Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1917-05-17
Healing Wounds By Washing.

Undoubtedly the most important medi-
cal discovery made during the waT is that
OF Doctor Carrel, ofthe Rockefeller lnsti-
tute, who, working at the hospital main
tanned by the institute at Compiegne-
just behind the battle line in northern
France-has perfected a method of steri-
lizing wounds. so efficacious that, OF the
hundreds OF patients that have so far been
treated by it, only one has died. And
this one, il is interesting 10 know, did not
succumb TO the original shell wound in
the back for which he was brought TO the
hospital. but 10 violent attack OF pneu-
monia induced by his exposing himself at
an open window in the absence of his at
tendant.
To effect the complete sterilization OF
wound Doctor Canel came TO the con-
clusion that if would be necessary to
carry the antiseptic 10 all parts, rather
than only TO the surface, as has been the
case with the practices hitherto followed.
For this purpose an apparatus was per-
fected. consisting of glass receptacle,
OF about 2-qt. capacity, to be suspended
several feet above the bed on which the
patient under treatment is lying, and a
rubber tube 10 carry the solution 10 the
wound. On reaching the wound this tube
divides and subdivides-by means OF glass
joints and elboWS-into smaller tubes,
which are buried in the torn and lacer-
ated flesh under treatment. The small
tubes are closed al the ends and perfor-
ated at intervals OF every halt inch or so
with small round holes, so that whenever
the solution is allowed TO enter them the
slight pressure which il is under from
the elevation OF the receptacle above the
bed forces il out into and through all
parts OF the wound. Any excess OF the
solution drains oif-carrying with il the
germs OF infection, and is absorbed by
bandageS, which are changed every time
the wound is fuShed-usually about
every two hours.
The decrease OF the bacteria OF intec-
ton in the most terrible wounds under
treatment by this Flushing" method as
toniShed even Doctor Carrel and his as
sstants. until they came to take its con-
tinued success as matter OF course. The
bacteria are simply killed and washed
away, where. under other treatments,
they were left 10 be taken up by the al
ready vitiated blood. The new way re-
duces the infection and, OF course, haStenS
healing Legs and arms that no surgeon
would ever have dreamed OF treating by
anything but amputation in the past, are
not only healed in from one 10 three
weeks, but healed so thoroughly as TO re-
tain all their former usefulness. Men that
would have been cripples for life-if they
had been saved al all-under The usual
treatments have gone from the Compiegne
hospital direct TO their regiments, appear
ing shortly after on the firing line.
Perhaps in no military hospital in
Europe is the cooperation between clinic
and laboratory so complete as in the
Ambulance Carrel." A "smear" for
microscopic examination is taken once a
day from every wound under treatment,
and a careful record is kept o. the de-
crease in the bacteria OF infection.
Should these fail 10 decrease, the micro
scope reveals the fact even before il
would have been noticeable through
retardatiou j9 the rate OF healing, and
means are at once taken TO find what is
wrong and apply the remedy. The very
day that The laboratory reports that
wound is free Of infection, a longer and
completer "ilush" is given II with the So
luton, and it is closed for good. No pro-
vision for draining" is necessary, as
suppuration is at an end. II is even
practicable-and apparently desirable
TO close a bacteria-free wound over a
knitting bone. Once the infection is gone,
the bone appears to knit all the faster for
having the flesh closed over it.-P0pntdT
Mechanics Magazine.
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