The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-05-14
From the Baltimore Patriot
NATIONAL IMPORTANCE OF AN UNITED
STATES MEDICAL, REVIEW &


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 extensive national utility
into contact with conflicting party politics,
requires no extraordinary expenditure OF public trea
sure, but merely needs legal organization to give
being. Ignorance of the practical purposes of any
institution may justify its neglect, but that ignorance
being removed, no excuse is left for its continued
elect, when no difficulties oppose it aud its public
benefits indisputable. 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 re-
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 men in the Navy,
who are 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 a ships company, particularly if ordered to an
unhealthy station is, Who are to be its medical Off
GERS 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 once to be struck
from the naval service or it ought to be placed upon
better footing. Facts, with some reflection upon
them, will show that the present efficiency of the ma
ves of the world is, at least to the extent of one
half, derived from the lights and aids of their med
cal departments, and the naves 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 exposed growing out of the great
changes OF, and the deleterous climates to which
they are subjected the influence of diet, and the
peculiar circumstances of crowded shipbo resi-.
dence.
We cannot better evidence the ex tent OF these in
"aences than is done by the following extracts from
rev Of the naval statistical reports of Or. Wilson,
gal Navy and for which, as the reviewer remarks
~e are indebted to the zeal and industry of DR.. Will
son, and TO the public spirit of Sir William Brunei,
the distinguished Physician General, 10 whom the
medical department of the navy is under many OBJ
legations.
In enumerating the peculiar sources of nautical dis
ease, the reviewer continues Add to these ciIcum
stances the effect not of climate merely in the ord
nary sense of the tern, but of the variations of soil
and of the carnations arising from it, well OF
food and water supplied by the several stations and
we have multiplicity of influences brought!o bear
on the bodies of seamen, in quick succession, the
practical value Of which it Is altogether impossible TO
define or fix" The influence of the pecuartics Of a
ip.board residence is thus stated:
q At midnight, or four O'Clock in the morning, the
relieving the deck rush from their beds into the
open air often very inadequately covered, perhaps
perspirng piofusely, and pass in instant from
highly heated and debllitaing to- it may be, really
cold, always to comparatively cold atmosphere, -
/" In all ships whatever their size, in consequence of
the great number of men board there must be great
crowdng between decks, and this crowding is greater
the vessel is smaller To show to what extent,
this crowdng of the sleeping berhs takes place, ii is
efficient to state that the usual space between the
suspcnding points (clues) of the hammocks is from
fourteen to eighteen inches; that when they
tended by the beds, the bodies of their occupants are
in contact" w hen at sea- with watch on deck,
the accumulation and pressure reduced by half
but when in secure hatbor, 500 perhaps sleep
one deck, their bodies touching each other over the
whole space laerally and with very little space room
lengthways"
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 nhu-
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 our seamen, and in
the consequent efficiency of our Naval service y
g Formerly says the report, ship of war was on
many 1unts object of aversion, 90 and well II
might be-" diet, consisting of very salt beef,
biscuits long baked and buildings made of salt, suet
and flour water so putrid and offensive, often
SO thick and green from vegetable admixture and de-
and emitting strongly the etor of rot
ten eggs to disgust at once the sense of smell and
taste the hest and almost only luxury of the
is an exorbitant allowance of spirituous liquors at
sea as land the fruitful source of disease, andmis