The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-15
FIELD MosP1zA1 skRV1CG
opDOsitiOn to the Brigade System BY Army
Phsa IciAns at CanD AlGer.

Opposition to the Brigade System BY Army
Phsaieians ut Damp AIGeF.
WARRINGTON. June 14.-Modical officers of
tho army view with considerable inpatience
the opposition at Camp Alser among reEimental
surgeons to the plans Of the Surgeon.General
for o general hospital and medical ser
vice. Ono official said that the objection.
for the most part, SpranE from Junior
medical officers. who feared that the
plans might be construed az = reflection upon
their ability to care for the sick and wounded of
their commando. The plan for a general hos
pital In tho held was tho result of experience
gained during the ciral war.
The objection to tho system docs not extend
to other camps than Camp Alger, and at Chick
amauga and other places tho plan has been
found to work with great satisfaction. Deputy
Surgeon'Gs neral Charles Smart. who prepared
the official instructions for the regular and vol
unteer medical service, said to-day:
A active campaign or q quick succession of
battles would speedily demonstrate the advisa-
bility Of retaining the brigade organization rs
long as the troops wore In striking distance Of
tho enemy. and while preserved in this way for
a probable emergency the consolidated field
hospital for The brigade has an op-
portunity of showing its superiority to the
regimentRl hospitals. as we'll during the
bbt ~ EOb Ol o
vice as during its battles. Fewer wagons nro
required for tho transportation OF its property
and supplies than for those of tho four or hve
small hospitals which 1t replaces. because thorO
is no unnecessary duplication of materials; and
tho sick and wounded are held better In hand
for sudden
"Undor tho regimcntal system the sick Of all
the regiments are carried in ambulances, which
generally follow in the rear Of the division on
the march, and at its close are divided
among several regimental camps. Hero
the sick must await tho arrival Of
tho IheAvy trains before shelter or food
can be provided for them; and it will DO pre-.
cisely whom both are most needed, that 10. dur
ing rainy and inclement weather, that tho delay
10 their arrival will DO greatest. They arc cared
for in tho SmbulRnceS during the day, but at
night are Transferred to their reElmontal Damp,
whore thoir ~regimontal hospital has merely an
official. not an actual, existence.
Under the brigade ay Stom tho hospital camp
10 formed whore the ambulanoes halt and food
and shelter are provided immediately. ~irroSpoo-
tive OF the arrival of tho main supply train.
ReGimontal hospitals ultimately disappear from
tho camps of veteran troops oven during seasons
OF inactivity and roeuperation. their official OK
istenco being represented merely by the reRi.
mental surgeons. who give hrst aid In emorgen-
oiss and Examine the m daily 10 hnd out
who. II any. shall b sent to the consolidated
hospitals.
"a rogimentAl hospital organisation exists In
most of tho State military forces. as this system
appears to answer the purposes Of the Guard in
their homo service. Volunteer troops rendered
by tho State for Federal service. would likely
have = similar medical organisation. but whom
briGaded for actual war service the nsld hospital
system Of the civil war should DO substituted"