Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-11-08
DOCTORS IN ARMY AND NAVY.
How to Become a Surgeon, Their Pay
Privileges and Duties.

| Eighteen desirable places i'll the ar
my and navy. says the Washington
! D. c.. Star, are at present vacant and
open to young men in civil life. who
desire employment. Political influence
has nothing whatever to do with the
appointments; the most meritOriOus APP
| plicantS will be selected without re-
gard for any other consideration. Dl-
! plomas from recognized medical col
leges must be exhibited by candidates
for these positions, which are those OF
physicians in Uncle Sans service.
! There are 10 vacancies in the army
! and eight in the navy.
! These situations are obtainable by
passing a good examination merely.
The successful applicant at once re-
| ceives his commission. In the navy his
J sea pay from the start is 100 a
! year. At the end of three years he be-
comes a passed assistant surgeon and
I draws $1,000 per annum. After two
years more have elapsed his emOlu-
ment is raised to $1,000. Having gone
! through the grade mentioned, he be-
! comes a surgeon, and his remuneration
J is steadily lifted, until at the end of
| 20 years of service it reaches $4,000.
A position of this kind is really much
more deSirab BILE in many ways than that
of a line officer in the navy. The pay
is decidedly better, and there is COM
/ paratively little work to do. The doc
! tor on board of a ship of war has no
watch to keep. His sole responsibility
is for the health of officers and crew.
1 The sanitary regula tons are under his
charge. When she goes into port it
/ is his duty TO receive the health officer
and answer questions. Under his di-
rection is the ships dispensary, but the
medicines are put up by an apothe-
cary on board.
The proper course to pursue in try
ing to get one Of these places is to
write to the secretary Of the navy for
permission to appear before the naval
examining board. The applicant must
state in his own handwriting his age,
birthplace and residence, also inclosing
, letters touching for his good habits
and moral character. He must be Of
sound health and between 81 and 26
years old. Having passed the eXami
nation, he is commissioned as assist
ant surgeon and is ordered to the naval
laboratory at New York. There he
stays four months, during which time
he is instructed in his duties.
Having become familiar with the
special requirements of a physician in
the navy ne is ordered to a receiving
ship for six months. Then he is sent
on his first cruise, and spends a couple
of years at sea. Three years after the
date of his admission to the service he
is examined for promotion to the grade
Of passed assistant surgeon. There are
80 assistants and passed assistants On
the list. On reaching the top of this
list he must wait until there is ava
cancy before he can become a full
fedged surgeon. There are 80 surgeons.
After passing through the grade of
surgeon he becomes a medical inspec-
tor. He then occupies the dignified
position of physician of feet usually,
with headquarters on board Of the
flagship. There are 10 such inspectors.
Finally the navy doctor becomes a /