New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-14
THE SHIP SURGEON.
M1LLlONAIREs AND PEASANTS ARE HIS
PATIENTs-AN INFORMATION BU-
REAU FOR PASSENGERS


The duties OF a ship surgeon while at sea are
combination OF those of doctor and a sanitary in
spector. AS n physician. he is thrown completely
and entirely upon his resources: he has no one
to consult in of doubt anxiety on his part.
He has no option about taking or leaving case 1t
Is his duty to attend with equal devotion and impair
TALLY every passenger on board the vessels. with
out regard to race color the necessity OF bath.
In fact It is most obligatory for him 10 minister TO
the steerage passengers for there usually one or
more doctors in the first and second cabins. espe-
cially in summer. who can be called upon for their
fellow travellers In emergency cases.
AS health officer. he must visit every part OF the
ship to see that everything is clean; disnfect, II
that is necessary watch the food that is prepared
for the crew, the storage and cabin passengers. a
ship surgeon is generally supposed by the passen-
gers to know everything about the vessels from the
height of the mast the number OF revolutions
OF the screw. "Once." said the surgeon OF one OF
the Atlantic liners. "a young woman asked me what
they did with the ashes. You smile. but that Is by
no means an unusual question. 1t Is so common. In
fact that the stereotyped answer to 1t is that they
make the coal-heavers eat the ashes. People at sea
ask all sorts Of silly questions to the disgust. an
noyance and amusement of the officers The best
plan when you are at is to keep your eyes and
open. and your mouth shut. Just have a little
patience. Some other inquiring mind will ask the
question you have on your tongues end II he gets
snuobed, by your golden silence you have saved
you also are enlightened without having exposed
your ignorance"
INSPECTING THE sTEERAGE PASSENGERS.
All the steerage passengers pass before the ship
surgeon as they go on board. II there Is any just
why they should not be taken. they are sent
back When they go on board. they frequently
carry their babies done up In shawls-head. eyes
and covered up until one cannot tell whether
the bundle is a child long loaf OF bread Many
r. hav adj a
them open a bundle only to find 1t contained arti-
Giles OF food or clothing The clothing Is often not
up to the standard OF that cleanliness which stands
close godliness. but is not Objectionable as
a child with scarlet fever.
How is the berth OF surgeon board ship
obtained?
"A may not be less than twenty years old.
though one so young as chat is seldom accepted.
the judgment OF the companies being that the sur
geon deprived he is OF consultation with other
DOCTORS should have had somewhat considerable
actual practice The doctor applying must OF
course, be graduate from some recognized and
accepted school OF medicine In order TO obtain the
position II Is we'll to have friend at court
What is the salary?
THE salary. Of course. varies according TO the
vessel the doctor is The salary OF a surgeon.
even one OF the finest passenger steamers that
the ocean. is seemingly small
"Is there anything behind that seemingly?
Yes. The actual salary paid by the company We
will assume TO be between $40 a month and $40
week. Now $40 month for a professional man.
whose education has cost him thousands OF dollars.
would seem ridiculous. But can assure you that
II a surgeon on some OF those paatal ocean steam
ers only got a salary OF $40 year. neither he nor
his family need go hungry or out at the elbows
The law prohibits a ship surgeon from MAKING cut
a bill from naming any specific price Tor ms SER
vices He is supposed TO be there for the purpose
of serving the passengers In fact he must at
tend the call OF everybody on board. even the
meanest Neglect Of the steerage passengers
were sent in to the company properly, would Ger
!any be inyestisased and it SHOULD when be sp he
has done his full duty In the stee'age there Is no
aS his to l anS x kin. an% Is h
rs cabin nor Is there the ssh,sI onsrs sho% s
h ihs safs al af Of doso skill
and gentlemanly conduct. While the position o,
s snp and there are other things than
signing the payroll TO do. the man who holis such
a collection for his suffering family. Nor is this
substantial recognition by any means cPnned 70
cabin with a sporadic case here and there In the
Storage.
PATIENTS OF ALL GRADES
mo doctor on land has. in a social point OF view.
patients who represent so many grades OF society
as those who come under the OF ship sur
geon. When a young man on land first sets up his
sign as an NJ d. he has generally some idea as 10
the social stratum from which his patients are to
come. fixed principle. some limit beyond
which he will go. Some doctors wish to
practise only among the very wealthy; some prefer
the respectable middle class: some wish TO have
principally singers and actors for their PATIENTS
others work In the slums and rattle of prescrip
lions like bullets from repeating rife. At sea- all
these classes are attended by the surgeon. ] am
afraid that there as on land the doctor frequently
fingers the longest at the side OF the patient from
whom the latest fee with reason be expected.
"Do have a regular round OF duties? oh. yes. II
on Vn
be A system that place is at sea leave my room
at & in the morning, and from to 10 inspect the
ship The floors and tables and WOODWORK In the
Storage are secured every day and made as clean
and white as soap and sand can make them. From
II TO ~ am In my room and can be visited by such
na TENTS as wish to consult me here. From IL to
I am in the saloon. ] eat all my meals with the
rst cabin with the exception OF luncheon This meal
] alternate with the purser IN the second cabin
The object OF this is to see that no abuse by the
steward is practised upon the second cabin-to see
that the food IL of good quality. properly cooked
and served About the only way In which ! am
called TO attend the crew Is TO dress burns Delicate
men are not wanted in ships crew. and
scorched skin is generally the worst III from which
they suffer"