Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-08
THE MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
Surgeon General Sternberg Sends Memo.
randum to War Investigation Board.

Washington, Oct. Sturgeon Gen
eral Sternberg has sent to the commits
sion investigating the conduct of the
war the following memorandum relat-
ing to the medical department of the
army:
THE number of medical officers al
lowed by law is inadequate in times of
peace. The total number allowed is
1872. There are at present 10 vacancies.
The administration of the surgeon gen
erals office and the army medical Ynu-
scum require six. Eleven are ON duty
at the medical supply depots, and as
chief surgeons of military departments.
One is at the Soldiers Home: ES are
at general hospitals, on hospital ships
and at garrisoned posts. Four have
been disabled since the commencement
Of the war by sickness. Five are on
duty as chief surgeons of army corps
This leaves 81 medical officers available
for duty with troops in the field. OF
these. Is have been appointed brigade
surgeons of volunteers and are distri-
buted among the various army corps.
Since the declaration of war the loss
by death has been two and % are now
absent from duty on sick leave
This deficiency in regular medical
officers has made it necessary to en-
ploy more than $50 contract surgeons.
Most of these from civil life and doing
good service and many of them are
thoroughly well equipped physicians
and surgeons with ample hospital ex-
perience. but it has been impossible to
make careful selection, owing to the
great pressure of business in the sur
SeCn generals office and the urgency
has been so great that it has not been
practicable to have examining boards
to pass upon their qualifications. |
have endeavored, so far as possible, to
obtain satisfactory professional en-,
dorsement before making a contrac.
/, with an applicant
In addition to this. there have beer
appointed by the President eight corps
surgeons with the rank of lieutenant
colonies; twenty-four division sur
geons, with the rank of major, and
eighty-six brigade surgeons; also three
| medical officers appointed by governors
of states.
Referring to the alleged deficiency OF
medical officers with the Fifth Army
Corps of Santiago the surgeon-general
stated that this corps had with it Il to-
tai of II doctors or over four per thou
sand of the strength of the command
Additional medical assistance was sent
By the hospital ship Relief which ar
rived at Siboney July with 20 doctors
on board. There Were also some vol
unteer assistance by DR.. Lesser of the
Red Cross society, DIR. Rudberg of the
Swedish navy and several surgeons OF
the navy from ships in the vicinity.
1t has not been the expectation of
the medical department that wounded
| men would Immediately receive the at
tention of the surgeon. No modern
army makes provision for so large a
number of medical officers as this
would require. But the hospital corps
! including 800 men, all of whom had
been instructed in giving first aid to
| the wounded. All of the surgeons who
have come from the front, the report
says. have testified to the remarkable
results attained from the prompt appli-
| cation of our hospital corps men and
by the soldiers themselves for then
| comrades.