War Surgery 1914-18

Description

World War I resulted in an enormous number of casualties who had sustained filthy contaminated wounds from high explosive shellfire, bomb and mortar blast, and from rifle and machine gun bullets. Such wounds were frequently multiple and severe, and almost invariably became infected. Surgical experience from previous conflicts was of little value, and it became quickly apparent that early surgical intervention with radical removal of all dead and revitalised tissue was absolutely vital to help reduce the chances of infections, especially the lethal gas gangrene, from developing. War Surgery 1914-18 explains how medical services responded to deal with the casualties. It discusses the evacuation pathway, and explains how facilities, particularly casualty clearing stations, evolved to cope with major, multiple wounds to help reduce mortality. There are chapters dealing with the advances made in anaesthesia, resuscitation and blood transfusion, the pathology and microbiology of wounding and diagnostic radiology. There are also chapters dealing with the development of orthopaedic surgery, both on the Western Front and in the United Kingdom, the treatment of abdominal wounds, chest wounds, wounds of the skull and brain, and the development of plastic and reconstructive surgery for those with terribly mutilating facial wounds. War Surgery 1914-18 contributes greatly to our understanding of the surgery of warfare. Surgeons working in Casualty Clearing Stations during the years 1914-1918 laid the foundations for modern war surgery as practised today in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Steve heys was born in Accrington and was educated in England, Australia and Scotland. He graduated in Medicine from the University of Aberdeen in 1981 and undertook his surgical training in the North East of Scotland. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Glasgow and England and underwent research training in the Rowett Research Institute in Aberdeen, obtaining a PhD in 1992. He specialised in general and breast cancer surgery for many years before latterly concentrating on breast cancer together with his research interests in the role of nutrition in the causation of cancer. Steve has published more than 200 scientific papers, has written many book chapters on different aspects of surgery and has played many national and international roles in surgery and the provision of surgical services. Steve joins forces with Tom as co-author of this work which explores the development of surgery during the nineteenth and early twentieth century. As Professor of Cancer Surgery at the University of Aberdeen, as well as a former member of the RAMC (V) in the 51st Highland Brigade for 6 years, Steve too is conscious of the major contribution made by Sir James McGrigor both to Army Medical Services and to the University of Aberdeen where McGrigor co-founded the Aberdeen Medical Society and which he supported throughout his long and illustrious career. Tom Scotland - Born in St. Andrews and brought up in the East Neuk of Fife, Tom was educated at Waid Academy in Anstruther. He graduated in Medicine from the University of Edinburgh 1971, becoming a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in 1975. He developed his interest in the Great War whilst a student, when there were still many veterans alive. He trained in orthopaedic surgery in Aberdeen, and after spending a year as a fellow in the University of Toronto, returned to take up the position of Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon with Grampian Health Board and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the University of Aberdeen. His particular interests were knee surgery, paediatric orthopaedics and tumour surgery, and for three years was lead clinician for the Scottish Sarcoma Managed Clinical network. Over the years he has been a frequent visitor to the Western Front, and has found cycling the best way to visit different places. He has explored many areas of the Western Front with family and friends and since retiring from the National Health Service in 2007 has kept in touch with former colleagues by leading cycling expeditions to the Western Front. He has pursued his interest in the Great War by making a particular study of Aberdeen surgeon, Sir Henry Gray, who played a pivotal role in the development of surgery on the Western Front, and has given various lectures on the development of surgical services during the Great War. In retirement he has completely re-invented himself as a cycling orthopaedic historian.

...A most interesting book, both from a World War I historical perspective and from the major changes in medicine that are so well outlined. * British Journal of Surgery * A most valuable addition to our knowledge of the war it is also a tribute to the pioneers of many aspects of surgery - the evacuation may now be by helicopter and the modern equivalent of the Casualty Clearing Station full of high-tech equipment, but the basic principles established in the Great War for the treatment of wounds are just as valid today and are still helping to save British soldiers' lives in Afghanistan. * Bulletin of the Military Historical Society * The writing is clear, concise, expertly suited to those lacking medical knowledge, yet not passee to the expert. The book's many well-chosen illustrations are greatly aided by printing on high quality coated paper. Although it is far too early to name my Great War book of the year, I have little doubt that War Surgery 1914-18 will be a major contender. Very highly recommended. * Stand To! Journal of the Western Front Association * ...important reading for anyone involved in war and conflict injuries. * Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery * ...an excellent, well presented and well illustrated book, printed on good quality paper... very highly recommended. * Mars & Clio (Newsletter of the British Commission for Military History) * The production value of this book is very high and the quality of maps, text and photography extremely good. Many of the treatments and protocols that we take for granted now developed out of the trial and error of the wartime period. I recommend this book most highly for those interested in developing a deeper appreciation of the complexity and development of both treatment as well as medical logistics during a time of conflict. * Royal Canadian Air Force Journal *