Sept.
DEFECTS OF FIELD HOSPITALS.
1898.]
might donna,
THE
Jndian J$hdiijal ?aeq11q. SEPTEMBER, 1898.
be
supplied
the
341 in
tins,
and extract of Leila" was often felt by
want of which
many. On the other
hand, medicines in liquid form should be reduced to the very smallest number possible, and tabloids and soloids should be em-
ployed
more
extensively. The bottles of disantiseptic solution should 110
tilled water and
be allowed to take up the great space allotted to them, for boiled water can always be had, and a soloid of perehloride of mercury can The recent operations on the frontier have be transformed into a pint of antiseptic solution brought to light many weak points in the medical in a few seconds. arrangements provided for service in the field. Among the hypodermic tablets it is vain to We referred to some of these in our July number search for strychnine; but, both digitalin and and again return to the subject. are supplied ; it would be preferAs already pointed out, a field hospital is a stroplianthin able to omit one of the latter, and replace it by complex machine ; its component parts, on paper, the first-named, for which there was a great strike one as being cleverly put together, and as demand in cases of pneumonia, though the supeasily taken to pieces; but, when one has been who had was limited to a thoughtful few through the worry, anxiety and trouble of the ply themselves with it. provided construction, or mobilization of a hospital, and We shall never forget our first operation in its taking to pieces, or demobilization, one finds the field ! The table supplied for the purpose, " that things are not what they seem." THE DEFECTS OF FIELD HOSPITALS.
To
begin with, the material of a hospital is supplied by no fewer than three departments? the Medical Stores, nance; of these we
Commissariat and Ordshall treat first of the
medical equipment. This is put up in wooden packages, each of which, when filled, weighs about a maund, two
being a load for a transport animal. Complaints are often made that these boxes are too heavy, but it is doubtful if a lighter article of these
would stand the wear and tear and rough usage to which the packages are subjected ; for an unruly mule often kicks his load off, or an under-sized pony sinks down exhausted under his burden. It is a different matter, however, with the contents of the boxes, for it is generally agreed that many of the existing articles could advantageously be omitted, while others, at present not supplied, could be substituted for them. Packages 1 and 2, and 9 and 10 constitute the
hospital dispensary, and one cannot help being by the notable omissions of useful drugs,
struck
fails to find such necessary medicines as arsenious acid, strychnine, mix vomica, chloride of calcium and perchloride of mercury, all of for
one
which could be supplied in tabloid form. Two other omissions are sulphate of magnesia, than which there is no better drug for administration after certain abdominal
operations,
and which
longer
frail, tottering structure, collapsed completely, snapping, and the hinges giving way It was a disquieting complication, to as well. the operation had to be say the least of it, and floor the 011 ; nor were we more forcompleted tunate with our second case, for exactly the same thing occurred. This pattern of table has been unanimously condemned, and we hope to see it replaced, at an early date, by a more serviceable structure, which must be fairly light, strong and, if possible, have 110 wood in its composition ; in fact, a modification of Greig Smith's operating table would be the most desirable pattern. Packages 3 and 4 might be done away with, and their contents (surgical havresacks and water bottles) carried by Hospital Assistants and ward a
the wood
orderlies. No complaint
can
be made of the
dressings
supplied to field hospitals, as the quantity is liberal, and the quality good. There is 110 lack of splints, but the number of tourniquets might be reduced, as at present there are far too many of them.
Turning
next
Commissariat, medical
comforts
supplied by the will be made to the bedding. The former
to the articles
reference and
condensed milk, brandy, extract of mutton, arrowroot and cornflour. The quality of the last four is, as a rule, excellent, but the
comprise
342
THE INDIAN
be said of the condensed
same cannot
in several in
instances, this was case, in particular, the
one
MEDICAL GAZETTE.
for
milk,
very inferior, and, substance contain-
ed in the tins bore no resemblance to milk, being like ancient thick chocolate. It appeared, on
investigation
that this had been
supplied by
Commissariat
who
an
the
author-
agent, hardly subject, and he had evidently obtained the cheapest article the bazaar could produce.
ity
on
the
This is
matter which
a
and
care
was
closest
the
greatest supervision, for, except in a requires
pation,
the remainder
tion of much
and
hard-working
complete
articles should be
dispensed with,
among which ought to be ranked at least half the blankets at present supplied in packages 15>
16, 17, 18 and 19. has
soldier and follower
Every
liberal allowance of
a
blankets,
which
ac-
company him to the hospital, and there is no reason why every section of a hospital should carry about twenty-five. The Ordnance Department
supplies
the tents
for field
hospitals, as well as a fearful and wonderful type of lantern. The former are all that can be desired, especially the new pattern of mountain service double-fly tents for the sick; but the lanterns are the bane of one's life. Huge, heavy, ugly, useless, they were
always in the way in camp and a burden on the inarch, and it was a great relief when, shortly after the commencement of operations, the Ordnance Officer was persuaded to take them back. Their place was not supplied by others, but Lord's lamps proved very useful, and a few of them would be a great improvement. In conclusion, mention must be made of the
more
dhoolies, bearers and transport animals. is but
one
opinion
have
proved
come
to
lighter
an
replace
and
can
Of
about the
first, viz.,
There
that
they
utter failure, and the time has them by something very much
more
portable. to
of the
hospitals best be described as an undisciplined rabble. those attached to a certain hospital, less
The bearers
as
long, useful
any in the force ; but ere this, they have
that, long
original walks in life, and all the spent on training them has been in process of drill and instruc tion ought
returned to their hard labour
to
a
the bearera
before
hospital, for,
are
drafted
from the very commencement
of
A field hospital ought to be as light as possible in order not to impede the movements of the troops to which it is attached ; accordingly
superfluous
to instruct such louts in
lot
a
This
all
and
agriculturists;
the way they should go : yet, after many weary weeks they were moulded into as
to be
shall be unsweetened.
nondescript
cart-drivers,
was
patience
vain.
strictly followed, viz.,
18SJ8.
supposed to be responsible for the proper conveyance of the sick and wounded by an untrained motley ere w such as this ! It needs hard drilling and the exhibi-
the best brands should be issued; and it would be well if the service rule on the subject were milk
of a
sellers,
darzis and
barbers, meliters,
the medical officer
it is sad to reflect
condensed
consisting
of sweetmeat
collection
stationary camp, it is almost impossible to obtain fresh milk, and the sick have to depend entirely on the tinned article, hence none but that
[Sept.
supplied
than twenty per cent,
some
were
Icahars
by
occu-
operations, they may be called on to carry wounded men. They trip and fall when bearing empty dhoolies, so the lot of a wounded soldier committed to their tender care is scarcely a happy one. Lastly, mention must be made of the transport animals. In many instances field hospitals were provided with strong sturdy mules admirfitted for the ably purpose, in others miserable undersized underfed country ponies that had
never
carried
a
pack
supposed to hospital. The sight were
good enough for a a certain hospital starting join the brigade to which
be of
from the base to it was attached
those who witnessmade at about 8 a.m., but fully three-fourths of the ponies sat or sank down in the first two hundred yards : they had will
never
ed it.
be
forgotten by
A start
was
assisted up, loads had to be removed and re-adjusted, and the scene was one of the utmost to be
confusion.
arriving on the scene general happened to see
A staff officer
remarked that, if the what was going on, he would certainly stop the hospital and detain it until better transport was the medical officers, full of military
supplied:
ardour, re-doubled their efforts
procession
move on,
and, though
to make the the march was
but a few miles, it took them several hours to reach their destination. It is to be hoped that in future operations there will be no such complaints about the bearers and transport attached to field hospi-
equipped so badly cannot but to a brigade on the march prove an impediment discredit falls unjustly on the or in action ; and Medical Department. tals ; for, units
DEFECTS OF FIELD HOSPITALS.
1898.]
might donna,
THE
Jndian J$hdiijal ?aeq11q. SEPTEMBER, 1898.
be
supplied
the
341 in
tins,
and extract of Leila" was often felt by
want of which
many. On the other
hand, medicines in liquid form should be reduced to the very smallest number possible, and tabloids and soloids should be em-
ployed
more
extensively. The bottles of disantiseptic solution should 110
tilled water and
be allowed to take up the great space allotted to them, for boiled water can always be had, and a soloid of perehloride of mercury can The recent operations on the frontier have be transformed into a pint of antiseptic solution brought to light many weak points in the medical in a few seconds. arrangements provided for service in the field. Among the hypodermic tablets it is vain to We referred to some of these in our July number search for strychnine; but, both digitalin and and again return to the subject. are supplied ; it would be preferAs already pointed out, a field hospital is a stroplianthin able to omit one of the latter, and replace it by complex machine ; its component parts, on paper, the first-named, for which there was a great strike one as being cleverly put together, and as demand in cases of pneumonia, though the supeasily taken to pieces; but, when one has been who had was limited to a thoughtful few through the worry, anxiety and trouble of the ply themselves with it. provided construction, or mobilization of a hospital, and We shall never forget our first operation in its taking to pieces, or demobilization, one finds the field ! The table supplied for the purpose, " that things are not what they seem." THE DEFECTS OF FIELD HOSPITALS.
To
begin with, the material of a hospital is supplied by no fewer than three departments? the Medical Stores, nance; of these we
Commissariat and Ordshall treat first of the
medical equipment. This is put up in wooden packages, each of which, when filled, weighs about a maund, two
being a load for a transport animal. Complaints are often made that these boxes are too heavy, but it is doubtful if a lighter article of these
would stand the wear and tear and rough usage to which the packages are subjected ; for an unruly mule often kicks his load off, or an under-sized pony sinks down exhausted under his burden. It is a different matter, however, with the contents of the boxes, for it is generally agreed that many of the existing articles could advantageously be omitted, while others, at present not supplied, could be substituted for them. Packages 1 and 2, and 9 and 10 constitute the
hospital dispensary, and one cannot help being by the notable omissions of useful drugs,
struck
fails to find such necessary medicines as arsenious acid, strychnine, mix vomica, chloride of calcium and perchloride of mercury, all of for
one
which could be supplied in tabloid form. Two other omissions are sulphate of magnesia, than which there is no better drug for administration after certain abdominal
operations,
and which
longer
frail, tottering structure, collapsed completely, snapping, and the hinges giving way It was a disquieting complication, to as well. the operation had to be say the least of it, and floor the 011 ; nor were we more forcompleted tunate with our second case, for exactly the same thing occurred. This pattern of table has been unanimously condemned, and we hope to see it replaced, at an early date, by a more serviceable structure, which must be fairly light, strong and, if possible, have 110 wood in its composition ; in fact, a modification of Greig Smith's operating table would be the most desirable pattern. Packages 3 and 4 might be done away with, and their contents (surgical havresacks and water bottles) carried by Hospital Assistants and ward a
the wood
orderlies. No complaint
can
be made of the
dressings
supplied to field hospitals, as the quantity is liberal, and the quality good. There is 110 lack of splints, but the number of tourniquets might be reduced, as at present there are far too many of them.
Turning
next
Commissariat, medical
comforts
supplied by the will be made to the bedding. The former
to the articles
reference and
condensed milk, brandy, extract of mutton, arrowroot and cornflour. The quality of the last four is, as a rule, excellent, but the
comprise
342
THE INDIAN
be said of the condensed
same cannot
in several in
instances, this was case, in particular, the
one
MEDICAL GAZETTE.
for
milk,
very inferior, and, substance contain-
ed in the tins bore no resemblance to milk, being like ancient thick chocolate. It appeared, on
investigation
that this had been
supplied by
Commissariat
who
an
the
author-
agent, hardly subject, and he had evidently obtained the cheapest article the bazaar could produce.
ity
on
the
This is
matter which
a
and
care
was
closest
the
greatest supervision, for, except in a requires
pation,
the remainder
tion of much
and
hard-working
complete
articles should be
dispensed with,
among which ought to be ranked at least half the blankets at present supplied in packages 15>
16, 17, 18 and 19. has
soldier and follower
Every
liberal allowance of
a
blankets,
which
ac-
company him to the hospital, and there is no reason why every section of a hospital should carry about twenty-five. The Ordnance Department
supplies
the tents
for field
hospitals, as well as a fearful and wonderful type of lantern. The former are all that can be desired, especially the new pattern of mountain service double-fly tents for the sick; but the lanterns are the bane of one's life. Huge, heavy, ugly, useless, they were
always in the way in camp and a burden on the inarch, and it was a great relief when, shortly after the commencement of operations, the Ordnance Officer was persuaded to take them back. Their place was not supplied by others, but Lord's lamps proved very useful, and a few of them would be a great improvement. In conclusion, mention must be made of the
more
dhoolies, bearers and transport animals. is but
one
opinion
have
proved
come
to
lighter
an
replace
and
can
Of
about the
first, viz.,
There
that
they
utter failure, and the time has them by something very much
more
portable. to
of the
hospitals best be described as an undisciplined rabble. those attached to a certain hospital, less
The bearers
as
long, useful
any in the force ; but ere this, they have
that, long
original walks in life, and all the spent on training them has been in process of drill and instruc tion ought
returned to their hard labour
to
a
the bearera
before
hospital, for,
are
drafted
from the very commencement
of
A field hospital ought to be as light as possible in order not to impede the movements of the troops to which it is attached ; accordingly
superfluous
to instruct such louts in
lot
a
This
all
and
agriculturists;
the way they should go : yet, after many weary weeks they were moulded into as
to be
shall be unsweetened.
nondescript
cart-drivers,
was
patience
vain.
strictly followed, viz.,
18SJ8.
supposed to be responsible for the proper conveyance of the sick and wounded by an untrained motley ere w such as this ! It needs hard drilling and the exhibi-
the best brands should be issued; and it would be well if the service rule on the subject were milk
of a
sellers,
darzis and
barbers, meliters,
the medical officer
it is sad to reflect
condensed
consisting
of sweetmeat
collection
stationary camp, it is almost impossible to obtain fresh milk, and the sick have to depend entirely on the tinned article, hence none but that
[Sept.
supplied
than twenty per cent,
some
were
Icahars
by
occu-
operations, they may be called on to carry wounded men. They trip and fall when bearing empty dhoolies, so the lot of a wounded soldier committed to their tender care is scarcely a happy one. Lastly, mention must be made of the transport animals. In many instances field hospitals were provided with strong sturdy mules admirfitted for the ably purpose, in others miserable undersized underfed country ponies that had
never
carried
a
pack
supposed to hospital. The sight were
good enough for a a certain hospital starting join the brigade to which
be of
from the base to it was attached
those who witnessmade at about 8 a.m., but fully three-fourths of the ponies sat or sank down in the first two hundred yards : they had will
never
ed it.
be
forgotten by
A start
was
assisted up, loads had to be removed and re-adjusted, and the scene was one of the utmost to be
confusion.
arriving on the scene general happened to see
A staff officer
remarked that, if the what was going on, he would certainly stop the hospital and detain it until better transport was the medical officers, full of military
supplied:
ardour, re-doubled their efforts
procession
move on,
and, though
to make the the march was
but a few miles, it took them several hours to reach their destination. It is to be hoped that in future operations there will be no such complaints about the bearers and transport attached to field hospi-
equipped so badly cannot but to a brigade on the march prove an impediment discredit falls unjustly on the or in action ; and Medical Department. tals ; for, units
