New-York tribune., 1894-04-16
THE ARMY MEDICAL CORPS.
OBJECTIONS TO THD PROPOSED REDUCTION OF
THE FORCE.

OBJECTIONS 10 lIif) llsPi 'Tisp iN'SDS~''O'
THE FORCE
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: II s with Indignation that all lovers OF JUS
tice will look upon the latest endeavor OF certain
r,cmhers Of Congress TO injure the efficiency 81
the Medical Corps Of the United States Army hY
reducing its members thrty-fve men. This meas
ure row pending ,s buncombe attempt 10 gam
credit for economy with political constituents ana
the medical men are selected for attack because
they. and more is the pity. do not combine polltl
cally for self-defonce. and therefore are fafe
mark In this case the bin Is most insulting
one to the honorable physicians. implying az II
plainly does that thirty-hve OF their members draw
pay without earning H. II IS well that the tacs OF
the case should bc clearly formulated.
The Army Medical Corps consists of 1913 members
attending to various hospital routine work. drill
ing the hospital corps detachment in field and other
duties and mlnstering to the medical and surgical
needs OF $500 soldiers. constituting the present
United States Army, and also attending their wives
and families. the total OF soldiers and male adult
civilians az the United States Army posts being to-
day 43isl These 1913 doctors are scattered over an
area greater than the whole Of Europe. and divided
among the 10 military posts.
In event OF field duty At any time. II ia plain that
one surgeon. at least. must accompany the troops
from each post. and another should stay behind 10
take medical supervision OF the hospital ana OF the
smal-evcn too ymal-ls the present corps
Moreover J, II 1SiOualiN happens that "A doctor
O-InE huinnnl 'hIlS Ill, ahu ih'rcpy Irlu'e. N"
effective list Several thus ncapacitated at this
time. And again. the law permits officers To take a
months vacation IN each year without lDsS or pay
Therefore, this reduces hy one-twelfth the list ac-
lively on duty and about sixteen nedical officers
are thereby relieved for n time. AS matter oi
fact such is tho pressure Of duty that the SURGEON
General must often refuse this well-carned vGra-
ton. compelling continual duty.
\ simp.e calculation VIII suffice 10 show th1t
these various FACTORS, and the present it" Nachn-
Ciea reducc the number OF the active medical corps
much below It's nominal strength Of l'} members.
ana should the present bill removing thirty-iivc more
not only the efficiency OF the corps but also on
the soldiers and their families who must look -
sickness. II II be- alleged that contract surgeons
-ciyilians- might bc appointed 10 fill these vacan-
there is now no appropriation made for oontrhct
doctors. though formerly this was the case, and
II there were. there is now no provision
whereby they can be- placed In charge of the med
they cannot take charge OF the discipline and fun
drill Of the hospital corps detachment, nor be re-
effect economy far ns practicable. the Surgeon
General has long employed only private physicians
at all the arsenal pos!s IN the country these
medical estimates is worthy OF the hearts and intel
lects from which the thought emanater. Should
this bill pass Il Will OF cours" stop the operation or
the new Amy Medical School which Is doing such
good work and which employs Itself with the
special education in sanitation OF hospitals and
tary surgery and other subjects urgently needed by
the new men among the assistant surgeons.
mert that upon March l. the Commanding General
OF the United States Army, General j. NJ Soho
field. addressed q letter TO the Secretary ot War.
stating that tho hill would b. seriously injurious
OF the Army too large FOR the necessities Of
tho services" And yet 81 H. considered likely that
this measure viii pass the House,
\ fINSlCIAN OF EEW-YORK.
New-York. March g, lssf