New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-02
THE MILITARY SURGEON.
HIS QUALIFICATIONS AND DUTIES Ae
DESCRIBED BY LIEUTENANT


places The nrst Ioqr W,seHss W he ca oacty Of
STATE the e Iuf %
closer contact with the National Guard OF ouf
State than at any time BEFORE Phyy5Its' p ama
b Brought out The shady as well the sunny SIDE
Of their qualifications The result OF ny heionai
Guard surgeon is faithful doctor yin nore tnan
average S aSty but n
to ~ his a has been
sadly sS neseced pan in the past and should receys
more attention in the future Few states ,s Thl
ppfsrnrs cooseriently some OF them have entered
the service totally dsgualIfed for FER the
v vn aSf.T service from tie National Guard OF ILL
nols were rejected on this ground.
oNERoUs AND EXACTING DUTIES
The exactlng and often onerous duties of the MIL
tory surgeon In times of require special quail
fcations to prepare and fit him for the work. ne
"a NOT only expected TO be well versed in theoretlca
and practical knowledge OF everything pertaining
10 us Inc he pendowed with qualities both OF mind and
body upon which he can rely when ehsaseu u''''
The man who enters the Medical Department Of
the Army under the impression that ne Is o nny
prescribe FOR the ordinary camp ailments mskGS
serious mistake and vii be surey xSoeed to
The nhy steal condition Of the military surgeon
must be as nearly perfect possible. a physic,l
examination. as thorough and painsaking as ~, IN
necessary physical quallhca lions of candidates for
commission in the medical service. For good rea-
cal officers for the Regular Army. and mere IS no
ground why the same requirement s"'u'" ''o' NC
During nv service al ChickamauEa and in the
Cuban campaign say more ,han 0ss rom the
service for physical disability. During cam,
paign the loss OF n single redlcal officer may
prove a great disaster
HIS VALUE TO THE REGIMENT
or al commissioned officers the surgeon is TIE
officer can be filed at moments notice without
any serious loss to the service not so with the SIR
geon. His position is one requiring special ua a,,'
h hs m aed one s nSi some OTTER point For Ills
Il Tor no other reason the medical officer must ne
the hardships of a campaign In battle. and dur
ing the prevaence OF an endemic or eniu,T ,b u.S
whose strength and endurance arc taxed 10 thelr
utmost extent. His services are required by gay
and by night He mas no rest, ana ms. e,, iIe
session OF ar iron constitution MS stenstn 's ths
him an he becomes NOT aef sy 66 f he p se
slsrs In continnns his work WI otSrh , "o
came to my personal notice during the cuban cam
paigr. -
EDUCATION OFTEN INADEQUATE
a proper and adequate preliminary education is
cxactcd Of every surgeon in the Regular Army
without (, he Is not permitted to pass the medical
examination Statistics show that a large percent
age OF the candidates are dropped az ms stage
OF the examination This is reflection on me syS
Ton education
val IN our country About me only eHldehSe ., ~
proficiency the National Guard surgeon In most 9i
makes but little difference when the diploma was
obtained Evidences of a satisfactory prehma'aatg
an easy entrance into the medics service Of our
STATE troops many OF the mon who receive com
they often become coed physicians 5ut thcy rel.
dom. 4 ever make up for The @ary detsG,s o, tner
cessfui military career. Is IT to be wondered at
that when such shortcomlngs are discovered b.
10
not command the respect their co;nmissons should
medical education by most of the medical schools
throughout the country Will gradually wipe out
~ sh dpiotns can be accepted as sufficient proof
that Their ARE be 70 ny
MILITARY SPIRIT NECESSARY.
ANY one who enters the medica! service OF the
Army as He vocation Will be disappointed. unless
no does so imbued with q proper military spirit.
The military surgeon mus, DO a militarS~nan and
an integral part OF the Army, II he wants 10 do
yye5resents + fear il IS lack OF the proper mill
tary spirit in some Of the medical officers IN the
da5 gSl,db XIX between them ana the Officers OF
the line and hed. Il this is true in the Regular
The rank OF inc medical o@ ers ard their standing
in military and social circles suffer when they are
regarded ana treated as ordinary doctors. The
medical officer is entitled 10 recognition As mill
ary man md II this IS not acoordsd 70 5 him y9an
force #, The lack o. military dignity on The pafrt
OF the medical stan ~ que ldTEfly 10 lack OF tnH
proper military spirit IN the members which CON,
pose IT, and . toe great familiarity between the
The mer that accomplish the mos. are always
ready and on time The medical officers must he
made TO understand that due regard for punctu-
ality In performing their dudes. In meeting APP
polntmenis and in mapping out and forwarding
reports s one OF me most essential features OF
To tho credit OF the medical officers OF this and
q her wars, II must he said they showed no fear
either in facing he enemy enemy. or }r what Is :ast.y
Santiago,
man remained al his post snf ID fscsd the GanseT
never seen tho disease cd the detail for
duty in the fever hospitals without word OF
complaint.
PREVENTION BETTER THAN CURE.
The nr.t md most important duty Of the mill!
,ary surgeon is 10 prevent d1ease. This often
be done effectively by example than by pre-
cept He must become a prominent object-lesscn
in intoxicating the Importance Of cleanliness IN per-
the most orderly in camp Temperance In eating
and drinking can be taught more successfully by
the influence OF liquor viii do more harm in en-
couragng the vice Of ntempe:ance than can he
lent in every camp and wife it is not the duty
OF the surgeon to suprant the charlain in sup
his example ''''''' '''''' '''-'''
Overwork and di.orderod digestion are poor OK
cuses for treating subordinate In an unidentified.
ungcnemany manner The military surgeon must
officers. but by every man under his charge. II he
expects TO be respected and 10 do Justice to his
high calling and responsible position.
DUTIES IN y CAMPAIGN.
The first and most important duty OF military
surgeons during active warfare il TO prevent dis
case and unnecessary suffering hy giving early ad-
vice and r,sortng to timely precautions. The oca-
ton OF camps. policing OF the same. the water sup
ply. food and clothing are subjects which must
ceve his early and earnest attention IN this
the officers in command, and II this is not the
he has the moral ard military authority to demand
arrogence or stupidity Of the commanding aener-
al OF the invading army. that Is responsible for the
outbreak Of yellow fever IN the Cuban campaign.
This experience Is sufficient to teach comma nding
generals that II IL unsafe in the future o follow
such an example rs an mprudence OF this kind
giving rise TO lnexcusable slaughter and indescrib
abe suffering VIII with universal ind gnn tion