Statistical Reports

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. IN the Spring of 1916 arrangements were made for the cases of gunshot wound of the head which occurred in the Army Area to be evacuated to this Hospital for operation, if they were fit for transport. That arrangement has persisted, and we are now able to present the results of 656 cases which have passed through our hands during the 20 months which have elapsed since the scheme was initiated. Included in that total are a fairly large number of cases on which an operation had been performed previous to admission here, and it has been intensely interesting to compare the results in the two series of cases. The cases which are sent here for operation are selected at the c.c.s. As being able to stand the journey, in judging this the pulse has been practically the sole criterion. Any case with a pulse-rate below ioo - no matter what the severity of the wound - will stand the journey. The cases are accordingly of a varying degree of severity - from the small punctured wound type to the large gash with brain matter exuding freely, the largest wound of this type that we have had measured eight (8) inches in length. Those cases which have been operated on before admission also vary enormously in severity, and are, so far as one can judge, of approximately the same average degree of severity as those admitted here before operation. The cases which are transferred here for operation are sent by motor ambulance direct from the c.c.s. A journey taking on the average 2 - 3 hours. Those cases which have been already operated on are, as a rule, transferred here by barge.