The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-14

H. partons Flora Amencana Is su1 ge1leris.
And Harris numerous contributions TO medical
journals, are peculiarly rich and instructive !;
they are received with eclat among the learned
doctors Of every land. We, such are the anoma-
lies OF the present system, that the Nayy-Board
are required TO make rules according TO which
these men shall treat their sick. And what is
sun more extraordinary, when one Of these Sur
geons ordered 10 sea, il rests with Captain TO
say what medicine shall be laid in for the cruise
The Surgeons schedule of medicines, like the
model and drawings Of the Constructor, must
be submitted TO the inspection Of, and is subject
10 DC altered by officers who know nothing OF
The art and the former too frequently finds the
pen OF authority drawn across this or that item,
In his list OF articles for the hospital II stricken
out under It's vulgar name, il may be reentered
under the technical abbreviation Of lis Latin
name in which case it seldom shares the same
fate. Thus knew Commodore who erased
gold leaf from Surgeons requisition, as an
article unnecessary in the dispensary Of ship
hound on three years cruise but he had no OBJ
lection to the same quantity OF I" fol. auTi dent
Such are the little articles TO which even these
distinguished Surgeons are sometimes compel
led TO resort, in order TO procure the various
items which they deem necessary and proper in
the practice Of their profession on board ship.
Not great many months ago, the Surgeons
cruits, on the grounds that they were vague, and
did not point out what should constitute disabii-
V. The Navy-Board were directed TO point
ont TO the Surgeons the defects. diseases and af-
fections which should disqualify sailor for the
Naval Service. The result is that the recruiting
Surgeon is as much at loss now as he was be-
fore; forif he be governed by the new code, he
will seldom find an able-bodied seaman at all and
the Navy must perish for the want of men
Badness, dandruf in the hair, rng-worms--for
all manner OF 'cutaneous diseases under this
new code, constitute disability for the Naval
Service. The holding of officers Of Que profess
sion responsible for the duties of another, which
they have never studied, and do not understand
(Which is frequently done under the present sys-
tem,) IS not only unwise, but mischevous. For
besides exposing to ridicule the officer who is re-
CURED SO to intermeddle, it serves to lesson ones
respect Tor the laws, and TO bring rules and reg
ulations into disrepute. The instance is Of re-
cent occurrence, wherein Surgeon, being or
dered on particular service found it necessary
to go first TO the Navy Department, and ask that
some particular rule or regulation might be re-
yoked or suspended, to enable him TO do his du-
ty and perform the service required, without lay
ing himself liable to be tried bya courtmartial.
What beneficial results does common sense
teach US to expect from a system, under which
Navy Commissioners are made responsible for
the model OF the architect, and Navy Captains
for the duty of Surgeons That excellent guide
teaches US, that the first step towards effective
system of accountability is to confine the atten-
ton OF officers to their proper department, and TO
hold each one responsible for his own acts-"A
ship-builder TO build ship--a sailor to manage
a ship and doctor to take charge Of the med-
cine chest" is the homey but common-sense
rule, in conformity with which Medical Blu
reau is advocated for the Navy. In the work of
the propriety of establishing a
National Dispensary in connexion with this Blu
reau, strongly recommends itself for considera-
ton. Here, under the direction Of the Surgeon
in Chief, the medicines for the Navy might be
prepared and put up in suitable cases 1t is de-
sirable that our public vessels when bound on
long and distant cruises, should not only be sup
piled with good medicines, but that these, espe-
cially the vegetable medicines which are so fla
BILE to damage on board ship, should be put up
and sealed, in small quantities convenient for
use. Thus powd. Jalap might be put up in ounce
bottles, marked HOSPITAL U. S. NJ in the
mould, and sealed with glass-stoppers. When
the ship returned, those that remain unopened,
might be turned over to the Dispensary, as fresh
and as good as they were when first received. 1t
is customary now, to sell the damaged medicines
which remain at the end of cruise. The ut
terer of spurious coin or false notes is hunted
down as violator of the law and an offender
against good morals. What then should we
think of system, under which Government il
self sets the example of retailing spoiled medi-
cine, doubtless TO the hurt Of its citizens? II a
National Despensary were to serve no other pur
pose than that of correcting so banetul prac
tce, it were well to establish one But doubt
not experiment will prove that economy and eff
cheney are both in its favor, For the medicines
. hot nd oil ,,pH for
use, are bought up by the apothecaries, repacked,
and frequently again sold to the Navy as fresh
and good
Ordnance supplies, and the equipment of
vessels for service each, of ITSELF constitutes
separate and distinct apartment, which requires
the supervision Inexperienced and intelligent of
fcers. Some are of opinion, that to these three
bureaux, each under the control Of Post Cap
an should be added photographed Bureaux,
and Bureau to take charge Of the Department
of Steam. The Bureau system has been al
ready tried and approved in the Army, and
therefore ought not to be considered in the light
If an experiment for the Navy But neither
steam nor photography is as yet made of suffi-
,ient importance in the Navy, to entitle eitherto
separate Bureau. The Navy Commissioner,
whose duties are explained below, could detach
he necessary officers for these departments, with
cut any special law on the subject.
The duties of the Secretary Of the Navy ad
nit Of subdivision and improvement, no less than
The duties of the Navy Board. The Secretary
Of the Navy is usually selected from among poll
.icans, who have never made Naval affairs any
part Of their study Neither is the selection
made on account ofany peculiar fitness or quail
ications on the part Of the incumbent for the du
les of his Office. Your readers are too well in
ormed on the subjectto require any explanation
,f The motives and considerations which prevail
N the selection of Cabinet members in this coun-
Try. The Secretary Of the Navy usually comes
INTO Office uniformed as TO the condition Of the
Navy, ignorant Of its wants and usages, and un-
with the official character and stand
ing Of most Of its officers. Accordingly he goes
% work in the dark, and, Of course bunders and
ensue tits postuate granted