The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-10-10
NO WORDS But PRAISE
FOB THE MEDICAL CORPS OF
THE AMERICAN NAVY
DISTINCT STEPS FORWARD
Marked by the Fitting Out Of Hospital
Ships and by Antiseptic
Surgery at Sea
Associated Press Special Wire.

Associated Press Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, Oct. s.-Probably no
Ihetter illustration can be found CT the fore
sight exhibited by the navy in preparing Tor
the war than is afforded by the history Of
the medical corps during the struggle. This
lis set ont in the annual report OF surgeon
General w. X. 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 predecessor, General Tryon
who. IN putting in order and equipping the
several naval hospitals, was OF incalcuiabie
service to the bureau, enabling It to care
properly 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 prepara-
tons Immediately for any contingency.
The hospitals were fully equipped; plans
were prepared for pavilion wards, and the
naval laboratory prepared to furnish medi-
cal and surgical supplies in any quantity
No additional expense was incurred until
war seemed imminent, and then every YES
sci likely to be engaged was given a full
outfit of medical supplies for war. In an
t,cipation of a large increase Of the navy,
proper outfits were made ready and boxed
for a large number of ships, ready for call
"rhere has net been an instance during
the war" says the surgeon general "of
any vessel having had to wait for her med
zeal stores
1t was known that the medical corps was
inadequate IN number for war, yet there
was no law authorizing the employment of
volunteer medical officers. But medical
boards were sent out in anticipation to the
principal cities to examine applicants for
and as consequence when
war broke out the medical department had
at hand, from which to make selections OF
lvolunteer surgeons, a long List of we'll edu-
Gated men, and 81 Of these were appointed
out of 200O applicants. Surgeon General
Van Reyper says:
They have rendered efficient service, and
have been a credit to the navy. Some have
had unusual and trying experiences, but
they have accommodated themselves to
their environments. and have justified
thei- appointments"
Only one medical officer was killed during
the war, Assistant Surgeon john Blair
Gibbs, who fell at Guantanamo, serving
with the marine battalion.
The medical department had long desired
to establish a hospital service at sea on
specially selected vessel, and the approach
|of war gave it an opportunity to demon
Istrate the wisdom Of its propositions, and
the ineff.ciency Of it's methods The
steamer Creole was purchased, and with
the valuable assistance of Naval Con-
structor Woodward was converted into an
ambulance ship within sixteen days, filing
every appliance CT modern surgery. d.s:n-
fecting apparatus, cold storage. laundry
and elevator She was a pioneer in her
work. indicating step in advance that It
we'll became the United States to take. The
report gives a succ.nct history Of the valu-
able services rendered by the Creole in car
ing for the SICK and wounded
Stores and supplies, and also del.cacies
and comforts, were supplied IN abundance
for the sick and wounded by generous and
patriotic individuals and societies from
every part of the United States. Says the
surgeon general:
an this war woman has done her perfect
work, and the medical department Of the
navy IS profoundly grateful fer the money
contributed and supplies furnished for the
aid of the sick and wounded of the navy.
Patriotic women have ably supplemented
the efforts of the government. and their as
sistance has been thoroughly appreciated"
In this connection the report calls atten-
tion to the fact that as Soon as war was de-
clared the daughter of Secretary Long and
three Of her associates at the Johns Hop
kins Medical school volunteered their SER
vices al nurses and were assgnd to duty in
the hospital.
In conclusion, the surgeon says:
IL cannot close this portion Of the bureaus
report without bearing testimony to the eff
Efficiency, skill and devotion to duty of the
personnel of the medical department. Not
a word but Of praise has the bureau heard
for many Of them-regulars or volunteers.
When war was imminent they We'd with
one another in their efforts to get on fight
ing ships. Some have had greater oppor-
tlrnities than others, but all have done we'll
the work assigned them. Surgeon Edgar
saw his associate, Assistant Surgeon Gibbs,
shot by his side in the Spanish attack, and
Inc continued his work alone, doing it thor
|oughly and well, as 1t was known he
would.
1.-The medical officers of the vessels in the
fight at Manila and in the battle on the
!3rd of July shared the dangers Ct their
comrades and should participate in the
|pra!se accorded them.
THE medical officers of the Solace have
the honor Of inaugurating the first COM
plete system of antisepttc surgery at sea.
They have adapted means to ends, have
improvised apparatus, have been fertile In
ex pedients, and have the satisfaction Of
having demonstrated that with skill and in
telligence the percentage of mortality
among the patients on a well equipped am
bulance ship will be n greater than in the
hospitals on shore.
"Medical Inspector Persons found him
self suddenly confronted with 226 Spanish
sick or wounded prisoners in a partly es-
tabl.shed hospital. He was equal to the
emergency, and he and his associates were
comp bmented by Admiral Cervera when he
visited the camp.
1.-The medical officers of the other hos
pitfalls have had sudden large accesstons of
patients. They were always ready and
always cared for them we'll