New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-26
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
NAVAL DISCIPLINE-UNDUE INTERFERENCE
WITH MEDICAL OFFICERS.

WITH MEDICAL OFFICERS. 4
TO the EdttOr OF The Tribune
SIR In the harbOr of Aspinwall, in February
last, John Simmons sailor board the United States
steamship Npsc presented himself to the surgeon Dr.
Green with unhealed cutlass wound In the head lie
found unfit for duty and reported the sick list
tCommander sefrdGe sent for the doctor and said
Take that man of the sick list and restore him to duty
at once" The Doctor replied 1.-The man Is unht ior
duty. You send him on deck II you choose, but
cannot alter my opinion OF his case" Leut'-Com
mander selfrdge-"D Do you refuse to obey my
Ordertp Dr. Green-"I do not consider the order
proper or legal, and therefore cannot obey IT,
The Doctor then arrested and kept confined TOT
week until the number OF sick became so large that
was necessary him TO duty Dr. Green wrote
statement 10 the Secretary OF the navy
which the Commander refused to forward thereby
preventing an appeal TO the only authority which could
render Justice Upon the arrival Of the Npsc at Wash
ingtOn Commander Selfridge Informed Admiral Porter
OF his act and Dr. again arrested and ordered
before a Court Martial five of the members Of
which were Naval Commanders) upon charges Of dsobe
dence Of orders and contempt Of his superior officer
The position assumed In this by the Naval Captain
ismpOrtant peculiar The authority OF the Medical
officer the sick and wounded Is denied and II the
sailor unable 10 attend to his duties he has no prOec
ton from the gor Of service. But the naval officer goes
further than this The Doctor pronounced a man unfit
for cuty the commander orders him, under Penaly OF
arrest. confinement and courmartial, TO declare him
well He would order the Medical officer 10 nei Few
OF the line officers Of the navy deny that the order
an improper One but they have not the candor to
admit that the Doc ors refusal manly and udicOus
He should have Obeyed and afCrward protested" they
say "then discipline would have been maintained"
That is TO say that every order TO Medical officer
about the sick in his IL uttered by drunk
ard. an insane man. a heartless tyrant must be
promptly obeyed and the Doctor may complain after
ward latter his patients DEATH perhaps, If indeed he
he refused this privilege. DIR. Green What
delicate thing naval discipline If wrongs must be done
oppression encoura ged. lest some damage should
happen TO 1t
But no harm to discipline from the medical
report which only the opinion OF the Surgeon OF the
condition OF the named In It. and is not binding
upon the Captain. II TO be question OF less con
Germ however the Surgeon than TO the other officers
and men, who appeal TO him for professional aid aud
protection. III the Leueuaut Commander reject his
opinions concerning the ships command them at
will, the Commodore or Admiral may 90 so where O1crs
concerned, and Commander or Lieutenant may DO
sent on duty involving severe exposure when he Is alto
Rether unit The question OF pensions TOO Is nNOvea
in the practice. If the Surgeon not treat the sick
he cannot the medical record of his case
upon which the Pension Bureau bases its dgcsOns ana
may claim a pension Of the Government
for the results of disease or injury because
he was not allowed proper medical attention.
We hear OF such arbitrary proceeding in the army,
where the medical officers authority is Recognized with
the same courtesy that prevails civil life. There Is
great need of considering the Of the naval surgeons
aud II Is to be hoped that Congress Will duly legsaie III
their behalf In the coming session so as to secure Tor
the position which is their due TO fix by law their
function and responsibilities, and 10 protect them from
tyranny. The only which the authority Of the
the lato where inspecting officer directed that
three men, "sad 10 be NJ for duty should be sent TO
their regiments referred TO headquarters for the de
cision OF the commanding general aud was returned
with the following Endorsement: If, in the opinion OF
the surgeon the unfit for duty they will Dot be
sent" Yours, &c, FIAT JUSIIIA.
New York, Oct q 1869.