The surgeon's pocket book : an essay on the best treatment of wounded in war ...

Front matter

ON^S B O OK

22101941725

THE

Preface To The Second Edition

In issuing a New and Revised Edition of liis little Treatise, the author can wish for it no better reception than was so kindly and heartily accorded to the First. The preparation of the work has been a source of great pleasure to him, and he has spared no pains to render it in all respects more complete and helpful than the original Essay, and therefore more worthy of the place which it aspires to hold in the Field-Service Equipment of the Military Medical Officer.

Many new Illustrations of Extemporised Splints, Stretchers, and other useful appliances have been added. Important details of practice, gleaned from the following soiirces (as well as from others too numerous to specify’in full), thenuthor hopes may be found useful in determining the best course to pursue in circumstances of doubt or difficulty, and more especially when th,e Surgeon is compelled to trust entirely to his own resources and judgment : —

Circular No. 2 : “ Reports on Excision of the Head of the Femur for Gunshot Injur}',” by Mr. G. A. Otis of the U.S. Army ;

Professor von Langenbeck’s work “On Gmr-shot Injuries of the Hip- Joint” (the result of experiences gained during the Franco-German War of 1870-71) ;

“ Medical and Surgical History of the American War of the Rebellion,” part ii. vol. 2, 1876; Surgical History — “On Wounds of the Abdomen, Pelvis, Shoulder, Elbow-, and Wrist-Joints ;

Professor Longmore’s classical and comprehensive “Treatise on Gun-shot Injuries,” 1876 ;

Profes.sor E.smarch’s “Handbook of Technical Surgery,” 1877 (whence several engravings have been derived);

A iv]

Preface

and, lastly, the results of personal visits to the Exhibitions at Brussels, 1876, and Paris, 1878, where numerous ingenious inventions for the relief of the sick and wounded in war were exhibited by many of the most distinguished Surgeons, Naval and Military, of well-nigh every civilized nation in the world.

A short Memorandum kindly contributed by the Author’s friend. Professor de Chaumont, will be found under the important subject of Water- Supply and Filtration.

J. H. PORTER

C.A.BUL,

September, 1879.

PEEFACE TO THE FIEST EDITION.

Having had some experience in the treatment of wounded soldiers during the Crimean campaign, the Indian Mutiny, and the Franco-German War of 1870-71, I was induced to compete for a prize offered by Her Majesty the Queen of Prussia and Empress of Germany, for the best Essay on the “Practical Treatment of the Wounded in War.”

The judges. Professors Billroth of Vienna, Baron von Langeiibeck. of Berlin, and Socin of Basle, awarded a prize to my Essay, which I now publish at the earnest request of my friends in the Medical Profession.

Tlie great difficulty of preparing a work to meet the ever-recurring emergencies of war will, I trust, be sufficient excuse for any shortcomings wliich' may be found in it. The army surgeon of the present day has, as a rule, to deal with the wounded under very different circumstances from his predecessors. Eailways, improved transport and field appliances, as well as the privileges of the “Geneva Convention,” have given to wounded soldiers better prospects of recovery in many respects ; but experience has sufficiently proved that modem surgeons may still be placed, under exceptional circumstances, in no better position for the care of their wounded than were those of former days. On this account I have detailed the surgical rules of the older surgeons, as well as of those of the present day, presuming that my readers will not omit to consider the circumstances of each l)articular case that falls under their care, and be guided in applying the rules given in this Manual in accordance with them.

Take, for example, the circumstances of men with wounds in or near to a Continental town, with every comfort and appliance at hand, and those of others with similar wounds on such a field as that of Alma, Magdala, or

Vi]

PREFACE.

Coomassie, with the necessity for immediate long transport and exposure : — how different must be the plans of treatment adopted in some of these injuries !

I have included several subjects which might at first sight be considered extraneous to the purpose of a surgical manual ; such are : a scale of hospital diets, construction of cooking-places, of camp ovens, extemporary waterfilters, and latrines ; but, from experience in the field, I know how important for the present comfort of patients and the xiltimate results of their injuries it is that the siu'geon should have memoranda on these matters at hand for easy reference. Information on these points formed a portion of the contents of the original Essay, but to the present publication I have also appended the Formulary of Prescriptions which is now in general use in Military Hospitals. I have found the use of this formulary a means of facilitating work and saving time, and have therefore thought it would prove a convenient addition to the Manual.

In the preparation of this Essay I lay no claim to literary merit or originality. My object has been simply to present to the surgeon such information as I myself found the want of during my campaigns ; and in doing so I have extensively made use of the labour of others, to whom I am indebted, but who, like myself, will, I am sure, be well rewarded, if their efforts tend to mitigate in the smallest degree the sufferings of the unfortunate wounded in war.

J. H. PORTER.

WOOLSTON,