Surgical Experiences in South Africa, 1899-1900. George Henry Makins

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      Table I. gives the number of men engaged, and also that of the killed and wounded at each of four battles. Table III. shows for comparison the relative number of killed and wounded in some former campaigns while older forms of weapon were in use.

      With regard to the numbers in Tables I. and II. it should be at once said that they are only to be regarded as approximate, since they do not exactly tally with those officially reported in the 'Times' at a later date. Sources of error may, however, have crept into both, and as there is little difference in the gross numbers, I have preferred to retain the series compiled by Major Burtchaell, R.A.M.C., as Table II. contains interesting information as to the proportionate number of men who died during the first 48 hours, after being wounded.

TABLE II

       Table of Contents

      Showing Proportion of Mortality amongst Men Hit, (a) on the Field, (b) during the First Forty-eight Hours

						Percentage mortality
	Number of troops engaged	Total number of men hit	Killed	Died within forty-eight hours	Total	To men hit	To force employed
Belmont:
Officers	297	26	3	3	6	23	2.02
Non.-com. officers and men	8,396	265	55	8	63	23.77	0.75
Total	8,693	291	58	11	69	23.71	0.79
Graspan:
Officers	326	10	3	1	4	40[2]	1.22
Non.-com. officers and men	8,213	188	18	3	21	11.17	0.25
Total	8,539	198	21	4	25	12.62	0.29
Modder River:
Officers	335	22	3	1	4	18.18	1.19
Non.-com. officers and men	9,856	462	67	9	76	16.45	0.77
Total	10,191	484	70	10	80	16.53	0.78
Magersfontein:
Officers	379	68	18	4	22