THE SUNNY SOUTH'S WAR ATTITUDE.
NEW ARMY SURGERY.
War Ships ara Now Repaired out on the Hluh Seas "While You Walt
Uncle Sam's Repair Ship, Tho Vulcan,
A Richmond Clergyman Tolls how Southerners have dallnntly Entered
tho Ranks for Love of Their Country.
How Wounds on the Battlefield aro Now Treated Improved Mnthods
Qreatly Roduco Mortality.
A FLOATING SHIP MACHINE SHOP.
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The queerest vessel In the United
States navy, If not, Indeed, the queer
est afloat, Is the aptlv named Vulcan.
She Is literally a floating machine shop,
thoroughly equipped with all the tools
and appliances to be found In any
shop aRhore where the work of repair
ing machinery to vessels Is done. The
Vulcan Is now with Admiral Sampson's
fleet. She may not win as much popu
lar dory as her armed sisters, she may
not present so pay an appearance, and
she may not do such deeds of daring,
but she has her mission to fulfill, and
she will not be found wanting.
The real heroes of the war are not al
ways to be found on the quarterdeck.
Did you ever think of the men burled
away down In the stifling bowels of the
ship, the men who see nothing of the
battle, but upon whose efforts the ac
tion of the ship entirely depends? That's
the way It Is with the Vulcan. Her
labors will probably be unpraised nnd
unsung, but they will be none the less
valuable for all that.
Her mission Is to remain with the
fleet and repair any damage that may
be done to other vessels. For this work
she Ib thoroughly prepared. Her equip
ment Includes nearly a hundred tons of
tools and machinery valued at $300,-
COO.
If you have ever visited a nnvy repair
shop and can Imagine the scene trans
ferred to shipboard you can get a fulrly
eood Idea of what the Vulcan looks
loke. There are plate bending rolls
and punching and shearing machines
that can bite through an Inch of solid
steel. There nre lathes for turning
castings of nearly any size, there nre
planers, drills and milling machines of
compass enough to meet almost any de
mand, and blowers to supply the
several forges and to draw foul air from
between decks and send It through
the ventilators above. She can even
make small rapid fire guns.
There are pipe cutters, bolt cutters,
forges and grindstones, and a good
sized cupola for the melting of sufh
clent metal to make a heavy casting.
A supplemental electric plant has given
excellent lighting facilities throughout
the ship, but principally In the work
shops situated on what is termed the
third deck.
There are also evaporators and dis
tillers of a capacity equal to a dally
output of quite 10,000 gallons of water,
several times more than the needs of
the Vulcan could demand. She has two
steam cranes, with ten foot arms, that
will lead to the hoisting drums amld
shlp and to the cranes to the hatches.
These cranes are specially designed for
removing weights from the men-of-war
and for transferring machinery to the
disabled ships. And, lastly, there Is a
magnificent little foundry for manufac
turing casting up to a certain size.
Of course, skilled workmen ate re
quired to perform the work of repairing
machinery, and the best machinists
and mechanics In the service have been
assigned to the Vulcan to perform the
work for which It has been fitted out,
and this brings to light a condition of
affairs quite as unique as Is the ship
herself. There Is no mechanical plant
In the country that admits of such a
variety of accomplishments as this one.
The variety of departments gives the
Vulcan more chief petty officers than
MANY WOMEN FIGHTERS.
The Heroism of Women both North
nndSoutn During the War.
Many and thrilling are the tales tohl
of the heroism of women both of thi
north and south during the war cf thu
rebellion. The women of the war may
be divided Into three classes. Thu
first dabs Included the women who
served as nurseVln hospitals and on
the field of battle. Of these much has
already been written. The second class
was that very useful body of scouts and
spies whose dress and actions were ac
cording to circumstances. They ap
peared as stylish dames surrounded by
admirers In the morning, and in the
evening as dissipated youths, dropping
into billiard rooms and like resorts, to
detect plots of the enemy.
Those who, fired by burning zeal to
serve their country, actually donned a
uniform and shouldered a musket to
6erve the cause formed the third class
of women of the war. Of these there
were many more than Is generally
supposd. As far back as 1863 the Mem
phis Argus published a paragraph of
news headed "Death of a Cavalry Sol
dier Who Proved to Be a Woman." It
read:
"A short time since a soldier belong
ing to a Missouri cavalry regiment was
entered at 'Overton hospital' for treat
ment for fever contracted In camp. The
soldier died, but not before It had been
revealed that the supposed young man
was a woman. She had followed her
lover Into the army, and to be near
him had willingly braved the dangers of
battle field and borne the hardships and
exposures of campulgn life. Her years
could not have been more than 20."
An Intensely Interesting story Is that
of another who became a soldier "all
for love." Her name was Annie Lilly
bridge of Detroit. Mich. In the spring
of 1862 she was employed In a dry
goods store In Detroit, where she made
the acquaintance of a lieutenant of the
Twenty-first Michigan Infantry, and an
intimacy sprang up between them.
They corresponded for some time and
became warmly attached.
The thought of being parted from her
lover made her so unhappy that she
resolved to share his danger and be
near him. Purchasing mole attire she
enlisted In Captain Kavanagh's com
pany of the Twenty-first regiment, and
managed to keep her secret from all.
not even the object of her affections,
who met her dally, being aware of her
presence. Annie left with her regi
ment for Kentucky and passed through
all the dangers and trials of camp
life, endured long marches and slept on
the ground without a murmur.
Before the battle of Pea Ridge, In
which her regiment took part, her se
was discovered by a member of her
tompany. but he promised to keep her
secret. After the battle she was sent,
among others, to bury the dead, and the
first corpse was that of the soldier who
had discovered her sex. She became
a favorite of the regiment and Colonel
Stephens freuently detailed her as regi
mental clerk. When on picket duty she
received a severe wound In the arm.
and was sent to the hospital at Louis
ville. After several months she was
discharged and sent home as her arm
va8 stiffened and rendered useless.
WAS REGIMENTAL BUGLER.
In the spring of 1863 a captain ar
rived at Louisville, Ky., accompanied
by a young soldier apparently about
the age of 17, who immediately at
tracted the attention of Colonel Mundy
as being exceedingly sprightly and In
.elllgent, and he detailed him for duty
at the barracks. A few days later the
startling fact was discovered that the
supposed young man was a woman, the
fact being cstabllehel by a soldier who
any other ship known. A dozen such
officers Is the usual complement for a
warship, but the Vulcan, out of her
crew of 200 men, hns ninety-two men
who have the right to wear double
breasted Bhort coats and officer's caps.
No vessel that has yet Ptarted out
for the war has carried such a large
complement of well-trained nnd edu
cated men. The reralr ship has on
board some of the finest engineers In
the country, and among the number Is
a Providence millionaire nnd a college
professor, who entered the service of
their country as soon as It was known
that the United States was to have a
floating machine shop.
Chief machinists, expert bollermak
ers, moulders, brnss finishers and elec
tricians, wrlghts, plumbers nil have
the rating of first class petty officers.
The Vulcan's captain Is Lieutenant
Commnnder Irn Harris, who has been
general manager of the Chicago Drop
Forge and Foundry company, nnd of
like concerns In Knnsns and Cleveland,
unio.
The chief engineers are Gnnllner
Sims, the head of the Armlngtun &
Sims Engine works, of Providence, It.
I who has thlity of his best machnn
les aboard, and Prof. Aldrlch of the
university of West Vlrglnln, one of the
best electrlcnl experts of the country.
Frederick C. Nellson, son of Medical
Inspector John L. Nellson, l'n ted
States senior medical officer nt Clinr.es
town, is un assistant engineer. The
lending merchnnles have quarters In
the old passengers state looms, and
will live very comfortably.
Officially the Vulcan Is described ns
an engineer's repair ship, but ling uer
In Chief Melville, who was tcspuislble
tor ner purchase nnd transfoinutt en
sets the mind nt rest as to her position
In the nnvy by calling her a float. n
machine shop. The Vulcan was form
erly the merchant steamer Chatham.
Shortly before the war commenced En-glneer-ln-chlef
Melville recommended to
the department that two vessels be ac
quired which could be transformed Into
engineers' repair ships and attached to
the North Atlantic and flying squad
rons. The recommendation was not ac
cepted with the haste which the en-
glneer-In-chlef thought the occasion de
manded, and, In fact, after n discussion
of the matter with the ofllclal heads of
the department Mr. Melville was com
pelled to be content with one steamer.
The Chatham was recommended fer
purchase by the auxlllnry cruiser
board, then In session, and upon a
satisfactory Inspection by an engineer
officer she was purchased. Her trans
formation has been In progress nt the
Boston navy yard.
While the ship Is not intended for
fighting she carries two rapid fire six
pounder guns. The purpose of the Vul
can Is manifest. She Is to follow In
the wake of a fleet, her great coal capa
city giving her a wide radius of action,
and she Is to supply fresh water to tbe
other vessels and to make then and
there all necessary repairs.
The men on board this vessel will lie
able to repair almost any damage that
would naturally happen to a warship,
either In ctlon or otherwise; therefoie
the government believes that the craft
will prove Itself to be one of the most
valuable adjuncts of the navy.
was raised In her town. Her story Is
one of Interest.
Frank Martin (her assumed name)
was born In Bristol, Pa., and was edu
cated at the convent In Wheeling, W
Va where she acquired an excellent
education and muny accomplishments.
After leaving the convent nnd bidding
farewell to her parents she enlisted In
the Second East Tennessee cavalry, and
accompanied the army of the Cumber
land to Nashville. She was Sn the heat
of battle at Murfreesboro, and was
severely wounded Sn the shoulder, but
fought gallantly, and waded Stons
River Into Murfreesboro on the mem
orable Sunday on which the union
forces were driven back. In having her
wounds dressed her sex was discovered
and the fact made known to General
Roaecrans. The general was favorably
Impressed with her bravery, but would
not allow her to remain In the ser
vice, and personally superintended the
arrangements for her safe transmission
to her parents.
"Frank" was only 18 years old. quite
small, refined of manner and had a
beautiful figure. She was an excellent
horsewoman, and was honored with the
position of bugler to the regiment.
I find only one recorded Instance of
a woman who donned the gray Sue
Mondey, or Lieutenant Flowers, who
served In Kentucky on Captain Berry's
staff. She wore a full confederate uni
form, with a Jaunty plumed hat. from
beneath which escaped a wealth of
dark brown hair, a dark, piercing eye.
and soft musical voice, was a bold
rider and daring leader. Ptlor to her
command with Berry she had been as
sociated with Captain Alexander, nnd
was present at his tragic death In
Southern Kentucky.
A Gratuitous Insult.
"I fancy," said the war department
clerk in a reminiscent tone, "that the
boarding houses of other cities are not
strikingly different from those we have
right here In our midst, and what may
be said of one may be eald of all of
them, taken as a class and I am free
to say. after years of experience, that
the average boarding house Is more
sinned against that sinning. However,
to my story, and It Is a bonrdlng house
In Washington. 1 have a room mate
who Is In the department of agricul
ture and poses as a man who knows
a good thing when he sees it, and
only lives In a boarding house because
Uncle Sam Is too mean and close to
board him at a first-class hotel. Not
long ago he was feeling like a lust
year's almanac so he said, and as he
got no better he concluded he would
go and consult a physician.
"The doctor put him through the
usual tests and then took a general
survey of him at a distance of about
ten paces.
" 'Um-er.' he said carefully, 'did you
say you slept well?'
" 'Fairly, doctor.'
" 'Um-er-take any exercise?'
" 'Some, doctor, but not much.'
" 'Um-er, do you experience a sense
of fulness after meals?'
"The patient became suddenly vigor
ous. " 'Of course, I don't, doctor,' he said,
with energetic confidence; 'I live In a
boarding house.'
"The doctor wanted to charge him a
dollar extra for It," continued the
clerk, "but he begged off."
The old Barnard mansion, the oldest
house In Hartford, Conn., Is being torn
down to make room for the Church
Home association building. The own
ership of the house can be traced as
far back at 1676, when It was owned
by John Webster, fifth governor of the
colony of Connecticut. . .
The attitude of the south In the
latest unpleasantness has been Riven a
prominence that Is painfully out of pro
portion to Its significance. At least
this Is the opinion of the more thought
ful clns8 of southern people, who mny
not be denied the credit of rightly In
treprctlng their own fellings. I am not
sure, but I am disposed to doubt
whether the south has In a score of
yenrs felt quite us awkward as It did
the other day, when, having responded
bb a matter of course to the call for
volunteers, It was overwhelmed with
congratulations for doing only what Un
rest of the union hns done. I know
that It put some of Its most chivalrous
lenders to their trumps to stand up and
look pleasant while It was being said
In their faces:
"We have been trying to mnke be
lieve you were In the union, but now
you nre In."
Of course It was nil done with the
best of motives, or perhaps 1 should
say, the noblest of Impulses; but therein
was the rub. One does not enjoy being
congratulated for Htandlng up with his
brother against a common foreign foe,
however the case mny be, or may have
been, between him and his brother. And
one does not like to have It said of him
with 111 concealed surprise that he has
proved equal to a very oidlnnry occa
sion. On tho other hand, the noticeable
lack of enthusiasm in the South since
the war began has been given a signi
ficance that Is quite aH wide of the
mark. I am not disposed to underrate
that the southern people, as a rule,
have no heart for the business In Cuba.
But the suspicion that this Indifference
grows out of Indifference to the union
Is based upon an utter nusappnension
of real conditions In the south. Theie
nre perfectly satisfactory reasons lying
wholly outside or the question oi huuin
ern loyalty, and they are by no means
of an alarming or sensational character.
It has been a common snylng In the
south almost ever since the days of
reconstruction that a war with a for
eign power was the one thing needful
to weld the broken nation together.
That Is to say, through all these years
the southern people hnve been con
scious of the fact that whatever they
mlgibt have against the north, the
northern people were none the less bone
of their bone nnd flesh of their flesh,
and that only an opportunity was
needed to show that blood was thicker
than water.
While the north nnd south are not,
and never have been, ns close together
as demagogue peacemakers have pro
claimed, they have always been closer
together than either side hns ordinarily
realized. They have always quarreled
more or less, but they have always been
brothers. The notion that the south
has JUBt awakened to a sense of Its
kinship with the rest of the nation
Is wholly at variance with the history
of souuiern thought and feeling.
Eve'i the heat and smoke of the
late 'inflict often failed to smother
out the sense of brotherhood. It wns
this that made the war so terrible.
Neither the north nor the south could
keep out of Its mind for long the feel
ing that the whole business was frattl
cldal, and that the men who were fac
ing ench other should be standing
shoulder to shoulder. Such a war hud
to be fought fiercely or It could not
have been fought at all.
The most pathetic chapter of the his
tory of the conflict Is that which tells
how men brought face to face with
the awful truth broke down under It.
Even the Invasion, the memory of
which Is still a horrible nightmare
to the southern people, wns time and
again interrupted by the proclamation
that blood is thicker than water. South
erners still recall as the only luminous
Incident of the dark days at the close
how the northern soldiers often 'took
sides with them against the neg.otv
who mistook the coming of the union
army as a signal for plunder and vio
lence, bo long as a northern ofllcc-r
remained at headquarters he could give
orders In favor of the negro ngalnst
the southerner; but when he rode forth
and saw an Egyptian smiting one of
his own race he was very apt to draw
his sword and rush down upon said
Egyptian" without stopping to inquire
Into the merits of the difficulty.
The stay-at-homes could hate the
southerner or the northerner, ns the
case might be, with a perfect hatred,
but when the test come to the men at
the front they discovered that they
were arrayed against bone of their
bone. The few ojcers whose orders
favored the negro as agnlnst the white
man were men whose names have been
since despised as heartily In the north
as they have bpen In the south. As a
rule the men who encouraged the free
dom to violence against the whites
were not soldiers at all, but adventur
ers, who swarmed In the rear of the
army, and who remained to devour long
after the soldiers had returned to their
homes. That this feeling of kinship
was quite as common among the sol
diers of the Eouth every northern sol
dier who served on picket duty will
gladly testify. The people who re
mained at home on either side would
have preferred shooting one of the en
emy above their chief Joy, but there
was never a time during the war when
the soldiers at the front would not have
been glad if It had turned out that
the men they had killed were of an
other race.
What I am '.rylng to Indicate Is that
the motives which prompted the south
ern militia to volunteer for the pres
ent war are not of recent origin, and
that they are altogether ordinary. It
Is not true that the south has awak
ened to the realization that It Is a part
I of the nation. As hard as It may be
for the mrth to understand, the
south would have responded to a call
for volunteers twenty years ago.
I hnve Intimated that the lack of
war enthusiasm In the south has no
connection with the question of south
ern loyalty. One resson why the south
has not gone Into the war with a heart
for the business Is that It has not for
gotten the last war. Northern people
very naturally think they know what
war means, but they don't know the
meaning of Invasion. It may be a
weakness, but the average southerner
cannot separate from the Idea of war
the idea which his own experience has
given him of war. He knows nothing
about small wars, or short wars, or
foreign wars; when war Is mentioned
it brings before him the worst war of
tho world. He has not forgotten what
he suffered, and for the life of him he
cannot drive from his mind the fear
that his boy has gone to the front to
suffer as he did. He remembers how
he came home, broken down In body
nnd spirit, to find no home, but a
chimney and a pile of ashes.
The southern woman remembers
how out of the hundreds of fair boys
who went out "rom her neighborhood
there came back hardly a dozen, half
cf whom were wiecks; and how, as a
Richmond woman told me the other
day, for years nfter the war, when
the would look out of the window her
heart would ache for the sight of a
young man In the passing crowd of tot
tering veterans and boys Just In their
teens. These bitter memories have
taken the heart out of the women of
the south.
A generation ngo the southern moth
ers fairly pushed their boys off to tho
front; they were the bravest women
In the world, the boys said; but the
other day when our reglmcntB started
for the war the streets were turned Into
Hochlmn. The people tried to cheer
nnd choked. It nil came back to them
as If It hnd been but yesterday.
"I would gladly give my boy to die
for his country," said a woman who
had always been brave, "but this
war "
There Is n deep reason why the ensus
belli has utterly failed to appeal to
the southern heart. It Ilea In the very
grain of southern character, 1 hnve
said elsewhere Hint the northerner Is
a Roman, ready to sink Individuality
out of sight for the Mate, while the
southerner Is a Greek, whese Ideal Is
not n perfect state, but a perfect man.
The southerner Is an Individualist. He
has an abnormal hoiror of seeming to
meddle with other people's business. He
believes that the wny to get the world
clean Is for each man to sweep before
his own door, and he Is so deeply Im
piessed with this Idea that It Is dif
ficult for him to conceive of conditions
existing before nnother mnn'4 door
which would Justify him In using his
Intuitu thete without an Invitation.
The two sections have steudlly and
Inevitably grown apart In their think
ing on these matters. While commer
cial life was developing Ideas of mu
tual Interest In the north the Independ
ent ngrlculturnl life of the south was
developing a race of Individualists. Un
tier such conditions It wns mentally Im
possible for the south to believe that
the north wns sincere In professing that
It had only humanitarian reasons for Its
Interference In the south. If the situa
tion hnd been Uie reverse If the north
had held the slaves nnd the south hnd
been In consequence awakened to the.
evils of slavery, It Is hardly possible
that the southern people would have
ever gotten the consent of their minds
to Interfere.
With the growth of cities and of com
mercial dependence In the south the
Int'lvldunllsm of the southern people
Is losing something of Its Intensity, and
the time may come when they will so
far overcome their horror of Inter
ference thnt tluy will be nble to en
ter with enthusiasm upon nn effort to
right the wrongs of n foreign people;
but until then the southern soldier will
go on such errands simply from a sense
of duty to his country.
And nfter all, do not these men in
the north iib well as In the south who
hnve responded to the call without see
ing a renson for war and only from a
hard sense of duty, deserve aB much
credit as those who hnve gone under an
Impulse of pity or of revenge?
Great Fun at Kite Parties.
Did you think, remembering your
boyhood or your girlhood, and recall
ing what you have recently read In
magazines, that kite flying was simply
a youthful amusement on the one hand
nnd a new science on the other? If you
did you nre very wrong. Kite flying
hns not yet risen to the dignity of a
great national diversion, It Is true.nor Is
It likely to, but the latest phase of It Is
that society haBttaken It up as a pleas
ing pastime.
It Is necessarily a sport for country
house pnrtles, for In town there Is no
space. Even the most commodious roof
top Is too limited In nrea to do any
kite flying that Is at all Interesting.
Besides It Is no niminy-piminy little
kites that society Is flying on these
pnrtles, but kites of a goifdly size, and
iox kites at that, of the elaborate sort
made so popular In the recent scien
tific experiments.
These parties are generally given nt
country houses particularly well situ
ated for this sport from being either
upon or close to a hill that somewhat
commands the country, or nt houses In
the center of a broad, level plain, or at
houses on the seashore, for It Is es
sentia! that uir the circumstances and
surroundings be favorable to kite fly
ing, especially since the kite flyers of
both sexes are very new nt this game.
A fine breezy night Is chosen, nnd
the party marching forth separates Into
couples. There are half as many kites
as there are men and girls, and at
the start a kite Is assigned to each cou
ple. The rules and regulations are that
two men or two girls shall never be
working at any kite, and this is strictly
adhered to.
At the signal the kites are started.
Some, by force of luck or skill In hnn
dllng, catch the breeze at once and dash
along In the air. pulling on the kite
string vigorously. As these successful
kites swing high above, with many a
swirl and dip, they look strikingly pic
turesque (especially If the night be very
clear and well moonlit), the candle
light gleaming through their sides In
faint rays.
It Is a science, this flying of box
kites, harder than most people would
suspect, and few get their kites up at
the first, second or third attempt with
out much difficulty. Chance complicates
the competition. The element or luck Is
very pronounced, and even those most
skillful fall In some particular time
and again.
All are up at last, for the unfortun
ate players who can not manage to
raise their kites will after a while be
rescued from their predicament and
helped out. Then, with a dozen of
these unwieldy boxes that seem so
strange In the kite world pirouetting nt
the same moment In the air, gyrating
fantastically, the picture Is one of much
novelty.
Once up aloft with these kites the
great problem Is to keep the candles
alight. A third or half of their can
dles suddenly extinguished, and the
beauty and strangeness of these great
floating glow worms of the air Is par
tially, at least, lost. It Is an hour of
delightful uncertainty. The turn of
fortune with a perfectly managed kite
may see Its light go out; a badly con
trolled kite may keep Its light until
It Is Anally pulled to the ground; but,
on the other hand, a misadvised jerk
may end that kite's career for the night
and leave it hanging, a black mass, In
midair.
The dignity of the supreme court of
Tennessee was recently disturbed In a
very unsual fashion. A. R. Reynolds,
an employe of the Louisville & Nash
ville railroad, who had been sentenced
to six years In the penitentiary for de
frauding his employers, was before the
court on an appeal. The Judgment wag
affirmed, and thereupon the prisoner
stepped before the bench, drew a revol
ver out of his pocket and calmly blew
out his brains.
One Kentucky grower has 717 acres
planted In tobacco. He says there aro
1.150,000 plants.
The many injuries resulting from
modern weapons of wnr should cause
great mortality were they not treated
nntlscptlcnlly. The extent to which
tissues arc Impaired In certain onsen,
the violent phenomena of rcnctlon fol
lowing upon traumatism, the unavoid
able contagion due to numerous Infec
tious agencies to which the tissues nre
subjected, Impose upon the nrmy sur
geon the duty of being most uncom
promising In the matter of antlsepsy
nnd elimination of nil morbid germs
from tho wounded region.
Every effort should be made by the
surgeon to completely disinfect wounds.
Such hns been the constant aim of
every army surgeon since the era of
nntlseptlcn, nnd although occasions
hnve not been very numerous In which
the new discovery could be applied,
there hns been ample opportunity for
demonstrating its usefulness In the bat
tle field. A few figures will sufllce for
an appreciation of the antiseptic meth
od In army surgery, Bergmnnn nnd
Iteyher, who operated on Roumnnlnn
bnttle fields, give eloquent rcsultH.
Out of fifty-seven knee wounds trent
ed several hours after the engagement,
but strongly disinfected, Hergmnn re
cords fI per cent of recoveries nnd 43
per cent of deaths, whereas Hantzel
gives CI. 5 per cent of deaths for cases
trented by the conservative method
without antlsepsy. In other tnblcs, out
of fifteen enses of fractured knee, Berg
mnnn stntes thnt fourteen of the
wounded survived, two nfter amputa
tion. Only one died I. c, n mortality
of fi.G per cent.
The tables presented by Reyher, who
also operated In the Roumnnlnn field
hospitals, nre still more cncournglng.
Thirteen flesh wounds, principally In
the thigh, prlmnrlly trented by the an
tiseptic method, resulted In one denth,
or n mortality of 7.6 per cent, wherens
thnt mortullty was 21.4 per cent, or six
deaths out of twenty-eight cases treat
ed secondarily by the antiseptic meth
od. Rlmllnrly, out of forty-six enses of
gunshot wound In the knee prlmnrlly
trented with nntlseptlcs, there were
bIx deaths, or n mortality of 13 per
cent, whercaR 78'cnses trented sec
ondarily resulted In forty-eight deaths,
or u mortality of 61. D per cent. Agnln,
fractures caused by projectiles, trented
prlmnrlly by the antiseptic method,
were followed by four denths. or n
mortality of 18.1 per cent, wherens,
the proportion wns 35,3 per cent, with
twenty-three denths out of sixty-five
cases where the antiseptic method wns
nppllcd secondnrlly.
These figures prove the Importnnce
of Immediate nppllcntlon of antlsepoy,
seeing that In the enses trented nntl
septlcally, but more or less after the
event, the mortality wns Gl.fi per cent,
or nenrly the nnmc ns In enses where
the method wns not npplled (62 per
cent). This verdict Is not, however,
final, as every dny experience shows
thnt the Judicious use of nntlsepsy mny
yield good results even long nfter the
Infliction of n wound.
Reyher'B tnbles nre more encouraging
when considered from the point of view
of mortality by Infection. Denths from
pyaemia, or septic phlegmon, nre dis
tributed ns follows: Out of 17 enses of
articular resection nntlseptlcally treat
ed from the outset, there wns 1 death,
or 5.2 per cent; out of 13 cases of sim
ple amputation, 1 death, or 7.C per
cent; out of 22 cases of gunshot frac
ture, 2 deaths, 9 per cent; out of 27
cases of articular gunshot wounds. 1
death, 3.7 per certt. Average mortality,
6.1 ner1 cent.
The results for enses trented nntl
eeptlcally In the secondary period are:
Out of 65 cases of gunshot frncture
there were 13 denths, or 20 per cent;
out of 78 enses of artlculnr gunshot
wounds there were 23 dnths thnt Is.
41.3 per cent, or un nvernge mortality
of 32.1 per cent.
Lastly, for flesh wounds, the snme
surgeon found 12 enscs trented antlsep
tically from the stnrt all recovered, and
23 irises treated cecondnrlly le&ulttd in
6 deaths, or n mortality of 21.4 per cent.
These results spunk for themselves.
They nre nil the more conclusive since
they wero obtained nt n time when
antlsepsy had not been properly de
veloped and medical equipments In
this respect were deficient.
The above examples sufficiently prove
the value of the untlseptlc method on
the battlefield. Now comes the ques
tionWhat Is the limit of delny In
dressing a wound by this method with
reasonable prospectH of success? The
flgfres quoted above show the great
difference between Us primary and sec
ondary nppllcntlon. Is there a period
which must not be exceeded? Volkmnnn
and Koenlg declnre that twelve hours
Is the limit; Koehler goes up to twenty-four
hours. These limits are cer
tainly too narrow. It must not be
forgotten that If a wound Is contam
inated from the outset the contamina
tion remains localized for a long time.
Even in 1870 Bilroth, with rnre sagacity,
demonstrated In his surgical letters on
the hospitals of Mannheim nnd WIs
senburg that septic complications of
wounds received In wnr do not occur
till a certain time after the event.
Without knowing Machnlkoff's the
ory, he said that the inflammation set
up In the blood vessels played a con
siderable part in this preservation. And
this, In fact, must be so. From the
very outset the Irritation caused by
traumatism brings out the white cor
puscles, which prevent the Invasion of
the system by virulent germs. The
eschars caused by traumatism are also
a barrier to Infection. This will take
place only when the white corpuscles,
called phagosytes, are exhausted to the
point of being unable any longer to de
stroy Infectious germs, and when the
eschnrs, becoming prematurely detach
ed, leave the door open to the Irruption
of virulent agents Into the circulation
Such nre the arguments which speak
In behulf of the success of the anti
septic method, even after an extended
period has elapsed since the Infliction
of a wound. It Ih crtaln In such a case
that If by washings and careful disin
fection the number and virulence of
the germs are diminished, there Is
a good chance of avoiding Infection.
These views are confirmed by the
opinions of many army surgeons. Von
Hnhn In particular, who was able to
save the wounded of Plevna and Ra
Iowa from septicaemia and erysipelas
after three to five days' transport by
a solution of phenlc acid. Other Prus
sian army surgeons claim to have ob
tained the same results by cauteriza
tion with nitric acid. These assertions
must not be generalized to the extent
of believing that all wounds will es
cape Infection. Although secondary an
tosepay Is not to be neglected. It Ms
the primary form which alone affords
good chances of success. Hence every
thing must be done to assure Its rig
orous application. The army medical
staff with the fighting line must there
fore be numerous and well equipped
with antiseptic material.
Although the antiseptic method may
not completely do away with Infec
tion of wounds received In battle. It
will, at all events, make It extremely
rare. Thanks to It, surgery will be of
an essentially life saving order. It I
no longer a question of waiting with
folded arms while nature does her
work, and nldlng her only with proper
diet nnd regular dressings. The enemy
must be nctlvely fought here by go
ing deep to stop n hemorrhage, thero
by tnklng away sequestra which aro
dnngcrous; again by cleansing tho fur
rows, however profound they may be,
or by suturing Impaired organs, which
formerly could not have been touched.
Thin militant surgery enn now under
take nnythlng, thnnks to the antisep
tic method, nnd nlthough the tissues
must be ednlt with parsimoniously, they
should not be spared when there Is no
hope of their healing or danger of
their arresting recovery of the wholo
organism,
Except In rare ennen, such ns com
plete destruction of Important arteries,
imputation should not he resorted to.
On the other hnnd, nrthrotomy, Incis
ions In the fractured region, nbtation
of sequestra, tnklng care to leave all
thnt may be still adherent, nnd draln
age of the Joints nre operations that
nre perfectly Justifiable.
Probing n wound must be nvolded
except when absolutely necessary. Ex
cept when the exploration Is very deep,
the finger In the best mnnB for Bound
ing, nnd for this purpose tho wound
enn be enlnrged to admit of easy ma
nipulation. Of course, care must be
taken before ench operation of thla
sort to thoroughly cleanse the hands
with brush, sublimate and alcohol.
Before making ligatures of arteries
the wound must be enlarged. It will
give excellent results In combination
with rigidity nnd through nntlsepsy to
prevent the suppuration, which might
release the ligatures. In this way sec
ondary hemorrhages will be less fre
quent. Thnnks to nntlsepsy, army surgery
will henceforth be nble to Intervene In
wounds thnt hitherto hnve been too
difficult of treatment, such ns those of
the cranium, thorax and abdomen.
To Prevent Cruelty to Mothers.
(From the Womnn's Signal,)
"Can you help me a few minutes,
Marlon?"
"I should like to, but I don't see how
enn." me tone wub not Impatient,
but hurried. "1 hnve this essay to finish
for the society this evening. I must go
to our French history clnss In nn hour,
then to n guild meeting, and get back
to my Germnn lesson at 5 o'clock."
"No, you can't help me. denr. You
look worn out yourself. Never mind.
If I tic up my head perhaps I can finish
this."
"Through nt Inst." said Marlon,
wearily, giving a finishing touch to
"The Development of Religious Ideas
Among the Greeks," nt the same time
glnnclng quickly nt the clock. Her at
tention wns arrested by a strange sight
Her tired mother had fallen asleep over
her sewing. Thnt was not surprising,
but the stnrtled girl saw bending over
her mother's face, two angels, each
looking enrneBtly at the sleeper.
"What made that weary look on thla
woman's fnce?" asked the stern,
strange-looking angel of the weaker,
sadder one. "Has God given her no
daughters?"
"Yes, but they have no time to help
herl"
"No time?" cried the other. "What
are they doing with all the time I am
allowing them?"
"Well."' replied the Angel cf Life. "I
keep their hands and hearts full. They
are affectionate daughters, much ad
mired for their good works; but they
do not know they are letting the one
they love most slip from my nrms Into
yours. Those gray hairs come from
overwork and anxiety to save money
for music and French lessons. Those
pale cheeks faded while the girls werev
painting roses nnd pnnsles." i
The dnrk angel frownedv "
"Young ladles must, oe accornpffsliedA
now," exrlnjrmid. tho other. "Those -eyes
grew dim sewing for the girls, to
give them time to study undent history
nnd modern languages; those wrinkles
enme because the girls had not time to
share the cares and worry of everyday;
life. That sigh comes because their
mother feels neglected nnd lonely while
the girls nre working for the women of
India; that tired look comes from get
ting up too early, while the poor ex
hausted girls are trying to sleep back
the late hours they gave to study or
fipent at the concert; those feet nre so
weary because of their ceaseless walk."
"Surely the girls can help her, too?"
"What they can. But their feet get
weary enough going nround begging
for the hospital and the church, and
hunting up the poor and the sick."
"No wonder," said the Angel of
Death, "so many mothers call me. This,,
Is Indeed sad loving. Industrious girls
giving their mother to my care as soom
as selfish, wicked oneB."
"Ah, the hours nre so crowded." said'
Life, wearily. "Girls who are cultured'
or take an active part In life have no.
time to take care of the mother who.
spent so much In bringing them up."
"Then I must place my seal on her
brow." said the Angel of Death, bend
ing over the sleeping woman.
"No, no!" cried Marlon, springing
from her seat. "I will take care of her
If you will only let her stay."
"Daughter, you must have the night
mare. Wake up, dear. I fear you havej
missed your history class." ,
"NeVeY mind, mamma, I am not going'
today. I am rested now, and I will
make those buttonholes while you curl
up on the sofa and take a nap. I'll send
word to the guild professor that I must
be excused today, for I am going to
see to supper myself and make some
of those muffins you like."
"But, dear, I dislike to take your
time."
"Seeing you have never given me any
time! Now, go to sleep, mamma dear,
as I did, and do not worry about me.
You are of more consequence than all
the languages or classics In the world."
So. with a tender kiss from her
daughter usually too busy for such
demonstrations Mrs. Hensen fell Into
a sweet, restful sleep.
"I see we might have lost the best of"
mothers In our mad rush to be educated"
and useful In this hurrying, restless day
and generation," soliloquized Marlon,
as she occasionally stole a glimpse at
the sleeping mother. "After this, only
what time she does not need I shall
devote to outside work and study. Un
til she gets well restored, I will take
charge of the house and give up all
the societies except one that I'll have
by myself If the other girls will not
Join a Society for the Prevention or
Cruelty to Mothers."
And Marlon kept her word. A few
months later one of the Women's Pro
gressive league members said to her:
"We miss your bright essays so much.
Miss Marlon. You seem to have lost all
your ambition to be highly educated.
You are letting your sisters get ahead
of you, I fear. How young your moth
er looks to have grown daughters! I
never saw her looking so well!"
Then Marlon felt rewarded for be
ing a member of what she calls taa,
'S. P. C, M."