Chapter V: The First Battle of Plevna

The Town of Plevna--A Natural Stronghold--_Le Petit
Village_--The Gypsies' Warning--Dr. Robert--An Expatriated
Bacchanalian--We attend a Banquet--The First Battle of
Plevna--An Artillery Duel--Surgical Aid to the Wounded--A
Gunner's Death--The Zacuska--Arranging the
Hospitals--Disposition of the Turkish Line of
Defence--Commencement of the Battle--Fighting on the Janik
Bair--Arrival of the Wounded--Sufferings in the Arabas--Variety
in Gunshot Wounds--Some Extraordinary Recoveries--Turkish
Fortitude--Objections to Alcohol--And to Amputation--Berdan v.
Krenke Bullets--A Man shot through the Brain--Rapid Cure--An
Erratic Rifle-ball--Remarkable Example of Vitality--A Missile
in the Heart of a Living Man--My Second Hospital--A Turkish
Colonel's Wound--Insufficient Beds--Mangled Wretches lying on
the Floor--Two Russians wounded--They both die--The Shambles in
the Mosque--Our Open-air Operating Theatre--Calling the
Faithful to Prayer 114

CHAPTER VI.
THE INTERVAL BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND BATTLES.

Sending away the Wounded--Osman Effendi--We perform
Operations--Amputating Fingers--A Warning to Malingerers--Trial
and Execution--Discipline in the Town--Round the Bazaars after
the Battle--Some Pathetic Souvenirs--The Punishment of
Looters--Circassian and Bulgarian--A Cold-blooded Murder--The
Work of Fortification--Out with the Burial Parties--A Walk over
the Battle-field--Fresh Reinforcements arrive--The Lovtcha
Expedition--Rifaat Pasha's Success--My Quarters near the
Hospital--I have a Flitting--Arrival of Olivier Pain--A Pretty
Bulgarian Girl--Limitations of a Vocabulary--Hospital
Routine--Soldier Nurses 142