318 THE NEW WORLD OF SCIENCE 



centage of adrenalin ; but the stimulant effect of the latter is 

 very fugitive. Blood pressure readings are taken at frequent 

 intervals, and treatment regulated thereby. 



Porter advocates the treatment of shock by means of carbon 

 dioxide, which is introduced into a box in which the patient's 

 head is enclosed, enough gas being used to double the number 

 of respirations. By employing this carbon dioxide treatment, 

 in addition to the posture, the warming, and the intravenous 

 injections, Porter claims to have 80 per cent, of successes, even 

 in the cases of profound shock. 



Another important advance in war surgery was the early 

 splinting of the wounded, as far forward as possible. Some 

 splints were applied even on the field, many at the battalion aid 

 stations close behind the firing line, while it was the endeavor 

 to have every man splinted before being evacuated from the 

 *' triage " or sorting station of the wounded to formations 

 farther back. This splinting applied not only to fractures and 

 joint wounds, but to extensive wounds of the soft parts as 

 well. It resulted in greatly lessening shock, rendering the 

 wounded more comfortable and thus keeping up their morale, 

 preventing further injury from movement of the wounded part 

 during transportation and so delivering the patient in better 

 condition for immediate or early operation. This was accom- 

 plished by standardizing the splints throughout the army, mak- 

 ing them simple, easy and quick of application, training the 

 sanitary personnel in their proper application and adjustment, 

 and having a sufficient supply for their needs at all times with 

 the combat units. Better final results in the treatment of 

 wounded resulted from this early and far-forward splinting. 



A very distinct and one of the most far-reaching and bene- 

 ficial results of the war was the realization of the surgeon that 

 his duty had not been fully accomplished in getting a wound 

 to heal or a fracture to unite. Too often in the past the general 

 surgeon was satisfied with just this, and as a consequence not 

 enough attention was paid to the future function of the 

 wounded member. Due to the teaching and indefatigable effort 



