Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1898-10-13
FORESIGHT OF THE NAVY.
The Medical Department, Especially, Fore
handed Mt All Preparations for
All Emergencies.

Washington, Oct. 10.-Probably ne
better illustration can be found of the
| foresight exhibited by the navy in pre-
pairing for the war then is afforded By
the history of the medical corps dur
| ing the struggle. This is set out In
the annual report of Surgeon-General
W. K. Van Reypen, which is the first
of the navy bureau reports submitted
for publication.
Surgeon-General Van Reypen begins
| with a modest tribute to the good
| judgment and foresight of his prede-
cessor, Gen. Tryon, who in putting in
order and equipping the several naval
hospitals was of incalculable service
to the bureau, enabling it to properly
care for the sick or wounded of the
navy during the war. When the Maine
was blown up Surgeon-General Van
Reypen was in charge of the bureau
and began preparations Immediately
for any contingency. The hospitals
were fully equipped, plans were pre-
pared for pavilion wards, and the naval
laboratory prepared to furnish medical
and surgical supplies in any quantity.
No additional expense was incurred
until war seemed imminent, then every
vessel likely to be engaged was given a
full outfit of medical supplies for war.
In anticipation of a large increase OF
the navy, proper outfits were made
ready and boxed for a large number
of ships ready for call" There has
not been an instance during the war, u
says the surgeon-general," of any YES
sci having had to wait for her medical
stores"
It was known that the medical corps
was inadequate in number for war,
yet there was no law authorizing the
employment of volunteer medical Off
GERS. But the medical boards were
sent out in anticipation to the princi-
pal cities to examine applicants for
appointment, and as a consequence,
when war broke out, the medical de-
partment had at hand, from which to
make selections of volunteer surgeons,
a long list of we11-educated men, and
81 of these were appointed out of 1000
applicants. Surgeon-GeneralV Van Rey-
pen says: They have rendered eff
fcient service, and have been a credit
to the navy. Some have had unusual
anu u ing experiences, Uut elCy nave
accommodated themselves to their en-
vironments and have justified their ap-
pointments."
"Only one medical officer was killed
during the war, Assistant Surgeon
John Blair Gibbs, who fell at Guanta-
namo, serving with the marine bat
TALON"
The medical department had long
desired to establish hospital service
at sea on specially selected vessel,
and the approach of the war gave it
an opportunity to demonstrate the
wisdom of it's proposition and the eff.
ficiency of its methods. The steamer
Creole was purchased, and, with the
valuable assistance of Naval Construc-
tor Woodward, was converted into an
ambulance ship within 16 days, fitted
with every appliance of modern sur
gerry, disinfecting apparatus, cold
storage, laundry and elevator. She
was a pioneer in her work, indicating
q step in advance that it well became
the United States to take.
The report gives a succinct history
of the valuable services rendered by
the Solace in caring ~ the sick and
wounded.