Evening star., 1940-08-06
Of Stors, Men
And Atoms
Notebook Of Science Progress
In Field, Laboratory
And Study
By Thomas r. Henri.

By Thomas r. Henry.
The low death rate Of the present war
on both sides, in spite Of the severity Of
the engagements, is due in large part to
revolutionary new treatment of
wounds which prevents the onset of in
fection and the necessity of amputa-
tions, and makes it possible to transport
the injured to safe hospitals far behind
the lines.
Details Of this new treatment as used
by the medical corps Of the British
Army In the evacuation Of Dunkirk,
have Just been received by Army medi-
cal officers here. Presumably much the
same system is in use in the German
Army, which has made speciality Of
ambulance planes to take its wounded
to hospitals at home.
Gunshot or shrapnel wounds In vital
spots may be instantly fatal. II not,
the fatality usually comes from infec-
tions, often due to streptococcus bac-
terra, which make necessary amputation
of limb or set up systematic poison
ing In the past 1t has been necessary
to treat serious wounds at first-aid sta
tions to prevent this infection.
This Is outdated by the discovery,
about four years ago In Germany, of the
magic drug sulfanilamide. The Job of
the medical officer in the front lines now
is purely routine, according to the COM
munications from England Just pub
lished in the Army and Navy Register
here. h,-.ost regardless Of the wound,
an injection of sulfanilamide in soluble
form is given. Then the wound itself,
after rapid cleaning, is busted with
sulfanilamide powder to kill the deadly
streptococci at the source.
The wound is then immobilized by
packing it with vaseline-impregnated
gauze, and sealing 1t in a plaster Of
Paris cast. This treatment Is relied on
week. until 1t can be treated by excellent
physicians at leisure in base hospital.
Provided the streptococci germs can be
halted, the wound itself yields. readily
and quickly to regular treatment de-
ferred for six days or more.
In the evacuation of Dunkirk the Brit
ish took more than 100000 wounded
French and British soldiers back to Eng
land. In all cases the condition of the
victims was aggravated on crowded ship
transports continuously under enemy
bomb attacks.
Says the Lancet, official organ of the
British Medical Association: The fight
ing in Flanders in May taught our army
medical services lessons that will greatly
benefit our wounded soldiers in the
future. Wounded men without lacera-
tions will often arrive at hospital many
miles away If they are dressed, given
sulfanilamide and the wounds immobi-
lized. Even the severely wounded can,
If necessary, be sent long distances in
improvised transports in safety and,
moreover, in comfort" 90.
The same treatment, according to the
Lancet, now is being given civilians
wounded in air raids.
The number of electives in the British
Army has been maintained at a higher
level in comparison with the total num-
Der enrolled than at any other time in
history. The load on the hospitals also
has been greatly reduced.
The value Of the new drug, it is prob
able, will become much more obvious
with the expected outbreak of epidemics,
possibly influenza, this fall and winter.
Actual deaths from flu and several other
contagious diseases are due to the fact
that the system is weakened for the in
vasion of pneumonia germs. While not
a specific cure, sulfanilamide and the
closely related sulfapyridine and sui
fathiazole are potent against the pneu-
| mococci. They are credited with pre-
venting large-scale flu epidemic in the
United States last winter. Although
there were more than the ordinary num-
Der OF influenza cases the death rate
was one Of the lowest in history
Various rumored improvements on the
sulfanilamide formula in European lab
oratories now are considered as military
secrets. Curiously Germany, France and
Great Britain share almost equally in
the development of the drug, which has
proved Of more value than several di-
visions Of soldiers to all of them. The
actual discovery was made in GERMANY.
A textile dye was found to have the
pronerty of killing streptococci. 1t was
inefficient and costly.
French scientists at the Pasteur In
stitute perfected the formula. From
them it passed to Great Britain, where
proprietary medicine was put on the
market. The great clinical development
has come in the United States. The
drug which has revolutionized medicine
was first described in this country at
meeting Of the Southern Medical Asso-
ciation in Baltimore In 1886. 1t came
into prominence when it was used short
ly thereafter to treat John Roosevelt,
suffering from streptococcic infection
in Boston hospital. Since then it and
closely related drugs have greatly re-
duced the pneumonia and meningitis
death rate, proved almost specific for
gonorrhea, and practically wiped mas
told operations out Of surgical practice.
The Right Way tn DeSfrov