Recent exhibitions - Battlefield Surgery

Baron Dominique-Jean Larrey, (1766-1842)

Larrey began his studies of medicine under the tutelage of his uncle in Toulouse. In 1786 he moved to Paris to complete studies under Besault, chief of surgery at the Hotel de Bieu. 

He joined the French Navy and became chief surgeon to the frigate "Vigilante" on its voyage to North America. Only one man died during the entire voyage; however Larrey had to resign from the Navy due to chronic seasickness.

When war broke out in 1792 he became doctor to the French army in the Rhine.

In 1803 Larrey performed one of the earliest amputations about the hip. In 1805 appointed Surgeon-in-Chief to the French Army and in 1810 Larrey was made a Baron by Napoleon. During the Peninsular campaign Larrey reportedly carried out 200 amputations within a 24 hour period after the Battle of Borodino. Around this time he also published the first description of trench foot.

Although shot and left for dead, Larrey was captured by the Prussians and sentenced to death but was recognised by a Herman physician who had been his student at Val-de-Grace. He pleaded for Larrey's life with Prussian Field Marshall, Gerhard Blucher. Blucher's son had been wounded and captured by the French - and his life had been saved by Larrey. Larrey was freed and given safe passage to Belgium.

Ambulance Volante 

During 1797, the "Italian Campaign", Larrey designed the Ambulance Volante or "flying ambulances" to evacuate casualties from the battlefield. These were horse drawn wagons for collecting and carrying the wounded from the battlefield to base hospitals. It consisted of a system of transport of medical supplies and supporting personnel. 

The personnel included a doctor, quartermaster, non- commissioned officer, a drummer boy (who carried the bandages), and 24 infantrymen. The flying ambulances were a success, and this idea was subsequently taken up by other armies.

Even in harsh desert terrain these ambulances would collect the wounded in less than 15 minutes. Larrey was soon organising flying ambulances for the entire French Army.

"Memoires de chirurgie militarie et campagnes"

Larrey was the first surgeon to treat battlefield casualties where they were injured, rather than waiting for the finish of the battle at the end of the day and also introduced the first descriptions of triage: 

"The best plan that can be adopted in such emergencies, to prevent the evil consequences of leaving soldiers who are severely wounded without assistance, is to place the ambulances as near as possible to the line of the battle, and to establish headquarters, to which all the wounded, who require delicate operations, shall be collected to be operated upon by the surgeon-general. Those who are dangerously wounded should receive the first attention, without regard to rank or distinction. They who are injured in a less degree may wait until their brethren-in- arms, who are badly mutilated, have been operated and dressed, otherwise the latter would not survive many hours; rarely until the succeeding day. Besides with a slight wound, it is easy to repair to the hospital of the first or second line, especially for the officers who generally have means of transportation. Finally, life is not endangered by such wounds."

During 1812-1817 Larrey published 4 volumes of  "Memoires de chirurgie militarie et campagnes"

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