Evening star., 1898-11-19
HOSPITAL COrps Wen.

After my return from Porto Rico on nv
Way from New York to Montauk l was
joined by Lieut.. Commander TOmatsuri Of
the japanese naval medical service and two
stan surgeons of the German army. who
upon arrival at the camp, watched with the
greatest interest this part of the work of
the hospital corps. One of the German sur
Geons freely admitted that our hospital
corps men were far more efficient in this
part OF their work than those of the Ger
iEah army, and. what commended their
Work TO him the most was the gentleness
with which the patients We're handled He
was dstOnished that hundred or more ma
li'hlS GouId De transferred without hearing
q rough or angry word, which he assured
me was rather the exception than the rule
| IN the German army. Hospital construc-
ton as witnessed by these distinguished
IorGlsn observers OF our war during the
early history of Camp WikoR was an
o'hcf source of surprise and admiration ro
them. III was difficult for them to co1npre-
mend that i'll less than three weeks excel
ieht tent hospital accommodations were
IufhlShcu Tor nearly 1000 patients. | doubt
II any OF the old countries, always N a
state OF armed neutrality, could repeat
"hat was accomplished by our medical de-
partmcnt in this direction
Such object lessc is as those of Camn
Nlkof are best calculated to impress for
eShers with the magnitude and resources
OF our country and the patriotism OF our
people. new phase in nursing was in
llattd during the last war by the use Of
hospital ships. The medical departmen. of
the army and navy recognized at the
proper time the necessity of cmDIovina
SiiPS adapted FOR the transportation of dis
&bled SOLDIERS from the seat of war back ia
their own country. where they couId re-
ceIve better care and nursing and cscaue q
prolonged stay in ma!arial semi-tropical
country. The hospital ships Relief, S0laCa
and Missouri were the means of sayIno
hundreds of lives which without sr1ch
means of transportation would have rer-
isned in Cuba and Porto Rico 1t was On
these vessels that the nations patients
were largely in the care of couDetert
female nurses. Ask any of the sick SOL
diers who returned on any of these ships
and you will find him ready TO praise and
biess the female nurse under whose care
ne was placed on his return. from the seat
or war. He Will always remember with
gratitude her Sentleness and devotion.
Women the Rest Nurses,
During the four trips 1 made on the hos
pital ship Relief to and from Cuba and
Porto Rico 1 had ample opportunity to
compare the work of the male and female
nurses, and have no hesitation in speak-
ing III decided terms in favor of the latter
Nursing is woman's special sphere II Is
htr natural calling. She was born n nurse
She is endowed with all The ,ulaliIicatfons
mentally and physically to take care of
AANA SWEET Sihlle anu gentle touch
are often OF more benefit to the patient
than the medicines she administers Tha
dainty dishes she is capable of Drep,rinp
as rule accomplish more in the successful
treatment OF disease than drugs Her
sense OF duty and devotion 10 those placed
under her care are seldom eduaFed nv men
The sick soldier far away from home reIa
tlves and friends realizes keenly The sI,ner
loFlty OF female over male nurses and ec
pecially so II his Illness is tineed as is
often the case. with inconsistencies II Is
Under such circumsta tances that the profess
sional female nurse Is greeted in csnn on
board ship ard In the hospital as an angel
or mercy, and every look and move she
makes are OF the keenest interest to the
expectant sick. For the time being she
takes the place of the devoted wife the
loving mother or the dear sister at the he'd.
slde- She watches the progress OF the dis.
case by day and by night and her heart
rises and gladdens with the approach Of
symptoms denoting Improvement: deen
sorrow and tender sympathy take possess
| sion OF her, when, in spite of all her eyer
| tlonS, the shadows of death advance
woman Is the natural nurse, and nowhere
does she appear grander or nobler than
when she is ministering to the sick and
dying OF an army In active warfare The
| American woman above those of any other
nation is peculiarly we'll fitted for such a
| post or DUTY She is enthusiastic ener-
| getic, ureless, devoted and more than ali
vaiescent soldiers owe lasting debt of
| gratitude to the small army of femals
nurses who left their homes with no ex-
l pectation OF pecuniary gain and served
them and their country In camp and field