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

visions, and the necessary ship work Is
equally apportiOned. IL naturally follows
mat each man of a division depleted by
sickness is compelled to do extra work. a
circumstance which makes a shirker eN-
tremely unpopular.
Ii is matter Of personal pride with both
surgeon and commanding officer that tho
reports or sick sent quarterly TO Washing
Ton should contain as few eases as posi-
bic. This in itself is enough to cause the
IDEAL medical department to tabor Jealous
~. The surgeon in charge not only attends
sick call. but he supervises the selling ~
lood by bumboats in foreign and home
ports as well lie is consulted by the can
tam on all questions concerning the health
or the crew, and his advice Is invariabIv
taken.
Proper Diet and Food
One of the accusations made in the case
OF the alleged bad treatment 81 the III and
wounded soldiers returning f.om Cuba, and
also those in camps. was that poorly pre-
pared and insufficient food was served ont
instead of a rational diet. This matter Is
carefully looked after in the navy. Includ-
ed in the medical stores Of each shin Is n
quantity of canned foods such as tanioca
corn starch, etc, Liquors wine and malt
extracts are also supplied. When II IS
found advisable TO give a patient a spe-
ciaily prepared diet nc is fed from these
stores.
Previous to the Standardization war
"a al
abied officer or sailor from a foreign sta
ton home. the patient was sent either on
some returning man-of-war or by a reru
lar passenger steamer. The advent of the
ambulance ship Solace has substituted a
much better means. While the Solace was
IN attendance on Admiral Sampson's feet
she made several flying trips north with mi
and wounded. delivering them AT one Of
the regular naval hospitals. The success
Of the idea was settled conclus;veiy. The
mode Of procedure is as follows:
John Smith seaman Of the Indiana for
instance, happens to fail down a hatchwav
ana breaks his leg. He Is attended by the
surgeons on board, but il Is considered ex-
pedient to send him north for more thor
ough treatment and better climate. The
admiral is Informed and an order is sent tn
the Solace To call for a patient. An es-
pecially equipped launch presently steams
alongside the battle ship. John Smith is
carefully lowered over the side and dnds
himself half hour later in a delightfully."-
cool and comfortable ward on board the
ambulance ship.
Dream Comes True.
He is taken in hand by the surgeon on
duty, given a refreshing bath and a suit
of pajamas. and generally looked after by
trained nurse John. who has served in
the old navy, concludes that he is dreaming
and that he will presently awaken in a
sitting sick bay on some old-time wooden
corvette. But the Solace having received
from Santiago and. after a comfortable
trip up the American coast, is moored to
dock in the Brooklyn navy yard.
Modern ambulances carry the sick over
TO the naval hospital on a hill back of the
marine barra cks. II is a great stone struc-
ture surrounded by ample grounds and re-
Gently modernized in every particular. John
Smith, who had been patient there sew
eral years previously, is treated TO more
surprises. He finds now buildings. a new
dispensary, spendidly ventilated and fur
nlshed wards. long glass corridor for
sun baths, lounsfng rooms equipped with
books and magazines, an electric elevator,
and one of the best and most scien.ifc
operating rooms in the country. In fact
he recognizes at last that the medical de-
partment of the navy has thoroughly kept
pace with the march of improvements in
other departments of the service. And al
though he would like TO Rrumhle like the
old Shelback" that he is he really can
not find grounds for one word of COM
plant.
"Matey," Prfnned a bluejacke: who had
just passed through John Smiths eNlyerf-
ence. this here blooming picnic amt just
natural. When we are At lets go over 10
the Bowery and git it in the neck