The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-02
DUTIES OF THE SURGEONS.
DIR. SEM WRITES OF HIS OBsER-
VATIONS IN THE FIELD.

Surgeons of the National Guard Hold
Their Own With Those of the
Army-Their Qualifications and
Duties-Mnny Volunteer Surgeons
should Have Been Rejected Be
cause of DiSabilitY-No Place in the
Field for Any But Surgeons Of
Thorough observation-disclosures
ing General of the Invading Army
Responsible for the Deaths at SAN
tinEO.
Chicago Sept. 1.-The Journal of the
American Medical Association, edited by
Or. John B. Hamilton, will print to-mor-
row an article by Lieut.. Col. Nicholas
Sem, United States Volunteer, chief of
the operating stan with the army in the
field, entitled The Qualifications and Du-
ties of the Military Surgeon"
Col. Sem says; Nearly five months OF
| continuous service with the army in the
camp and fed has afforded me an excel
| lent opportunity 10 make a practical
study of this subject. This time was
spent in Camp Tanner, Springfield, ILL.,.
Camp George H. Thomas, Ch.ckamauga
Ga, and the Cuban campaign, the time be-
| ing about equally divided in the different
places. The first four weeks were occu-
pied in Camp Tanner where l assisted in
the capacity of surgeon general of the
state in the organization of the state
troops. This service brought me into closer
contact with the national guard of our
state than at any time before, as a physl-
which 1 took part brought out the shady
| as well as the sunny side of their quail
| fications. The result of my experience
! here convinced me that the average ma
| tional guard surgeon is a faithful doctor,
| with more than average professional abil-
ity, but, with few exceptions, lacking the
| necessary military training in performing
| satisfactorily his administrative duties
The four weeks service at Camp George
| Fl. Thomas as chief surgeon of the Sixth
! Army Corps opened up a wide field for ex-
| tended observation in making comparisons
| between the work done by the surgeons
| of the regular army and of the national
| guard The surgeons of the United States
| army are all men of superior education.
| splendid physical development, and those
| who have been in the service for several
| years are Wen versed In the routine work
| of the medical department. However in
| gerry 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-
| Election on the latter; It is the natural out
| come of circumstances which make such a
difference Inevitable.
THE exacting and often onerous duties
Of the military in times of war require
special qualifications to prepare and fit
him for his work. He is not only expect
| ed to be well versed in theoretical and
| practical knowledge of everything pertain
| ing to the practice of medicine and sur
gerry, but he must be endowed with quail
ties both of mind and body upon which he
| can rely when engaged under the most
| trying circumstances.
1.-The physical condition of the military
surgeon must be as nearly perfect as
possible. During my service at Chicka-
| manga and on the Cuban campaign, l saw
more than one volunteer surgeon who
ought to have been excluded from the SER
vice for physical disability.
! During my campaign the loss of sin
gle medical officer may prove to be a
disaster. OF all commissioned officers the
| surgeon is the most Indispensable. His
position is one requiring special training
and one that cannot be filled without
gripping the medical service at some
other point. For this, If for no other
reason, the medical officer must be In
sound health and able to cope successfully
with the hardships of a campaign.
"A proper and adequate preliminary ed
ucation is exacted of every surgeon In the
regular army; without 1t he is not permit
ted to pass the medical examination.
Statistics show that a large percentage
of the candidates are dropped at this
stage of the examination. 1t Is a rehec-
ton on the system of medical education
4. which continues to prevail in our country.
About the only evidence of proficiency the
national guard surgeon in most of our
states is required to show Is his diploma.
1t makes but little difference when
the diploma was obtained. Evidences OF
a satisfactory preliminary education are
not required. In consequence of such an
easy entrance into the medical service OF
our state troops many of the men who re-
ceive commissions are illiterate. BY hard
postgraduate work they often become
good physicians, but they seldom, If ever
make up for the early defects of educa.
ton which seriously interferes with a sue
cessful military career. Is il to be won
dered at that when such shortcomings are
discovered by their colleagues and officers
of the line, they do not command the re-
spect their commissions should entitle
them to?
Amy one who enters the medical service
of the army as life avocation will be dis
appointed unless he does so imbued with
II
geon must be military man and an inte-
grail part of the army il he wants to dc
justice to his calling and the department
he represents ] fear it is the lack Of a
proper military spirit In some of the med
ical officers in the regular army that Is
responsible for a well recognizable cleft
between them and the officers of the line
and field. II this is true in the regular
army, It is only too obvious In the national
guard. The rank Of the medical officers
and their standing in military and socia
circles suffer when they are regarded ano
treated as an ordinary doctor.
"ro the credit of the medical officers Of
this and other wars, 1t must be said THAI
they showed no fear, either in9facing tho
enemy or whist Is vastly worse--dieeas No.
When yellow fsver made its appearance
among the troops around Santiago every
man Remained at his post and faced the
dGnger without flinching. Men from The
North who had never seen the disease ac-
cepted the detail for duty in the fever
hospitals without a word OF complaint.
1.-THE first and most important duty II