Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-01-02
BULLETIN OF
NATIONAL SURGICAL DRESSING
Excerpts From Major Lsmbs4t's Ad-
dress

The latest Bulletin Of the National
Surgical Dressings Committee of
America. contains the following from
an address made by Major Lambert:
when war broke out the nations
thought themselves prepared. Owing
To the rapid advance and retreat OF
the opening weeks the entire system
broke down. as is inevitable under
such circumstances. The plan was for
hospital trains TO bring the wounded
to the hospitals The improvised hos
pital trains OF those early days are q
nightmare that is best forgotten.
France had not prepared for such
enormous number Of wounded How
she rose to the situation when the
problem was seen, how hospitals
sprang into existence throughout the
entire extent of France. how devoted
women came from every side TO con-
secrate themselves to the needs Of
their wounded, is one of the glorious
records OF the war"
Major Lambert then explained with
/ the aid Of a chart the present system
of transporting the wounded from the
! trenches to the dug-out shelters. to
the dressings stations, TO the field
hospitals, TO the evacuation hospitals
now calculated in units OF one thou
sand each and each unit capable OF
performing 900 operations in twenty
1 four. hours. then to the base hos
pitals. and finally to the convalescent
hospitals. For the American army,
he explained. it is the plan to send
/ the men back<o the United States for
their convalescence.
"The first twelve hours after in
jury in war are the important hours.
After that the danger 10 the patient is
multiplied If the case can be brought
/ in before twelve hours have elapsed
the man win be spared most of the
! danger of infection. He does not
I stand the strain of wounds. infection,
! and exhaustion You must give the
men rest warmth, food, and early
4 operation Il You wish to save large
numbers OF wounded Hence your
hospital must be as near the front as
( it is safe. to go.
"The work of armies is made up OF
weary drudgery and preparation. So
/ il is with the preparation of dressings.
| 1t is endless drudgery. There is n
greater responsibility in undertaking
this work than perhaps you realize
/ A mans life lies in the balance. de-
ponds on your care, your cleanliness,
! for on your sterilization depends many
I, an infection, and on the outcome of
his nursing depends the happiness Of
| his family Do you realize that each
dressing made is a personal act TO
serve one man, some ones fried,
brother or your own brother perhaps
The preparing of surgical dressings
bears to the wounded the same rela-
ton that the making of munitions
bears to the armies.
'Itsis the duty of the Red Cross to
prepare dressing for the wounded.
The original work of the Red Cross.
the work that brought it into eistenee,
was care of the wounded Other re
sponsibilities may have arisen. but
the main duty is still to care for the
men who have fallen Therefore, I
appeal to the Americans 10 work en-
Enthusiastically through the weary
months to prepare these dressing, and
70 realize that they are working to
save the individual, his health ana
his life l am appealing to you to
work for your own relatives, your own
army, and your country's army"