The gauze, particularly the iodoform gauze, and bandages soon gave out. The “State of Texas” carried a quantity of surgical dressings. All that was necessary was to ask Miss Barton for them, who immediately sent on land any article needed if in her possession.
Among our patients were several cases of gunshot wound through the skull and brain near the eyes; the eyes were inflamed, and ice had to be applied continuously to relieve excruciating pain. Dr. Fauntleroy suggested that the cases be sent to the Red Cross Hospital, we had there the only ice in the field at that time; it also came from the “State of Texas,” from which we received a daily supply. The eye cases were carefully attended by Mrs. White, the wife of Dr. Trumbull White, of the Chicago Record, who deserves much praise for the constant attention which she gave them. It was necessary to make continuous application of ice every few minutes, which she did with constant and unceasing care. Mrs. White is not a trained nurse, but a gentle, wise woman. I agree with the remarks of Dr. Fauntleroy when he said that her attention and the ice relieved much suffering and saved quite a few from blindness. Captain Mills, who was one of the wounded in that manner, may tell of his own experience.
Most of the cases of gunshot wounds gave very little work to the surgeons, as the bullet entered at one place and made its exit at another, thus leaving a clean wound. Even through vital parts of the body, such as the brain and abdomen, bullets passed without apparently giving the patient any great distress. The simple cases did not need much attention; cleanliness and a cushioned dressing well protected was all they usually required. In fact, many of the smaller wounds came to us bandaged with a little emergency pad, progressing in healing. These were always shots from the Mauser bullet. Many of the men that I saw were shot in the shoulder, the bullets making exits through the back. Some gunshot wounds had two places of exit and entrance in their course. For instance, I had cases in which the bullet had gone into the upper and lateral part of the cranium, come out behind the ear, went into the shoulder and came out behind and below the shoulder blade; or had made its course through the left arm, again entering the right chest and coming out at the back. It would perhaps be out of place to enumerate or describe in this report the many courses which the bullets have taken, but as stated, most of them required little attention. There were, however, some serious wounds, such as compound comminuted fractures, in the treatment of which great skill was shown by the various surgeons in the hospital. Those were the cases which in former years would have resulted in amputation, but drainage and cleanliness, plainly speaking, have given the patients the advantage of keeping their limbs.
In the simple cases one could work alone, with the assistance of a Sister or a hospital steward, but in the more difficult cases good surgical skill was required, and it was often a source of great gratification to see two eminent surgeons, of equally good reputation, assisting each other in a difficult case; one advising, the other acting; thus the greatest harmony existed among the members of the staff. The Sisters being required in the operating tents as also the stewards there were no nurses in the tents to care for the wounded.
No food had been prepared for the large number of wounded lying on the cots or on the ground on blankets or canvas; a great many of them were too helpless even to turn. Surgeon-Major La Garde did me the honor of consulting me in regard to the nursing, and I suggested that some of the Sisters leave the operating tables, which were by that time supplied with other assistants.
The major then sent for Mrs. Lesser, who suggested that the worst cases be brought into one or two rows of tents, as the small staff of Sisters brought into Cuba was not sufficient to take charge of all and do them justice. The rows of tents were then placed in her charge, and she portioned the work of caring for them among the Sisters assisted by hospital corps men. The soldiers were nearly famished; some had not received a morsel of food for two days. Oatmeal gruel, coffee and quantities of prune juice and other articles of relish were at once prepared at the Red Cross Hospital in big cans which had come from the “State of Texas,” and with the assistance of the ever active indefatigable Chaplain Gavitt, and several newspaper correspondents, the wounded soldiers received such food as their conditions allowed.
Unfortunately the surgeons lost track of the greater number of their cases. The patient marked for redressing was placed on any table, and the surgeon in charge of that table redressed the wound; thus it was hard to say what result one or the other had obtained, with the exception of a few cases, which by special request one was allowed to continue to observe. Some of the patients came down with their wounds dressed in some hospital at the front, and I may here mention that I saw excellent work coming from the hospital in command of Dr. Woods.
When the rush was over, I was called to the camp where the Spanish prisoners were located. I prescribed for their ailments, while the Sisters supplied their food. In addition, I answered the calls which came from Cuban families in Siboney. Some Spanish prisoners were wounded and others suffered from fevers. Those who were wounded had their wounds dressed at the scene of battle, and although some of the dressings were temporary, they feared to have any person touch them, until assured that they would be treated as gently as possible. The patients had now all been operated upon and attended; only some of the wounds needed redressing. They were taken to the transport hospital ships as soon as their condition permitted. It was about that time the hospital ship Relief arrived, bringing more food for invalids and more equipped cots.
Dr. Guiteras, who visited all the hospitals daily, informed me one afternoon that he had found a case of yellow fever in camp (not in our hospital), developed in a place near Siboney. There were two or more suspicious cases which he had watched, and he believed that yellow fever would develop very rapidly. I called the Sisters together, presented the situation to them, that they might decide whether to stay in the field or return to the “State of Texas.” Their unanimous decision to stay and face the consequences made them continue their work without any hesitation. The Red Cross Hospital building became crowded, one room was set aside for doubtful cases, while the other rooms were occupied with typhoid patients. The porch in front of the house, shaded with canvas, and a little isolated room to the right, sheltered the wounded.
My work at the Red Cross Hospital became continuous, as a large number of patients came from the various camps to receive attention, and still a larger number from our camp came for consultation and treatment. The number of such consultations I discontinued to write down after three hundred were attended, Americans, Spanish and Cubans together.