Surgical Experiences in South Africa, 1899-1900

Surgical Experiences in South
Africa,
by George Henry
Makins

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Title: Surgical Experiences in South Africa, 1899-1900 Being Mainly a
Clinical Study of the Nature and Effects of Injuries Produced by
Bullets of Small Calibre
Author: George Henry Makins
Release Date: May 3, 2007 [EBook #21280]
Language: English
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[Illustration: FRONTISPIECE.
Photo, H. KISCH Ladysmith. Engraved and Printed by Bale and
Danielsson, Ltd.]

SURGICAL EXPERIENCES
IN
SOUTH AFRICA
1899-1900
BEING MAINLY A CLINICAL STUDY OF THE NATURE AND
EFFECTS OF INJURIES PRODUCED BY BULLETS OF SMALL
CALIBRE
BY
GEORGE HENRY MAKINS, F.R.C.S.
SURGEON TO ST. THOMAS'S HOSPITAL, LONDON JOINT
LECTURER ON SURGERY IN THE MEDICAL SCHOOL OF ST.
THOMAS'S HOSPITAL MEMBER OF THE COURT OF
EXAMINERS OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS OF
ENGLAND, AND LATE ONE OF THE CONSULTING SURGEONS
TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN FIELD FORCE
LONDON SMITH, ELDER, & CO., 15 WATERLOO PLACE 1901

TO
SURGEON-GENERAL W. D. WILSON
PRINCIPAL MEDICAL OFFICER TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN

FIELD FORCE
THE MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS
EMPLOYED IN SOUTH AFRICA
AND TO THE
CIVIL SURGEONS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED TO THAT
CORPS
These Experiences are Dedicated
AS AN EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION OF THE INVARIABLE
KINDNESS AND SYMPATHY EXTENDED TO THE AUTHOR
WITHOUT WHICH THE BOOK COULD NOT HAVE BEEN
WRITTEN

PREFACE
A word of explanation is perhaps necessary as to the form in which
these experiences have been put together. The matter was originally
collected with the object of sending a series of articles to the British
Medical Journal. Various circumstances, however, of which the chief
was the feeling that extending experience altered in many cases the
views adopted at first sight, prevented the original intention from being
carried into execution, and the articles, considerably expanded, are now
published together.
As to the illustrative cases introduced in support of various statements
made in the text, only those have been chosen from my notes which
were under my own observation for a considerable time, and many of
these have been brought up to date since my return to England. I have,
as a rule, avoided the inclusion of cases seen cursorily, and few simple
ones have been quoted since their character is sufficiently indicated in
the text. These remarks seem necessary since the mode of selection has
resulted in the inclusion of a number of cases of exceptional severity,
and any attempt to draw statistical conclusions from them would be

most misleading.
The first two chapters have been added with a view to affording some
information, first, as to the conditions under which a great part of the
surgical work was done, and, secondly, as to the mechanism and
causation of the injuries, which would not readily be at hand in the case
of the general surgical reader. For much of the information contained in
Chapter II.
I must express my indebtedness to the work of MM. Nimier and Laval,
so frequently quoted.
The only other object of this Preface is to express my thanks to the
many who have aided me in the task of amplifying the observations on
which the articles are founded, and I think no writer ever received more
sympathetic and kindly help in such particulars than the author.
My first thanks, those due to the Members of the Royal Army Medical
Corps, I endeavour to express by the dedication of this volume. Any
attempt to make individual acknowledgment to either the Members of
the Service, or to the Civil Surgeons temporarily attached, would be
impossible. I have, however, tried to associate the names of many of
those in charge of cases in the recital of histories and treatment
throughout.
My thanks are not less due to the Military Heads of Departments at the
War Office, who have helped me in the collection of details as to the
subsequent course of many of the cases described, and in the
acquisition of information regarding the weapons and ammunition
treated of. I should particularly express my gratitude to Colonel Robb,
of the Adjutant-General's Department, and Colonel Montgomery, of the
Ordnance Department.
I am greatly indebted to my former colleague Mr. Cheatle for two of
the illustrations of wounds, and for permission to quote some of his
other experience, and to Mr. Henry Catling, to whose skill I owe the
majority of the skiagrams