Immuno-Electrophoretic Analysis

One facet of the organization of surgeons during World War II was commented upon by almost every author. Prior to the entry of the United States into World War II, it had been decided by written agreement between the Office of the Surgeon General and university medical schools that the surgical faculties of the schools would agree to staff specific hospitals in the event of war. The Surgeon General in return agreed to retain such a unit except in very trying circumstances. At first glance, this seems to be an excellent means of providing coordinated and high class surgical care but often resulted in staffing field hospitals with inadequately trained medical officers while the general hospitals to the rear enjoyed an abundance of skilled personnel who were essentially frozen in place. One cannot help but detect the frustrations encountered during wartime by military surgeons, all of whom were anxious to extend their best efforts but many of whom felt restricted by army protocol and red tape. This volume, recounting the experiences of the surgical consultants, provides much important information concerning the difficulties of wartime medicine and should provide much help to a newer generation of physician should another major war ensue.