Treatment of arrow wounds in the American Indian-Fighting Army: the technique of Brevet Lt. Col. Joseph H. Bill.

The history of medicine contains many chapters with seemingly insoluble problems that were overcome by great innovators. Contributors like Pasteur, Reed, and Salk altered the practice of medicine forever. However, along with the giants of medicine, there have been legions of other physicians who have made lesser, but not unimportant contributions. Many of these discoveries involved techniques that became obsolete as technology progressed, and many others formed the basis for further medical advances. Such was the case of Dr. Joseph H. Bill's technique of treating arrow wounds in the Indian Fighting Army of 1866-1890.