MUSKETS, MUSKET BALLS AND THE WOUNDS THEY MADE

Gunshot wounds are a common occurrence today in both military and civi lian situations. This paper discusses the development of the weapons, their capabilities, the type of wounds produced and their management i n earlier times. A brief comparison is made with the wounds produced b y modern firearms. It may be concluded that the earlier wounds were si mpler due to the lower velocity of the projectile and therefore a more conservative approach to treatment was acceptable.