Surgical Experiences in South Africa, 1899-1900: Being Mainly a Clinical Study of the Nature and Effects of Injuries Produced by Bullets of Small CalibreMakins, George Henry
History
Surgical Experiences in South Africa, 1899-1900: Being Mainly a Clinical Study of the Nature and Effects of Injuries Produced by Bullets of Small Calibre
Makins, George Henry
Gunshot wounds; South African War, 1899-1902; Surgery, Military
It may be of interest to premise the opportunities which I enjoyed of
gaining experience during the campaign. I arrived in South Africa on
November 19, 1899; two days later I proceeded to Orange River with
Surgeon-General Wilson, and on the day three weeks after leaving home
performed some operations in the field hospitals on patients from the
battle of Belmont. I remained at Orange River during the three next
engagements, Graspan, Enslin, and Modder River, and on the day of
Magersfontein I went forward to the Field hospitals at Modder River,
arriving during the bringing in of the patients from the field of
battle. I returned to Orange River with the patients and remained there
a further period of three weeks, during which time the patients were
gradually transferred to the Base hospitals at Wynberg. At Christmas I
followed the patients down to the base, and thus was able to observe the
course of the cases from their commencement to convalescence. I remained
at Wynberg six weeks, during which time a number of cases from the
neighbourhood of Rensburg and some from Natal were received. On February
7, I left Wynberg, following Lord Roberts up to my old quarters at
Modder River, where I saw a few wounded men brought in from the
engagements at Koodoosberg Drift. On Lord Roberts's departure for
Bloemfontein he requested me to return to Wynberg to await the wounded
who might be sent down from the fighting which might occur during his
advance. I therefore had the disappointment of seeing the start of the
army, and then returning to Wynberg, where I remained for another six
weeks in attendance at Nos. 1 and 2 General Hospitals.
During this period a very large number of the wounded from Paardeberg
Drift and other battles were sent down and treated, after which surgical
work began to flag.
On April 14, I was recalled to the front and journeyed to Bloemfontein,
where I stayed three weeks, making one journey out to the Bearer Company
of the IX. Division at the Waterworks.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account