DUNKIRK MEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24627, 7 June 1941, Page 14

DUNKIRK MEN

SEVERE INJURIES CURED WORK OF SIR HAROLD GILLIES (OC) • LONDON, May 21. Scores of cures by anonymous surgeons in all parts of the country hav« been effected on the men who returned badly wounded from. Dunkirk. Thu is the story behind the statement by Mi- Ernest Brown, Minister of Health, who said that many of the men back; from Dunkirk who arrived in Britain badly injured, have been'.cured in a way' which not so long ago would nava been thought miraculous. Organiser, arid in charge of thest surgeons, is a New Zealander, Sir Harold Gillies. " Burns in modern warfare are, unfortunately, common, and great adyanca is being made in the treatment by tha introduction of methods of tanning tha burn area." said a Ministry of Health spokesman. In addition to the tanning method, there is the continuous salin* bath treatment, which has given excellent results. These baths are being installed in 12 or more places in Britain. , ','- "In the later stages of burns," th« spokesman said, "and in a large nun* ber of wounds to the face repair ol the deformity is being : effected by plastic operations performed by thes« special surgeons. Skin is grafted from other Darts of the body, and though th« treatment often takes as, long as two years the results are amazing. ;-.•:■■■• One young sergeant • pilot was at> tempting to escape from Dunkirk when his machine caught fire. He had to bale out. and was badly burned when he landed. He escaped from the enemj H' hiding under a hay carl, and then managed to get to England. His face and hands were injursd. but after pro' longed and skilled treatment he-is nou completely recovered and has returned to his dutv.