# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 4/20th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 121

Chap. CXXI.—An Act for the better organization of the medical department of the navy of the United States.
After the passing of this act, no person to receive the appointment of assistant surgeon, unless examined, &c.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, from and after the passing of this act, no person shall receive the appointment of assistant surgeon in the navy of the United States, unless he shall have been examined and approved by a board of naval surgeons, who shall be designated for that purpose, by the secretary of the navy department; and no person shall receive the appointment of surgeon in the navy of the United States until he shall have served as an assistant surgeon at least two years, on board a public vessel of the United States, at sea, and unless, also, he shall have been examined and approved by a board of surgeons constituted as aforesaid.
President of the United States may designate, &c. to every fleet or squadron an intelligent surgeon, then in the naval service of the United States.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States may designate and appoint to every fleet or squadron an experienced and intelligent surgeon, then in the naval service of the United States, to be denominated “Surgeon of the Fleet,” who shall be surgeon of the flag ship, and who, in addition to his duties as such, shall examine and approve all requisitions for medical and hospital stores for the fleet, and inspect their quality; and who shall, in difficult cases, consult with the surgeons of the several ships, and make records of the character and treatment of diseases, to be transmitted to the Navy Department; and who, in addition to the compensation allowed to surgeons at sea, shall be allowed double rations while acting as surgeon of the fleet as aforesaid.
Assistant surgeons who have been commissioned less than five years, to receive 30 dollars a month, and two rations per day, &c.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That assistant surgeons who shall have been commissioned for less than five years, shall each receive thirty dollars a month, and two rations a day; after five years’ service, they shall be entitled to an examination by a board of naval surgeons, constituted as aforesaid, and having been approved and passed by such board, they shall each receive an addition of five dollars a month, and one ration a day; and, after ten years’ service, a further addition of five dollars a month, and one ration a day.
Every surgeon who shall have received his appointment as herein provided for, to receive 50 dollars per month and two rations a day, &c.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That every surgeon who shall have received his appointment, as is hereinbefore provided for, shall receive fifty dollars a month, and two rations a day; after five years’ service, he shall be entitled to receive fifty-five dollars a month and an additional ration a day; and after ten years’ service, he shall receive sixty dollars a month and an additional ration a day; and after twenty years’ service, he shall receive seventy dollars a month and the rations as last aforesaid.
Every assistant surgeon, &c. to receive five dollars per month in addition to the usual compensation.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That every assistant surgeon (after having faithfully served two years) shall, while in actual service at sea, in addition to the usual compensation allowed him by law, receive double ​rations, and five dollars a month; and every surgeon in the navy, while in actual service at sea, shall also, in addition to his usual compensation, receive double rations, and ten dollars a month.
Approved, May 24, 1828.