WAR RELICS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1931, Page 7

WAR RELICS

OLD BULLETS REMOVED

SKILFUL SURGERY. AUUIvLAND, July 3. War wounds have often given rise t very 'interesting operations by surgeons and two cases which illustrate tl| patience needed for the location of bul lets in certain portions of the bod; were recently brought to a successlu in Auckland Hospital. In these cases bullets were remove! after having been in the bodies of tin two men concerned for periods of 15 anc 13 years respectively. The first case was that of Ronald F Johnston, of Auckland, who, after be

ing wounded in the first Battle of the Somme in September, 1916, underwent a successful operation the other day for the removal of a bullet from his thigh.

A bullet from a machine-gun had entered his left side near the hip, and after passing 'nearly through his body lodged itself near the sciatic nerve. The position of the bullet was known to the doctors, but owing to jts nearness to the nerve it was considered inadvisable to disturb it. The formation of abscesses as a result of irritation by fragments of the bullet and pieces of cloth necessitated seven operations, three being performed in England and four in New Zealand.

By means of X-ray it was possible to trace the path of the bullet, and a shred of cloth, presumably from Johnston's uniform was removed.

The jaat. operation v r as of a delicate nature and was , due to the formation of an abscess around the bullet,

Tire operation was commenced in the operating theatre, but owing to a slight difficulty in locating the exact site of the bullet, Johnston was put under an X-ray screen and the operation was successfully completed. As the bones showed white under the X-ray it was difficult to determine on which side of the bone the bullet lay. The operation was performed by Dr McGregor Grant, and the bullet is now an object of interest among Johnston’s friends and fellow-patients. The nose of the bullet is completely shattered, Johnston being of opinion that it struck his equipment, including his bayonet, scabbard/ and water bottle, before it entered his body, .Another interesting case is that of J. 'Cunningham, an inmate of the Evelyn Firth (Home at Parnell. While on active service with the First Battalion of the (Rifle Brigade in the second Battle of the Somme in 1918 Cunningham was wounded in the spine by a machine-gun bullet. Although he was able to get about a year later he had a dull feeling lln his spine, and on being examined by (English specialists he was told that it was impossible to remove the bullet. Among those who examined him was Colonel Rigby, now Sir Hugh Rigby, the King’s surgeon. Two spinal operations were subsequently performed in Sydney, but the bullet could not be removed . >

In May last an operation was carried out in Auckland Hospital by Sir Carrick Robertson, who succeeded in removing the bullet. 'Except for a slight burr on the tip. the bullet was perfect in shape, and Cunningham now treasures it in a cardboard box aB one ot his war souvenirs,