The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1918-01-12
WAR SURGEONS
WORK MIRACLES
incredible Feats Performed Everv
Day in Treating Soldiers
on Battlefield.
NINE-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 war by the
surgeons who treat soldiers wounded
on the battlefield. 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
tleheld Of the casualties in less than
three or four days, and on many occa-
sions wounded men waited even 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 that were vitality neces-
sary. 1t was at that time regarded
as 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 SO.
This striking figure was still fur
:her 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
hat 90 men out Of every 100 brought
20 the hospital recovered from their
aurts.
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-
ance service, for their ambulances
have been present at every point
where fighting has been severe, and
heir work has been highly praised
~ the army commanders. Americans
nave done much in providing hospital
accommodation near the front as we'll
as at the bases.
One instance Of American effort in
providing for the accommodation and
treatment of the wounded is that
1nder the management of Miss Kath-
zen Park Of New York, at her cha
eau. Of Anhel. There she has worked
almost since the very beginning Of
he war. When the battle for the
tort of Malmaison was in progress
he hospital dealt with a considerable
number Of wounded, who were first
oandaged on the battlefield and then
brought down the River Aisne on
board barge fitted up as a floating
hospital.
Miss Park has working with her in
conjunction with the French military
surgeons number of American ply
sfcians, who all participated in the
handling of the French wounded dur
ng the battle of Malmaison. Also,
she has with her several American
:rained nurses and helpers.
Among the doctors is George de
Earnovsky of Chicago.