The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-05-14
From the Baltimore Patriot.
NATIONAL IMPORTANCE OF AN UNITED
STATES MEDICAL REVIEW.

STA NEIlCAL hEF lew.
We sincerely believe that, in this age of practical
utility, lawgivers would not willingly overlook
any arrangement coming within the reach of their
powers, if it is made evident to them that such
arrangement Is Of ertenSire national utility,
into contact with conflicting party politics,
requires extraordinary expenditure OF public trea-
sure but merely needs legal organization to give it
being. Ignorance Of the practical purposes of any
institution may justify its neglect but that ignorance
being removed, is left for its continued
glect when difficulties oppose it aud its public
benefits ndisputable. One acquainted with the
minute construction Of any machine, may have his
attention attracted by its general movements and OPP
GRAFTON, and not observe the important bearing of its
several parts and the dependence which the final
suit has upon each of those parts Thus it is with
Navy and its medical corps and it is matter of
much surprise that those practical in the Navy,
who aware of the Importance Of the medical
corps to its efficiency have not done more to place
that corps upon proper footing, and to give it bet
ter organization. The medical corps has long wait
ed in vain for such action One of the first inquiries
of ships company, particularly if ordered to an
unhealthy station is, Who are to be its medical Off
cers' Strike the medical corps from the naval SER
vice, and how would its efficiency be crippled, if not
annhilated' And it ought at to be struck from
the naval service, it ought at to be struck
from the naval service, ought to be placed upon
a better footing. Facts with some reflection upon
them, will show that the present efficiency of the
ves of the world is, at least to the extent Of
half derived from the lights and aids of their med
cal departments and the navies Of Europe have done
something to make to these departments return for
the benefits conferred. That Of the United States
has done nothing
That we have not claimed too much Importance for
the benefits conferred by efficient medical depart
ment, will be apparent when it is considered how nu-
merous and extensive are the sources of disease to
which seamen are exposed growing out of the great
changes of, and the deleterious climates to which
they are subjected; the influence of diet, and the
peculiar circumstances of crowded shp-board resi-
dence.
We cannot better evidence the tent OF these in
huences than is done by the following extracts from
review of the naval statistical reports of DR.. Wilson,
Royal Navy, and for which, as the reviewer remarks
we indebted to the zeal and industry of DR.. Will
son, and to the public spirit of Sir William Brunei
the distinguished Physician General, to whom the
medical department of the navy is under so many OBJ
legations.
In enumerang the peculiar Of nautical dis
ease the reviewer continues, Add to these ciIcum
stances, the effect not of climate merely, in the ordi
nary of the terr but of the variations of soil
and of the carnations arising from it, well of
food and water supplied by the several stations and
have multiplicity of influences brought Ito bear
on the bodies of our seamen, in quick succession the
practical value of which il is altogether impossible to
define or fix" The influence of the pecuIiarties of
ship board residence is thus stated
AT midnight or four o'clock in the morning. the
relieving the deck rush from heir beds in o the
open air, often very nadequately covered perhaps
perspring profusely, and pass in instant from
highly heated and facilitating to- it may be, really
cold, always to a comparatively cold Atmospheric
In all ships whatever their size, in consequence of
the great number of men board there must be great
crowdng between decks and this crowdng is greater
as the vessel is smaller To show to what an extent,
this crowdng of the sleeping berths takes place. it is
sufficient to state that the usual space between the
suspcnding points (cues) of the hammocks is from
fourteen to eighteen inches; that when they
ended by the beds, the bodies of their occupants
IN contact" w hen at sea, with watch on deck,
the accumulation and pressure reduced by half
but when in secure harbor, 500 perhaps sleep
one deck, their bodies touching each other the
whole space literally and with very little space room
length~ays"
we will now copy at length, the following portion
OF the review showing the great changes which have
been effected by the improved medical treatment Of
seamen, and we regret that all the favorable inau-
ences here enumerated cannot be claimed in our own
service:
"We cannot" says the reviewer, quit this intro
ductory chapter of tie reports without advertng to
the vast improvement which has taken place of late
years in the comfort and health of seamen and in
the consequent efficiency of our Naval service !
e Formerly" says the report, ship OF war on
many accounts an object of aversion, " and well it
might be-" g A diet, consisting Of very salt beef
biscuits long baked and buildings made of salt, suet
md flour water so purid and offensive, often
70 thick and green from vegetable admixture and de-
composition and emitting strongly the fetor of rot
en eggs as to disgust at the sense of smell and |
aste the hest and almost only luxury of the seamen
s exorbitant allowance of spirituous liquors. at
ga as on land the fruitful of disease, and mis-