The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-01-26
WAR SURGEONS
WORK MIRACLES
Incredible Feats Performed Every
Day in Treating Soldiers
on Battlefield.
N E-TENTHS PULL THROUGH
Percentage of Losses Among the
Wounded Striking Tribute to the
Skill of Surgeons-Speed
important Factor.

French Front.-Almost incredible
feats have been and are being accom-
plished every day of the wal by the
surgeons who treat soldiers wounded
on the battloSeld. These remarkable
feats have increased in frequency, as
the stricken men are more quickly
gathered in by the ambulances and
brought to the field hospitals for surgi-
cal Intervention.
AT the beginning of the war it was
not always possible to clear up a bat
tlefield of the casualties in less than
three or four days, and on many occa-
sions wounded men waited ever long
er before their injuries could be han
died.
The result of this was that large
numbers of the wounded succumbed
from gangrene or blood poisoning, or
were rendered so feeble from loss of
blood that they were unable to under
go operations hat We're vitality neces-
sary. 1t was at that tine regarded
as a satisfactory result when 60 per
cent of the wounded brought into the
hospitals recovered eventually from
the injuries.
Nine-Tenths Are Saved.
This percentage of losses among
the wounded men would at present
be regarded with horror by The mill
tary surgeons, who now reckon with
perfect assurance on saving about
nine-tenths of the wounded men com
ing under their treatment. During
the battle of Flanders the percentage
of %recoveries among wounded men
brought to the hospitals amounted
to Sc.
This striking figure was still fur
Their improved on the occasion of the
recent battle in which the French
wrested from the Germans the fort
of Malmaison and caused them to
evacuate the Chemin des Danes after
throwing away hundreds of thou
sands of the crown princes best
troops in the effort to retain it. The
French surgeons reports after the
conclusion of the fighting and the
treatment of all the wounded show
that 90 men out of every 100 brought
10 the hospital recovered from their
hurts.
Speed Important Factor.
Speed in collecting the wounded is
the greatest factor in bringing about
this progress.
Americans have had much to do
with the speeding up of the ambu-
lance service, for their ambulances
have been present at every point
where fighting has been severe. and
their work has been highly praised
by the army commanders. Americans
have done much in providing hospital
accommodation near the front as well
as at the bases.
One instance of American effort in
providing for the accommodation and
treatment of the wounded is that
under the management of Miss Kath-
leen Park of New York. at her cha
teau of Arnel. There she has worked
almost since the very beginning of
the war. When the battle for the
fort of MalmaiSon was in progress
the hospital dealt with a considerable
number of wounded. who were first
bandaged on the battlefield and then
brought down the River Aisne on
board a barge fitted up as a floating
hospital.
Miss Park has working with her in
conjunction with the French military
surgeons a number Of American ply
s%icians, who all participated in the
handling of the French wounded dur
ing the battle of Malmaison. Also,
she has with her several American
trained nurses and helpers.
Among khe doctors is George de
TarnovSky of Chicago.