HEALING IN THE BATTLE FIELD

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2944, 2 December 1916, Page 6

HEALING IN THE BATTLE FIELD

WORK OF THE ARMY MEDICAL ' SERVICE GREAT ACHIEVEMENTS (By Percy Dunn, F.R.C.S., in the "Times"). When tho medical .history of the war conies to be written there will bo revealed a monumental 'example of departmental efficiency. Let us imagine a long chart, which, for the purpose of illustration,.may he regarded as representing a contour map, showing the riso and fall of the ground of a country district. Along this map", lot ns suppose that a- thick black line is running to indicate the weekly returns of cases of typhoid fever at the Western front. The following description would apply to the map. At the beginning of tho war tho line reached a fairly high elevation ; then it rose higher and higher," indicating on the map that it was passing oyer a mountainous district. • Later on the line began to fluctuate between varying degrees of elevation and depression, sometimes falling and sometimes rising; then followed a steady, an uninterrupted, fall, a fall at first almost sudden in its deI cleiision, until there was reached a degree analogous to that of sea-level on an ordinary contour map; and now for some months the line has continued to course, along a level, as flat and as uneventful as that of the Fen district in I Lincolnshire. I Impressive is tho work of the criminal investigation department, conducted in the bacteriological laboratories at the front. No sooner do unorthodox cases of disease, suggesting bacterial origin, occur than at once investigations are undertaken to, isolate tho micro-organism'. These investigations involve most ,painstaking research—comparable to that dono by Scotland Yard in a murder case where is no tangible or trustworthy, clue. The micro-organism whoso isolation is being attempted may bo the unknown produet of tho conditions under which the troops have to fight.. However difficult such a bacteriological investigation, it is vital, in the interests of tho health of the Army, to carry it, if possible, to a successful issue. The discovery may reveal much valuable and necessarv information, upon, which may depend the urgency of isolating the infected men, in order to avoid an epidemic ; moreover, it may indicate a successful line of treatment of the disease, as well as the introduction of further preventive measures, by which the evolution of the disorder could" bo .controlled or even arrested. Conservative Surgery. Not- the least valuable part of the surgeon's art is that of the practice of ■ what is known as conservative surgery. To savea man's limb .whore amputation appears unavoidable, is a triumph of which every surgeon becomes rightfully proud. In gunshot wounds the question of' conservative surgery is always prominent. In order, therefore, to secure the full exercise of that principle for the benefit of tho troops Sir Alfred Kcogh has arranged that every hospital, district at the front is provided with a consulting surgeon [whose concurrence is necessary beforo any major operation can bo performed. This method, among other things, ensures for the wounded-man tho benefit of expert advice, and it helps to infuse among all tho medical officers a desire to avoid as,much as possiblo operations which would involve serious mutilation. In wooing- nature to help him the surgeon does his best; he has learnt her'little ways; he knows what, she likes; he does things for her which she-cannot do for herself; so she is pleased, and "shows her gratitude by helping the surgeon. But, in the interests of his patient, he'is compelled to keep a close watch upon her citorts. For a. time he may have reason to be satisfied with tho result; ho hopes and believes that with nature's help he will triumph; then later, may come the soul-disturbing conviction that nature •is failing in her part; plaintively, as it may seem to him, she has to admit that the impossible isbeyoiid her power. Thus the denouement inevitably follows; to save life tlie limb must bo sacrificed, and there is ko.alternative. Inquiry, among the Army Medical Staff shows that the amputation of limbs occupies a surprisingly low position upon the list l of operations performed; this illustrates how widely conservative surgery is being practised. Gassing. ' Perhaps' the most notablo demand upon the capacity of tho Medical Department was created by the.fiendish method of warfare known as "gassing." Tho appalling intensity of suffering among the victims was at first beyond the reach of relief, since the incidence of the symptoms was new to medical science. It was like treating a new disease.the nature and course of which were unknown; .the horrors of such a situation can be imagined. Happily, in time, a method of. treatment was evolved by which "gassed" cases wore dealt with upon lines in consonanco with the urgent demand of the symp.tonis. But from the first it was. recognised that measures of prevention, in face of the destructive .effects of the gas poison, were primarily imperative. Need more he said to' emphasise tho great work being accomplished in this war by the Army Medical . Service? Brief and fragmentary as this outline is, it shows features of illuminating Capacity, untiring zeal, and of efforts intitled to the highest praise for efficiency. Is the nation to believe that all is not well with the medical care of. our forces —a. tvacedy suggested by irre- , sponsible public statements,, biased pre- | conceptions, and ignorance of the facts ? Criticism 'as' a means nf enforcing reforms has its.uses.' But it must be necessary and just, or its object will be defeated: then it becomes venomous land harmful. I Not the least incentive to the. keenness displayed by the Armv Medical Staff is the consciousness thrt every day they are advancing medical science thrnun-h the opportunities' afforded them of' gaining knowledge under unprecedented conditions. There nre, for example, the great problems involved in the treatment of wounds of the head and of the abdomen, critical regions in surpioal practice, concerning which much still remains to he learnt, and the exiiprienc now beinf gained is opening out a wide vista of knowledge the value of which cannot he too highly estimated. encouragement, therefore, and "'illing iraise, not needless, cnro'nfr criticism, be 'extended to those slrivin" their host to do their nnrt in Ivinaiiitv's cause. Indeed, criticism ; s disarm"'!. ; n view o? the great work the Army Medical Service is accomplishing.