The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1914-11-27

WORK on FIRING Line.
The greater part of the wound bar
daging is not done, of course, by so
|. diers themselves, but by the Red eros
corps-both on the battlefield and Il
the various hospitals to which an In
jured man is taken. The Red Cros
workers follow Immediately behind tn,
, fighting line. AS soldiers fall they g
in between the lines as rapidly as pos
sible, pick them up, give them a TEN
porary dressing and bandaging Il
such has not already been applied, ant
then the carriers take them to the first
temporary hospital where further aid
is administered if required.
Every regiment has connected with
it medical officer. When it goes into
action he takes command of the regi-
mental stretcher-bearers. These men
carry no weapons and wear Red Cross
armlets. Often it is necessary for them
to exercise much ingenuity in getting
the wounded in condition TO be moved.
For splints they utilize muskets, bay
onets, scabbards, lances, leather and
| felt from saddles. Wool, flannel, hay
or moss make good padding, while for
fastening splints may be used hand
kerchiefs, stockings, carriers, suspend
ers, cord, clothing cut from soldier
and straps of all descriptions, such as
! stirrup leather.
Carriers are provided with simple,
light stretchers for the transportation
of the wounded. To place an injured
person on a stretcher and carry him
properly requires three men-two to
carry it, the third to steady the burden
and to change places with bearer il
necessary. These bearers are trained
to move according to fixed words OF
command, by which means they &C
quire wonderful precision and quick.
ness. Sometimes a stretcher is not
available, and here again must ingenu.
ity be called into play. Two poles
make a good framework. Lacking
poles, there are always plenty of lance
stats or muskets. These, pushed
through the sleeves of two military
coats buttoned together, form an ex
cellent stretcher; as do also two OF
three knapsacks fastened between two |
muskets by their straps. Sometimes |
even girths, stirrup straps, musket !
straps and brides are stretched, net. |
like, across two poles.
Taken to Base Hospitals.
The progress of wounded man from
the field to the permanent hospital,
where he remains either until he ia
well enough to re-enter the ranks or
to be sent home, usually involves no
less thar five transfers, sometimes
more. Once carried to the nearest
place of safety, as soon as possible
after an army proceeds soldiers are
,ext taken-usually by ambulance-to
/ great central place, where they are
sorted according to the seriousness Of
Heir injuries. The next move is to a
field hospital, equipped with
very modern device and where neces
AIRY operations are performed Deci
ions regarding amputation are made
quickly, but it is used only as last
esort. Conservative surgery is the
ule. In shot wounds sometimes a
ullet does not penetrate the tissue
eeply. If a shot happens to go
through tissue containing unimportant
lood vessels serious results are not
kelly to follow. Formerly it was be-
eyed best to try to get bullet out
t once. Today there is no probing oil
issues and no removal of rags or
hreds or parts foreign to a wound.
imply the uniform is cut away, sur.
ounding parts are kept as clean as
ossible without washing and the en-,
re surface of the wound painted With
ncture of iodine.
Recent wars have proved that 1t is a
Use to disturb an ordinary wound as q
tile as possible, as one made by v
odern projectile will heal almost at Il
ace If left alone, provided dirt and c
r have been excluded. Shots from ar. "
llery guns, however, are of terrible
ature, frequently tearing the limbs. Il
the tissue is badly torn there is at b
rst not much hemorrhage-the blood h
sssels separating, shrinking within D
emselyes and forming clot SO that n
eeding stops. Great care must be II
ken in the transportation Of soldiers Ia
JUS wounded that a second hemor t,
age does not occur. Fl
OFF for More Patients. al
After the necessary operations have h;
en- performed the corps which ac- al
mpanies the fighting army leaves m
is temporary hospital and follows on W
establish similar hospital after the OF
xt battle; the wounded being left In ia
9 hands of another corps of doctors di
d nurses. These field hospitals are &C
pposed to provide accommodations IL,
: 100 men, although often their re.
urces are heavily over-taxed, which tb
suits in hardship and discomfort To m
lie on straw spread Oh bl
3 floor and covered with waterproof ed
Gets and blankets. They live Oh ye
sir field rations, suitably cooked and IN
pplemented by various supplies.
From field hospitals soldiers are -.
ssed as quickly as possible to sta. IN
n hospitals on the lines of commu. tb
.ation, where they are supplied with III
is and proper hospital clothing. pc
ON here they are taken by ambu. ux
ice train to general hospital at the 90,