Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-01

| JACK Is pioNtIi'iHi-
iy a growier. He never loses an oppor-
| trinity to take exception to things, and "A
service must be immaculate indeed TO es-
| cope his at least partial condemnation. Yet
he has nothing but good to say of IN
| arrangements provided by the medical de-
partment for his care and comfort during
| the past trouble with Spain
| 1t is true the various naval battles were
| fought with marvelously few casualties 10
| the rank and file of the navy. but those
| who were wounded and those who fen i'll
| because of climatic changes and the long
| sojourn under tropical suns ware look "a
| after with the solicitude of a mother.
War brought decided increase in rhe
/ navy, and new ships meant new crews and
greater responsibilities for the medical de-
partment. There were few changes, how
| ever. in the system followed for many
| years Surg. Cen Van Raypen. from his
| office in Washington. boldly confronted the
! different problems created by the war. and
| laid his plans carefully that not che
| iota Of criticism has been made on the
| results 1t was he who first originated the
| ioea of a naval hospital ship and today
| the Solace floats the sea, the embodiment
| of one of the most important steps ever
| taken for the humane and scientific TRAIT
! ment of wounded and III sailors in time
| of war.
The general plan followed by The medi-
! cal department of the navy may be con-
| siderad under three divisions-first, the TO-
| cal medical staff attached to each vessel
| in commission; second, the naval hospital
! ship; and third, the naval hospitals on
! shore.
| Every vessel iii the service carries at
| least one surgeon, an aDothecary and a
| bayman nurse. The larger ships are
| provided with two commissioned medical
| officers, and fiagships with three, one being
| the fleet medical inspector. These officers
1
relegated everything connected with the
| care of the sick and the general sanitary
| arrangements of the ship. They are ap-
pointed from civil life after a most rigid
| examination held by competent board,
and are given relative rank with other
officers of the navy.
| The Little Hospital Aboard.
| Every war vessel has an apartment
| known as the sick bay" which, though
] small in size, is well fitted out as a local
| hospital. In times of peace when there is
| no danger from projectiles, it is generally
! located on the forward berth or gun deck.
| although its precise location varies with
| each ship. A sick bays equipment consists
| Of a dispensary for the apothecary, a space
| for swinging cots, and the most necessary
of the appliances to be found in every we'll
conducted shore hospital. The limited
| space confines the medical outfit to the alb
solutely important articles, the more COM
| pilCdteU Accessories, SuCn as SledIn-SteElllZ-
| ing apparatus and modern operating
tables, having to be omitted.
During time of war 1t Is necessary to To-
cate the medical department in a place
removed from the possibility of accident,
and where the surgeons and attendants
can work undisturbed by shot or shell. In
| connection with this matter it may be re-
| called that during the battle Of the Yalu
the compartment of the doctor on board
Japanese ship. being exposed was entered
by shell, which exploded and killed every
che present-surgeon, wounded and all. 1t
! is to provide against such casualties that
| the sick bays on American vessels in time
| of action are located, in the battle ships.
within the citadel armored part of the
! ship. On board the Philadelphia, pro-
| tected cruiser. part of the forward tor
| pedo room. situated under the curved steel
deck, is used. On the smaller vessels the
| ward room and steerage, as the living quar-
ters of the officers are called, would be
| utilized.
men to the temporary sick bay during ac-
! ton have been rendered as perfect as the
| construction of the modern war vessel will
| permit. Narrow passages, numerous par
| titions and small hatchways make the task
! a difficult one. 1t is found bothersome
| enough, even in drill maueuvers, to lower
| a we'll man down through two or three
decks but when the excitement of combat
and the possible condition of the patient
are added, the work is greatly complicated.
| The late did not afford sufficient ex-
per.ence to solve the problem
When Sick Call Sounds.
On each vessel in the service call known
as sick call is sounded by a bugler at
three bells, $50 am. Just prior to the
sounding of the call the surgeon on duty
repairs to the examining room OF sick bay
and takes his station in readiness to see
those requiring medical care. The apothe-
cary and nurses are also in attendance.
Those members Of the crew who wish to
consult the doctor form in line outside the
sick bay door and are called inside in their
turn The surgeon examines each person
carefully and, IL the case is mild, the re-
quired treatment is entered in the apothe-
cary's book. Those cases of a more serious
| nature are given immediate and personal
attention. When 1t necessitates excusing
the man from duty his name and rating
is placed the captains daily report of
sick and on extra list intended for the
executive officer and officer of the deck.
The latter report is technically known as
the pinnacle list"
In a warship, where the crew consists of
from two to FIVE hundred men, some spe-
cfa1 mark Is necessary to designate those
excused from duty. For this purpose each
man vhoSa name fo1,ras on the hinnac,e