Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-10-20
OBSERVATIONS ON GAS INFECTION
AMONG WOUNDED TOLD BY DR.. JUDD

| to lie on the field for hours before re
| ceiying attention"
| DR.. Judd explains that the nature OF
! the projectile has much TO do with
| the wound. Pieces Of shells. bombs
grenades and shrapnel cause infection,
particularly because Of pieces OF cloth
| ing, dirt. bits OF stone, pebbles and
even straw and pieces of wood which
are carried into the wound. The rifle
ball fired from a distance and entering
| the tissues by its point creates usually
an aseptic wound The rifle ball de-
| Elected or fired al close range creates
wound liableto infection.
The pieces OF shell are the worst
offenders he states. in that they
carry pieces Of clothing To the depths
OF the wound. their rough edges tear
ing the cloth and causing 1t to adhere
to the metal. II is not uncommon to
find a piece OF cloth wrapped around
it."
: When the contaminated foreign
body is carried into the depths OF the
wound and remains there. infection is
more apt to develop than in through
and through" wound The reason gas
inf ctiOn is rare among accidents in
civil life in the same agricultural area
is that the agent causing the wound
does not generally remain in it. La.
cerated or devitalized muscles form a
favorite starting place for the gan
creme. Growth is favored by lack of
oxygen supply in the blood, as often
by application OF a tOurniquet. Deep
wounds or those closed over too quick.
ly are also dangerous
No specific bacillus Is recognized as
the cause Of gas infection. Many vari-
cites have been found. in France from
a practical standpoint the type known
as bacillus perfringens is usually con-
sidered as the prevailing organism.
but it is generally associated with 9TH
ers. The vitality, virulence and pow
er of penetration OF the anaerobes or
bacteria living without free oxygen are
remarkable. @.r
The article takes up in detail var
ious Investigations as to the type Of
bacillus. 2.
The infection may be found in the
first few hours after injury, and gen.
orally is seen in the first few days.
Generally it attacks the lower part Of
the body.
The changes in the skin correspond
to the stage and extent of infection,
from slight swelling to more or less
extensive color changes. These colors
may be rose. yellow. brown. violet,
bronze or copper yellow, and black.
A technical description Of the deveI-
opment of the wound from day to day
follows, charts being used in the arti.
Gle to show this.
An interesting suggestion in that
portion of the paper dealing with the
treatment is that less cases would pro
badly result If khaki uniforms were
worn owing to the firmness Of the
cloth. A big step toward lessening
the cases also is made with careful
trench hygiene. The value OF clean.
Illness is being recognized more and
more, In some of the regiments hot
showers and means to steriliZe the
clothing with, live steam are provided.
The men are advised to put on clean
undertaking before an attack.
The first-aid packet and iodine am.
pules have proved failure as pre-
venting infection in shell wounds. The
dressing Is generally too small and
the iodine inadequate. It is useful,
however, for rifle wounds. f.