The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-22
NEWS Of THE
NATIONAL GUARD.

The organization of the medical de-
partment on a war basis and the relation
of its services to the wounded" was the
title of paper read by Colonel Franklin
d. Meacham, Md, yesterday before the
Officers association, n. G. L. The medical
officer holds in the light of an the evil
| dences that in future wars the surgical
department viii not need to be increased
by reason of the use of so-called de-
structive' weapons. which are not so ter
rioie as would seem at first glance. DR.
Meacham says:
The regulations governing the medical
department of the National Guards differs
IN no wise from those of the regular
army.
Should the exigencies of the times de-
mand that the National Guards cooper
ate with the regular army the officers of
the medical department and hospital
corps OF the several state troops proceed
with their respective commands to a
point of rendezvous together with the
regular troops. The encouragement
OF war. assigns the general medical Off
GERS to the various duties involved in
the administration and executive
branches. of the medical department.
The privates of the hosnital corps are
divided into two branches. the one for
duty in the field hospitals proper as
COOKS, nurses clerks and stewards. the
other as drivers to ambulances litter
wounded. and rendering first aid.
Each detachment carries to the point
of rendezvous what tentage. instruments
and equipments they happen to have.
Here their humanitarian will be COM
plete from the medical supply denots.
OF which there are three principal ones
New York, st. Louis and San Francisco
In time of war the privates of the
hospital corps shall be 2 per cent of the
aggregate strength of the command For
every ten privates of the corps one acting
s-rk ard md
30 of the privates. This is the basis on
which the number of keepers TO the sick
and wounded is placed. Three medical
officers TO each regiment is the usual
number. but by no means constant.
Such is the strength of the medical de-
partment of each regiment as il arrives
at the point of rendezvous but as the
troops are modified the organization of
the medical department keeps pace with
the organization of the troops: that is
at their arrival it is regimentaI second
brigade. and third the division hospital
But there is still an additional force as
auxiliary to the hospital corps. This
aid comes from the privates of the fight
ing line, and are known as company
learners. numbering four from each com
pany. who have been taught the duties
of first aid to the injured and render
such services to the men of the fighting
line until relieved by the hospital CORPS
mediately join their companies. Even
this has been enlarged. not only tho four
company bearers, but all the men of a
company shall be instructed in first aid
to the injured, so that in time of action
there will be the constant presence in
each company of a number of men who
can remove the wounded or care for
them in other ways. and also constitutes
school of instruction from which
privates of the hospital corps can be
drawn. The members of the hospital
corps and the company bearers are in
structed under the supervision of the
senior medical officer. while the, privates
of first aid and drilled in the handling
of the wounded on and off the Filters. in
and out of the ambulances by the COM
pany of officers.
The regulations provide that three
ambulances shall be distributed to each
regiment Of infantry and two to each
cavalry regiment and one to each battery
of artillery.
Two ambulances are allowed the head
each train of ambulances belonging TO a
division two army wagons are allowed.
There are no definite plans to be fol-
lowed during an enga cement. but our
regulations are sufficiently exact TO sug-
gest thet the wounded win receive at
tention at the following principal points
ard In the following order:
First-With the line of battle under
fire. Immediately in rear of fighting line
are the regimental surgeons attended
by mounted orderlies of the hospital
corps. carrying medical cases and such
surgical instruments and dressings as
may he deemed necessary. Here are also
filters and company bearers carrying
upon their persons q canteen of water,
simple package of first aid dressings and
a knife of approved pattern.