The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-09
SURGEONS ACHIEVE
WONDERS IN FRANCE

|UuUtRS IN fRANCt
July s.-The remaking Of the
yoeion through the transplanta-
part Of the mucous membrane
- grafting Of eyelids and lashes
nong the marvels of plastic sur
4ccompfished in France during
AR by DR.. Louis Borsch, the ia
American oculist, who, since
p 1914. has been chief ophthal-
lurgeon at the huge Grand Pal
Hillary hospital in Paris.
Borsch has just returned from
to the trenches and field hos
which he made at the request
department of health for the
ose OF advising as to the posi-
OF improving existing methods
waiting wounds Of the eye and
the vision OF the thousands of
1ors who in this latter phase OF
var are suffering from such in
Ihree years OF constant daily ex-
Ience In the treatment of eye
mas at the Grand Palais." said
Borsch on his return, has en-
me to witness a very consider
Improvement in the methods EN-
ID. and very gratifying results
low being obtained. II we could
taken up our task in 1914 with
Denefit Of the experience we have
acquired. our results would GER
NJ have been more than 100 per
better.
me one. great lesson we have
ned Is that our chances of oper-
~ successfully in cases of eye
Tnds are enormously increased
IA patients are brought to us i'm
lately after they have received
Y wounds. The. same remark. OF
RE, applies TO all wounds. and all
gSons are insisting emphatieally
pa the need for the lightning trans
Patton of the wounded to hospital.
3tow well the heads of the French
6ical service realize this will be
1erstood when / say that during
Champagne trip l found many
- IN which the wounded had been
ought from the trenches to the
a hospitals. washed and operated
pn, with all dressings completed.
Ehtn four hours OF their receiving
bir injuries. The surgeons and
FDes work under the constant men
Of death. / myself saw them
Fkiug In first-aid dugouts and in
} hopitals Just behind the lines
ddgt never-ending showers of big
lllat yet they handle their patients
p = goodness. rapidtty and skill
tch would not be surpassed in the
rating theater of Paris hospital.
Tho wounded are unanimous in
l1r praises OF the Treatment. they
ledve, and 80 thorough and efficient
It that ! do not think 1t possible
improve upon the work OF the
ID hospitals that we inspected. We
many wounded with severe frac-
'es OF the thighs and legs who
u walking about the wards IN
odial apparatus four days after
Dir being wounded: these men as
I'D mo they had never suffered
lment's pain.
We also saw many German wound
and there was not one OF them who
not seem pleased TO be a prisoner
French hands. They are treated
u precisely the same care and de-
hon IS the French wounded, whose
Rds they share. and no distinction
lAfever Is made.
You have to see the courage and
berfuiness Of the wonderful po!,us
their officers while their wounds
very horrible-ere being
Abed, to understand fully how the
ench army has won the admiration
the world.
Dangerous eye wounds. that In
dr treatment call for nerves OF steel
the surgeon, and a hand that never
dAtes Z hairs breadth. are tended
I'd tho most hellish uproar imagin-
y; the quick and efficient use OF
] eye magnet, for instance. for
wing out shell splinters from the
Ion Of the eye socket has saved
at m thousands OF cases
unfortunately beneath the cea Sc
] cataract of exploding shells the
= wounds in many cases are so
] that no ophthalric skill could
Dsibiy save the sight But mere
Stjc surgery, one of the wonders
the war. comes In to make the
bins face again presentahie. Pas
work goes further than the re-
king OF shattered jaws ana noses;
] upper part OF the face. including
eye region, can he patched up so
70 make the poor wounded pre-
table and not objects OF horror
their fellow men"
ne records OF the Grand Pala4s
Ipital show that DR.. Borsch. who
, one OF the nrst American sur
'nS to graft the cornea, has suc-
sfu1ly transplanted skin, hone, car
~ and mucous membrance to the
1T In several cases he has pro-
"a aOldiers with new eyelids by
Ing cartilage from the ribs, graft
y over the socket and afterwards
king An tncision in the new skin.
Itha upper and lower edges of the
! thus made he has grated flesh
ring hairA which is taken from
eyebrows. in this manner furnish
new lashes, and has afterwards
ched up the eye socket by trans
NATION from the mucous mem
nce taken from the mouth.
DR.. Borsch on his
{ to Champagne were Consul Gen
! Thackara and Colonel Sabatier,
D0tor OF the French medical ser
J. Colonel sabatier will be respon.
u Tor the hospital accomm odation
destined for France. They will
provided with the very best Ioca-
- this country can give Them"
> the colonel.
The party penetrated as far as
At Carntllet. then the hottest Sec
j OF the French line. and spent
'eRal hours under shellfire from
Nod German batteries. As to the
~ OF the troops, Dr. Borsch said:
The poilus and their officers have
the feintest doubt that they are
the road to complete victory. The