INTRODUCTION
Dr. William E. (Bill) Burkhalter died before this volume finally emerged from the labyrinths of government. He had labored mightily to cajole, coerce, and browbeat the coauthors to complete their chapters. That it has been finally published is due in large part to his determination—quite typical of his devotion to duty and to the patients we all served.
Sad though his death was, it would be truly tragic if the lessons we learned were allowed to lie fallow. With every war we learn something new about wound management, and yet, with each new war, we seem unable to promptly apply the lessons learned from the preceding one. All who are charged with the care of future casualties should carefully read what Dr. Burkhalter has summarized in the last chapter of this work.
PAUL W. BROWN, M.D.
