Surgery of the Modern Warfare

Our knowledge on traumatic surgery at the beginning ?f the last war was very different from our knowledge on this subject at the end of that war; still further changes had occurred by the beginning of the present war; to-day we know much more than we did in September 1939; and one may reasonably assume that by the end of this war considerable further changes ?will have taken place. Therefore, the best time to "Write a book on war surgeiy would, from a theoretical Point of view, be at the end of this war; the book "Would, however, by then, we all hope, be almost useless. After a little over a year of war, during which period theories born in peace time (and in other people's wars) have been tested and procedures modified, a point has been reached at which there is a considerable degree ?f stability in war-surgery practice; this seems to be the psychological moment for the publication of an authoritative book on war surgery. The" decision to publish this book in parts was also a Very wise one, as it obviates the inevitable delay Sedated with the publication of a large volume. When the last part has been published the publishers have promised that a suitable binding will be issued. Should one entertain any doubts as to the authoritative nature of the publication, it is only Necessary to read the list of contributors to dispel Jhese, for the list contains the names of many of weat Britain's leading surgeons, all of whom are Unfortunately in the front line in this war on civilians.