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War Surgery 1914-18
This book is an analysis of surgical practice during the Great War, 1914-1918, focusing closely on the human aspects of the surgery of warfare and how developments in the understanding of injuries sustained in warfare occurred.
The First World War resulted in appalling wounds that quickly became grossly infected. The medical profession had to rapidly modify its clinical practice to deal with the major problems presented by overwhelming sepsis. Besides risk of infection, there were many other issues to be addressed including casualty evacuation, anesthesia, the use of X-rays and how to deal with disfiguring wounds - plastic surgery in its infancy.
The core of the book lies in 10 essays covering a wide variety of topics, including: the evacuation of casualties; anesthesia, shock and resuscitation; pathology; X-rays; orthopedic wounds; abdominal wounds; chest wounds; wounds of the skull and brain; the development of plastic surgery. All material is supported by an extensive number of figures, tables and images.
This book is firmly aimed at all those with a passion for the history of this period. While it will be of interest to those in medical spheres the editors have ensured that the essays are accessible and of interest to a non-medical readership.
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 practiced today in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
The First World War resulted in appalling wounds that quickly became grossly infected. The medical profession had to rapidly modify its clinical practice to deal with the major problems presented by overwhelming sepsis. Besides risk of infection, there were many other issues to be addressed including casualty evacuation, anesthesia, the use of X-rays and how to deal with disfiguring wounds - plastic surgery in its infancy.
The core of the book lies in 10 essays covering a wide variety of topics, including: the evacuation of casualties; anesthesia, shock and resuscitation; pathology; X-rays; orthopedic wounds; abdominal wounds; chest wounds; wounds of the skull and brain; the development of plastic surgery. All material is supported by an extensive number of figures, tables and images.
This book is firmly aimed at all those with a passion for the history of this period. While it will be of interest to those in medical spheres the editors have ensured that the essays are accessible and of interest to a non-medical readership.
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 practiced today in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 7, 2016
Fabulous resource, have quoted from it many times.
February 5, 2024
An excellent book, very carefully constructed into readable chapters on various specialties in treating WW1 casualties and how the Medical Services demonstrated a clear learning organisation advancing medical knowledge and some of the most horrific injuries.
The book is a must to anyone wanting to understand that the FWW was won by the integration of all aspects of military and society. This book helps to dispel the myth of ‘Lions led by Donkeys’, by clearly elucidating that much change was driven by innovative Generals. They were supported by some brilliant, and gifted, medical personnel, Surgeons, Doctors, Nurses, et al.
Tom Scotland does an excellent job encapsulating how medical services improved throughout the war and how many lives were saved through innovation and learning.
I would strongly recommend this book to all.
The book is a must to anyone wanting to understand that the FWW was won by the integration of all aspects of military and society. This book helps to dispel the myth of ‘Lions led by Donkeys’, by clearly elucidating that much change was driven by innovative Generals. They were supported by some brilliant, and gifted, medical personnel, Surgeons, Doctors, Nurses, et al.
Tom Scotland does an excellent job encapsulating how medical services improved throughout the war and how many lives were saved through innovation and learning.
I would strongly recommend this book to all.
July 17, 2014
What an absolutely phantastic book! This walks you through every procedure, military and surgical, a wounded soldier went through. It discusses, at important depth but never above the heads of laypeople, all the relevant procedures, operations, consequences, chances and decisions.
An absolutely invaluable resource--recommended for everyone who wants to know what happened on the medical end of the Great War!
An absolutely invaluable resource--recommended for everyone who wants to know what happened on the medical end of the Great War!
October 17, 2012
A superb book which really outlines the challenges facing the Royal Army Medical Corps 1914 - 1918. The detail is just at the right level for the lay reader to understand. We owe a lot to these doctors who pushed the discipline forward and pioneered many of the life saving techniques with which we are familiar today.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews