Surgery, Military. Restricted to its rigorous signification, military surgery is the surgical practice in armies; but in its broad and ordinary acceptation embraces many other branches of art comprehending the practice of medicine, sanitary precautions, hospital administration, ambulances, etc. The military surgeon must not only be a skillful physician and surgeon, but he must have a constitution sufficiently strong to resist the fatigues of war, and all inclemencies of weather; a solid judgment and a generous activity in giving prompt assistance to the wounded without distinction of rank or grade, and without even excluding enemies. He must have the courage to face dangers without the power, in all cases, of combating them; he must have great coolness in order to act and operate in the most difficult positions, whether amidst the movement of troops, the shock of arms, the cries of the wounded when crowded together, in a charge, in a retreat, in intrenchments, under the ramparts of a besieged place, or at a breach. He must have inventive ingenuity which will supply the wants of the wounded in extreme cases, and a compassionate heart, with strength of will which will inspire confidence in those with whom he is brought so closely in contact. The military surgeon, with his flying ambulance, throws himself into the field of battle, through the mêlée, under the fire of the enemy, runs the risk of being taken prisoner, being wounded, or being killed, and is worthy of all the honors that should be bestowed on bravery and skill in the performance of his high functions. Additional grades, as hospital-surgeons, surgeons of divisions, surgeons-in-chief, and inspector-generals of hospitals, etc., are required for every army in the field.
Surinam, or Dutch Guiana. A Dutch colony in South America, situated between English and French Guiana. The factories established here by the English in 1640, were occupied by the Portuguese in 1643; by the Dutch, 1654; captured by the English in 1804; and restored to the Dutch in 1814.
Surmounted. In heraldry, a term used to indicate that one charge is to be placed over another of different color or metal, which may respectively be blazoned: [sable], a pile argent surmounted by a chevron gules; and, [argent], a cross gules surmounted by another or.
Surprise. In war, to fall on an enemy unexpectedly, in marching through narrow and difficult passes, when one part of an army has passed, and is not able to come at once to the succor of the other; as in the passage of woods, rivers, inclosures, etc. A place is surprised by drains, casements, or the issues of rivers or canals; by encumbering the bridge or gate, or by wagons meeting and stopping each other; or by sending soldiers into the place, under pretense of being deserters, who, on entering, surprise the guard, being sustained by troops at hand in ambush, to whom they give entrance, and thereby seize the place. Military history abounds with instances of successful surprises.
Surrender. To lay down your arms, and give yourself up as a prisoner of war. Also, the act of giving up, as the surrender of a town or garrison.
Surrey. One of the smallest of the English counties, has the Thames for its northern boundary, Berkshire and Hampshire on the west, Sussex on the south, and Kent on the east. Before the Roman era, Surrey formed a portion of the dominions of a Celtic tribe, named by Ptolemy the Regni, and after the Roman conquest was merged into the province of Britannica Prima, though, for many years, it retained its native princes, or subreguli. Eventually it was swallowed up in the territory of the South Saxons, and reduced by Kenulf, king of Wessex, about 760, into that progressive kingdom which Alfred brought into constitutional harmony and national completeness. From the period of the Norman conquest, Surrey can claim no separate annals. At Kingston, Surrey, in 1642, took place the first military movement of the great civil war; a body of royalists unsuccessfully attempting to seize upon its magazine of arms. And there, on July 7, 1648, Lord Francis Villiers (Dryden’s “Zimri”), met his death in the skirmish which closed the famous struggle.
Surround. In sieges, to invest; in tactics, to outflank and cut off the means of retreating.
Surrounded. Inclosed; invested. A town is said to be surrounded when its principal outlets are blocked up; and an army, when its flanks are turned, and its retreat cut off.
Surtout (Fr.). In fortification, is the elevation of the parapet of a work at the angles to protect from enfilade fire.
Survey, Boards of. See [Boards of Survey].