The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-09-06

engaged under the most trying circum-
stances.
The physical condition of the military
surgeon must be as nearly perfect as
possible. During my service at Chicka-
mauga. and in the Cuban campaign. /
saw more than one volunteer surgeon.
who ought L. have been excluded from
the service for physical disability. Du-
ring a campaign. the loss III u single
medical officer may prove a great dis
a>tcs. OF all commissioned officers the
surgeon i the most Indispensable. Ills
position i one requiring special train
ing and one that cannot he filled without
Gripping the medical service ut some
other point, For This. il for ~ other
reason. the mrlical officer must b. IN
sound health. and able - cope sue
cc~~>fully with tn harJ~hipS Of a cam
rai-u.
y proper AMI adequate preliminary
edGyatgon j eAacted of every surgeon
IN ;ut regular army without i oc =
not permitted 10 pass the medical exam
nation. Statistics >hnV that i large
percentage 10 the candidates are Dropped
At tins stage of the examination. THIS
j. a reflection eu the system u medical
clnctfian Wh.,h continues - prevail n
our country. Mont the ouly evidence cf
proficiency the National Guard surgeon
III most ~ oar States is required 10 show
is his diploma. Ii makes hui little dit"r
,u,e Wlpn lhe 3iuloma WIS obtained.
Evidences - "a satisfactory preliminary
education arc Evt required. In cease
uucncc u such au easy entrance into tie
medical service uf our State troops. many
&c tie men Who receive commissions ar.
iiliterate. Iy hard post graduate work
they often become good physicians. but
they seldom il eyer make M for the early
defects Of the education. which seriously
iutyrGorr~ with a successful military ca
rrcr. l. il to b. wondered II that when
such short onmiu@s ar, discovered by tn
officers vi the line, they 30 not command
thu respect that their commissions should
cultlc ,h,m 10:
Anyone who enters the medical ser
wee 81 the army Is a life avocatiou viii
Ia disappointed unless he d"cs SEA inn
bucd with Il proper military spirit. The
military surgeon must hc u military man
and al integral part of the army il he
wants 10 Ito justice To his calling and the
department lie represents. i fear il Is
4 lack ri the proper military spirit in
some OF the medical officers IN the reg
ular army that is responsible for a Wei
recognized cleft between them aud the
officers of the line ana ticlt. If this Is
true III the regular army, it is only to-
obvious in the National Guard. The rank
Of the medical officers and their stand
in= III military and social circles suffer
when they are regarded and treated rs
III ordinary doctor.
ITO the credit OF the medical officers OF
this ana other wars il must be said that
they showed 10 fear, either iii facing the
enemy or what Is vastly worse-diseaSc.
When yellow fever made its appearance
among the troops around Santiago every
man remained At his post and faced the
anger without tiinchiug. Men from the
North who had never seen the disease
accepted the detail for duty in the fever
hospitals without 4 word Of complaint.
The first and most important duty o.
the military surgeon is to prevent dis
ease. This can often be done more eff
fectively by example than by precept.
/ he military surgeon must be known in
camp as 4 gentleman, not only by off
GERS, bat by every man under his charge.
if he expects to be respected and TO do
Justice to his high calling and response
bic position.
The first and most important duty
OF the military surgeon during active
warfare is to prevent disease and un-
necessary suffering by giving early al
vice and reSorting to timely precautions.
The location Of camps, policing Of the
same, the water supply, food and cloth
ing are subjects which must receive his
early and earnest attention. In this work
he should receive the hearty co-opcra-
ton Of the officers in command. and IL
this IS not the case be has the moral
and military authority to demand it.
II was not the medical department, but
the arrogance or stupidity Of the COM
manding general Of the invading army
that IS responsible for the extensive out
break of yellow fever during the Cuban
campaign. This experience is sufficient
to teach commanding generals that il is
unsafe in the future TO follow such an
example, AZ an imprudence Of this kind.
giving rise to ineXcuSahle slaughter aud
Understandable suffering. will meet with
universal Indignation"