Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-01-22

RICHMOND, JANUARY % ia
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
THE NAVY

INSTITUTIONS ana suggests "A remedy. Acknow-
Judgments are due 10 the author of "A pie 4.
which appeared in the Enquirer "f Dee :,Oth,
under the signature Of Il Friend, and offer
my share Of them.
have been for long time aware, that to
maintain the Navy in the high attitude of f.,
vor TO which it had raised itself, something
mare was requisite than the listless patronage,
which has been extended to il, without dis
trust or, enquiry, since the termination of the
late war. a passive acknowledgment Of its
existence by yearly appropriation for irs sup
port, is but a feeble barrier against The abuses
which time and indulgence fasten upon all in
situations. No one respects the character Of
many of the gallant men who now compose
the Navy, more highly than do /; but depre-
cate the sensibility, which forbears To scruti-
nize the public service for fear of wnunding
those who are supposed to discharge it, Ma
tlonal reputation and safety coupled with
| the permanence of the naval establishment
no longer than it proves worthy of its perma-
nencp.
The writer complains OF the absence of the
medical officers from their proper posts. Just
as the complaint may be, apprehend that
he has touched an instance rather than prin-
ciple-a branch of evil rather than the root
There IS an inherent weakness in all establish
'nents, where one profession forms a subordi-
nate part of another, of different character.
The chain of responsibility is broken, for III.
power above does not contain within itself
the intelligence of all below This difficulty
Is presented at the point where the nautical
and medical professions unite, and our laws
have created no remedy. The naval com
mander may control the presence Of the sur
geon, because the surgeon is his inferior /; but
after that, every thing rests with TIE surgeon
| himself. There is IA barrier between him and
his superlors in difference of profession, and at
ter he has yielded his personal attendance, he is
| responsible for the important objects for which
he was appointed, to himself alone. Existing
laws contain remedy for the evil of which
fl Friend complains the kindly instinct of
| our nature afford assurance of the treatment
the surgeon gives to his patient while he is
suffering before him but what check do our
naval laws afford TO abuses that have as little
connexion with personal presence as with
compassion-wha surety for the discharge of
the obligations which, apart from his daily
practice, are due from the surgeon to his pro-
fesslon and his country
These are serious evils, but thew have ex-
lsted elsewhere and been remeded The ar
my was TO greater extent sufferer. Dur.
ing the long and most pressing demand for
medical attendance, the complaint was not
that The physicians were not present. but that
their presence did but little good-thst the
worthy were employed disadvantageously-
that the unworthy had full scope for vice
that the discharge of duty rested more upon
moral than official obligations that disease
aud death were active. and that caprice or ig-
n0rance or vice obslructed the cure. The re-
mark has of course its exceptions, but the
outline, ikno,c to he correct. The act Of 49,
in part a revival of former provisions, aimed
a q nT fhn nx.n P.,f E-rt
are rarely successful, that act merely served
as means Of scrutinizing, and among the
principal evils developed, was that which now
exists in the navy-the destruction Of respon-
slbilIty by the mlpgling of professions The
post surgeon was under his garrison com
mander, the regimental surgeon controlled
or liable TO be controlled by his colonel, the
hospital surgeon and his mates Looked to the
commanders oftheir divisions There was q
conflict between dependence and indepen-
dence. Each could lay his errors upon bis
chief, while the chief himself had either to
decide without knowledge, or to leave it to his
inferior TO decide for him.
10 these evils remedy was found in a
proposition made by the present surgeon ge-
neral, passed into law in the wear 1921.
which broke up the former system and re-.
solved the whole medical body into distinct
department, uncennected, as an integral part
with any special branch of military service
Surgeons were no longer post, or reginental
or hospital surgeons. The whole body with
out reference TO location in the army, wa
subdIvIded into surgeons Sand assistant sur
geons, responsible 10 military commander for
duties purely military, to their professional
commander the surgeon general for every
thing professional Under this system the
medical department is receiving, adnins-
tratIve and accounting department. The head
OF u contracts, disburses and distributes. He
Is responsible to the Treasury on one side,
ana 10 me army on the other In subjects
purely medical, the department. has the same
faculties Tor the receipt and transmission ofin
teliIgence, for the repression Of abuses and the
application ofremediPs, as the military branch
es OF the service have in subjects purely mi
htary. The practical results Of the system
correspond to this outline Of the organization
oft. The concentration Of intelligence at the
head, IS such as tn include the course of ma
ladies' and remedies at the most distant posts:
and such IS the diminutIon of expenditure
that IN no year since the system has been
fairly IN operation, has the annual appropria-
ton for medical purposes amounted to one
half ofthe appropriation Of former wears. If
my recollection serves me. the saving of the
first year was upwards of s 10000.
The reasons for nv having made this ex-
position are obvious. With machinery oC this
sort-pIoved and at its and--wil the Navy
rest contented where il is (?
From hs Richmond Enquirer, Of the 18TH
The Norfolk Herald canddIy admits sIst ti,e res ~
the Cnucus last Monday more fi,an ffls ,Is ,; -,
Of this paper The estimate which the Herald gcs ~ Of