Evening star., 1922-12-03
BY r. W. SHUFELDT. M. D..
Major. Medical Corps, U. 8. Army.

CRGICAL treatment at the pres
ent time has arrived at a stage
of refinement and a certainty
of perfect and favorable results
that are truly wonderful. This ap-
plies to the vast majority of diseases
and injuries SO treated. Within a few
years of half a century ago, when /
graduated in medicine, the outcome
of cases was, at that day. too, very
good, for the different methods in
antiseptic treatment. the dressing of
wounds and the treatment of frac-
lures and Eunshot by modern meth
DDS had all come to be extremely per-
feet in their way, a 9 had the scientific
care of surgical cases and diseases in
the wards of hospitals.
All these practices had essentially
become part OF me. and to- such an
extent that l firmly believed TO have
treated a surgical ease in any other
way would simply spell failure or
something worse.
In few months after my gradu-
alton I passed the Army board ex-
animation and became 4 first lieuten-
ant in the Medical Corps of our Army.
and only few months after that
found myself sometimes at a post.
sometimes in the field. sometimes out
with scouting parties after Indians.
The field of operations was Wyoming
and the department, the depart
ment of the Platte. A few cattle
men had already come into 1t, while
at the posts one was sure to find a
few gamblers. more adventures and
a scattering of bad men as a favoring.
The stage ran from Cheyenne to
Echetah. passing through Fort Lara
mie. where at one time ] was post
surgeon. They drove six horses at a
breakneck rate and relayed every fif-
teen miles. 1t was constantly held up
by the road agents" for it brought
the gold and silver down from the
hills to the railroad at Cheyenne.
got the wounded from two to
three times a week, often only a few
hours after the shooting. The dead
went to the little military cemetery
on tho hill. had the experience once
in that stage-at Hutton's ranch, on
the Chuwater-and did not care about
a reptition of it.
:: !. x
i tremely severe. and men were not
only frozen 10 death, but often
brought in with frozen limbs. ears
and so on. High wind. deep SHOWS
and the thermometer dropping to 65
and 20 degrees below zero are not
easy things to face.
i remember once. while surgeon at
Fort Fetterman. I had Il young man.
Mexican brought in with his feet
badly frozen. and ganSrene had set in.
This demanded 4 double amputation.
As the officers there had absolutely
nothing t" interest them beyond the
billiard table and draw poker. 7 used
to give a clinic on stated occasions,
and 1t 50 happened that the ampu-
tation of the feet on this Mexican
fell on a clinic day.
The operating room was very small
and a bit crowded when every one
vas seated. On this occasion the
anesthetic was administered by two
infantry officers. Lieuts. Merriam and
Roberts. both of the 4th Infantry. l
used Wier's spray apparatus, which
had a lamp in it that caused a gem
erous carbolized spray to envelop the
legs Of the patient and those standing
next to him. An enlisted man held
this (Bisby). Mr.. Nichols, the post
trader. stood in an open doorway. 1t
was so degrees below zero outside,
with a few inches of snow on the
ground.
Several officers sat around in a cir
Gle, including the post commander.
Maj William H. Powell, who was sub
ject to severe attacks of epileptic fits.
AS the wrapping the man had used
to cover his feet was removed several
OF his toes came away with 1t and
tho air of the room was in a moment
tearfully fouled. The effect on the
audience was remarkable.
Mr.. Nichols tainted and fell back
listed man with the spray likewise
tainted and, pitching forward, set fire
10 tho bedding upon which the patient
rested; the commanding officer went
off in a profound fit and fell heavily
10 the floor.
With the aid of another enlisted
man that stood near. I soon righted
things and successfully performed the
double amputation. 1t was most
interesting clinic. The man made an
excellent recovery, but it shook up
the preconceived ideas 1 had gained
on antiseptic surgery from my in
structors at the medical college in
Washington
THERE were some great cha aracters
i around old Fort Fetterman in
those days, such as old-time cowboys.
gamblers, rough frontiersmen and a
few bad men," One fellow, known
az "Blue-eyed Harry" on account of
his piercing blue eyes. was the type
Of tho first class mentioned. No
'bucking bronco" could unhorse him;
he was lightning with a Colts AZ: a
dead shot under any circumstances;
fearless and loyal to a degree to his
friends and q terror to his enemies;
and he would. enthusiastically. get
drunk, and whom in that condition he
was dangerous.
Ono morning, when the thermometer
stood 30 degrees below zero. with
foot Of snow down. 1 was coming out
of our small and primitive log hos
pital. having attended sick CALI at
!, when there was trouble in the hall
way just outside the dispensary door,
accompanied with threats. curses and
tho rest. As 1 opened the door three
COWBOYS sta9gered in-one on each