Guadalcanal Record

The Russians claim an astounding record for saving the lives of wounded men --only 1.5% exclusive of battle deaths, die of their wounds. Last fortnight Rear Admiral Ross T. Mclntire, Navy's Surgeon General, told Northwestern University's medical and dental students about the U.S. record on Guadalcanal. It is even better, though on a smaller scale: less than 1% have died, compared to 7% in World War I. Biggest improvement is in abdominal wounds--5% deaths, compared to World War I's 70 to 80%.

As in Russia, Guadalcanal doctors attack a wounded man's three worst enemies --shock, infection, delay. While still on the field--if possible--a man is treated to stop bleeding and reduce shock. He may get an injection of blood plasma, collected by the Red Cross back home, may take tablets of an infection-preventing sulfa drug which he carries into battle with him. Like many a Russian soldier, the U.S. soldiers are flown to a hospital, but Guadalcanal's hospital is "several hundred miles away" on another island.

Not all credit for recovery from wounds should go to new discoveries. Dr. Mclntire reminded the students that "there are certain things which we have learned through the years, and they cannot be by-passed." Most of these are things not to do--the best way to handle a wound is as little as possible, to let nature heal it. Time was when a surgeon's unnecessary probings and meddlings were more lethal to soldiers than swordthrust or gunshot.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.