The evening times., 1898-08-06
DEFENDING THE DOCTORS
Comparatively Few Regular
Army Surgeons in the Field.
OFFICIALLY INSPIRED VIEWS
Statements of q Medical Journal N
to the Causes of Present DiMcui-
tic. In Performing Services for
Wounded I'm the War - Wonen
should Not he Sent to the Front.

Philadelphia, Aug. 6.-The Philadelphia
Medical Journal of today says:
We have noted. mostly with silent dis
approval and dissent, the tendency in the
newspapers to criticise the conduct OF
medical affairs in the present war We
are enabled through the courtesy OF Sur
geon General Sternberg to give state
ment of some exact facts that Will en-
tighten the medical public and enable 1t
not only to judge for itself but also to
correct in many ways the erroneous opin-
ions that may be formed by the public
at large.
The total number of medical officers all
lowed by law in time Of peace is 193-an
inadequate number even then, and entire
ly insufficient to cope with the require
ments of q foreign war. Deducting the
number Of those assigned to stan and
general service and to general hospitals,
there are left but 96 experienced army
medical officers for service with troops
in the field. This deficiency has been met
by employing contract surgeons from
civil practice. and more are being em-
ployed every day. DR.. Sternberg says
that most Of these doctors from civil life
are doing good work. and many of them
are thoroughly well-equipped physicians
and surgeons, with ample hospital ex-
perience, but 1t has been impossible to
make a careful selection by means of an
examining board. owing to great pressure
of business in the surgeon generals Of
flee. .~iC
DR.. Sternberg states that Gen. Shaf-
ter's army at Tampa was completely
equipped with medical supplies for field
service, but owing to insufficient trans
portation the commanding general left
behind at Tampa his reserve medical
supplies ane- ambulance corps. Owing to
the difficuftles of landing supplies at 81
honey, theufghting men. with guns and
rations, were landed first and hurried to
the front. The Relief loaded to her ut
most capacity with medical supplies, ar
rived at Siboney four days after the
fight at FL Caney This was no fault of
the medical department. which had ask
ed for a hospital ship in good time.
The medical department did not ex-
pect that every wounded man would re-
ceive immediate attention from n sur
geon on the field This Is impracticab!e.
and no acting army makes provision
for such a large number of surgeons.
This first aid to the injured was expect
ed to be done by the Red Cross corps of
the army which has now more than A.
900 men in the service. Every soldier
carries a first aid packet, and is espe-
cially instructed in its use.
DIR. Sternberg claims that his position
with reference to sending women nurses
with the army in the field has given
offense to some members of the Red
Cross Society. and that the unjust at
tacks made upon himself and the de-
partment result from this fact.
The medical profession at large. we
doubs not will entirely agree with DR..
Sternberg that such women have no ap-
propriate place at the front 10 attend TO
wounded men. As for transportation, the
surgeon general says that the Red Cross
should have been entirely independent
of Government transportation. IL 1t ex-
pected to fulfill its proper functions.
We believe that the medical depart
ment of the United States army is fully
alive to its responsibilities. and will
maintain its reputation In the mean
time We suggest that it is not wise to
talk too much TO the man at the helm.