Evening star., 1898-04-27
Circular Of Information to Applicants
for Appointments.
PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Written and Oral Examinations and
Practical Demonstration.
RANK AND PAY OF OFFICERS

circular OF information peculiarly adapted
at the present time to candidates seeking
appointment in the medical corps of the
regular army. There is much of interest in
the circular to the medical fraternity as
we'll as TO the general public.
The circular states that the medical corps
of the army consists of a surgeon general
with the rank of brigadier general, six
ststant surgeons general with the rank Of
colonel. ten deputy surgeons general with
the rank of lieutenant colonel. fifty surgeons
with the rank of major and 10 assistant
surgeons with the rank of lieutenant mount
ed, for the first five years and the rank OF
captain, mounted, thereafter until promot-
ed to major. Promotion through the inter
mediate grades of rank, from that of cap
tain to that of colonel. is by seniority. but
there is examination for the rank OF
captain and another for that of major, to
ascertain the fitness of the officer for pro-
motion. Advancement 10 lieutenant colonel
and colonel takes place without further
examination. The ::lrgeon general is
lected by the President from among the
members of the corps. All vacancies are
hlled by appointments to the Junior grade.
Salary and Rank.
To each rank is attached a fixed annual
salary, which is received in monthly pay
ments, and this is increased by 10 per cent
for each period Of five years service until
a maximum of 40 per cent is reached. An
assistant surgeon with the rank Of first
lieutenant, mounted. receives &l.6uo annual
ly. s1:}3.3:' monthly. At the end of five
years he is promoted to captain and re-
ceives $2.HD u year. which, with the IN
crease OF 10 per cent for five years SER
vice, is 500. or SlS:i.3. per month. After
ten years service he receives S2.4oo: after
fifteen years, 5000, and if he remains a
captain after twenty Years, s2.Son per year.
The pay attached to the rank of major is
$500 a year, which. with 10 per cent added
for each five years service, becomes $3.50
after fifteen years and $3.50 after twenty
years. The monthly pay Of lieutenant co..
onel, colonel and hrigader general is
S::::,3 :s::s. s315 and S45S;.,. respectively. Of
hcers. in addition to their pay proper. are
furnished with liberal allowance of quar-
ters according to rank, either IN kind. or.
where no suitable government building is
available. by Communication. When travel
ing on duty an officer receives cents per
mile and reimbursement of money actually
expended for railroad or other fares. On
change of station he is entitled to trans
portation for professional books and pa
perS and a reasonable amount of baggage
at government expense. Mounted officers,
including all officers of the medical corps.
are provided with forage, stabling and
transportation for horses owned and act
ualiy kept by them, not exceeding two for
all ranks below a brgadier. Groceries and
other articles may be purchased from the
commissary, and fuel from the quarter
masters department at about wholesale
cost price. Books and instruments are sup
piled in abundance for the use of medical
officers in the performance of their duties.
In 1898 the Secretary of War authorized
the establishment of army medical
school in the city of Washington for the
purpose of instructng medical officers who
have been appointed since the last preced-
ing term of the school and such others as
may be authorized to attend. The course
iS for flx-n he
be given annually at the Army Medical Mu-
scum in Washington city, commencing IN
November.
Five professors have been selected from
among the senior medical officers of the
army. stationed in or near the city pe
Washington, also instructor in first
aid and ambulance drill.
Members of the Faculty
The faculty of the army medical school
consists of president of the faculty. who
is responsible for the discipline of the
school and who delivers a course Of lee
lures upon the duties of medical officers ia
war and peace, GncludinH property re-
sponsibility, examination of recruits. GER
uhoateS OF disability, reports, rights and
privileges. customs of service. etc.): a pro-
ressor OF military surgery Gnciuding the
care and transportation of wounded ami
operative SURGERY; a professor of military
hygiene dncluding practical instruction in
the examination of air. water, food and
clothing from a sanitary point of view): a
professor of military medicine, and pro-
fessor of clinical and microscopy Cnclud-
ing bacteriology and urinology).
A medical officer after oom oleting a
course of instruction at the army medica,
school is first assigned to duty as a Junior
at large military post. His stations after
that are likely TO alternate between the
frontier and more desirable points, a tour
of duty being usually four years at one
place.
nf oh R,,rN
at the rate of ore month per wear and
thls, when not taken, may accumulate for
n maximum of four months which at the
end or four years is then available as one
continuous leave. Beyond this an officer
may Still be absent with permission ON
half pay. Absence from duty on account
OF sickness involves no loss of pay.
Privilege of Retiring.
Medical officers are entitled to the privil-
eee OF retirement at any time for disability
incurred in the line of duty. or after forty
years service. On attaining the age of
sixty-four they are placed upon the retired
list by virtue of law. Retired officers re-
ceive three-fourths the amount of their nav
proper at the time of retirement
When medical officers with the rank of
captain approach the period of their exami-
nation for promotion to a majority they are
usually assigned TO duty as attending sur
geons in the principal medical centers of
the United States, to enable them TO he
coHe ldIniildT Win the practice OF the lead
ing physicians and surgeons In this coun-
try, and to attend medical lectures meet
fngs of medical societies. etc. These as
signments are made for one year only, in
order that as many medical officers as pos
sible may be enabled to avail themselves of
the advantage thereby afforded At the
end of this tour of duty they are required
to make detailed report to the surgeon
general showing how much of their time
has been occupied by their official duties
and to what extent they have ayailed
themselves of the advantages offered for
professional advancement
Appointments to the medical corps of the
srmy are made by the President after the
applicant has passed a successful examin-
alton before the army medical examining
board and has been recommended by the
surgeon general Permission to appear be-
fore the board is obtained by letter TO The
Secretary of War, which must be in the
handwriting Of the applicant, giving the
Cate and place of his birth and the place
and state of which he is permanent resi-
dent, and inclosing certificates based on
personal acquaintance, from at least two
reputable persons as to his citizenship
character and habits. The candidate must
be citizen of the United States, between
twenty-five and ;wenty-nine years old of
sound health and good character, and a
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