GREATER THAN EVER

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 278, 21 August 1944, Page 4

GREATER THAN EVER

Recovery Rate From Severe Wounds ARMY MEDICAL SERVICE “It is a remarkable fact that in this, war. in spite of the increased destructive power of modem guns and bombs, the actual percentage of casualties is nothing like that of previous wars, and the percentage of recoveries from even the most severe wounds is far greater than ever before.’” said the Director-General ,of Medical Services (Army and Air), Major-. General F. T, Bowerbank, in a broadcast talk last night.

What were the reasons for the decreased death rate and the high recovery rate? The two most important reasons, in my opinion, had never been sufficiently stressed. These were the previous military training and the teamwork of the medical service during the fateful hours after the soldier had been wounded till he had arrived, and been treated at the casualty clearing station. Speed in evacuation, care in handling, constant supervision, and correct treatment during those first few hours might mean all the difference between life and death, or complete recovery and chronic invalidism. I The medical set-up in the forward areas ensured that the sick or wounded soldier was under medical supervision practically from the time he was seen by the regimental medical officer of his unit till —if he was seriously wounded or ill —he arrived at the advanced base hospital. Each of the medical units was a cog in the maqhine. And each one was essential. The medical unit nearest to the front line was the regimental aid post. It might be stationed in the ruins of a hut. or in a dug-out, or even in an improvised shelter behind some rocks. Here the regimental medical officer held his sick parades and fixed up the wounded.

The next medical unit was the advanced dressing station, a mile or two down the line. It had a small staff of medical officers, orderlies and stretcher bearers. It had equipment for accommodating a small number of patients, but only the minor ones could be retained. , Main Dressing Station. Another two or three miles doyn the line was-the main dressing station. This unit has a much larger staff and had accommodation for 100 or 200 patients. Here was a large operating tent with facilities for sterilization and dressings. Sometimes a mobile surgical team was attached to it. There were also facilities for resuscitation and blood transfusion. The New Zealand main dressing station which was taking casualties while he was at Cassino had a refrigeratQr and a blood bank, from which it supplied blood to the forward medical units. The casualty clearing station was the most advanced unit at which there were nursing sisters and voluntary aids, and in spite of the dangers and discomforts, and at times the very heavy work, it was the ambition of every sister and voluntary aid to be on its staff. Major-General Bowerbank continued that on his second visit to the N.Z. Division (Middle East), the attack on Cassino had been launched. The casualty clearing station was about 12 miles from the front line, in a large field full of holes, stones and the mud. At the entrance to the camp was a, reception marquee where a senior medical officer saw the patients as they were brought in on the ambulances. His function was to sort them, and send those cases not requiring immediate surgical treatment to the wards, there to be put into a comfortable bed, with a hot bottle. If well enough, the patient would enjoy a hot meal. Those more seriously and dangerously ill would go to the pre-operation block of marquees. This consisted of three operating tents, each with a surgical staff. Connected to them was a resuscitation tent and a blood transfusion. tent, and to complete it, a few beds for waiting cases. These, however, were rarely used as the three surgical teams worked, if necessary, for the full 24 hours. One of the wards he visited contained the most serious cases. He saw patients who had been wounded and operated on, some, only a few hours before, and others a few days. From the medical point of view their condition was satisfactory and they would recover. One great difference from the last war was their appearance. Their skin looked clear and their eyes bright, yet not too bright. Above all, it was so seldom one saw that anxifius, restless expression on the patient’s face. This was an expression difficult to define but, -when present, very ominous, and a source of great anxiety to the medical man. Major-General Bowerbank said that as he walked down this ward he felt that the age of miracles had not passed; that even though a man might be wounded nearly unto death there-* was still hope, not only that he would live but would make a good recovery. Penicillin and Burns. In another ward of the casualty clearing station were patients with severe and extensive burns and injuries of the face and body. The former caused great scarring and disfigurement. They were referred to as “plastic surgical eases,” and great advances were still being made in their treatment. Modern technique and the famous sulpha drugs had already performed marvels, but the new drug, penicillin, had still further reduced, not only the death rate, but the suffering and deformities. With the increasing use of penicillin, excessive burns would remain clean. Healing would begin at once. It was the same with amputations—stumps healed rapidly and with little pain. Instead of months before a temporary artificial limb could be fitted, it might be only weeks. It was only 12 weeks from the time Major-General Kippenberger, was wounded till he -was fitted with artificial limbs, and- walking on them.