MEDICAL FIELD PANNIERS.
To mitigate the horrors of war is to render humanity a service. Messrs. Savory and Moore, the chemists, of New Bond Street, have to our mind succeeded in doing so, by the introduction of their " Improved Medical Field Panniers." These consist of two wicker boxes, about two feet long and eighteen inches square, covered with buffalo or other un- tanned skins. The tops or lids of the panniers, together with the front sides of each, are removable, and arc so adjusted by the aid of hinges, and pieces of round iron for legs,-also attached to the panniers,-that when the boxes are on the ground, the lids and sides form a bed or table for amputating or other surgical operations, hitherto performed on the ground. Or in an emergency the surgeon himself might sleep on it.
The two panthers are small chemical shops in themselves, probably better provided than many with more pretensions. Number one has no fewer than thirty-two distinct drugs, in bottles and cases. The more poisonous are put up in Messrs. Savory's patent poison bottles, noticed in the Spectator of February 26th and March Gth of the present year. Be- sides the drugs there are three empty bottles for pills ; two zinc bottles, one for brandy, the other for water ; a corkscrew, knives, scissors, labels, scales and weights, enema, gallipot, corks, measures, pestle and mortar, ligatures, wax, needles, pens and ink, and many other needful things too numerous to mention here. In number two pannier are to be found six- teen field and four screw tourniquets ; a tin saucepan, and a small strainer for making tea economically ; lint, carded cotton, and calico bandages in tin cases ; linen, calico and india-rubber sheeting, plaister of two kinds, each four yards long ; wax candles, wax matches, splints, basins and pans ; tea, sugar, arrowroot, concentrated beef tea, and cocoa milk in tin eases ; case book, admission and discharge book ; case of surgical instruments, and medical certificate book. There is also a lamp, with reflector. The lamp boils water in a small tin saucepan for the pur- pose of making tea in case of immediate want. The whole of the medi- cines and other matters are so arranged on shelves, or in drawers, or in compartments, that in an instant the surgeon can put his hand on any- thing he requires, without trouble or perplexity. The panniers are sup- ported on the horse's back by strong bands of leather, which also keep the boxes firmly closed. The weight of the panniers is less than those at present in use ; and a more compact arrangement of many things in a small compass it has not been our lot to see. Messrs. Savory and Moore inform us, that they have orders from the Director-General to keep in stock a large number of the panthers in case of an emergency.
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