New-York tribune., 1916-05-01
Field Surgery Triumph
of British Organization
Delicate Operations Soldiers Performed Within Three
Hours OF lnfiction of Wound-Army Nursing Sisters
Best Trained Body of Women in the World

finest surgeons England can provide.
Promptitude IN the majority of cases
rs the prime factor in the soldiers
chances Of recovery. Time after time
mans life has been saved by carly
operation when long journey on to
the base would have rendered his case
hopeless. In one instance a surgeon Of
world rcputc performed l46 severe alb
dominal operations between May and
September 30 last They included
wounds Of tho bowels. stomach, spleen,
liver and kidney. and of the number
seventy-one recovered and seventy-fve
died Considering the nature OF the
cases some Of the greatest surgical au-
thorities Of the world admit that such
results have never been even remotely
attained IN the history OF military
surgery. A few years ago scarcely one
would have stood any chance OF sur
vival. and the saving Of so many Is
triumph Of skilled surgery. good nurs-
ing md perfect equipment.
II is not 20 be imagined that military
surgeons rush TO operate IN every pos
sible case. Conservative surgery II
the modern principle. The smaller the
list OF operations the greater the pride
felt by the surgeon in his work and
nOttlnE gives UliU EfthltI NhAlN hNAiNii
than case where mangled limb has
been saved after weeks Of unrelaxing
care. And military surgeon deserves
all the satisfaction he can obtain. NO
work is harder than his. because vast
shell wounds require constant and
elaborate dressing that sbsorbs much
time and can be performed only by the
surgeon himself
$500 Casualties in One Day.
The volume OF the work can be
Judged from the fact that at one sta
tion alone $500 casualties were dealt
with the day after the battle OF Loos.
Most Of these surgeons have made
great sacrifices in undertaking this
work for their country. Very few or
them are paid more than $4,000 year.
and numbers Of them could easily
make ten times that amount in practice
at home.
Incidentally, casualty clearing sta
tions have other uses. They consu-
tute rest camps for soldiers after long
spells in the trenches. They Will keep
a man slightly wounded. and after a
few weeks send him back to his regi-
ment perfectly fit. II necessary, they
will FIT him with set OF false teeth,
moulded on the spot, and they will re-
ulace any article IN his equipment,
from his boots to his rife.
From the casualty clearing station
,atient is taken either 10 one of the
big base hospitals or TO England. Inc
bsse hospitals differ only little from
any big city hospital, except that fre-
uucntly the buildings were never de
signed for such purpose. Otherwise
they have every appliance known 10
science. In any event, the mans pain
70 England is easy and comfortable,
II he is unable 10 walk he is wheeled
onto the hospital ship lying near the
hospital On board he is placed in a
comfortable swinging bed-cot, attend
ed by doctors and nurses. and IS
cheered by the visions Of the conval-
escent home TO which he is being sent.
Miracles of Comfort.
Arrangements are also made on the
shin for the man to spend his con
valescence as near his home as pos
sible. in order to be within easy reach
Of his friends. While on the ship he
Is asked which part of England he
wishes 10 20 10. When he arrives al
SOUTHAMPTON four ambulance trains
are in waiting, and he is then sent on
the one going nearest TO his own
home These trains are miracles or
ii genuity and comfort. Driven with
such care that the patient is practi-
cally unshaken, he lies in comfort
able cot. still under the care Of nurses
ard doctors. while everything neces-
sary is { hand in case he needs treat
mcnt slmost as perfectly as though ne
were in hospital.
In some cases of slight wounds the
speed with which a man Is taken TO
England is extraordinary. In a re-
cent fight .. man was wounded IN the
early morning. taken 10 clearing
station. and by night was In hospital
at Sheffield, his home town,
The patient remains in GONZALES
cent home until thoroughly cured. In
suffering from complaint like rheu-
n,atism where massage is required,
brt slight amount Of work IS bene-
hGsl, he is sent 10 a command de-
pot" ant placed on light duty. In any
event. when quite well, he is sent home
on leave. and by the time that ex-
pres he is absolutely TT 70 take his
place / the firing line again.