New-York tribune., 1916-05-01

bonQon, Npiil y Sltange as ~ may
seem, a soldier badly wounded near the
British lines In France has n better
chance Of securing prompt and skilful
treatment. thereby enormously cnhanc
iug his chance Of recovery. than has
the civilian who meets with a gricvous
accident in any rural part of England.
Il is not yet within the bounds Of
human oapsbility 70 drop fully
equipped hospital over the spot where
a wounded soldier falls, but the British
army medical service has gone as near
20 this As is humanity possible. Unless
the enemy fire is such that rescue IS
out Of the question il will provide the
necessary treatment Of the most skilled
surgeon in considerably less time than
could happen in ordinary life.
These peaceful victories Of a terrible
war will probably not be chroniclcd for
many months 20 come But a system
whereby man in need OF grave
operation finds himself on the operat-
tNk AAbAf NAAiiiAA tINi' VI ANhi ANNiN VI
mis- being shot is worth attention.
There have been instsr es whore opera
tions TO the skull an abdomen have
been performed within two and a half
hours Of the infection OF the wound.
Surgeons the Most Famous
This attention is not OF the impro-
viSed rough and ready order. On the
contrary, the patient finds himself IN
AT operating theatre, equipped with the
best and most recent appliances, and in
the hands of an operating surgeon Of
the first order. And. into the bargain,
he has the advantage of regular and
frequent visits from a consulting sur
geon of European reputation. Perhaps
of equal importance is the fact that he
is cared for by army nursing sisters,
probably the best trained body OF wom-
en- in the world. In fact. apart from
outside disturbances, the patient might
just as well be in q first class London
hospital. Naturally such disturbances
do occur. II is no uncommon thing for
a few shells TO fall on a hospital, and
in one instance recently. the electric
lighting having been destroyed by
enemy fire. one of Englsnd's most ia
nous surgeons finished delicate oper-
alton by candle light
Only a complex, fine, we'll thought
out organization makes such a system
possible, and the history OF the British
Army Medical Corps during this war is
certain 10 be very carefully studied by
all nations who have not yet attempted
the raising OF a great army. Although
its numerical force cannot be stated,
yet IL is an open secret that It's pres
ent strength is more than fifteen times
what 10 was az the beginning Of the
war. and its equipment infinitely more
perfect. The manner of It's working can
best be Judged by the experiences of a
soldier from the moment he is wounded
Field Dressing in Kit.
Every British soldier carries a field
dressing a part Of his Kit. II Is drilled
into Aim that he NUT apply this him
self or get some one else 10 apply II at
the first moment possible. II he can be
reached he is attended to at once by
the regimentsl doctor. who works right
up in the trenches. Then the stretcher
bearers come and place him on
strctcter. from whence he is carried TO
the advanced dressing station.
II is quite short journey. In fact,
nearly all these stations are well with
IT, the range Of the enemy fire. II u
10. unusual for a soldier TO be inside
one within an hour 0 his wound. As
rule. there is one large ward, pro
vided with every necessary detail. At
tached is q small. carefully equipped
operating theatre. where operations OF
an urgent nature such as the arrest
of hemorrhsge, temporarily controlled
by tourniquet-can be carried out:
Wounds are also cleaned and redressed
here, fractures more comfortably ad-
iusted and anti-tetanus serum injected.
Nearby are two dugouts where the pa
Icnts can be removed If the shelllng
becomes too hot for safety. And # a
patient cannot safely be moved further
he can be kept at this station until he
improves sufficiently.
The next point is the casualty clear
irg stations. These are situated as near
the firing lire as is consistent with
safety. and they are always IN direct
touch with the base either by rail or
a good road for automobiles. Here the
patient comes under the charge OF the