The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-12-26

come when q surgeons work will in
some respects be like that of train
dispatcher. Having brought 10 him
from day to day the microscopic count
of the germs in given wound, the sur
geon may perhaps figure with pre-
lcfseness the day on which the wound
will be in shape to close completely.
The two-hourly irrigation of the wound
by the Dakin or other solution, is a
highly important feature of the Carrel
method. but the most interesting factor
is the daily microscopic count of the
germs. These germs are taken from
given areas of the wound, placed under
microscope and counted, and from
this count the progress of the healing
is gagged. There are perhaps less
germs today than yesterday, so many
less tomorrow; and 50 the rate OF the
diminishing suppuration is established.
The surgeon, almost without looking
at the wound, con determine, when
the count gets down to given num-
Der, that it is safe to close ii.
Best Single Thing.
THE American ambulance hospital
Is the best single thing which America
can do for France" he said. The hos
pital has been at all times since it's
establishment two years ago one Of
the best hospitals in world 1t en-
joys the confidence of the French san
Itary service to such degree that 1t
ordinarily receives only the most difn-
cult cases. The most severe shell
There are scores of young American
surgeons who, from time to time serv-
ing at the hospital. have become fam
liar with these phases of surgery.
They may rarely have occasion to use
this knowledge in their ordinary civil
ian practice at home, but should the
United States be at war within tho next.
generation II will find that many of
its surgeons in civilian practice are.
acquainted with every sort of wound
now known in warfare. At the hos
.pftal, further, there has been constant
cooperation between the surgeons and
dentists. An ordinary operation is
that of grating bone cut from the tibia
or shin-bone into the lower Jaw. /
have seen young soldiers so fright
fully wounded In the face that had they
been my sons should have almost
preferred they should have died, but
1t is not for the surgeons to let the
spark of life be extingufshed through
neglect of surgical science.
The appreciation gratitude and en-
tire simplicity OF the wounded Frencr
soldier is something that gets 81
absolutely. have never seen
slightest resemblance to anything Z
could be called bravado In his makeI
The American surgeons feel that the
cannot be kind enough to the soldiers
Efficiency Widely Known.
4A1l through France the efficiene
of the American ambulance hospi
has become known and distinguish
surgical men are daily visitors. Th
come not only from the French no
pItals, but from all Of the Allied ar
neutral countries, examining with pa
5ticular interest the many forms
special apparatus which the American
have developed for the management
OF fractured extrcmities These de
vices have been originated and In
proved upon largely by the young
members Of our surgical staff Who
a young surgeon comes to us fro
erica for service at TIM hospital
ts assigned to a ward ysfth n redue
that he irpprov the apparatus and ii,
that he fails to do SO. 1t lhasl
been wonderful for the older men tai
see how readily and successfnlly theil
younger men have aken up this work
There are probably 500 Woundedt
soldiers under the American anbusl
lance SUR ICONS AT this moment TheraE