The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-03-24
u. S. NAVY'S MEDIC AL, MEM MAKE
HEROIC AND SCIENTIFIC HISTORY


NEA Service Stan Correspondent
Washington, March 2l-The Navy
has been waiting q long tlme-since
the Civil War, In fact-to enscribe
the names OF medical men upon It's
roll Of heroes.
The spanlsh-Amerlcan War,
except for the sinking Of the
Maine, was en- almost bloodless
pushover, And there were no
large-scale engagements with the
enemy In the first World war.
But since the day Of the attack on
Pearl Harbor, members Of the
Nays Bureau Of Medicine and
Surgery have given countless exc
anaples Of the resourcefulness ana
courage that some day win be ad-
ded TO the services shining pages
Of history.
These pages VIII include more
than the spectacular stories Of
surgery aboard = rolling destroyer
or submerged submarine - stories
already told. For there are other
feats less coolrful but more hazard
Gus, done In the line Of duty and
passed over In the heat Of battle.
FIRST AID IN WATER
There are stories Of men like
r. A. Moody, Pharmacists Mate
aboard the cruiser Vlncennes the
night she was sunk during the
Marine landing operations OF
0uadalcanal. He herded q group
Of seamen, many Of whom were
wounded, TO the stern Of the rap
idly sinking ship and got then,
over the side. Then he went In
after them and In total darkness
managed to give them first aid as
they hobbed about In the water.
He found o sea sled floating
tthough sea sledS, being canvas
platforms" used to load air
planes, are not supposed to float)
and got the men aboard. Far away
he saw q light In the darkness
and transferred the men just
before the sea sled sain, Next
morning they were picked up BY
another destroyer.
There are other tales Of Other
MoodyS men suffering from
wounds as severe as their mates
suffering the same stunning shock
Of being blown overheard by con-
cussion Of q bursting shell, who
have lent the men courage ono
bound their wounds.
Fortunately, the May medico'
usually aren't working In the des'
perate situation described above
Their place, during battle, cor
responds to the Army field hos
pital. Each sailor or merchant
seaman knows the principles Of
first aid, and carries o gas-and'
moisture prooe kit containing two
2-gram sulfadiazlne tablets, five
grams Of sulfanilamide crystals and
sterile dressings. He can apply
O tourniQuet or pressure bandage Il
q comrades wounds, and pull hin
TO one Of several dressing stations
In sheltered spots between battle
stations.
Low MORTALITY RATE
Here the Navy doctor has the
facilities for major surgery dur
ing action, He can apply splintS
to fractures, perform amputa'
tons and administer plasma. I'm
der ideal conditions, casualties arr
taken to the ships sick bay aftel
action ceases, then are transferred
by hospital ship or plane TO O bas'
hospital and, II treatment Is neces
sary, finally back to q hospital u
this country.
Though the Navy hasn't prac'
ticed much medicine under fir
for more than rs years. Its nedi'
col bureau has Of course, know
what to do and has trained 1t
men for the Job. How well the,
know their job Is attested by tn
fact that, Of the first 1000 casual
ties treated In the South Pacific
the mortality rate was less thar
per cent.
The greatest number OF nava
battle casualties are COMPOUND
fractures: gunshot or shell frag