The Saint Paul globe., 1898-10-10

quantity. Additional expense was In
CURED until war seemed imminent, then
every vessel likely to be engaged was
given full outfit of medical supplies
for war. There has not been an in
\stance during the war; says the sur
geon general, "of any vessel having
had to wait for her medical stores"
1t was known that the medical corps
was Inadequate in number for war, yet
there was no law authorizing the en-
pfoyment Of volunteer medical officers.
But medical boards were sent out III
anticipation to the applicants for ap-
pointment. When the war broke out
the medical department had on hand
from which to make selections a long
list of well educated men, and thirty
seven Of these were appointed out Of
1000 applicants.
THE medical department." says the
surgeon general, "had long desired to
establish a hospital service at sea on
specially selected vessel, and the ap-
preach of war gave it an opportunity
to demonstrate the wisdom of its propo-
sitions and the efficiency Of it's methods.
The steamer Creole was purchased, was
converted into an ambulance ship with
in sixteen days, and fitted with every
appliance. She was a pioneer in her
work, indicating a step in advance that
it well became the United States to
take"
The report gives a succinct history
of the services rendered by the Solace
in caring for the sick and wounded
On every trip she went loaded with
medical stores and supplies, and also
delicacies and comforts which had been
supplied in abundance for the sick and
wounded by generous and patriotic in
dividuals and societies from every part
Of the United States. Says the surgeon
general:
WOMAN'S WORK
I'm this war woman has done her
perfect work, and the medical depart
ment of the navy Is profoundly CRATE
full for the money contributed and sup
plies furnished for the aid of the sick
| ard wounded of the navy. Patriotic
women have ably supplemented the eff
fcrts Of the government, and their as
sistance has been thoroughly appre-
| ciated."
In this connection the report calls
| attention to the fact that as soon as
war was declared the daughter Of Sec
| retary Long and three of her associates
at the Johns Hopkins Medical school
! volunteered their services as nurses
| and were assigned to duty in the hos
| pital.
In conclusion the surgeon general
| says: II cannot close this portion of
/ the bureaus report without bearing
| testimony to the efficiency, skill and
| devotion to duty Of the personnel of
the medical department. Not a word
but Of praise has the bureau heard of
any of them, regulars or volunteers.
When war was imminent they wed
with each other to get on fighting ships
Some had greater opportunities than
| others, but all have done we'll the work
assigned to them.
Surgeon Edgar saw hi associate.
Assistant Surgeon Gibbs, shot by his
! side in the Spanish attack, and he con-
tinued his work alone, doing it thor
oughly. The medical officers of the
vessels in the fight at Manila and in
the battle Of July 8 shared the danger
| of their comrades and should partici-
pate in the praise accorded to them
1.-The medical officers Of the SoIace
| have the honor of inaugurating the first
| complete system of antiseptic surgery
| at sea. They have adapted means to
| ends, have improvised apparatus, have
| been fertile in expedients and have the
satisfaction of having demonstrated
that, with skill and intelligence, the
percentage of mortality among the pa
tients on we'll equipped ambulance
! ship would be no greater than in the
hospitals on shore.
| Medical Inspector Persons suddenly
| found himself confronted with 226
Spanish sick or wounded prisoners in
| hastily established hospital. He was
1 equal to the emergency, and he and
| his associates were complimented by
| Admiral Cervera when he visited the
camp.
1.-THE medical officers of the other
hospitals have had sudden large acces-