The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-10-09
New Lessons in Saving Life Taught Medicine
and Surgery in Wars CHASTITY Clinics
Distinguished Physician Reviews the Medical Progress and
Miracles OF Surgery That Only the Tragic But Unlimited
Opportunities Of the Bateield Could Have Made Possible
BY jon 4. Huh MD.
The DISTINGUISHES New York PhvsIcI.,

I'd great lessons this var has
taught surgeons. The father
OF antiseptic surgery strove to combat
the disease germs which found their wa,
into wounds by introducing into those
wounds germicidal. antiseptic substances.
such as carbolic acid and mercury; thus
are now destroyed the sterepococcus
germs. which develop sepsis. that is.
poisoning; also the tetanus bacillus. and
the gas gangrene bacillus
And everybody knows now brilliantly
successful was Listers antiseptic treat,
ment OF wounds. Since his day. how.
ever. other surgeons have striyen to 20
MIN one better by devising the aseptio
method; that Il, the keeping Of germs
trom getting into wounds at all This
latter 10 certainly the better in hos
pitai surgery In peace times, where the
skin over the part to be operated ON IA
rendered germ-free by hrst thoroughly
washing to get rid OF the dirt We can see
ana then by the application OF germi.
ciaal substances tsuch as tincture of
IODINE painted on the skin) to get rid of
ale ale art we cannot see, the microscopic
art. the germs. And the surgeons. and
the nurses hands. the instruments and
,ne air In the operating room are ali in
like manner rendered aseptic. before the
operation, But all OF us who have read
tne papers can easily see that it Is i'm.
possible in the present style of trench
warfare in Europe to keep germs out Of
the soldiers wounds.
IN TINS war there is seldom as was
never the case previously In civilized
warfare. any armistice for the burial of
the dead or for the relief OF the wounded.
Thus the dead putrefy and become them.
q IN fhafr
comrades in the trenches. Only at night
ana not always then. can the stretcher
bearers go about their merciful work
NOT can the motor ambulances any better
take the wounded to the clearing hos
pitals by night. because the light Of their
lamps would draw the enemy's fire. That
what can be done to succor the wounded
Is done Is evident in the unprecedent.
edly large number of medical Officers
among the killed and wounded In this
war; yes, and to their honor be II said.
or the many nurses who have also given
up their lives. Formerly field hospitals
were we'll out OF the battle zone; now.
however, the range of artillery is SO vast
that no such hospital is ever danger-free.
=. Men shot In attacks lie outside the
nnes even TOT days; here again members
OF the hospital corps are themselves
oftentimes shot. once they venture forth
TO render help. Men suffer thus. their
wounds rotting In the wet and MANFRED
nelds, until their clothes are SO soaked
In a mixture Of blood and dirt that II is
mechanically clean. let alone microscop-
icallv clean: that is, aseptic
Hine balls produce more severe
wounds tnan in other wars, especially be-
cause the trench firing is from but
rev yards away. No nation now In
volved seems to object. as when the war
began. TO the dum-dum tearing OF bullet
wounds. for the weapons OF all the powers
now produce those barbaric decorations
and the butterfly fractures" OF bones for
the reason that they are discharged from
the near distance.
The most hideous explosfve erecta ar.
produced, such as huge masses OF muscle
appearing through great rents In the
skin. And since the most OF the soldiers
body Is concealed in the protecting
trench. II is his head. neck. chest and up
per extremities, his very vital parts
which receive the most Of the hurt.
The most horrible wounds OF all are
produced by she'll fire. In no preceding
war mas artillery proved so awful. so In
cessant, so Intense, so productive of the
ghastliest wounds. A limb, for example.
is so violently smashed by the mass OF
Jagged metal ripping its way through ali
obstruction that there Is left only
sloughing mass OF flesh, bone muscle
sinew. nerves and vessels. all mixed up
with mud and hopelessly polluted water.
ana eerm-saturated clothing. What use
10 try aseptics In such a case?
Treatment In clearing station, which
means any available dirty barn or in
sanitary railway station, any town hail
or church. Is most difficult Thence such
wounded as can be conveyed from the
battleheld are brought. The station can
accommodate perhaps 200 sufferers. Ike
as not within a day a thousand have to
be dressed. All the dirty blood and mud.
stained Uniform cannot be removed The
best that can be done IL 70 paint the
skin around the wound with antiseptIe
uncture Of iodine. wash the wound with
carbOlic or bichlOride OF mercury or
permanganats OF potash solution or win
strong hydrogen peroxide. and then in.
rOduce into the wound sterile Dressings
soaked With those antiseptic preparationa
Here Is another thing doctors have
learned. or rather have relearned. from
the war. very marked difference has
been noticed In the healing OF the wounds
OF the soldiers and sailors The latter
Win even the worst kind Of wounds. as
bad az any soldiers Incur. usually re-
cover promptly. on the other hand. sob
dlers' from even slight wounds. have
zone badiy' have died because Of the con
ANIMATION Of those wounds IN the trench
warfare. The sailors wounds are sub
merEed IN cold sea water an hour or
more. That is Why Sir Almroth Wright
ana bis equally famous cotlesv1es
toioheis slf y Moynihan. r r. BurEhard
snd 81 W y. Leishman. have recon
msnpsa lor tne soldiers wounds bathing
with hyDertonic salt solutions (which 40
essentiahy Ike sea waterl. on the theory
mat THIS antiacpuc produces n flow Of
Hmph and blood serum (tho nuid con.
sututent 81 the blood On tho wounded
uasnea' ana thus prevents germ poison.
ms IN them- After such q washing the
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