The record-union., 1898-10-10
Was. We'll Prepared to Meet Exist
ing Contingencies
When the War Between the United States
and Spain Broke Out.
Every Vessel Likely to be Engaged
in the Conflict Given a Full
Outfit of Medical Supplies
= When the War Seemed Immi-
0eut.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 9.--Probably no
better illustration can be found OF the
foresight exhibited by the navy in pre-
pairing for the war than is afforded by
the history of the medical corps dur
ing the struggle. This is set out in the
annual report of Surgeon General w. h
Van Reypen, which is the first Of the
Navy Bureau reports submitted for
publication.
Surgeon General Van Reypen begins
with a modest tribute to the foresight
of his predecessor, General Tryon, who
in putting in order and eQuipping the
several naval hospitals, was of meal
culable service to the bureau, enabling
it to properly care for the sick or
wounded of the navy during <f3e war.
When the Maine was blown up Surgeon
General Van Reypen was in charge of
the bureau, and began preparations
immediately for any contingency. The
hospitals We're fully equipped, plans
were prepared for pavilion wards, the
naval laboratory prepared to furnish
medical and surgical supplies in any
quantity. No additional expense was
incurred until war seemed imminent.
Then every vessel likely to be engaged
was given full outfit of medical sup
large increase of the navy, proper out
fits were made ready and boxed for
large number of ships ready for call
There has not been an instance dur
ing the war; says the. Surgeon General,
''of any vessel having had to wait for
her medical stores"
1t was known that the medical corps
was inadequate in number for war, yet
there was no law authorizing the en-
ployment of volunteer medical officers.
But Medical Boards We're sent out in
anticipation to the principal cities to ex-
anime applicants for appointment, and
as q consequence when war broke out
the medical department had at hand
from which to make selections Of vol
unteer surgeons a long list of well edu-
Gated men, and thirty-seven Of these
We're appointed out of 20O0 appll-
cants.
Surgeon General Van Reypen says:
They have rendered efficient service
and have been a credit to the navy.
Some have had unusual and trying ex-
periences. but they have accommodated
themselves to their environments, and
have justified their appointments"
Only one medical officer was killed
during the war, Assistant Surgeon John
Blair Gibbs, who fell at Guantanamo
serving with the marine battalion.
The medical department had long de-
sired TO establish hospital service at
sea on specially selected vessel and
the approach of war gave it an oppor-
tunity to demonstrate the wisdom of
its proposition and the efficiency of it's
methods The steamer Creole was
purchased, and with the valuable as
<-ic nf
ward, was converted into an ambu-
lance ship within sixteen days, filing
every appliance of modern surgery, dis
injecting apparatus, cold storage laun-
dry and elevator. She was a pioneer
in her work, indicating a step in ad-
vance that il well became the United
States to take.
The report gives a succinct history of
the valuable services rendered by the
Creole in caring for the sick and
wounded.
Commenting upon the stores and sup
plies and also delicacies and comforts
which had been supplied in abundance
for the sick and wounded by generous
and patriotic individuals and societies
from every part of the United States.
the Surgeon General says: In this
war woman has done her perfect work.
and the medical department of the navy
is profoundly grateful for the money
contributed and supplies furnished for
the aid of the sick and wounded of the
navy. Patriotic women have about
stuplemented the effort Of the Govern
-nent and their assistance has been
thoroughly appreciated.
In this connection the report calls at
tention to the fact that as soon as war
was declared the daughter of Secretary
Long and three of her associates at the
Johns Hopkins Medical School vol
unteered their services as nurses. and
were assigned to duty in the hospital
In conclusion. the Surgeon General
saws: II cannot close this portion of
the bureaus report without bearing
testimony 20 the efficiency, sklii ana de-
votion to duty of the personnel of the
medical danartment Not a word but
of praise has thus been heard or many
of them--regulars or volunteers.
when war was imminent they We'd
with one another in their efforts to get
on fighting ships. Some have had
greater opportunities than others, but
all have done well the work assigned
them. Surgeon Edgar saw his assocf-
ate, Assistant Surgeon Gibbs, shot by
his side in the Spanish attack, and he
continued his work alone, doing 1t
thoroughly and well, and it was known
he would
THE medical officers of the vessels
in the fight at Manila and in the bat
tie of Sd Of July shared the dangers OF
their comrades. and should participate
in the praise accorded them.
1.-The medical officers of the Solace
have the honor of inaugurating the
first complete system Of antiseptic sur
gerry at sea. They have adopted means
to ends, have improvised apparatus,
have been fertile in eXpedients and
have the satisfaction of having dem
onstrated that with skill and intelli-
yence the percentage of mortality
among the patients on a well-equipped
ambulance ship will be no greater than
IN the hospitals on shore.
medical Inspector Persons found
himself suddenly confronted with 226
cnanish sick or wounded prisoners in
= partly established hospital. He was