about the thick /
ness OF an ordinary lead pencil. and I
when thrown from a height of about
1000 feet strike their victim at the We
Ocity of bullet just leaving the muz-
lie of a rifle Payr SAYS they pro-
luce very dangerous wounds.
DR.. Payr declares that the small bull
eJ badly skaters the hollow bones
# arm and leg when striking them at
snort distances. but that at greater
distances they tend more 10 bore
smooth hole, with little or no fractur-
ng- Bones near the joints are shot
through smoothly. and the wounds
zeal with no difficulty. Another ef-
ect Of the present type of bullet is 10
,ut through the blood vessels. whereas
hey would often be pushed aside by
he older lead bullet and escape dis
upton. This is regarded by Payr as
me dangerous result OF the small cal
bre bullet, especially where veins and
lrteries are cut through deep in the
iesh.
Wounds in the abdomen. says Payr.
re most likely 10 heal without an op-
ration than with one; and this. he
ays. was first proved in the Boer
var. The difficulty in the way of an
operation is that IL is almost impossi-j
lie 10 take the necessary antiseptic
recautions.