James Langley Dalton

James Langley Dalton (Commissariat) Died 7th Jan 1887, Buried R.C. Cemetery. Russell Road, Port Elizabeth, South, Africa
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SURGICAL EXPERIENCES IN THE ZULU WAR.

ACTING ASSISTANT-COMISSARY DALTON was hit in the right shoulder at rorkes drift when busily engaged forming the " laager" which he had originally commenced, and to which was due the safety of the place. The bullet entered about half an inch above the middle of the clavicle, and made its escape posteriorly at the lowest border of the trapezius muscle. The course taken was curious, regularly running around the shoulder and down the back, escaping all the important structures. The wounds, like all those recieved at R.D., were wide and open and sloughing when seen by me on the 26th, after the slough came away the usual tenix was applied. The whole of the field medical equipment having been captured by the enemy at isandlwana, i had no antiseptic to use. I thought of quinine, which i knew was a wonderful preserver of animal tissues, and used a solution of that, experimenting in this case.It seemed to answer, as the wounds got well after being injected several times with it. My subsequent experience , however, is that the wound would have done as well without it.

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Acting Assistant Commissary J. Dalton VC Commissariat Department, present at the Defence of Rorke's Drift (Port Elizabeth)

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Acting Assistant Commissary J. Dalton VC Commissariat Department, present at the Defence of Rorke's Drift - Victoria Cross Memorial (Union Jack Club, London)
Photo's and text by Tim Needham.