Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-12-28
WAR SURGEON is
SAVER Of LIVES
Remarkable Feats are Accomplished
at Hospitals OF War Zones Every
Day Many Recoyeries,

French front Correspondent of
the Associated Press Almost in
credible feats have been and are being
accomplished every day of the war by
the surgeons who treat soldiers
wounded on the battlefield. These re-
markable feats have increased in fire.
quency as the stricken men are more
quickly gathered in by the ambulance
and brought to the field hospitals for
surgical intervention.
At the beginning of the war it was
not always possible to clear up a
battlefield OF the casualties in less
than three or four days, and on many
occasions wounded men waited even
longer before their injuries could be
handled The result of this was that
large numbers of the wounded sue
cumbed from gangrene or blood pois-
0ning, or were rendered so feeble
from loss of blood that they were I'M
able to undergo operations that were
vitality necessary. It was at that time
+ regarded as a satisfactory result
when 90 per cent Of the wounded
brought into the hospitals recovered
eventually from their injuries.
This percentage Of losses among the
j wounded men would at present be re-
garded with horror by the military
surgeons. who now reckon with per-
+ feet assurance on saving about nine
tenths Of he wounded men coming
! under their treatment During the
battle OF Flanders the percentage of
+ recoyeries among wounded men
brought to Me hospitals amounted
to SIS.
This striking figure was still further
improved on the occasion of the recent
battle in which the French wrested
the fort of Malmaison and caused
them to evacuate the Chemin Des
Danes after throwing away hundreds
OF thousands of the crown princes best
troops in the effort to retain it The
French surgeons report after the con-
clusion OF the fighting and the treat
ment OF all the wounded show that go
men out OF every hundred brought to
the hospital recovered from their
hurts.
Speed in collecting the wounded is
the greatest factor in bringing about
this progress.
Americans have had much to dc
with the speeding up Of the ambulance
4 service, for their ambulances have
been present at every point where
fighting has been severe aud theii
work has been highly praised by The
army commanders Americans have
done much in providing hospital ac
commodation near the front as we'll a.
a. the bases,
One instance of American effort il
providing for the accommodation ans
treatment Of the wounded is that IN
der the management Of Miss Kathleen
Park Of New York. at her chateau o
Annel There she has worked almos
since the very beginning of the war
While the battle for the fort of Nal
maisOn was in progress the h0spita
dealt with considerable number O
: wounded, who were first bandaged OF
the battlefield and then brought dow
the river Aisne on board barge fitte
up as floating hospital,
Miss Park says there is only on
thing needed to make her hospita
complete and that is what is know
as an "autochir." composed of a tray
cling surgical outfit carried in fly
automobile wagons-oue for the OF
Grating room, one for the radiologics
examinations of wounds one for carry
ing bandages and supplies. one for til
staff and the fifth to convey the ter
for the beds on which the men Ii
after the operations and while wal
ing to be conveyed TO the barge fo
transport TO the hospital base in th
rear If she possessed this portabl
hospital she is convinced that man
lives could be saved. since rapidit
of treatment is the main factor
dealing with wounds.
Miss Park has working with her
conjunction with the French militar
surgeons a number of American do,
tors, who all participated in Ii
handling of the French wounded du
ing the battle of Malmaison. Ais
she has with her several America
trained nurses and helpers. Anon
the doctors are Richard Boiling an
Robert Sh-ock. from New Yorl
George de Tarnoysky. from Chicago
John J. Moorhead, from the New Yor
Post Graduate hospital; and Doctor
Paul r. Sieber j. H Wagner. Freid
Jacobs, b. u. eastman and II.
Vlarke of Pittsburgh. The nurs,
comp ise Misses Sweet. Kilgrew ar
Holiey, from the Detroit Harper ho
pital. Miss L. s. Smith from Ne
York hospital and Miss Twomley. fro
lie Roosevelt hospital OF New York