1 186 IISTORY OF THE SIKHS.
2 heavy iron bullet, which, on being extracted, left a
3 large opening, and often caused severe inflamma-
4 At Sobreon tion in the surrounding parts. In the attack on .
5 ketry. the entrenchment at Sobraon, the musketry was
6 the deadly weapon in the hand of the Sikhs, and
7 the musket ball was oftenest met with; it was a
8 small bullet, and caused but little harm if in a
9 Dangerous fleshy part; but when entering a knee-joint, the
10 nature of we :
11 grape-shot_ succeeding inflammation was such as often caused
12 Keupds mute death ; and from the experience gleaned at Sobraon,
13 as well as at Feerozshuhur, there is little doubt
14 (in fact, the point appears to be completely settled)
15 that a mushet bullet or grape shot, lodged in the knee,
16 requires immediate amputation. ‘This is an impor-
17 tant point, and had it been fully appreciated, we
18 should not have to lament the death of many men
19 and officers thus wounded during the present cam-
20 Proper appa- paign. Though a bone be simply fractured, and
21 fakes fishy even a smaller joint, such as the ankle, injured by
22 Shanes a gun-shot wound, recovery without loss of limb
23 isd be saved may occur, provided proper apparatus for treating
24 Credit due for Such accidents be available. There is always much
25 saving alm) ore credit due to the surgeon who saves a limb,
26 than to him who cuts off legs and arms indiscrimi-
27 nately: but when saying this, it must not be for-
28 gotten that a gun-shot wound of the knee-joint or
29 other joint, when the bones are much injured in
30 the latter, demands immediate amputation; and
31 delay, or as it is usually termed “ giving a chance,”
32 is worse than useless, and puts the patient’s life in
33 jeopardy. In a military surgeon, decision is the