Cold Injury, Ground Type.

The tragic mistakes and misunderstandings regarding the occurrence and the preventive measures required for the prevention of cold injuries are strikingly and unequivocally set forth in this volume of the medical history of World War II. It is, indeed, a tragic reminder of the failure of mankind to learn from previous bitter experiences. It can only be hoped that similar mistakes will not prevail in future years. Inadvertently this book can be considered as necessary reading for social scientists as well as practicing physicians and medical investigators.

Probably the outstanding lesson to be learned from the material in this volume is the necessity for continued research into the basic mechanisms of these disorders. As so often occurs, once the immediate problem has disappeared and urgency is a matter of no importance, research ceases. No single casualty factor in warfare has a greater impact on the fitness of combat units than