Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-02
MILITARY SURGEONS.
THOSE OF MILITIA SUPERIOR IN
SOME RESPECTS To REGULARS.
The SANTIAGO FEVER OUTBREAK.
Not the Medical Department, Hut the
Arrogance or stupidity of Com
manding General of Invading Army
Responsible for IL.


las Sem, United States Volunteers. chief
OF the operating stan with the army In
the field. entitled, THE qualifications
and Duties of the Military Surgeon"
Colonel Sem says:
Nearly five months OF continuous SER
vice with the army in the camp and field
has afforded me an excellent opportunity
10 make a practical study Of this subject.
This time was spent in Camp Tanner.
Springfield. ILL.,: Camp George IL. Thomas,
Chickamauga, and the Cuban campaign.
the time being about equally divided be.
tween the different places. The first
four weeks were occupied In Camp Tam
ner, where | assisted in the capacity OF
Surgeon-General OF the State In the or
ganzation OF the State troops. This
service brought me into closer contact
with the National Guard OF our State
than at any time before. physical and
professional examination, in which took
part, brought out the shady as well as the
sunny side Of their qualifications. The
result OF my experience here convinced
me that the average National Guard sur.
geon is a faithful DOCTOR with more thar
average professional ability. but with
few exceptions. lacking the necessary
military training in performing satisfac.
torily his administrative duties.
NATIONAL GUARD SUPERIORITY.
THE four weeks service at Camp
George H. Thomas as chief surgeon Of the
Sixth Army Corps opened up a wide field
for extended observation in making com.
PARSONS between the work done BY the
surgeons OF the regular army and those
OF the National Guard The surgeons OF
the United States army are all men OF
superior education, and splendid physical
development, and those who have beer
in the service for several years are well
versed in the routine work OF the medical
department However, I'm all matters
pertaining TO medicine and surgery. the
average National Guard surgeon more
than holds his own. This superiority Of
the National Guard surgeon over his
colleague Of the regular army is no re-
hection on the latter; II Is the natural
outcome OF circumstances which make
such difference inevitable
THE exacting and often onerous duties
of the military surgeon I'm times OF war
require special qualifications TO prepare
and M him for his work He Is not only
| expected TO be well versed in theoretical
ana practical knowledge Of everything
pertaining to the practice OF medicine
and surgery, but he must be endowed
with qualities. both OF mind and body
upon which he can rely when engaged
under the most trying circumstances.
=
THE physical condition OF the military
surgeon must be as nearly perfect a. pos
sible,. During my service at Chlcka-
manga and in the Cuban campaign. |
saw more than one volunteer surgeon
| who ought to have been excluded from
the service for physical disability. Du-
| ring campaign. the loss Of single med
zeal officer may prove a great disaster.
or ali commissioned officers, the surgeon
Is the most Indispensable His position
IS one requiring special training and ono
that cannot be filled without Gripping the
medical service at some other point For
this II for no other reason. the medical
officer must be in sound health and able
| 10 cope successfully with the hardships
| Of n campaign.
"a proper and adequate preliminary
education Is exacted OF every surgeon IN
| permitted 10 pass the medical eN0minl-
| ton Statistics show that large per-
centage OF the candidates are dropped At
this stage Of the examination This H. 4
reflection on the system of medical edu-
cation which continues 10 prevail IN our
country.
NATIONAL GUARD DEFICIENCIES
About the only evidence OF proficiency
that National Guard surgeon I'm most %
our States Is required 20 show IS his
diploma. 1t makes but little difference
when the diploma was obtained. Evil
dences Of satisfactory preliminary edu-
cation are not required. Ia consequence
Of such an easy entrance into the medi-
cal service OF our State troops many OF
the men who receive commissions are
iliter3te BY hard postgraduate work
they often become good physicians. but
they seldom, II ever. make up for tho
early defects Of their education. which
seriously interferes with a successful
military career. Is II 10 be wondered NJ
that when such shortcomings are dscov-
cred by their colleagues and officers OF
the line they do not command the respect
their commissions should entitle them to;
ANY one who enters the medical service
OF the army as 4 life avOcation will be-
disappointed unless he does 80 imbued
with a proper military spirit The mill
tary surgeon must be q military man.
and an integral part of the army. II he
wants 10 do justice 10 his calling and the
department he represents. / fear II Is
lack Of the proper military spirit In some
Of the medical officers In the regular army
that is responsible for q well recOgnza-
bic cleft between them and the officers OF
the line and field. II this Is true In the
regular army. II IS only too obvious IN
medical officers and their standing In
military and social circles suffer when
they are regarded and treated as 0rdi-
nary doctors.
NO FLINCHING.
ITO the credit OF the medical officers
OF this and other wars. IL must be said
that they showed no fear. either In facing
the enemy or what Is vastly worse-dis-
ease. When yellOw-feVer made IT'S aD-
pearance among the troops around San
tiago, every man remained at his post.
and faced the danger without finching.
Men from the North = 20 had never seen
the disease, accepted the detail for duty
In the fever hospitals without word Of
complaint
THE first and most important duty Of
the military surgeon IL 20 prevent disease.
This can often be done more effectively
By example than by precept. The milf
tary surgeon must be known In camp as
a gentleman not only by officers but
by every man under his charge, II he ex-
poets 10 be respected and 10 do justices
10 his high calling and responsible posi-
ton.
Ile HfSt anu fuost important Outf Oh
the military surgeon during active war
fare IS 70 prevent disease and unnecessary
suffering by giving early advice and re-
sorting 10 timely precautions. The loca-
ton OF camps. the policing OF the same,
the water supply food and clothing are
subjects which must receive his early
and earnest attention. In this work he
should receive the hearty cooperation of
the officers In command. and II this Is
NOT the case, he has the moral and mill
tary authority 10 demand a.
THE FAULT AT SANTIAGO.
1T was not the medical department.