Search

By focussing on two objects originating from the former German colony in East Africa, this article showcases an entangled Tanzanian- British-German history. The objects in question are human remains; or, to be more precise, a skull and a tooth. Firstly, the article traces their itineraries. Secondly, it demonstrates how human remains, which were taken as colonial trophies, could become objects of faith and attain their own ›life‹ in Europe. Their interpretation as objects of faith is supposed to challenge the prevailing understanding of the collection of human remains as part of a history of knowledge. Instead, the article offers a different reading which emphasises an African-European dialogue of meanings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological analysis of injury patterns and mechanisms help in identifying the expertise that military surgeons need in a combat setting and also in adjusting training requirements accordingly. This paper attempts to assess the surgical specialties and skills of particular importance in the management of casualties in crisis areas., Methods: MEDLINE (1949-2007) and Google search were used. Causes of death among casualties in Afghanistan and the Iraq war were analyzed., Results: The leading causes of injury were explosive devices, gunshot wounds, aircraft crashes, and terrorist attacks. Of the casualties, 55% died in hostile action and 45% in nonhostile incidents. Chest or abdominal injuries (40%) and brain injuries (35%) were the main causes of death for soldiers killed in action. The case fatality rate in Iraq was approximately half as high as in the Vietnam War. In contrast, the amputation rate was twice as high. Approximately 8-15% of the deaths appeared to be preventable., Conclusions: Military surgeons must have excellent skills in the fields of thoracic, visceral, and vascular surgery as well as practical skills in neurosurgery and oral and maxillofacial surgery. It also is of vital importance to ensure the availability of sufficient medical evacuation capabilities. Furthermore, there is a need for a standardized registration system for all injuries similar to the German Trauma Registry.