The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-11-21
SURGEON GENERAL WALES.


SURGEON GENERAL WALES.
A BRILLIANT RECEPTION AT THE RESIDENCE OF
Ex-sURGEoN GENERAL HAMMoND-MEDICAL
AND LAYMEN PRESENT.
Ex-Surgeon General Hammond gave reception
last evening to the recently appointed Surgeon Gen.
eral Wales. United States Navy. The appointment
of Surgeon Wales, who is comparatively young
man. has occasioned much commotion in the ranks
Of his naval associates he appointed by seec-
ton and not by seniority Of service The promoted
officer has made voluminous contributions to medi-
cal literature, having, ut various times within the
past eighteen years. published the following
works:-"surgical Operations and Appliances"
"New Method Of Controlling vellum Palate"
vNew Rectal Dilator and Explorer "Cere-
bro-Spnal Meningitis" "Amputaton Of the
Shoulder joint" Fracture Of the Lower Jaw"
"Gunshot Wound in Stomach" "Ligature Of the
Femoral Artery" Fracture Of the Thyroid Car
tlage." Operation for Hydrophthalmia," ''Aneur-
ism OF the Heart instrumental Diagnosis" and
,Traumatic Tetanus;" he had charge Of the
Farraguts operations in the Mississippi River and
also In charge OF the hospital ship at Whining
ton. N. C. He was born at Annapolis Md. in 1884.
was educated at Baltimore College. took medical
degrees from the University OF Maryland and from
the University of Pennsylvania. and has practised
his profession IN Baltimore. Washington and Phila-
delphia. At present he Is professor OF anatomy at
the OF MS resignation Of
last. when he received his appointment as surgeon
general.
were Drs Hanks. Wagner, Buckley, Weir. Leale. f.
II. Hamilton. Markoe, I. G. Thomas, Sims. Gouley.
man. Rona Dalton. J. r. Wood. Otis. Agnew. A. G.
Post. Emmett Clymer, Leaning, Shrady. Seguin,
nifty others. Of New York; Drs. Hartshorne. Atlee.
Gross, Hutchinson and Darrach, of Philadelphia;
pousherty Of Newark q, oLesry Of Providence;
the army; Medical Director Peck. Medical Inspector
Woodgood and Surgeon Kershner. OF the navy; DR..
Pineo. late Medical Inspector United States Army.
Among other non-medcal gentlemen present were
Major General Hancock, Z. W. stoughton. late Min
lister to Russia; Mr.. Yeaman. late Minister Swe-
den; John Bigelow. late Minister to France; G. N.
General Webb. General Kiddoo, General Butterheld.
Collector Merritt Postmaster James. Judges Noah
Davis. Curtis. Lawrence. Barrett and Shea; General
ningham, Chief Engineer Shook and Commodore
Nicholson. United States Navy; District Attorney
stitution; Professors Trowbrdge and Van Amringe.
of Columbia College; Rev. Drs. Hitchcock. Gallaher.
MortSn Bailey Mr. uar
can, Mr. +. A. Conkling, Mr.. Sidney Webster, Cheva-
lier Ratio. Consul General Of Italy Count xarfoschi
Sweden and Norway Mr.. Bolape. Consul of Greece;
Mr.. Pugh. MIR. whitelaw Reid. Mr. Il. I. Wilson. Mr..
Cole. Mr.. Isaac il. Bailey. Mr.. G: W. Van
Clarence seward. Surrogate Calvin, Mr.. John sher
wood Mr.. ]. II. Sherwood NJ. j. ID. Jones, Colonel
Ingersoll. General viele. Mr. Russell Sage Marquis
j. W. Forney, General w. +. Smith, David Dudley
Field. Cyrus ": Field. David Bows. Colonel Lathers
Rollins. Russell and Lyon. Assistant District Attor
neys; Assistant United States District Attorney Her
rick and Mr.. Clarkson N. Potter.
EFFICIENCY NOT SENIORITY CONSULTED IN HIS
APPOINTMENT.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HEnALD:-
Under the head Of News from Washington" on
the 18th inst it would appear that there was some
trouble in the Navy Department. growing out Of the
recent appointment Of Medical Inspector Philip s.
Wales Chief OF the Bureau Of Medicine and Sur
gerry, in the place Of Surgeon General j. W. Taylor.
retired. The facts of the case are follows. and
their publication should serve to put end to any
misapprehension that may prevail on the subject
and terminate q senseless attack the head of the
Navy Department. which has been commenced by
certain disappointed aspirants III the medical corps,
through the press and otherwise:-
On the 9Th of July. 1862 Congress enacted the fol-
lowing law. which has never been repealed tsee
Revised Statutesl:-
SECTION 42ichiefs Of the several Bureaus in tho De-
BY and with the advice aud of the enatc from
respectively from officers having the relative rank Of
sns s the @
SIC. 42e-Chiefs Of Bureau OF Medicine and Surgery
shall DO appointed from the list OF the surgeons OF the
navy
The sections omitted refer to the Presidents
power select chiefs Of other bureaus The is
clear one, and only those disposed to be insubor-
dinate would attempt to place themselves in opposi
ton to the law and to the Secretary OF the Navy.
The law IL positive. and it will be by section
AL, above quoted, that the Secretary may II he
thinks proper, select from the list OF those medical
officers holding the relative rank OF captains In
most cases where there has been nothing objection
able to prevent it, the chiefs Of the Medical Bureau
have been selected according to seniority, but MIR.
Secretary Wellcs, to the greatest efficiency in
that bureau, had Surgeon y. j. Horwtz--a young
officer much lower in rank than Medical Inspector
Wales Ia now-made Chief of Bureau.
The captains, coinmodores and admirals might
with ~ much propricty object to the appointment
of commander as chief Of bureau--a thing which
has often been donewithout criticism from officers
OF the line, for the Secretary, being alone responsible
forthe efficiency OF the service, has right to call to
hisssistance the best talent Of tho navy, and sur
round himself with assistants In accordance with
his views TO enable him to successfully administer
the affairs OF the department, provided hc conforms
strictly to the law. he has in the case OF DR..
Wales.
TO show how incousis certain medical officers
have been in this matter the very men who are no
getting ready to oppose Medical Inspector Wales as
soon Congress shall convene were lately intrigu-
ing TO obtain the position OF Chief Of Bureau when
| Surgeon General Taylor retired. To get rid OF
tNer ncessant opportunities and those or their
friends, the Secretary was compelled to appoint the
present incumbent, in regard to whose fitness there
among the medical profession of the country.
strong effort will doubtless be made by portion OF
the medical corps to defeat the nomination of Medi-
cal Inspector Wales but 1t will certainly meet with
] JUSTICE