Evening star., 1898-11-19


Teece5Iy thai a certain amount of con-
fusion and unpreparedness in the manage
m-rr Of the campaign had to lie expected.
Considering what has been accomplished,
We have every reason to feel grateful that
the prize secured was purchased at no
greater cost Of life and suffering. 1t was
our first experience in fighting foreign
foe in a foreign land and the many lessons
taught and learned Will prove of the great
est value should We again he called upon
TO cross swords with nation beyond the
limits Of our country.
Many OF the well-founded complaints of
the management of the war arose. not from
any dereliction Of duty on the part of the
heads Of the different departments, but
were due 10 faulty organization. and this
is particularly true of the medical depart
ment. which has been so sorely criticised.
The executive power Of the surgeon general
Is extremely limited. Everything of i'm
Iortaucc has to PASS through his hands
anu by sanction Of the Secretary Of War.
The Secretary of War is busy in keeping
track Of what is going on in his department
outside Of the surgeon generals office.
Again. the medical department depends en-
tITe-y Oh the qUart.rmaSter's department
for Forwarding and distributing medical
and hospital supplies No wonder that
many collisions between these departmen
occurred during the war with Spain. Our
experience has taught US in a most forcible
way that the medical department should
have charge Of every hing pertaining to
the care Of the sick and wounded in order
IL accomplish that for which it is intended.
The surgeon general should be given higher
rank and clothed with more executive pow
or 70 enable him 10 discharge his duties
with credit 20 himself and greater benefit
70 those who are nov only nOminaIly under
his charge. The Secretary of War is not
supposed TO possess much knowledge OF
sanitation. medicine and surgery or other
wants Of IH= sick and wounded, and yet
tn surgeon general is POwerless in the ex-
erUtlpU o. his orders without mis- CO-Opera-
tpu- II the forwarding and distribution
Of medical and hospital supplies were di-
rvc-iy under th~ control and management
% the medical .g.s.rtlH-nt We would have
hsari less uf criticism r. sartiiug the scarci-
+ Of medicines and hospital supplies. To
mar" a drparr mont strong and efficient it
must h- independent and invested with the
u, U,-r-stry power il iS expected to WELD
and charged with a corresponding weight
Of respou H;lity.
HercuIcnn Task of Nurses
The moment a soldier j. disabled from
performing his duty he comes under the
care Of the medical department and he
Is subject 10 is rules and regulations The
transportation and proper cara Of the Sick
ana wounded are also under the manage
mont Of the medical department. The
iIimsHsiIy of this labor, all OF which de-
wolves upon the surgeon general and his
limited STAFF Of assistants. must become
apparent to the general public when W.
consider the euorTous number Of sick in
an army Of %t",|1 men distributed from
f'Jl" Ittc" 10 M2ni.a-uearly one-half the
circumference of the globe.
The nursing and hospital attendance of
suCh an army Is most serious problem
and uUS experience has brought into strong
GFlltl the necessity a rHprpy1obIy-
nurses, female as well male. Hundreds
OF the recently enlisted men had to be de-