New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-03-26
THE MEDICAL CORPS or TIE NAVY.

IT'S PRESENT CONDITION EXCITEs UNEAsINEss AS TO
IFS FUTURE-DIFFICUITY IN FILLING VACANCIES
WITH COMPETENT MEDICAL MEN-A SCHOOL OF
INSTRUCTION PROPOSED BY MEDICAL DIRECTOR
BEAIF.
In his annual report to the Secretary of the
Navy for 1873 Medical Director Joseph Beae in charge
Of Bureau OF Medicine and Surgery most OF the
naval hospitals reasonably well provided with APP
planes for and comfort OF the Sick and
usual expenditure will be required underths head for
the current year. OF the Medical Corps, however, be
does not speak favorab!y. The condition Of this i'm
portau branch of the is far from what it should
be- and he makes certain recommendations forits in
provement That portion OF his report referring TO this
subject, which Is Of considerable interest, is given
below:
The present condition of the Medical Corps OF the
Navy is well calculated to excite uneasiness TO its
future. There 80 vacancies In the grade OF
assistant surgeons, and designations still pending
Already the Bureau finds considerable embarr"ss"s"t
in procuring medicali officers for the duty to be per-
formed. But few candidates for admission present
themselves before the Medical Board, aud OF these not
than one-fourth qualified for commission.
Thslresut sno owing any unusual strctness in the
examinations but to the want OF the necessary quait
cations the part of candidates The proof Of this Is
seen In the wrtenlpOrtions OF tho examinations which
the Of the Department wisely require to be lodged
with the Bureau While is far from being assumed that
boards infallibe, perusal Of this work In most
instances carries with 1t convincing yndcaon OF the
soundness Of their Judgment The facilities for obtain
ing medical degrees great that the possession OF
diploma is no longer per Sc evidence OF merit Hence
the duty devolves the Board TO exercise great vigil
in scrutInzing tho pretensons OF those coming
before it, Then too the emphatic words the Depart
ment announcing that "the health and lives OF the
officers and men Of the Navy are.objects too important
TO be nrusted to ignorant incompetent persons are
t1,oR m
ably upon any case admitting OF a reasonable doubt"
An obvious exists why the assistant surgeon III
the Navy should possess high qualifications, eyen hgher
than medical man praccing on shore In dlncut cases
the latter has the privilege OF consulting with oder ana
more experienced practitioners, while tho former Is
often left To depend on his own resources alone.
The experience of naval medical boards shows that'
although candidate not always come up 10 the ts-
ablshed standard yet he may give such proofs OF gen
eral aptitude that his failure Is obviously more que 10
want OF opportunity than OF capacity. II TINS omission
could in any way be supplied, a valuable ana much
needed acquisition might be secured 10 the navy lns
is an indication OF q want which is beginning 10 make
itself seriously felt throughout the service VIZ. or
school of instruction under the control the Depart
ment for candidates OF the description mentioned, as
well assistant surgeons preparing Tor ter seconu
examination. The course Of instruction would be Tor
limited period should be conducted under the gud-
ance OF medical officers OF the Navy. The proper place
for such school would be at New-1Ork or
Philadelphia, where there are large naval ana clYll
hospitals with ana facilities for the study OF
practical anatomy England, with all her educalOnul
advantages finds military service 50 peculiar IN ITS dc-
mand- medical men that at Netlcy she has ald the
foundations OF a school through which hereafter her
army and navy surgeons must pass. a schooI on
much more moderate scale would suffice for the present
wants service. During the past year the Naval
Laboratory at NewYOrK, under its present excellent
MAJ has furnished the with fdll stock Of
Tie besC medicines In respect there little left to
be desired. The opportunity winch the LABORATORY
would afford Of acquiring practical knowledge OF
pharmacy aud, TO more limited extent, or chemistry.
i an additional why the proposed school should
be established in Sew-Iork