New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-08-07
WAR MAKES ITS OWN La VS.
TENDENCY TO CRITICISE THE MEDICAL
DEPARTMENT REBUKED BY A
MEDICAL JOURNAL.

From The Philadelphia Medical Journal.
We have noted. mostly with silent disapproval
and dissent. the tendency in the newspapers to
criticise the conduct OF medical affairs in the
present war. This criticism has been about
what expected, for we felt sure at the out
break of hostilites that the gravest problems
would have to be met too quickly by the Med
ical Department Of the Army, and that this
Department would find itself hampered in many
ways through no fault of its own. This was
bound to give the critics the opportunities for
which they always yearn. to find fault and to
display their ignorance.
We are enabled. through the courtesy Of Sur
ceon-General Sternberg. to give statement OF
some exact facts which will enlighten the med
ical public, and enable IL not only to judge for
itself. but also to correct In many ways the
erroneous opinions that may be formed by the
public at large.
The total number Of medical officers allowed
by law in time Of peace is 193--an inadequate
number even then. and entirely insufficient 10
cope with the requirements or foreign war.
peductlng the number Of those assigned to staff
and general service. and to general hospitals,
there are left but 96 experienced Army medical
officers for service with troops in the held ms
deficiency has been met by employing oVV coh-
tract" surgeons from civil practice and more
are being employed every day. Or. Sternberg
says that most OF these doctors from civil HE
are doing good work. and many OF them are
thoroughly well-equipped physicians and sur
geons with ample hospital experience; put II
has been impossible TO make careful seiection
by means OF an examining board. OWING 10
erals office When we consider the suddenness
Of the outbreak Of the and the rapdty or
later events all this is readily understood.
SURGEON-GENERAL STERNBERG'S VIEWS
Or. Sternberg states that General Skaters
army at Tampa was completely equipped win
medical supplies for field service. but' oWihs u
insufficient transportation, the coHinahu ~,
general left behind at Tampa his reserve inedi-
cal supplies and ambulance corps. Owing 10
the difficulties Of landing supplies at Slponey,
the fighting men. with guns and rations, Were
landed frs and hurried To The front. The Ike
lief loaded to her utmost capacity with nedic2l
supplies arrived al SbOney four days AFTER me
fight at El Cancy. This was through no IauIt
II the Medical Department, which had asked TOT
n hospital ship in good time. but was dlsap-
pointed b. IN unavoidable delay IN securing
suitable vessel and preparing her for service;
The Medical Department did not expect that
every wounded man would receive immediate
attention from n surgeon In the Held mis- ~
impracticable and no acting army makes pro-
vision for such large number or surgeons
This frs aid t. the injured was expected 10 ne
done by the Red Cross Corps Of the Army which
has now more than four thousand men IN ser :
vice who have been instructed rs wen as couIu
be in such short time. to apply a first antlsep-
TIC dressing to a wound. and this is all that 49,
a. 4 rue required at first All the surgeons
from the front have testified to the remarkably
good results attained with such dressing APP
piled by the Red Cross men. or even by the SOL
diers thensclve3 or their comrades Every SOL
der carries 4 "first-aid' packet, ana is espe
cay instructed In its use.
WOMEN NURSES AT SANTIAGO.
DR. Sternberg claims that his position with
reference TO sending women nurses Win the
army In the field has given offence 10 some
members Of the Red Cross. and that the UNJUST
attacks made upon himself and the Department
result from this fact. Women nurses are no"
employed In the general hospitals, where they
are giving great satisfaction. but with an army
in the field. modified for active operation such
nurses the Surgcon-Ccneral claims. are an in
cunbrance. At tho hospitals near Santiago.
however. ne has now employed nearly one nun
drcd immune women nurses. II Is evident 10
our mind that the employment OF women nurses
IN ia, N"d = battle. just az on battIe-ships IL
a doubtful question. and must be left TO the de-
cision OF the Surgeon-General and his advisers
He is not opposed to the Red Cross under
proper regulations. but he calls our attention
10 the monstrous fact that many OF Its So
called nurses had never received any special
training TO ~ them FOR the duties they were 80
cagcr 20 undertake. The medical profession at
large we doubt not. Will entirely agree with
Or Sternbers that such women have no an
propriate place al the front to attend 10 wound
cd men As for transportation. the Surgeon
General says that the Red Cross should have
been entirely independent or Government trans
portation II II expected 10 fulfil It's proper
function 81 affordlng aid TO the wounded Of
both armies In accordance with the terms OF
the Geneva Convention.
As FOR the Seneca. II she was overcrowded or
inadequatcly supplied. the Medical Department
was IN no way responsible. large number Of
convalescent patients were transferred to the
pitals because u was expected at the time
that our troops would storm Santiago and that
room would be needed for a large number OF
" Iund i mon. Two acting assistant surgeons
were assigned 20 the Seneca with a supply OF
the most necessary dressings and medicines.
For our own rart We would call the attention
- amateur newspaper critics 10 the fact that
war IS not naturally q strictly hygienc bust
ness II sometimes makes It's own laws regard
less OF the best sanitary precautions When
General Shafter was sent with large army into
a yellow fever country in the yellow fever sea-
son he probably regarded this disease as he
regards bullets-as among the CHARGES OF war.
His business 10 60 ahead TO fight and to
conquer To claim as some critics seem inclined
10 do that the medical authorities could. un-
der such circumstances, practise successfully
the ordinary rules Of preventive medicine Is to
utter A captious criticism go preposterous as TO
need no rrrutation from us. We believe that
the Medical Department or the United states
Army Is fully alive to It's responsibilities. ana
viii maintain its reputation. In the mean time
we suggest that it Is not wise to talk too much
To the man at the helm.