Wound treatment with tranfusion (for additional wbc?) and sodium hypochlorate (almost clorox)irrigation has been superseded by a bunch of stuff. Penicllin wasn't in mass use until after d-day, but sulfa was available and in common use, I believe. Management of fractured femur with a thomas splint was taught in 1971 in my nursing school, but was replaced by the hare traction splint-which is a lot like a thomas splint- and early surgical fixation. Interesting stuff-thanks, art.

Susan-in the absence of antibiotics and wound management stuff, leaving the wound open was better than creating an abscess by enclosing infective material. And you are right, it is still a pretty good idea. An insightful surgeon once told me that all surgery was unnecessary-the human race was thriving for a long time without it.