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Dec. 8, 2004 From War Surgery, 1916; Edmond Delorme, M.D. Enfilade Wounds - Certain tracks are greatly extended when the firing is from above downwards or from below upwards, as in cases in which hills, buildings, or houses are attacked. One frequently sees that a bullet under these circumstances has pierced for itself a course from the neck to the buttocks, from the hip-joint to the lower part of the leg, etc. Under normal conditions of firing one finds that the bullet may have traveled a considerable distance through different segments of the same upper limb, fore arm, axilla, etc. The prone horizontal position that is frequently assumed by the infantry soldier in the intervals during the rapid advances that bring him nearer to the enemy renders his body liable to be wounded over a lengthy extend, and explains why, even under ordinary conditions, enfilade wounds have become very frequent. A great many tracks are multiple, either caused by several projectiles, by fragments of bullets broken up by having ricocheted near the wounded man, or by the same bullet having successively perforated two different parts of the body - arm and thorax, arm and forearm, both right and left thigh, etc. We must bear in mind when the velocity of the bullet is very great, the second track is often larger than the first. From Violence, Accidents, Poisoning, 1999; Ed Friedlander, M.D. As the bullet passes through the body, its energy is received by the tissues and dispersed in radial fashion. A temporary cavity is created with a diameter many times that of the bullet. Within 5-10 thousandths of a second, the cavity collapses, but the damage has been done. The faster the bullet, the worse the damage. In injuries from rifles, most of the damage is due to the temporary cavity. Stab wounds kill by involving an important organ. When the heart is involved, death usually results from hemopericardium and tamponade. When the great vessels are involved, death usually results from hemothorax or hemoperitoneum. When the lungs are involved, death usually results from hemothorax, less often from pneumothorax. When the gut is perforated, death usually results from peritonitis. Neck wounds (stab or incised) kill by producing air embolism, asphyxiation, or exsanguination. Death may also be due to compression of neck structures by a large hematoma. On March 9, 1916, Pancho Villa and his men rode into the fort at Columbus, New Mexico, and killed 18 American soldiers. I read in the paper some time ago where this day is celebrated now by New Mexicans. What are you celebrating, can you tell me? The act of war against the United States perpetuated by Pancho Villa, et al? Americans dying by bullet and bayonet, by fire and smoke? ------------ About the author Mark Davis: I am currently working on two books: one is a fantasy adventure, and the second is a humorous look at call centers in America. Email: teljaan@gmail.com Tell a friend about this site! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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