Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-01

sideration. Diplomas from recognized medi-
cal colleges must be exhibited by candidates
for these positions which are those of ply
sicians in Uncle Sans service. There are
ten vacancies in the army and eight in the
navy.
Doctors in the Navy.
These situations are obtainable by pass
ing a good examination merely. The sue
cessful applicant at once receives his COM
mission. In the navy his sea pay from the
start is 81 700 a year. At the end of three
years he becomes passed assistant sur
geon and draws 5000 per annum. After
two years more have elapsed his emolument
is raised to $500. Having gone through
the grade mentioned he becomes surgeon,
and his remuneration is steadily lifted until
at the end of twenty years of service 1t
reaches $500.
A position of this kind is really much
more desirable in many ways than that of
a line officer in the navy. The pay is de-
cidedly better, and there is comparatively
little work to do. The doctor on board of
ship of war has no watch to keep. His
sole responsibility is for the health of ofli-
GERS and crew. The sanitary regulations
of the vessel are under his charge. When
she goes into port 1t is his duty to receive
the health officer and answer questions.
but the medicines are put up by an apothe-
cary on board T. ~
The proper course to pursue in trying 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 hand
writing his age. birthplace and residence,
also inclosing letters pouchins for his good
habits and moral character. He must be
of sound health and between twenty-one
and twentysix Years old. Having passed
the examination, he is commissioned as
assistant surgeon and is ordered to the
naval laboratory at New York. There
he stays four mon tbs. during which time he
is instructed in his duties
Having become familiar with the special
requirements of a physician in the navy
he is ordered to a receiving ship for six
months. Then he is sent on his first cruise
ana 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 ninety assistants and passed as
sistants on the list. On reaching the top
of this list he must wait until there is
vacancy before he can become a full-hedged
surgeon. There are fifty surgeons.
After passing through the grade of sur
geon he becomes medical Inspector He
then occupies the dignifed position of ply
stefan of a fleet usually. with headquarters
on board Of the flagship. There are fifteen
such inspectors Finally the navy doctor
becomes a medical director. There are flf-
casionally they are superintendent of hos
pitfalls. They are not expected to go to sea.
At sixty-two years of age they retire
three-fourths Of their highest sea pay for
life.
The Army Medical Service.
A young man who wants to be an army
doctor must write to the Secretary Of War
for permission to appear for examination
before the army medical board, inclosing
m those required
navy. He must be in sound health, of
good character, a graduate in medicine, and
between twenty-five and twenty-eight years
Of age. The board meets in April and Oc-
tober, at dates Of which notice is given in
the medical journals. The examination in
cludes morals, habits, physical and mental
qualifications, and so many branches of
knowledge that to pass is by no means
easy. For example, 1t Is expected that the
applicant shall be acquainted with the
rudments Of geology and botany. and he
must know something about history.
That Is the chief reason why so many
candidates for these positions in the army
and navy fall. They are apt not to realize
that more is expected of them than a
Knowledge of medicine physician in the
nsvy-and the same remark applies to the
other branch Of the service-ought to be a
fiIst-rate all-round man, generally well in
formed. In time of war there is no telling
how great a responsibility might fall upon
him.
Having passed the examination success
fully, the young man receives his commits
sion as assistant surgeon, with relative rank
of first lieutenant. Then he goes to school
for four months at the Army Medical NIu-
scum at Washington, where officers of high
rank act as instructors, assisted by civilian
professors of bacteriology and other
branches. At the end of that time, during
which he acquires a knowledge of the spe-
cial duties required of him In the service
he is assigned, for a while, to some military
post as a junior From that period his as
SlPnmpntS hot frD,,
tier posts and more desirable stations In
the east and meanwhile he rises steadily
through the grades.
The pay of assistant surgeon is 81, GOO At
the end of five years he is promoted to the
rank of captain and gets $500. After ten
years he receives 81, 400 and after fifteen
years $1,000. On obtaining his majority his
remuneration is lifted to s., $3.50, and after
twenty years of service 1t is raised to 50 800
There are 125 assistant surgeons, who have
the pay of first lieutenants mounted during
the first five years and the pay of captains
thereafter until they are promoted to be
majors. The surgeons are majors and there
are fifty of them. After passing through
the grade of surgeon the army doctor be-
comes a deputy surgeon general, ranking
as lieutenant colonel Next he becomes
an assistant surgeon general, with rank of
colonel. There are, ten deputies and six as
sistants.
The army physician is provided with a
house or some sort OF suitable quarters for
himself and family. If he is not at a post
NDeral allowance IN money Is given TO MIN
for rent. He GETS forage and stabling for
nothing, as well as free transportation for
two horses when he is ordered from one
place to another. Groceries and fuel he can
buy from the commissary and quarter
masters departments at wholesale cost
prices. For every mile that he travels
while on duty he receives four cents, in
addition to his railway and other fares.
Navy doctors. by the way, get eight cents
a mile and no fares. The army physician
has one months vacation each year at full
pay. If he is sick, his pay goes on. At
sixty-four years of age he is retired on
three-quarters pay for life.
ApOthecaries and the Hospital Corps.
Mention has already been made Of the
naval apothecary. He compounds the drugs
and makes up the prescriptions written by
the doctor on board ship. 1t is required
that an applicant for position of this
kind shall be graduate Of a recognized
college Of pharmacy and between twenty
one and twenty-eight years of age
The hospital corps is very important
feature Of the army organization. 1t in
cludes 100 hospital stewards, seventy-flve
acting hospital stewards and 600 privates.
prfv xxbi tbo