The New York herald., 1872-12-23
NAVAL AP0THECxRIEs.

INC Present Status Of the DrugrEyixel
tho United states Navy-tVIsa,
s"ouid be Done To Render the Posftioa
"oTo Permsnent and Remunerstivc.
New YoRK, Dec. 10, 1872.
| TO THE EDITOR or THE HERALp:-
AHo~'ng 'nat you are always ready and willing
10 help those who are worthy, weald ask you to
grant the following o space in the columns OF the
hkRALD. great deal has been suggested to
Improve the routine and management OF our navy,
Due mover TO my knowledge has anybody thought
worth the trouble to mention the corps Of naval
apothecares until Medical Director Wniam N.
Wood, s'scn Surgeon General Un,sed states Navy,
called the attention OF the Navy Department 70 the
SUBJECT in his report OF 1871 (DutI m sorry to say
without succcss), as follows:-
ssso respectfully call attsntor to the procs
r.y soa S sas s S - s snrss
S pc %ade permanent corps instead Of remaining as
iof their old age and aes TIC sest Ser
VIZ, vce There are pow officers Of this class who
refuge sOr them bus the poorhosse or the grave
Very few outside Of the navy understand the
position On apothocary occupies on snipboard.
They are divided incO the first, second and tnrd
Class. They OF the ayst class are attached to re-
ceiving ships, navy yards and hospitals, With the
pay OF $3.50 per annum; the second class go first
aMu second rate vessels, with the pay OF $40 per
month, and the third class TO third and fosfth
IN.
unntlated would naturally suppose that a physi-
cal. moral and mental cxamination decides Who,
should be a first second or third class apothecary.
Buethis Is not the case. The majority of these
petty Oillcers are promoted r0m nurses and their
khnowledge OF drugs does nee extend any further
tnan the allowance table issued by the
bureau OF Medicine and Surgery aud as
long as they can read the labels on the
different bottles they think they are ali right
Now, one OF these grand druggists may have been
on ship for two or three years; the surgeon in
charge Is ordered to a receivlng ship, taxes his
asSi m
knowledge, becomes to be frat class by virtue OF
ship who Is thrown out or work., perhaps has to
accept q position on smai vessel and becomes
therefore q third class apothccary although he
may be graduate or the College, OF Pharmacy
Very few educated druggists jointhe navy, on ac-
count Of the small pay and the few privileges
their favor Is that they. with the master-at-arms
paymaster's writer, yeoman and orderly sergeant
Ass1rediy great concession These 1--WE men ' can
SIT down on their launches and eat their scOuse
anu drink their coffee ~ two feet from the rest Of
ON shore stations their position is all that can be
desired but to have competent corps OF apothe-
carries at sea their position on shipbO0rd must be
made more comfortable. Why not like the hos
pital steward IN the army, let him receive q per-
manent appointment; let HIM, before entering the
service, pass mental, moral and physical exam
inaton; do away with the different classes; give
them all equal pay; give them the rank OF a war
rant officer, and In time OF need these apotheca-
ries could go in charge OF small vessels with more
security TO the new. Then, under the charge of
a green acting assistants surgeon am sure an edu
Gated druggist is as much of gentleman as boat
swain promoted from "before the mast" have
doubt that the medical officers or the navy
would be in favor of a movement OF this kind as
II would materially relieve them of some OF
their duties l have heard OF vessels being
without medical 0nlcsr for three or four days. the
apOthecary alone being on board; this Is especially
the case In fourth class vessel which rates only
one doctor. Now, In vessel Of that class the pay
Is only $50 per month, and am very little is
to be expected from man who cannot command
higher salary than that on shore. The present
Surgeon General OF the Navy, kind and just man,
well versed in the requirements OF the medical de-
partment OF that branch OF our service, am cer-
tain would do something for the poor apothecary
II there was any show OF success say the s'spOor
apothecary.r for after man has served In that
capacity until he Is untitled by old age other dis
ability, there Is no provision made for q pension or
even hospital treatment, while c0lored man who
may have served as "ward room boy" for ten or
twenty years con have the choice Of the asylum or
pension.
conclude with asking your pardon for occupy
ing so much OF your valuable space, and subscribe
myself yours, respectfully,
AN Ex-APOTHECARY U. s. NAVY.