Surgery and Healing in the Developing World - Dartmouth-Hitchcock

Foreword
Surgery and Healing in the Developing
World
The major thrust of this book is to present a collection of “how I do it”
from 50 authors. The whole book is a valuable traveling companion for
those attempting their first medical mission, or veterans of many such trips
eager to better perform this art.
There is an occasional familiar name among the authors, Robert Blanchard,
a remarkable Canadian academic surgeon. His chapter will bring readers
up-to-date on surgical infections. Blanchard’s experience extends into Pakistan
and broadens our view of western commitment to medicine in the developing
world.
Diane Downing and Ahuka Ona Longombe worked together with the
editor among the iodine-deficient Azandies, a neglected tribe in Zaire
(Congo). In Surgery and Healing we find them on their own, each doing
other things; both exemplify common sense to an uncommon degree.
Longombe’s “Study of the Epidemiology and Treatment of Fractures” and
“Surgical Training of Nurses for Rural Areas” merit careful attention. He
learned by doing it over and over again. Longombe’s collaboration between
equally well trained surgeons in Africa. Surgical improvisation is the result;
it is often the most fun of all.
Diane Downing’s chapter on “Tropical Nursing” demonstrates her experience
perfectly. In addition to her experience she has a creative scientific
mind and unquenchable spirit.
Given the timing necessary for “Surgery and Healing” I’ve yet to read,
“Medicine Writ Large in the Raw, Without Power or Plumbing” which, as
in three other chapters, are solely written by Glenn Geelhoed himself. These
insights should be valuable.
On balance Glenn Geelhoed and his co-authors, give us a deep but unpretentious
storehouse of good things to know about, surgery and healing in
the developing world. Unquestionably, this is the right thing at the right
time. We are grateful to all concerned.
Timothy S. Harrison