New-York tribune., 1874-11-28

loss FROM DISABILITY.
The Surgeon General calls attention to the great num-
Der of men reported to have been discharged on sur
geOn certificate of disability and remarks that adding
together the deaths and discharges for disability, the
loss OF the army during tho year Al 1000 of
Its strength for the White and 50 Per LOCO loo
figures are compared with the reports Of the
previous five years it will be seen that the chei
difference Is II dilninutOn IN the losses OF the c00ied
troops last year IL also appears that the large loss OF
the from discharges surgeons ceftnclte or dis
ability is not accident OF the past year. but that
mas been o constant occurrence l9f tc st SIX EeaIs
not excessive when compared with
British army from the same causes.
LARGE DEATH-RATE FROM ACCIDENTAL CAUSES.
In army the proportion of deaths and discharges
from wounds accidents, and INJURIES is than twice
great as in the British army. Thus in the past SIX
years II has averaged about per 1909 OF strength,
while in the British army it was 237 per 1909 OF
strength. OF 12 deaths from wounds, accidents, and
injuries among our white troops % were nomlcldes IA
suicides and 80 accidental drOwnings. the average
number OF deaths from homicide was 30 per 10000 men,
and the average Tor SIX years 80 per 100000 These
figures are stIiNnSy in excess of The proportion OF
hOmcides ~ tno BRUSH army. the average among
troops serving in the United Kingdom in SIX years beug
100000 and in India Is per 10000 The number Of
suicides IN our army during the past year mas been IN
the proportion OF 81 100000 among the wE:e troops
and more among the colOied troOps The average for
per 100000 ior the colOTed troops In the British army
the annual average OF suicides 100000 troops serving
propoItonate number of deaths from drowning also
greatly in excess OF the number OF deaths from the
same cause Ia the British army
DEATHS BY YELLOW FEVER.
The yellow fever prevailed during the Summer OF 1878
at several military posts. At Fort Jefferson, Florida,
the disease made its appearance but the command was
removed to LocCerhcad Key. two and half miles dis
tan and only IS occurred. Of which Is proved
fatal The removal OF the troops from Key West Fla,
and from Mobile soon as the disease appeared Gu
abled the commands a those two places to escape with
out a single None of the troops which were re-
removed from Fort Barrancas had the yellow fever,
although several deaths occurred among those VINO
remained at the fort
RECORDS PREPARED FOR THE PENSIONERS.
The Surgeon General deyoes considerable space in his
report to the work performed by his bureau In the
Record and Pension Division and in the Division OF
Surgical Records III the Record aud Pension Division
the number Of official demands for Information to
causes of death OF deceased soldiers. and the hospital
record OF nyads Instead OF diminishing as anticipated
not only actually greater than during the previous
year. but. Of late considerable proportion OF The ap
nlicatlons received have been u8u,allly difficult 10
search partly because OF thc greater number of
in which is necessary TO trace the soldier through
several hospitals, ana partly on account OF ine ncreaS
log frequency with which the data furnished ny
latter source OF trouble grows greater, just
claims, as time elapses since the close OF the war;
BOOKS USEFUL TO PHYSICIANS.
In the Division Of Surgical Reports the data for the
Descriptive Anatomical Catalogue have been perfected
The bill for the publication Of the work. recommended
by the Secretary Of War and by the House of Repre-
sentatiyes, was not acted upon by the Senate. The
materials arranged that tie work can he speedily
COMPLETED authority 10 PRINT is granted, ana The
SurgcOu-G neral rcncws the Icconmcl ldation made ~
previous annual reports, that authority Dc gwen 10 pun
lIsl 1909 copies OF tho WORK.
OF second part OF the Medical and Surgical His
OF the War 70 have Deeu printed aud nearly
all the plates nave been prepared. Proposals have been
obtained for preparing tIe plates Tor new edition OF
5000 copies, and that part Of tho work now gong
through tho press is being stereotyped. The Surgeon
General AXIS FOR legislation to authorize the Pubic
Printer to issue adduOual edition OF $500 copies
the beginning Of the work. Tue report Of Assistant
Surgeon Ev Mcclellan, L. A., the cholera epidemic
of 1878 Will be ready when Congress meets.
The number Of surgeons now III the army is 81 assist
ant surgeons 81 contract surgeons, 1877 total 3J2 The
Surgeon General says:
TIE STAFF OF SURGEONS WEAKENED.
The act reorganzlng the STAFF Corps OF the army ap
assistant surgeons in the army. cuts OF OF the five
leuenantcolonels aud ten Of the sixty majors, thus
preventing any promotion for several years 10
This much TO he regretted 1t places the officers of
Corps below those OF all the other StaH
Corps aud OF the line OF the army as regards promotion,
which felt by them hardship and injustice, the
results of which cannot fail TO be to the best
interests of the service.
The clauses of the act which specifies that the
Of contract surgeons shall be limited TO IS on or
before the 1s Of January, S5 and that thereafter no
shall be employed, must result either i'll actual
suffering for want OF medical ATTENDANCE in largely
increased expenses 10 the Government The number OF
candidates presenting themselves before the EXdmn-
position OF assistant is not
and probably not more than 25 Will pass the
examination by Jan /. to take the place Of over 11o
to be discharged under the law. Tho
only will be TO employ local physicians with
out contracts, and them the ordinary fee OF private
pDysi, ians which experience has SHOWN Will cost
much and be less satisfactory than the present