New Zealand Medical Services in Middle East and Italy
Work at 3 General Hospital
Work at 3 General Hospital
No. 3 General Hospital at Bari was the last link in the chain of evacuation in Italy. Patients were evacuated from 2 General Hospital at Caserta by train, a few being transferred by ambulance, and some special cases by air. At first, the train took the patients only part of the way, the rest of the journey being by ambulance, and this generally involved thirty hours' travelling. Later, in March, the train took the patients all the way to Bari in fourteen hours.
Certain types of cases, notably fractures of the femur, were sent on to Bari at the earliest opportunity so that all secondary treatment could be undertaken there.
The outstanding feature of wound treatment at this period was the experimental investigations carried out with penicillin. Major Scott-Thomson, pathologist to the penicillin control unit, set up a laboratory in the hospital in January, and certain groups of cases were selected:
(a) |
For treatment with sodium penicillin parenterally:
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(b) |
For treatment with calcium penicillin locally to the wound:
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The methods used were:
(a) |
Compound Fractures of Femur and Tarsus. The method originally adopted by Lieutenant-Colonel Jeffreys, RAMC, was to explore, cleanse, and suture loosely the wounds of the thigh on admission, and give 15,000 units intramuscularly three-hourly for five to six days. This method was altered later and penicillin was injected for five to six days before suture. Dressings were left unchanged for two to three weeks. |
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(b) |
Infected Haemothoraces. Two methods were used:
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(c) |
Secondary Suture. Two methods were used:
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