The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-06-11
SURGEONS OF THE NAVY.
Their Dutics Are Light. Except In War or
at Fcver-strIcke en- Ports.

SURGEONS OF THE NAVE
Their Dutics Are Light. Except In War or
| at Fcver-strlckrn Ports.
Naval surgeons are never disturbed BY the
question that troubled tho conscience Of An
thony Trollope's old lady. who was always in
doubt az to whether the doctor should be
classed along with tho squire and the parson
| as gentleman. Tho surgeon Is equally free
from the doubts OF the line as to whether he is
properly IN officer In the perennial war Of
| line and stat the surgeon Is a stout cham pion
OF his order. and II there is any arm Of tho
| service distinguished for conservatism and a
| punotilious observance OF the proprieies 1t
| is the medical. When to the traditions Of
| rank. precedence. and privilege that rule the
| navy you add the cast-iron etiquette OF the
| medical profession the result is something
| portentous. and it is only the wholesome dis
cipline OF that curious little community. the
wardroom that saves the naval surgeon from
becoming the victim OF his double identity.
The medical department Is. all things con-
sidered. the least burdened with duty OF any
in the service. Nobody would pretend that
tho pay corps is overworked. but save In rare
instances the surgeon has less to occupy him
than tho paymaster. There are now 165 per-
sons on the active list OF the naval medical
corps. The organization Of the corps is much
the same as that OF the other divisions OF the
stat. There are fifteen medical directors with
the relative rank OF Captain. one Of whom Is
usually Surgeon General Of the Navy and Chief
OF the Bureau OF Medicine and Surgery in the
Navy Department As such he has for the
time bring the relative rank OF Commodore.
The other fourteen medical directors are
mostly members Of medical examining
Boards. or chief surgeons at naval hos
pitfalls. naval laboratories. and the like.
Next in rank are tho fifteen medical inspec-
tors. with the relative rank OF Commander. A
few OF the inspectors 60 to sea in big ships.
ana the fleet surgeon OF considerable SQUAD
spe It Seyt
upper fifteen usually witt the rank OF Lieuten-
ant Commander, the others with that of Lieu
goes to sea In q consid era Bile ship or has good
post ashore: The law fiIes the corps Of Passed
Passed Assistant Surgeons and thirty Assist
goons fifteen have the rank Of Lieutenant and
forty that Of Lieutenant. Junior, grade while
All the men in the hi gher ranks Of the re- medi-
sssss 4 the ssryiss TSs Assl.tsns susgsans
dates enter the medical corps with this rank.
and are assigned as juniors on big, or little
from some civil hospital or after brief practice
Of the hob6ledehoys who shock and estonisR |
laymsn when the latter encounter the promis. |
mob re- in the edfa
best men Of the medical schools enter the navy. |
but the tho meSSa made
xs r. Sspsaa
whatever the relative advantages OF civil or
nayal life to such men as make up the bulk of
average much less work than ha wOulI bava |
had in civil practice. with quite as much pay
, as he could l reasonably have expected alter
Iage or small city He enters the navy at
:; yeaE sea np pay and may expect in time
to the naval otiicer. The clever and am bilious
m edicai corps. but the Ordinary ca pablo me a
cal graduate. not provided with friends and
oP q ties may be thought lucky to obtain
Is IfbIai!y called IN the wardIGom may be
aroma Of undergraduate rowdyism to the
s sIdios. and thoroughly .well-bred young
The former under the influence OF naval rou:
idleness and the more or less pedantie dulo
ne as Of the man ma whose education Is chiefly
hs LEISURE ns SSt s The
lie viii master some depsPtm a e9 Of his a" BRO!
H and in time attain a distinction alto
slss in the navy. but tho ".sicS bay" IS not
plenty to be done at the naval hos piiais. 40
The surgeon. as you see him In the ward
1t Is dn MS nsya
Ssia Ss ems Ioks ashore EnSw neth
iSa; inass$ Tsslis 'o5 fs p Ss' the
ecOnctl0 duty and good comradeship 4 sur- |