New York-tidewater chapters' history of military medicine award: The military odyssey of Norman Bethune

Military Medicine, Apr 1999 by Alexander, C Alex

On reaching Yenan, Bethune's party was met by an American physician, George Hatem (known as Ma Haide in China), who was then serving as medical adviser to the 8th Route Army. Dr. Hatem gave the group a tour of the military area and showed them their living quarters, which were bunkers carved out of caves in the Yenan mountains.l Bethune was impressed by the eagerness of the military authorities to use his services. The day after his arrival, he met Mao Tse-tung.1 Bethune presented an outline of his plan to Mao, which included the establishment of both mobile surgical units and traveling blood banks. He assured Mao that during the winter, refrigeration of blood was unnecessary because blood bottles could be kept in ice-cold mountain streams. Bethune's early experience as a stretcher-- bearer in combat, his success with blood banks in Spain, and the reports of Bethune's selfless services to Chinese peasants en route from Hankow to Yenan impressed Mao. Bethune also assured Mao that he could reduce the mortality rate of casualties by 75% if he could organize mobile surgical units.' Bethune was formally titled the Chief Medical Officer of the 8th Route Army and medical adviser to the Chin-Cha-Chi civilian government. 1 Immediately, he reorganized an ill-equipped base hospital into a model hospital with strict guidelines for the treatment of casualties. He also instituted regular training for all medical workers.l The group's work schedules became hectic and demanding. Ewen returned to Canada and Dr. Brown returned to Hankow.8 Bethune's surgical units began operating close to combat areas, and that endeared him greatly to the soldiers. Unlike in Spain, there were no reported incidents of Bethune's alcoholic brawls or "womanizing" while he was in China. Instead, stories began to circulate about Bethune's selflessness. Often, he parted with his own food and clothing when he treated the poor and needy villagers. Sometimes, he donated his blood to entice skeptical or frightened peasants to volunteer as blood donors.9 Occasionally, he used his salary to procure bare necessities for soldiers.1

Bethune's mobile units were constantly on the move, following closely the combat units. On average, his units covered a distance of 175 miles in 10 days and continually operated on casualties. He insisted on the absolute need for field medical units to rush to where the wounded were.1 Bethune's contributions to military medicine in China, as a skilled battlefield surgeon, an effective organizer, a good teacher, and an inventor of medical equipment, are well documented by Dr. Hatem.2 He frequently worked with carpenters and blacksmiths to forge new surgical tools and redesign packing containers, the latter to double as operating tables.2 It is recorded that two such containers, when unpacked and reassembled, yielded one operating table and provided enough equipment, supplies, and drugs to perform 100 operations, dress 500 wounds, and dispense 500 prescriptions.' Bethune also wrote manuals for paramedical personnel and set up schools for military medics. At times, he was considered an irascible teacher. But his commitment to the welfare of the soldiers was never questioned. Soon, he became a legendary figure in Mao's China. The rumor of his mere presence in combat areas was often credited with victories in battles.1