The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-16
n. G. MEDICAL STAT
Interesting Report of Sur
geon- General John D.
MCGi11.
HIS RECOMMENDATIONS.
Wants the Pumps at Sea Girt
Abandoned-The Need Of
Ambulances.

The annual report of Colonel G. Oliphant,
Inspector of Division, Of the last encamp-
ment of the First Brigade, N.G. N. j., which
forms an important part of Adjutant Cen
eral Stryker's report, pays a high compn-
insult to the Fourth Regiment OF this CITY.
Colonel Oliphant Is a most exacting crluc,
and to receive a compliment from him Is COP
sidered a high honor by National Guards
men. In speaking of the arrival OF tne
brigade at camp, Colonel Ohphant says
"In marching past the commander-in-cnler,
there seemed to be o very great uncertainty
among the commissioned officers as 70
whether they should salute or not, about half
of them doing so, and generally the nom
commissioned staff officer did salute. The
Fourth Regiment was the next TO arrive,
and their marching past the Governor was
correct with the exception OF COM
misioned officer and two non-commlssioned
staff officers saluted. The rank and file of
this command looked well in their new uni
forms. The Fourth Regiment deserves
special mention for its bugle corps, when Is
not only creditab BILE to itself but adds to the
excellent military bearing OF the Regiment. -"
The First and Second Regiments officers are
scored for failing to salute. In another
chapter of the report Colonel Oipnant
says:-'sIn guard mounting and In babalnon
drills of their regiments. Colonel ADer-
nethy, Fourth Regiment and Colonel Muzzy,
Second Regiment, were interchangeable In their
efforts to bring their comparatively new
organizations up to as high a standard as
possible while in camp. They were always
on the field in person, acting as instructors,
and at the end of the encampment then
commander showed the results OF their Ell
-. 10 AaYa IN &ha nhn0l
of instruction for otlcers neid each Gay ny
Colonel Abernethy.
..When the encampmept was brought to q
close on Saturday, and the Fourth ana sec
ond Regiments marched out OF camp ana
passed before the Commander-in-Chief at
State Headquarters, they received his high
est commentator"
DR.. M'GILL's REPORT.
Another interesting feature OF AdJutane
General STRIKERS report is the report OF
Surgeon General DR.. John d. McGil OF this
CITY. DR. McGin recommends that the medl-
cal staff be ~reorganlzed and makes tne Ioi-
lowing suggestions
81. The Governor to appoint all medical
officers. and no person to be appointed from
civil life as a medical officer above the Office
of assistant surgeon with rank OF first heu-
tenant.
should be, on the part Of the medical onncer,
attachment only.
t.3. The rank of medical officers should be
in proportion to length of service. After a
service of five years, captain; ten years,
major; fifteen years, lieutenant colonel, n
twenty years, colonel.
I'd. The medical staff should be q general
staff, its members to be assigned TO duty by
the Governor en- recommendation OF bne
surgeon general.
"a. Medical officers should wear a general
staff uniform with distinctive ensignla:
ga U1,nr oCcf0no6 IN dTItu in a mllIT4rV
organization the medical officer should be
under the military control and an acting
member of the staff of the commander OF
that organization. !.
az. The commanding officer, as an act OF
courtesy. should be afforded the privilege of
selecting his own medical officers from MEM
bers of the general medical staff, provided
his selection be endorsed by the surgeon
general.
THE SUMNER CAMP RoU
The State of New Jersey is to be congratu-
lated upon the possession of q summer
camn Ground for it's National Guard not ex-
celled in location and surroundings by that
of any other State in the Union. The situa-
ton is all that could be desired in a SAM
tary way, dry, porous, sandy sou, prox-
unity to the sea, and, occupying a space III
the pine belt that formerly fringed the en-
tire Atlantic coast, it offers conditions for
salubrity seldom equaled. The air Is pure,
fresh and invigorating, and the weeks sum-
mer outing to the guardsmen is conducive TO
health and physical vigor. In supply. OF
drinking water Is obtained from an artesian
well, which unfortunately is inadequate to
the demand, one well not affording sufficient
water. As a consequence Of this lack Of pure
water more or less surface water
is used, which is supplied by a sys-
tenn of pumps. The surface water IS
apt to be contaminated, and while tneSe
pumps continue to exist, convenient and
easy of access, the temptation to use the sur
face water will be. to careless people, ire
sistible. and its use to the unseasoned mill
tiamen is fraught with danger.
ABANDON THE USE OF
Gas Sea Girt is to be a permanent camp, l
think it would be well to abandon entirely
the use of the pumps for surface water, and
substitute a system of water pipes and
hydrants connecting with a reservoir to be
fed by artesian wells. This would require
one or two more of these wells, but the adj
yantages of a pure water supply, free from
all contamination would amply compensate
for the cost of the wells and water dis
tributing paraphernalla.
.sAmbuiances of modern type are sadly
needed for use in the National Guards.
ssThere ought to be at least one ambulance
for each ~brigade-if this cannot be, then one
for the division, to be kept at the Sea Grit
Camp. The pattern now in use in the United
States Army is desirable and very CON
venIent and complete; it may be obtained
from tho United States Quartermaster's
Department, at a cost of about $40 and
with harness for horses and equipments
complete, about $3.50. The Hospital and
Ambulance Corps need such a vehicle for
the purpose Of drill when in camp; and in
case of need, it could be easily moved to any
part of the State. The old ram7shackle
covered wagon. that has done duty at Sea
Grit for several years as an ambulance, is
untitled for hospital service, and is a dis
grace to the State.