The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-06-15


In time a peace a duplicate recofd IL
kept Of the sickness and wounds Of SOL
diers at the several posts. The medical
officers at the posts forward their data
20 the chief surgeon at the headquarters
of the department within whose jur1s-
diotion the posts come, and onoo . month
the Apartments chief surgeon makes
up . report In duplicate combining all
che particulars which had been sent
him from the several posts, hics one
copy at his own headquarters and Tor
wards tho other copy to the surgeon
general in Washington, who indexes 1t
and IL thus able to answer questions
sent to him from the pension ofaco and
from the record and pension division OF
the war department Here again we n
evidence Of the lessons learned from the
experience Of the civil war. From time
to time the post surgeons are bothered
with rules for the accumulation OF addi-
tional data required by the surgeon gen-
erals Office and complain loudly OF the
rod tape system which throws 80 much
needless additional work upon their
shoulders. AS a matter OF fact, now
ever, there 10 no red tape involved IN
the matter. Each Of the additional data
is called for simply because, In the ad-
iustment Of pension claims at Washing
ton, some new feature has arisen which
shows the necessity for q more elaborate
INQUIRY into the cases OF sick n
wounded men in the hospital.
49, ~~nroot AZ rs shan VQYV f4W
soldiers are left Mt the domestic posts
and all the work Of any account 10
transferred I'd the field, the system OF
duplicate reports is exchanged for an
other which accomplishes practically
the same purpose by slightly different
means. The medical organization by
regiments, as il exists while the men
are recruiting and in muster camp, is
merged into n corps and division organ
ization when they reach the field. The
chief surgeon Of the corps corresponds
in his general functions to the chief sur
gcon at the headquarters Of the depart
ment in fine Of peace. He has charge
of the full medical equipment OF the
corps, while a subordinate officer, With
perhaps a hospital steward and a pri'
vate Of the hospital corps to act as
orderly, has charge OF the regimeb' :.
Between these extremes como the Chin
surgeons of divisions and brigade sur
geons. The regimental officer prescribe,
for tho petty ills of the men which az
not require any considerable treatment
II a man is SO i'll or has received such
wound as to need serious hospital treat
ment, he is turned over to the custod,
of the chief surgeon OF the division
The regimental officer who makes thi
disposal of the case and the chief sur
reon of the division to whom the re
sponsibility of the case is transferre'
both report IN the case. The u repor
il thus q check upon the other, and tn
department has the hospital record 9
the man quite as completely IN wa
time as in time Of peace.
But this is not all. Much complain
has been heard from poorly informe
outsiders against the rigidity OF tn
physical examination through whic
volunteer officers and men have bee
put since the present wal began. III
is an i'll considered criticism. The e.
aminations have been severe, but tine
have been the governments great SAT
guard against future fraud on the pei
sion roll. There is the best OF reason
, for believing that they will be suppl
mented by another examination mae
of each individual soldier before he
, mustered outlof, the federal service.
3 n man is in sound condition when
receives his discharge from the army,
will do him no good to come back &
, years afterwsrd with a claim for a pc
3 sion on tho ground Of disability resul
: ing from active service. New Yo
Post.