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Abstract
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A few short years ago we thought we knew all there was
to know about modern arms and projectiles and their effect
on the human body. Our studies of the Spanish-American
war and the Russo-Japanese war revealed much, but it seems
as if the present war must revolutionize all our ideas on this
subject.
This is not due so much to a marked change in armament,
as it is to changed conditions in the conduct of the war; con
ditions unlooked for and regarded as impossible. The fight
ing is being conducted at point-blank range and the combat
ants are being subjected to the full effect of the 20th Century
engines of war.
We have to consider the effect of rifle bullets, shells, (per
cussion and shrapnel), bombs fired from trench mortars, arrows
rained down from aeroplanes, machine guns, pistol balls, and
even bayonet.
The rifle bullets are, for the most part, about 30 caliber,
light, sharp pointed, and with an extremely high velocity--
nearly 3,000 feet per second muzzle velocity. The French
bullet is said to be made of solid brass; the German, more like
our own, has a jacket of cupro-nickle steel and a hardened
lead core.
The percussion shells burst on impact, are filled with a high
explosive charge and have a thick steel ease. Their explosion
is followed by the distribution of ragged pieces of steel in all
directions, with terrific force, causing the most frightful
wounds. The shrapnel have a time fuse which is cut by the
gunner to burst in a given number of seconds. The fuse is
lighted by the powder charge which propels the projectile,
when the piece is fired. The shrapnel are built up; a plate of
friable iron on which rest a number of hardened lead balls,
caliber 50; another iron plate, then another layer of balls, and
so on until the case is filled; the fuse forming the point of the
shell. They contain a powder charge just sufficient to burst
the case, which is about 3-16ths of an inch in thickness. When
the shell bursts the friable iron plates are brpken by the ex
plosion and, with the balls, make about 300 fragments which
are propelled forward, cone-shaped, at the original velocity of
the shell. The bombs are fired by trench mortars at close
range. They are about 7 inches in diameter and contain only
the bursting charge of explosive. On bursting the outside
casing is torn to bits and tin* steel fragments are sent Hying in
all directions. The arrows from aeroplanes have a velocity
sufficient to drive them through a man's body from his head
to his feet. The pistol balls are of small caliber, from 30 to 38,
some of them made of hardened lead and others with steel
jackets, similar to the rifle bullets.
'Much has been said about the use of "mushroom" bullets
by the combatants in the various armies. I think it may be
safely said that none of these armies have used, are using, or
ever will use bullets of this description. There are several
factors that enter into the question and mislead individuals
into thinking that they have to deal with wounds from "mush
room" bullets. Explosive effects do occur in the use of the
high power rifles, and the causes may be divided into three
classes:
1. High velocity, causing extensive comminution of bones
when struck at a right angle,
2. Instability of flight and a tendency on the part of the
bullet to revolve around a transverse axis. Unless impact
occurs with almost the exact tip, a rapid revolution of the
bullet on its axis occurs and it is driven sideways through the
tissues, producing a large wound of exit. This is particularly
true of the German bullet.
3. Ricochet. This is where a bullet first strikes some object
and is deflected, entering the body of the soldier in a greatly
deformed condition and causing an extensive wound.
When men are only a few yards apart, as they are in the
present struggle, the most typical explosive effects are pro
duced...
Language: en |