J. H. Porter
Published: 2016-10-07
Total Pages: 302
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From the PREFACE. 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 Langenbeck 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. The great difficulty of preparing a work to meet the ever-recurring emergencies of war will, I trust, be sufficient excuse for any shortcomings which 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. Railways, 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 modern 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 particular 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 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 water-filters, and latrines; but, from experience in the field, I know how important for the present comfort of patients and the ultimate results of their injuries it is that the surgeon 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.
